EA041094B1 - HARNESS TAPE FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE TIP, ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE TIP, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING HARNESS TAPE FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE TIP AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE TIP - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette tip harness band, an electronic cigarette tip, a method for manufacturing an electronic cigarette tip harness band, and a method for manufacturing an electronic cigarette tip.

Background of the invention

The following defined terms are used in this document.

TD: Total fineness (total denier), which refers to the fineness (grams per 9000 m) of a tow or multiple threads in a single bundle.

FD: Unit fineness (yarn weight number), which refers to the fineness (grams per 9000 m) of a single fiber (single thread). It is also called the denier of the monofilament.

Thread: This refers to a continuous long fiber. In particular, this applies to a single fiber emerging from the spinning hole of a spinneret.

Spinning Hole: Formed in the spinneret of the spinning cylinder and releases (spins) the filament.

Tow tape: A plurality of filaments, each of which is a set of filaments (individual fibers) emerging from the respective spinnerets of the plurality of spinning cylinders, are combined, and TD is set to a predetermined value to complete the end. This end is crimped. The crimped end (filament arrangement) is called the tow tape. That is, the harness tape has a TD and a number of compressions. The harness tape is packed in a bale.

End: This refers to a plurality of threads combined (converging) in such a way that a plurality of threads released from the rotating holes of a plurality of spinning cylinders have a predetermined total denier.

Yarn: refers to a bundle of threads coming out of a single spinning cylinder. Thus, the yarn is a collection of pre-connected fibers.

Tip: refers to a filter that allows tobacco components to pass through when smoking or using an electronic cigarette. The tip is configured, for example, by shaping a predetermined breathable material into a rod shape and wrapping the outer periphery of the material with cigarette paper.

In recent years, the use of heated electronic cigarettes has increased. For example, as described in Patent Literature 1, such an electronic cigarette includes a base material containing a volatile component that is a tobacco component, a heating block that heats the base material, a cooling block that cools and condenses the volatile component from the heated base material to aerosol formation, and a tip filtering the aerosol that has passed through the cooling device.

When using a cigarette, the tip is inserted into the user's lips. The tip is made using a tow strap (hereinafter also referred to simply as a tow strap) consisting of, for example, a plurality of long cellulose acetate fibers crimped.

In the manufacture of the tip, for example, a compressed and baled tow tape is unwound from a packaging container, opened (put into service) during transport, and a plasticizer is attached to it to form it into a rod shape. Cigarette paper is wound around the outer periphery of the molded body from a tow tape. The tip is made by cutting the molded body and cigarette paper to specified dimensions.

Link List

Patent Literature

PTL 1: Pending Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-503335

Summary of the Invention Technical Problem

For the harness tape used for the tip of an electronic cigarette, for example, a harness tape having a relatively large FD and a relatively small TD is used to give the tip an appropriate PD (airflow resistance) and hardness.

However, during the manufacture of the tow tape and the ferrule, an external force is applied to the thread having a relatively large FD, which may cause a thread fragment (hereinafter also referred to as fluff) to be generated. For example, when a filament fragment is included in a molded body in a plasticizer absorption state, the filament may melt to form a molten hole. This can reduce production efficiency and tip quality.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to prevent the decrease in production efficiency and quality of an electronic cigarette tip due to filament fragmentation when an electronic cigarette tip is manufactured using a tow band.

Solution

In order to solve the above problem, a tow tape for an e-cigarette tip according to an aspect of the present invention is a cellulose acetate tow tape obtained by combining and crimping a plurality of filaments into a tow, with the total denier set to a value in the range of 10,000 to 40,000 (inclusive), weight number in denier thread

- 1 041094 is set to a value between 6.0 and 20.0 (inclusive), and if the total denier is designated as TD and the tensile strength is designated as F, the F/TD ratio is set to 0.0015

N/denier or more.

According to the above configuration, the strength of each yarn can be improved by setting the F/TD ratio to the above value while setting the TD and FD of the tow tape to desired values within the above ranges. As a result, for example, when manufacturing a tow tape and a ferrule using a thread having a relatively large FD, fragmentation of the thread can be prevented even if an external force is applied to the thread. Therefore, the tip of the electronic cigarette can be manufactured with high quality. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the decline in production efficiency and quality of the tip of the electronic cigarette.

The total denier may be set to a value in the range of 20000 to 40000 inclusive, and the denier of the thread may be set to a value in the range of 8.0 to 20.0 inclusive.

The total denier may be set to a value in the range of 10000 to 20000 inclusive, and the denier of the thread may be set to a value in the range of 6.0 to 12.0 inclusive.

An electronic cigarette tip according to an aspect of the present invention includes a molded body formed by shaping any of the tow bands described above into a rod, and cigarette paper wound around a peripheral surface of the molded body. According to this configuration, it is possible to form a shaped body with a well-compressed tow band while preventing yarn fragmentation. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the decline in production efficiency and quality of the tip of the electronic cigarette.

