EP3945870A1

EP3945870A1 - A sub-unit of a smoking article

Info

Publication number: EP3945870A1
Application number: EP20708014.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Malavolta; Davide MONTI; Ivan Eusepi; Giuliano Gamberini
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2019-03-27
Filing date: 2020-03-11
Publication date: 2022-02-09
Also published as: IT201900004551A1; WO2020194102A1; KR20210142597A

Abstract

A sub-unit of a smoking article, comprises a tubular segment (2) of the tobacco industry and a connecting strip (3), wherein the tubular segment (2) is internally provided with a through duct terminating with respective openings (4) at opposite ends of the tubular segment (2) and wherein the connecting strip (3) is applied longitudinally on the tubular segment (2) and comprises a first portion (3a) and a second portion (3b). The first portion (3a) of the connecting strip (3) is superposed on the outside surface of the tubular segment (2) and has a transverse dimension such as to cover a first angular portion (3a) of the outside surface of the tubular segment (2), leaving uncovered a second angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment (2), while the second portion, instead, defines an extension of the first portion (3a) and is folded transversely to the first portion (3a) to form a closing wall which at least partly closes the at least one end opening (4) of the tubular segment (2).

Description

DESCRIPTION

A SUB-UNIT OF A SMOKING ARTICLE

Technical field

This invention addresses the technical field of articles of the tobacco industry.

More specifically, the invention relates to a sub-unit of a smoking article which may be, for example, of the type configured to generate an aerosol by heating, preferably without burning, or an electronic cigarette.

In this context, in order to be able to ensure the quality of the finished product, it is very important to guarantee that the active material - that is, the material that generates the aerosol - is correctly contained and retained both during the production process and during use of the article.

Backa round art

Prior art production methods involve making a smoking article made up of a plurality of sub-units abutted against each other end to end along a predominant axis of orientation and each designed to perform a specific function, determined by the type of material it contains.

More specifically, at least one of the sub-units is a tubular segment into which an aerosol generating element is inserted.

However, this solution is not very suitable for guaranteeing the integrity of the article, in particular because it does not guarantee correctly retaining the aerosol generating element -that is, the active portion of the smoking article - in the tubular segment when the smoker inhales.

That means that during use of the smoking article, the aerosol generating element could come out of its sub-unit and find its way into the adjacent ones, thus negatively affecting the operation of the product.

Indeed, the effect of the smoker puffing at the smoking article could have the undesirable result of causing the aerosol generating element or any of the other materials making up the smoking article to reach the filter or even be inhaled by the smoker. In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to propose a sub-unit of a smoking article to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. Aim of the invention

In particular, the aim of this invention is to provide a sub-unit of a smoking article capable of optimizing the production process while at the same time improving the quality and stability of the end product that can be made using it.

The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a sub-unit of a smoking article comprising the technical features described in one or more of the accompanying claims.

This invention discloses a sub-unit of a smoking article comprising a tubular segment of the tobacco industry and a connecting strip applied thereon. The tubular segment is internally provided with a through duct that terminates with openings at opposite ends of the tubular segment.

The connecting strip is applied longitudinally on the tubular segment and comprises a first portion and a second portion.

More specifically, the first portion of the connecting strip is superposed on the outside surface of the tubular segment and has a transverse dimension such as to cover a first angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment, leaving uncovered a second angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment.

The second portion, on the other hand, defines an extension of the first portion and is folded transversely to the first portion to form a closing wall which at least partly closes a respective end opening of the tubular segment. Advantageously, the sub-unit according to this invention comprises a closing wall which prevents any of the tobacco industry materials used to fill the sub-unit itself, or the sub-units adjacent thereto when assembled in a smoking article, from escaping through the ends of the sub-unit.

The dependent claims, which are incorporated herein by reference, correspond to different embodiments of the invention.

Also an object of this invention is a smoking article that comprises a plurality of sub-units of a smoking article abutted against each other end to end along a predominant direction of extension of the smoking article.

In particular, at least one of the sub-units is an intermediate sub-unit made according to this invention and is positioned inside the smoking article in such a way that the second portion of the connecting strip is interposed between the tubular segment and one of the adjacent sub-units.

