U.S. patent application number 14/748738 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-31 for fibers with shape and size used for coding.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eastman Chemical Company. The applicant listed for this patent is Eastman Chemical Company. Invention is credited to Humberto Collazo, Scott Gregory Gaynor, Andrew Ervin McLeod, Larry Wayne Renfro, Lydia J. Salyer, Brian Douglas Seiler, Jeremy Kenneth Steach, Steven Anthony Wilson.
Application Number | 20150376819 14/748738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54929473 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-31 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20150376819 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McLeod; Andrew Ervin ; et
al. |
December 31, 2015 |
FIBERS WITH SHAPE AND SIZE USED FOR CODING
Abstract
Disclosed are fibers comprising identification fibers which can
be used for tracking and tracing fibers, yarns, fiber bands, and/or
articles comprising the fibers through at least part of the supply
chain. Each identification fiber exhibits at least one distinct
feature. Each group of distinguishable identification fibers can
exhibit a taggant cross-section shape, a taggant cross-section
size, or combination of the same taggant cross-section shape and
same taggant cross-section size. The distinct features and the
number of fibers in each group of distinguishable identification
fibers can represent at least one supply chain component of the
fibers. The distinct features can be detectable in an article
comprising the fibers.
Inventors: |
McLeod; Andrew Ervin;
(Jonesborough, TN) ; Gaynor; Scott Gregory;
(Bristol, TN) ; Wilson; Steven Anthony;
(Kingsport, TN) ; Salyer; Lydia J.; (Kingsport,
TN) ; Collazo; Humberto; (Kingsport, TN) ;
Renfro; Larry Wayne; (Kingsport, TN) ; Steach; Jeremy
Kenneth; (Kingsport, TN) ; Seiler; Brian Douglas;
(Kingsport, TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Eastman Chemical Company |
Kingsport |
TN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Eastman Chemical Company
Kingsport
TN
|
Family ID: |
54929473 |
Appl. No.: |
14/748738 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62018182 |
Jun 27, 2014 |
|
|
|
62105011 |
Jan 19, 2015 |
|
|
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62160930 |
May 13, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
57/248 ; 57/243;
57/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D02G 3/22 20130101; G06K
9/6267 20130101; B01D 2239/0636 20130101; D02G 3/02 20130101; C08L
1/12 20130101; D02G 3/44 20130101; D01F 2/28 20130101; A24D 3/00
20130101; G07D 7/2033 20130101; A24D 3/04 20130101; D21H 21/42
20130101; D02J 1/02 20130101; G06K 9/46 20130101; B01D 2239/064
20130101; D01D 5/253 20130101; D02G 1/20 20130101; G06K 9/52
20130101; G06K 2009/4666 20130101; C08L 2205/025 20130101; D02G
1/12 20130101; G07D 7/12 20130101; B01D 39/1623 20130101; G06T
7/0004 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D02G 3/44 20060101
D02G003/44; D02G 3/22 20060101 D02G003/22; D02G 3/02 20060101
D02G003/02 |
Claims
1. Fibers comprising identification fibers, wherein each of the
identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or a same
combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the
identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least
one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and
wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the one or more
taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of the fibers.
2. The fibers of claim 1, further comprising standard fibers.
3. The fibers of claim 1, wherein the distinct features comprise
one or more taggant cross-section shapes or one or more taggant
cross-section sizes and wherein a number of taggant fiber counts
for each group of the distinguishable identification fibers ranges
from 1 to 10.
4. The fibers of claim 3, wherein a number of the taggant
cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25.
5. The fibers of claim 3, wherein a portion of the taggant
cross-section shapes are produced using spinneret hole geometries
selected from the group consisting of triangle, circle, rectangle,
square, flattened round, trapezoid hexagon, pentagon, and
D-shaped.
6. The fibers of claim 3, wherein a number of the taggant
cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 25, wherein a ratio of at
least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to an average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 20:1 to
1.1:1, and wherein the taggant cross-section size and the average
cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
7. The fibers of claim 3, wherein a ratio of at least one of the
taggant cross-section sizes to the average cross-section size of
the standard fibers ranges from 1:20 to 1:1.1, and wherein the
taggant cross-section size and the average cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter.
8. The fibers of claim 3, wherein the identification fibers
comprise reference fibers, wherein the reference fibers exhibit a
reference cross-section size and a reference cross-section shape,
wherein a ratio of each of the taggant cross-section sizes to the
reference cross-section size ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, and wherein
the reference cross-section size and the taggant cross-section
sizes are determined based upon an effective diameter.
9. The fibers of claim 2, wherein the standard fibers comprise
cellulose acetate.
10. The fibers of claim 2, wherein the standard fibers comprise
acrylic, modacrylic, aramid, nylon, polyester, polypropylene,
rayon, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, PTFE, or cellulose
acetate.
11. The fibers of claim 2, wherein the at least one supply chain
component comprises at least one of a manufacturer of the standard
fibers, a manufacture site of the standard fibers, a manufacturing
line of the standard fibers, a production run of the standard
fibers, a production date of the standard fibers, a package of the
standard fibers, a warehouse of the standard fibers, a customer of
the standard fibers, a ship-to location of the standard fibers, a
manufacturer of a fiber band comprising the fibers, a manufacturing
site of the fiber band, a manufacturing line of the fiber band, a
production run of the fiber band, a production date of the fiber
band, a package of the fiber band, a warehouse of the fiber band, a
customer of the fiber band, a ship-to location of the fiber band, a
manufacturer of an article comprising the fibers, a manufacture
site of the article, a manufacturing line of the article, a
production run of the article, a production date of the article, a
package of the article, a warehouse of the article, a customer of
the article, or a ship-to location of the article.
12. The fibers of claim 11, wherein the at least one supply chain
component comprises the manufacturer of the standard fibers and the
customer of the standard fibers.
13. The fibers of claim 11, wherein the at least one supply chain
component comprises, the manufacturer of the fiber band comprising
the fibers and the ship-to location of the fiber band.
14. Fibers comprising identification fibers, wherein each of the
identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the
identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least
one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and
wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the one or more
taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of an acetate tow band comprising the fibers.
15. The fibers of claim 14, wherein the fibers further comprise
standard fibers, and wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose
acetate.
16. The fibers of claim 14, wherein the distinct features comprise
one or more taggant cross-section shapes or one or more taggant
cross-section sizes and wherein a number of taggant fiber counts
for each group of the distinguishable identification fibers ranges
from 1 to 10.
17. The fibers of claim 16, wherein a number of the taggant
cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25.
18. The fibers of claim 16, wherein a portion of the taggant
cross-section shapes are produced using spinneret hole geometries
selected from the group consisting of circle, rectangle, square,
flattened round, trapezoid hexagon, pentagon, and D-shaped.
19. The fibers of claim 16, wherein a number of the taggant
cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, wherein a ratio of at
least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to an average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 10:1 to
1.1:1, and wherein the taggant cross-section size and the average
cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
20. The fibers of claim 16, wherein a number of the taggant
cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, wherein a ratio of at
least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 1:10 to
1:1.1, and wherein the taggant cross-section size and the average
cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
21. The fibers of claim 16, wherein the taggant cross-section sizes
range from 1 to 30 dpf.
22. The fibers of claim 16, wherein the identification fibers
comprise reference fibers, wherein the reference fibers exhibit a
reference cross-section size and a reference cross-section shape,
wherein a ratio of each of the taggant cross-section sizes to the
reference cross-section size ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, and wherein
the reference cross-section size and the taggant cross-section
sizes are determined based upon an effective diameter.
23. The fibers of claim 16, wherein the distinct features comprise
1 to 4 taggant cross-section shapes and 1 to 4 taggant
cross-section sizes.
24. The fibers of claim 17, wherein the number of the taggant
cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 12.
25. The fibers of claim 19, wherein the number of the taggant
cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 4.
26. The fibers of claim 22, wherein a number of the reference
fibers is larger than each of the fiber counts for other groups of
the distinguishable identification fibers.
27. The fibers of claim 14, wherein the at least one supply chain
component comprises at least one of a manufacturer of the acetate
tow band, a manufacture site of the acetate tow band, a
manufacturing line of the acetate tow band, a production run of the
acetate tow band, a production date of the acetate tow band, a bale
of the acetate tow band, a warehouse of the acetate tow band, a
customer of the acetate tow band, or a ship-to location of the
acetate tow band.
28. The fibers of claim 27, wherein the at least one supply chain
component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate tow band and
the customer of the acetate tow band.
29. The fibers of claim 27, wherein the at least one supply chain
component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate tow band and
the ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
30. Fibers comprising identification fibers and standard fibers,
wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate, wherein
each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct
feature, wherein the distinct features comprise 1 to 10 taggant
cross-section shapes and 1 to 4 taggant cross-section sizes,
wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same taggant cross-section shape,
the same taggant cross-section size, or same combination of the
taggant cross-section shape and the taggant cross-section size,
wherein a number of the identification fibers in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count,
wherein each of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber
count, and wherein a number of taggant fiber counts for each group
of the distinguishable identification fibers ranges from 1 to 4,
and wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the taggant fiber
counts are representative of a manufacturer an acetate tow band
comprising the fibers and a customer of the acetate tow band, or a
ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to
U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/018,182, filed Jun. 27,
2014, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/105,011, filed Jan.
19, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/160,930,
filed May 13, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to fibers comprising
identification fibers with certain shapes, sizes, and numbers of
distinguishable identification fibers. The characteristics of the
identification fibers can be representative of specific supply
chain information. The characteristics of the identification fibers
can allow fibers to be tracked from manufacturing through
intermediaries, conversion to final product, and/or the consumer.
The present disclosure also relates to the method of making the
fibers and the method of characterizing the fibers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Many industries have a need to mark, tag, or identify
products that allows for the tracking and tracing of products
through the supply chain. One of the primary purposes for such
track and trace systems is the combating of illicit trade such as
counterfeiting and black market sales.
[0004] Anti-counterfeiting measures (ACMs) can be regarded as three
different types: Type I (Overt), Type II (Covert) and Type III
(Forensic). Type I ACMs are features incorporated into an article
that are readily identified and observable to the naked eye.
Examples include watermarks, color shifting inks, colored fibers,
bands, or strips incorporated into the article, and holograms. Type
II ACMs are features that are incorporated into the article that
require some form of instrument to identify the feature in the
field. The instruments required are generally those that are
readily available and transportable. Some examples include the
incorporation of very small text (requiring the use of a magnifying
glass), UV responsive inks or threads (requiring illumination with
a UV light), and barcodes or RFID tags (requiring a specialized
reader). Type III ACMs are hidden attributes that require
specialized laboratory equipment to identify. Some Type III
examples include nano-text, micro-taggants, DNA inks, and chemical
additives.
[0005] As stated above, there are many widely-used packaging and
labelling taggants and anti-counterfeiting measures (ACMs) in many
industries, but these more overt solutions are often susceptible to
countermeasures such as destruction, modification, duplication,
repackaging, or relabeling. Altering the physical features of the
raw materials of a product can provide a more covert solution that
is much more difficult to evade. These taggants may be used to
track the fibers through the supply chain. The taggants may change
the physical properties of the fibers, yarn, fiber bands, and/or
derivative articles in a manner that is difficult to copy or alter
but is detectable using image analysis and/or other mechanical
methods.
[0006] There is a need to manufacture, test, and track fibers in
yarn and/or fiber bands and their derivative articles across a wide
spectrum of industries. The ability to identify the source of a
yarn, fiber band, and/or an article comprising the yarn or fiber
band can be achieved by embedding some form of a code in the
fiber(s) during the manufacturing process that can then be later
identified, retrieved, and used to identify the yarn, fiber band
and/or the article. Identification tags can be incorporated into
the yarn or fiber band that can denote, for example, manufacturer,
manufacture site, customer, and ship-to location among other supply
chain information that might be useful for the track and trace of
the yarn, fiber band, and/or article.
[0007] The disclosed exemplary embodiments can be used, for
example, to combat the continuing and growing illicit-trade problem
of tobacco products, particularly cigarettes. It has been estimated
that 10-12% of all cigarette sales are illicit, either counterfeit
copies or sales that avoid paying excise taxes on the cigarettes
(Tobacco International, "Tackling Illicit Trade, Pt. I," December
2013). To combat this illicit trade requires a global effort
consisting of manufacturers, distributors, regulators, and
customs/law enforcement, as well as retailers who sell the
cigarettes to consumers. There is a need to be able to track and
ultimately trace components used in the construction of a
cigarette. For example, the ability to track part of the supply
chain path of acetate tow contained in the filter of a black market
cigarette may give helpful information on the source of these
illicit cigarettes.
[0008] There is a need for a traceable acetate tow that is readily
manufactured, does not impact the performance of a cigarette
filter, and is detectable, not only in an acetate tow band, but
also in a single or a set of cigarettes/cigarette filters. There is
a need for a traceable acetate tow that is readily accepted by
cigarette manufacturers and consumers, such as an acetate tow that
does not require adding chemicals which may impact taste and/or
require regulatory approval. There is a need for traceable acetate
tow that does not impact the pressure drop and yield of a cigarette
filter. There is a need for traceable acetate tow that maintains
its traceability when bloomed, plasticized, and formed into a
filter.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0009] In a first embodiment, fibers comprise identification
fibers. Each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one
distinct feature. The identification fibers consist of one or more
groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group of
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. A number of the identification
fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
is defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to a taggant fiber count. The distinct features in each
group of the distinguishable identification fibers and the one or
more taggants fiber counts are representative of at least one
supply chain component of the fibers.
[0010] In a second embodiment, an acetate tow band comprises
fibers. The fibers comprise standard fibers and identification
fibers and the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate. Each of
the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature.
The identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. The number of identification
fibers in each group of distinguishable identification fibers is
defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to a taggant fiber count. The distinct features in each
group of distinguishable identification fibers and the one or more
taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component associated with the acetate tow band.
[0011] In a third embodiment, a filter comprises an acetate tow
band comprising fibers. The fibers comprise standard fibers
comprising cellulose acetate and identification fibers. Each of the
identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature. The
identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. The number of the identification
fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
is defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to a taggant fiber count. The distinct features in each
group of distinguishable identification fibers and the one or more
taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component associated with the acetate tow band.
[0012] In a fourth embodiment, a method of making an acetate tow
band comprises fibers. The fibers comprise identification fibers
and standard fibers comprising cellulose acetate. The method
comprises: (a) producing the identification fibers on a first fiber
production process; (b) producing the standard fibers on a second
fiber production process; and (c) combining the identification
fibers and the standard fibers into an acetate tow band. Each of
the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature.
The identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. The number of the identification
fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
is defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to a taggant fiber count. The distinct features in each
group of the distinguishable identification fibers and the one or
more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of the acetate tow band.
[0013] In a fifth embodiment, a method of characterizing a fiber
sample comprises (1) applying imaging technology to the fiber
sample comprising fibers. The fibers comprise identification fibers
and standard fibers and each of the identification fibers exhibits
at least one distinct feature. The identification fibers consist of
one or more groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each
group of distinguishable identification being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. The method further comprises (2)
detecting the groups of the distinguishable identification fibers,
and (3) counting a number of each of the distinguishable
identification fibers. The number of identification fibers in each
group of the distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a
fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts corresponds to a
taggant fiber count. The distinct features in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers and the one or more taggant
fiber counts are representative of at least one supply chain
component of the fiber sample.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrate fiber bands containing cellulose acetate
fibers with three cross-section sizes.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a fiber band containing cellulose acetate
fibers with three cross-section shapes.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a stitched-together photomicrograph of a
filter rod of Example 3.
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates the spinneret hole shapes and fiber
images for Examples 12-15.
[0018] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) illustrate a non-limiting example of
communication and shipping channels consistent with disclosed
embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a non-limiting example of a computing
system used by one or more entities consistent with disclosed
embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
embedding supply chain information into fibers.
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
generating correlation data mapping distinct features to supply
chain information.
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
generating correlation data mapping distinct features to supply
chain information.
[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
producing identification fibers.
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
choosing one or more manufacturing methods for producing
identification fibers.
[0025] FIG. 12 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
identifying supply chain information from a sample.
[0026] FIG. 13 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
assigning, to supply chain components, combinations of distinct
features and taggant fiber counts that uniquely represent the
supply chain components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] In an embodiment, fibers comprise identification fibers.
Each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct
feature. The identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. A number of the identification
fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
is defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to a taggant fiber count. The distinct features in each
group of the distinguishable identification fibers and the one or
more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of the fibers.
[0028] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing
quantities of ingredients, properties such as molecular weight,
reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification and
claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by
the term "about."
[0029] It is to be understood that the mention of one or more
process steps does not preclude the presence of additional process
steps before or after the combined recited steps or intervening
process steps between those steps expressly identified. Moreover,
the lettering of process steps or ingredients is a convenient means
for identifying discrete activities or ingredients and the recited
lettering can be arranged in any sequence, unless otherwise
indicated.
[0030] As used herein the term "and/or," when used in a list of two
or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be
employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed
items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described
as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can
contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C
in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in
combination.
[0031] The term "fibers", as used herein, refers to thin flexible
threadlike objects. Fibers can be natural fibers or man-made. The
term "polymer", as used herein refers to the base material from
which the fibers are made. Non-limiting examples of polymers
include acrylic, modacrylic, aramid, nylon, polyester,
polypropylene, rayon, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, PTFE, and
cellulose acetate. The term "filament", as used herein, refers to a
single fiber. The term "fiber band", as used herein, refers to
multiple fibers placed adjacent to each other along their lengths
such that the fibers remain untwisted or entangled and form a
substantially rectangular cross section with a high width-to-depth
ratio. Fiber bands are often formed to allow for effective crimping
of the fibers and can be cut into a staple or processed as a
continuous band, depending on the end use. Fiber bands are
typically not woven or knitted into a fabric article unless first
converted into staple to form a thread. Fibers can also be in the
form of yarn. The term "yarn", as used herein, refers to multiple
fibers placed adjacent to each other along their lengths, often
twisted or entangled together to improve fiber cohesiveness and
performance, and typically forming a substantially rounded cross
section. Yarn can be processed as continuous strands or cut into
smaller lengths, depending on the end use.
[0032] Fibers can be identification fibers and/or standard fibers.
The term "standard fibers", as used herein, refers to fibers which
are manufactured for the primary purpose and use in producing
articles. Standard fibers have not been purposefully manipulated to
comprise distinct features used to identify and track the standard
fibers, yarn, a fiber band, and/or an article comprising standard
fibers. The term "identification fibers", as used herein, refers to
the fibers having distinct features such that the identification
fibers can be used to identify and track the standard fibers, yarn,
a fiber band, and/or an article comprising the standard fibers and
the identification fibers.
[0033] The term "distinct features", as used herein, refers to
variances among fibers that can be identified using imaging
technology. Non-limiting examples of distinct features include
cross-section shapes, cross-section sizes, optical properties, and
surface markings. The term "combination of distinct features", as
used herein, refers to the two or more distinct features exhibited
by an identification fiber. The term "distinguishable
identification fibers", as used herein, refers to identification
fibers having the same distinct feature or combination of distinct
features. The term a "group of the distinguishable identification
fibers", as used herein, refers to one or more filaments of the
distinguishable identification fibers. The term "reference fiber",
as used herein, refers to a particular distinguishable
identification fiber that can be used, for example, to calibrate
distinct features, such as cross-section size, of other
distinguishable identification fibers. The identification fibers
consist of all of the groups of the distinguishable identification
fibers.
[0034] The term "fiber counts", as used herein, refers to the
numbers of each of the distinguishable identification fibers
present in the fibers, yarn, fiber band, and/or article. The term
"taggant fiber counts", as used herein, refers to the collection of
fiber counts for each of the distinguishable identification fibers
which can be used by one or more entity (e.g., manufacturer) in a
system for embedding and/or determining standard fibers, yarn,
fiber band, and/or article supply chain information.
[0035] The term, "cross-section shapes", as used herein, refers to
the contours of fibers when viewed on the plane cutting through the
fibers at right angles to their length. The term "taggant
cross-section shapes", as used herein refers to a collection of
cross-section shapes used by one or more entity (e.g.,
manufacturer) in a system for embedding and/or determining standard
fibers, yarn, and/or fiber band supply chain information. Reference
cross-section shape refers to the cross-section shape of the
reference fiber.