A method for manufacturing a tow band for an electronic cigarette tip according to an aspect of the present invention includes an alignment step of aligning a plurality of filaments in a roll width direction of a pair of press rolls at a position up to a pair of press rolls in a transport direction of a plurality of filaments when transporting a plurality of filaments, total weight the denier number of which is set to a value in the range from 10000 to 40000 inclusive, and the denier number of the fiber is set to a value in the range from 6.0 to 20.0 inclusive; a crimping step of crimping, with a pair of pressure rolls, the plurality of filaments aligned in the alignment step; and a monitoring step of monitoring the size of the thickness of the filament assembly of the plurality of filaments in at least any of a position before the pair of pressure rolls and a position after the pair of pressure rolls in the conveyance direction, and the pair of pressure rolls with a ratio of TD is used in the reduction step. /D set to a value between 800 and 2000 denier/mm inclusive, where the total denier number is denoted as TD and the roll width dimension of the pressure roll pair is denoted as D.

According to the above method, by monitoring the thickness size of the yarn arrangement in the monitoring step, the leveling step can be performed so that the size value of the yarn arrangement thickness is within the control range, for example, in the case where the yarn thickness value fluctuates more than the reference range.

In addition, the TD/D ratio is set to 800 to 2000 denier/mm inclusive, while the TD and FD of the tow tape are set to the desired values within the above range. With such settings, it is possible to produce a tow web by evenly aligning a plurality of filaments in the roll width direction of a pair of pinch rolls and pressing the filaments with an external force of an appropriate force.

This can prevent fragmentation of the filament due to excessive external force applied to the filaments when the filaments are crimped, for example, by a pair of pinch rolls. By preventing yarn fragmentation in this way, high tear strength of the yarn can be maintained. For this reason, it is also possible to prevent fragmentation of the thread due to an external force applied to the crimped thread, for example during transport. Therefore, for example, by shaping the tow band into a rod shape, it is possible to produce an electronic cigarette tip in a good manner, and it is possible to prevent the decrease in the production efficiency and quality of the electronic cigarette tip.

In the reduction step, a pair of pressure rolls may be used, the ratio of TD/D of which is set from 800 to 1300 denier/mm inclusive.

In the crimping step, a plurality of filaments may be crimped, for which the total denier is set to a value in the range of 20,000 to 40,000 inclusive, and the denier of the thread is set to a value in the range of 8.0 to 20.0, inclusive.

In the crimping step, a plurality of filaments may be crimped, the total denier of which is set to a value in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 inclusive, and the denier of the filament is set to a value in the range of 6.0 to 12.0, inclusive.

A method for manufacturing an electronic cigarette tip according to an aspect of the present invention includes a molding step of shaping a tow web made by any of the manufacturing methods described above into a rod shape by adding a plasticizer to the tow web.

- 2 041094

According to the aforementioned method, it is possible to form a molded body with a well-compressed tow band while preventing yarn fragmentation. For this reason, the formation of a molten hole can be prevented, for example due to absorption of the plasticizer by the yarn fragment.

Accordingly, deterioration in the production efficiency and quality of the tip of the electronic cigarette can be prevented.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

According to each aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent deterioration in the production efficiency and quality of an electronic cigarette tip due to filament fragmentation when an electronic cigarette tip is manufactured using a tow band.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device for making a tow tape according to Embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the swaging device of FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tip manufacturing apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a heated electronic cigarette according to Embodiment 1.

Description of the embodiment

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1.

Cellulose acetate tow tape making machine

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine 1 for making a cellulose acetate tow tape (hereinafter also referred to as CA). Fig. 2 is a plan view of the swaging device 9 of FIG. 1. The device 1 for making a CA tow tape shown in FIG. 1 spins CA yarn 61 by dry spinning. The CA tow strap making device 1 produces a CA yarn 62, a tail 63 and a CA tow strap 64 with the help of the CA threads 61.

The CA tow band 64 is a tow band for the tip of a heated electronic cigarette. In the production device 1, a plurality of CA yarns 61 (CA tow tapes 64) are produced, for which TD is set to a value in the range of 10,000 to 40,000 inclusive, and FD is set to a value in the range of 6.0 to 20.0, inclusive.

The device 1 for the production of a strip of rope from SA includes a mixing device 2, a filter device 3, a spinning device 4, an oil agent attachment device 5, a spinning roller 6, guide pins 7 and 8, a device 9 for crimping, a rotary device 10, a guide device 12, dryer 11, control system 84 and transfer machine 85.

The apparatus 1 for making CA tow tape uses a dope base 60 in which CA flakes such as cellulose diacetate are dissolved in an organic solvent at a predetermined concentration (for example, a weight concentration value in the range of 20 to 30 wt% inclusive of the base spin solution 60).

The base spinning solution 60 is mixed by the mixing device 2 and then filtered by the filtering device 3, the base spinning solution 60 having passed through the filtering device 3 is discharged from the plurality of spinning holes 15a of the spinneret 15 provided on the spinning cylinder 14 of the spinning unit 4.

The spinning hole 15a is given a predetermined periphery shape (for example, a circle). The diameter of the spinning hole 15a is suitably set according to the FD of the CA yarn 61 after manufacture. The spinning dope base 60 discharged from each of the spinning holes 15a is heated by hot air supplied from the dryer not shown to the spinning barrel 14 to evaporate the organic solvent, and thus dried. In this way, a solid thread 61 of CA is formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of CA yarns 61 passing through one spinning cylinder 14 are brought together by guide pins 7 and 8 to form a yarn 62. After the oiling agent for the yarns is applied by the oiling agent attachment device 5, the yarn 62 is wound by the spinning roller 6.