It is thus possible to ensure that the aerosol generating material is held correctly within the sub-unit into which it has been placed and that the different sub-units making up the smoking article are effectively and efficiently prevented from moving.

Also an object of this invention is a semi-product of the tobacco industry, comprising a tubular segment of the tobacco industry and a connecting strip. The tubular segment is internally provided with a through duct that terminates with openings at opposite ends of the tubular segment.

The connecting strip is applied longitudinally on the tubular segment and has a first portion and a pair of second portions disposed on opposite sides of the first portion.

Generally speaking, the width of the first portion is such as to cover the outside surface of the tubular segment for an angular amplitude of between 5 and 120 degrees.

Also generally speaking, the first portion extends between two opposite ends of the tubular segment - that is, it extends for the full length of the tubular segment.

Each second portion, on the other hand, defines an extension of a respective end of the first portion and is folded transversely to the first portion so that closing walls are formed which at least partly close respective end openings of the tubular segment.

Preferably, the second portion is glued to the end of the tubular segment. Advantageously, the semi-product described here can be cut in two through its midplane to make a pair of sub-units of a smoking article according to this invention.

Preferably, the connecting strip has a rectangular profile with constant cross section.

Preferably, the width of the second portion is larger than the inside diameter of the tubular segment and preferably larger than the outside diameter of the tubular segment.

According to this aspect, the second portion of the connecting strip may be made of a porous material and/or the second portion may be provided with a plurality of holes or perforations to increase the air or gas permeability of the closing wall.

Alternatively, in another possible embodiment, the width of the connecting strip is smaller than the inside diameter of the tubular segment.

According to this embodiment, at least the second portion of the connecting strip, preferably the whole connecting strip, is made of a material that is impermeable to air.

Generally speaking, at least the second portion of the connecting strip, preferably the whole connecting strip, is made of a metallic material, preferably aluminium.

Also generally speaking, at least the second portion of the connecting strip, preferably the whole connecting strip, is made of a flame retardant material. Preferably, the connecting strip is between 1 cm and 15 cm in length and between 0.2 cm and 1 .5 cm in width.

Preferably, the second portion is between 0.3 cm and 1 .5 cm in length. Brief description of the drawings

Further features of the invention and its advantages are more apparent in the non-limiting description below, with reference to a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a sub-unit of a smoking article, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a view of the sub-unit according to this invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of the sub-unit of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a smoking article comprising a plurality of sub-units, of which at least one is made according to this invention;

Figure 4 shows a semi-product suitable for making the sub-unit of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a view of the sub-unit according to this invention in a variant of Figure 1. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 1 genetically denotes a sub-unit of a smoking article according to this invention, called“sub-unit 1” hereinafter in this disclosure.

The sub-unit 1 comprises a tubular segment 2 of the tobacco industry and a connecting strip 3.

The tubular segment 2 is internally provided with a through duct that terminates with respective openings 4 at opposite ends of the tubular segment 2.

In other words, the interior of the tubular segment 2 defines a duct, which also acts as a containment chamber for containing a filling material of the tobacco industry and which terminates in the open ends of the tubular segment 2 itself.

By way of a non-limiting example, the through duct could therefore contain a filling material such as an aerosol-generating material, tobacco pellets, tobacco which is loose or in another form, flavouring material (for example micro-capsules containing a flavouring liquid) or a filtering material (activated charcoal, silica gel or others known in the reference sector) or even a material with cooling effect (such as PLA pellets).

The connecting strip 3 is applied longitudinally on the tubular segment 2 and comprises a first portion 3a and a second portion 3b.

More specifically, the connecting strip 3 has a rectangular profile with constant cross section: that is to say, the width of the connecting strip 3 remains constant in both the first and the second portion 3a, 3b.

Alternatively, the connecting strip might have a profile with variable cross section, where the first portion 3a has a certain width, preferably constant, while the second portion 3b has a different width, preferably constant.

Generally speaking, the connecting strip 3 is between 1 cm and 15 cm in length and between 0.2 cm and 1 .5 cm in width.

