US2185293A - Cigarette and process of treating same - Google Patents

Description

L. G. COPEMAN CIGARETTE AND PROCESS OF TREATING SAME Filed July 24, 1930 INVENTOR ZLOYD G. COPE/MN Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Lloyd G. Copeman, Flint, Mich., assignor to Copeman Laboratories Company, Flint, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application July 24, 1930, Serial No. 471,146

12 Claims.

This invention relates to cigarettes and process of treating same, and has to do particularly with a novel process of treating one or both ends of a cigarette whereby to securely bind tobacco in position without materially obstructing the natural air passageways through such bonded tobaoco.

It has long been appreciated that the coating of the end of a cigarette to form a mouthpiece and the bonding together of tobacco in the end to prevent it from coming out into the mouth would be a very desirable feature and there have been many attempts to embody such feature in the cigarette without materially detracting from the natural properties of the cigarette to which the experienced smoker is accustomed. Some attempts for so treating cigarettes are well illustrated in the two patents to Sondheim No. 556,218 of 1896 and No, 1,013,825 of 1912. The main dimculty in solving the problem of so treating the cigarette seems to be in the providing of suitable air passageways through the bonded part of the tobacco.

It is an object of the present invention to so treat the end of a cigarette as to positively coat or bind tobacco strands in the end of a cigarette without appreciably aifecting the natural air passageways through the cigarette. This is preferably accomplished by dipping the end of the cigarette in a solution containing a bonding substance and a solvent and allowing the solvent to evaporate whereby the bonding substance coalesces around the tobacco strands.

Another object of the invention resides in mixing a finely ground substance in the solution, which substance does not detract from the binding properties of the binding substance but which materially aids in the application of a smooth, attractive coating which serves as a mouthpiece for the end of the cigarette. This filler substance may be also such as to make the treated portion of the paper non-inflammable while the binder substance deposited upon the strands of tobacco will serve to choke out or smother the burning tobacco when the cigarette is consumed to the point at which the tobacco is treated.

Another object of the invention resides in the use of a highly dispersed material or suspension characterized by a high excess of liquid solvent which, when evaporated, will leave behind it solids much smaller in volume than occupied by the original liquid. The efiect is to coat the strands of tobacco with a new integument rather than to fill the spaces in between such strands of tobacco. Another object of the invention resides in the use of a solvent which will not cause shrinkage of the paper during evaporation thereof.

Another object in the use of a highly volatile medium for the dispersed or suspension is to enable the fluid to travel and penetrate around the strands of tobacco then to evaporate very quickly thereby binding the strands together without giving the tobacco a chance to stain the paper. Still further objects of the invention reside in the use of a colloidal solution or suspension which will evenly coat the outside of the cigarette producing a distinct even line of demar cation between the treated portion and the untreated portion.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic illustration of one manner of coating the ends of cigarettes during the manufacture thereof.

Fig. 2 illustrates the step of dipping the end of the cigarette in the treating solution.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional illustration of the end of the cigarette having been treated according to my novel process.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the end of a cigarette treated with a substance subject to the capillarity of the paper in addition to its binding properties.

The treatment herein described is applicable to any kind or type of cigarette and to either or both ends thereof. Its application to the end of the cigarette which is usually placed in the mouth is desired to give slightly difierent results than the treating of the other end of the cigarette in that the treatment of the one end is to form a mouthpiece, to bond the strands of tobacco together so as to prevent their discharge from the cigarette, and to harden such end of the cigarette but still leave the same slightly resilient; while the treating of the other end of the cigarette is preferably only suflicient to keep the tobacco from falling out during the normal handling thereof and prior to lighting.

The preferred procedure consists in the preparation of a solution of a binder dissolved in a suitable volatile solvent. This binder may be held in true solution, in colloidal solution or may be held in suspension, but the main point is that the cigarette is dipped into, or otherwise treated with, this solution and removed and preferably subjected to heat or a blast of air whereby the solvent is quickly evaporated and leaves behind it the binding substance in the form of a solid, or semi-solid, which is smaller in volume than that occupied by the original liquid with the result that such binding substance coalesces around and binds the strands of tobacco together; any suitable binder may be utilized together with any volatile solvent and I have generally found that better results are obtained the more volatile the solvent and where the solvent forms the greater percentage of the treating solution. It will here be understood that I do not wish to be limited to any particular solution and that I may use a true solution, a colloidal solution, a natural solution, or in fact any substance wherein the carrying agent is volatile and that the word solution when generally used in the specification and claims is to be given such broad interpretation.

A preferred solution may be prepared by dissolving strips of celluloid in a solvent such as acetone. The proportion of acetone will vary considerably according to the kind of paper used in the manufacture of the cigarette and also with the type of tobacco and its porosity. In most cases the solvent will form the greater proportion of the solution. To this solution of celluloid and a solvent I preferably add a metallic powder such as aluminum powder or bronze powder. This powder not only forms the filler but will give a smooth attractive coating in forming the mouthpiece of the cigarette. Any suitable filler other than said powdered aluminum or bronze may be used and by using such a filler any possible tendency towards discoloration of the paper is completely concealed. It have found that this filler will not detract in any way from the coalescing of the binder around the tobacco strands and leaves the air passageways through the tobacco substantially the same as before the treatment.

