200936065 六、發明說明： 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係關於用於吸菸物品例如香菸之濾嘴和濾嘴元 件，特別是纖細香菸。 【先前技術】 傳統的香菸具有大約24.5mm之圓周，'纖細/香菸 (圓周約21至23.2mm)和 '超細/香菸（圓周約16至 赢 18mm)亦係熟知。亦可能製造具有甚至更狹窄圓周之香 ❹ 菸，例如圓周在14至16mm範圍內，唯此等香菸通常商業 上不可供應。此文件的上下文中，術語 '纖細/應被解釋 爲包括具有圓周在大約14.0至23.2mm間之所有香菸及/或 香菸濾嘴。 當香菸煙霧中所選擇之化學品的產率被按比例地減少 至較煙霧中大部分的化合物（例如搭）達到較大程度時， 選擇性過濾發生。酚式化合物——舉例而言，酚、甲酚、 〇 兒茶酚、間苯二酚是香菸煙霧的熟知成分。彼等是有毒化 合物--特別’將酚和兒茶酚包括在香菸煙霧中所發現之 最危險化合物的所謂“ Hoffmann”名單中。經考慮認爲需 要可能選擇地減少被輸送至吸菸者之此等化合物的數量。 香菸減嘴中所使用之通常過濾材料是使用甘油三醋酯 所塑化之單纖維狀纖維素醋酸酯的連續纖維素，將其聚集 在一起成爲桿形式而形成濾嘴或濾嘴元件。此種連續纖維 束（及自它所形成之濾嘴和濾嘴元件）中，將纖維素醋酸 200936065 酯纖維束的絲狀纖維以縱方向佔優勢對齊。眾所周知：纖 維素醋酸酯顯示選擇性過濾作用向著酚化合物。用於“纖 細”的香菸之濾嘴與標準濾嘴相比較，將自然地包括減少 體積的纖維素醋酸酯過濾材料；可能減少任何選擇的過濾 效果，因爲有較少材料可供利用來作用於相似數量的煙 霧。因此，需要提供一種纖細據嘴其能潛在選擇地減少被 輸送至纖細香菸的吸者之酚式化合物的數量。 濾嘴纖維束的規格依據每單絲丹尼（dpf)、總丹尼及 ❹ 纖維截面形狀予以敘述。單絲丹尼之定義是9000米的單 一單絲之以克計之重量；然後，總丹尼簡單地是該dpf乘 以纖維束中單絲的數目。因此，舉例而言，一支5 Y 30000 纖維束係記述具有一種單絲之材料其具有呈一個Y形狀之 每9000米5克的dpf，其包含6000單絲產生每9000米長 度30000克的總丹尼。爲了製造具有小圓周之標準纖維素 醋酸酯（“單醋酸酯”）香菸濾嘴（即：纖細單醋酸酯濾 Q 嘴），必須使用具有低總丹尼之纖維素醋酸酯纖維束，因 爲較可被包裝入纖細產物中，關於材料的數量有限制。該 工業中眾所周知：低總丹尼纖維束（每單位重量）比較高 總丹尼纖維束較爲昂貴且低總丹尼纖維束亦有有限之商業 上可供應性。因此，需要提供—種纖細濾嘴，比平常的纖 細或超纖細單醋酸酯濾嘴它可自較廣大範圍的總丹尼之纖 維素醋酸酯纖維束造成。 【發明內容】 200936065 根據本發明提供一種菸草類香菸濾嘴或濾嘴元件，其 包括圓周在14.0至23.2mm之間（舉例而言，16至23.2mm 之間）之大^上均勻之過濾材料的圓柱形塡充物，其中該 大體上均勻之過濾材料包括複數的隨機定向之短纖維。 本文中術語“大體上均勻之過濾材料”意指一種過濾 材料其具有大體上均勻物理特性遍歷通過它之任何截面。 本文中術語“短纖維”意指特定長度的單獨個別不連 續纖維。彼此之間短纖維可隨機定向。該大體上均勻之過 ❹ 濾材料可包括複數的隨機定向之短纖維，其中一部分的隨 機定向短纖維通常橫向延伸至圓柱形塡充物的縱軸。該大 體上均勻之過濾材料可包括複數的隨機定向短纖維，其至 少 10wt% (例如 20wt%，30wt% ,40wt%，50wt%，60wt%，70wt %，80wt%或90wt% )大體上橫向延伸至圓柱形塡充物的縱 軸。 術語“隨機定向之短纖維”意指將該短纖維以三個因 Q 次隨機定向（在濾嘴或濾嘴元件中）。本文中術語“隨機 定向之短纖維”無意欲（且非）意指一種連續纖維素醋酸 酯纖維束，其個別股纖維係以縱方向顯著地對準（唯應了 解：短纖維可自此等纖維束來形成，如下文討論）》本文 中術語“隨機定向之短纖維”無意欲（且非）意指予以形 成之過濾材料的纖維網或薄片（自例如紙漿及/或纖維所形 成），然後就整個而言或大體上形成整個纖維網或薄片成 爲桿形式（例如經由包裹）。術語“隨機定向之短纖維” 200936065 並非意指兩因次之紙狀加工品（其被捲繞成卷形式）。本 文中，術語“隨機定向之短纖維”無意欲（且非）意指予 以形成之過濾材料的纖維網或薄片（自例如紙漿及/或纖維 所形成），然後切碎並形成爲桿形式。薄片或纖維網可具 有以兩因次之隨機定向但是（甚至當被切碎時）歷經加工 處理（例如壓花），因此當通過製造濾嘴之機器予以拉伸 時，彼等保持一些完整性。因此，自薄片或纖維網（甚至 ^ 切碎之薄片或纖維網）所造成之濾嘴或濾嘴元件中之纖維 Ο 是沿著濾嘴或濾嘴元件的縱軸顯著地對齊，而因此並非隨 機定向（以三因次）之短纖維。 複數的隨機定向短纖維可形成一個多孔矩陣提供通道 的迷宮——當利用作爲香菸濾嘴時，此等可充作煙的通 道。申請人發現本發明的濾嘴或濾嘴元件之性能與現有產 物可相比擬（例如經由聚集在一起成爲桿形狀之使用甘油 三醋酯所塑化之纖維素醋酸酯纖維束的縱定向單絲之連續 〇 纖維束所形成之“單醋酸酯”產物），但是申請人發現當 將它以隨機定向短纖維的形式使用時，需要20-30%較少過 濾材料（例如，纖維素醋酸酯）。除了每一濾嘴需要較少 過濾材料以外，有另外優點即：比傳統之纖細產物，可能 使用甚多的總丹尼纖維素醋酸酯纖維束。因此，除了由於 申請人之發明（因爲需要較少之材料過濾）發生之重量節 省的成本利益以外’其本身所使用之纖維束的單位成本亦 可能較廉，因爲不再需要使用（昂貴且甚少立即可供應） 200936065 低總丹尼纖維束。 申請人意外地發現與例如標準單醋酸酯濾嘴或濾嘴元 件（其不包含隨機定向之短纖維）相比較，本發明的菸草 類香菸濾嘴或濾嘴元件可提供增強移除來自菸草霧（纖細 香菸中）之酚類。當考慮到較低重量的過慮材料（纖維素 醋酸酯）時，經由本發明的濾嘴和濾嘴元件意外的減少酚 式化合物甚至更値得重視。申請人又出人意料以外地發現 與例如，標準單醋酸酯濾嘴或濾嘴元件相比較，本發明的 菸草類香菸濾嘴或濾嘴元件在例如環境條件下可能更容易 且迅速降解/ 短纖維可能由單絲狀材料造成。可將短纖維捲曲在該 項技藝中爲眾所周知。舉例而言，短纖維可能是纖維素醋 酸酯纖維或聚丙烯纖維。短纖維可能由纖維纖維束所造成 (或自它所形成），舉例而言，纖維素醋酸酯纖維束、聚 丙烯纖維束。舉例而言，短纖維可能是天然及/或合成纖 維；自天然植物原料所形成之纖維等。短纖維可能是纖維 素紙漿纖維（例如，其經由鎚磨機已予纖維化）。短纖維 可能是切割之草本植物（例如，切割之菸草葉），或自重 新構成菸草片所獲得者。短纖維可授予調味及/或過濾性質 至最終產物。短纖維可能具有大體上相同長度（或大體上 均勻長度）。短纖維可能具有多種的不同長度。舉例而言， 短纖維可能具有4mm至20mm間之長度，例如5mm至19mm 之間，例如6mm至18mm之間，例如7mm至16mm之間。 200936065 短纖維可能由一種纖維纖維束，舉例而言，纖維素醋酸酯 纖維束所造成或自它所形成，其具有每9000m長度自 14000g至55000g的總丹尼，例如每9000m長度自20000g 至50000g，例如每9000m長度，23000g至45000g，例如每 9000m 長度自 25000g 至 40000g » 該大體上均勻之過濾材料視需要可包括其他物料，舉 例而言，一種液體添加劑（例如調味料，如薄荷腦溶液）。 包含複數的隨機定向短纖維之大體上均勻之過濾材料可能 ❹ 自複數的短纖維形成，且視需要可能包括其他物質，舉例 而言，塑化劑、黏結劑材料或其他添加劑。可將短纖維在 多數的接觸點上相互接合（例如，由於塑化劑的作用）。 大體上均勻之過濾材料視需要可包括黏結劑材料。該 大體上均勻之過濾材料視需要可包括一種水溶性黏結劑材 料。水溶性材料的實例包括水溶性聚合物例如聚乙烯醇、 聚乙烯四氫吡咯酮、聚乙烯醚、澱粉、聚乙二醇和聚丙二 Q 醇；水溶性黏結劑與塑化劑例如甘油三醋酯的掺合物，及 呈顆粒形式之熱熔體水溶性黏結劑。含有水溶性黏結劑材 料可更進一步加強例如，在環境條件下濾嘴或濾嘴元件被 容易且很快降解的能力。 濾嘴或濾嘴元件可包括一或多種顆粒添加劑，例如在 該濾嘴或濾嘴元件的本體以內。該（或每）顆粒添加劑可 能是一種粉末（例如50至150μιη直徑之粒子）或顆粒狀（例 如0· 15至1.0mm直徑之粒子）。適當顆粒添加劑的實例包 200936065 括香料或吸著劑—例如活性碳、沸石、離子交換樹脂（例 如，弱驗性陰離子交換樹脂）、海泡石、砂凝膠、攀土、 分子篩、含碳之聚合物樹脂及砂藻土。 濾嘴或漉嘴元件可包括多於一種形式的短纖維。舉例 而言，除了自絲狀纖維束所形成（例如與他混合）之短纖 維以外，可將短纖維它是（例如纖維素紙漿的）纖維其經 由錘磨機已予纖維化被包括入濾嘴中。 可將短纖維（例如纖維纖維束，例如纖維素醋酸醋纖 維束）塑化。換言之，該大體上均勻之過濾材料視需要可 包括一種塑化劑。經塑化之纖維束的形成在該項技藝中是 眾所周知。舉例而言，塑化劑（它將短纖維塑化）可能是 甘油三醋酯、三甘醇二醋酸酯（TEGDA)或聚乙二醇（peg)。 短纖維可能是已塑化之纖維素醋酸酯纖維束。短纖維可能 是使用甘油三醋酯已予塑化之纖維素醋酸酯纖維束。 圓柱形塡充物的周圍，舉例而言，可能在14.0mm至 Q 23.2mm之間，舉例而言，在16至23.2mm之間，舉例而言， 在16.0mm至20mm之間，舉例而言，在16.2mm至20mm 之間，舉例而言，在16.2mm至17mm之間。 多數的隨機定向短纖維可形成一個多孔矩陣提供通道 的迷宮在過濾材料中。當經利用作爲香菸濾嘴時’該等迷 宮通道功能可能作爲煙霧之通道。 菸草類香菸濾嘴或濾嘴元件可具有大體上均勻物理特 性遍歷其任何截面，而不是自過濾材料的薄片成形產生之 200936065 更不均結構。 【實施方式】 根據本發明之特點在濾嘴和減嘴元件中，可將菸草類 香菸過濾材料用包裹紙或塡充物包裝紙包裹，舉例而言， 紙的包裹紙，例如空氣可透過之紙的包裹紙。可將顆粒添 加劑例如上文中所論述者施加至環繞過濾材料之包裹紙或 塡充物包裝紙，舉例而言，如GB 226 1 1 52中所述。 I 根據本發明，在另外特點方面提供一種複式桿，其包 〇 括如上文所述之多數的濾嘴或濾嘴元件，及/或於此在鏡像 關係終端接終端整體地連接。 可使用根據本發明之濾嘴元件作爲多段纖細濾嘴的一 段，例如二段、三段、其他複合濾嘴。此等濾嘴在該項技 藝中係眾所周知。如果使用濾嘴元件作爲多段濾嘴或在多 段濾嘴的一段中，可使用它在濾嘴的口或口端上（或其 中），或作爲濾嘴的任何其他段（或其中）。