Operatively, the first portion 3a is superposed on the outside surface of the tubular segment 2 and has a transverse dimension such as to cover a first angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment 2, leaving uncovered a second angular portion of the outside surface of the same tubular segment 2.

In other words, the shape and size of the connecting strip are such that the connecting strip can be applied on the outside of the tubular segment 2 in such a way as to cover, in particular with its first portion 3a, only a part of it, leaving the rest of its surface uncovered.

More specifically, the width of the first portion 3a, preferably of the entire connecting strip 3, is such as to cover the outside surface of the tubular segment 2 for an angular amplitude, labelled a in Figure 2, of between 5 and 120 degrees.

That way, it is possible to use a connecting strip 3 of limited lateral size, thus saving on material and avoiding the need for the complexity of wrapping the material all the way round the tubular segment 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the first portion 3a extends between two opposite ends of the tubular segment 2, as in the variant illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. In other words, the first portion 3a of the connecting strip 3 covers the first angular portion of the tubular segment 2 for its full length, extending from one end of the tubular segment 2 to the other.

Alternatively, the first portion 3a extends from only one end of the tubular segment 2, as in the variant illustrated in Figure 5.

The second portion 3b defines an extension of the first portion 3a and is folded transversely to the first portion 3a to form a closing wall which at least partly closes a respective end opening 4 of the tubular segment 2.

Preferably, the second portion 3b is glued to the end of the tubular segment 2 whose opening it closes.

Preferably, the second portion 3b is provided with an adhesive layer applied only on that part of it that is intended to come into contact with the end of the tubular segment 2 whose opening it closes.

In other words, the second portion 3b might be provided with an adhesive layer applied according to a pattern that follows the profile of the part of the second portion 3b that is superposed on the edge of the tubular segment 2 and leaves free the part of the second portion 3b that directly faces the duct defined by the tubular segment 2.

The second portion 3b thus extends beyond the end of the tubular segment 2 and is folded over the end in such a way as to make the closing wall that blocks the access to the duct inside the tubular segment 2.

Advantageously, the structure of the connecting strip ensures the correct retaining effect and stability of the closing wall because the first portion 3a allows connecting the second portion 3b to the tubular segment 2 by making available a larger surface for contact between the connecting strip 3 and the tubular segment 2.

Moreover, if the sub-unit 1 is further wrapped in suitable wrapping material so it can be integrated in a smoking article, the first portion 3a is held between the wrapping material and the side wall of the tubular segment 2, thus further improving the stability of the closing wall.

In particular, the closing wall provides a barrier which prevents any filling material of the smoking article into which the sub-unit 1 will be placed from passing through the end opening 4 of the tubular segment 2.

At the same time, the closing wall must be such as to allow the passage of air and/or gas and/or aerosol through the end of the sub-unit 1 , in particular in the direction of a smoker during use of the smoking article into which the sub-unit 1 has been inserted.

In a first possible embodiment, the width of the second portion 3b is larger than the inside diameter of the tubular segment 2 and preferably smaller than the outside diameter of the tubular segment 2.

Alternatively, in another possible embodiment, the width of the second portion 3b is smaller than the inside diameter of the tubular segment 2. Similarly, the second portion 3b may be between 0.3 cm and 1 .5 cm in length, allowing it to partly or totally cover the end opening 4 of the tubular segment 2.

In other words, the length and width of the second portion 3b are such that two distinct alternative situations can occur: a first situation in which the size of the second portion 3b is such as to completely cover the end opening 4 of the tubular segment 2 over which it is folded; and a second situation in which the size of the second portion 3b is such that the end opening 4 of the tubular segment 2 over which it is folded is only partly closed.

If the closing wall completely covers the end opening 4 of the tubular segment 2, at least the second portion 3b of the connecting strip 3 is made of a porous material and/or has a plurality of holes or perforations for increasing the air or gas permeability of the closing wall in order to ensure a correct flow of air and/or gas and/or aerosol through the sub-unit.

In other words, if the closing wall is such as to completely close off access to the duct defined by the interior of the tubular segment 2, the second portion is made in such a way that air and/or gas and/or aerosol can in any case pass through because it is made of porous material and/or because it is provided with suitable openings.