The cigarette is preferably dipped in such solution for only a short time and then removed whereupon the solvent quickly evaporates. This evaporation is preferably accelerated by any suitable means such as by heating or drying and the remaining portion of the solution consisting of the celluloid or other binder and the filler coalesces around and binds together the strands of tobacco. While such depositing of the solids from the solution need not cover all of the surfaces of the strands of tobacco, it can be-considered as forming a very thin film around the individual strands of tobacco and as binding the tobacco strands together at their points of contact.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the end of a cigarette I as being dipped in a solution 2 containing the binding material in true solution or in suspension. Because the solvent or carrying vehicle forms such a great part of the solution it will be obvious that this solution will enter into and surround the strands of tobacco 3 to a relatively great extent. While the end of the cigarette is preferably not left in the solution long enough for the same to travel up in the inside of the cigarette to the same level as the solution on the outside, nevertheless, such solution does travel up into the cigarette a sumcient extent to give the result desired.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated as far as possible the result of the evaporation of the solvent or carrying vehicle and the depositing of the binder and/or filler around the strands of tobacco and also as a coating for the outside of the paper, and also upon the inside of the paper.

In Fig. 4 I have illustrated the result of dipping a cigarette in a solution wherein the solvent or carrying vehicle is affected by the capillarity of the paper. This produces jagged edges 5 at the end of the treated portion. I have found that such jagged edges usually result where a relatively small percentage of volatile solvent is used, or a less volatile solvent is used, the reason apparently being that where the evaporation of the solvent is slow. sumcient time elapses for the paper to absorb some of the treating solution and as the capillarity of the paper is not even the jagged edges result. However, the result is substantially the same regardless of whether a jagged edge is formed or a straight edge is formed as is the case where a high volatile solvent is used and where a filler, such as metallic powder, is used.

I have found that the use of a filler, such as metallic powder, has several unexpected advantages in addition to giving a smooth outer surface in forming the mouthpiece of the cigarette. This metallic powder seems to assist in preventing shrinkage of the paper and also seems to assist in obtaining a. quick depositing of the solvent materials held in solution or suspension in the liquid.

Due to the various physical properties of different cigarettes I have found it almost impossible to reach any definite proportions of solution to suit allcases, but I have found that when a high volatile solvent is used with a cellulose derivative such as gun-cotton and a small amount of metallic powder added to the solution that I do obtain an even line to distinguish the treated portion from the untreated portion and a smooth coating on the outside. Furthermore, I have further found that the use of a filler such as a metallic powder automatically extinguishes the cigarette when it is burned down to the treated portion. Repeated tests of different cigarettes have shown that they will automatically burn down to a point immediately adjacent the treated portion of the cigarette and then will be immediately extinguished. In view of this phenomenon I preferably dip the cigarette in the solution from approximately three-fourths of an inch to one inch so that, if, after the cigarette is partly consumed, and the user lays it down on the edge of a table or the like the cigarette will burn down to the treated portion without injuring the table or other support; the threefourths to an inch being sufllclent as in most cases the user does not place the cigarette on a support until it is partly consumed.

In Fig. 1 I have diagrammatically illustrated one manner of treating the ends of cigarettes which process may be used in connection with automatic machinery now in use for making and packaging cigarettes. Suitable belts 6 and I may be utilized in carrying the cigarettes, say from the wrapping machine to the packaging machine. In their course of travel these belts may be tilted so that the cigarettes assume a vertical position. At a position below the belts a suitable trough 8 may be positioned which trough may contain a supply of treating solution 2. This trough 8 may be intermittently moved upwardly so as to treat a gang of cigarettes or may be moved along at the same speed as the belt for a predetermined distance, the reason for this being to obtain an even coating around the end of the cigarette. The particular means used for dipping the cigarette is not important as it does not embody a part of the present invention.

Other solutions that may be used may consist of a solution of collodion in ether or alcohol, or a mixture of the two, or I may use latex in which water is the solvent or carrying agent. I have the same.

found that some of these solutions cause a slight shrinkage of the paper and others cause a slight discoloration of the paper. A mixture of metallic powder or other coloring agent will cover up any discoloration and the amount of shrinkage is not usually such as to be objectionable. In all such cases the use of a metallic powder or similar filler seems to be advantageous for the reasons above pointed out. However, I have found that where such filler is used and the solution consists of merely collodion or some similar substance that it is effective in causing extinguishing of the cigarette when consumed to a point adjacent the treated portion. The depositing of the solid substance on the strands of tobacco by the evaporation of the carrying agent or solvent seems to efiectively choke the tobacco strands themselves so as to positively prevent the burning of the tobacco past the treated portion. What the effect of the coating on the outside of the paper has on preventing burning of the paper I am not certain and it will be obvious that I may use other treating solutions than those mentioned to obtain this important function of automatically extinguishing the cigarette.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a cigarette wherein the strands of tobacco at one or both ends are bonded together without appreeiably disturbing the numerous interstices between such strands. The treated end of the tobacco is materially stiffened while at the same time being slightly resilient so that it can be held in the teeth of the smoker without crushing The dipping of the cigarette in the solution results in the forming of a natural mouthpiece coated for the outside of the cigarotte, and this coating in addition to preventing the lips from sticking to the cigarette also prevents the paper from becoming dampened. The bonding of the strands of tobacco also prevents the'same from loosening and dropping out of the wrapper.