可單獨使用 〇 根據本發明之濾嘴元件，例如作爲單段纖細濾嘴（例如以 如單醋酸酯濾嘴之相同方式）。此等濾嘴在該項技藝中係 眾所周知。 根據本發明之濾嘴香菸中’將本發明之濾嘴（或包括 本發明的濾嘴元件之濾嘴）連接至一支經包裹之菸草桿使 濾嘴的一端面對菸草。舉例而言’可將濾嘴連接至被包裹 之菸草桿，其方式係經由環傾斜（ring tipping )〔它環繞 僅僅一支（被包裹）濾嘴和桿的鄰接端接合而留下很多露 -10 - 200936065 出的濾嘴包裹〕或經由完全傾斜（tipping )外部包裹（它 環繞全部濾嘴長度和菸草桿的鄰接端接合）。可將根據本 發明之任何濾嘴或濾嘴香菸不開氣孔，或經由該技藝方面 眾所周知之方法予以開氣孔，例如經由使用預打孔或空氣 可透過之塡充包裝紙及/將塡充包裝紙和傾斜外部包裹使 用雷射打孔。 根據本發明，在另外特點方面提供使用菸草類香菸濾 I 嘴或濾嘴元件，其包括包含多數的隨機定向短纖維之大體 〇 上均勻過濾材料的圓柱形塡充物，其係用於選擇地減少菸 草類香菸中之一或多種酚式化合物。根據本發明，在另外 特點方面提供使用包含多數的隨機定向短纖維之大體上均 勻之過濾材料的圓柱形塡充物作爲（或於製造時）濾嘴或濾 嘴元件’其係用於選擇地減少菸草類香菸中之一或多種酚 式化合物。 根據本發明，在另外特點方面提供使用包含多數的隨 ❹ 機定向短纖維之大體上均勻過濾材料的圓柱形塡充物作爲 (或於製造時）具有加強降解性之濾嘴或濾嘴元件。 本發明現在參照下列實例及附隨之圖式予以舉例說 明。其中’第1圖是非等比例所繪之本發明一實施例中個 別濾嘴的平面圖；及第2圖顯示第1圖濾嘴的截面。 第1圖中顯不之濾嘴1包括圓周16.9mm和長度27mm 之多孔延伸之圓柱形塡充物2，其包括自與甘油三乙酸醋 予以塑化之5Y30000纖維素醋酸酯纖維束所形成之許多隨 200936065 機定向之個別或短絲狀纖維3。如第1圖和第 示，短纖維3通常橫向延伸至元件的縱軸且輕 來而形成許多的接觸點，短纖維3在其上相互 被接合之纖維提供形成塡充物2之大體上均勻 可將如此形成之大體上均勻過濾材料敘述爲多 使用作爲香菸濾嘴時，其提供煙霧通道的迷宮 1具有大體上均勻物理特性遍歷截面。 ^ 濾嘴可經由熟知之方法來製造，舉例而言， 中所揭示之方法。因此，使纖維素醋酸酯的原 一個傳統之捆包（banding)裝置，以便分開其個 一個另外之傳統捆包裝置其可被利用來撒開纖 當薄之單絲層。然後使單絲層通經傳統之塑化 種適當塑化劑（本實例中是甘油三乙酸酯）經 在單絲，層的一面或兩面上而形成塑化之纖維束 傳統式進料設備例如一對的輥來運送已塑化之 Q 工處理裝置以便製造短纖維及將此等短纖維 桿。一種適當裝置完全詳細記述於US3,552,400 獻的第1圖中顯示。將已塑化之纖維束進料通 切割器，其切斷連續纖維束成爲多數的個別短 度基於切割器的速率與連續纖維束餵供入切割 間之關係。經由切割器所產生之短纖維藉紊流 割器吸取，此空氣流分散短纖維（並提供或增 向）並導引此等短纖維通過一多孔截頭錐形網 2圖中所顯 微地綁紮回 接合。該等 過濾材料。 孔矩陣，當 。濾嘴元件 US3,552,400 纖維束通經 別單絲，及 維束成爲相 裝置其中一 由適當噴嘴 。利用一種 纖維束至加 成形爲連續 中且在該文 過一漏斗至 纖維，其長 器中的速率 空氣流自切 加其隨機定 其較小或出 -12- 200936065 口端放置在一移動之多孔帶上。若需要，可將顆粒或其他 添加劑（未顯示）進料紊流空氣中，並在此階段，分散遍 歷過濾材料。 將多孔包封設備漸縮並使通經其中之短纖維的速率緩 慢且亦易於配置短纖維以便將一部分的纖維長度大體上橫 過產物濾嘴桿的縱軸。在多孔帶上進料短纖維，移動纖維 縱向地進入蒸汽處理室中。當將該帶和其上之纖維縱向拉 伸通過該孔時，蒸氣處理室入口上之一個孔形成大約爲短 纖維之多孔帶的縱邊緣。因此拉伸環繞纖維之帶完成將短 纖維成形爲經由該多孔帶所環繞之桿。將蒸汽施加至該帶 的多孔面且連續並直接通過它來處理被保持在其中之短纖 維。 因此，將短纖維的連接成分（例如甘油三乙酸酯）經 由蒸汽活化，同時將纖維攜帶成經由該帶所包圍之圓柱形 桿形狀形式。應注意此種加工處理在該技藝方面是眾所周 Q 知且記述於上述之美國專利中。然後將該帶和夾帶在其中 之短纖維拉伸通過一冷卻站，如在該技藝方面亦爲眾所周 知而因此元件的乾燥和冷卻（及連接成分的設定）在該冷 卻站中進行。可將如此形成之圓柱形桿包裹在塡充物包裝 紙（圖中未示）中並經由先前技藝中眾所周知之方法使用 搭接黏合劑予以封閉。當它離開冷卻站時，將造成之隨機 定向短纖維所形成之已乾燥和冷卻之連續圓柱形桿自帶上 剝離〔該帶係實質上平坦且連續繞周圍軌道迴轉至網的區 -13- 200936065 域中之一位置，自該網上收集另外之短纖維及牽引此等短 纖維進入蒸汽室中〕。當它自機器出口連續地現出時，由 隨機定向短纖維所形成之起始連續圓柱形桿被切成定限長 度供隨後使用。可將它經由例如切割設備切斷來形成單濾 嘴（例如第1圖之濾嘴1)，然後將每一者附著至一支個 別包裹之菸草桿來形成濾嘴香菸，或形成個別濾嘴元件。 然而，更通常，將連續出現之桿首切成濾嘴1(或濾嘴元 件）的雙或較大複式（通常四部組成或六部組成）長度桿 Ο 供隨後使用。複式長度濾嘴的形成（及其隨後倂合入濾嘴 香菸中）在該技藝中是眾所周知。 實例2酚的減少量 下列表1比較樣品A與具有相同因次的先前技藝單醋 酸酯濾嘴，樣品A是根據US 3,552,400的方法所造成之漉 嘴，其包括自許多的經塑化之纖維素醋酸酯的隨機定向短 纖維所形成之過濾材料。量測樣品的硬度値（其定義爲： Q 濾嘴桿的被壓縮直徑係起始桿直徑的百分率，桿的壓縮經 由通過一圓形呎所施加之已知重量歷一段特定時間期間所 產生）及壓降（PD )(以mm水錶表示）。關於所有吸菸 之樣品的酚式化合物的產率在IS ◦條件下，量測用於；甲 酚是鄰間和對甲酚的聯合產率，而Di羥基酚是氫醌、間苯 二酚和兒茶酚的聯合產率。爲了可能評估酚類對塔的比之 改變，亦量測來自香菸之塔產率。樣品A之値以先前技藝 單醋酸酯濾嘴者的％値表示（即，將單醋酸酯濾嘴之値視爲 -14- 200936065 1 00，樣品A之値以那個値的百分率表示）。 表1. 參數 樣品A 單醋酸酯 纖維束重量 77.5 100 桿硬度 99.9 100 壓降 100.6 100 塔產率* 103.1 100 尼古丁產率* 95 100 CO產率* 103.8 100 酚產率* 78.1 100 總甲酚產率* 78.5 100 二羥基酚產率* 95.9 100 酚+甲酚Μ 75.7 100 二經基酣( pg / mg之塔） 92.9 100 每單位重量纖維束，酚的減少量； 141 100 每單位重量纖維束，總甲酚的減少量. 145 100 ❹ ❹ *基於以“絕對”數字所表示之結果（即，質量/香菸） **基於以Kg / mg的褡所表示之結果 如上文所示，需要減少香菸煙霧中酚式化合物的含 量。熟知纖維素醋酸酯顯示對於酚類之選擇過濾效果，因 此，可能預期包括纖維素醋酸酯的隨機定向短纖維之（根據 本發明）濾嘴比具有相似壓降和硬度之可相比擬單醋酸酯 濾嘴在移除酚類方面可能較少有效，因爲前者含例如20至 -15- 200936065 、’ 30%較少之纖維素醋酸酯。事實上，出人意料之外該等結 果顯示：樣品A比同等的單醋酸酯產物以絕對基礎及以每 mg的塔兩者所表示之酚式化合物的減少產率。當考慮到與 單醋酸酯產物相比較，樣品A (其包括自多數的以塑化之 纖維素醋酸酯的隨機定向短纖維所形成之過濾材料）中纖 維素醋酸酯之較低重量時，樣品A中酚式化合物之減少甚 至更爲重要（樣品A包括7 7.5wt%的單醋酸酯濾嘴纖維束 Α 數量）。 〇 該等結果指示：本發明的濾嘴和濾嘴元件提供酚式化 合物的出人意外且顯著之選擇減少》 實例3降解性 將不同型式的香煙濾嘴放置入屋頂部位上之鐵絲篩網 籠中並周期性監測其重量歷12個月期間。12個月後，發現 標準單醋酸酯濾嘴的重量減少約23-30%，同時因次上可相 比之濾嘴（其包括自許多已塑化之纖維素醋酸酯的隨機定 〇 向短纖維所形成之過濾材料）的重量減少約46%。這是出 人意料以外，因爲可能預期可能發生相似重量損失。 實例4纖維束的型式 將兩種超纖細複式濾嘴桿A和B (每一者包括具有相 似於第1圖和第2圖實施例結構之本發明的四個27 mm長 度濾嘴）及一個可相比擬之標準單醋酸酯超纖細產物“對 照”的性質示出如下： -16- 200936065 A Β ‘對照， 纖維束項目 5Y30,000 4.2Υ33,000 6Υ17,000 桿長度(mm) 108 108 108 圓周(mm) 16.9 16.9 16.8 桿重量(g) 0.291 0.281 0.416 桿硬度(％) 88 89 91 27mm尖壓降(mm) 102 100 115 27mm尖褡保留率(％) 29.4 30.5 33.6 27mm尖尼古丁保留率(％) 27.1 29.7 29.3 樣品A和B中所使用之纖維束與任何標準（約24.5mm) 圓周產物中所使用者相同；然而，上述單醋酸酯對照超纖 細樣品需要較爲昂貴之低總丹尼纖維束。此實例舉例說 明：本發明的濾嘴與傳統式超纖細產物比較使用非常較高 的總丹尼纖維素纖維束來提供可接受之合格特性。 〇 【圖式簡單說明】 第1圖顯示非等比例繪製之本發明一實施例中個別濾 嘴的平面圖。 第2圖顯示第1圖濾嘴的截面。 