JP7503653B2 - Filter segment and tobacco products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a filter segment and a tobacco product.

Tobacco products, such as ordinary cigarettes, include a tobacco-containing segment formed by wrapping dried tobacco leaves in cigarette paper and forming them into a rod shape, and a filter segment formed by wrapping a filter containing a cellulose acetate fiber bundle or a filter made by bundling or folding a nonwoven fabric containing pulp in filter wrapping paper and forming it into a rod shape. The cigarette is obtained by connecting the end of the tobacco-containing segment and the end of the filter segment, and wrapping them all around with a tipping paper member to bond them together.

The cigarette is a combustion tobacco product that generates smoke by burning the tip of a tobacco-containing segment. In addition to the cigarette, other examples of combustion tobacco products include cigars and cigarillos. In addition to combustion tobacco products, tobacco products include non-combustion heated tobacco products that generate flavor components by heating tobacco-containing segments containing aerosol-generating base materials such as tobacco, flavoring components, and glycerin without combustion (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2). Methods of heating without combustion include heating methods using electrical resistance, induction heating, chemical change, or phase change.

Regarding filter segments, it has been customary to incorporate a destructible capsule containing a fragrance inside the filter, and to crush the destructible capsule with the fingers when using the cigarette, allowing the user to enjoy the scent of the contents when inhaling and to mask the smell of cigarette butts after the cigarette has been extinguished (for example, Patent Documents 3 to 6).

Patent No. 5990500 Patent Publication No. 5292410 Patent No. 6078657 JP 2007-520204 A JP 2016-533764 A JP 2016-524924 A

Filter segments of cigarettes and cigarillos are required to perform many functions, such as filtering smoke, diluting smoke, adding flavorings to smoke, holding components other than the filter medium or a second filter medium (such as activated carbon), and adjusting airflow resistance. Filter segments of non-combustion heated tobacco products are required to perform even more functions, such as filtering aerosols, diluting aerosols, adding flavorings to aerosols, cooling aerosols, holding components other than the filter medium or a second filter medium (such as activated carbon), and adjusting airflow resistance. For this reason, in recent years, filter segments of cigarettes and non-combustion heated tobacco products are required to include multiple filter segments each performing a different function, and to shorten the axial length of each filter segment to about 5 to 15 mm.

Typically, filter segments are manufactured by cutting a continuous rod-shaped body, which is made by continuously winding a large number of long fibers such as cellulose acetate fibers, along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Since the fibers constituting the filter segment extend approximately parallel to the axial direction of the filter segment, in a filter segment containing the destructible capsule, the destructible capsule may be displaced when an external force is applied. If the destructible capsule is displaced, the destructible capsule may not be easily broken. In particular, if the axial length of the filter segment is short, there are few places where the fibers are entangled with each other, so the retention ability of the destructible capsule is low, and the destructible capsule is likely to be displaced when an external force is applied. In addition, if a significant displacement occurs, the destructible capsule may escape to the outside of the filter segment.

The present invention aims to provide a filter segment in which displacement of a fragile capsule is suppressed even when an external force is applied, and a tobacco product containing the filter segment.

The filter segment according to the present invention comprises:
A filter comprising fibers;
a frangible capsule embedded within the filter and positioned on a central axis of the filter segment;
A filter segment for a tobacco product comprising:
A first hardened structure covering the destructible capsule, the first hardened structure being formed by fusing the fibers located near the destructible capsule with a plasticizer; or
a second hardened structure formed by fusing the fibers located in the vicinity of the central axis of the filter segment with the plasticizer;
has.

The tobacco product according to the present invention comprises:
a tobacco-containing segment;
and a filter segment according to the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a filter segment in which displacement of a fragile capsule is suppressed even when an external force is applied, and a tobacco product including the filter segment.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a filter segment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a filter segment according to the present invention having a first hardened structure and a second hardened structure. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cylindrical region and a prism-shaped region in an example of a filter segment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a filter segment manufacturing apparatus used in the manufacture of the filter segment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic view of the periphery of a breakable capsule supplying member of an example of a filter segment manufacturing device. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a state in which a breakable capsule is embedded in fibers by a breakable capsule supplying member. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view showing an example of a continuous fiber bundle before cutting. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a tobacco product (cigarette) according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a tobacco product (cigarette) according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a tobacco product (non-combustion heated tobacco product) and a heating device according to the present invention. 1 is an enlarged photograph showing a state in which a breakable capsule and cellulose acetate fibers present around the breakable capsule are fused together in the filter segment of Example 1. 1 is an enlarged photograph showing that in the filter segment of Example 1, a cocoon-shaped first hardened structure in which cellulose acetate fibers are fused together by triacetin is formed around a destructible capsule. 4 is an enlarged photograph showing an example of a second hardened structure of the filter segment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a pinching tester used in evaluating the positional deviation of the breakable capsules in the examples and comparative examples.

[Filter Segment]
The filter segment according to the present invention is a filter segment for a tobacco product, comprising a filter containing fibers and a breakable capsule embedded in the filter and located on the central axis of the filter segment. The filter segment is located downstream of a tobacco-containing segment containing tobacco in the tobacco product, and can be located at the mouth end of the tobacco product. Here, the filter segment has a first hardened structure covering the breakable capsule, formed by fusing the fibers located near the breakable capsule together with a plasticizer (hereinafter referred to as a first plasticizer), or a second hardened structure formed by fusing the fibers located near the central axis (hereinafter referred to as axis A) of the filter segment together with the plasticizer.

In the filter segment having the first hardening structure, the destructible capsule is covered in a cocoon shape by the first hardening structure, so that the movement of the destructible capsule is restricted even when a force is applied from outside the filter, and the positional displacement of the destructible capsule can be suppressed. In the filter segment having the second hardening structure, the movement of the destructible capsule is restricted by the presence of the second hardening structure formed near the axis A and extending from the destructible capsule in the axial direction of the filter segment, so that the positional displacement of the destructible capsule can be suppressed.

In particular, even when the axial length of the filter segment is short, for example, 5 to 15 mm, and the fiber constituting the filter segment has a low ability to hold the destructible capsule, the present invention can sufficiently suppress the displacement of the destructible capsule. In addition, the first plasticizer can be the same as the plasticizer such as triacetin (hereinafter also referred to as the second plasticizer) that is usually added uniformly to the fiber constituting the filter in advance to adjust the hardness of the filter, so there is no need to separately use a general adhesive that is not usually added to the filter for fusion. Therefore, the displacement of the destructible capsule can be suppressed without changing the physical properties of the filter, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the second plasticizer is added uniformly to the fiber before embedding the destructible capsule, it does not contribute to local fusion of the fiber. That is, the conventional filter segment does not have the first hardened structure or the second hardened structure of the present invention. It is preferable that the filter segment of the present invention has both the first hardened structure and the second hardened structure, because it can further suppress the displacement of the destructible capsule.

In a preferred embodiment of the filter segment according to the present invention, the destructible capsule and the fibers constituting the filter are fused together by a first plasticizer. In this embodiment, even when a force is applied from outside the filter, the fusion can further suppress the displacement of the destructible capsule. Since the second plasticizer is uniformly added to the fibers before embedding the destructible capsule, it is solidified at the time of embedding the destructible capsule and does not contribute to the fusion between the destructible capsule and the fibers constituting the filter. In other words, in conventional filter segments, the destructible capsule and the fibers constituting the filter are not fused together by a plasticizer. The details of the present invention are described below.