On the other hand, if the closing wall is such as to only partly cover the end opening 4 of the tubular segment 2, the correct flow of air and/or gas and/or aerosol through the sub-unit is guaranteed by those portions of the end opening 4 that remain uncovered and thus, the second portion 3b may be made of a material that is impermeable to air.

It is, however, also possible for the second portion 3b to be made of porous material and or to be provided with a plurality of holes or perforations to increase the air or gas permeability of the closing wall even if the closing wall only partly closes the end opening 4 of the tubular segment 2.

More specifically, at least the second portion 3b of the connecting strip 3, preferably the whole of the connecting strip 3, is made of a metallic material, such as aluminium.

Preferably, at least the second portion 3b of the connecting strip 3, preferably the whole of the connecting strip 3, is made of a flame retardant material.

Advantageously, this invention achieves the preset aims, overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art in that the presence of the closing wall ensures that the aerosol generating element is retained correctly within the smoking article and is prevented from escaping or being inhaled by the smoker.

Also an object of this invention is a smoking article 5, shown in Figure 3, that comprises a plurality of sub-units 1 of a smoking article abutted against each other end to end along a predominant direction of extension of the smoking article 5.

More specifically, at least one of the sub-units 1 is an intermediate sub-unit 1 a and is made as described in the foregoing - that is to say, it comprises a tubular segment 2 on which a connecting strip 3 is applied.

As described above, the connecting strip 3 has a first portion 3a superposed on the lateral outside surface of the tubular segment 2 and a second portion 3b folded to form a wall that closes the tubular segment 2 itself.

The intermediate sub-unit 1 a is therefore disposed inside the smoking article 5 in such a way that the second portion 3b of the connecting strip 3 is interposed between the tubular segment 2 on which the connecting strip 3 is applied and an adjacent sub-unit 1 b.

That way, the second portion 3b forms a closing wall which prevents any material that has been filled into the smoking article 5 from passing from one sub-unit to another but nevertheless allows the closing wall to be permeable to air or gas.

More specifically, as shown by way of example in Figure 3, the intermediate sub-unit 1 a may be a separating sub-unit interposed between a sub-unit 1 b containing a filtering material of the tobacco industry and a sub-unit 1 c containing an aerosol generating material.

Further, the smoking article 5 may be suitably wrapped in an outer covering material 6 wrapped into the shape of a tube around the sub-units 1 a, 1 b in such a way that the first portion 3a of the connecting strip 3 is disposed and held between the respective tubular segment 2 and the outer covering material 6.

Preferably, the first portion 3a of the connecting strip 3 is glued to the tubular segment 2 to further enhance its stability and adhesion inside the smoking article 5.

Also an object of this invention is a semi-product 1 1 of the tobacco industry, specifically configured to make a pair of sub-units 1 of a smoking article according to this invention.

As shown in Figure 4, the semi-product 1 1 comprises a tubular segment 12 of the tobacco industry and a connecting strip 13.

More specifically, the tubular segment 12 forming part of the semi-product 1 1 is a tubular segment 12 of double length - that is, a tubular segment 12 whose length is such that it can be divided into two distinct parts of equal length to make two respective sub-units 1 of a smoking article.

In other words, the semi-product 1 1 is adapted to be divided into two separate parts along its centre line M to make two distinct sub-units 1 of a smoking article, specifically two sub-units 1 according to this invention.

The tubular segment 12 is internally provided with a through duct that terminates with openings at the ends of the tubular segment 12.

The connecting strip 13 is applied longitudinally on the tubular segment 12 and comprises a first portion 13a and a pair of second portions 13b.

The second portions 13b are disposed at opposite ends of the first portion 13a.

The first portion 13a of the connecting strip 13 is superposed on the outside surface of the tubular segment 12 and has a transverse dimension such as to cover a first angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment 12, leaving uncovered a second angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment 12.

Each second portion 13b, on the other hand, defines an extension of the first portion 13a and is folded transversely to the first portion 13a to form respective closing walls.

The closing walls at least partly close respective end openings of the tubular segment 12.

In other words, the connecting strip 13 has two second portions 3b, each of which is configured to at least partly cover a respective end of the tubular segment, while the first portion 3a extends between the two portions 3b, joining them to each other and covering a first angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment 12 for its full length.