A series of yarn producing units 62, i.e., a spinning unit 4 that discharges the base spinning solution 60 from the spinneret 15 for spinning the CA yarn 61, the drying unit, the oil agent attachment device 5, and the winding unit having the spinning roll 6, is collectively referred to as a station. Usually several stations line up.

The yarn 62 is removed from the peripheral surface of the spinning roller 6 by means of a winder. As shown in FIG. 2, the yarn 62 passed through each of the stations is guided by the guide pins 7 and 8 for transportation (side-by-side movement) in the transportation direction P along the alignment direction of the stations, and is successively accumulated or folded. Thus, the plurality of yarns 62 converge to form an end 63 which is a flat arrangement of yarns 62. The end 63 is a plurality of convergent yarns 62 and is set to a predetermined TD. The end 63 is transported and brought to the crimping device 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the crimping device 9 has a pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17 and a chamber 18

- 3 041094 for crimping. The pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17 has axes of rotation parallel to each other. A pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17 clamps the end 63 between each other's peripheral surfaces.

The crimping chamber 18 is positioned behind the pair of pinch rolls 16 and 17. The crimping chamber 18 has a pair of plates 86 and 87 whose surfaces extend in the transport direction P and a bias member 88.

The pair of plates 86 and 87 are positioned so that the surfaces of the plates face each other with a gap between them and the gap decreases in the transport direction P. The end 63 (a plurality of CA threads 61) which has passed through a pair of pinch rolls 16 and 17 moves into the nip.

The end 63 is compressed by a pair of nip rolls 16 and 17 between a pair of nip rolls 16 and 17 and then pushed into a crimp chamber 18. The end 63 is pressed by the biasing member 88 against the plate surface of one of the plates 86 as it moves between the plate surfaces of the pair of plates 86 and 87 of the chamber 18 to impart crimp.

The end 63 is pressed by being pressed into the crimping chamber 18 with a force greater than the resistance when the end 63 is pressed into the crimping chamber 18 by a pair of pinch rolls 16 and 17. Thus, an CA tow band 64 is obtained.

The CA tow strip 64, which has passed through the crimping device 9, is guided to the dryer 11 by the guide device 12, while the rotary device 10 adjusts the meander in the width direction. The CA tow strap 64 is dried by the dryer 11. The CA tow strap 64 passed through the dryer 11 is transferred to the packaging container 19 by the transfer machine 85, accumulated, compressed and baled. The packaging container 19 in FIG. 1 shows the structure in cross section.

The monitoring system 84 monitors the size of the thickness of the arrangement of threads (here, the end 63 or tape 64 of the CA tow) consisting of a plurality of CA threads 61 in at least any of the position before the pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17 and the position after the pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17. rolls 16 and 17. The monitoring system 84 of the present embodiment monitors the thickness dimension of the end 63 at the position up to the pair of pinch rolls 16 and 17. The monitoring system 84 has an upper displacement sensor 81, a lower displacement sensor 82 and a monitoring device 83.

The upper displacement sensor 81 detects the height position of the top surface of the yarn arrangement. The lower displacement sensor 82 detects the height position of the lower surface of the yarn arrangement. The displacement sensors 81 and 82 are, for example, non-contact and here are laser displacement sensors. As motion sensors 81 and 82, for example, LK-5000 series laser motion sensor manufactured by Keyece Corporation can be used. The measurement results of the displacement sensors 81 and 82 are transmitted to the monitoring device 83 .

The monitoring device 83 is, for example, a personal computer and has, in addition to the central processing unit (CPU), read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM), an input unit that receives information to be entered by the operator, and a display unit that displays given information for the operator.

Here, when the alignment of the plurality of CA threads 61 in the thread assembly moving in the transport direction P is disturbed, the height position of either of the top surface and the bottom surface of the thread assembly fluctuates.

The monitoring device 83 calculates the size of the thickness of the assembly of yarns to be transported based on the measurement results of the displacement sensors 81 and 82 during the manufacture of the CA tow tape 64, and determines whether the calculated size of the thickness of the assembly of yarns falls within the allowable range. According to this method, the thickness dimension of the yarn bundle is continuously monitored online without sampling the transported yarn bundle.

When determining that the size of the thread arrangement thickness is not a value in the allowable range, the monitoring device 83 causes the display unit to display that the alignment of the plurality of threads 61 of the CA in the thread arrangement is violated, or performs warning processing that emits a warning sound, thereby informing this operator. Based on this warning processing, the operator aligns the plurality of CA threads 61 in the arrangement such that the thickness dimension of the thread arrangement has a value in the allowable range.

Here, although the size allowable range of the thickness of the thread arrangement can be set appropriately, it can be set to a value at which the occurrence of a hole in the thread arrangement can be visually recognized by the naked eye, for example, from a top view of the thread arrangement.

The thickness dimension of the filament assembly can be monitored offline by sampling the CA tow tape 64 to be transported. The displacement sensors 81 and 82 can be adapted to measure the height position of the top and bottom surface of the CA tow tape 64 passed through the dryer 11 before packing the CA tow tape 64 into the packaging container 19 using the transfer machine 85.