An example of a filter segment according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The filter segment 10 shown in FIG. 1 is cylindrical and includes a filter 11, a breakable capsule 12, and a filter wrapping paper 13. The filter 11 is made of fibers such as cellulose acetate fibers. The fibers extend approximately parallel to the axial direction of the filter segment 10 (horizontal direction in FIG. 1). The breakable capsule 12 is embedded in the filter 11 and exists between the fibers. The breakable capsule 12 is located on axis A, which is the central axis of the filter segment 10. The filter segment 10 has a first hardened structure 14 that covers the breakable capsule 12 and is formed by fusing fibers located near the breakable capsule 12 with a first plasticizer, and a second hardened structure 15 that is formed by fusing fibers located near the axis A with a first plasticizer. In the filter segment 10, the first hardened structure 14 and the second hardened structure 15 are bonded to each other, and the second hardened structure 15 is formed so as to extend from the first hardened structure 14 along the axis A. Although not shown in Fig. 1, the surface of the breakable capsule 12 and the fibers of the filter 11 located near the breakable capsule 12 are fused by a first plasticizer. A filter wrapping paper 13 such as paper is wrapped around the filter 11 containing the breakable capsule 12. The filter wrapping paper 13 does not have to be wrapped around the filter 11. When the end faces of the filter segment 10 are not perfect circles, the axis A is represented as a line segment that connects the center of gravity of one end face of the filter segment 10 with the center of gravity of the other end face and that crosses the breakable capsule 12.

(filter)
The filter includes fibers. The fibers can extend substantially parallel to the axial direction (central axis) of the filter segment. Here, extending "substantially parallel" to the axial direction of the filter segment means that the fibers extend so that the direction in which the fibers extend is within a range of ±10° with respect to the axial direction of the filter segment. Examples of the fibers include cellulose acetate fibers and polypropylene fibers, and cellulose acetate fibers are preferred. The acetate tow, which is a bundle of cellulose acetate fibers, can have, for example, a single yarn fineness of 1.9 to 12.0 (g/9000m), a total fineness of 10,000 to 44,000 (g/9000m), a number of fibers of 830 to 23,500 (fibers), a ventilation resistance of 100 to 800 (mmH ₂ O/120mm), and a tow mass of 0.300 to 1.100 (g/fiber).

(Destructible capsule)
In the present invention, the term "breakable capsule" refers to a capsule that can be broken by applying an external force. The breakable capsule can include a shell and a liquid content that contains a flavoring or the like and is contained in the shell. The material of the shell can be an edible material, such as starch, dextrin, polysaccharides, agar, gellan gum, gelatin, natural gelling agents, glycerin, sorbitol, calcium chloride, etc. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. That is, the surface of the breakable capsule can be composed of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrin, polysaccharides, agar, gellan gum, gelatin, natural gelling agents, glycerin, sorbitol, and calcium chloride. These materials are mainly highly hydrophilic, so they have excellent affinity with a mixture in which an amphipathic first plasticizer and a fiber material are compatible, and can exhibit high fusion properties. The shell can further include a flavoring. In addition, the breakable capsule is preferably colored so that the user can easily recognize the location of the breakable capsule when breaking the capsule. From this viewpoint, the shell preferably contains a coloring agent such as Blue No. 1.

The flavoring contained in the liquid content may be any flavoring used in tobacco products, such as menthol or vegetable essential oils. Specifically, menthol, tobacco leaf extract, natural vegetable flavoring (e.g., cinnamon, sage, herbs, chamomile, kudzu, sweet tea, cloves, lavender, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, lemon, orange, cassia bark, caraway, jasmine, ginger, coriander, vanilla extract, spearmint, peppermint, cassia, coffee, celery, cascarilla, sandalwood, cocoa, ylang-ylang, fennel, anise, licorice, St. John's bread, plum extract, peach extract, etc.), sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, isomerized sugar, maltose ... sugar, caramel, etc.), cocoa (powder, extract, etc.), esters (e.g., isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, linalyl butyrate, etc.), ketones (e.g., menthone, ionone, damascenone, ethyl maltol, etc.), alcohols (e.g., geraniol, linalool, anethole, eugenol, etc.), aldehydes (e.g., vanillin, benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, etc.), lactones (e.g., γ-undecalactone, γ-nonalactone, etc.), animal fragrances (e.g., musk, ambergris, civet, castoreum, etc.), hydrocarbons (e.g., limonene, pinene, etc.), etc. These fragrances may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The liquid content may contain a solvent. The solvent may be a solvent suitable for the fragrance, such as medium chain triglyceride (MCT) (specifically, glyceryl tricaprylate/caprate), propylene glycol, water, or ethanol. The liquid content may further contain other additives such as other solvents, colorants, emulsifiers, and thickeners.

The method for producing the destructible capsules is not particularly limited, but for example, the dropping method can be used. In the dropping method, a double nozzle is used, and the content liquid is simultaneously discharged from the inner nozzle and the liquid coating material from the outer nozzle, so that the coating liquid can envelop the content liquid without any seams. Therefore, this method can produce a destructible capsule with a seamless coating.

The shape of the destructible capsule is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, spherical or cylindrical. The spherical shape includes both an approximately spherical shape with a cross section that is nearly circular and an elliptical shape with a cross section that is elliptical. The destructible capsule is preferably approximately spherical. Here, approximately spherical means that the sphericity is 95% or more. The sphericity is calculated as follows. 100 g of the destructible capsules are subjected to a CAMSIZER P4 (trade name, manufactured by RETSCH TECHNOLOGY) measuring device, and the short diameter and long diameter are analyzed from the images of each capsule taken by the CCD camera equipped in the device, and calculated using the new particle shape descriptor function of the measuring device.

When the breakable capsule is substantially spherical, the diameter of the breakable capsule (the maximum length across the breakable capsule) is preferably 1.0 to 3.5 mm, more preferably 1.5 to 3.5 mm, and even more preferably 2.0 to 3.5 mm. By having a diameter of the breakable capsule of 1.0 mm or more, a sufficient amount of the content liquid containing the fragrance can be filled into the membrane of the breakable capsule, and the user can be given a sufficient sense of satisfaction. In addition, when the user breaks the breakable capsule, the position of the breakable capsule can be easily recognized. By having a diameter of the breakable capsule of 3.5 mm or less, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the breakable capsule to the cross-sectional area of the filter segment can be reduced, so that the increase in the air resistance of the filter segment due to the presence of the breakable capsule can be suppressed, and the ease of inhalation for the user can be improved. In addition, the surface of the breakable capsule may have minute protuberances. The presence of the protuberances allows the protuberances to become fusion points with the fibers, and the breakable capsule and the fibers can be fused better by the first plasticizer.

The destructible capsule is embedded in the filter and exists between the fibers that make up the filter. One destructible capsule may be embedded in the filter of one filter segment, or two or more (for example, 2 to 10 capsules) may be embedded. The destructible capsule is arranged at a position that overlaps with axis A, which is the central axis of the filter segment, and it is preferable that the center of the destructible capsule is located on axis A. In addition, when the position of the end on the suction end side in the axial direction of the filter is 0% and the position of the end on the opposite side to the suction end is 100%, it is preferable that the center of the destructible capsule is located within the range of 16.7% to 83.3%, and more preferably within the range of 30.0% to 53.3%. By having the center of the destructible capsule located within the range of 16.7% or more, it is possible to more effectively prevent the destructible capsule from being significantly displaced and escaping to the outside of the filter segment. In addition, by having the destructible capsule exist within the range of 83.3% or less, the user can easily break the destructible capsule not only by breaking it with his fingers, but also by biting it with his teeth when using it. Furthermore, since the flavor source is closer to the mouth end, the user can experience a stronger flavor sensation.

The end of the shell of the breakable capsule can be located within the range of 10.8% to 89.2% as the maximum range, 12.0% to 88.0% as the smaller range, 32.5% to 67.5% as the even smaller range, and 36.0% to 64.0% as the minimum range. Furthermore, when the center of the breakable capsule is located in the middle between the mouth end of the filter segment and the end opposite the mouth end, the end of the shell of the breakable capsule can be located within the range of 32.5% to 67.5% as the maximum range, 36.0% to 64.0% as the smaller range, 44.2% to 55.8% as the even smaller range, and 45.3% to 54.7% as the minimum range.