[0036] The term, "cross-section sizes", as used herein, refers to
the quantitative dimension of fibers when viewed on the plane
cutting through the fibers at right angles to their length. For a
circular cross-section shape, the cross-section size can be the
diameter of the cross-section. For a noncircular cross-section
shape, the area of the cross-section can be determined and the
cross-section size can be characterized as the effective diameter.
The effective diameter is the corresponding diameter of a circular
cross-section having the same area. For noncircular cross sections,
the cross section size can also be characterized by the circumcised
diameter, defined as the diameter of the smallest circle that can
completely encompass the cross section. The term "taggant
cross-section sizes", as used herein refers to a collection of
cross-section sizes used by one or more entity (e.g., manufacturer)
in a system for embedding and/or determining standard fibers, yarn,
and/or fiber band supply chain information. Reference cross-section
size refers to the cross-section size of the reference fiber.
[0037] The term "majority of fibers", as used herein, refers to
greater than 50 percent of the fibers in the yarn or fiber band
based on the total number of fibers.
[0038] The term "total identification fibers number", as used
herein, refers to the sum of each of the identification fibers in
the yarn or fiber band. The term "taggant total identification
fibers number", as used herein, refers to the total number of
identification fibers used by one or more entity (e.g.,
manufacturer) in a system for embedding and/or determining fibers,
yarn, and/or fiber band supply chain information.
[0039] The term "cellulose acetate", as used herein, refers to an
acetate ester of cellulose wherein the hydrogen in the hydroxyl
groups of the cellulose glucose unit is replaced by acetyl groups
through an acetylation reaction. In some embodiments, suitable
cellulose acetates may have a degree of substitution less than
about 3 acetyl groups per glucose unit, preferably in the range of
2.2 to about 2.8, and most preferably in the range of 2.4 to
2.7.
[0040] The terms, "cellulose acetate tow", "acetate tow", or
"acetate tow band" as used herein, refers to a continuous, crimped
fiber band comprising of cellulose acetate fibers.
[0041] The term, "article", as used herein, refers to a unit
produced from standard fibers, yarn, and/or a fiber band, including
other components and additives needed to meet the functional
requirements of the intended use. Non-limiting examples include,
fabrics and other textile products, non-wovens, absorbent products,
filters, filter rods, cigarette filters and liquid storage
reservoirs. The term "article comprising fibers, yarn, or fiber
bands", as used herein, refers to the article comprising the
fibers, yarn, or fiber bands with a recognition that, in some
embodiments, significant physical changes can occur to the fibers,
yarn, or fiber band when it is used to make an article.
[0042] The term, "filter", as used herein refers to a
semi-permeable fibrous material. Non-limiting examples of filters
include a filter rod, and items made from a filter rod such as a
cigarette filter. The term "filter rod", as used herein, refers to
a rod-like article, of any cross-sectional shape, produced from a
fiber band and other components or additives, which can be
subsequently used as a whole unit, or cut into lengths to form
multiple units, for filtration of a vapor stream. Filter rods can
be used to filter tobacco products, for example, traditional
cigarette filters and/or other applications for other tobacco
products including heat-not-burn products. Filter rods can also be
used for new products comprising tobacco and other ingredients such
as, for example, other plants or plant derivatives. Filter rods can
be used to filter other plants and plant derivatives, with or
without tobacco present. Additionally filter rods can be used to
filter any vapor stream used to deliver an active ingredient such
as in e-cigarette.
[0043] The term, "cigarette filter", as used herein, refers to a
component of the cigarette or other smoking device which removes or
decreases one or more elements from a smoke stream. The term
cigarette filter is intended to encompass the filter on any smoking
device including the non-limiting examples of a cigarette, a
cigarette holder, a cigar, a cigar holder, a pipe, a water pipe, a
hookah, an electronic smoking device, a roll-your-own cigarette, a
roll-your-own cigar, and a paper.
[0044] The term, "supply chain information" as used herein, refers
to information regarding the production of the standard fibers,
yarn, and/or fiber band and information regarding the distribution
of the standard fibers, yarn, and/or fiber band after its
production. Supply chain information includes "supply chain
components" such as, for example, manufacturer, manufacture site,
manufacture line, production run, production date, package, bale,
customer, customer ship-to location, warehouses, freight carrier,
and/or shipment paths or routes. Supply chain components can apply
to fibers, yarn, fiber bands, and/or articles.
[0045] The term, "manufacturer", as used herein, refers to the
entity that produces the standard fibers, yarn, and/or fiber
band.
[0046] The term "manufacture site", as used herein, refers to the
geographic location or locations of the manufacturer, designated by
any level of specificity including full address, continent,
country, state, province, county, or city.
[0047] The term "manufacture line", as used herein, refers to
specific process equipment or set of equipment used by the
manufacturer to produce the standard fibers, yarn, and/or fiber
band.
[0048] The term "production run", as used herein, refers to a group
or set of similar or related goods that are produced by using a
particular set of manufacturing procedures, processes, or
conditions, and/or product specifications.
[0049] The term "customer", as used herein, refers to an entity to
which the fibers, yarn, and/or fiber band is sold and shipped for
further processing into an intermediate article or a finished
product article; or an entity that purchases the yarn or the fiber
band for resale.
[0050] The term, "ship-to location", as used herein, refers to the
geographic location of the customer designated for delivery of the
fibers, yarn, or fiber band by any level of specificity including
full address, continent, country, state, province, county, or
city.
[0051] The term, "bale" as used herein, refers to a packaged unit
of fiber bands, typically of a cubical shape, compressed to a high
density, and wrapped, contained, and protected by packaging
material.
[0052] The term, "warehouse" as used herein, refers to the
geographical location of the warehouse designated for delivery of
the fibers, yarn, and/or fiber band by any level of specificity
including full address, continent, country, state, province,
country, or city.
[0053] The term, "correlating", as used herein refers to
establishing the relationship between two or more pieces of
information.
[0054] The term, "manufacturer specific taggants", as used herein,
refers to the particular taggants incorporated into fibers, a yarn,
and/or a fiber band by a particular manufacturer. The term,
"manufacturer specific taggant set" refers to the taggant
cross-section shapes and/or taggant cross-section sizes associated
with a particular manufacturer.
[0055] The term, "fibers are produced", "producing fibers", and
"fiber production process", as used herein, refers to the process
steps of spinning fibers up through the gathering of the
fibers.
[0056] The term, "identification fibers are packaged", as used
herein, refers to the process steps of transferring identification
fibers from the spinning machine and packaging the identification
fibers, for example, onto a spool or into a bale. The
identification fibers would subsequently need to be removed from
the package in order to be incorporated into fibers, a yarn, or a
fiber band comprising standard fibers.
[0057] The term, "spinneret hole geometry", as used herein, refers
to the overall structure of the spinneret hole which can be
described most completely and generally, although not exclusively,
by the cross-section shape and size of the hole at any point in its
line through the spinneret. The term, "distinguishable spinneret
hole", as used herein, refers to the spinneret hole with a
distinguishable spinneret hole geometry. Each of the
distinguishable identification fibers are produced using the same
distinguishable spinneret hole geometry. The term "reference
spinneret holes", as used herein, refers to the spinneret holes
used to produce the reference fibers.
[0058] The term "fiber sample", as used herein, refers to the item
comprising fibers, in any physical form, being analyzed using
imaging technology. The fiber sample can comprise a portion of a
set of fibers, yarn, a fiber band, or an article which has been
prepared for image analysis.
[0059] The terms, "imaging technology", and "image analysis
techniques" as used herein, refer to the equipment and software
used to detect and quantify differences in reflection, absorption,
transmission, and emittance of electromagnetic radiation. Imaging
technology encompasses both electromagnetic radiation level
detection and automated shape and/or size recognition.
[0060] The term, "fibers are incorporated into a matrix", as used
herein refers to the immobilizing at least some of the fibers,
yarn, a fiber band, or an article, typically in a polymer that will
not interfere with testing.
[0061] Fibers, yarn, or a fiber band comprise individual fibers.
The material from which the fibers are made is not particularly
limiting. The fibers can comprise, for example, acrylic,
modacrylic, aramid, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, rayon,
polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene, PTFE, or cellulose acetate. In one
aspect, the fibers comprise cellulose acetates, cellulose
triacetates, cellulose propionates, cellulose butyrates, cellulose
acetate-propionates, cellulose acetate-butyrates, cellulose
propionate-butyrates, cellulose acetate-phthalates, starch
acetates, acrylonitriles, vinyl chlorides, vinyl esters, vinyl
ethers, and the like, any derivative thereof, any copolymer
thereof, and any combination thereof. In one aspect, the fibers
comprise cellulose acetate. In one aspect, the fibers comprise
natural fibers such as, for example, cotton, hemp, and/or silk.
[0062] In one aspect, the fibers, yarn, or a fiber band comprise
standard fibers and one or more identification fibers. Fibers are
typically produced from a polymer. In one aspect, one or more of
the identification fibers comprise the same polymer as the standard
fibers. In another aspect, one or more of the identification fibers
comprise a different polymer than the standard fibers band.
[0063] The size of the individual fibers is not particularly
limiting. The size can be given in terms of effective diameter, and
in one aspect, the effective diameter of the fibers range, for
example, from 0.1 .mu.m to 1000 .mu.m, 1 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m, 1
.mu.m to 100 .mu.m, 1 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m, 10 .mu.m to 1000 .mu.m, 10
.mu.m to 500 .mu.m, 10 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m, 10 .mu.m to 30 .mu.m. In
one aspect, the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate for
which size is often given in terms of denier per filament (dpf)
which is defined as the weight, in grams, of a single filament 9000
meters in length. In one aspect, the size of the fibers ranges from
0.5 to 1000 dpf; 0.5 to 500 dpf; 0.5 to 100; 0.5 to 5 dpf; 0.5 to
30 dpf; 0.5 to 10 dpf; 1 to 1000 dpf; 1 to 500 dpf; 1 to 100 dpf; 1
to 30 dpf; 1 to 10 dpf; or 1 to 5 dpf. In one aspect, the dpf of
the fibers ranges from, for example, 1 to 30 dpf, 1 to 20 dpf, 1 to
10 dpf, 2 to 30 dpf, 2 to 20 dpf, or 2 to 10 dpf.
[0064] The number of fibers making up a fiber band is not
particularly limiting. In one aspect, the number of fibers in a
fiber band can range from 10 to 50,000. In other non-limiting
examples, the number of fibers in a fiber band ranges from 10 to
40,000; 10 to 30,000; 10 to 20,000; 10 to 10,000; 10 to 1000; 100
to 50,000; 100 to 40,000; 100 to 30,000; 100 to 20,000; 100 to
10,000; 100 to 1000; 200 to 50,000; 200 to 40,000; 200 to 30,000;
200 to 20,000; 200 to 10,000; 200 to 1000; 1000 to 50,000; 1000 to
40,000; 1000 to 30,000; 1000 to 20,000; 1000 to 10,000; 5000 to
50,000; 5000 to 40,000; 5000 to 30,000; 5000 to 20,000; 5000 to
10,000; 10,000 to 50,000; 10,000 to 40,000; 10,000 to 30,000; or
10,000 to 20,000.
[0065] In one aspect, essentially all of the fibers in the yarn or
fiber band are identification fibers. In this aspect, the
identification fibers can be distinguishable from standard fibers
in a different yarn or fiber band (and will be combined with
standard fibers to produce an article) or the identification fibers
can be used interchangeably with standard fibers for the production
of articles. In another aspect, one or more identification fibers
are distinguishable from the majority of fibers in the same yarn or
fiber band. In yet another aspect, the number of identification
fibers ranges from 0.001 to 100 percent of the fibers; or 0.01 to
50 percent of the fibers; or 0.01 to 25 percent of the fibers; or
0.01 to 10 percent of the fibers; or 0.01 to 5 percent of the
fibers; or 0.01 to 1 percent of the fibers, each based on the total
number of fibers. In another aspect, the number of identification
fibers ranges from 0.01 to 100 percent of the fibers; or 1 to 100
percent of the fibers; or 25 to 100 percent of the fibers; or 50 to
100 percent of the fibers; or 30 to 80 percent of the fibers.
[0066] Each of the identification fibers exhibit at least one
distinct feature. In one aspect, the distinct features can include
cross-section shapes. In another aspect, the distinct features can
include cross-section sizes. In another aspect, the distinct
features can include cross-section shapes and cross-section sizes.
In one aspect, distinct features are representative of at least one
supply chain component of fibers, yarn, fiber band, and/or an
article. In one aspect, the distinct features in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers and the fiber counts are
representative of at least one supply chain component of fibers,
yarn, fiber band, and/or an article.
[0067] In one aspect, the identification fibers exhibit 1 to 50
distinct features. In other aspects, the number of distinct
features ranges from 1 to 20, 1 to 15, or 1 to 10, or 1 to 5, 1 to
3, 2 to 50, 2 to 20, 2 to 15, 2 to 10, 2 to 5, 3 to 50, 3 to 20, 3
to 15, 3 to 10, 3 to 5, 4 to 50, 4 to 20, 4 to 15, or 4 to 10.
[0068] In one aspect, fiber cross-section shapes can be used as a
taggant. In one aspect, distinct features comprise one or more
taggant cross-section shapes. Cross-section shapes vary such that
either the human eye or an image analysis technique can
differentiate shapes. For example, two shapes are significantly
different when compared to the variability among the fibers of
either cross-section shape. In one aspect, fibers, yarn, or a fiber
band comprises one or more identification fibers with one or more
taggant cross-section shapes each. In one aspect, the number of
taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 50. In other aspects,
the number of taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25; 1
to 20; 1 to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5;
or 3 to 10.
[0069] In one aspect, the number of identification fibers with
distinct features which comprise one or more taggant cross-section
shapes ranges from 0.01 to 100 percent of the fibers; or 0.01 to 50
percent of the fibers; for 0.01 to 25 percent of the fibers; for
0.01 to 10 percent of the fibers; or 0.01 to 5 percent of the
fibers; or 0.01 to 1 percent of the fibers.
[0070] Many cross-section shapes have been commercialized for
various fiber types, materials, and processes. These shapes are
most typically governed and created by altering the hole geometry
in the extrusion jet or spinneret used in the fiber production
process. In a dry spinning process, like that of cellulose acetate
in an acetone "dope" solution, a number of unique fiber
cross-section shapes can be obtained through the use of various
spinneret hole geometries. The variety and distinctiveness of the
cross-section shapes are enhanced due to the shrinkage of the cross
section as the acetone evaporates. Many of these shapes are
sufficiently unique and differentiated such that they can be easily
identified and/or counted in yarn or fiber bands, and/or acetate
tow bands, either by the human eye with the aid of magnification,
or with automated image analysis techniques.
[0071] For some fiber applications, the fiber cross-section shape
is not critical to the functionality of an article made from the
fibers, yarn, or fiber band. For these applications, the number of
taggant cross-section shapes and the number of identification
fibers having different taggant cross-section shapes are not
particularly limited. For other fiber applications, however, the
fiber cross-section shape is used to impart functionality to an
article made from the fibers, yarn, or fiber band. For these
applications, the number of taggant cross-section shapes and/or the
number of identification fibers having different taggant
cross-section shapes may be smaller. One skilled in the art can
select the number of taggant cross-section shapes and the number of
identification fibers having distinct features of taggant
cross-section shapes so as to enable determination of the supply
chain information without significantly impacting article
properties.
[0072] In the application of filter rods and/or cigarette filters
comprising acetate tow, the total number of identification fibers
may be limited by the impact of the taggant cross-section shape on
final product performance, particularly yield, defined as the
pressure drop that can be obtained for a certain weight of product
in the filter. By far, the most common shape used for acetate tow
in cigarette filtration is the Y cross section (made from an
equilateral triangular spinneret hole geometry) and the most common
shape used for acetate yarn is multi-lobed (made from a circular or
octagonal spinneret hole geometry). As the number of non-Y shape
fibers increases, the impact (positive or negative) on yield may
materially impact article functionality. One method, among others,
for compensating for this yield shift is adjusting the average
denier per filament (dpf) of the fibers.
[0073] Non-limiting examples of cross-section shapes include
crescent, dogbone, triangle, square, pacman, multilobe, X-shaped,
Y-shaped, H-shaped. Non-limiting examples of spinneret hole
geometries used to make various cross-section shapes include
triangle, circle, rectangle, square, flattened round, trapezoid,
hexagon, pentagon, and D-shaped. In another aspect, spinneret hole
geometry is selected from the group consisting of circle,
rectangle, square, flattened round, trapezoid hexagon, pentagon,
and D-shaped.
[0074] The disclosed embodiments may, for example, enable the use
of fiber cross-section sizes as a taggant. In one aspect, distinct
features comprise one or more taggant cross-section sizes each.
Cross-section sizes vary such that either the human eye or an image
analysis technique can differentiate sizes. The yarn or fiber band
can have one or more identification fibers with one or more taggant
cross-section sizes. The number of taggant cross-section sizes
ranges from, for example, 1 to 50, 1 to 25; 1 to 20; 1 to 10; 1 to
5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10.
[0075] In one aspect, the number of identification fibers with
distinct features which comprise taggant cross-section sizes ranges
from 0.01 to 100 percent of the fibers; or 0.01 to 50 percent of
the fibers; for 0.01 to 25 percent of the fibers; for 0.01 to 10
percent of the fibers; or 0.01 to 5 percent of the fibers; or 0.01
to 1 percent of the fibers, based on the total number of
fibers.
[0076] In one aspect, one or more identification fibers have one or
more taggant cross-section sizes that are larger than the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers. In one aspect, the ratio
of the larger taggant cross-section size to the average
cross-section size ranges from 20:1 to 1.5:1, or 10:1 to 1.5:1, or
5:1 to 1.5:1, or 3:1 to 1.5:1, 20:1 to 1.3:1, or 10:1 to 1.3:1, or
5:1 to 1.3:1, or 3:1 to 1.3:1, or 20:1 to 1.1:1, or 10:1 to 1.1:1,
or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 3:1 to 1.1:1. In one aspect, one or more
identification fibers have cross-section sizes that are smaller
than the average cross-section size of the standard fibers. In one
aspect, the ratio of the smaller cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size ranges from 1:20 to 1:1.5, or 1:10 to 1:1.5, or
1:5 to 1:1.5, or 1:2 to 1:1.5, or 1:20 to 1:1.3, or 1:10 to 1:1.3,
or 1:5 to 1:1.3, or 1:2 to 1:1.3, or 1:20 to 1:1.1, or 1:10 to
1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to 1:1.1. The cross-section sizes
can be determined by either the effective diameter or the
circumcised diameter.
[0077] The number or percentage of identification fibers with
taggant cross-section sizes that can be incorporated into a
multiple-filament product, like acetate tow for cigarette filters,
is potentially limited by a few factors. First, the number may be
limited by the impact of the diameter differences on final product
performance, particularly yield. This yield shift could be
compensated by adjusting the average denier per filament (dpf) of
the standard fibers. Second, the number may be dictated by the
capability of the analytical technique to accurately count
individual fibers of unique cross-section diameter. If the
correlation among the distinct features and the
manufacturer-specific taggants includes the number of
identification fibers with one or more cross-section sizes,
discrete gaps in filament number or percentage may be desired in
order to facilitate number differentiation.
[0078] In one aspect, each of the identification fibers exhibit at
least one distinct feature. In one aspect, the identification
fibers consist of 1 to 50 groups of the distinguishable
identification fibers with each group of distinguishable
identification fibers being formed by the identification fibers
having the same distinct feature or the same combination of
distinct features. In another aspect the number of groups of
distinguishable identification fibers ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 15,
1 to 10, 2 to 25, 2 to 20, 2 to 15, 3 to 24, or 3 to 15.
[0079] Groups of distinguishable identification fibers can contain
one or more identification fibers having the same distinct feature
for the same combination of distinct features. The number of the
identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count. The fiber count
is the actual number of fibers in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers. The fiber count corresponds to a taggant
fiber count. One skilled in the art recognizes that if there were
no variability in manufacturing and no variability in detection,
the fiber count would always equal its corresponding taggant fiber
count. A robust system for building code into fibers must account
for the fact that there is variability. One skilled in the art
recognizes that if more than one taggant fiber count is to be used,
the two or more taggant fiber counts must be different enough to
allow for normal variation in the manufacture and detection of
identification fibers and provide a high probability of a correct
matching of fiber counts to taggant fiber counts. For example, if
the normal variation in fiber counts is +-20%, taggant fiber counts
of 20, 40, and 70 may provide correct matching with very high
probability.