Thus, the CA tow strap 64 is produced using the CA tow strap making machine 1. This manufacturing method includes an alignment step, a crimping step, and a monitoring step, as shown below. The leveling step is the step of aligning the plurality of CA yarns 61 (ends 63) in the roll width direction of the pair of press rolls 16 and 17 at the position up to the pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17, while moving the plurality of CA yarns 61 whose TD is set to in the range of 10000 to 40000 inclusive, and FD is set to a value in the range of 6.0 to 20.0 inclusive.

In particular, the alignment step is performed, for example, by adjusting the positions of the guide pins 7 and 8, which guide the plurality of transportable yarns 61 from the CA (ends 63).

The crimping step is a step of crimping, by a pair of pinch rolls 16 and 17, a plurality of CA filaments 61 (ends 63) aligned in the alignment step. The monitoring step is a step of controlling the size of the thickness of the filament assembly of the plurality of CA filaments 61 in at least any of the position before the pair of pressure rollers 16 and 17 and the position after the pair of pressure rollers 16 and 17. The monitoring step uses the system 84 monitoring.

In the manufacture of a CA tow tape 64 having a relatively small TD and a relatively large FD, attempting to compress the plurality of CA filaments 61 included in the end 63 with a pair of press rolls 16 and 17 increases the external force (pressure between the rolls) required to compress the plurality of filaments 61 from SA. Along with this, the threads 61 from CA can be damaged with the formation of a fragment. In this case, there is a possibility that the strength, such as the tensile strength of the CA threads 61, decreases. This may cause a defect such as the CA threads 61 to break during transport.

Here, the inventor's examination revealed the following. As the number of overlaps of the plurality of CA filaments 61 in the nip between the pair of pinch rolls 16 and 17 increases and the CA filament 61 becomes thicker, the gap pressure required to compress the plurality of CA filaments 61 included in the end 63 increases (by others In other words, the moment of inertia of the end region 63, which is an arrangement of a plurality of CA threads 61, increases.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the reduction step is performed using a pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17 whose TD/D ratio is set to 800 to 2000 denier/mm inclusive, where the total denier of the plurality of CA fibers 61 is denoted TD and the size the roll width of the pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17 is designated D.

By setting the TD/D ratio in this way, the plurality of CA filaments 61 are evenly aligned in the roll width direction of the pair of press rolls 16 and 17 and are compressed by an external force of appropriate force, and thus a CA tow tape 64 can be produced. This can prevent fragmentation of the CA yarn 61 due to excessive external force applied to the CA yarn 61 when the CA yarn 61 is crimped.

That is, by setting the TD/D ratio as described above, the plurality of CA filaments 61 are aligned, being widely distributed in the direction of the roll width of the pair of pressure rollers 16 and 17, and the overlap of the plurality of CA filaments 61 in the gap between the pair of pressure rollers 16 and 17 are reduced and unified. This evenly reduces the thickness of the end 63 in the width direction of the rolls.

Therefore, even when the CA thread 61 is thick, the plurality of CA threads 61 can be crimped with a relatively small clamp pressure, and fragmentation of the CA thread 61 due to excessive external force applied to the CA thread 61 can be prevented.

In addition, by preventing fragmentation of the CA yarn 61, high tensile strength of the CA yarn 61 can be maintained. For this reason, it is also possible to prevent fragmentation of the CA yarn 61 due to, for example, an external force applied to the compressed CA yarn 61 that is being transported. Therefore, as described below, the formation of the CA rope band 64 into a rod allows the ferrule 67 to be well-manufactured and can prevent the decline in the production efficiency and quality of the ferrule 67.

It should be noted that the tensile strength referred to here is the tensile load required to break the yarn. It is measured in accordance with Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) L 1015 Test Methods for Artificial Staple Fibers 8.9. The strength of the loop, and the load at break, when the sample for measurement is the tape 64 harness, can be defined as the breaking strength.

Here, in the reduction step of the present embodiment, a pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17 are used, the TD/D ratio of which is set to 800 to 1300 denier/mm, inclusive. As a result, the plurality of CA filaments 61 are aligned more evenly in the roll width direction of the pair of pinch rollers 16 and 17, and a more evenly compressed CA tow strip 64 is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 2, the width dimension W2 (in the axial direction) of the rolls of the pair of pinch rollers 16 and 17 in the present embodiment is set to a value greater than the width dimension W1 of the end 63 inserted into the pair of pinch rollers 16 and 17. The width dimension W2 of the roll is set to a value greater than width dimension W1 of the end 63 to ensure good distribution in the width direction of the rolls in the step of aligning the plurality of CA yarns 61 included in the end 63. For example, the width dimension W2 of the roll is set to a value larger than the width dimension W1 of the end 63

- 5 041094 by a few mm or more.

In the present embodiment, while monitoring the thickness size of the yarn arrangement in the monitoring step, for example, when the size value of the yarn arrangement thickness fluctuates more than the reference range, the leveling step is performed so that the size value of the yarn arrangement thickness is within the reference range.

Thus, fragmentation of the CA yarn 61 due to an external force applied to the CA yarn 61 when the CA yarn 61 is pressed by the pair of pinch rolls 16 and 17 can be further prevented. tip quality 67.

In another example, a plurality of CA filaments 61 having TD set to a value in the range of 20000 to 40000 inclusive and FD set to a value in the range of 8.0 to 20.0 inclusive are compressed in another example.

In the compressing step of yet another example, a plurality of CA filaments 61 are compressed with TD set to a value in the range of 10000 to 20000 inclusive and FD set to a value in the range of 6.0 to 12.0 inclusive.