(First hardened structure)
The first hardened structure according to the present invention is a hardened structure formed by fusing fibers located near the destructible capsules with a first plasticizer, and covers at least a part of the destructible capsules in a cocoon shape. This makes it possible to suppress the movement of the destructible capsules even when a force is applied from the outside of the filter. In the first hardened structure, it is sufficient that at least a part of the fibers located near the destructible capsules are fused to each other with the first plasticizer. For example, as shown in the enlarged photograph in FIG. 12, the first hardened structure can include a part where the fibers are fused to each other with the first plasticizer and a part where they are not fused. Note that FIG. 12 is an enlarged photograph taken after the destructible capsules are removed for convenience. The thickness of the first hardened structure can be, for example, 0.1 to 1.0 mm.

The first hardened structure can be formed, for example, as described below, by applying a first plasticizer to the surface of the destructible capsule in advance and embedding the destructible capsule in a filter using a member for inserting the destructible capsule. In this case, the first plasticizer applied to the surface of the destructible capsule diffuses into the fibers located near the destructible capsule, and the fibers located near the destructible capsule are fused together by the first plasticizer, forming a cocoon-like first hardened structure that surrounds the destructible capsule.

(Second hardening structure)
The second hardened structure according to the present invention is a hardened structure formed by fusing together fibers located near the axis A, which is the central axis of the filter segment, with a first plasticizer. That is, the second hardened structure is formed continuously so as to extend from the destructible capsule to the axis A. By having such a second hardened structure in the filter segment, it is possible to suppress the positional displacement of the destructible capsule even when an external force is applied. When the filter segment also has a first hardened structure, the second hardened structure is bonded to the first hardened structure and is formed so as to extend from the first hardened structure along the axis A. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the first hardened structure covering the destructible capsule in a cocoon shape is integrated with the second hardened structure formed so as to extend from the first hardened structure along the axis A. Note that in FIG. 13, for convenience, a part of the destructible capsule is photographed so as to be exposed, but the destructible capsule may be entirely covered by the first hardened structure.

The second hardened structure may be, for example, cylindrical with axis A as the central axis. In this case, the diameter of the cylinder may be smaller than the diameter of the breakable capsule, and may be, for example, 14.0 to 86.0% of the diameter of the breakable capsule, and may be 0.5 to 3.0 mm in diameter. In the second hardened structure, it is sufficient that at least a portion of the fibers located in the vicinity of axis A are fused to each other by the first plasticizer. The second hardened structure may include a portion where the fibers are fused to each other by the first plasticizer, and a portion where they are not fused.

The second hardened structure may also be formed in the portion extending from the axis A to the peripheral portion of the filter segment. That is, the second hardened structure may be formed in a rib shape by fusing the fibers located near the axis A with the first plasticizer, and fusing the fibers located in the portion extending from the axis A to the peripheral portion of the filter segment with the first plasticizer. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the filter segment 20 can have a first hardened structure 22 covering the breakable capsule 23 and a second hardened structure 24 extending from the axis A to the peripheral portion of the filter segment 20. The first hardened structure 22 and the second hardened structure 24 are formed by fusing the fibers constituting the filter 21 with the first plasticizer. In this way, the first hardened structure 22 and the second hardened structure 24 can be bonded and integrated.

The second hardened structure can be formed, for example, by applying a first plasticizer to the surface of the member into which the destructible capsule is inserted and embedding the destructible capsule in the filter with the member, as described later. In this case, the first plasticizer applied to the surface of the member into which the destructible capsule is inserted diffuses to the fibers that come into contact with the member when the destructible capsule is embedded in the filter with the member, i.e., the fibers located in the vicinity of the axis A and the fibers present in the area extending from the axis A to the peripheral portion of the filter segment, and the fibers are fused together by the first plasticizer to form the second hardened structure. As described later, when the member is, for example, an insertion wheel and the destructible capsules are embedded continuously at equal intervals in the long continuous filter segment before cutting, the second hardened structure is provided continuously approximately parallel to the axial direction of the filter segment. That is, the second hardened structure is provided so as to extend linearly along the axial direction of the filter segment.

(Plasticizer)
The first plasticizer is not particularly limited as long as it is an edible plasticizer that is normally used in tobacco products, and examples thereof include triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, dibutyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, di-2-methoxyethyl phthalate, dibutyl tartrate, ethyl ortho-benzoylbenzoate, ethyl phthalyl/ethyl glycolate, methyl phthalyl/ethyl glycolate, N-ethyltoluenesulfamide, triacetin, ortho-cresyl para-toluenesulfonate, triethyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, tripropionin, and the like. These first plasticizers may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these, triacetin is preferred as the first plasticizer.

As described above, in addition to the first plasticizer used in the fusion, the filter may contain a second plasticizer, which is usually added uniformly to the fibers in advance to adjust the hardness of the filter. The second plasticizer may be the same as the first plasticizer used in the fusion described above. The first and second plasticizers may be the same or different. The second plasticizer does not contribute to the formation of the first and second hardened structures or to the fusion of the destructible capsules with the fibers.

In the present invention, "fibers are fused together with a first plasticizer" may mean that the fibers are fused together only with the first plasticizer, or that the fibers are fused together with a mixture in which the fiber material and the first plasticizer are compatible. In other words, it is sufficient that the fused portion between the fibers contains the first plasticizer. In the present invention, "a destructible capsule and a fiber are fused together with a first plasticizer" may mean that the destructible capsule and a fiber are fused together with a mixture in which the fiber material and the first plasticizer are compatible, or that the destructible capsule and a fiber are fused together with a mixture in which the shell material of the destructible capsule and the first plasticizer are compatible, or that the destructible capsule and a fiber are fused together with a mixture in which the fiber material, the shell material of the destructible capsule and the first plasticizer are compatible. In other words, it is sufficient that the fused portion between the destructible capsule and a fiber contains the first plasticizer. In addition, at least a part of the surface of the destructible capsule and at least a part of the fiber located near the surface of the destructible capsule may be fused by the first plasticizer. The fact that the destructible capsule and the fiber are fused by the first plasticizer can be determined by an enlarged photograph of the vicinity of the surface of the destructible capsule and identification of the compound contained in the fused portion. For example, in the enlarged photograph shown in FIG. 11, it can be confirmed that a part of the surface of the destructible capsule and a part of the fiber are fused.

The fusion of the destructible capsule and the fibers with the first plasticizer can be achieved, for example, by applying the first plasticizer to the surface of the destructible capsule in advance, and then embedding the destructible capsule in a filter using a member for inserting the destructible capsule, as described below. In this case, the first plasticizer applied to the surface of the destructible capsule adheres to the fibers located near the destructible capsule, and a mixture is formed in which, for example, the fiber material and the first plasticizer are compatible with each other, and the destructible capsule and the fibers are fused together.

(Plasticizer Content)
The content of the plasticizer in the entire filter segment (the sum of the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer) is preferably 5 to 15% by mass, more preferably 7.8 to 13.3% by mass, more preferably 9.0 to 13.3% by mass, even more preferably 10.3 to 13.3% by mass, and most preferably 12.1 to 13.3% by mass. When the content is 5% by mass or more, the first hardened structure or the second hardened structure can be sufficiently formed, and the hardness of the filter can be adjusted. When the content is 15% by mass or less, the deterioration of the filter properties such as the air resistance due to the generation of cavities in the filter can be suppressed, and the odor due to the plasticizer can be suppressed. The content of the plasticizer is quantified by gas chromatography.

The content of the first plasticizer in the entire filter segment is preferably 0.1 to 3 mass%, more preferably 0.2 to 2 mass%, and even more preferably 0.3 to 1.5 mass%. The content of the second plasticizer in the entire filter segment is preferably 3 to 9 mass%, more preferably 4 to 8 mass%, and even more preferably 5 to 7 mass%. When the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer are the same, the content of the second plasticizer can be calculated by measuring the content of the second plasticizer after applying the second plasticizer to the fiber and before embedding the destructible capsule to which the first plasticizer is attached in the filter. The content of the first plasticizer can be calculated by subtracting the content of the second plasticizer from the total content of the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer.