【主要元件符號說明】 1 濾嘴 2 塡充物 3 短纖維 -17-200936065 VI. Description of the Invention: TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to filter and filter elements for smoking articles such as cigarettes, particularly slender cigarettes. [Prior Art] Conventional cigarettes have a circumference of about 24.5 mm, and 'slim/cigarettes (about 21 to 23.2 mm in circumference) and 'ultra-fine/cigarettes (about 16 to 18 mm in circumference) are also well known. It is also possible to produce a cigarette having a even narrower circumference, for example, a circumference in the range of 14 to 16 mm, and such cigarettes are generally not commercially available. In the context of this document, the term 'slim' should be interpreted to include all cigarette and/or cigarette filters having a circumference between about 14.0 and 23.2 mm. Selective filtration occurs when the yield of the selected chemical in the cigarette smoke is proportionally reduced to a greater extent than most of the compounds (e.g., laps) in the smog. Phenolic compounds - for example, phenol, cresol, catechol, and resorcinol are well known ingredients for cigarette smoke. They are toxic compounds - particularly 'the so-called "Hoffmann" list that includes phenol and catechol as the most dangerous compounds found in cigarette smoke. It has been considered necessary to selectively reduce the amount of such compounds delivered to smokers. A typical filter material used in cigarette lightening nozzles is continuous cellulose of mono-fibrous cellulose acetate plasticized with triacetin, which is gathered together into a rod form to form a filter or filter element. In such a continuous fiber bundle (and the filter and filter elements formed therefrom), the filamentary fibers of the cellulose acetate 200936065 ester fiber bundle are predominantly aligned in the longitudinal direction. It is well known that cellulose acetate exhibits selective filtration toward phenolic compounds. Filters for "slim" cigarettes will naturally include reduced volume cellulose acetate filter material compared to standard filters; it may reduce any selected filtration effects because less material is available for use A similar amount of smoke. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a slender mouthpiece that can potentially selectively reduce the amount of phenolic compound that is delivered to the slimmer of a slender cigarette. The specifications of the filter fiber bundle are described in terms of the cross-sectional shape of each of the monofilament denier (dpf), total denier and ytterbium fibers. The definition of monofilament Danny is the weight of a single filament of 9000 meters; then, the total Danny is simply the number of dpf multiplied by the number of filaments in the bundle. Thus, for example, a 5 Y 30000 fiber bundle describes a material having a monofilament having a Y shape of 5 grams per 9000 meters of dpf, which contains 6000 filaments yielding a total of 30,000 grams per 9000 meters in length Danny. In order to make a standard cellulose acetate ("monoacetate") cigarette filter with a small circumference (ie, a fine monoacetate filter Q), it is necessary to use a cellulose acetate fiber bundle with a low total denier because It can be packaged into slim products with limited amounts of material. It is well known in the industry that low total denier fiber bundles (per unit weight) are relatively high and total denier fiber bundles are relatively expensive and low total denier fiber bundles have limited commercial availability. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a slim filter that is more versatile than the usual fine denier cellulose acetate fiber bundles than the usual fine or ultrafine cellulose acetate filters. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a tobacco-like cigarette filter or filter element comprising a filter material having a circumference of between 14.0 and 23.2 mm (for example, between 16 and 23.2 mm). A cylindrical indentation wherein the substantially uniform filter material comprises a plurality of randomly oriented staple fibers. As used herein, the term "substantially uniform filter material" means a filter material having substantially uniform physical properties traversing any cross-section therethrough. The term "short fiber" as used herein means a single individual discontinuous fiber of a particular length. Short fibers between each other can be randomly oriented. The substantially uniform filter material can comprise a plurality of randomly oriented staple fibers, wherein a portion of the randomly oriented staple fibers generally extend laterally to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical charge. The substantially uniform filter material can comprise a plurality of randomly oriented staple fibers having at least 10 wt% (eg, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 40 wt%, 50 wt%, 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, or 90 wt%) extending substantially laterally. To the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical filling. The term "randomly oriented staple fiber" means that the staple fiber is randomly oriented in three (Q in the filter or filter element). The term "randomly oriented staple fiber" as used herein is not intended to mean (and does not mean) a continuous cellulose acetate fiber bundle, the individual strands of which are significantly aligned in the longitudinal direction (only known: short fibers can be used therefrom) Fiber bundles are formed, as discussed below) The term "randomly oriented staple fibers" as used herein is not intended (and is not intended) to mean a web or sheet of filter material to be formed (formed, for example, from pulp and/or fibers), The entire web or sheet is then formed into a rod form (e.g., via a wrap) as a whole or substantially. The term "randomly oriented staple fiber" 200936065 does not mean a two-order paper-like article (which is wound into a roll form). As used herein, the term "randomly oriented staple fibers" is not intended (and is not intended) to mean a web or sheet of formed filter material (formed, for example, from pulp and/or fibers), which is then chopped and formed into a rod form. The flakes or webs may have a random orientation in two dimensions but (even when shredded) have been processed (eg, embossed) so they maintain some integrity when stretched by the machine that manufactures the filter . Thus, the fibers in the filter or filter element caused by the sheet or web (or even the shredded sheet or web) are significantly aligned along the longitudinal axis of the filter or filter element, and thus are not Short fibers that are randomly oriented (three times). The plurality of randomly oriented staple fibers form a labyrinth of channels provided by the porous matrix - such channels that can be used as a cigarette when utilized as a cigarette filter. Applicants have found that the performance of the filter or filter element of the present invention is comparable to existing products (e.g., by longitudinally oriented monofilaments of cellulose acetate fiber bundles plasticized using triglyceride which are gathered together into a rod shape The "monoacetate" product formed by continuous fiber bundles, but Applicants have discovered that when used in the form of randomly oriented staple fibers, 20-30% less filter material (eg, cellulose acetate) is required. . In addition to the need for less filter material per filter, there is an additional advantage that a much larger total denier cellulose acetate fiber bundle may be used than conventional slender products. Therefore, in addition to the cost benefits of weight savings due to the applicant's invention (because less material filtration is required), the unit cost of the fiber bundles used by itself may be less expensive because it is no longer needed (expensive and even Less available immediately) 200936065 Low total Danny fiber bundle. Applicants have unexpectedly discovered that the tobacco-based cigarette filter or filter element of the present invention provides enhanced removal of tobacco from tobacco as compared to, for example, a standard monoacetate filter or filter element that does not contain randomly oriented staple fibers. Phenols in (small cigarettes). The unexpected reduction of phenolic compounds via the filter and filter elements of the present invention is even more of a concern when considering the lower weight of the over-considered material (cellulose acetate). The Applicant has unexpectedly discovered that the tobacco-based cigarette filter or filter element of the present invention may be more susceptible and rapidly degrading/short fiber, for example, under ambient conditions, as compared to, for example, a standard monoacetate filter or filter element. Made of monofilament material. Short fiber crimping is well known in the art. For example, the staple fibers may be cellulose acetate fibers or polypropylene fibers. The short fibers may be caused by (or formed from) the fiber bundles, for example, cellulose acetate fiber bundles, polypropylene fiber bundles. For example, the staple fibers may be natural and/or synthetic fibers; fibers formed from natural plant materials, and the like. The staple fibers may be cellulosic pulp fibers (e.g., they have been fiberized via a hammer mill). Short fibers may be cut herbaceous plants (for example, cut tobacco leaves) or those obtained from reconstituted tobacco sheets. Short fibers can impart flavoring and/or filtration properties to the final product. The staple fibers may have substantially the same