Tip making device

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a tip manufacturing apparatus 20 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the tip making apparatus 20 includes a toe ring 21, a first withdrawal unit 22, a pivoting baffle 23, a second withdrawal unit 24, a pair of pretension rolls 25, a first pair of take-off rolls 26, a second pair of take-off rolls 27, a third take-out unit 28 , a device 29 for attaching a plasticizer, a pair of transfer rolls 30, a conveying nozzle 31, a pipe winding section 32, and a cutting device 33. The packaging container 19 in FIG. 3 shows the structure in cross section.

In the tip manufacturing apparatus 20, the CA rope band 64 lifted from the inside of the packaging container 19 is inserted into the convergence ring 21, and then pushed out in the width direction by compressed air in the first opening unit 22 . After that, the tape 64 of the SA bundle is guided by the rotary partition 23.

Then, after being further withdrawn in the width direction by compressed air in the second withdrawal unit 24, the SA tow tape 64 is withdrawn in the conveying direction of the SA tow tape 64 by successively inserting between a pair of pretensioning rollers 25, between the first pair of take-off rollers 26 and the second pair 27 output rolls.

The CA tow band 64 passed between the second pair of take-off rolls 27 is driven out further in the width direction by compressed air in the third take-out unit 28, and then the plasticizer is attached by the plasticizer attaching device 29 .

The CA tow tape 64, which has passed through the plasticizer attachment device 29, is inserted between a pair of transfer rolls 30, then introduced into a conveying nozzle 31 and transferred by an air jet to a pipe winding section 32 .

The pipe winding portion 32 includes a cone 41, a tongue 42, and a headset 43. The CA tow tape 64 transferred to the pipe winding portion 32 is wound in a spiral around the cone 41 and takes the form of a rod. As a result, a shaped body (rod) 65 is formed, in which the CA rope band 64 is shaped into a rod.

The cigarette paper 40 is guided by the tongue 42 towards the molded body 65. The molded body 65 is moved by the headset 43, and the cigarette paper 40 is wrapped and fixed along its outer periphery. The cutting device 33 cuts off the molded body 65 at certain intervals. Thus, the filter body 66 is manufactured. By further cutting the filter body 66, a tip 67 is obtained.

Thus, the tip 67 is made using the device 20 for the manufacture of the tip. This manufacturing method includes a molding step of shaping the CA tow strap 64 made in the manner described above by adding a plasticizer to the CA tow strap 64 into a rod shape.

Here, for example, if a plurality of CA yarns 61 included in the CA tow tape 64 are fragmented, this fragment can be absorbed by the plasticizer inside the plasticizer attachment device 29 and can be embedded inside the molded body 65. In this case, the CA yarns 61 in the molded body 65 can be dissolved by the plasticizer contained in the fragment, resulting in the formation of a fused hole.

In the present embodiment, on the other hand, fragmentation of the plurality of strands 61 of the CA is prevented appropriately as described above. Therefore, in the manufacture of the ferrule 67, the shaped body 65 can be formed by having the CA tow band 64 well crimped, which prevents fragmentation of the CA fibers 61. For this reason, for example, it is possible to prevent the formation of a fused hole due to the fact that the piece of thread 61 of CA absorbs the plasticizer. Accordingly, deterioration in the manufacturing efficiency and quality of the tip 67 can be prevented.

- 6 041094

Tip for electronic cigarette

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a heated electronic cigarette 50 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic cigarette 50 has an elongated shape and includes an electronic cigarette unit 51 and an aerosol generating article 52. The electronic cigarette unit 51 includes a body 53, a power supply 54, a display unit 55, a control unit 56, a heating unit 57, and an operating unit 58.

Housing 53 has an elongated shape. The power source 54, the control unit 56 and the heating unit 57 are housed in the housing 53. The display unit 55 and the operation unit 58 are located on the outer surface of the housing 53 (here, on the side surface of the housing 53 on the back side of the drawing). The shape of the body 53 in the present embodiment is a straight tube in which one longitudinal end of the electronic cigarette unit 51 is closed, but the shape is not limited to this.

The control unit 56 is connected to the power supply 54, the display unit 55, and the heating unit 57 through the wiring 68. The control unit 56 is an example single-chip microcomputer and receives user operation input from the operation unit 58. Thus, the control unit 56 controls the power supply circuit of the electronic cigarette unit 51 to supply power to the power supply 54 to the heating unit 57 or turn off the power supply to the heating unit 57 at a predetermined time. The control unit 56 also controls the display unit 55 to display predetermined information to the user.

The heating unit 57 heats the base material 70 of the aerosol product 52 with the energy supplied from the power supply 54 . The heating block 57 has a fin 70a which is inserted into the base material 70 and heats the base material 70 from the inside with Joule heat. Between the body 53 and the heating unit 57, a circulating passage 59 is provided to circulate outside air to the base material 70 from the gap between the insertion hole 51a and the aerosol generating article 52.

When the electronic cigarette 50 is used, the aerosol generating article 52 is inserted into the insertion hole 51a formed on the other longitudinal end of the electronic cigarette unit 51. The aerosol generating article 52 is rod-shaped and includes a base material 70, a separation tube 71, an aerosol generating portion 72, a tip 67, and a cigarette paper 73. aerosol formation and tip 67 are located in this order from one end to the other in the longitudinal direction. Cigarette paper 73 wraps around the outer periphery of these members 66 and 70-72 as a whole.