When the diameter (maximum length across) of the destructible capsule is 5 mm or less (e.g., 1.0 to 3.5 mm), the plasticizer content (mass %, total of the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer) in the section near the destructible capsule in the axial direction of the filter segment, i.e., the 5 mm-wide section (capsule vicinity section) that includes the destructible capsule at its center, is preferably 1.05 times or more, more preferably 1.20 times or more, of the plasticizer content (mass %, total of the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer) in the section adjacent to the vicinity section, i.e., the section other than the vicinity section (adjacent section). By having the plasticizer content in the capsule vicinity section be 1.05 times or more than the plasticizer content in the adjacent section, the concentration of the plasticizer is high near the destructible capsule, which contributes to the formation of a cocoon-like first hardened structure that surrounds the destructible capsule. In addition, the fusion between the destructible capsule and the fiber is stronger. When a filter segment contains a plurality of breakable capsules, it is preferable that the above conditions be satisfied in all sections containing breakable capsules.

It is preferable that the filter segment is cylindrical, and the plasticizer content (mass %, total of the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer) in a cylindrical region having a diameter of 75% (preferably 65%, more preferably 55%) of the diameter of the filter segment centered on axis A, which is the central axis of the filter segment, is higher than the plasticizer content (mass %, total of the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer) in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region. Since the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region is higher than the plasticizer content in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region, the concentration of the plasticizer is high near the breakable capsule, which contributes to the formation of a cocoon-like first hardened structure that covers the breakable capsule. In addition, the fusion between the breakable capsule and the fiber becomes stronger.

It is preferred that the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region is 5-20% by mass and that the plasticizer content in the filter segments outside the cylindrical region is 3-8% by mass. It is more preferred that the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region is 6-18% by mass and that the plasticizer content in the filter segments outside the cylindrical region is 4-7% by mass. It is even more preferred that the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region is 6.7-16% by mass and that the plasticizer content in the filter segments outside the cylindrical region is 5-6.4% by mass.

In addition, when the filter segment has the second hardened structure in which fibers located near axis A are fused with a first plasticizer and fibers located in a portion extending from axis A to the peripheral portion of the filter segment are fused with a first plasticizer, it is preferable that the filter segment is cylindrical, and the plasticizer content (mass %, total of the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer) in a cylindrical region centered on axis A and having a diameter of 75% (preferably 65%, more preferably 55%) of the diameter of the filter segment, and in a fan-shaped region extending radially from axis A to the peripheral portion of the filter segment and having a central angle of 30 to 90° is higher than the plasticizer content (mass %, total of the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer) in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region and the fan-shaped region. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the content of plasticizer in the cylindrical region 33, which is centered on the axis A and has a diameter of 75% of the diameter of the filter segment, and the sectorial region 34, which extends radially from the axis A to the periphery of the filter segment 30 at a central angle Φ of 30 to 90°, is preferably higher than the content of plasticizer in the cylindrical region 33 and the region 31 outside the sectorial region 34. The plasticizer content in the cylindrical region and the sectorial region is higher than the plasticizer content in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region and the sectorial region, which contributes to the formation of a cocoon-shaped first hardened structure that covers the periphery of the breakable capsule. It also contributes to the formation of a second hardened structure that extends from the axis A to the periphery of the filter segment. Furthermore, the concentration of plasticizer is high near the breakable capsule, and the fusion between the breakable capsule and the fiber is stronger.

It is preferable that the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region and the sectorial region is 5 to 20% by mass, and the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region and the filter segment outside the sectorial region is 3 to 8% by mass. It is more preferable that the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region and the sectorial region is 6 to 18% by mass, and the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region and the filter segment outside the sectorial region is 4 to 7% by mass. It is even more preferable that the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region and the sectorial region is 6.7 to 16% by mass, and the plasticizer content in the cylindrical region and the filter segment outside the sectorial region is 5 to 6.4% by mass.

(Filter segment dimensions, physical properties)
The axial length of the filter segment is preferably short from the viewpoint of more suitably obtaining the effect of suppressing displacement of the breakable capsule in the present invention, and is, for example, preferably 5 to 15 mm, more preferably 7 to 15 mm, and even more preferably 10 to 15 mm. The ratio (d/L) of the diameter (d) of the breakable capsule to the axial length (L) of the filter segment is preferably 0.1 to 0.5, more preferably 0.15 to 0.4, and even more preferably 0.2 to 0.3. The circumferential length of the filter segment is not particularly limited, but is preferably 16 to 25 mm, and more preferably 20 to 24 mm.

The airflow resistance of the filter segment is preferably 4 to 200 mmH ₂ O. The airflow resistance of the filter segment is measured by an airflow resistance measuring device (FQA, QTM, etc.). When the filter segment is cylindrical, the circularity of the filter segment in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction is preferably 85 to 100%. The circularity is measured by a circumference measuring device (laser). The hardness of the filter segment is preferably 75 to 100%. The hardness of the filter segment is measured by the amount of deformation when a constant load of 300 gf is applied using a hardness measuring device (FQA, etc.).

(Production method of filter segments)
The method for producing the filter segment according to the present invention is not particularly limited, but for example, the filter segment can be produced using a filter segment production apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 4. First, the fiber bundle 41 is supplied from a fiber dispenser, usually in the form of compressed fiber in a veil 42. The fiber bundle 41 is stretched and relaxed in a strand processing unit 43 using compressed air and a cylinder. As a result, the fiber bundle 41 spreads out and can contain more air between the fiber bundle 41. Then, the fiber bundle 41 is moistened with a second plasticizer. For example, the second plasticizer can be uniformly sprayed on the entire fiber bundle 41, so that a predetermined amount of the second plasticizer can be uniformly added to the fiber bundle 41. Then, the fiber bundle 41 is passed through a funnel-shaped insertion member 44 to perform pre-compression of the fiber bundle 41. The insertion member 44 is usually provided with an opening so that excess air between the fiber bundles 41 can be easily discharged. A breakable capsule supply member 46 is arranged downstream of the insertion member 44, and the breakable capsule is embedded in the fiber bundle 41 by the breakable capsule supply member 46.

An enlarged view of the periphery of the breakable capsule supply member is shown in FIG. 5. The breakable capsule supply member 50 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a rotatable disk-shaped insertion wheel 53 having a plurality of breakable capsule supply pockets 55 arranged at equal intervals around the periphery. The breakable capsule supply pockets 55 can hold breakable capsules 54. The fiber bundle that has passed through the insertion member 51 is embedded continuously at equal intervals in the fiber guide member 52 with the breakable capsules 54 held in the breakable capsule supply pockets 55 of the insertion wheel 53. Here, before the breakable capsules 54 are embedded in the fiber bundle, a first plasticizer 57 is supplied to the breakable capsules 54 and the peripheral portion of the insertion wheel 53 by a first plasticizer supply member 56. The first plasticizer supply member 56 can attach the first plasticizer 57 to the surface of the breakable capsules 54 and the peripheral portion of the insertion wheel 53, for example, by spraying the first plasticizer 57. The first plasticizer supply member 56 can spray a first plasticizer 57 toward the interface between the breakable capsule 54 and the insertion wheel 53 .

In this way, by supplying the first plasticizer to the periphery of the destructible capsule and the insertion wheel in advance by the first plasticizer supply member, when the destructible capsule is embedded in the fiber bundle, for example as shown in FIG. 6, the first plasticizer 62 attached to the surface of the destructible capsule 61 and the periphery of the insertion wheel 63 adheres to and diffuses into the fibers 60 located near the destructible capsule 61 and the insertion wheel 63. Therefore, the first plasticizer attached to the surface of the destructible capsule adheres to the fibers located around the destructible capsule and fuses the destructible capsule and the fibers located around the destructible capsule. In addition, the first plasticizer attached to the surface of the destructible capsule diffuses into the fibers located around the destructible capsule, and a cocoon-shaped first hardened structure in which the fibers are fused together by the first plasticizer is formed so as to cover the periphery of the destructible capsule. Furthermore, the first plasticizer adhered to the peripheral portion of the insertion wheel diffuses to the fibers in contact with the peripheral portion of the insertion wheel, i.e., the fibers located near axis A and the fibers located in the portion extending from axis A to the peripheral portion of the filter segment, and a second hardened structure in which the fibers are fused together by the first plasticizer is formed in a rib shape.