Other solutions which might efiectively be used in the treatment of cigarettes include certain natural or synthetic gums or resins dissolved in a highly volatile liquid, for example, vinylite resins, or glyptal resins in acetone give the desired result as a treating agent. Another very desirable solution is a cellulose acetate solution; no camphor is used in the preparation of cellulose acetate solutions and, furthermore, they are noninflammable. An 8% solution of cellulose acetate has been found to give very desirable results.

What I claim is:

1.The method of treating cigarettes, which comprises dipping an end thereof in a liquid comprising a binding material held in solution by a volatile solvent and withdrawing the cigarette from said liquid whereby said solvent evaporates and allows the binding material to be deposited around the individual strands of tobacco.

2. The method of binding together the strands of tobacco in a cigarette without materially blocking the air passageway through the tobacco, which comprises dipping an end of the cigarette in a solution containing a colloidal substance and a solvent, and removing the solvent and permitting the colloidal substance to coalesce around and unite the individual tobacco strands.

3. The process of treating the ends of cigarettes which comprises treating all of the tobacco within one-fourth of an inch of the end of the cigarette with a solution consisting of a binder material, a solvent, and a finely dispersed filler, and then removing said solvent whereby the binder material coalesces around the tobacco strands and the binder and filler form a coating on the outside of the end of the cigarette.

4. The process of treating the ends of cigarettes which comprises dipping the end of the cigarette in a solution consisting of a binder material, a solvent, and a finely dispersed filler, and then removing said solvent whereby the binder material coalesces around the tobacco strands and the binder and filler form a coating on the outside of the end of the cigarette, and accelerating the removal of said solvent whereby to flx said coating and prevent shrinking and discoloration of the paper.

5. The art of treating the ends of cigarettes comprising coating the inside and outside of the end of the cigarette paper and the individual strands of tobacco only with a solution of binding substance, a finely dispersed filler and a volatile solvent, the solvent being in such excess of the binding substance as to deposit upon the strands of tobacco and the inside and outside of the end of the paper an integument of the substance and to leave open the interstices between the strands upon evaporation of the solvent.

6. The art of treating the ends of cigarettes comprising coating the inside and outside of the end of the cigarette paper and the individual strands of tobacco only with a solution of guncotton and allowing the solvent to evaporate.

'7. The method of treating cigarettes having strands of tobacco confined in a wrapper, which comprises applying to strands of tobacco in one or both ends thereof a solution of highly volatile cellulose acetate.

8. A cigarette having the strands of tobacco and the inside of one end of the cigarette paper coated with a bonding substance existing as a relatively thin covering around the discrete strands of tobacco and on the paper and extending back at least one-fourth of an inch from the end of the cigarette, the strands being bonded together only at their points of contact and substantially all the natural interstices, existing between the strands before coating, remaining open.

9. A process of treating the tobacco strands in a cigarette, comprising making a solution including a binder and a solvent for holding the same in solution, coating all of the tobacco strands and the inside and outside of one end of the cigarette paper within one-fourth of an inch from the end of the cigarette with this solution and removing the solvent and permitting the binder to unite the strands of tobacco and coat the inside and outside of the paper.

10. A cigarette or like article having a portion of the tobacco therein bonded against disintegration by the presence therein of a thin reinforcing coating containing a filler around all the discrete strands of tobacco and on the inside and outside of one end of the cigarette paper and extending back at least one-fourth of an inch from the end of the cigarette, substantially all the natural interstitial spaces between the strands remaining open.

11. A cigarette having strands of tobacco at the end thereof bonded together by binding material containing a filler surrounding the individual strands of tobacco and the inside of one end of the cigarette paper only as a thin coating and for a considerable distance from the end of the cigarette and leaving all the natural interstices therebetween substantially open, and a layer of said binding material and filler on the outside of the cigarette and forming a mouthpiece substantially three-fourths of an inch long.

12. The method of treating' cigarettes having thin strands of tobacco rather loosely confined in an outer substantially cylindrical wrapper, which comprises impregnating the individual discrete strands of tobacco and the inside and outside of one end of the cigarette paper, and to a considerable distance from, one end of the wrapper with a coating including a binder carried by a solvent, evaporating the solvent and depositing the binder in a thin substantially continuous sheath on the inside and outside of the paper and around the individual strands of tobacco at the points where they cross or contact with each other, whereby the interstitial spaces between the strands of tobacco at and for a considerable distance from the treated end of the cigarette remain open and the strands bonded to each other through the medium of the thin deposited sheath so as to prevent the strands from falling from the cigal0 rette during smoking of the same.

LLOYD G. COPEMAN.

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