The base material 70 is located at one longitudinal end of the aerosol product 52. The base material 70 contains a volatile component, which is a tobacco component, and is introduced into the inside of the electronic cigarette unit 51 through the insertion hole 51a of the electronic cigarette unit 51. When the electronic cigarette 50 is used, the base material 70 generates a volatile component by being heated by the heating unit 57.

The base material 70 contains a flavor that generates a volatile component such as nicotine. In particular, the base material 70 preferably comprises at least any of tobacco leaves, tobacco ribs, expanded tobacco, homogenized tobacco, and grass leaf. The base material 70 may also contain a flavor other than nicotine.

The separating tube 71 extends longitudinally along the aerosol generating article 52 and is located between the base material 70 and the aerosol generating portion 72, thereby functioning as a separator that separates the base material 70 and the aerosol generating portion 72. Because of this, when the aerosol generating article 52 is inserted into the inside of the electronic cigarette unit 51 through the insertion hole 51a, the separating tube 71 prevents the base material 70 from being crushed to some extent when the aerosol generating article 52 is compressed in the longitudinal direction and the base material 70 contacts the part 72 to form an aerosol.

The separation tube 71 according to the present embodiment is in the shape of a hollow rod. In the hollow portion of the separation tube 71, the volatile component generated from the base material 70 when the electronic cigarette 50 is used circulates towards the tip 67.

The aerosol generating part 72 extends longitudinally along the aerosol generating article 52 and generates the aerosol by cooling and condensing the volatile components from the base material 70 passed through the separating tube 71.

The aerosol generating part 72 consists, for example, of a ribbon-like sheet wound in the circumferential direction of the aerosol generating article 52, or a ribbon-like sheet in which each pleat is accurately folded to extend along the aerosol generating article 52. In the aerosol generating part 72, the aerosol circulation path is formed by a gap of the sheet wound in this manner or accurately folded.

The tip 67 of the present embodiment is manufactured by the tip making machine 20 using the CA tow strap 64 produced by the CA tow strap making machine 1. The tip 67 is located at the other longitudinal end of the product 52 for generating an aerosol.

The tip 67 includes a molded body 65 in which the CA tow band 64 is formed into a rod, and cigarette paper 40 wound on the peripheral surface of the molded body 65. When the electronic cigarette 50 is used, the tip 67 is inserted into the user's lips and filters the aerosol, passed through the part 72 to form an aerosol. Inside the molded body 65, a capsule enclosing a liquid containing an aromatic component and the like can be provided.

The size of the tip 67 in length (the size of the tip 67 in the input direction with respect to the input hole 51a of the electronic cigarette 50) can be set appropriately, for example, it is set to a value in the range of 4 to 35 mm inclusive (here 7 mm). The length dimension of the tip 67 may be set to a value in the range where, for example, the lower limit value is any of 4, 7 or 10 mm and the upper limit value is any of 17, 20, 25, 28, 30 and 35 mm. In another example, the tip length dimension 67 is set to a value in the range of 7 to 12 mm, inclusive. The circumferential length of the tip 67 can be set accordingly, and it can be set in the range, for example, from 16.5 to 24.5 mm inclusive.

Here, in the CA tow band 64 constituting the molded body 65, TD is set to a value in the range of 10000 to 40000 inclusive, FD is set to a value in the range of 6.0 to 20.0 inclusive, and the F/TD ratio is set to 0, 0015 N/denier or more.

In another example, in the CA tow band 64 forming the molded body 65, TD is set to a value in the range of 20,000 to 40,000 inclusive, and FD is set to a value in the range of 8.0 to 20.0, inclusive.

In yet another example, in the CA tow strip 64 forming the molded body 65, TD is set to a value in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 inclusive, and FD is set to a value in the range of 6.0 to 12.0, inclusive.

When using the electronic cigarette 50, the user inserts the aerosol product 52 into the inside of the electronic cigarette unit 51 through the insertion hole 51a, drives the operation unit 58, and turns on the power of the electronic cigarette unit 51. When the capsule is located inside the tip 67, the user crushes the capsule by pressing on the side of the product 52 to generate an aerosol.

Thus, the control unit 56 controls the power supply circuit to heat the heating unit 57 with energy from the power supply 54 . After a predetermined time has elapsed in a state where the heating unit 57 has been heated to a predetermined temperature, the control unit 56 causes the display unit 55 to indicate to the user that smoking is ready.

The user places the tip 67 on the lips and inhales from it, causing the volatile component heated and vaporized by the heating unit 57 from the base material 70 to circulate through the separation tube 71. The volatile component that has passed through the separation tube 71 is cooled and condensed while circulating in the gap parts 72 to form an aerosol. In this case, an aerosol (interspersed) containing a volatile component is formed.

The aerosol that has passed through the aerosol generating portion 72 is suitably filtered by the tip 67 and then inhaled by the user. The aerosol collides with the CA band 64 used for the tip 67, causing the temperature of the aerosol to be further reduced so that it can be inhaled by the user. In addition, the flavor component in the capsule dispersed in the tip 67 when the capsule is crushed by the user is inhaled by the user along with the aerosol.