4, the fiber bundle 41 is introduced into the wrapper unit 48, and the fiber bundle 41 is wrapped in filter wrapping paper. The filter wrapping paper is introduced into the adhesive supply unit 47 before being supplied to the wrapper unit 48, and adhesive is applied to its side edge, i.e., the glue tab, where the filter wrapping paper will overlap and be pasted after being formed into a filter segment. When the fiber bundle 41 wrapped in the filter wrapping paper passes through the wrapper unit 48, it is formed into a continuous rod-shaped body. Finally, the fiber bundle 41 wrapped in the filter wrapping paper is cut by a rotary cutting head 49 to obtain a filter segment. A schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the continuous fiber before being cut by the rotary cutting head is shown in FIG. 7. The fiber 70 shown in FIG. 7 is wrapped in filter wrapping paper 71. A cocoon-shaped first hardened structure 73 is formed around the destructible capsule 72 so as to cover the destructible capsule 72. A second hardened structure 74 is also provided continuously and approximately parallel to the axial direction of the fiber 70 (horizontal direction in FIG. 7). The fibers 70 are cut at equal intervals along the dotted lines to obtain filter segments. As the filter wrapper, any cigarette paper or filter wrapper manufactured by a paper manufacturer can be used, and in particular, 35NFB or 50NFB (product name, manufactured by Nippon Paper Papylia) can be used.

[Tobacco products]
The tobacco product according to the present invention includes a tobacco-containing segment and a filter segment according to the present invention. Because the tobacco product according to the present invention includes the filter segment according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress displacement of the breakable capsule even when an external force is applied.

Tobacco products include cigarettes such as regular cigarettes, cigars, hand-rolled cigarettes, and cigarillos; tobacco products that allow the tobacco flavor to be inhaled by heating the tobacco with a heater or steaming the tobacco (electronic cigarettes); non-combustion heated tobacco products such as tobacco products that allow the tobacco flavor to be inhaled by heating the tobacco with a carbon heat source or the like; and non-heated tobacco products that allow the tobacco flavor to be inhaled.

(cigarette)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a cigarette will be described as an example of a tobacco product according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, a cigarette 80 includes a tobacco-containing segment 81 including tobacco shreds 83 (shredded leaves, tobacco) and a cigarette paper 84 wrapped around the tobacco shreds 83, and a filter segment 82 according to the present invention provided adjacent to the tobacco-containing segment 81. The tobacco-containing segment 81 and the filter segment 82 are connected by a tipping paper member 85 wrapped around the tobacco-containing segment 81 and the filter segment 82. The tipping paper member 85 may have an air hole in a part of its outer periphery. The number of air holes may be one or more, for example, 10 to 40. When the number of air holes is more than one, the air holes are arranged in a line in a ring shape on the outer periphery of the tipping paper member 85, for example. The multiple air holes can be arranged at approximately regular intervals. By providing the air holes, air is taken into the filter segment 82 through the air holes during inhalation. By diluting the mainstream smoke with outside air from the air holes, a product with a desired tar value can be designed.

A user can enjoy the flavor of tobacco by lighting the tip of the tobacco-containing segment 81 and holding the mouth end of the filter segment 82 in their mouth and inhaling. At that time, the destructible capsule is broken, and the flavoring contained in the liquid content of the destructible capsule is mixed into the mainstream smoke, and the intended flavor is exerted in the user's mouth. In the present invention, the movement of the destructible capsule is suppressed when the destructible capsule is broken, so the user can easily break the destructible capsule at a time of their choice and enjoy the changed flavor.

The tobacco product according to the present invention may further have at least one or more second filter segments in addition to the filter segment containing the breakable capsule according to the present invention. For example, the cigarette 90 shown in FIG. 9 has a second filter segment 92 between the tobacco-containing segment 91 and the filter segment 93 according to the present invention. The second filter segment 92 may be the same as the filter segment 93 according to the present invention except that it does not have a breakable capsule, or it may be different. The second filter segment 92 can have a different function from the filter segment 93 according to the present invention, so that the filter can be endowed with multiple functions.

(Non-combustion heated tobacco products)
As another example of the tobacco product according to the present invention, an embodiment of a non-combustion heated tobacco product will be described. Non-combustion heated tobacco products belong to the field of so-called electronic cigarettes, in which tobacco-containing segments are heated by an electric heater or the like. Fig. 10 shows an example of a non-combustion heated tobacco system including a tobacco product that is a non-combustion heated tobacco product according to the present invention and a heating device that heats the tobacco product. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a tobacco product 100 and a heating device 101 cut along a plane including a central axis C.

The non-combustion heated tobacco system shown in FIG. 10 includes a heating device 101 having a battery 106, an electric heating unit 107, and a recess 108, and a tobacco product 100 that is detachably inserted into the recess 108 of the heating device 101. The recess 108 is recessed in a part of a case 109 of the heating device 101. The battery 106 is capable of charging and discharging. The electric heating unit 107 is a so-called heater, and has a heating element provided to surround the recess 108. The heating element of the electric heating unit 107 heats the tobacco-containing segment 102, causing the filling of the tobacco-containing segment 102 to release flavor into the surrounding air. The heating temperature of the tobacco-containing segment 102 by the electric heating unit 107 is, for example, 400° C. or less, which is lower than the combustion temperature (700 to 800° C.) of a heated tobacco product. By heating at such a low temperature, the amount of mainstream smoke generated from the tobacco-containing segment 102 is smaller than that of a heated tobacco product. For this reason, the lower the filtering function of the filter segments (104, 105) is compared to the filtering function of the filter segments in the heated tobacco product, the more suitable the amount of mainstream smoke that is shared in the user's mouth. That is, the axial length of the filter segments (104, 105) is preferably shorter than the axial length of the filter segments in the heated tobacco product. It is also possible to shorten the axial length of the filter segments (104, 105) and place a tube portion or other segment with a low filtering rate of mainstream smoke in the remaining area.

The tobacco product 100 is cylindrical and includes a tobacco-containing segment 102 including tobacco and an aerosol-generating substrate that generates an aerosol upon heating, a tubular segment 103 adjacent to the tobacco-containing segment 102, a second filter segment 104 adjacent to the tubular segment 103, and a first filter segment 105 according to the present invention adjacent to the second filter segment 104. The tobacco-containing segment 102, the tubular segment 103, the second filter segment 104, and the first filter segment 105 are connected by a tipping paper member 110.

The tobacco-containing segment 102 has a tobacco filler 111 containing tobacco and an aerosol-generating substrate, and a cigarette paper 112 wrapped around the tobacco filler. The tobacco may be shredded tobacco (cut leaves, tobacco), shredded tobacco sheet, a folded or circumferentially rolled tobacco sheet, or a tobacco sheet that has been pleated and gathered together. Examples of the aerosol-generating substrate include glycerin, propylene glycol, triethyl citrate, and 1,3-butanediol. The cigarette paper 112 may be paper only, or may be paper to which a metal foil with good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum foil or stainless steel foil, has been attached.

The cylindrical segment 103 is formed into a cylindrical shape, for example, from cardboard having a thickness of 100 to 300 μm so as to have a predetermined rigidity. The tipping paper member 110 is supported by the rigid cylindrical segment 103, and even when the tobacco product 100 is pressed in the direction of the central axis C, the tipping paper member 110 is prevented from being crushed in the direction of the central axis C. The tipping paper member 110 and the cylindrical segment 103 have multiple ventilation holes 113 in a part of their outer periphery. The multiple ventilation holes 113 penetrate the tipping paper member 110 and the cylindrical segment 103. The number of ventilation holes 113 can be, for example, 10 to 40. The multiple ventilation holes 113 are arranged in a line, for example, in a ring shape on the outer periphery of the cylinder. The multiple ventilation holes 113 can be arranged at regular intervals.