[0080] In one aspect, the fibers, yarn, or fiber band can have
taggant fiber counts which correspond to the numbers of fibers
(e.g., fiber counts) for each group of distinguishable
identification fiber that can be present in the fibers, yarn, or
fiber band. The taggant fiber counts of each group of
distinguishable identification fiber can be the same or different.
In one aspect, taggant fiber counts can be correlated to supply
chain information. Also, the number of taggant fiber counts of each
group of the distinguishable identification fibers can be the same
or different. The taggant fiber counts and the number of taggant
fiber counts are selected, in part, based upon the ability to
manufacture and reliably detect discrete numbers of each group of
the distinguishable identification fibers. The taggant fiber counts
can also be limited by the maximum number of identification fibers
desired. In one aspect, the number of taggant fiber counts ranges
from 1 to 25, 1 to 15, 1 to 10, 1 to 5, 2 to 20, 2 to 15, 2 to 10,
3 to 20, 3 to 15, 3 to 10, 4 to 20, 4 to 15, or 4 to 10.
[0081] In one aspect, the distinguishable identification fibers can
each exhibit one distinct feature, wherein each type of distinct
feature is unique. For example, a first identification fiber can
have a taggant cross-section shape, a second identification fiber
can have a taggant cross-section size, and a third identification
fiber can have a taggant optical property.
[0082] In another aspect, distinguishable identification fibers can
each exhibit one distinct feature wherein each type of distinct
feature is identical. For example a first identification fiber can
have a first taggant cross-section shape, a second identification
fiber can have a second taggant cross-section shape, a third
identification fiber can have third taggant cross-section shape,
etc.
[0083] In another aspect, distinguishable identification fibers can
each exhibit one distinct feature wherein the types of distinct
features can be identical or different. For example, a first
identification fiber can have a first taggant optical property, a
second identification fiber can have a first taggant cross-section
size, a third identification fiber can have a second taggant
optical property, and a fourth identification fiber can have a
first taggant cross-section shape.
[0084] In one aspect, each group of distinguishable identification
fibers can exhibit one distinct feature or the same combination of
distinct features. For example, with 3 distinct features comprising
a taggant cross-section shape, a taggant cross-section size, and a
taggant optical property, the 7 possible groups of distinguishable
identification fibers have the following distinct features: (1)
identification fibers having taggant cross-section shape, (2)
identification fibers having taggant cross-section size, (3)
identification fibers having taggant optical property, (4)
identification fibers having taggant cross-section shape at taggant
cross-section size, (5) identification fiber having taggant
cross-section shape with taggant optical property, (6)
identification fibers having taggant cross-section size with
taggant optical property, and (7) identification fibers having
taggant cross-section shape at taggant cross-section size with
taggant optical property.
[0085] The number of taggant fiber counts can be varied to produce
different codes. For example, if any number from 1-25 specific
distinguishable identification fibers can be present in fibers,
yarn, or a fiber band (e.g. the fiber count for that group), the
number of taggant fiber counts for that group of distinguishable
identification fiber is 25 with 1-25 distinguishable identification
fibers in each taggant fiber count. Alternatively, if either 10,
25, or 50 of a group of distinguishable identification fiber can be
present in fibers, yarn, or a fiber band, the number of taggant
fiber counts for that group of distinguishable identification
fibers is 3 with 10, 25, or 50 of that specific distinguishable
identification fibers as the possible taggant fiber count. The
taggant fiber counts and numbers of taggant fiber counts for each
group of distinct identification fibers give an additional element
that can be correlated to supply chain information.
[0086] In another aspect, the distinguishable identification fibers
comprise reference fibers. Reference fibers typically have a
reference cross-section shape which is different from all of the
other identification fibers and the standard fibers. Reference
fibers also have a reference cross-section size. In one aspect, the
number of reference fibers is larger than the fiber count of any
other group of distinguishable identification fibers. In one
aspect, the number of reference fibers is larger than the sum of
the fiber counts of all of the other groups of distinguishable
identification fibers. The cross-section sizes of distinguishable
identification fibers can be characterized relative to the
reference cross-section size. In one aspect, a group of
distinguishable identification fibers can exhibit a relative
cross-section size which can be smaller than, the same as, or
larger than the reference cross-section size. In another aspect, a
group of distinguishable identification fibers can exhibit a
relative cross-section size which can be smaller than or larger
than the reference cross-section size.
[0087] In one aspect, one or more identification fibers have one or
more taggant cross-section sizes that are larger than the reference
cross-section size. In one aspect, the ratio of the larger taggant
cross-section sizes to the reference cross-section size ranges from
20:1 to 1.5:1, or 10:1 to 1.5:1, or 5:1 to 1.5:1, or 3:1 to 1.5:1,
20:1 to 1.3:1, or 10:1 to 1.3:1, or 5:1 to 1.3:1, or 3:1 to 1.3:1,
or 20:1 to 1.1:1, or 10:1 to 1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 3:1 to
1.1:1. In one aspect, one or more identification fibers have
cross-section sizes that are smaller than the reference
cross-section size. In one aspect, the ratio of the smaller
cross-section sizes to the reference cross-section size ranges from
1:20 to 1:1.5, or 1:10 to 1:1.5, or 1:5 to 1:1.5, or 1:2 to 1:1.5,
or 1:20 to 1:1.3, or 1:10 to 1:1.3, or 1:5 to 1:1.3, or 1:2 to
1:1.3, or 1:20 to 1:1.1, or 1:10 to 1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2
to 1:1.1.
[0088] An article can comprise the fibers, yarn, and/or fiber band.
The article is not particularly limited. Non-limiting examples of
articles comprising the fibers, yarn, and/or the fiber band include
fabrics and other textile products, non-wovens, absorbent products,
filters, filter rods, cigarette filters, liquid storage reservoirs,
paper and/or currency. In one aspect, the article comprises a
filter rod. In another aspect, the article comprises a cigarette
filter. In one aspect, the article comprises a medical device such
as a medical cloth or bandage. In another aspect, the article
comprises a wicking device.
[0089] In one aspect, the fibers, yarn, or fiber band has
determinable supply chain information. The supply chain information
can include manufacturer, manufacture site, manufacturing line,
production run, production date, package, bale, warehouse,
customer, and/or ship-to location. In one aspect, the distinct
features in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
and the fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of the acetate tow band.
[0090] In one aspect, the supply chain information comprises supply
chain components. In one aspect, at least one supply chain
component comprises a manufacturer of the standard fibers, a
manufacture site of the standard fibers, a manufacturing line of
the standard fibers, a production run of the standard fibers, a
production date of the standard fibers, a package of the standard
fibers, a warehouse of the standard fibers, a customer of the
standard fibers, a ship-to location of the standard fibers, a
manufacturer of a yarn or fiber band comprising the standard
fibers, a manufacturing site of the yarn or fiber band, a
manufacturing line of the yarn or fiber band, a production run of
the yarn or fiber band, a production date of the yarn or fiber
band, a package of the yarn or fiber band, a warehouse of the yarn
or fiber band, a customer of the yarn or fiber band, a ship-to
location of the yarn or fiber band, a manufacturer of an article
comprising the standard fibers, a manufacture site of the article,
a manufacturing line of the article, a production run of the
article, a production date of the article, a package of the
article, a warehouse of the article, a customer of the article, or
a ship-to location of the article.
[0091] In another aspect at least one supply chain component
comprises the manufacturer of the fiber band. In one aspect, the
supply chain component comprises the manufacture site of the fiber
band. In one aspect the supply chain component comprises the
manufacturing line of the fiber band. The manufacturing line of the
fiber band is the manufacturing line on which the fiber band was
produced. In one aspect, the supply chain component comprises the
production run of the fiber band. The production run of the fiber
band is the production run within which the fiber band was
produced. In one aspect, the supply chain component comprises the
production date of the fiber band. The production date of the fiber
band is the production date on which the fiber band was produced.
In one aspect, the supply chain component comprises the bale of the
fiber band. In one aspect, the supply chain component comprises the
warehouse of the fiber band. The warehouse of the fiber band is the
warehouse to which the manufacturer plans to send or has sent the
fiber band. In one aspect, the supply chain component comprises the
customer of the fiber band. The customer of the fiber band is the
customer to whom the manufacturer plans to send or has sent the
fiber band. In one aspect, the supply chain component comprises the
ship-to location of the fiber band. The ship-to location of the
fiber band is the specific geographic location to which the
manufacturer plans to send or has sent the fiber band.
[0092] The fibers, yarn, or fiber band can comprise determinable
supply chain information. The possible number of groups of
distinguishable identification fibers for identification fibers
exhibiting, for example, 1-50 distinct features is great. The
following non-limiting examples are intended to (1) illustrate the
vast array of distinguishable identification fibers possible based
upon a relatively low number of and/or combinations of distinct
features and (2) illustrate varied approaches by which the distinct
features in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
and the fiber counts can be representative of at least one supply
chain component of the fibers, yarn, or fiber band.
[0093] Although not particularly limited, selection of the distinct
features, combinations of distinct features, and coding system can
be influenced by several factors. These factors include, but are
not limited to, ease of manufacturing identification fibers, yarn,
and/or fiber bands comprising identification fibers; ease of
detecting identification fibers, either in the fibers, yarn, the
fiber band, or in an article comprising the fibers, yarn or the
fiber band; impact of the identification fibers on performance
characteristics of an article comprising the fibers, yarn, or the
fiber band; and ease of countering the track and trace
objective.
[0094] The disclosed embodiments may also allow for flexible
implementation of a coding system for correlating the
identification fibers exhibiting distinct features and/or
combinations of distinct features, one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers and corresponding taggant
fiber counts, as well as the number of taggant fiber counts to
supply chain information. Described below are non-limiting examples
of how coding systems can be readily implemented based upon the
above described identification fibers.
[0095] In a non-limiting example, standard fibers are medium-sized
circles and four manufacturer-specific taggants are used. A first
taggant cross-section size, a second taggant cross-section size, a
first taggant cross-section shape, and a second taggant
cross-section shape. The manufacturer specific taggant
cross-section sizes are small and large and the manufacturer
specific taggant cross-section shapes are squares and triangles. In
this example, eight possible groups of distinguishable
identification fibers can be produced: small-sized circles (an
example of taggant cross-section size), large-sized circles,
small-sized squares (an example of the combination of taggant
cross-section size and taggant cross-section shape), medium-sized
squares (an example of taggant cross-section shape), large-sized
squares, small-sized triangles, medium-sized triangles, and
large-sized triangles. For example, when using a code comprised of
one circle-shaped, one square-shaped, and one triangle-shaped
identification fiber, eighteen sets of distinguishable
identifications fibers are possible. If, additionally, one of two
taggant colors are present for each identification fiber, the
number of distinguishable identification fibers grows to 16 and the
number of combinations grows to 144 (8 optical combinations per
size/shape combinations of identification fibers times 18
size/shape combinations of identification fibers).
[0096] The example as described above also illustrates the
selection of coding systems for ease of detection of each group of
distinguishable identification fibers. The example coding system
requires that one and only one of each taggant cross-section shape
be detected in the fiber band. Once each taggant cross-section
shape has been found, detection and analysis can end with
confidence that all groups of distinguishable identification fibers
present have been found.
[0097] In a another example, if one circle, one square, and one
triangle of the original 8 distinguishable identification fibers
above are present in one of 3 taggant fiber counts (e.g., taggant
fiber counts of 10, 20, or 30), the number of possible sets grows
to 486.
[0098] The method one uses for including distinct features,
combinations of distinct features, taggant fiber counts, and/or
number of taggant fiber counts into a code is not particularly
limiting. One skilled in the art can readily see that there exists
a large number of ways to generate several sets and/or codes based
upon a relatively small number of distinct features, groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, taggant fiber counts, and/or
number of taggant fiber counts.
[0099] In a second embodiment, an acetate tow band comprises
fibers. The fibers comprise standard fibers and identification
fibers and the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate. Each of
the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature.
The identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. The number of identification
fibers in each group of distinguishable identification fibers is
defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to the taggant fiber count. The distinct features in
each group of distinguishable identification fibers and the one or
more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of the acetate tow band.
[0100] The acetate tow band of the second embodiment encompasses
acetate tow bands comprising the fibers with any combination of
attributes disclosed above. Specifically, the identification fiber
composition, the sizes and numbers of fibers, the percentage of
identification fibers in a fiber band, the distinct features,
number of distinct features, combinations of distinct features,
groups of distinguishable identification fibers, fiber counts, the
taggant cross-section shapes and number of identification fibers
exhibiting the taggant cross-section shapes, the taggant
cross-section sizes and number of identification fibers exhibiting
the taggant cross-section sizes, the reference fibers, the taggant
fiber counts, the supply chain information, and the non-limiting
coding/correlation systems apply to the acetate tow band of the
second embodiment.
[0101] In one aspect the identification fibers comprise cellulose
acetate. In one aspect, the acetate tow band consists essentially
of cellulose acetate.
[0102] In a third embodiment, a filter comprises an acetate tow
band comprising fibers. The fibers comprise standard fibers
comprising cellulose acetate and identification fibers. Each of the
identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature. The
identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. The number of the identification
fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
is defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to the taggant fiber count. The distinct features in
each group of distinguishable identification fibers and the one or
more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of the acetate tow band.
[0103] The filter of the third embodiment encompasses filters
comprising the acetate tow band of the second embodiment which
comprises fibers with any combination of attributes disclosed
above. Specifically, the identification fiber composition, the
sizes and numbers of fibers, the percentage of identification
fibers in a fiber band, the distinct features, number of distinct
features, combinations of distinct features, groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, fiber counts, the taggant
cross-section shapes and number of identification fibers exhibiting
the taggant cross-section shapes, the taggant cross-section sizes
and number of identification fibers exhibiting the taggant
cross-section sizes, the reference fibers, the taggant fiber
counts, the supply chain information, and the non-limiting
coding/correlation systems apply to the filter of the third
embodiment.
[0104] A fourth embodiment provides a method for making a fiber
band. The fiber band comprises identification fibers and standard
fibers. The method comprises (a) obtaining identification fibers;
(b) obtaining standard fibers and (c) combining the standard fibers
and identification fibers into a fiber band. The identification
fibers consist of one or more groups of distinguishable
identification fibers, each group of distinguishable identification
fibers being formed by the identification fibers having the same
distinct feature or the same combination of distinct features. A
number of the identification fibers in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count.
At least one of the fiber counts corresponds to the taggant fiber
count. The distinct features in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers and the one or more taggant fiber counts are
representative of at least one supply chain component of the
fibers.
[0105] One aspect of the fourth embodiment is a method of making an
acetate tow band comprising fibers. The fibers comprise
identification fibers and standard fibers comprising cellulose
acetate. The method comprises: (a) producing the identification
fibers on a first fiber production process; (b) producing the
standard fibers on a second fiber production process; and (c)
combining the identification fibers and the standard fibers into an
acetate tow band. Each of the identification fibers exhibits at
least one distinct feature. The identification fibers consist of
one or more groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each
group of distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features. The number of the identification
fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
is defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to the taggant fiber count. The distinct features in
each group of the distinguishable identification fibers and the one
or more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one
supply chain component of the acetate tow band.
[0106] The method for making a fiber band encompasses making a
fiber band comprising the fibers with any combination of attributes
disclosed above. Specifically, the fiber composition, the sizes and
numbers of fibers, the percentage of identification fibers in a
fiber band, the distinct features, number of distinct features,
combinations of distinct features, groups of distinguishable
identification fibers, fiber counts, the taggant cross-section
shapes and number of identification fibers exhibiting the taggant
cross-section shapes, the taggant cross-section sizes and number of
identification fibers exhibiting the taggant cross-section sizes,
the reference fibers, the taggant fiber counts, the supply chain
information, and the non-limiting coding/correlation systems apply
to the method of making a fiber band of the fourth embodiment.
[0107] In one aspect, at least a portion of the standard fibers are
produced on a fiber production process. In another aspect, standard
fibers are received from a third party. Obtaining the
identification fibers comprises at least one of (i) producing at
least a portion of the identification fibers on the standard
fibers' fiber production process, (ii) producing at least a portion
of the identification fibers on a process distinct from the
standard fibers' fiber production process, or (iii) receiving at
least a portion of the identification fibers from a third
party.
[0108] In one aspect, the identification fibers are coproduced with
the standard fibers and all of the fibers making up a fiber band
are spun and combined directly downstream of the fiber production
process. One skilled in the art will recognize that this can be
done by imparting distinct features to groups of identification
fibers, such as distinct cross-section shapes or cross-section
sizes imparted to a portion of the fibers from a given spinneret or
a given spinning cabinet in the fiber production line. In another
aspect, distinct features can be uniformly dispersed throughout the
fiber band by imparting distinct features to some or all of the
fibers uniformly throughout the production line. In one aspect, all
of the distinguishable spinneret holes are contained in a single
spinneret.
[0109] In another aspect, the identification fibers are produced
and packaged separately from the standard fibers and the
identification fibers are combined with the standard fibers to
produce a fiber band. The standard fibers may also have been
packaged before combining with the identification fibers, or the
identification fibers may be combined with the standard fibers
before packaging of the fiber band.
[0110] The spinning process used for producing the fibers is not
particularly limited. In one aspect, the fibers are produced using
dry spinning, solution spinning, melt spinning, electro spinning,
gel spinning, multi-component spinning, melt blowing, and/or
solution blowing. In another aspect, the fibers are produced using
dry spinning, solution spinning, melt spinning, electro spinning,
gel spinning, and/or multi-component spinning. In a further aspect,
the fibers comprise cellulose acetate and are produced using dry
spinning.
[0111] In one aspect, the distinct features comprise taggant
cross-section shapes and/or taggant cross-section sizes. In one
aspect, the number of identification fibers ranges from 0.01 to 50
percent of fibers, based on the total of identification fibers and
standard fibers. In other examples of the number of identification
fibers ranges from 0.01 to 25 percent, 0.01 to 10 percent, or 0.01
to 5 percent of the fibers.
[0112] In one aspect, the distinct features comprise taggant
cross-section shapes. The taggant cross-section shapes are produced
using spinneret design and process conditions including spinneret
hole geometry, draft ratio, and/or mass transfer rates. One skilled
in the art of fiber production recognizes how each of these factors
can be manipulated to impact taggant cross-section shape. For
example, spinneret holes can vary in shape from non-limiting
examples of circular, square, triangular, pentagon, octagon, half
circle, and three-quarter circle. In one aspect, at least a portion
of the spinneret hole geometries are selected from the group
consisting of triangle, circle, rectangle, square, flattened round,
trapezoid, hexagon, pentagon, and D-shaped. In another aspect, at
least a portion of the spinneret hole geometries are selected from
the group consisting of circle, rectangle square, flattened round,
trapezoid hexagon, pentagon, and D-shaped.
[0113] The draft ratio can also impact the shape. Finally, in
spinning processes that include the mass transfer of a solvent or
other material from the polymer of the fiber, one skilled in the
art recognizes that process conditions which impact the rate of
mass transfer, such as temperature and gas flow, can impact taggant
cross-section shape.
[0114] In one aspect, the distinct features comprise taggant
cross-section sizes. The taggant cross-section sizes are produced
using design and process conditions including spinneret hole
geometry, extrusion flow rate, draft ratio, and/or solids level.
When each of the other design and process conditions is held
constant, one skilled in the art recognizes the impact of a change
in one factor on taggant cross-section size. For example taggant
cross-section size increases with increased spinneret hole size.
Taggant cross-section size increases with increased extrusion rate.
Taggant cross-section size decreases with increased draft ratio.
Finally, taggant cross-section size increases with increased
solids.
[0115] In one aspect, the identification fibers consist of 1 to 50
groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or
combination of distinct features. The number of the identification
fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
is defined as a fiber count. The distinct features in each group of
the distinguishable identification fibers and the fiber counts are
representative of at least one supply chain component of the
acetate tow band.