Here, in the present embodiment, the shaped body 65 can be formed by the CA tow band 64 well crimped while preventing fragmentation of the CA yarn 61. Accordingly, deterioration in manufacturing efficiency and quality of the tip 67 can be prevented. aerosol.

As described above, the CA tow tape 64 of the present embodiment is a cellulose acetate tow tape obtained by combining and crimping a plurality of filaments into a tow, in which TD is set to a value in the range of 10,000 to 40,000 inclusive, FD is set to a value of range from 6.0 to 20.0 inclusive, and the F/TD ratio is set to 0.0015 N/denier or more.

According to this configuration, the strength of the CA yarn 61 included in the CA tow tape 64 can be increased by setting the TD and FD of the CA tow tape 64 to desired values within the above range. Thus, even if an external force is applied to the CA thread 61 during the manufacture of the tow tape 64 and the ferrule 67, the fragmentation of the CA thread 61 can be prevented, and hence the ferrule 67 can be produced in a quality manner. Accordingly, deterioration in manufacturing efficiency and quality of the tip 67 can be prevented. It should be noted that

- 8 041094 although the upper limit value of the ratio F/TD can be set accordingly, but it is desirable, for example, 0.01 N/denier or less.

Confirmatory test

Next, the confirmation test will be described, but the present invention is not limited to the examples shown below.

Based on the manufacturing method of the CA tow strap 64 of Embodiment 1, the CA tow straps 64 of Examples 1 to 4 were produced with the FD and TD values shown in the table. During the manufacture of the CA tow tapes 64 of Examples 1-4, the monitoring step was performed with the TD/D ratio set to the values shown in the table. This monitoring step was performed at a position up to the pair of pinch rolls 16 and 17, and at a position up to the position at which the presence of the yarn arrangement hole (end 63) described below was confirmed.

Based on the same manufacturing method as the manufacturing method of the CA harness tape 64 of Embodiment 1, except that the monitoring step was omitted, the CA harness tapes 64 of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were set to the FD and TD values shown in the table. . Based on the same manufacturing method as that of the CA tow strap 64 in Embodiment 1, except that the monitoring step was only partially performed by visually inspecting only the alignment of the CA strands 61, CA tow straps 64 were manufactured from comparative examples 3 and 4 set to the FD and TD values shown in the table. The width dimensions D of the press rolls used in the manufacture of the tow tapes CA of Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-4 and TD/D were set to the values shown in the table.

The tensile strength F and the ratio F/TD of Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4 were measured, and the presence of a yarn assembly hole (end) to be moved to a position up to a pair of pinch rolls in the conveying direction was visually confirmed. The results are presented in the table.

Using the CA tows of Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 4, an electronic cigarette tip was manufactured by a tip making machine 20 (KDF-2 winder manufactured by Hauni). This time, the pressure of the pretension roll pair 25 was set to 0.5 bar, and the pressure of the first take-off roll pair 26 and the second take-off roll pair 27 was set to 1.8 bar. The gear ratio V2/V1 between the rotation speed V1 of the first pair of output rolls 26 and the rotation speed V2 of the second pair of output rolls 27 was set to 1.4, and the speed ratio V3/V2 between the rotation speed V2 of the second pair of output rolls 27 and the rotation speed V3 of the pair 30 transfer rolls were set to 1.48.

In Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 3, the circumferential length of the tip was set to 22.5 mm, and the amount of CA tow tape packed into the tip (net weight of tow) was set to 0.47 g/rod. In Example 3, the ferrule circumferential length was set to 16.5 mm and the amount of CA tow tape packed into the ferrule (tow net weight) was set to 0.30 g/rod.

The size of the length of the filter body (rod) in the middle of the production of Examples 1 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 3 was set to 120 mm. The length dimension of the molded body in the tip of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 3 was set to 7 mm, and the length dimension of the molded body in the tip of Example 3 was set to 8 mm.

In the manufacture of the ferrules of Examples 1 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 3, the plasticizer (glycerol triacetate) corresponding to 7 wt. attached by spraying using a device 29 for attaching a plasticizer. The amount of fluff generated in 15 minutes during the manufacture of this tip was measured. When measuring the amount of fluff produced, the fluff remaining inside the box containing the first pair of opening rolls 26 and the second pair of opening rolls 27 was caught by an air blower and weighed on a balance.

The remainder of the HeatStick (registered trademark), which is an iQOS aerosol product manufactured by Philip Morris International, from which the tip was removed, was connected to the tip of each of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 and 3, and thus an aerosol generating article of each of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 was made. from example 3, and thus the aerosol product of example 3.

Using the aerosol generating articles from each of Examples 1 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 3 that were made, the PD of each of the tips was measured with a QTM, which is a filter body measuring device (automatic airflow resistance measuring device) manufactured by Celulean. In addition, the appearance of the tips of each of Examples 1 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1 and 3 was confirmed visually. The results are 9 041094 presented in the table. It should be noted that in the table, the amount of fluff generated from Examples 2 and 4 and Comparative Examples 2 and 4 indicates the amount of visually confirmed fluff generated during the manufacture of the 64 CA tape.

