EP4324344A1

EP4324344A1 - Smoking article, and aerosol-generating system comprising same

Info

Publication number: EP4324344A1
Application number: EP23799538.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sung Jong Ki; Youngjoong Kim; John Tae Lee; Sung Je Cha
Original assignee: KT&G Corp
Current assignee: KT&G Corp
Priority date: 2022-05-04
Filing date: 2023-02-28
Publication date: 2024-02-21
Also published as: JP2024520286A; CN117377398A; KR20230156199A; US20240260645A1; WO2023214655A1

Abstract

A smoking article according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a medium accommodation portion filled with nicotine-containing media; a moisturizer accommodation portion disposed on one side of the medium accommodation portion and comprising an aerosol generating material; and a filter portion disposed on another side of the medium accommodation portion. A length of the moisturizer accommodation portion may be less than a length of the medium accommodation portion, a length of the filter portion may be greater than the length of the medium accommodation portion, and 70% to 100% of the length of the medium accommodation portion may be wrapped with a heater.

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a smoking article, and an aerosol generating system including the smoking article.

Description of Related Art

Recently, demands for alternative ways to overcome disadvantages of general cigarettes have increased. For example, there is a growing demand for a method of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material included in a cigarette rather than by burning the cigarette.
Accordingly, the present inventors developed a smoking article in which a length of a moisturizer accommodation portion is less than a length of a medium accommodation portion and in which a length of a first filter portion is greater than the length of the medium accommodation portion, thereby accomplishing the present disclosure.

Disclosure of the Invention

Technical Goals

A technical goal to be achieved by the present disclosure is to provide a smoking article in which a length of a moisturizer accommodation portion is less than a length of a medium accommodation portion and in which a length of a first filter portion is greater than the length of the medium accommodation portion.
In addition, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device that may provide an aerosol that is inhalable by a user by heating an aerosol generating material stored in the smoking article.
In addition, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating system including the smoking article and the aerosol generating device.
However, technical goals to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other goals not mentioned above can be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

Technical Solutions

To solve the above problems, the present disclosure provides a smoking article in which a length of a moisturizer accommodation portion is less than a length of a medium accommodation portion and in which a length of a first filter portion is greater than the length of the medium accommodation portion.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the smoking article may include: a medium accommodation portion filled with nicotine-containing media; a moisturizer accommodation portion disposed on one side of the medium accommodation portion and including an aerosol generating material; and a filter portion disposed on another side of the medium accommodation portion. The filter portion may include a first filter portion including a cavity therein; and a second filter portion filled with a filtration material.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the smoking article may be manufactured by reducing the length of the moisturizer accommodation portion and increasing a length of the first filter portion in comparison to a smoking article according to a related art.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, 70% to 100% of the length of the medium accommodation portion may be wrapped with a heater.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the moisturizer accommodation portion may be in a range of 60 to 80%, desirably about 66.7% of the length of the medium accommodation portion, and the length of the first filter portion may be in a range of 110 to 130%, desirably about 117% of the length of the medium accommodation portion.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the length of the moisturizer accommodation portion may be in a range of 6 to 10 millimeters (mm), desirably 8 mm, and the length of the medium accommodation portion may be in a range of 10 to 14 mm, desirably 12 mm. The first filter portion may have a length of 12 to 16 mm, desirably 14 mm, and the second filter portion may have a length of 12 to 16 mm, desirably 14 mm.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating material may include at least one selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, and nicotine, and may desirably be glycerin.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the nicotine-containing media may be prepared by finely cutting at least one selected from the group consisting of cut tobacco leaves (lamina), a reconstituted tobacco sheet, expanded stems, expanded tobacco leaves, a nicotine-containing paper filter, and a combination thereof, and may desirably be prepared by mixing cut tobacco leaves and a slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet and finely cutting the mixture.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the nicotine may be arranged in the same direction.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one segment selected from a group consisting of the medium accommodation portion, the moisturizer accommodation portion, and the filter portion may be wrapped with a segment wrapper.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of segments wrapped with the segment wrapper may be wrapped with a total wrapper.
The present disclosure also provides an aerosol generating device that is configured to provide an aerosol inhalable by a user, by heating the aerosol generating material stored in the smoking article.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating device may be configured to receive the smoking article.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating device may include: an elongated cavity configured to accommodate the smoking article; a heater configured to heat at least a part of each of the medium accommodation portion and the moisturizer accommodation portion of the smoking article; and a controller electrically connected to the heater.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater may heat 70% to 100% of the length of the medium accommodation portion.
In addition, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating system including the smoking article and the aerosol generating device.