[0116] In one aspect, the identification fibers are produced using
distinguishable spinneret holes, each group of the distinguishable
spinneret holes being formed by spinneret holes having the same
distinguishable spinneret hole geometry. Each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers are produced using a
corresponding group of the distinguishable spinneret holes. There
is a one-to-one relationship between a specific distinguishable
spinneret hole geometry and a specific distinguishable
identification fiber produced using the specific distinguishable
spinneret hole geometry. The number of each of the distinguishable
spinneret holes used to make a corresponding group of
distinguishable identification fibers is equal to the fiber count
for the corresponding group of distinguishable identification
fibers.
[0117] In one aspect the number of groups of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 15, 1 to 10, 2 to
20, 2 to 15, 3 to 20, and 3 to 15.
[0118] In one aspect, distinguishable identification fibers
comprise a reference fiber. The reference fibers comprises a
reference cross-section size and a reference cross-section shape.
The reference fibers are produced using distinguishable spinneret
holes consisting of reference spinneret holes. In one aspect, the
number of reference fibers is larger than the fiber count of each
other group of the distinguishable identification fibers. In one
aspect, the number of reference fibers is larger than the sum of
the fiber counts of all other of the distinguishable identification
fibers.
[0119] The reference fibers can serve to differentiate, for
example, large and small sizes of the same cross-section shape. In
one aspect, the geometry of the distinguishable spinneret holes is
selected relative to the geometry of the reference spinneret hole.
In one aspect, the distinguishable identification fibers, excluding
the reference fibers, exhibit taggant cross-section sizes either
smaller than, the same as, or larger than the reference
cross-section size as determined by effective diameter.
[0120] In one aspect the number of reference fibers is selected
such that the total number of all distinguishable identification
fibers equals a taggant total identification fiber number.
[0121] The spinneret configuration for producing identification
fibers is not particularly limiting. In one aspect, all of the
identification fibers are produced from a single spinneret or from
multiple spinnerets in a single spinning cabinet Such a
configuration can concentrate the identification fibers in a single
region of the tow band or article, depending on the band and/or
article production arrangement, allowing for more efficient and
effective location and characterization of the identification
fibers. In another aspect, identification fibers are produced from
multiple spinnerets or from multiple spinnerets in multiple
spinning cabinets. Such a configuration can allow for higher total
counts of identification fibers or could improve overall
spinnanability of the identification fibers by reducing
concentration of the identification fibers being produced from any
one spinneret.
[0122] Different groups of the distinguishable identification
fibers can be produced from separate spinnerets or from several
spinnerets in various combinations. For example, each group of
distinguishable identification fibers can be produced using a
spinneret different from the one used to produce every other group
of the distinguishable identification fibers. Such a configuration
might allow for improved spinnability of the identification fibers
through the optimization of the spinneret and/or the spinning
conditions for each group of the distinguishable identification
fibers. In another aspect, all groups of the distinguishable
identification fibers can be produced from the same spinneret. Such
a configuration might allow for reduced variation in the shape or
size of the distinguishable identification fibers.
[0123] The arrangement of the distinguishable spinneret holes with
distinguishable spinneret hole geometry on a particular spinneret
is not particularly limiting. In one aspect, all of the holes
having a particular spinneret hole geometry can be arranged in the
same row or in adjacent rows, or could be arranged in the same
concentric ring or adjacent concentric rings, or can be grouped in
a specific region of the spinneret. Such configurations may improve
the spinnability of the identification fibers or reduce the
variation of the shape or size of a distinguishable identification
fiber, thereby enabling improved characterization. In another
aspect, distinguishable spinneret holes for each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers can be distributed uniformly
in various patterns, or can be distributed randomly with standard
spinneret holes.
[0124] A fifth embodiment provides a method of characterizing a
fiber sample comprising (1) applying imaging technology to the
fiber sample comprising fibers. The fibers comprise identification
fibers and standard fibers and each of the identification fibers
exhibits at least one distinct feature. The identification fibers
consist of one or more groups of distinguishable identification
fibers, each group of distinguishable identification fibers being
formed by the identification fibers having the same distinct
feature or the same combination of distinct features. The method
further comprises (2) detecting the groups of the distinguishable
identification fibers, and (3) counting a number of each of the
distinguishable identification fibers. The number of identification
fibers in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers
is defined as a fiber count. At least one of the fiber counts
corresponds to the taggant fiber count. The distinct features in
each group of the distinguishable identification fibers and the one
or more taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one
supply chain component of the fiber sample.
[0125] The method for testing a fiber sample encompasses testing a
fiber sample comprising the fibers with any combination of
attributes disclosed above. The fiber sample can comprise fibers, a
portion of a yarn comprising fibers, a portion of a fiber band
comprising fibers, or a portion of an article comprising fibers,
yarn, or a fiber band. Specifically, the identification fiber
composition, the sizes and numbers of fibers, the percentage of
identification fibers in a fiber band, the distinct features,
number of distinct features, combinations of distinct features,
groups of distinguishable identification fibers, fiber counts, the
taggant cross-section shapes and number of identification fibers
exhibiting the taggant cross-section shapes, the taggant
cross-section sizes and number of identification fibers exhibiting
the taggant cross-section sizes, the reference fibers, the taggant
fiber counts, the supply chain information, and the non-limiting
coding/correlation systems apply to the fiber sample of the fifth
embodiment. Also, the fiber sample can comprise the acetate tow
band of the second embodiment with any combinations of its features
or the filter of the third embodiment with any combinations of its
features.
[0126] In one aspect, the fiber counts are added together to
calculate a taggant total identification fibers number.
[0127] In one aspect, the imaging technology comprises the use of
electromagnetic radiation at visible wavelengths. In another
aspect, the image technology comprises the use of electromagnetic
radiation at invisible wavelengths. The equipment useful for
imaging technology is not particularly limited. Non-limiting
examples include human visual inspection, microscopy, electron
microscopy, confocal microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and
optical scanning.
[0128] The imaging technology can be applied to the fiber sample
transverse to the length of the fibers. This direction allows, for
example, a view of the cross-section shapes of the fibers. The
imaging technology can also be applied along the length of fibers.
This direction allows, for example, a view of a pattern of surface
markings on the fibers.
[0129] In one aspect, the fibers are incorporated into a matrix
prior to applying the imaging technology. For example, fibers can
be immobilized in a polymer that does not interfere with the
imaging technology and cut into appropriate sample sizes.
[0130] The imaging technology can also be applied to an article
comprising the fibers, yarn, or the fiber band.
[0131] In one aspect, the method for characterizing the fiber
sample further comprises (a) correlating the distinct features in
each group of the distinguishable identification fibers and the one
or more fiber counts to a database comprising manufacturer-specific
taggants; and (b) determining at least one supply chain component
of the fiber sample. The at least one supply chain component
comprises a manufacturer of the standard fibers, a manufacture site
of the standard fibers, a manufacturing line of the standard
fibers, a production run of the standard fibers, a production date
of the standard fibers, a package of the standard fibers, a
warehouse of the standard fibers, a customer of the standard
fibers, a ship-to location of the standard fibers, a manufacturer
of a yarn or fiber band comprising the fibers, a manufacturing site
of the yarn or fiber band, a manufacturing line of the yarn or
fiber band, a production run of the yarn or fiber band, a
production date of the yarn or fiber band, a package of the yarn or
fiber band, a warehouse of the yarn or fiber band, a customer of
the yarn or fiber band, a ship-to location of the yarn or fiber
band, a manufacturer of an article comprising the fibers, a
manufacture site of the article, a manufacturing line of the
article, a production run of the article, a production date of the
article, a package of the article, a warehouse of the article, a
customer of the article, or a ship-to location of the article. In
one aspect the correlating is among the distinct features and/or
the combinations of distinct features. In another aspect, the
correlating is among the distinct features, the combinations of
distinct features, the fiber counts, the taggant fiber counts, the
total number of each of the distinguishable identification fibers,
and/or the taggant total identification fiber number.
[0132] When determining the supply chain information of a yarn,
fiber band, and/or an article comprising the yarn or fiber band,
the fibers to be analyzed may be in raw form such as a yarn or
fiber band, (a collection of fibers) or tow (a crimped fiber band).
Additionally, the article can be in a finished form such as a
cylindrical filter (cigarette), a pleated filter, a fabric or a
non-woven material. A goal of identifying the fibers, yarn, or the
fiber band is to prevent counterfeiting, and/or illicit sales, of
articles by enabling the identification of supply chain information
from testing the yarn, fiber band and/or the article.
[0133] Listed below are non-limiting embodiments A1-A30.
[0134] A1. Fibers comprising identification fibers, wherein each of
the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
wherein the identification fibers consists of one of more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the
identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least
one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and
wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable
fibers and (ii) the one or more taggant fiber counts are
representative of at least one supply chain component of the
fibers.
[0135] A2. The fibers of embodiment A1, further comprising standard
fibers.
[0136] A3. The fibers of any of embodiments A1-A2, wherein the
distinct features comprise one or more taggant cross-section shapes
and/or one or more taggant cross-section sizes and wherein a number
of taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 10.
[0137] A4. The fibers of embodiment A3, wherein a number of the
taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25; 1 to 20; 1 to 10;
1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10.
[0138] A5. The fibers of any of embodiments A3-A4, wherein a
portion of the taggant cross-section shapes are produced using
spinneret hole geometries selected from the group consisting of
triangle, circle, rectangle, square, flattened round, trapezoid
hexagon, pentagon, and D-shaped.
[0139] A6. The fibers of any of embodiments A3-A5, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 25; 1 to 20; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10,
wherein a ratio of at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes
to an average cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from
20:1 to 1.1:1, or 10:1 to 1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 3:1 to 1.1:1,
and wherein the taggant cross-section size and the average
cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
[0140] A7. The fibers of any of embodiments A3-A6, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 25; 1 to 20; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10,
wherein a ratio of at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes
to the average cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges
from 1:20 to 1:1.1, or 1:10 to 1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to
1:1.1, and wherein the taggant cross-section size and the average
cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
[0141] A8. The fibers of any of embodiments A3-A7, wherein the
identification fibers comprise reference fibers, wherein the
reference fibers exhibit a reference cross-section size and a
reference cross-section shape, wherein a ratio of each of the
taggant cross-section sizes to the reference cross-section size
ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, and wherein the reference cross-section
size and the taggant cross-section sizes are determined based upon
an effective diameter.
[0142] A9. The fibers any of embodiments A2-A8, wherein the
standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate.
[0143] A10. The fibers of any of embodiments A2-A8, wherein the
standard fibers comprise acrylic, modacrylic, aramid, nylon,
polyester, polypropylene, rayon, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene,
PTFE, or cellulose acetate.
[0144] A11. The fibers of any of embodiments A2-A10, wherein the at
least one supply chain component comprises at least one of a
manufacturer of the standard fibers, a manufacture site of the
standard fibers, a manufacturing line of the standard fibers, a
production run of the standard fibers, a production date of the
standard fibers, a package of the standard fibers, a warehouse of
the standard fibers, a customer of the standard fibers, a ship-to
location of the standard fibers, a manufacturer of a fiber band
comprising the fibers, a manufacturing site of the fiber band, a
manufacturing line of the fiber band, a production run of the fiber
band, a production date of the fiber band, a package of the fiber
band, a warehouse of the fiber band, a customer of the fiber band,
a ship-to location of the fiber band, a manufacturer of an article
comprising the fibers, a manufacture site of the article, a
manufacturing line of the article, a production run of the article,
a production date of the article, a package of the article, a
warehouse of the article, a customer of the article, or a ship-to
location of the article.
[0145] A12. The fibers of embodiment A11, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the standard
fibers and the customer of the standard fibers.
[0146] A13. The fibers of embodiment A11, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of a fiber band
comprising the fibers and the customer of the fiber band.
[0147] A14. Fibers comprising identification fibers, wherein each
of the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct
feature, wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more
groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the
identification fibers in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least
one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and
wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers and (ii) the one or more taggant fiber counts
are representative of at least one supply chain component of an
acetate tow band comprising the fibers.
[0148] A15. The fibers of embodiment A14, wherein the fibers
further comprise standard fibers, and wherein the standard fibers
comprise cellulose acetate.
[0149] A16. The fibers of any of embodiments A14-A15, wherein the
distinct features comprise one or more taggant cross-section shapes
and/or one or more taggant cross-section sizes and wherein a number
of taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 10.
[0150] A17. The fibers of embodiment A16, wherein a number of the
taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 20; 1 to 10;
1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10.
[0151] A18. The fibers of any of embodiments A16-A17, wherein a
portion of the taggant cross-section shapes are produced using
spinneret hole geometries selected from the group consisting of
circle, rectangle, square, flattened round, trapezoid hexagon,
pentagon, and D-shaped.
[0152] A19. The fibers of any of embodiments A16-A18, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, 1 to
5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio of
at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to an average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 10:1 to
1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 3:1 to 1.1:1, and wherein the taggant
cross-section size and the average cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective.
[0153] A20. The fibers of any of embodiments A16-A19, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, 1 to
5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio of
at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 1:10 to
1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to 1:1.1, and wherein the taggant
cross-section size and the average cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0154] A21. The fibers of any of embodiments A16-A20, wherein the
taggant cross-section sizes range from 1 to 30 dpf, 1 to 20 dpf, 4
to 30 dpf, or 8 to 20 dpf.
[0155] A22. The fibers of any of embodiments A16-A20, wherein the
identification fibers comprise reference fibers, wherein the
reference fibers exhibit a reference cross-section size and a
reference cross-section shape, wherein a ratio of each of the
taggant cross-section sizes to the reference cross-section size
ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, 10:1 to 1:10. or 5:1 to 1:5, and wherein
the reference cross-section size and the taggant cross-section
sizes are determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0156] A23. The fibers of any of embodiments A16-A22, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 12; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 12; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10
and wherein a number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from
1 to 4, 1 to 3, or 2 to 4.
[0157] A24. The fibers of any of embodiments A17-A26, wherein the
number of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 12; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 12; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to
10.
[0158] A25. The fibers of any of embodiments A19-A24, wherein the
number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 4, 1 to
3, or 2 to 4.
[0159] A26. The fibers of any of embodiments A22-A25, wherein a
number of the reference fibers is larger than each of the fiber
counts.
[0160] A27. The fibers of any of embodiments A14-A26, wherein the
at least one supply chain component comprises at least one of a
manufacturer of the acetate tow band, a manufacture site of the
acetate tow band, a manufacturing line of the acetate tow band, a
production run of the acetate tow band, a production date of the
acetate tow band, a bale of the acetate tow band, a warehouse of
the acetate tow band, a customer of the acetate tow band, or a
ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0161] A28. The fibers of embodiment A27, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.
[0162] A29. The fibers of embodiment A27, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0163] A30. Fibers comprising identification fibers and standard
fibers, wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate,
wherein each of the identification fibers exhibit at least one
distinct feature, wherein the distinct features comprise 1 to 10
taggant cross-section shapes and 1 to 4 taggant cross-section
sizes, wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more
groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same taggant cross-section shape,
the same taggant cross-section size, or the same combination of
taggant cross-section shape and taggant cross-section size, wherein
a number of the identification fibers in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count,
and wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers wherein each of the fiber
counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and wherein a number
of taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 4, and (ii) the taggant
fiber counts are representative of a manufacturer an acetate tow
band comprising the fibers and a customer of the acetate tow band
or a ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0164] Listed below are additional non-limiting embodiments
B1-B30.
[0165] B1. An acetate tow band comprising fibers, wherein the
fibers comprise standard fibers and identification fibers, wherein
the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate, wherein each of the
identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the
identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least
one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and
wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers and (ii) the one or more taggant fiber counts
are representative of at least one supply chain component of the
acetate tow band.
[0166] B2. The acetate tow band of embodiment B1, wherein the
distinct features comprise one or more taggant cross-section shapes
and/or one or more taggant cross-section sizes and wherein a number
of taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 10.
[0167] B3 The acetate tow band of embodiment B2, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 20; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to
10.
[0168] B4 The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B2-B3, wherein
a portion of the taggant cross-section shapes are produced using
spinneret hole geometries selected from the group consisting of
circle, rectangle, square, flattened round, trapezoid hexagon,
pentagon, and D-shaped.
[0169] B5. The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B2-B4,
wherein a number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1
to 10, 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein
a ratio of at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to an
average cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 10:1
to 1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1, and wherein the taggant
cross-section size and the average cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0170] B6. The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B2-B5,
wherein a number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1
to 10, 1 to 5; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio
of at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 1:10 to
1:1.1, or 1:10 to 1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to 1:1.1, and
wherein the taggant cross-section size and the average
cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
[0171] B7. The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B2-B6,
wherein the taggant cross-section sizes range from 1 to 30 dpf, 1
to 20 dpf, 4 to 30 dpf, or 8 to 20 dpf.
[0172] B8. The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B1-B7,
wherein the identification fibers comprise acrylic, modacrylic,
aramid, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, rayon, polyacrylonitrile,
polyethylene, PTFE, or cellulose acetate.
[0173] B9. The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B2-B8,
wherein the distinguishable identification fibers comprise
reference fibers, wherein the reference fibers exhibit a reference
cross-section size and a reference cross-section shape, wherein a
ratio of each of the taggant cross-section sizes to the reference
cross-section size ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, 10:1 to 1:10. or 5:1
to 1:5, and wherein the reference cross-section sizes and taggant
cross-section sizes are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
[0174] B10. The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B2-B9,
wherein a number of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1
to 12; 1 to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 12; 2 to 10; 2 to 5;
or 3 to 10 and wherein a number of the taggant cross-section sizes
ranges from 1 to 4, 1 to 3, or 2 to 4.
[0175] B11. The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B9-B10,
wherein a number of the reference fibers is larger than each of the
other fiber counts.
[0176] B12. The acetate tow band of any of embodiments B1-B11,
wherein the at least one supply chain component comprises at least
one of a manufacturer of the acetate tow band, a manufacture site
of the acetate tow band, a manufacturing line of the acetate tow
band, a production run of the acetate tow band, a production date
of the acetate tow band, a bale of the acetate tow band, a
warehouse of the acetate tow band, a customer of the acetate tow
band, or a ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0177] B13. The acetate tow band of embodiment B12, wherein the at
least one supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the
acetate tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.
[0178] B14. The acetate tow band of embodiment B12, wherein the at
least one supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the
acetate tow band and the ship-to location of the acetate tow
band.
[0179] B15. A filter comprising an acetate tow band, wherein the
acetate tow band comprises fibers, wherein the fibers comprise
standard fibers and identification fibers, wherein the standard
fibers comprise cellulose acetate, wherein each of the
identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the
identification fibers in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least
one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and
wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers and (ii) the one or more taggant fiber counts
are representative of at least one supply chain component of the
acetate tow band.
[0180] B16. The filter of embodiment B15, wherein the distinct
features comprise one or more taggant cross-section shapes and/or
one or more taggant cross-section sizes and wherein a number of
taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 10.
[0181] B17. The filter of embodiment B16, wherein a number of the
taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 20; 1 to 10;
1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10.
[0182] B18. The filter of any of embodiments B16-B17, wherein at
least a portion of the taggant cross-section shapes are produced
using spinneret hole geometries selected from the group consisting
of circle, rectangle, square, flattened round, trapezoid hexagon,
pentagon, and D-shaped.
[0183] B19. The filter of any of embodiments B16-B18, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, 1 to
5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio at
least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to an average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 10:1 to
1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1, and wherein the taggant
cross-section sizes and the average cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0184] B20. The filter of any of embodiments B16-B19, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, 1 to
5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio of
at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 1:10 to
1:1.1, or 1:10 to 1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to 1:1.1, and
wherein the taggant cross-section sizes and the average
cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
[0185] B21. The filter of any of embodiments B16-B20, wherein the
taggant cross-section sizes range from 1 to 30 dpf, 1 to 20 dpf, 4
to 30 dpf, or 8 to 20 dpf.
[0186] B22. The filter of any of embodiments B15-B20, wherein the
identification fibers comprise acrylic, modacrylic, aramid, nylon,
polyester, polypropylene, rayon, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene,
PTFE, or cellulose acetate.
[0187] B23. The filter of any of embodiments B16-B21, wherein the
distinguishable identification fibers comprise reference fibers,
wherein the reference fibers exhibit a reference cross-section size
and a reference cross-section shape, wherein a ratio of each of the
taggant cross-section sizes to the reference cross-section size
ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, 10:1 to 1:10. or 5:1 to 1:5, and wherein
each of the cross-section sizes are determined based upon an
effective diameter.