length (or substantially uniform length). Short fibers can have a variety of different lengths. For example, the staple fibers may have a length between 4 mm and 20 mm, such as between 5 mm and 19 mm, such as between 6 mm and 18 mm, such as between 7 mm and 16 mm. 200936065 Short fibers may be caused by or formed from a bundle of fibrous fibers, for example, from 14000 g to 55000 g per 9000 m length, for example from 20,000 g to 50,000 g per 9000 m length. For example, every 9000 m length, 23,000 g to 45000 g, for example from 25000 g to 40,000 g per 9000 m length » The substantially uniform filter material may optionally include other materials, for example, a liquid additive (eg, a seasoning such as a menthol solution) . A substantially uniform filter material comprising a plurality of randomly oriented staple fibers may be formed from a plurality of short fibers, and may include other materials as desired, for example, plasticizers, binder materials, or other additives. Short fibers can be joined to each other at a plurality of contact points (e.g., due to the action of a plasticizer). The substantially uniform filter material can include a binder material as desired. The substantially uniform filter material can include a water soluble binder material as desired. Examples of the water-soluble material include water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene tetrahydropyrrolidone, polyvinyl ether, starch, polyethylene glycol, and polypropylene glycol; water-soluble binders and plasticizers such as triacetin a blend, and a hot melt water soluble binder in the form of particles. The inclusion of a water-soluble binder material further enhances, for example, the ability of the filter or filter element to be easily and quickly degraded under ambient conditions. The filter or filter element can include one or more particulate additives, such as within the body of the filter or filter element. The (or each) particulate additive may be a powder (e.g., particles of 50 to 150 μm diameter) or granules (e.g., particles of 0·15 to 1.0 mm diameter). Examples of suitable particulate additives 200936065 include perfumes or sorbents - such as activated carbon, zeolites, ion exchange resins (eg, weakly anion exchange resins), sepiolite, sand gel, rock climbing, molecular sieves, carbonaceous Polymer resin and diatomaceous earth. The filter or mouthpiece element can include more than one form of staple fiber. For example, in addition to the short fibers formed from the filamentary fiber bundle (for example, mixed with him), the staple fibers may be fibers (for example, cellulose pulp) which have been fiberized by a hammer mill and included in the filter. In the mouth. Short fibers (e.g., bundles of fiber fibers, such as cellulose acetate vinegar fiber bundles) can be plasticized. In other words, the substantially uniform filter material can include a plasticizer if desired. The formation of plasticized fiber bundles is well known in the art. For example, the plasticizer (which plasticizes the short fibers) may be triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate (TEGDA) or polyethylene glycol (peg). The staple fiber may be a bundle of plasticized cellulose acetate fibers. The short fiber may be a cellulose acetate fiber bundle which has been plasticized using triacetin. The circumference of the cylindrical filling, for example, may be between 14.0 mm and Q 23.2 mm, for example between 16 and 23.2 mm, for example between 16.0 mm and 20 mm, for example Between 16.2 mm and 20 mm, for example, between 16.2 mm and 17 mm. Most of the randomly oriented staple fibers form a porous matrix that provides channels for the labyrinth in the filter material. When used as a cigarette filter, these fascinating channel functions may act as a passage for smoke. The tobacco cigarette filter or filter element can have substantially uniform physical characteristics traversing any of its cross-sections, rather than the more uneven structure of the 200936065 resulting from the sheet forming of the filter material. [Embodiment] According to the features of the present invention, in a filter and a nozzle element, a tobacco-based cigarette filter material can be wrapped with a wrapping paper or a wrapping paper, for example, a wrapping paper of paper, such as air permeable. Paper wrapping paper. A particulate additive, such as those discussed above, can be applied to the wrapper or wrapper wrapping paper surrounding the filter material, for example, as described in GB 226 1 