Effects

According to embodiments, a smoking article, an aerosol generating device, and an aerosol generating system may reduce a length of a moisturizer accommodation portion and increase a length of a first filter portion, in comparison to a length of a medium accommodation portion. As a result, an amount of atomization may be increased.
According to embodiments, a smoking article, an aerosol generating device, and an aerosol generating system may increase an amount of migration of each of total particulate matter (TPM), tar, glycerin, and water.
According to embodiments, a smoking article, an aerosol generating device, and an aerosol generating system may form a medium accommodation portion by arranging a finely cut slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet in a straight line, to secure an airflow channel and increase an amount of atomization.
According to embodiments, a smoking article, an aerosol generating device, and an aerosol generating system may be easily inhaled by a consumer and may provide a good smoking taste.
The effects of the smoking article, the aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating system according to an embodiment are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other unmentioned effects can be clearly understood from the following description by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating segments constituting a smoking article, FIG. 1A illustrates a smoking article according to a related art, and FIG. 1B illustrates a smoking article in which a length of a moisturizer accommodation portion is reduced and in which a length of a first filter portion is increased according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a smoking article according to an embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an aerosol generating system in a state in which a smoking article and an aerosol generating device are coupled, according to an embodiment.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, various alterations and modifications may be made to the embodiments. Here, the embodiments are not construed as limited to the disclosure. The embodiments should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and replacements within the idea and the technical scope of the disclosure.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises/comprising" and/or "includes/including" when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments belong. Terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, are to be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and are not to be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
When describing the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like components and a repeated description related thereto will be omitted. In the description of embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure.
In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used to describe components of the embodiments. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one component from another component, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the components are not limited by the terms. It should be noted that if one component is described as being "connected", "coupled" or "joined" to another component, the former may be directly "connected," "coupled", and "joined" to the latter or "connected", "coupled", and "joined" to the latter via another component.
A component, which has the same common function as a component included in any one embodiment, will be described by using the same name in other embodiments. Unless disclosed to the contrary, the configuration disclosed in any one embodiment may be applied to other embodiments, and the specific description of the repeated configuration will be omitted.
In the present disclosure, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used to indicate relative positions of segments of a smoking article based on a direction in which a user inhales air using the smoking article. The smoking article may include a downstream end (that is, a portion into which air flows) and an upstream end (that is, a portion from which air flows out) opposite to the downstream end. When using the smoking article, a user may bite the downstream end of the smoking article. The downstream end may also be referred to as a mouth end (ME) and the upstream end may also be referred to as a tobacco end (TE). The term "end" may also be described as an "end portion".
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a smoking article according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 2, a smoking article 100 according to an embodiment may include a medium accommodation portion 110 (e.g., cut leaves), a moisturizer accommodation portion 120 disposed on one side of the medium accommodation portion 110 to generate an aerosol, and a filter portion 130 disposed on another side of the medium accommodation portion 110. Segments of the smoking article 100, that is, the medium accommodation portion 110, the moisturizer accommodation portion 120, and the filter portion 130 may be individually wrapped or not wrapped with a segment wrapper 140. Segments wrapped with the segment wrapper 140 may be wrapped with a total wrapper 150 to form a single smoking article.