[0188] B24. The filter of any of embodiments B16-B23, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 12; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 12; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10
and wherein a number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from
1 to 4, 1 to 3, or 2 to 4.
[0189] B25. The filter of any of embodiments B23-B24, wherein a
number of the reference fibers is larger than each of the other
fiber counts.
[0190] B26. The filter of any of embodiments B15-B25, wherein the
at least one supply chain supply chain component comprises a
manufacturer of the acetate tow band, a manufacture site of the
acetate tow band, a manufacturing line of the acetate tow band, a
production run of the acetate tow band, a production date of the
acetate tow band, a bale of the acetate tow band, a warehouse of
the acetate tow band, a customer of the acetate tow band, or a
ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0191] B27. The filter of embodiment B26, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.
[0192] B28. The filter of embodiment B26, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0193] B29. An acetate tow band comprising cellulose acetate
fibers, wherein the cellulose acetate fibers comprise standard
fibers and identification fibers, wherein each of the
identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
wherein the distinct features comprise 1 to 10 taggant
cross-section shapes and 1 to 4 taggant cross-section sizes,
wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same taggant cross-section shape,
the same taggant cross-section size, or the same combination of
taggant cross-section shape and taggant cross-section size, wherein
a number of the identification fibers in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count,
wherein each of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber
count, and wherein a number of taggant fiber counts for each group
of the distinguishable identification fibers ranges from 1 to 4,
and wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the taggant fiber
counts are representative of a manufacturer of the acetate tow band
and a customer of the acetate tow band or a ship-to location of the
acetate tow band.
[0194] B30. A filter comprising an acetate tow band, wherein the
acetate tow band comprises cellulose acetate fibers, wherein the
cellulose acetate fibers comprise standard fibers and
identification fibers, wherein each of the identification fibers
exhibits at least one distinct feature, wherein the distinct
features comprise 1 to 10 taggant cross-section shapes and 1 to 4
taggant cross-section sizes, wherein the identification fibers
consist of one or more groups of distinguishable identification
fibers, each group of distinguishable identification fibers being
formed by the identification fibers having the same taggant
cross-section shape, the same taggant cross-section size, or the
same combination of taggant cross-section shape and taggant
cross-section size, wherein a number of the identification fibers
in each group of the distinguishable identification fibers is
defined as a fiber count, wherein each of the fiber counts
corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and wherein a number of
taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 4, and wherein (i) the
distinct features in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers and (ii) the taggant fiber counts are
representative of a manufacturer of the acetate tow band and a
customer of the acetate tow band or a ship-to location of the
acetate tow band.
[0195] Listed below are additional non-limiting embodiments
C1-C30.
[0196] C1. A method of making a acetate tow band comprising fibers,
wherein the fibers comprise identification fibers and standard
fibers, wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate, and
wherein the method comprises:
[0197] (a) producing the identification fibers on a first fiber
production process;
[0198] (b) producing the standard fibers on a second fiber
production process; and
[0199] (c) combining the identification fibers and the standard
fibers into an acetate tow band,
wherein each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one
distinct feature, wherein the identification fibers consist of one
or more groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group
of distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the
identification fibers in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least
one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and
wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers and (ii) the one or more taggant fiber counts
are representative of at least one supply chain component of the
acetate tow band.
[0200] C2. The method of embodiment C1, wherein the first fiber
production process and the second fiber production process
correspond to a common fiber production process.
[0201] C3. The method of any of embodiments C1-C2, wherein the
distinct features comprise one or more taggant cross-section shapes
and/or one or more taggant cross-section sizes and wherein a number
of taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 10.
[0202] C4. The method of embodiment C3, wherein the identification
fibers are produced using distinguishable spinneret holes, each
group of the distinguishable spinneret holes being formed by
spinneret holes having the same distinguishable spinneret hole
geometry, wherein each group of the distinguishable identification
fibers are produced using a corresponding group of the
distinguishable spinneret holes.
[0203] C5. The method of embodiments C4, wherein all of the
distinguishable spinneret holes are contained in a single
spinneret.
[0204] C6. The method of any of embodiments C3-C5, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 20; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to
10.
[0205] C7. The method of any of embodiments C3-C6, wherein a
portion of the distinguishable spinneret hole geometries are
selected from the group consisting of triangle, circle, rectangle,
square, flattened round, trapezoid, hexagon, pentagon, and
D-shaped.
[0206] C8. The method of any of embodiments C3-C7, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, 1 to 5; 1
to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio of a
larger of the taggant cross-section sizes to an average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 10:1 to
1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1, and/or wherein a ratio of
a smaller of the taggant cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 1:10 to
1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to 1:1.1, and wherein the larger
taggant cross-section size, the smaller taggant cross-section size,
and the average cross-section size are determined based upon an
effective diameter.
[0207] C9. The method of any of embodiments C3-C8, wherein the
taggant cross-section sizes range from 1 to 30 dpf, 1 to 20 dpf, 4
to 30 dpf, or 8 to 20 dpf.
[0208] C10. The method of any of embodiments C4-C9, wherein the
distinguishable identification fibers comprise reference fibers,
wherein the reference fibers exhibit a reference cross-section size
and a reference cross-section shape, wherein the reference fibers
are produced using the distinguishable spinneret holes comprising
reference spinneret holes.
[0209] C11. The method of embodiment C10, wherein a ratio of at
least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to the reference
cross-section size ranges from 20:1 to 1.1:1, or 10:1 to 1.1:1, or
5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1 and wherein the taggant cross-section
size and the reference cross-section size are determined based upon
an effective diameter.
[0210] C12. The method of any of embodiments C10-C11, wherein a
ratio of the reference cross-section size to a at least one of the
taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 20:1 to 1.1:1, or 10:1 to
1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1, and wherein the reference
cross-section size and the taggant cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0211] C13. The method of any of embodiments C4-C12, wherein a
number of each of the distinguishable spinneret holes is selected
to produce each of the fiber counts.
[0212] C14. The method of any of embodiments C10-C13, wherein a
number of the reference spinneret holes is selected to produce a
larger number of the reference fibers than any of the fiber counts
for other groups of the distinguishable identification fibers.
[0213] C15. The method of any of embodiments C1-C13, wherein the at
least one supply chain supply chain component comprises a
manufacturer of the acetate tow band, a manufacture site of the
acetate tow band, a manufacturing line of the acetate tow band, a
production run of the acetate tow band, a production date of the
acetate tow band, a bale of the acetate tow band, a warehouse of
the acetate tow band, a customer of the acetate tow band, or a
ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0214] C16. The method of embodiment C15, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.
[0215] C17. The method of embodiment C15, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0216] C18. A method of making an acetate tow band comprising
cellulose acetate fibers, wherein the cellulose acetate fibers
comprise identification fibers and standard fibers, wherein the
method comprises:
[0217] (a) co-producing the identification fibers and the standard
fibers; and
[0218] (b) combining the identification fibers and the standard
fibers into the acetate tow band,
[0219] wherein each of the identification fibers exhibits at least
one distinct feature, wherein the distinct features comprise
taggant cross-section shapes or taggant cross-section sizes,
wherein the identification fibers consist of 1 to 20 groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same taggant cross-section shape,
the same taggant cross-section size, or the same combination of
taggant cross-section shape and taggant cross-section size, wherein
a number of the identification fibers in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count,
wherein at least one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant
fiber count, and wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of
distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the one or more
taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of the acetate tow band.
[0220] C19. The method of embodiment C18, wherein the
identification fibers are produced using distinguishable spinneret
holes, each group of the distinguishable spinneret holes being
formed by spinneret holes having the same distinguishable spinneret
hole geometry, wherein each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers are produced using a corresponding group of
the distinguishable spinneret holes.
[0221] C20. The method of embodiment C19, wherein all of the
distinguishable spinneret holes are contained in a single
spinneret.
[0222] C21. The method of any of embodiments C18-C20, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 20, 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10 and
wherein at least a portion of the spinneret hole geometries are
selected from the group consisting of triangle, circle, rectangle,
square, flattened round, trapezoid, hexagon, pentagon, and
D-shaped.
[0223] C22. The method of any of embodiments C18-C21, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, 1 to
5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a
ratio of at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to an
average cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 10:1
to 1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1, and/or wherein a ratio
of at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 1:10 to
1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to 1:1.1, and wherein the taggant
cross-section size and the average cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0224] C23. The method of any of embodiments C18-C22, wherein a
number of taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 12, 1 to
10; 1 to 5; 1 to 3; 2 to 12; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, a number
of taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 4, 1 to 3, or 2 to
4, and, and wherein a number of taggant fiber counts for each group
of the distinguishable identification fibers ranges from 1 to 10, 1
to 3, or 2 to 4.
[0225] C24. The method of any of embodiments C19-C23, wherein the
distinguishable identification fibers comprise a reference fiber,
wherein the reference fiber comprises a reference cross-section
size and a reference cross-section shape, wherein the reference
fibers are produced using the distinguishable spinneret holes
comprising reference spinneret holes; wherein a ratio of each of
the taggant cross-section sizes to the reference cross-section size
ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, 10:1 to 1:10, 5:1 to 1:5, or 2:1 to 1:2
wherein the reference cross-section size and taggant cross-section
sizes are determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0226] C25. The method of any of embodiments C19-C24, wherein a
number of each of the distinguishable spinneret holes is selected
to produce each of the fiber counts.
[0227] C26. The method of any of embodiments C24-C25, wherein a
number the reference spinneret holes is selected to produce a
larger number of the reference fibers than any of the fiber counts
for other groups of the distinguishable identification fibers.
[0228] C27. The method of any of embodiments C18-C25, wherein the
at least one supply chain component comprises a manufacturer of the
acetate tow band, a manufacture site of the acetate tow band, a
manufacturing line of the acetate tow band, a production run of the
acetate tow band, a production date of the acetate tow band, a bale
of the acetate tow band, a warehouse of the acetate tow band, a
customer of the acetate tow band, or a ship-to location of the
acetate tow band.
[0229] C28. The method of embodiment C27, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.
[0230] C29. The method of embodiment C27, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0231] C30. A method of making an acetate tow band, wherein the
acetate tow band comprises cellulose acetate fibers, wherein the
cellulose acetate fibers comprise standard fibers and
identification fibers, the method comprising
[0232] (a) coproducing standard fibers and identification fibers
and
[0233] (b) combining the standard fibers and the identification
fibers into the acetate tow band,
wherein each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one
distinct feature, wherein the distinct features comprise 1 to 10
taggant cross-section shapes and 1 to 4 taggant cross-section
sizes, wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more
groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same taggant cross-section shape,
the same taggant cross-section size, or the same combination of
taggant cross-section shape and taggant cross-section size, wherein
a number of the identification fibers in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count,
wherein each of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber
count, and wherein a number of taggant fiber counts for each group
of the distinguishable identification fibers ranges from 1 to 4,
and wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the taggant fiber
counts are representative of a manufacturer of the acetate tow band
and a customer of the acetate tow band or a ship-to location of the
acetate tow band.
[0234] Listed below are additional non-limiting embodiments
D1-D30.
[0235] D1. A method of characterizing a fiber sample comprising (1)
applying imaging technology to a fiber sample comprising fibers,
wherein the fibers comprise identification fibers and standard
fibers, wherein each of the identification fibers exhibits at least
one distinct feature, wherein the identification fibers consist of
one or more groups of the distinguishable identification fibers,
each group of the distinguishable identification being formed by
the identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the
same combination of distinct features, (2) detecting the groups of
the distinguishable identification fibers, and (3) counting a
number of each of the distinguishable identification fibers,
wherein the number of identification fibers in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count,
wherein at least one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant
fiber count, and wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of
the distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the one or more
taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of the fiber sample.
[0236] D2. The method of embodiment D1, wherein the distinct
features comprise one or more taggant cross-section shapes and/or
one or more taggant cross-section sizes and wherein a number of
taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 10.
[0237] D3. The method of embodiment D2, wherein a number of the
taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 20; 1 to 10;
1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10.
[0238] D4. The method of any of embodiments D2-D3, wherein a
portion of the taggant cross-section shapes are produced using
spinneret hole geometries selected from the group consisting of
triangle, circle, rectangle, square, flattened round, trapezoid
hexagon, pentagon, and D-shaped.
[0239] D5. The method of any of embodiments D2-D4, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 25; 1 to 20; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to
10, wherein a ratio of at least one of the taggant cross-section
sizes to an average cross-section size of the standard fibers
ranges from 20:1 to 1.1:1, or 10:1 to 1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or
3:1 to 1.1:1, and wherein the taggant cross-section size and the
average cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter
[0240] D6. The method of any of embodiments D2-D5, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 25; 1 to 20; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to
10, wherein a ratio of at least one of the taggant cross-section
sizes to the average cross-section size of the standard fibers
ranges from 1:20 to 1:1.1, or 1:10 to 1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or
1:2 to 1:1.1, and wherein the taggant cross-section size and the
average cross-section size are determined based upon an effective
diameter.
[0241] D7. The method of any of embodiments D2-D6, wherein the
distinguishable identification fibers comprise reference fibers,
wherein the reference fibers exhibit a reference cross-section size
and a reference cross-section shape, wherein a ratio of each of the
taggant cross-section sizes to the reference cross-section size
ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, 10:1 to 1:10. or 5:1 to 1:5, and wherein
the reference cross-section size and the taggant cross-section
sizes are determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0242] D8. The method of any of embodiments D1-D7, wherein the
standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate, wherein the fiber
sample comprises a portion of an article comprising the fibers, and
wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a
filter rod and a cigarette filter.
[0243] D9. The method of any of embodiments D1-D8, wherein the
fiber sample comprises a portion of an article and wherein the
article is selected from the group consisting of fabrics and other
textile products, non-wovens, and absorbent products.
[0244] D10. The method of any of embodiments D1-D9, wherein the
imaging technology is selected from the group consisting of human
visual inspection, microscopy, electron microscopy, confocal
microscopy, florescence microscopy, and optical scanning; or
wherein the imaging technology is selected from the group
consisting of microscopy, electron microscopy, confocal microscopy,
florescence microscopy, and optical scanning.
[0245] D11. The method of any of embodiments D1-D10, wherein the
imaging technology is applied transverse to the length of the
fibers.
[0246] D12. The method of any of embodiments D1-D11, further
comprising (a) correlating the (i) the distinct features in each
group of the distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the one
or more taggant fiber counts to a database, wherein the database
comprises manufacturer specific taggants; and (b) determining the
at least on supply chain component, wherein the at least one supply
chain component comprises at least one of a manufacturer of the
standard fibers, a manufacture site of the standard fibers, a
manufacturing line of the standard fibers, a production run of the
standard fibers, a production date of the standard fibers, a
package of the standard fibers, a warehouse of the standard fibers,
a customer of the standard fibers, a ship-to location of the
standard fibers, a manufacturer of a fiber band comprising the
standard fibers, a manufacturing site of the fiber band, a
manufacturing line of the fiber band, a production run of the fiber
band, a production date of the fiber band, a package of the fiber
band, a warehouse of the fiber band, a customer of the fiber band,
a ship-to location of the fiber band, a manufacturer of an article
comprising the fibers, a manufacture site of the article, a
manufacturing line of the article, a production run of the article,
a production date of the article, a package of the article, a
warehouse of the article, a customer of the article, or a ship-to
location of the article.
[0247] D13. The embodiment of D12, wherein the at least one supply
chain component comprises the manufacturer of the fiber band
comprising the standard fibers and customer of the fiber band.
[0248] D14. The embodiment of D12, wherein the at least one supply
chain component comprises the manufacturer of the fiber band
comprising the standard fibers and ship-to location of the fiber
band.
[0249] D15. A method of characterizing a fiber sample comprising
(1) applying imaging technology to the fiber sample, wherein the
fiber sample comprises fibers, wherein the fibers comprise
identification fibers and standard fibers, wherein the standard
fibers comprise cellulose acetate, wherein each of the
identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct feature,
wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
the distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features, (2) detecting the groups of the
distinguishable identification fibers, and (3) counting a number of
each of the distinguishable identification fibers, wherein the
number of the identification fibers in each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers is defined as a fiber count,
wherein at least one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant
fiber count, and wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of
the distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the one or more
taggant fiber counts are representative of at least one supply
chain component of an acetate tow band, wherein the acetate tow
band comprises the fibers, and wherein the fiber sample comprises a
portion of the acetate tow band or a portion of an article
comprising the acetate tow band.
[0250] D16. The method of embodiment D15, wherein the distinct
features comprise one or more taggant cross-section shapes and/or
one or more taggant cross-section sizes and wherein a number of
taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 10.
[0251] D17. The method of embodiment D16, wherein a number of the
taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 20; 1 to 10;
1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10.
[0252] D18. The method of any of embodiments D16-D17, wherein a
portion of the taggant cross-section shapes are produced using
spinneret hole geometries selected from the group consisting of
triangle, circle, rectangle, square, flattened round, trapezoid
hexagon, pentagon, and D-shaped.
[0253] D19. The method of any of embodiments D16-D18, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10; 1 to
5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio of
at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to an average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 10:1 to
1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1, and wherein the taggant
cross-section size and the average cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter
[0254] D20. The method of any of embodiments D16-D19, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10; 1 to
5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio of
at least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 1:10 to
1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to 1:1.1, and wherein the taggant
cross-section size and the average cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0255] D21. The method of any of embodiments D16-D20, wherein the
taggant cross-section sizes range from 1 to 30 dpf, 1 to 20 dpf, 4
to 30 dpf, or 8 to 20 dpf.
[0256] D22. The method of any of embodiments D15-D21, wherein the
identification fibers comprise cellulose acetate.
[0257] D23. The method of any of embodiments D16-D22, wherein a
number of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 12, 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 12; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10
and a number of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 4,
1 to 3, or 2 to 4.
[0258] D24. The method of any of embodiments D15-D23, wherein the
imaging technology is selected from the group consisting of human
visual inspection, microscopy, electron microscopy, confocal
microscopy, florescence microscopy, and optical scanning; or
wherein the imaging technology is selected from the group
consisting of microscopy, electron microscopy, confocal microscopy,
florescence microscopy, and optical scanning.
[0259] D25. The method of any of embodiments D15-D24, wherein the
imaging technology is applied transverse to the length of the
fibers.
[0260] D26. The method of any of embodiments D16-D25, wherein the
distinguishable identification fibers comprise reference fibers,
wherein the reference fibers exhibit a reference cross-section size
and a reference cross-section shape, wherein a ratio of each of the
taggant cross-section sizes to the reference cross-section size
ranges from 20:1 to 1:20, 10:1 to 1:10. or 5:1 to 1:5, and wherein
the reference cross-section size and the taggant cross-section
sizes are determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0261] D27. The method of any of embodiments D15-D26, further
comprising (a) correlating the (i) the distinct features in each
group of the distinguishable identification fibers and (ii) the one
or more taggant fiber counts to a database, wherein the database
comprises manufacturer specific taggants; and (b) determining the
at least on supply chain component, wherein the at least one supply
chain component comprises at least one of a manufacturer of the
acetate tow band, a manufacture site of the acetate tow band, a
manufacturing line of the acetate tow band, a production run of the
acetate tow band, a production date of the acetate tow band, a bale
of the acetate tow band, a warehouse of the acetate tow band, a
customer of the acetate tow band, or a ship-to location of the
acetate tow band.
[0262] D28. The method of embodiment D27, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the customer of the acetate tow band.
[0263] D29. The method of embodiment D27, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the acetate
tow band and the ship-to location of the acetate tow band.
[0264] D30. A method of characterizing a fiber sample comprising
(1) applying imaging technology to the fiber sample, wherein the
fiber sample comprises standard fibers and identification fibers,
wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose acetate, wherein
each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one distinct
feature, wherein the distinct features comprise 1 to 10 taggant
cross-section shapes and 1 to 4 taggant cross-section sizes,
wherein the identification fibers consist of one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers being formed by
identification fibers having the same taggant cross-section shape,
the same taggant cross-section size, or the same combination of
taggant cross-section shape and taggant cross-section size, (2)
detecting the groups of the distinguishable identification fibers,
and (3) counting a number of the distinguishable identification
fibers in each of the groups, wherein the number of the
distinguishable identification fibers in each of the distinct
groups is defined as a fiber count, wherein each of the fiber
counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and wherein a number
of taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 4, and (4) correlating (i)
the distinct features in each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers and (ii) the taggant fiber counts to a
database comprising manufacture specific taggants and determining a
manufacturer of an acetate tow band and a customer of the acetate
tow band or a ship-to location of the acetate tow band, wherein the
acetate tow band comprises the identification fibers and the
standard fibers, and wherein the fiber sample comprises a portion
of the acetate tow band or a portion of an article comprising the
acetate tow band.