1 52. In accordance with the present invention, in a further feature, a multiple pole is provided that includes a plurality of filter or filter elements as described above, and/or that is integrally connected at the mirrored terminal termination terminal. The filter element according to the present invention can be used as a section of a multi-stage slim filter, such as a two-stage, three-stage, other composite filter. These filters are well known in the art. If a filter element is used as a multi-segment filter or in a section of a multi-section filter, it can be used on the mouth or mouth end of the filter (or in it) or as any other segment of the filter (or therein). Can be used alone 滤 The filter element according to the invention, for example as a single-stage slim filter (for example in the same way as a monoacetate filter). Such filters are well known in the art. In the filter cigarette according to the present invention, the filter of the present invention (or the filter comprising the filter element of the present invention) is attached to a wrapped tobacco rod such that one end of the filter faces the tobacco. For example, a filter can be attached to a wrapped tobacco rod by ring tipping (which surrounds only one (wrapped) filter and the abutment end of the rod to leave a lot of dew - 10 - 200936065 Out of the filter wrap] or via a fully tipping outer wrap (which wraps around the entire filter length and the abutting end of the tobacco rod). Any of the filter or filter cigarettes according to the present invention may be vented or vented via methods well known in the art, such as by using pre-punched or air permeable squeegee and/or packaging. Paper and slanted outer wraps are laser-punched. According to the present invention, there is provided, in terms of additional features, the use of a tobacco-based cigarette filter or filter element comprising a cylindrical intumescent material comprising a plurality of generally randomly oriented short fibers of a randomly oriented staple fiber for selective use Reduce one or more phenolic compounds in tobacco-based cigarettes. According to the present invention, there is provided, in a further feature, a cylindrical filling using a substantially uniform filter material comprising a plurality of randomly oriented staple fibers as (or at the time of manufacture) a filter or filter element for selectively Reduce one or more phenolic compounds in tobacco-based cigarettes. In accordance with the present invention, a cylindrical impregnate comprising a substantially uniform filter material comprising a plurality of directional short fibers of the machine is provided as a filter or filter element having enhanced degradability (or at the time of manufacture). The invention will now be exemplified with reference to the following examples and the accompanying drawings. Wherein the first drawing is a plan view of a separate filter according to an embodiment of the present invention which is not shown in proportion; and the second drawing shows a cross section of the filter of Fig. 1. The filter 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a porously extending cylindrical filling 2 having a circumference of 16.9 mm and a length of 27 mm, which comprises a bundle of 5Y30000 cellulose acetate fibers plasticized with glycerol triacetate. Many individual or short filament fibers are oriented with the 200936065 machine. As shown in Figure 1 and the illustration, the staple fibers 3 generally extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the element and are lightly formed to form a plurality of contact points on which the fibers from which the staple fibers 3 are joined to each other provide substantially uniform formation of the entanglement 2. The substantially uniform filter material so formed can be described as having a multi-use as a cigarette filter, the labyrinth 1 providing a smoke passage having a substantially uniform physical property traversing cross section. ^ Filters can be made by well known methods, for example, the methods disclosed therein. Thus, the original conventional banding device for cellulose acetate is used to separate one of its other conventional baling devices which can be utilized to spread the thin monofilament layer. The monofilament layer is then passed through a conventional plasticizer, a suitable plasticizer (triglyceride in this example), to form a plasticized fiber bundle conventional feed device on one or both sides of the monofilament, the layer. For example, a