Philip Morris USA Inc.

E.i. Dupont De Nemours and Company

Philip Morris Products S.a.

Jing C Chang

Lixin Xue

Szu-Sung Yang

Joseph V Kurian

Lixin L Xue

Raymond Longhi

Nirmal K Agarwal

Michael B Maher

Richard Lee Dommel

Steven D Beare

Gregory A Urove

John J Kozlowski

Shirley Ha

A filter rod comprises a core of cellulose acetate fibers surrounded by a lofty porous network of charge retaining polymer fibers. The charge retaining fibers can be charged to attract and hold particles from such sources as particulate matter from sorbents (preventing break-through), and smoke constituents while having a suitable pressure drop.

Filter rod including electrostatically charged fibers

Provided are a method and apparatus for making a cigarette filter assembly for potentially reducing particle breakthrough. The method includes forming a lofty porous network of charge retaining polymer fibers by mechanical, chemical or thermal bonding of the fibers, wrapping the lofty porous network in a cylindrical or tubular shape with optional mediating filter fibers in a filter paper to form a filter plug while maintaining the lofty structure. The charge retaining fibers can be charged to attract and hold particles from such sources as particulate matter from sorbents (preventing break-through), and smoke constituents while having a suitable pressure drop. The apparatus handles the lofty media with minimal crushing, for example, by spacing apart delivery rolls equipped with protrusions to punch, push, and/or pull the lofty media ahead for high speed operation.

Method and apparatus for manufacture of smoking article filter assembly including electrostatically charged fibers

Method for manufacture of smoking article filter assembly including electrostatically charged fiber

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Springfield, VA, United States of America

Jing C Chang