[0265] Listed below are additional non-limiting embodiments,
E1-E38.
[0266] E1. A method for embedding supply chain information into
fibers, the method comprising:
[0267] obtaining standard fibers;
[0268] obtaining identification fibers, the identification fibers
comprising one or more groups of distinguishable identification
fibers, each of the groups of distinguishable identification fibers
exhibiting a corresponding distinct feature or a corresponding
combination of distinct features, and the identification fibers
being associated with taggant fiber counts, the taggant fiber
counts being indicative a number of the identification fibers in
each of the groups; and
[0269] combining the standard fibers with the identification
fibers, the distinct features, the combinations of distinct
features, and/or the taggant fiber counts being representative of
at least one component of a supply chain.
[0270] E2. The method of embodiment E1, wherein the distinct
features comprise cross-section shapes and/or cross-section
sizes.
[0271] E3. The method of embodiment E1, wherein the combinations of
distinct features exhibited by the groups comprise combinations of
the cross-section shapes and/or the cross-section sizes.
[0272] E4. The method of any of embodiments E1-E3, wherein the at
least one supply chain component comprises a manufacturer, a
manufacture site, a manufacturing line, a production run, a
production date, a bale, a warehouse, a customer, and/or a ship-to
location.
[0273] E5. The method of any of embodiments E1-E4, further
comprising establishing a number of distinguishable identification
fibers included within each of the groups as the fiber count and
determining the corresponding taggant fiber count.
[0274] E6. The method of embodiment E5, wherein (i) the distinct
features, (ii) the combinations of distinct features, (iii) the
taggant fiber counts, and/or (iv) a number of taggant fiber counts
are representative of the at least one supply chain component.
[0275] E7. The method of any of embodiments E1-E6, further
comprising receiving, from a third party, information identifying
(i) the cross-section shapes, (ii) the cross-section sizes, (iii)
the combinations of the distinct features exhibited by the groups.
(iv) the taggant fiber counts and/or (v) the number of taggant
fiber counts.
[0276] E8. The method of any of embodiments E1-E7, further
comprising:
[0277] identifying proposed cross-section shapes, proposed
cross-section sizes, proposed distinct features, proposed
combinations of distinct features, proposed taggant fiber counts,
and/or proposed number of taggant fiber counts to represent the at
least one component of the supply chain;
[0278] providing the proposed cross-section shapes, the proposed
cross-section sizes, the proposed distinct features, the proposed
combinations of distinct features, the proposed taggant fiber
counts, and/or the proposed number of taggant fiber counts to a
third party; and
[0279] receiving, from the third party, information indicative of
an assignment of the proposed cross-section shapes, the proposed
cross-section sizes, the proposed distinct features, the proposed
combinations of distinct features, the proposed taggant fiber
counts, and/or the proposed number of taggant fiber counts to the
at least one component of the supply chain.
[0280] E9. The method of any of embodiment E1-E7, further
comprising
[0281] identifying proposed cross-section shapes, proposed
cross-section sizes, proposed distinct features, proposed
combinations of distinct features, proposed taggant fiber counts,
and/or proposed number of taggant fiber counts capable of
representing the at least one component of the supply chain;
[0282] assigning the proposed cross-section shapes, the proposed
cross-section sizes, the proposed distinct features, the proposed
combinations of distinct features, the proposed taggant fiber
counts, and/or the proposed number of taggant fiber counts to the
at least one component of the supply chain.
[0283] E10. The method of any of embodiments E8 and E9, wherein the
at least one component of the supply chain corresponds to a
manufacturer.
[0284] E11. The method of any of embodiments E1-E10, wherein the
distinguishable identification fibers include reference fibers, the
reference fibers having a corresponding reference cross-section
shape and a corresponding reference cross-section size.
[0285] E12. The method of embodiment E11, wherein the reference
cross-section size corresponds to an average effective diameter of
a plurality of the reference fibers, the average effective diameter
being larger than or smaller than the cross-section sizes
associated with each of the groups of the distinguishable
identification fibers.
[0286] E13. The method of any of embodiments E11 and E12, wherein a
sum of a number of the reference fibers and a number of the other
distinguishable identification fibers have a predetermined
value.
[0287] E14. The method of any of embodiments E1-E13, wherein a
portion of at least one of the standard fibers or the
identification fibers comprises cellulose acetate fibers.
[0288] E15. The method of embodiment E14, further comprising
combining the standard fibers with the identification fibers to
form a cellulose acetate tow band.
[0289] E16. The method of embodiment E15, further comprising
producing a portion of at least one of a filter rod or cigarette
filter from the cellulose acetate tow band.
[0290] E17. The method of any of embodiments E1-E16, further
comprising combining the standard fibers with the identification
fibers to form a portion of at least one of fabrics, other textile
products, non-wovens, or absorbent products.
[0291] E18. The method of any of embodiments E1-E17, wherein
obtaining the standard fibers comprises producing at least a
portion of the standard fibers on a first fiber production
process.
[0292] E19. The method of embodiment E18, wherein the first fiber
production process comprises a dry-spinning process, a
solution-spinning process, a melt-spinning process, an
electro-spinning process, a gel-spinning process, a
multi-component-spinning process, a melt-blowing process, and/or a
solution-blowing process.
[0293] E20. The method of any of embodiments E18 and E19, wherein
obtaining the identification fibers comprises receiving at least a
portion of the identification fibers from a third party.
[0294] E21. The method of any of embodiments E18-E20, wherein
obtaining the identification fibers comprises producing at least a
portion of the identification fibers on a second fiber production
process.
[0295] E22. The method of embodiment E21, wherein the second fiber
production process comprises a dry-spinning process, a
solution-spinning process, a melt-spinning process, an
electro-spinning process, a gel-spinning process, a
multi-component-spinning process, a melt-blowing process, and/or a
solution-blowing process.
[0296] E23. The method of any of embodiments E21 and E22, wherein
the first production process and the second fiber production
process correspond to a common fiber production process.
[0297] E24. The method of any of embodiments E1-E23, further
comprising generating correlation data mapping the distinct
features, the combinations of distinct features, and/or the taggant
fiber counts to the at least one supply chain component
[0298] E25. The method of any of embodiments E1-E23, wherein
generating the correlation data comprises mapping the distinct
features, the combinations of distinct features, the taggant fiber
counts, and/or a number of taggant fiber counts to the at least one
supply chain component.
[0299] E26. The method of any of embodiments E1-E25, further
comprising:
[0300] generating a first structured list of components of the
supply chain, the supply chain components having one or more
corresponding attributes; establishing measurable gradations in the
distinct features;
[0301] generating a second structured list comprising distinct
combinations of the established measurable gradations of the
distinct features;
[0302] generating a third structured list identifying potential
groups of the distinguishable identification fibers that exhibit
corresponding ones of the distinct combinations included within the
third structured list, the potential groups of the distinguishable
identification fibers being capable of representing the supply
chain components included within the first structured list;
[0303] mapping the attributes of the supply chain components to the
potential groups of the distinguishable identification fibers;
and
[0304] storing correlation data reflecting the mapping of the
attributes of the supply chain components to the potential groups
of the distinguishable identification fibers.
[0305] E27. The method of embodiment E26, further comprising:
[0306] establishing a taggant fiber count for each of the potential
groups; and
[0307] mapping the attributes of the supply chain components to the
potential groups of the distinguishable identification fibers and
the established taggant fiber count of each of the potential
groups.
[0308] E28. The method of embodiment E26, further comprising:
[0309] mapping subsets of the attributes of the supply chain
components to the potential groups of the distinguishable
identification fibers; and
[0310] storing correlation data reflecting the mapping of the
subsets of the attributes of the supply chain components to the
potential groups of the distinguishable identification fibers.
[0311] E29. The method of any of embodiments E1-E26, further
comprising:
[0312] generating a first structured list of the supply chain
components, the supply chain components having one or more
corresponding attributes; generating a second structured list of
the distinct features;
[0313] establishing measurable gradations of the distinct features
included in the second structured list;
[0314] mapping elements of the first structured list to elements of
the second structured list;
[0315] mapping the attributes of the supply chain components to the
established measurable gradations; and
[0316] storing correlation data reflecting the mapping of the
elements of the first and second structured lists and the mapping
of the supply attributes of the supply chain components to the
established measurable gradations.
[0317] E30. The method of embodiment E29, wherein the supply chain
components comprise an indication of a manufacturer, a manufacture
site, a manufacturing line, a production run, a production date, a
bale, a warehouse, a customer, and/or a ship-to location.
[0318] E31. The method of any of embodiments E29 and E30,
wherein:
[0319] obtaining the identification fibers comprises producing at
least a portion of the identification fibers; and
[0320] producing the portion of the identification fibers
comprises: [0321] receiving an indication of one or more supply
chain components to reflect in the identification fibers; [0322]
accessing the stored correlation data; [0323] identifying, from the
stored correlation data, at least one applicable distinct feature
mapped to the one or more selected supply chain information
components; [0324] selecting at least one manufacturing method
associated with producing the identification fibers based on the at
least one applicable distinct feature; and [0325] producing the
identification fibers according to the selected at least one
manufacturing method.
[0326] E32. The method of embodiment E31, wherein selecting the at
least one manufacturing method comprises:
[0327] determining whether an introduction of the at least one of
applicable distinct features of the identification fibers includes
manipulating physical properties of the identification fibers;
[0328] identifying one or more manufacturing methods for the
identification fibers based on the determination regarding the
introduction of the at least one applicable distinct feature of the
identification fibers; and
[0329] producing the identification fibers according to the
identified one or more manufacturing methods.
[0330] E33. The method of embodiment E32, further comprising:
[0331] determining that the introduction of the at least one
applicable distinct feature of the identification fibers includes
at least a manipulation of physical properties; and
[0332] determining one or more cross-section shapes for the
identification fibers.
[0333] E34. The method of embodiment E33, further comprising
[0334] determining a number of identification fibers that exhibit
each of the one or more cross-section shapes.
[0335] E35. The method of any of embodiments E33 and E34, further
comprising:
[0336] determining a cross-section size for identification fibers
exhibiting each of the one or more cross-section shapes.
[0337] E36. The method of any of embodiments E33-E35, further
comprising:
[0338] determining that the introduction of the at least one
applicable distinct feature of the identification fibers includes
at least a manipulation of physical properties; and
[0339] determining a number of identification fibers that exhibit
each of the one or more cross-section shapes.
[0340] E37. The method of any of embodiments E33-E36, further
comprising:
[0341] determining that the introduction of the at least one
applicable distinct feature of the identification fibers includes
at least a manipulation of physical properties; and
[0342] determining one or more sizes exhibited by the
identification fibers.
[0343] E38. The method of any of embodiments E33-E37, further
comprising:
[0344] determining that the introduction of the at least one
applicable distinct feature of the identification fibers includes
at least a manipulation of physical properties; and
[0345] determining a number of identification fibers exhibiting
each of the one or more cross-section sizes.
[0346] Listed below are further non-limiting embodiments,
F1-F30.
[0347] F1. A method for identifying supply chain information from
fiber samples, the method comprising:
[0348] analyzing a fiber sample for identification fibers, the
identification fibers comprising one or more groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, each of the groups of the
distinguishable identification fibers exhibiting a corresponding
distinct feature or a corresponding combination of distinct
features;
[0349] establishing taggant fiber counts for the identification
fibers, the taggant fiber counts being indicative of a number of
the identification fibers in each of the groups;
[0350] accessing correlation data mapping components of a supply
chain to the exhibited distinct features, the exhibited
combinations of distinct features, and/or the established taggant
fiber counts; and
[0351] based on the accessed correlation data, the exhibited
distinct features, the exhibited combinations of distinct features,
and/or the established taggant fiber counts, identifying at least
one component of the supply chain associated with the fiber
sample.
[0352] F2. The method of embodiment F1, wherein the fiber sample
comprises standard fibers and the identification fibers.
[0353] F3. The method of any of embodiments F1 and F2, wherein the
distinct features comprise cross-section shapes and/or
cross-section sizes of the distinguishable identification
fibers.
[0354] F4. The method of embodiment F2, wherein the exhibited
combinations of distinct features comprise distinct combinations of
the cross-section-shapes and/or cross-section sizes.
[0355] F5. The method of any of embodiments F1-F4, wherein the
supply chain components comprise a manufacturer, a manufacture
site, a manufacturing line, a production run, a production date, a
bale, a warehouse, a customer, and/or a ship-to location.
[0356] F6. The method of any of claims F1-F5, wherein the at least
one identified supply chain component comprises a manufacturer, a
manufacture site, a manufacturing line, a production run, a
production date, a bale, a warehouse, a customer, and/or a ship-to
location.
[0357] F7. The method of any of claims F1-F6, further comprising
establishing a number of distinguishable identification fibers
within each of the groups as the fiber count and determining the
corresponding taggant fiber count.
[0358] F8. The method of embodiment F7, wherein:
[0359] the correlation data maps the supply chain components to (i)
the exhibited distinct features, (ii) the exhibited combinations of
distinct features, (iii) the taggant fiber counts, and/or (iv) the
number of taggant fiber counts of each of the groups; and
[0360] the method further comprises identifying the at least one
supply chain component associated with the fiber sample based on
the accessed correlation data, and the exhibited distinct features,
the exhibited combinations of distinct features, the established
taggant fiber counts, and/or the number of taggant fiber counts of
each of the groups.
[0361] F9. The method of any of embodiments F1-F8, wherein the
distinguishable identification fibers comprise reference fibers,
the reference fibers having a corresponding reference cross-section
shape and a corresponding reference cross-section size.
[0362] F10. The method of embodiment F9, wherein:
[0363] analyzing the fiber sample comprises identifying the
reference fibers within the fiber sample; and
[0364] the method further comprises establishing a number of the
reference fibers identified within the fiber sample.
[0365] F11. The method of any of embodiments F9 and F10, wherein
the reference cross-section size corresponds to an average
effective diameter of at least a portion of the reference fibers,
the effective diameter being larger than or smaller than
cross-section sizes of the distinguishable identification
fibers.
[0366] F12. The method of embodiments F9-F11, wherein analyzing the
fiber sample comprises:
[0367] identifying the groups of distinguishable identification
fibers within the fiber sample;
[0368] establishing a cross-section size of the distinguishable
identification fibers included within each of the groups;
[0369] determining that the cross-section size of the
distinguishable identification fibers included within a first one
of the groups is larger than or smaller than the cross-section size
of the distinguishable identification fibers within each of the
other groups; and
[0370] based on the determination, establishing the distinguishable
identification fibers included within the first group as the
reference fibers.
[0371] F13. The method of embodiments F9-F11, wherein analyzing the
fiber sample comprises:
[0372] identifying the groups of distinguishable identification
fibers within the fiber sample;
[0373] establishing the number of the distinguishable
identification fibers included within each of the groups;
[0374] determining that the number of the distinguishable
identification fibers included within a first one of the groups
exceeds the numbers of the distinguishable identification fibers
within each of the other groups; and
[0375] based on the determination, establishing the distinguishable
identification fibers included within the first group as the
reference fibers.
[0376] F14. The method of embodiment F13, wherein the determining
comprises determining that the number of the distinguishable
identification fibers included within the first group exceeds a sum
of the numbers of the distinguishable identification fibers within
the other groups.
[0377] F15. The method of embodiment F13, wherein the determining
comprises determining that the number of the distinguishable
identification fibers included within the first group exceeds a
maximum of the numbers of the distinguishable identification fibers
included within the other groups.
[0378] F16. The method of embodiment F15, wherein a ratio between
(i) the maximum of the numbers of the distinguishable
identification fibers included within the other groups and (ii) the
number of the distinguishable identification fibers included within
the first group is at least 2:1.
[0379] F17. The method of any of embodiments F9-F11, wherein:
[0380] the accessed correlation data maps the supply chain
components to the exhibited distinct features, the exhibited
combinations of distinct features, the established taggant fiber
counts, the number of taggant fiber counts of each group, and/or
the number of the reference fibers included within the fiber
sample; and
[0381] the method further comprises identifying the at least one
component of the supply chain based on the accessed correlation
data, and the exhibited distinct features, the exhibited
combinations of distinct features, the taggant fiber counts, the
number of taggant fiber counts of each group, and/or the reference
fiber count.
[0382] F18. The method of any of embodiments F1-F17, wherein the
fiber sample comprises cellulose acetate fibers.
[0383] F19. The method of any of embodiments F1-F18, wherein the
fiber sample comprises a portion of a cellulose acetate tow
band.
[0384] F20. The method of any of embodiments F1-F19, wherein the
fiber sample comprises a portion of at least one of a filter rod or
cigarette filter.
[0385] F21. The method of any of embodiments F1-F20, wherein the
fiber sample comprises a portion of at least one of a textile
product, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, or an absorbent
product.
[0386] F22. The method of any of embodiments F1-F21, further
comprising:
[0387] receiving a request to identify supply chain information
associated with the fiber sample from a requesting entity; and
[0388] transmitting information identifying the at least one supply
chain component to the requesting entity.
[0389] F23. The method of embodiment F22, wherein the requesting
entity comprises a manufacturer, a customer, a governmental entity,
a law enforcement entity, or a third-party requestor.
[0390] F24. The method of any of embodiments F22 and F23,
wherein:
[0391] identifying the at least one supply chain component
comprises identifying a plurality of supply chain components based
on the correlation data, and the exhibited distinct features, the
exhibited combinations of distinct features, the established
taggant fiber counts, and/or a number of the taggant fiber counts
for each group; and
[0392] the transmitting comprises transmitting information
identifying a subset of the plurality of supply chain components to
the requesting entity.
[0393] F25. The method of any of embodiments F22-F24, wherein the
transmitting further comprises transmitting information identifying
a manufacturer to the requesting entity.
[0394] F26. The method of any of embodiments F22-F25, further
comprising transmitting a portion of at least one of the exhibited
distinct features, combinations of distinct features, or the
established taggant fiber counts to the requesting entity.
[0395] F27. The method of any of claims F1-F26, wherein the
analyzing comprises subjecting the fiber sample to an imaging
technology.
[0396] Listed below are further non-limiting embodiments,
H1-H20.
[0397] H1. A method of making a yarn or a fiber band comprising
fibers, wherein the fibers comprise identification fibers and
standard fibers, wherein the standard fibers comprise cellulose
acetate, and wherein the method comprises:
[0398] (a) obtaining the identification fibers
[0399] (b) producing the standard fibers on a first fiber
production process; and
[0400] (c) combining the identification fibers and the standard
fibers into an acetate tow band,
wherein each of the identification fibers exhibits at least one
distinct feature, wherein the identification fibers consist of one
or more groups of distinguishable identification fibers, each group
of distinguishable identification fibers being formed by the
identification fibers having the same distinct feature or the same
combination of distinct features, wherein a number of the
identification fibers in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers is defined as a fiber count, wherein at least
one of the fiber counts corresponds to a taggant fiber count, and
wherein (i) the distinct features in each group of distinguishable
identification fibers and (ii) the one or more taggant fiber counts
are representative of at least one supply chain component of the
acetate tow band.
[0401] H2. The method of embodiment H1, wherein the obtaining of
the identification fibers comprises at least one of (i) producing a
portion of the identification fibers on the first fiber production
process, (ii) producing a portion of the identification fibers on a
second fiber production process, or (iii) receiving at least a
portion of the identification fibers from a third party.
[0402] H3. The method of any of embodiments H1-H2, wherein the
distinct features comprise one or more taggant cross-section shapes
and/or one or more taggant cross-section sizes and wherein a number
of taggant fiber counts for each group of the distinguishable
identification fibers ranges from 1 to 20, 1 to 10, 1 to 5, 1 to 4,
1 to 3.
[0403] H4. The method of embodiment H3, wherein the identification
fibers are produced using distinguishable spinneret holes, each
group of the distinguishable spinneret holes being formed by
spinneret holes having the same distinguishable spinneret hole
geometry, wherein each group of the distinguishable identification
fibers are produced using a corresponding group of the
distinguishable spinneret holes.