pair of rollers are used to transport the plasticized Q processing equipment to produce staple fibers and such short fiber rods. A suitable device is described in full detail in Figure 1 of US 3,552,400. The plasticized fiber bundles are fed through a cutter which cuts the continuous fiber bundle into a plurality of individual shortnesses based on the relationship between the cutter speed and the continuous fiber bundle feeding and cutting. The short fibers produced by the cutter are sucked by a turbulent flow cutter that disperses the short fibers (and provides or increases the direction) and directs the short fibers through a porous frustoconical mesh 2 The ground is tied back to the joint. These filter materials. Hole matrix, when. Filter element US3,552,400 The fiber bundle passes through the monofilament, and the beam is made into one of the phase devices by the appropriate nozzle. Utilizing a fiber bundle to form into a continuous and in the context of a funnel to fiber, the rate of air flow in the length of the device is self-cutting and it is randomly set to be smaller or out of the -12-200936065 mouth end placed in a moving On the porous belt. If desired, particles or other additives (not shown) may be fed into the turbulent air and, at this stage, dispersed throughout the filter material. The porous encapsulating device is tapered and the rate of short fibers passing therethrough is slow and the staple fibers are also readily configurable to substantially span a portion of the fiber length across the longitudinal axis of the product filter rod. Short fibers are fed over the porous belt and the moving fibers enter the steam processing chamber longitudinally. When the belt and the fibers thereon are longitudinally drawn through the aperture, a hole in the inlet of the vapor processing chamber forms a longitudinal edge of the porous strip of approximately short fibers. Thus stretching the belt around the fiber completes forming the short fibers into a rod that is surrounded by the porous belt. Steam is applied to the porous face of the belt and the short fibers held therein are treated continuously and directly therethrough. Therefore, the joint component of the short fibers (e.g., triacetin) is activated by steam while carrying the fibers in the form of a cylindrical rod shape surrounded by the belt. It should be noted that such processing is well known in the art and is described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent. The strip and the staple fibers entrained therein are then drawn through a cooling station, as is well known in the art, so that drying and cooling of the components (and setting of the joining components) is carried out in the cooling station. The cylindrical rod thus formed can be wrapped in an overwrap wrapper (not shown) and closed using a lap adhesive as is well known in the art. When it leaves the cooling station, the dried and cooled continuous cylindrical rod formed by the randomly oriented short fibers is peeled off from the belt (the belt is substantially flat and continuously wraps around the surrounding track to the area of the web-13- 200936065 One location in the field, collecting additional short fibers from the net and pulling these short fibers into the steam chamber]. When it emerges continuously from the machine exit, the initial continuous cylindrical rod formed by randomly oriented staple fibers is cut to a defined length for subsequent use. It can be cut off by, for example, a cutting device to form a single filter (such as filter 1 of Figure 1), and then each attached to an individually wrapped tobacco rod to form a filter cigarette, or to form individual filters element. More generally, however, a double or larger duplex (usually a four-part or six-part) length rod that cuts the continuously occurring rod head into a filter 1 (or filter element) for subsequent use. The formation of a duplex length filter (and its subsequent incorporation into a filter cigarette) is well known in the art. Example 2 Reduction of Phenols Table 1 compares Sample A with a prior art monoacetate filter having the same order, Sample A is a mouthpiece resulting from the method of US 3,552,400, which includes a number of plasticized fibers. A filter material formed from randomly oriented short fibers of acetate. The hardness 値 of the sample is measured (defined as: the compressed diameter of the Q filter rod is the percentage of the diameter of the starting rod, and the compression of the rod is generated by a known