The second filter segment 104 may be the same as the first filter segment 105 except that it does not have a breakable capsule, or may be different. In FIG. 10, one second filter segment 104 is provided between the cylindrical segment 103 and the first filter segment 105, but two or more second filter segments 104 may be provided. In this case, the two or more second filter segments 104 may be the same as each other or may be different. The second filter segment 104 and the first filter segment 105 are connected by a second filter wrapper 114.

The user can enjoy the flavor of the tobacco product 100 in the oral cavity by inhaling through the first filter segment 105 while the tobacco product 100 is attached to the heating device 101 or by removing the tobacco product 100 from the heating device 101. Since the tobacco product 100 is provided with the first filter segment 105 according to the present invention, the movement of the breakable capsule is suppressed, the ease of breaking the breakable capsule is improved, and the convenience of the user can be improved. In particular, since the amount of mainstream smoke in the tobacco product 100 is small, there is a tendency to shorten the axial length of the first filter segment 105. However, in the present invention, even when the length of the first filter segment 105 is short, the movement of the breakable capsule member can be sufficiently suppressed. In this way, it is useful in product design to be able to effectively suppress the movement of the breakable capsule in a tobacco product 100 having a short first filter segment 105 in which the breakable capsule may fall out from the inside to the outside of the first filter segment 105.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

(1) Physical Property Evaluation [Example 1]
(Preparation of Filter Segments)
A filter segment containing a breakable capsule was produced using a filter segment manufacturing apparatus 40 shown in FIG. 4 (machine speed: 500 fpm). A fiber bundle 41, which is a cellulose acetate fiber bundle (5.9Y35, tow mass target: 0.636 g/piece), was supplied from a fiber dispenser in the form of compressed fiber of a veil 42. The fiber bundle 41 was stretched and relaxed in a strand processing unit 43 using compressed air and a cylinder, and then triacetin (hereinafter also referred to as TA) was sprayed and uniformly added to the fiber bundle 41 as a second plasticizer. The triacetin was added with the aim of achieving a content of triacetin as a second plasticizer in the fiber of 6% by mass.

After the fiber bundle 41 was passed through the insertion member 44, a destructible capsule was placed in the fiber bundle 41 by the destructible capsule supply member 46. The destructible capsule was a roughly spherical capsule with a diameter of 3.5 mm, in which a mixture of medium-chain fatty acid triglyceride, menthol, and vegetable essential oil as flavorings was covered with a film containing gellan gum, oxidized starch, and calcium chloride. The destructible capsule supply member 46 was equipped with an insertion wheel with a plurality of destructible capsule supply pockets arranged around it, and triacetin as a first plasticizer was sprayed by the first plasticizer spray member 45 on the periphery of the insertion wheel. In this example, triacetin was sprayed at 7 g/min with the goal of a content of triacetin as a first plasticizer in the fiber of 1% by mass.

The sprayed triacetin adhered to the surface of the destructible capsule and the periphery of the insertion wheel. Therefore, the triacetin adhered to the surface of the destructible capsule fused the destructible capsule with the cellulose acetate fibers present around the destructible capsule. An enlarged photograph showing the fusion is shown in FIG. 11. In addition, the triacetin adhered to the surface of the destructible capsule diffused into the cellulose acetate fibers present around the destructible capsule, and a cocoon-shaped first hardened structure in which the cellulose acetate fibers were fused together by the triacetin was formed around the destructible capsule. An enlarged photograph showing the formation of the cocoon-shaped first hardened structure is shown in FIG. 12. Note that in FIG. 12, the destructible capsule was removed for convenience and the enlarged photograph was taken. Furthermore, the triacetin adhering to the peripheral portion of the insertion wheel of the breakable capsule supply member 46 diffuses into the cellulose acetate fibers in contact with the peripheral portion of the insertion wheel, i.e., the cellulose acetate fibers located in the vicinity of the axis A and the cellulose acetate fibers located in the portion extending from the axis A to the peripheral portion of the filter segment, and a second hardened structure in which the cellulose acetate fibers are fused together by the triacetin is formed in a rib-like shape.

Then, the fiber bundle 41 was introduced into a wrapper unit 48 (product name: 50NFB, manufactured by Nippon Paper Papylia), and the fiber bundle 41 was wrapped in filter wrapping paper. The filter wrapping paper was introduced into an adhesive supply unit 47 before being supplied to the wrapper unit 48, and adhesive was applied to its side edge, i.e., the glue tab, where the filter wrapping paper will overlap and be pasted after being formed into a filter segment. When the fiber bundle 41 wrapped in the filter wrapping paper passed through the wrapper unit 48, it was formed into a continuous rod-shaped body. Finally, the rod-shaped body was cut by a rotary cutting head 49 to obtain a cylindrical continuous filter segment having a length of 120 mm in the longitudinal direction and containing eight breakable capsules, that is, a filter segment consisting of eight consecutive 15 mm filter segments. The target values of each physical property of the continuous filter segment are shown in Table 1, and the evaluation results are shown in Table 2. The evaluation of each physical property was performed by the following method.

In Example 1, two continuous filter segments were produced by the manufacturing apparatus 40 in order to quantify the first and second plasticizers, respectively. That is, triacetin was sprayed and uniformly added as the second plasticizer by the manufacturing apparatus 40, and the first plasticizer spraying member 45 of the manufacturing apparatus 40 was not operated to spray triacetin as the first plasticizer, and a continuous filter segment containing triacetin as the second plasticizer was produced. Subsequently, the first plasticizer spraying member 45 of the manufacturing apparatus 40 was operated to spray triacetin as the first plasticizer, and the remaining settings of the manufacturing apparatus 40 were left unchanged to produce a continuous filter segment containing triacetin as the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer. The former continuous filter segment was used as a sample for quantifying triacetin as the second plasticizer. The latter continuous filter segment was used as a sample for quantifying triacetin as the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer. The quantitative result of triacetin as the first plasticizer in Example 1 was obtained as the difference between the quantitative results of triacetin in the latter continuous filter segment and the former continuous filter segment.

(Evaluation of the physical properties)
<Triacetin content>
The content of triacetin in the filter segment was calculated as a percentage of the mass of the filter fiber and the mass of triacetin contained in the continuous filter segment, using the continuous filter segment containing the capsule as a sample. The mass of the filter fiber was weighed with a precision top-plate balance. The mass of triacetin was quantified by gas chromatography (Agilent Technology). The triacetin extract used for quantification was obtained by immersing the sample in 25 ml of ethanol (special grade) containing 1 mg/3 ml of anethole as an internal standard, shaking the sample at 200±10 reciprocating vibrations/min for 20 minutes, leaving the sample to stand overnight, and shaking the sample again for 20 minutes. The quantitative determination of triacetin was performed by extrapolating the data obtained by subjecting 1 μl of the extract to a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector to a calibration curve obtained in the same manner using 8 calibration curve standard solutions with triacetin concentrations ranging from 0.020 mg/ml to 5.000 mg/ml, to obtain the results. A series of measurements consisting of weighing and quantification was repeated two to three times, and the calculated results were averaged to obtain the triacetin content.

<Circularity>
The roundness of the cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the filter segment was measured by using the roundness measurement function of a laser circumference measuring instrument (non-contact roundness measuring instrument RL-2200 (trade name), manufactured by Mitutoyo).

<Air flow resistance (PD)>
The airflow resistance (PD) of the filter segments was measured using an airflow resistance meter in accordance with ISO 6565:2015.

<Coefficient of variation of airflow resistance (PD CV)>
The coefficient of variation (PD CV) of the airflow resistance was calculated by dividing the standard deviation of the measured airflow resistance by the average value.

<Hardness>
The hardness of the filter segment was calculated by applying a load of 300 grams to the filter segment with an indenter using a Rockwell hardness tester, and calculating the percentage of the diameter before and after the load.