[0404] H5. The method of embodiments H4, wherein all of the
distinguishable spinneret holes are contained in a single
spinneret.
[0405] H6. The method of any of embodiments H3-H5, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section shapes ranges from 1 to 25, 1 to 20; 1
to 10; 1 to 5; 1 to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 20; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to
10.
[0406] H7. The method of any of embodiments H3-H6, wherein a
portion of the distinguishable spinneret hole geometries are
selected from the group consisting of triangle, circle, rectangle,
square, flattened round, trapezoid, hexagon, pentagon, and
D-shaped.
[0407] H8. The method of any of embodiments H3-H7, wherein a number
of the taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 1 to 10, 1 to 5; 1
to 4; 1 to 3; 2 to 10; 2 to 5; or 3 to 10, wherein a ratio of a
larger of the taggant cross-section sizes to an average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 10:1 to
1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1, and/or wherein a ratio of
a smaller of the taggant cross-section sizes to the average
cross-section size of the standard fibers ranges from 1:10 to
1:1.1, or 1:5 to 1:1.1, or 1:2 to 1:1.1, and wherein the larger
taggant cross-section size, the smaller taggant cross-section size,
and the average cross-section size are determined based upon an
effective diameter.
[0408] H9. The method of any of embodiments H3-H8, wherein the
identification fibers comprise acrylic, modacrylic, aramid, nylon,
polyester, polypropylene, rayon, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene,
PTFE, or cellulose acetate.
[0409] H10. The method of any of embodiments H4-H9, wherein the
distinguishable identification fibers comprise reference fibers,
wherein the reference fibers exhibit a reference cross-section size
and a reference cross-section shape, wherein the reference fibers
are produced using the distinguishable spinneret holes comprising
reference spinneret holes.
[0410] H11. The method of embodiment H10, wherein a ratio of at
least one of the taggant cross-section sizes to the reference
cross-section size ranges from 20:1 to 1.1:1, or 10:1 to 1.1:1, or
5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1 and wherein the taggant cross-section
size and the reference cross-section size are determined based upon
an effective diameter.
[0411] H12. The method of any of embodiments H10-H11, wherein a
ratio of the reference cross-section size to a at least one of the
taggant cross-section sizes ranges from 20:1 to 1.1:1, or 10:1 to
1.1:1, or 5:1 to 1.1:1, or 2:1 to 1.1:1, and wherein the reference
cross-section size and the taggant cross-section size are
determined based upon an effective diameter.
[0412] H13. The method of any of embodiments H4-H12, wherein a
number of each of the distinguishable spinneret holes is selected
to produce each of the fiber counts.
[0413] H14. The method of any of embodiments H10-H13, wherein a
number of the reference spinneret holes is selected to produce a
larger number of the reference fibers than any other of the fiber
counts.
[0414] H15. The method of any of embodiments H1-H13, wherein the at
least one supply chain supply chain component comprises
manufacturer of the standard fibers, a manufacture site of the
standard fibers, a manufacturing line of the standard fibers, a
production run of the standard fibers, a production date of the
standard fibers, a package of the standard fibers, a warehouse of
the standard fibers, a customer of the standard fibers, a ship-to
location of the standard fibers, a manufacturer of a yarn or fiber
band comprising the standard fibers, a manufacturing site of the
yarn or fiber band, a manufacturing line of the yarn or fiber band,
a production run of the yarn or fiber band, a production date of
the yarn or fiber band, a package of the yarn or fiber band, a
warehouse of the yarn or fiber band, a customer of the yarn or
fiber band, a ship-to location of the yarn or fiber band, a
manufacturer of an article comprising the standard fibers, a
manufacture site of the article, a manufacturing line of the
article, a production run of the article, a production date of the
article, a package of the article, a warehouse of the article, a
customer of the article, or a ship-to location of the article.
[0415] H16. The method of embodiment H15, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the yarn or
fiber band and the customer of the yarn or fiber band.
[0416] H17. The method of embodiment 15, wherein the at least one
supply chain component comprises the manufacturer of the yarn of
fiber band and the ship-to location of the yarn or fiber band.
[0417] H18. The method of any of embodiments H1-H17, wherein the
standard fibers comprise acrylic, modacrylic, aramid, nylon,
polyester, polypropylene, rayon, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene,
PTFE, or cellulose acetate.
[0418] H19. The method of any of embodiments H1-H18, wherein the
standard fibers are produced using at least one of dry spinning,
solution spinning, melt spinning, electro spinning, gel spinning,
multi-component spinning, melt blowing, and/or solution blowing; or
the fibers are produced using at least one of dry spinning,
solution spinning, melt spinning, electro spinning, gel spinning,
and/or multi-component spinning; or the fibers are produced using
at least one of dry spinning, solution spinning, and/or melt
spinning.
[0419] H20. The method of any of embodiments H2-H19, wherein the
identification fibers are produced using at least one of dry
spinning, solution spinning, melt spinning, electro spinning, gel
spinning, multi-component spinning, melt blowing, and/or solution
blowing; or the fibers are produced using at least one of dry
spinning, solution spinning, melt spinning, electro spinning, gel
spinning, and/or multi-component spinning; or the fibers are
produced using at least one of dry spinning, solution spinning,
and/or melt spinning.
EXAMPLES
Sample Preparation for Fibers
Examples 1 and 2
[0420] The fibers were washed with ether solvent to remove the spin
finish and dyed red. The fibers were then stretched across a frame
and epoxied together to form a rigid rod of encapsulated fibers.
The epoxied rod of fibers was cut perpendicular to the fiber axis
to form a sample of 3 micron thickness. The sample was placed
endwise on a microscope slide with cover plate and observed and
photographed under a microscope.
Sample Preparation for Filter Rods
Examples 3-16
[0421] 25 g of Electron Microscopy Sciences.RTM. Epo-Fix low
viscosity resin with 3 g of hardener were mixed together. To the
mixture was added 0.5 mL of dye mixture (14 g of ORCO.RTM. Orcocil
Red B dye in 760 mL of ethanol). The mixture was stirred slowly
until it was homogeneous. A 1.5-mL micro centrifugation tube was
filled to 3/4 capacity with the epoxy mixture. A 10 mm thick
specimen from a filter rod was cut and placed on top of the epoxy.
The filter was allowed to absorb the epoxy and the tube was placed
in a tray and left in a controlled laboratory environment for up to
12 hours to allow the epoxy mixture to harden and embed the filter
rod specimen. The specimen was removed from the tube by pitching
the bottom of the tube with pliers.
[0422] The specimen was placed in a vice and a jeweler's saw was
used to cut the specimen to a size suitable for the polishing
chuck. The specimen was polished using the Allied MultiPrep
polishing system with the following media and rotation speed
sequence.
[0423] (1) 600 grit silicon carbide at 200 rpm
[0424] (2) 800 grit silicon carbide paper at 125 rpm
[0425] (3) Pan-B polishing mat with 6 micron diamond suspension at
100 rpm
[0426] (4) Pan-B polishing mat with 3 micron diamond suspension at
75 rpm
[0427] (5) Pan-B polishing mat with 1 micron diamond suspension at
50 rpm
[0428] (6) Final-A polishing mat with 0.5 micron diamond suspension
at 30 rpm
[0429] The diamond suspensions were in polycrystalline glycol.
After each polishing step, the specimen was rinsed with water,
dried under nitrogen, and visually inspected using a compound
microscope to ensure that the scratches from the previous step were
sufficiently removed.
[0430] Image analysis of the polished specimen was generated by the
following technique. The polished specimen was placed on an Olympus
MZ-130.times.85 motorized microscope stage. Either the 5.times. or
10.times. magnification setting was activated. BX61 STREAM Motion
system software was opened. The "Define MIA scanning area with
stage" function in the software's "Process Manager" was used to
identify the top left and bottom right corners of the polished
specimen. Each frame was focused as indicated by the software, the
image collection process was run, and the data was saved. The
software can be used to produce a single stitched image of the full
filter rod cross-section.
Example 1
[0431] A cellulose acetate yarn was produced with three different
filament sizes. A single 19-hole spinneret contained the three
differently sized holes. The 7 medium-size holes represented 36.8%
of the total number of spinneret holes. The 6 large size holes were
1.32 times the area of the medium-size holes and represented 31.6%
of the spinneret holes. The 6 small size holes were 0.67 times the
area of the medium-size holes and represented 31.6% of the
spinneret holes.
[0432] The yarn was produced using the above-described spinneret
with typical production conditions for acetate yarn. Multiple plies
of the yarn were wound to produce a fiber band with several hundred
filaments. The sample of the fibers was prepared according to the
sample preparation method discussed above. A representative
photomicrograph of the cross-sections is shown in FIG. 1. The areas
of 275 individual filament cross-sections were measured. The
filament areas were grouped into bins to produce a filament area
distribution.
[0433] The measured filament area distribution was fit with the sum
of three independent Gaussian distributions using the Solver
function in Microsoft EXCEL. The mean, standard deviation, and a
scalar (amplitude factor) were determined for each of the three
Gaussian distributions with the constraint that the three scalars
summed to 1.0. Area measurements and statistical analysis for the
fibers produced from small size holes, medium-size holes, and large
size holes are given in Table 1 under columns labeled 1, 2, and 3
respectively. Pair-wise t-tests showed that the three Gaussian
distributions are significantly different at the 99% confidence
level. For each Gaussian distribution, `n` was taken to be the
corresponding scalar times the total number of filaments. This
statistical analysis is summarized in Table 1.
[0434] These results show that filaments of different sizes can be
produced from the same spinneret and can be recognized as
significantly different by routine image analysis.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Parameters and statistical comparison of
optimized Gaussian distributions for Example 1 1 2 3 Mean 0.587
1.003 1.406 Standard Deviation 0.094 0.092 0.099 Scalar 0.364 0.335
0.301 `n` = scalar .times. 275 100 92 82 Statistical comparison #2
- #1 #3 - #2 #3 - #1 t-statistic 31.07 27.60 56.75 Degrees of
freedom 190 172 180 t-critical, 95% 1.97 1.97 1.97 t-critical, 99%
2.60 2.60 2.60
Example 2
[0435] A cellulose acetate yarn was produced using a 19 hole
spinneret with triangle, circle, and square holes. FIG. 2 gives a
photomicrograph showing the cross-section shapes of the fibers.
Example 3
[0436] Taggant spinnerets were manufactured with the same hole
pattern and hole size as is typically used to produce an acetate
tow item with a nominal 3.0 filament denier and 32,000 total
denier. Each taggant spinneret had 20 round holes and 20 square
holes with the remaining holes all being triangles as typically
used to make tri-lobal or "Y" cross section fibers. One taggant
spinneret was installed on an acetate tow production line to
produce a nominal 3.0 filament denier and 32,000 total denier band
which corresponds to 11,160 filaments. The number of spinneret
holes with taggant cross-section shapes and total number of
spinneret holes is given in Table 2. The tow was produced,
conditioned, and baled using standard manufacturing conditions.
[0437] Filter rods were produced from the tow on an AF4/KDF4 plug
maker at a tape speed of 600 m/m. The rod length was 120 mm. The
combined weight of the paper and glue was 91 mg/rod, and the
plasticizer weight was 44 mg/rod. Table 3 shows the average tow
weight, pressure drop, and circumference, as well as the standard
deviation, for 30 filter rods of each Example. FIG. 3 shows a
stitched image of a full filter rod cross-section with an expanded
region; the filter rod was made with acetate tow from Example 3.
All 40 taggant fibers were counted in the filter rod.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 The number of each of two taggant cross-
section shapes in each Example Taggant Number of holes Example
spinnerets Round Square Triangle Total 3 1 20 20 11,120 11,160 4 2
40 40 11,080 11,160 5 3 60 60 11,040 11,160 6 4 80 80 11,000 11,160
7 5 100 100 10,960 11,160 8 6 120 120 10,920 11,160 9 7 140 140
10,880 11,160 10 8 160 160 10,840 11,160 11 0 0 0 11,160 11,160
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Properties of filter rods comprising
identification fibers Tow Weight, Pressure Drop, Circumference, MG
mm w.g. mm Std. Std. Std. Sample Average Dev. Average Dev. Average
Dev. 3 550.6 5.5 316.5 6.4 24.27 0.04 4 554.8 4.5 316.5 5.6 24.28
0.05 5 555.1 7.0 317.7 7.2 24.28 0.04 6 558.4 5.7 314.3 5.9 24.29
0.03 7 552.6 5.9 315.1 7.1 24.29 0.05 8 550.5 5.2 315.6 6.1 24.28
0.04 9 556.2 6.5 318.9 6.2 24.29 0.04 10 553.3 4.9 311.5 5.2 24.29
0.03 11 552.8 5.3 320.0 7.2 24.28 0.04 Average 553.8 316.2 24.28
Std. 2.6 2.5 0.01 Dev.
Examples 4-11
[0438] Example 3 was repeated using the number of taggant
spinnerets and corresponding number of holes as given in Table 2.
Example 11 used no taggant spinnerets. The number of taggant fibers
were also counted in a filter rod made from Example 4 and all of
the expected taggant fibers were detected.
[0439] The average weight, pressure drop, and circumference of the
filter rods made using the acetate tow from each of the examples is
given in Table 3. The average weight and pressure drop for each of
the 9 Examples are within two-sigma of the grand averages which
indicates that inclusion of the identification fibers produced
using round and square spinneret holes did not have a statistically
significant effect on the measured rod properties.
Example 12
[0440] An acetate yarn sample was produced with a single spinneret
having 19 flattened round holes. The taggant yarn sample was wound
onto a package. The yarn sample was withdrawn from its package and
fed into a tow band prior to crimping. The cellulose acetate tow
was a typical commercial, "Y" cross section tow item with a nominal
3.0 filament denier and 32,000 total denier.
[0441] The tow sample with the taggant yarn was produced,
conditioned, and baled using the same manufacturing conditions as
normally used for the tow item. Filter rods were produced from the
tow on an AF4/KDF4 plug maker at a tape speed of 600 m/m. The rod
length was 120 mm. The combined weight of the paper and glue was 91
mg/rod, and the plasticizer weight was 44 mg/rod.
[0442] A sample of a filter rod from each Example was prepared for
analysis by the analytical procedure described above. All 19
taggant filaments included in the tow band were identified in the
sample.
Examples 13-16
[0443] Example 12 was repeated using hexagon, pentagon, "D", and
circle shaped spinneret holes, respectively. The yarns of Example
16 were dyed red. All 19 taggant filaments included in each tow
band were identified in the sample of the corresponding filter rod.
FIG. 4 shows the spinneret hole shapes in the fiber images made
from each of the hole shapes for Examples 12-15.
[0444] Examples 12-16 show the ability to insert taggant yarns with
different cross-section shapes into a tow band and successfully
identify the taggant yarns in a filter rod.
[0445] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate non-limiting examples of an
environment 500 depicting communication and shipping channels among
entities consistent with disclosed embodiments. In one embodiment,
environment 500 of FIGS. 5A and 5B may include one or more
manufacturers 510, one or more customers 520, a black market 540 or
other illicit trade network, one or more requesting parties 530,
one or more laboratories 560, and communication network 550. The
components and arrangement of the components included in
environment 500 (e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B) may vary.
Thus, environment 500 may include other components that perform or
assist in the performance of one or more processes consistent with
the disclosed embodiments.
[0446] In some aspects, network 550 may be any type of network
configured to provide communication means between systems of
components of environment 500 (e.g., manufacturing system 512
and/or laboratory system 562). For example, network 550 may be any
type of network (including infrastructure) that facilitates
communications, exchanges information, etc., such as the Internet,
a Local Area Network, near field communication, and/or other
suitable connection(s) that enables the sending and receiving of
information between the component systems associated with
environment 500. In other embodiments, one or more component
systems of environment 500 may communicate directly through a
dedicated communication link(s), such as links between manufacturer
510, customer 520, requesting party 530, and/or laboratory 560.
[0447] Further, and as stated above, manufacturers (e.g.,
manufacturer 510) may produce cellulose acetate fibers and fiber
products that incorporate the cellulose acetate fibers on an
industrial scale. In some embodiments, the produced cellulose
acetate fibers and fiber products may include standard fibers and
identification fibers. Each of the identification fibers exhibits
one or more distinct features (e.g., distinct cross-section sizes,
and additionally or alternatively, distinct cross-section shapes)
that visually distinguish the identification fibers from the
standard fibers. In additional aspects, the identification fibers
may include groups of distinguishable identification fibers that
exhibit the same distinct feature or the same combination of the
distinct features. Further, in some aspects, each of the groups may
be associated with a corresponding number of the distinguishable
identification fibers, defined as the fiber count which may
correspond to a taggant fiber count. In some aspects a number of
taggant fiber counts may be associated with each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers may.
[0448] In some embodiments, the inclusion of identification fibers
in the cellulose acetate fibers may enable manufacturer 510 to tag
the cellulose acetate fibers, and thus, the fiber products that
include the cellulose acetate fibers, with supply chain information
prior to shipment to customers 520. By way of example, fiber
products consistent with the disclosed embodiments may include, but
are not limited to, cellulose acetate tow, loose bands of cellulose
acetate tow, bales of cellulose acetate tow, and fabrics and other
articles that include the cellulose acetate fibers and/or tow.
[0449] For example, and in the context of cigarette manufacturing,
customer 520 may use a bale of acetate tow to produce various
intermediate and/or final stage products (e.g., loose tow band,
filter rods, filters, and/or cigarettes) and a fraction of these
products can ultimately find their way onto the black market (e.g.,
black market 440). Thus, because supply chain information can be
determined from a sample of any black market product having tagged
identification fibers, a party interested in combating illicit
trade (e.g., requesting party 530) may obtain a black market
product and submit a sample for analysis in order to identify
supply chain information associated with the black market
product.
[0450] Thus, in one embodiment, requesting party 530 may provide
the sample to manufacturer 510, as depicted in FIG. 5A.
Manufacturer 510 may, in certain aspects, analyze the sample to
identify at least one component of a supply chain associated with
the sample. For example, the sample may include standard and
identification fibers, and in some instances, manufacturer 510 may
analyze the sample using any of the exemplary techniques outlined
above.
[0451] Based on the analysis, manufacturer 510 may identify groups
of distinguishable identification fibers that exhibit corresponding
distinct features or combinations of distinct features. As noted
above, the distinct features include, but are not limited to,
cross-section size and/or cross-section shape. Manufacturer 510 may
also identify the fiber count, the number of identification fibers
in each of the groups of distinguishable identification fibers.
Manufacturer 510 may also establish a number of taggant fiber
counts for the exhibited groups of distinguishable identification
fibers that, in some instances, represent the number of the taggant
fiber count alternatives available for each group of the
distinguishable identification fibers.
[0452] In certain aspects, manufacturer 510 may access correlation
data mapping components of the supply chain to the exhibited
distinct features, combinations of distinct features and/or the
established taggant fiber counts. Manufacturer 510 may identify the
at least one component of the supply chain based on, for example, a
comparison of the exhibited distinct features, combinations of
distinct features and/or the established taggant fiber counts to
the accessed correlation data. In some instances, manufacturer 510
may transmit information identifying the at least one supply chain
component to requesting party 530 (e.g., across network 550).
[0453] In further embodiments, the accessed correlation data may
map the supply chain components to not only the exhibited distinct
features, combinations of distinct features, the taggant fiber
counts, but also to a number of taggant fiber counts for each group
of distinguishable identification fibers. Thus, in some aspects,
manufacturer 510 may also establish (i.e., count) the number of the
distinguishable identification fibers included within each of the
groups and determine the corresponding taggant fiber count, and may
identify the at least one component of the supply chain based on,
for example, a comparison of the exhibited distinct features,
combinations of distinct features, the established taggant fiber
counts, and/or the number of taggant fiber count to the accessed
correlation data.
[0454] Further, as noted above, the distinguishable identification
fibers may include reference fibers having a corresponding
reference cross-section shape and a corresponding reference
cross-section size. The reference cross-section may, for example,
represent an average effective diameter of at least a portion of
the reference fibers, and in some aspects, the reference
cross-section size may exceed, or alternatively, be smaller than,
the cross-section sizes of each of the other distinguishable
identification fibers in the sample. Thus, in an embodiment,
manufacturer 510 may determine that a cross-section size of a first
group of the distinguishable identification fibers is larger than
or smaller than the cross-section sizes of each of the other groups
of the distinguishable identification fibers (e.g., using any of
the exemplary techniques described above), and may establish the
first group of the distinguishable identification fibers as the
reference fibers.