Advantageously, the semi-product described herein allows making a pair of sub-units 1 of smoking articles having a closing wall which prevents the passage of any filling materials present in the smoking articles into which they have been inserted but without preventing the flow of air and/or gas and/or aerosol produced during the normal operation of the smoking article.

Claims

1 . A sub-unit of a smoking article, comprising:

a tubular segment (2) of the tobacco industry, the segment being internally provided with a through duct terminating with end openings (4) of the tubular segment (2);

a connecting strip (3) applied longitudinally on the tubular segment (2) and comprising a first portion (3a) and a second portion (3b),

wherein the first portion (3a) of the connecting strip (3) is superposed on the outside surface of the tubular segment (2) and has a transverse dimension such as to cover a first angular portion (3a) of the outside surface of the tubular segment (2), leaving uncovered a second angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment (2); and

wherein the second portion (3b) defines an extension of the first portion (3a) and is folded transversely to the first portion (3a) to form a closing wall which at least partly closes the at least one end opening (4) of the tubular segment (2).

2. The sub-unit according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting strip (3) has a rectangular profile with constant cross section.

3. The sub-unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the second portion (3b) is larger than the inside diameter of the tubular segment (2) and preferably smaller than the outside diameter of the tubular segment (2).

4. The sub-unit according to claim 3, wherein at least the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3) is made of a porous material and/or the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3) has a plurality of holes or perforations for increasing the air or gas permeability of the closing wall.

5. The sub-unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3) is smaller than the inside diameter of the tubular segment (2).

6. The sub-unit according to claim 5, wherein at least the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3), preferably the whole of the connecting strip (3), is made of a material which is impermeable to air.

7. The sub-unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the first portion (3a) of the connecting strip (3) is such as to cover the outside surface of the tubular segment (2) for an angular amplitude of between 5 and 120 degrees.

8. The sub-unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion (3a) of the connecting strip extends for the full length of the tubular segment (2).

9. The sub-unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the first portion (3a) and/or the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3) is glued to the end of the tubular segment (2).

10. The sub-unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3), preferably the whole of the connecting strip (3), is made of a metallic material, preferably aluminium.

1 1 . The sub-unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3), preferably the whole of the connecting strip (3), is made of a flame retardant material.

12. The sub-unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting strip (3) is between 1 cm and 15 cm in length and between 0.2 cm and 1 .5 cm in width.

13. The sub-unit according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3) is between 0.3 cm and 1 .5 cm in length.

14. A smoking article comprising a plurality of sub-units (1 ) of smoking articles abutting end to end along a main direction of extension of the smoking article, and wherein at least one of the sub-units (1 ) is an intermediate sub-unit (1 ) and is made according to one or more of the preceding claims in such a way that the second portion (3b) of the connecting strip (3) is interposed between the tubular segment (2) and a sub-unit (1 ) adjacent thereto.

15. The smoking article according to claim 14, further comprising an outer covering material (6) wrapped into a tubular shape around the sub-units and wherein the first portion (3a) of the connecting strip (3) is positioned and held between the respective tubular segment (2) and the outer covering material (6), the first portion (3a) of the connecting strip (3) being preferably glued to the tubular segment (2).

16. A semi-product of the tobacco industry, specifically configured to make a pair of sub-units (1 ) of a smoking article according to one or more of claims 1 -13, comprising:

a tubular segment (12) of the tobacco industry, the tubular segment (12) being internally provided with a through duct terminating with end openings of the tubular segment (12);

a connecting strip (13) applied longitudinally on the tubular segment (12) and comprising a first portion (13a) and a pair of second portions (13b) disposed at opposite ends of the first portion (13a),

wherein the first portion (13a) of the connecting strip (13) is superposed on the outside surface of the tubular segment (12) and has a transverse dimension such as to cover a first angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment (12), leaving uncovered a second angular portion of the outside surface of the tubular segment (12); and

wherein each second portion (13b) defines an extension of the first portion (13a) and is folded transversely to the first portion (13a) to form a closing wall which at least partly closes a respective end opening of the tubular segment (12).