[Example 2]
A continuous filter segment was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that triacetin was sprayed at 14 g/min with the aim of achieving a content of 2% by mass of triacetin as a first plasticizer relative to the fibers, and the physical properties were evaluated. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[Example 3]
A continuous filter segment was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that triacetin was sprayed at 21 g/min with the aim of achieving a content of 3 mass% of triacetin as the first plasticizer relative to the fibers, and the physical properties were evaluated. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[Example 4]
A continuous filter segment was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the target tow mass was changed to 0.580 g/piece, and the physical properties thereof were evaluated. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[Example 5]
A continuous filter segment was produced in the same manner as in Example 3, except that the target tow mass was changed to 0.580 g/piece, and the physical properties were evaluated. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[Comparative Example 1]
A continuous filter segment was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that triacetin was not sprayed as the first plasticizer by the first plasticizer spraying member, and the physical properties thereof were evaluated. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[Comparative Example 2]
A continuous filter segment was prepared in the same manner as in Example 4, except that the first plasticizer spraying member was not used to spray triacetin as the first plasticizer, and the physical properties of the continuous filter segment were evaluated. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

As shown in Tables 1 and 2, the filter segments of Examples 1 to 5, in which triacetin was added as the first plasticizer, exhibited physical properties equivalent to those of the filter segments of Comparative Examples 1 and 2, in which triacetin was not added as the first plasticizer. This confirmed that the local addition of the first plasticizer, in addition to the uniform addition of the second plasticizer, did not affect the physical properties of the filter segment.

[Example 6]
A continuous filter segment was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2, and the mass of triacetin (the total mass of triacetin as the first plasticizer and the second plasticizer) in the section near the destructible capsule, i.e., the 5 mm-wide section including the destructible capsule (the capsule-near section) and the section adjacent to the destructible capsule-near section (the adjacent section) was quantified, and the mass% of triacetin in the filter fiber was measured. The results are shown in Table 3.

[Comparative Example 3]
Except that the spraying of triacetin as the first plasticizer by the first plasticizer spraying member was not performed, the mass of triacetin (the total mass of triacetin as the first plasticizer and triacetin as the second plasticizer) in the section near the breakable capsule, i.e., the section of 5 mm width including the breakable capsule (the section near the capsule) and the section adjacent to the section near the breakable capsule (the adjacent section) was quantified, and the mass% of triacetin in the filter fiber was measured.The results are shown in Table 3.

As is clear from Table 3, in Comparative Example 3, the average triacetin concentration in the section near the destructible capsule (capsule-near section) was equivalent to that in the section adjacent to the destructible capsule-near section (adjacent section). In Example 6, the average triacetin concentration in the section near the destructible capsule (capsule-near section) was more than 1.05 times that in the section adjacent to the destructible capsule-near section (adjacent section).

(2) Position Misalignment Evaluation [Example 7]
(Preparation of Continuous Filter Segments)
3.5Y35 was used as the cellulose acetate fiber. A mixture of 99% by mass of triacetin (TA) and 1% by mass of cellulose acetate (CA) was used as the first plasticizer. The first plasticizer was sprayed with the aim of the content of the first plasticizer in the filter fiber of the entire filter segment being 3.0±1.5% by mass. Other than these, the same procedure was carried out as in the preparation of the filter segment of Example 1, and a continuous filter segment was prepared in which breakable capsules with a diameter of 3.5 mm were embedded at intervals of 15 mm.

(Evaluation of positional deviation of destructible capsules)
Using a clamping tester, a significant positional deviation was evaluated for a fragile capsule contained in a filter segment located at the end of a continuous filter segment (hereinafter also referred to as a terminal filter segment). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 14, a clamping member 143 of the clamping tester was used to apply pressure to the boundary between a terminal filter segment 142 having an axial length of 15 mm and a second filter segment 141 adjacent to the terminal filter segment 142 and having an axial length of 15 mm, thereby clamping the two. After clamping was completed, the continuous filter segment was moved 1 mm in the feed direction 144, the clamping point was moved 1 mm toward the terminal side, and then the process of clamping again was repeated 11 times.

The stress (rebound stress) from the terminal filter segment 142 was measured from the strain generated in the sandwiching member 143. In addition, if the frangible capsule 140 of the terminal filter segment 142 moved 3.0 mm or more after the test was completed, it was evaluated as a significant positional deviation. These evaluations were performed on 30 continuous filter segments, and the significant positional deviation rate, the maximum stress position when the center position of the frangible capsule 140 at the start of the test was set to 0 mm, the maximum stress, and the average stress were calculated. The results are shown in Table 4.

[Example 8]
A continuous filter segment was prepared in the same manner as in Example 7, except that triacetin (TA) was used as the first plasticizer, and the positional deviation was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.

[Example 9]
A continuous filter segment was prepared in the same manner as in Example 7, except that the second plasticizer was added so that the content of the first plasticizer relative to the fiber was 9% by mass, and the positional deviation was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.

[Example 10]
A continuous filter segment was prepared in the same manner as in Example 8, except that the second plasticizer was added so that the content of the first plasticizer relative to the fiber was 9% by mass, and the positional deviation was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.

[Comparative Example 4]
A continuous filter segment was prepared in the same manner as in Example 7, except that the first plasticizer was not added, and the positional deviation was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.

[Comparative Example 5]
A continuous filter segment was prepared in the same manner as in Example 9, except that the first plasticizer was not added, and the positional deviation was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.

[Comparative Example 6]
A continuous filter segment was again prepared in the same manner as in Comparative Example 5, and the positional deviation was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.

As shown in Table 4, the terminal filter segments of Examples 7 to 10, in which the first plasticizer was added, had a lower significant displacement rate of the breakable capsule than the terminal filter segments of Comparative Examples 4 to 6, in which the first plasticizer was not added. In other words, in Examples 7 to 10, the displacement of the breakable capsule was suppressed even when an external force was applied.

In addition, in Examples 7 to 10, the maximum stress was measured at a position closer to the destructible capsule than the test start position (-7.5 mm), whereas in Comparative Examples 4 to 6, the maximum stress was measured at the test start position. In Examples 7 to 10, movement of the destructible capsule was suppressed, so the stress gradually increased from the test start position and decreased after reaching the maximum stress, with the destructible capsule being crushed at the reduced clamping time. On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 4 to 6, the destructible capsule moved with each clamping, so the stress gradually decreased slightly from the test start position, and the destructible capsule was not crushed even when clamped.