weight applied through a circular crucible for a specific period of time) And pressure drop (PD) (in mm water meter). The yield of the phenolic compound for all smoking samples was measured under IS ◦ conditions; cresol was the combined yield of o- and p-cresol, and Di hydroxyphenol was hydroquinone, resorcinol Combined yield with catechol. In order to possibly assess the change in the ratio of phenol to column, the yield from the tower of the cigarette was also measured. Sample A is expressed as % of the prior art monoacetate filter (i.e., the monoacetate filter is considered to be -14-200936065 00, and sample A is expressed as a percentage of that enthalpy). Table 1. Parameter Sample A Monoacetate fiber bundle weight 77.5 100 Rod hardness 99.9 100 Pressure drop 100.6 100 Column yield * 103.1 100 Nicotine yield * 95 100 CO yield * 103.8 100 Phenol yield * 78.1 100 Total cresol production Rate* 78.5 100 Dihydroxyphenol yield* 95.9 100 Phenol + cresine oxime 75.7 100 Dipyridyl ruthenium (pg / mg tower) 92.9 100 Fiber bundle per unit weight, phenol reduction; 141 100 Fiber bundle per unit weight , total cresol reduction. 145 100 ❹ ❹ *based on the results expressed as "absolute" numbers (ie, quality / cigarettes) ** based on the results expressed in Kg / mg 褡 as shown above, need to be reduced The content of phenolic compounds in cigarette smoke. It is well known that cellulose acetate exhibits a selective filtration effect on phenols, and therefore, it is possible to expect a filter of a randomly oriented staple fiber comprising cellulose acetate (according to the invention) to have a comparable pressure drop and hardness comparable to monoethyl acetate. Filters may be less effective at removing phenols because the former contains, for example, 20 to -15-200936065, '30% less cellulose acetate. In fact, unexpectedly, these results show a reduction in the yield of sample A over the absolute monobasic product and the phenolic compound represented by both per mg of the column. When considering the lower weight of cellulose acetate in sample A (which includes the filter material formed from the majority of randomly oriented staple fibers of plasticized cellulose acetate) compared to the monoacetate product, the sample The reduction of the phenolic compound in A is even more important (sample A includes 7 7.5 wt% of the number of monoacetate filter fiber bundles). 〇The results indicate that the filter and filter elements of the present invention provide an unexpected and significant reduction in the selectivity of the phenolic compound. Example 3 Degradability Two different types of cigarette filters are placed in the wire mesh cage on the roof. Medium and periodically monitor its weight over a 12 month period. After 12 months, the weight of the standard monoacetate filter was found to be reduced by approximately 23-30%, while at the same time being compared to the filter (which included a randomization of many plasticized cellulose acetates) The weight of the filter material formed by the fibers is reduced by about 46%. This is unexpected, as it is expected that similar weight loss may occur. Example 4 Types of Fiber Bundles Two ultrafine slender filter rods A and B (each including four 27 mm length filters of the present invention having structures similar to those of the first and second embodiment) and one The properties of the comparable standard monoacetate ultrafine product "control" are shown below: -16- 200936065 A Β 'Control, fiber bundle project 5Y30,000 4.2Υ33,000 6Υ17,000 rod length (mm) 108 108 108 Circumference (mm) 16.9 16.9 16.8 Rod weight (g) 0.291 0.281 0.416 Rod hardness (%) 88 89 91 27mm tip pressure drop (mm) 102 100 115 27mm tip retention (%) 29.4 30.5 33.6 27mm tip nicotine retention rate ( %) 27.1 29.7 29.3 The fiber bundles used in samples A and B are the same as those used in any standard (about 24.5 mm) circumferential product; however, the above monoacetate control ultrafine sample requires a relatively expensive low total Danny. Fiber bundles. This example illustrates that the filter of the present invention uses a very high total denier cellulose fiber bundle to provide acceptable acceptable characteristics as compared to conventional ultrafine products. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an individual filter in an embodiment of the present invention which is not drawn in proportion. Figure 2 shows the cross section of the filter of Figure 1. [Main component symbol description] 1 Filter 2 Filling 3 Short fiber -17-