According to an embodiment, a "medium" may include a solid material that is based on tobacco raw materials, such as reconstituted tobacco sheets, cut tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco, and the like, and/or a liquid composition that is based on glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine, menthol, caffeine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), taurine, vitamin, or various flavoring agents. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
In the present disclosure, the "medium accommodation portion 110" may be filled with nicotine-containing media. The nicotine-containing media, which are media containing nicotine based on tobacco raw materials, may be prepared by, for example, finely cutting cut tobacco leaves, a reconstituted tobacco sheet, expanded stems, expanded tobacco leaves, a nicotine-containing paper filter, and the like, however, embodiments are not limited thereto. The nicotine-containing media may include various types and shapes of materials containing nicotine. Finely cut media may be mixed in the same direction or randomly to form the medium accommodation portion.
The cut tobacco leaves may include tobacco leaves, for example, flue-cured tobacco leaves, burley tobacco leaves, oriental tobacco leaves, and the like, but is not limited thereto. The expanded tobacco leaves may refer to cut leaves prepared by expanding cut tobacco leaves. In an example, cut leaves may be expanded using various types of solvents or gases, such as organic solvents, carbon dioxide gas, argon, nitrogen, and the like. In another example, after increasing a volume of cut leaves by absorbing moisture of cut tobacco leaves, the cut leaves may be rapidly frozen, the moisture may be sublimated, and the cut leaves may be dried, so that the cut leaves are expanded. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. The slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet may be generated by finely cutting a reconstituted tobacco sheet prepared using a slurry. The slurry may be prepared by pulverizing a tobacco raw material and mixing an aerosol generating material, a flavoring liquid, a binder (e.g., guar gum, xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, etc.), water, and the like. The medium accommodation portion of the present disclosure may desirably arrange the nicotine-containing media prepared by finely cutting the cut tobacco leaves and the slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet in the same direction to secure an airflow channel and increase an amount of atomization.
In addition, the medium accommodation portion 110 may further contain other additives such as a moisturizer, a flavoring agent, and/or an organic acid. The moisturizer may be, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, or oleyl alcohol, but is not limited thereto. The flavoring agent may be, for example, licorice, sucrose, fructose syrup, isosweet, cocoa, lavender, cinnamon, cardamom, celery, fenugreek, cascarilla, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, mint oil, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, cassia, ylang-ylang, sage, spearmint, ginger, coriander, or coffee, but is not limited thereto.
In the present disclosure, the "moisturizer accommodation portion 120" may contain a moisturizer. The moisturizer may include glycerin or propylene glycol, and may further include at least one of ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, oleyl alcohol, and water. In addition, the moisturizer accommodation portion may further include nicotine. However, materials included in the moisturizer accommodation portion 120 are not limited thereto. The moisturizer may maintain an appropriate level of moisture in an aerosol generated when a smoking article is heated, thereby mellowing a unique taste of tobacco and enriching an amount of atomization.
In the present disclosure, the "filter portion 130" may include at least one segment, and may include, for example, at least one of a tube filter, a cooling structure, and a recess filter. Desirably, the filter portion 130 may include a first filter portion 132 including a cavity therein, and a second filter portion 134 filled with a filtration material. The filtration material may include a cellulose-based material (e.g., acetate, paper, etc.).
In the present disclosure, the "segment wrapper 140" may include at least one selected from the group consisting of a medium accommodation portion wrapper 142, a moisturizer accommodation portion wrapper 144, a first filter portion wrapper 146, and a second filter portion wrapper 148. The segment wrapper 140 may use water-proof paper with water resistance, oil-proof paper with oil resistance, water- and oil-proof paper with water and oil resistance, or paper coated with a material with water resistance and/or oil resistance. The segment wrapper 140 of the present disclosure may include aluminum having waterproofing and heat-resistant properties.