Furthermore, in Examples 7 to 10, the maximum stress was significantly greater than the average stress, whereas the average stress and maximum stress were equivalent in Comparative Examples 4 to 6. In Examples 7 to 10, the movement of the destructible capsule was suppressed, so the stress was large before the destructible capsule was broken, and the maximum stress was significantly greater than the average stress. On the other hand, in Comparative Examples 4 to 6, the destructible capsule moved each time it was clamped, so although the stress decreased slightly from the test start position, there was no significant change, and the average stress and maximum stress were almost equivalent.
The present invention includes the following embodiments.
[1] A filter including fibers;
a frangible capsule embedded within the filter and positioned on a central axis of the filter segment;
A filter segment for a tobacco product comprising:
A first hardened structure covering the destructible capsule, the first hardened structure being formed by fusing the fibers located near the destructible capsule with a plasticizer; or
a second hardened structure formed by fusing the fibers located in the vicinity of the central axis of the filter segment with the plasticizer;
A filter segment having
[2] The filter segment according to [1], having the first hardened structure and the second hardened structure.
[3] The filter segment according to [1] or [2], wherein the fracturable capsule and the fiber are fused together by the plasticizer.
[4] A filter segment according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the fibers extend approximately parallel to the axial direction of the filter segment.
[5] The filter segment according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the plasticizer is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, dibutyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, di-2-methoxyethyl phthalate, dibutyl tartrate, ethyl ortho-benzoylbenzoate, ethyl phthalyl/ethyl glycolate, methyl phthalyl/ethyl glycolate, N-ethyltoluenesulfamide, triacetin, ortho-cresyl para-toluenesulfonate, triethyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, and tripropionin.
[6] The filter segment according to [5], wherein the plasticizer is triacetin.
[7] The filter segment according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the surface of the fracturable capsule is composed of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrin, polysaccharides, agar, gellan gum, gelatin, natural gelling agents, glycerin, sorbitol, and calcium chloride.
[8] The filter segment according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the fibers are cellulose acetate fibers.
[9] The filter segment according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the plasticizer content of the entire filter segment relative to the filter is 5 to 15 mass %.
[10] The filter segment according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the axial length of the filter segment is 5 to 15 mm.
[11] The filter segment according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein the fracturable capsule is approximately spherical.
[12] The filter segment according to [11], wherein the diameter of the fracturable capsule is 1.0 to 3.5 mm.
[13] The filter segment according to [12], wherein in the axial direction of the filter segment, the plasticizer content (mass%) in a 5 mm-wide section centered on the breakable capsule is 1.05 times or more the plasticizer content (mass%) in a section adjacent to the section.
[14] The filter segment is cylindrical,
The filter segment according to any one of [1] to [13], wherein a content (mass %) of the plasticizer within a cylindrical region centered on a central axis of the filter segment and having a diameter that is 75% of the diameter of the filter segment is higher than a content (mass %) of the plasticizer in a filter segment outside the cylindrical region.
[15] The filter segment according to [14], wherein the content of the plasticizer in the cylindrical region is 5 to 20% by mass, and the content of the plasticizer in the filter segment outside the region is 3 to 8% by mass.
[16] The filter segment of any one of [1] to [15], wherein the second stiffening structure extends from a central axis of the filter segment to a periphery of the filter segment.
[17] The filter segment is cylindrical,
The filter segment according to [16], wherein the content (mass %) of the plasticizer inside a cylindrical region that is centered on the central axis of the filter segment and has a diameter that is 75% of the diameter of the filter segment, and inside a sector-shaped region that extends radially from the central axis to the periphery of the filter segment and has a central angle of 30 to 90°, is higher than the content (mass %) of the plasticizer in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region and the sector-shaped region.
[18] The filter segment according to [17], wherein the content of the plasticizer in the cylindrical region and inside the prism-shaped region is 5 to 20% by mass, and the content of the plasticizer in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region and the prism-shaped region is 3 to 8% by mass.
[19] A tobacco product comprising a tobacco-containing segment and a filter segment according to any one of [1] to [18].
[20] The tobacco product according to [19], further comprising at least one second filter segment between the tobacco-containing segment and the filter segment.
[21] The tobacco product according to [19] or [20], wherein the tobacco product is a cigarette.
[22] The tobacco product according to [19] or [20], wherein the tobacco product is a non-combustion heated tobacco product.
[23] The tobacco product according to [22], wherein the tobacco-containing segment comprises tobacco and an aerosol-generating substrate.

10 filter segment 11 filter 12 destructible capsule

Claims (23)

A filter comprising fibers;
a frangible capsule embedded within the filter and positioned on a central axis of the filter segment;
A filter segment for a tobacco product comprising:
The filter segment comprises:
A first hardened structure covering the destructible capsule, the first hardened structure being formed by fusing the fibers located near the destructible capsule with a plasticizer; or
a second hardened structure formed by fusing the fibers located in the vicinity of the central axis of the filter segment with the plasticizer;
having
The breakable capsule is substantially spherical,
The diameter of the breakable capsule is 1.0 to 3.5 mm;
A filter segment, in which the plasticizer content (mass %) in a 5 mm-wide section centered on the breakable capsule in the axial direction of the filter segment is 1.05 times or more the plasticizer content (mass %) in a section adjacent to the section . A filter comprising fibers;
a frangible capsule embedded within the filter and positioned on a central axis of the filter segment;
A filter segment for a tobacco product comprising:
The filter segment comprises:
A first hardened structure covering the destructible capsule, which is formed by fusing the fibers located near the destructible capsule with a plasticizer, or
a second hardened structure formed by fusing the fibers located in the vicinity of the central axis of the filter segment with the plasticizer;
having
The filter segment is cylindrical,
A filter segment, wherein the plasticizer content (mass %) within a cylindrical region centered on the central axis of the filter segment and having a diameter that is 75% of the diameter of the filter segment is higher than the plasticizer content (mass %) in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region. A filter comprising fibers;
a frangible capsule embedded within the filter and positioned on a central axis of the filter segment;
A filter segment for a tobacco product comprising:
The filter segment comprises:
A first hardened structure covering the destructible capsule, which is formed by fusing the fibers located near the destructible capsule with a plasticizer, or
a second hardened structure formed by fusing the fibers located in the vicinity of the central axis of the filter segment with the plasticizer;
having
the second stiffening structure extends from a central axis of the filter segment to a periphery of the filter segment;
The filter segment is cylindrical,
A filter segment in which the plasticizer content (mass %) within a cylindrical region centered on the central axis of the filter segment and having a diameter that is 75% of the diameter of the filter segment, and within a sector-shaped region extending radially from the central axis to the periphery of the filter segment and having a central angle of 30 to 90° is higher than the plasticizer content (mass %) in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region and the sector-shaped region. A filter comprising fibers;
a frangible capsule embedded within the filter and positioned on a central axis of the filter segment;
A filter segment for a tobacco product comprising:
A filter segment having a first hardened structure that completely covers the destructible capsule, the first hardened structure being formed by fusing the fibers located in the vicinity of the destructible capsule together with a plasticizer. The filter segment according to claim 1 , further comprising a second hardened structure formed by fusing the fibers located in the first hardened structure and the fibers located in the vicinity of a central axis of the filter segment with the plasticizer . 6. The filter segment according to claim 1, wherein the breakable capsules and the fibers are fused together by the plasticizer. 7. The filter segment of claim 1, wherein the fibers extend generally parallel to an axial direction of the filter segment. 8. The filter segment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plasticizer is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of triethyl citrate, acetyl triethyl citrate, dibutyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, di-2-methoxyethyl phthalate, dibutyl tartrate, ethyl ortho-benzoylbenzoate, ethylphthalyl-ethyl glycolate, methylphthalyl-ethyl glycolate, N- ethyltoluenesulfonamide , triacetin, ortho-cresyl para-toluenesulfonate, triethyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, and tripropionin. 9. The filter segment of claim 8 , wherein said plasticizer is triacetin. 10. The filter segment according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the surface of the breakable capsule is composed of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrin, polysaccharides, agar, gellan gum, gelatin, natural gelling agents, glycerin, sorbitol, and calcium chloride. 11. A filter segment according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the fibres are cellulose acetate fibres. The filter segment according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the plasticizer content of the entire filter segment relative to the filter is 5 to 15 mass %. 13. The filter segment according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , wherein the axial length of the filter segment is from 5 to 15 mm. 5. The filter segment according to claim 2 , wherein the breakable capsule is generally spherical. 15. The filter segment according to claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the breakable capsule is 1.0 to 3.5 mm. 3. The filter segment according to claim 2 , wherein the content of the plasticizer within the cylindrical region is 5 to 20% by mass, and the content of the plasticizer in the filter segment outside the region is 3 to 8% by mass. 3. The filter segment of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the second stiffening structure extends from a central axis of the filter segment to a periphery of the filter segment. 4. The filter segment according to claim 3, wherein a content of the plasticizer in the cylindrical region and inside the prism-shaped region is 5 to 20% by mass, and a content of the plasticizer in the filter segment outside the cylindrical region and the prism-shaped region is 3 to 8% by mass. A tobacco product comprising a tobacco-containing segment and a filter segment according to any one of claims 1 to 18. The tobacco product of claim 19, further comprising at least one second filter segment between the tobacco-containing segment and the filter segment. The tobacco product according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the tobacco product is a cigarette. The tobacco product according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the tobacco product is a non-combustion heating tobacco product. The tobacco product of claim 22, wherein the tobacco-containing segment comprises tobacco and an aerosol-forming substrate.