Comparative example Comparative Example 2 Compare LUXURY example Comparative example Example 1: Example 2: Example 3: Example 4: 1 3 4 FD 12 20 12 12 12 12 9 20 TD 20000 20000 20000 20000 20000 25000 12000 25000 Stage Inga monitor absence no absence no partially completed partially completed present present present present width D pressure roller (mm) 12 20 10 25 20 20 15 20 TD/D (denier/m m) 1666 1000 1000 800 1000 1250 800 1250 Breaking load F(H) 25 29 20 20 42 50 19 38 F/TD ( N/denier) 0.0013 0.0014 0.0010 0.0010 0.0021 0.0020 0.0016 0.0015 Holes in yarn arrangement absence no presence vuet absence no presence vuet absence no absence no absence no absence no Fluff amount (mg/15 big (260) small big small small (thirty) small small (60) small

- 10 041094

min) Tip PD (mm w.c.) 80 80 85 285 Visual anomaly in the external appearance of the tip present (formed elk melting hole ) present (formed elk melting hole ) absence no absence no

As shown in Examples 1 to 4, the F/TD ratio was set to 0.0015 N/denier or more, and the strength of the 61 CA yarn was found to be equal to or greater than that of the CA yarn of Comparative Examples 1 and 2. In Examples 1 to 4, it was found that no holes were formed in the yarn arrangement and the amount of fluff was small.

For this reason, in Examples 1 to 4, setting the F/TD strip 64 of the CA tow to 0.0015 (N/denier) or more is believed to increase the strength of the CA yarn and prevent fragmentation of the CA yarn. In the test results of Examples 1-4, the F/TD of the CA tow tape 64 is set to a value in the range of 0.0015 (N/denier) to 0.0021 (N/denier), inclusive.

It is believed that in Examples 1 to 4, when performing the monitoring step, the alignment step was properly performed so that the thickness dimensions of the yarn arrangement became uniform, the CA yarn 61 was crimped, and fragmentation of the CA yarn 61 was prevented, and the high tensile strength thread 61 from CA.

As one of the reasons that the tip 67 of example 3 has a higher PD than the tip 67 of example 1, it is believed that the circumference length of the tip 67 of example 3 is less than the circumference of the tip 67 of example 1.

On the other hand, in Comparative Example 1, the F/TD value was set to a value lower than that of Examples 1 to 4, and the strength of the CA yarn was found to be lower than that of Examples 1 to 4. Comparative Example 1 was found to have more fluff than Examples 1 to 4, and a fused hole formed in the tip.

As a reason for this, it is believed that in Comparative Example 1, since a plurality of CA filaments were compressed with a relatively large nip pressure by a pair of pressure rolls 16 and 17, the CA filaments were damaged and the tensile strength of the CA filaments decreased. In addition, it is believed that a large amount of fluff occurred due to damage to the CA threads and the fluff absorbed the plasticizer and got into the tip, which led to the formation of a melted hole.

Although in Comparative Example 2, FD has the same value as in Example 4, it was found that the value of the F/TD ratio was lower than in Example 4, and hole formation occurred in the yarn arrangement. As a reason for this formation of holes, since in Comparative Example 2 TD and the number of CA threads is less than in Example 4, it is believed that the displacement of the CA threads occurred in the roll width direction of the pair of press rolls 16 and 17 in the arrangement when the plurality of CA threads were moved during the manufacture of the CA harness tape. Based on this, it is assumed that the tape of the CA tow of Comparative Example 2 was unevenly crimped.

In Comparative Examples 3 and 4, although only the alignment of the CA yarns 61 was visually inspected, the F/TD ratio was found to be significantly low and the performance was worse than in Examples 1-4. In Comparative Example 3, the amount of fluff generated was large, and it was confirmed that a fused hole was formed in the tip. In Comparative Example 4, although the amount of fluff generation was small, it was confirmed that hole formation occurred in the yarn arrangement.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the configuration and method may be changed, added or removed within a range without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present invention has an excellent effect of preventing the decline in production efficiency and quality of an electronic cigarette tip due to the generation of filament fragments when an electronic cigarette tip is manufactured using a tow band. Accordingly, it is useful to broadly apply the present invention to an electronic cigarette tip string band, an electronic cigarette tip, a method for manufacturing an electronic cigarette tip harness ribbon, and a method for manufacturing an electronic cigarette tip, a method

- 11 041094 to embody the meaning of this effect.

List of designators

16, 17 - pressure roll

- thread from SA (thread)

- harness tape made of CA (harness tape)

- molded body 67 tip

- cigarette paper

Claims (4)

1. A tow tape for an electronic cigarette tip, wherein the cellulose acetate tow tape is obtained by combining and crimping a plurality of filaments into a bundle, with the total denier number set to a value in the range from 10,000 to 40,000 (inclusive), and the filament denier weight number is set to a value between 6.0 and 20.0 (inclusive), and if the total denier is designated as TD and the tensile strength of the tow tape is designated as F, the F/TD ratio is set to 0.0015 N/ denier or more. 2. The tow band for the tip of the electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the total denier is set to a value in the range of 20,000 to 40,000 (inclusive) and the filament denier is set to a value in the range of 8.0 to 20 ,0 (inclusive). 3. The tow band for the tip of the electronic cigarette according to claim 1, wherein the total denier is set to a value in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 (inclusive) and the filament denier is set to a value in the range of 6.0 to 12. ,0 (inclusive). 4. An electronic cigarette tip comprising a molded body obtained by shaping a rod of a tow band according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and cigarette paper wound around a peripheral surface of the molded body.