To measure a resistance to draw, analyze aerosol components, and perform sensory evaluation in association with a smoking article according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a smoking article was manufactured as shown in Table 1 below.

[Table 1]

Classification	Length of smoking article (48 mm in total)	Moisturizer accommodation portion	Medium accommodation portion	Filter portion
Control group
	10+12+12+14	50 mg of glycerin	Cut leaves with length of 12mm	Same (first filter portion and second filter portion)
Experimental group	8+12+14+14	50 mg of glycerin	Cut leaves with length of 12mm	Same (first filter portion and second filter portion)

In a control group corresponding to a smoking article according to the related art, 5 mm of a medium accommodation portion was not heated. In an experimental group, a smoking article was manufactured by reducing a length of a moisturizer accommodation portion and increasing a length of a first filter portion, and 3 mm of a medium accommodation portion was not heated. The smoking article of the experimental group was manufactured so that a heated part is increased from 58.3% to 75%, that is, by 28.6% in comparison to the control group.

Experimental Example 1. Measurement of Resistance to Draw

As a result of measuring a resistance to draw of a medium accommodation portion using a resistance-to-draw measuring device (KADIEN), a resistance to draw of the medium accommodation portion in the control group was 100 mmH₂O, whereas a resistance to draw of the medium accommodation portion in the experimental group was 95 mmHzO, which indicates a value reduced by about 5%. In other words, the present disclosure may provide a smoking article that may be easily inhaled by a consumer due to a reduction in the resistance to draw and that has a greater amount of atomization.

Experimental Example 2. Analysis of Aerosol Components

Table 2 shows results obtained by analyzing components of an aerosol generated by 9 puffs and pack diffusion conditions using a Health Canada (HC) method that is an internationally recognized analysis method for general cigarettes. [Table 2]

Classification HC conditions, 9 puffs, pack diffusion

TPM Tar Nic. PG Gly. Water

Control group 39.7 19.4 1.16 0.54 7.03 19.1

Experimental group 42.3 21.5 1.09 0.69 8.54 19.9
As a result of reducing the length of the moisturizer accommodation portion and increasing the length of the first filter portion, it is confirmed that an aerosol of the experimental group contains a significantly large amount of total particulate matter (TPM), total aerosol residue (TAR), glycerin, and water, in comparison to the control group. In particular, an amount of migration of glycerin, which is an index to determine the amount of atomization, increased by 21% or more.
In addition, Table 3 shows results obtained by analyzing components of an aerosol generated by 3 puffs and pack diffusion conditions using the above-described Health Canada (HC) method, to identify amounts of migration of the components during an initial inhalation. [Table 3]

Classification HC conditions, initial 3 puffs, pack diffusion

TPM Tar Nic. PG Gly. Water

Control group 15.9 7.0 0.32 0.14 0.74 8.6

Experimental group 19.1 9.0 0.49 0.31 1.89 9.6
Even at the initial inhalation, amounts of migration of total particulate matter (TPM), TAR, nicotine (Nic), propylene glycol (PG), glycerin (Gly), and water were all high.

Experimental Example 3. Sensory Evaluation

An initial amount of atomization, an intensity of smoking taste, the total amount of atomization, stimulus properties, off-flavors and off-odors, persistence of smoking taste, and overall satisfaction of the smoking article were evaluated. Sensory evaluation was measured by a 7-point scoring method after about 10 to 14 puffs of experts with experience in sensory evaluation in the field of smoking articles. Specifically, the sensory evaluation was performed based on (i) a smoking article including a medium accommodation portion with the length of 12 mm prepared with a slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet, and (ii) a smoking article including a medium accommodation portion with the length of 12 mm prepared by mixing general cut leaves and a slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet, and results of the sensory evaluation are shown in Table 4 below.

[Table 4]

Classific ation	Initial amount of atomiza tion (1 ~ 2 puff) ***	Intensity of smoking taste	Total amount of atomizat ion**	Stimulus properties	Off-flavors and off-odors	Persiste nce of smoking taste	Overall satisfacti on**
Reconstit uted tobacco sheet 12 mm	1	4.2	3.1	3.9	3.1	3.5	2.8
Cut leaves + reconstit uted tobacco sheet 12 mm	2.5	4.4	4.3	3.3	2.9	3.6	3.9