[0455] In further aspects, a number of the reference fibers within
the sample may exceed the numbers of the distinguishable
identification fibers within the other groups of distinguishable
identification fibers. Thus, in an embodiment, manufacturer 510 may
count the number of identification fibers included within each of
the groups of distinguishable identification fibers, determine that
the number of the distinguishable identification fibers included
within a first groups of the distinguishable identification fibers
exceeds the numbers of the distinguishable identification fibers
within one or more of the other groups of distinguishable
identification fibers, and based on the determination, establish
the first group of distinguishable identification fibers as the
reference fibers. For example, the number of reference fibers in
the sample may exceed a sum of the numbers of the distinguishable
identification fibers within each other of the groups of
distinguishable identification fibers, and additionally or
alternatively, the number of reference fibers may exceed a maximum
of the numbers of the distinguishable identification fibers
included within corresponding ones of the other groups of
distinguishable identification fibers.
[0456] Furthermore, correlation data consistent with the disclosed
embodiments may map the supply chain components to not only the
exhibited distinct features, combinations of distinct features, the
established taggant fiber counts, and/or the number of taggant
fiber counts, but also to the number of reference fibers counted
within the sample. Thus, in some aspects, manufacturer 510 may
identify the at least one component of the supply chain based on,
for example, a comparison of the exhibited distinct features and
combinations of distinct features, the established taggant fiber
counts, the number of taggant fiber counts and/or the number of
reference fibers counted within the sample to the accessed
correlation data.
[0457] In the exemplary embodiments described above, manufacturer
510 may analyze the sample to identify at least one component of a
supply chain associated with the sample. The disclosed embodiments
are, however, not limited to exemplary analyses conducted by
manufacturer 510, and in further embodiments, customer 520,
requesting party 530, or a third-party (not shown) may conduct the
analysis for identifying supply chain information from tagged
fibers.
[0458] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, a laboratory 560 may
act on behalf of requesting party 530 and perform the analysis on
the sample to identify the at least one supply chain component
associated with the sample. In some instances, laboratory 560 may
represent a governmental entity, a quasi-governmental entity, or a
private entity capable of performing the analysis, and requesting
party 530 may contract with or retain laboratory 560 to perform the
analysis on a one-time or recurring basis.
[0459] In other instances, however, laboratory 560 may be
established by one of more of manufacturer 510, customers 520,
and/or requesting party 530 in order to regularly and reliably
identify supply chain components associated with samples taken from
illicitly traded cellulose acetate fibers or fiber products that
incorporate the cellulose acetate fibers (e.g., as obtained by
requesting party 530 from black market 540). Laboratory 560 may, in
certain aspects, perform the analysis of the sample in accordance
with one or more procedures established by a manufacturer 510,
customers 520, and/or requesting party 530. For example, one or
more of manufacturer 510, customers 520, and/or requesting party
530 may collectively establish standardized procedures and
protocols for receiving and handling samples, analyzing the samples
to identify the supply chain components in an accurate and
repeatable manner, and reporting portions of the identified supply
chain components to manufacturer 510, customers 520, and/or
requesting party 530. Further, in additional embodiments,
laboratory 560 may also assign the distinct features, combinations
of distinct features, the taggant fiber counts, and/or the number
of taggant fiber counts to various components of the supply chain
(e.g., manufacturers) to uniquely identify these supply chain
components. In further embodiments, customer 520, requesting party
530, or a third-party (not shown) may assign this distinct
features, the combinations of distinct features, the taggant fiber
counts, and/or the number of taggant fiber counts to various
components of the supply chain (e.g., manufacturers) to uniquely
identify these supply chain components.
[0460] In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, requesting
party 530 may provide the sample to laboratory 560. Laboratory 560
may, in certain aspects, analyze the sample to identify at least
one component of a supply chain associated with the sample (e.g., a
manufacturer). For example, using any of the exemplary techniques
described above, laboratory 560 may analyze the sample to identify
each of the groups of distinguishable identification fibers that
exhibits the same distinct features and/or the same combination of
distinct features, count a number of distinguishable identification
fibers included within each of the groups (establishing the taggant
fiber count for each group of distinguishable identification
fibers), and additionally or alternatively, identify and count a
number of reference fibers within the sample. Further, laboratory
560 may access correlation data, and using any of the exemplary
techniques described above, identify the at least one supply chain
component based on a comparison of the exhibited distinct features,
combinations of distinct features, the established taggant fiber
counts, the number of taggant fiber counts, and/or the number of
reference fibers included within the sample to the accessed
correlation data.
[0461] In additional embodiments, laboratory 560 may function as a
centralized facility that assigns unique distinct features,
combinations of distinct features (e.g., as exhibited by groups of
distinguishable identification fibers), taggant fiber counts (e.g.,
representative of the number of fibers in each group of
distinguishable identification fibers), and/or a number of taggant
fiber counts (e.g., as representative of a number of the of
alternative fiber counts) to various components of the supply chain
(e.g., to manufacturer 510). For example, laboratory 560 may
assign, to manufacturer 510, a particular taggant fiber count
(e.g., a taggant fiber count of ten) and/or particular combinations
of cross-section size and shape (e.g., large and small Y-shaped
identification fibers, and large and small D-shaped identification
fibers).
[0462] When exhibited by identification fibers included within
cellulose acetate fibers and corresponding fiber products produced
by manufacturer 510, the assigned combinations of cross-section
size and cross-section shape and/or taggant fiber counts may
uniquely represent manufacturer 510 and may enable laboratory 560
(and additionally or alternatively, any other entity within
environment 500) to identify manufacturer 510 as a source of the
fiber products using any of the analytical techniques described
above. Further, laboratory 560 (and additionally or alternatively,
any other entity within environment 500) may also establish and
maintain data records (e.g., within a centralized database
implemented using the exemplary computing systems outlined below)
that identify a correlation between the various supply chain
components (e.g., manufacturer 510) and corresponding ones of the
assigned distinct features, combinations of distinct features,
taggant fiber counts, and/or number of taggant fiber counts.
[0463] The disclosed embodiments are, however, not limited to the
assignment of exemplary taggant fiber counts, cross-section sizes,
and cross-section shapes to manufacturer 510. In further
embodiments, laboratory 560 may assign any additional or alternate
set or combinations of sets of distinct features to uniquely
identify manufacturer 510. For example, laboratory 560 may assign
one or more cross-section sizes and/or one or more cross-section
shapes to manufacturer 510.
[0464] In certain aspects, laboratory 560 may establish a
centralized repository for data and data records (e.g., using any
of the exemplary computing systems outlined below) that correlate
the various supply chain components (e.g., manufacturer 510) to
corresponding ones of taggant fiber counts, distinct features,
combinations of distinct features, and/or number of taggant fiber
counts. Further, in other aspects, laboratory 560 may access the
centralized repository and generate one or more reports specifying
the taggant fiber counts, the distinct features, the combinations
of distinct features, and/or the number of taggant fiber counts
that uniquely identify at least one of the supply chain components
(e.g., manufacturers). Laboratory 560 may, in some instances,
generate the reports at predetermined intervals or in response to
received requests (e.g., from requesting party 530, manufacturer
510, etc.), and may provide the generated reports to various
parties and entities within environment 500 (e.g., across network
550).
[0465] In some embodiments, laboratory 560 may access the
centralized repository to identify at least one supply chain
component (e.g., manufacturer 510) associated with a distinct
feature, combination of distinct features, taggant fiber counts,
and/or number of taggant fiber counts determined by laboratory 560
(e.g., using any of the analytical techniques outlined above) and
additionally or alternatively, obtained from any third party or
other entity within environment 500. Further, and as described
below, the centralized repository may enable laboratory 560 to
determine whether proposed distinct features, combinations of
distinct features, proposed taggant fiber counts, and/or proposed
number of taggant fiber counts (e.g., as selected by manufacturer
510) are capable of uniquely representing fibers and fiber products
of manufacturer 510 that are introduced into the supply chain.
[0466] In certain embodiments, laboratory 560 may receive proposed
distinct features, combinations of distinct features (e.g.,
proposed cross-section sizes and/or cross-section shapes), proposed
taggant fiber counts, and/or proposed number of taggant fiber
counts from manufacturer 510. Laboratory 560 may, for example,
compare the proposed distinct features, combinations of distinct
features, proposed taggant fiber counts, and/or proposed number of
taggant fiber counts against the established data records (e.g.,
within the centralized repository) to determine whether these
proposed distinct features, combinations of distinct features,
proposed taggant fiber counts, and/or proposed number of taggant
fiber counts are capable of uniquely identifying manufacturer 510
(e.g., that the proposed distinct features, combinations of
distinct features, proposed taggant fiber, pace that counts are
assigned to no other supply chain components, such as another
manufacturer). If the proposed distinct features, combinations of
distinct features, proposed taggant fiber counts, and/or proposed
number of taggant fiber counts could uniquely represent
manufacturer 510, laboratory 560 may assign the proposed distinct
features, combinations of distinct features, proposed taggant fiber
counts, and/or proposed number of taggant fiber counts to
manufacturer 510, update the data records to reflect the
assignment, and provide confirmation of the assignment to
manufacturer 510 (e.g., between computing systems of laboratory 560
and manufacturer 510 across network 550).
[0467] Alternatively, if laboratory 560 previously assigned the
proposed distinct features, combinations of distinct features,
proposed taggant fiber counts and/or proposed number of taggant
fiber counts to another manufacturer (or the proposed distinct
features, combinations of distinct features, proposed taggant fiber
counts, and/or proposed number of taggant fiber counts are
inappropriate to represent manufacturer 510), laboratory 560 may
assign alternate distinct features, combinations of distinct
features, alternate taggant fiber counts, and/or alternative number
of taggant fiber counts to manufacturer 510, update the data
records to reflect the alternate assignment, and provide
confirmation of the alternate assignment to manufacturer 510. In
other aspects, laboratory 560 could provide, to manufacturer 510,
an indication of the assignment of the proposed distinct features,
combinations of distinct features, taggant fiber counts, and/or
number of taggant fiber counts to another manufacturer, and request
that manufacturer 510 propose additional distinct features,
combination of distinct features, taggant fiber counts, and/or
number of taggant fiber counts for assignment by laboratory 560, as
described above.
[0468] In certain aspects, upon confirmation of the assignment,
manufacturer 510 may obtain and/or produce identification fibers
that exhibit the assigned distinct features, combinations of
distinct features, the taggant fiber counts, number of taggant
fiber counts. For example, the obtained or produced identification
fibers may include groups of distinguishable identification fibers
that exhibit the assigned distinct features or combinations of
distinct features and further, are present in the fiber counts that
correspond to the assigned taggant fiber counts.
[0469] In other aspects, however, manufacturer 510 may further
correlate the assigned distinct features, combinations of distinct
features, the taggant fiber counts, and/or number of taggant fiber
counts to one or more upstream components of the supply chain
(e.g., a manufacture site, a manufacturing line, a production run,
a production date, a bale) and/or various downstream components of
the supply chain (e.g., a warehouse, a customer, a ship-to
location, etc.). For example, manufacturer 510 may further specify
fiber counts, in combination with the assigned distinct features,
combinations of distinct features, taggant fiber counts, and/or
number of taggant fiber counts uniquely represent a particular
customer within the supply chain (e.g., customer 520).
[0470] The disclosed embodiments are, however, not limited to
techniques that enable manufacturer 510 to correlate customer 510
to assigned distinct features, combinations of distinct features,
taggant fiber counts, and/or number of taggant fiber counts. In
further embodiments, manufacturer 510 may specify any additional or
alternate taggant information (e.g., numbers of reference fibers,
etc.) to represent other upstream or downstream supply components
(or combinations thereof) in conjunction with the assigned distinct
features, combinations of distinct features, taggant fiber counts,
and/or number of taggant fiber counts.
[0471] In some aspects, while laboratory 560, or another entity,
may maintain information linking manufacturer 510 to assigned
distinct features, combinations of distinct features, taggant fiber
counts, and/or number of taggant fiber counts manufacturer 510 may
hold confidential additional taggant information (e.g., fiber
counts, numbers of reference fibers, non-assigned taggant fiber
counts, etc.) that links identification fibers, and thus fiber
products produced by manufacturer 510, to other upstream and
downstream components of the supply chain. The confidentiality of
the additional taggant information may, in certain instances,
enable manufacturer 510 to prevent laboratory 560 from identifying
customers (e.g., customer 520), ship-to locations, warehouses, and
other internal supply chain components (e.g., manufacture site or
line, and production run or date) associated with manufacturer
510.
[0472] The embodiments described above identify particular
combinations of taggant information that correlate to a specific
component of a supply chain and, when exhibited in identification
fibers of a sample, enable a laboratory, a manufacturer, or other
entities to identify the specific supply chain component associated
with the sample. One of ordinary skill in the art would, however,
understand that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the
particular combinations or taggant information outlined above, and
in further embodiments, specific supply chain components may be
correlated with any additional or alternate physical, chemical,
and/or optical characteristic exhibited by the identification
fibers. Moreover, while not depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B, one of
skill in the art would understand that entities associated with
environment 500 (shown and not shown) may employ one or more
warehouses to store raw materials, intermediate products, final
stage products, etc. in conducting operations consistent with
disclosed embodiments.
[0473] FIG. 6 illustrates a non-limiting example of a computing
system 600 used by one or more entities consistent with disclosed
embodiments. Variations of exemplary system 600 may be used by
manufacturer 510 (e.g., as manufacturer system 512), customer 520,
requesting party 530, and/or laboratory 560 (e.g., as laboratory
system 562). In one embodiment, system 600 may comprise one or more
processors 621, one or more input/output (I/O) devices 622, and one
or more memories 623. In some embodiments, system 600 may take the
form of a server, mainframe computer, or any combination of these
components. In some embodiments, system 600 may take the form of a
mobile computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop
computer, or any combination of these components. Alternatively,
system 600 may be configured as a particular apparatus, embedded
system, dedicated circuit, and the like based on the storage,
execution, and/or implementation of the software instructions that
perform one or more operations consistent with the disclosed
embodiments.
[0474] Processor 621 may include one or more known processing
devices, such as mobile device microprocessors or any various other
processors. The disclosed embodiments are not limited to any type
of processor(s) configured in system 600.
[0475] Memory 623 may include one or more storage devices
configured to store instructions used by processor 624 to perform
functions related to the disclosed embodiments. For example, memory
623 may be configured with one or more software instructions, such
as program(s) 624 that may perform one or more operations
consistent with disclosed embodiments when executed by processor
621. The disclosed embodiments are not limited to separate programs
or computers configured to perform dedicated tasks. For example,
memory 623 may include a single program 624 that performs the
functions of system 600, or program 624 may comprise multiple
programs. Memory 623 may also store data 625 that is used by one or
more programs 612, such as correlation data mapping distinct
features to one or more components of the supply chain
information.
[0476] I/O devices 622 may be one or more devices configured to
allow data to be received and/or transmitted by system 600. I/O
devices 622 may include one or more digital and/or analog devices
that allow components of environment 500 to communicate with other
machines and devices, such as other components of environment 500.
For example, I/O devices 622 may include a screen for displaying
messages, distinct feature information, supply chain information,
or providing other information to the user, such as an employee of
manufacturer 510, customer 520, requesting party 530, and/or
laboratory 560. I/O devices 622 may also include one or more
digital and/or analog devices that allow a user to interact with
system 600 such as a touch-sensitive area, keyboard, buttons, or
microphones. I/O devices 622 may also include other components
known in the art for interacting with a user.
[0477] The components of system 600 may be implemented in hardware,
software, or a combination of both hardware and software, as will
be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, although one
or more components of system 600 may be implemented as computer
processing instructions, all or a portion of the functionality of
system 600 may be implemented instead in dedicated electronics
hardware.
[0478] System 600 may also be communicatively connected to one or
more database(s) 627. System 600 may be communicatively connected
to database(s) 627 through network 550. Database 627 may include
one or more memory devices that store information and are accessed
and/or managed through system 600. By way of example, database(s)
627 may include Oracle.TM. databases, Sybase.TM. databases, or
other relational databases or non-relational databases, such as
Hadoop sequence files, HBase, or Cassandra.
[0479] The databases or other files may include, for example, data
and information related to distinct features, supply chain
information, correlation data mapping the distinct features to the
supply chain information, data indicative of distinct features
assigned to the supply chain information, etc. For example, the
databases and other files may include correlation data mapping the
supply chain components to distinct features, combinations of
distinct features, taggant fiber counts, number of taggant fiber
counts, and/or numbers of reference fibers included in fiber
samples, as described above. Further, by way of example, the
databases and other files may also include distinct features,
combinations of the distinct features, the taggant fiber counts,
number of taggant fiber counts, and/or the numbers of reference
fibers included in fiber samples assigned to supply chain
components by laboratory 560, as outlined above.
[0480] Systems and methods of disclosed embodiments, however, are
not limited to separate databases. In one aspect, system 600 may
include database 627. Alternatively, database 627 may be located
remotely from the system 600. Database 627 may include computing
components (e.g., database management system, database server,
etc.) configured to receive and process requests for data stored in
memory devices of database(s) 627 and to provide data from database
627.
[0481] Although the above description has designated laboratory 560
as the entity assigning various taggants, in other aspects,
manufacturer 510, customer 520, requesting party 530 or a
third-party entity not shown may be the one assigning taggants for
identification fibers. Furthermore, as seen from FIGS. 5A and 5B,
although the description has focused on cellulose acetate tow and
the black market associated with cigarette filters, the embodiments
clearly apply to fibers of any material and any article subject to
illicit trade.
[0482] FIG. 7 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
embedding supply chain information into fibers, as seen and
described above with respect to disclosed embodiments.
[0483] FIG. 8 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
generating correlation data, as seen and described above with
respect to disclosed embodiments. For example, as described in FIG.
8, manufacturer 510 (and additionally or alternatively, laboratory
560) may generate a first structured list of the supply chain
components having one or more corresponding attributes, and may
generate a second structured list of the distinct features. In some
aspects, manufacturer 510 may establish measurable gradations of
the distinct features included in the second structured list, and
further, may map (i) elements of the first structured list to
elements of the second structured list and (ii) the attributes of
the supply chain components to the established measurable
gradations. Manufacturer 510 may, in additional aspects, store
correlation data (e.g., in database 627) reflecting the mapping of
the elements of the first and second structured lists and the
mapping of the supply attributes of the supply chain components to
the established measurable gradations.
[0484] FIG. 9 illustrates an additional non-limiting example of a
process for generating correlation data, as seen and described
above with respect to disclosed embodiments. For example, as
described in FIG. 9, laboratory 560 (and additionally or
alternatively, manufacturer 510) may generate a first structured
list of components of the supply chain. In one instance, the supply
chain components may represent one or more corresponding
attributes. Laboratory 560 may also establish measurable gradations
in the distinct features, and may generate a second structured list
comprising distinct combinations of the established measurable
gradations of the distinct features. In some aspects, laboratory
560 may generate a third structured list identifying potential
groups of the distinguishable identification fibers that exhibit
corresponding ones of distinct features or combinations of the
distinct features included within the third structured list. The
potential groups of the distinguishable identification fibers may,
for example, be capable of representing the supply chain components
included within the first structured list. Laboratory 560 may
further map the attributes of the supply chain components to the
potential groups of the distinguishable identification fibers, and
store correlation data (e.g., in database 627) reflecting the
mapping of the attributes of the supply chain components to the
potential groups of the distinguishable identification fibers.
[0485] FIG. 10 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
producing identification fibers, as seen and described above with
respect to disclosed embodiments.
[0486] FIG. 11 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
choosing one or more manufacturing methods, as seen and described
above with respect to disclosed embodiments.
[0487] FIG. 12 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
identifying at least one supply chain component associated with a
fiber sample, as seen and described above with respect to disclosed
embodiments.
[0488] FIG. 13 illustrates a non-limiting example of a process for
assigning, to supply chain components, combinations of distinct
features and taggant fiber counts that uniquely represent the
supply chain components, as seen and described above with respect
to disclosed embodiments.
[0489] Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the
art from consideration of the specification and practice of the
embodiments disclosed herein. It will be understood that variations
and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of
the disclosed embodiments. It is further intended that the
specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a
true scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments being indicated
by the following claims.
* * * * *