As a result, in comparison to the medium accommodation portion with the slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet only, the smoking article including the medium accommodation portion with the length of 12 mm prepared by mixing cut tobacco leaves and the slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet is extremely excellent in the amount of atomization during inhalation once or twice and the total amount of atomization, and exhibits the highest overall satisfaction because a taste of tobacco felt by a consumer, that is, an excellent smoking taste, lasted for a long period of time.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate examples in which a smoking article 100 including the above-described medium accommodation portion 110 is used.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an aerosol generating device 200 according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device 200 may include an elongated cavity 210, a heater 220, and a controller 230. The elongated cavity 210 may be configured to accommodate the smoking article 100. The controller 230 may be electrically connected to the heater 220 to control a temperature to heat the smoking article 100. The aerosol generating device 200 may further include a battery 240 configured to supply power in a process of generating an aerosol.
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating an aerosol generating system 10 in a state in which a smoking article 100 and an aerosol generating device 200 are coupled, according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 4, the aerosol generating system 10 may include the smoking article 100, and the aerosol generating device 200. The smoking article 100 may be coupled to tightly fit an elongated cavity 210 of the aerosol generating device 200. In the state in which the smoking article 100 is coupled to the aerosol generating device 200, the heater 220 may heat at least a part of each of a medium accommodation portion 110 and a moisturizer accommodation portion 120 of the smoking article 100.
Specifically, in a smoking article (control group) according to the related art, a moisturizer accommodation portion has a length of 10 mm, a medium accommodation portion has a length of 12 mm, a first filter portion has a length of 12 mm, and a second filter portion has a length of 14 mm. Here, the heater may heat 7 mm of a downstream end of the moisturizer accommodation portion and 7 mm of an upstream end of the medium accommodation portion. On the other hand, in the smoking article of the present disclosure, a moisturizer accommodation portion may have a length of 8 mm, a medium accommodation portion may have a length of 12 mm, a first filter portion may have a length of 14 mm, and a second filter portion may have a length of 14 mm. Here, the heater may heat 5 mm of a downstream end of the moisturizer accommodation portion, and 9 mm of an upstream end of the medium accommodation portion (FIGS. 1A and 1B). Therefore, the smoking article of the present disclosure may optimize heat transfer by increasing a heated part of the medium accommodation portion.
While the embodiments are described with reference to drawings, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various alterations and modifications in form and details may be made in these embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.
Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

A smoking article comprising:
a medium accommodation portion filled with nicotine-containing media;

a moisturizer accommodation portion disposed on one side of the medium accommodation portion and comprising an aerosol generating material; and

a filter portion disposed on another side of the medium accommodation portion,

wherein the filter portion comprises:
a first filter portion including a cavity therein; and

a second filter portion filled with a filtration material,

wherein a length of the moisturizer accommodation portion is less than a length of the medium accommodation portion,

wherein a length of the first filter portion is greater than the length of the medium accommodation portion, and

wherein 70% to 100% of the length of the medium accommodation portion is wrapped with a heater.
The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the length of the moisturizer accommodation portion is in a range of 60% to 80% of the length of the medium accommodation portion.
The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the length of the first filter portion is in a range of 110% to 130% of the length of the medium accommodation portion.
The smoking article of claim 1, wherein
the moisturizer accommodation portion has a length of 6 to 10 millimeters (mm), and

the first filter portion has a length of 12 to 16 mm.
The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, and nicotine.
The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the nicotine-containing media are prepared by mixing and finely cutting cut tobacco leaves and a slurry-type reconstituted tobacco sheet.
The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the nicotine-containing media in the medium accommodation portion are arranged in the same direction.
The smoking article of claim 1, wherein at least one segment selected from a group consisting of the medium accommodation portion, the moisturizer accommodation portion, and the filter portion is wrapped with a segment wrapper.
The smoking article of claim 8, wherein a plurality of segments wrapped with the segment wrapper is wrapped with a total wrapper.
An aerosol generating device, wherein the aerosol generating device is configured to receive the smoking article of claim 1 and provide an aerosol inhalable by a user by heating the aerosol generating material stored in the smoking article.
The aerosol generating device of claim 10, wherein the aerosol generating device comprises:
an elongated cavity configured to accommodate the smoking article;

a heater configured to heat at least a part of each of the medium accommodation portion and the moisturizer accommodation portion of the smoking article; and

a controller electrically connected to the heater.
An aerosol generating system comprising a smoking article and an aerosol generating device, wherein
the smoking article comprises:
a medium accommodation portion filled with nicotine-containing media;

a moisturizer accommodation portion disposed on one side of the medium accommodation portion and comprising an aerosol generating material; and

a filter portion disposed on another side of the medium accommodation portion,

wherein the filter portion comprises:
a first filter portion including a cavity therein; and

a second filter portion filled with a filtration material,

wherein a length of the moisturizer accommodation portion is less than a length of the medium accommodation portion,

wherein a length of the first filter portion is greater than the length of the medium accommodation portion, and

wherein 70% to 100% of the length of the medium accommodation portion is wrapped with a heater, and

the aerosol generating device is configured to receive the smoking article and provide an aerosol inhalable by a user by heating the aerosol generating material stored in the smoking article.