EP4635307A1

EP4635307A1 - Tobacco filler, flavor inhaler and production method for tobacco filler

Info

Publication number: EP4635307A1
Application number: EP22968458.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Daisuke NANJO; Masaki ROKUGAWA; Hirofumi KOREEDA
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2022-12-14
Filing date: 2022-12-14
Publication date: 2025-10-22
Also published as: JPWO2024127546A1; WO2024127546A1; KR20250112301A; CN120265150A

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a tobacco filler with flexibility in content of the ratio (ratio of % by mass of three saccharides/% by mass of three amino acids) of % by mass of three saccharides relative to % by mass of three amino acids in the form of tobacco sheet.

A tobacco filler,
comprising a first tobacco sheet, a second tobacco sheet or a combination thereof, wherein
the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet respectively comprise
three saccharides selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose and a mixture thereof and
three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine and a mixture thereof,
the first tobacco sheet has a ratio (% by mass of three saccharides/% by mass of three amino acids) of % by mass of the three saccharides relative to % by mass of the three amino acids of 50 or more
and the second tobacco sheet has a ratio (% by mass of three saccharides/% by mass of three amino acids) of % by mass of the three saccharides relative to % by mass of the three amino acids of 20 or less.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to tobacco filler, a flavor inhaler, and a method for producing tobacco filler.

BACKGROUND ART

In combusted flavor inhalers, flavor is obtained by burning a tobacco-containing segment comprising a leaf tobacco-containing tobacco filler. Heat-not-burn flavor inhalers, with which flavor is experienced by heating instead of burning the tobacco-containing segment, have been proposed as an alternative to combusted flavor inhalers. The heating temperature of heat-not-burn flavor inhalers, which is about 400 or less, is lower than the burning temperature of combusted flavor inhalers. As the heating temperature of heat-not-burn flavor inhalers is thus lower, an aerosol-generating agent such as glycerol is added to the tobacco filler in heat-not-burn flavor inhalers to enhance smoke volume. The aerosol-generating agent is evaporated by heating to generate an aerosol. The aerosol is supplied to the user along with the tobacco component, thus allowing the user to experience enough flavor.
In the tobacco-containing segments of heat-not-burn flavor inhalers, tobacco filler filled with a tobacco sheet instead of leaf tobacco are usually used as tobacco filler to allow the tobacco filler to include a sufficient amount of an aerosol-generating agent.
Sugars (three saccharides) selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof, or amino acids (three amino acids) selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof, are also sometimes added to the tobacco filler.

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE

PTL 1: JP 2014-515274 A
PTL 2: JP 2019-503659 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

As described above, tobacco sheets are useful as tobacco filler in terms of allowing a sufficient amount of an aerosol-generating agent to be included, but production costs are likely to be higher because more labor and time are required during tobacco sheet production. When product features are enhanced by varying the ratio of the percent by mass of three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of three amino acids included in tobacco filler (referred to below as the " percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio"), the individual tobacco sheets must be produced on a case-by-case basis according to the three saccharide and three amino acid content of each product, and it tends to be difficult, in terms of the labor and productions costs noted above, to flexibly vary the percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio, as is done in conventional cigarettes, to enhance product features.
In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a tobacco filler that allows the percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio to be flexibly varied in the form of a tobacco sheet.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a tobacco filler that allows flavor to be controlled according to product features, in addition to allowing the percent by mass of three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio to be flexibly varied.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

As a result of extensive research to solve the above problems, the inventors perfected the present invention upon discovering that the above problems could be solved by using a first tobacco sheet, a second tobacco sheet, or a combination thereof, in which the ratio of the percent by mass of three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of three amino acids is within a specified numerical range. Specific aspects of the present invention are as follows.

[1] A tobacco filler, comprising:
- a first tobacco sheet, a second tobacco sheet, or a combination thereof, wherein
- the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet each comprise
- three saccharides selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof, and three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof,
- the ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) in the first tobacco sheet is 50 or more,
- and the ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) in the second tobacco sheet is 20 or less.
[2] The tobacco filler according to [1], comprising the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.
[3] The tobacco filler according to [2], wherein the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet is 5:95 to 95:5.
[4] The tobacco filler according to any of [1] to [3], wherein the ratio of the percent mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) is 15 to 50, based on the tobacco filler in its entirety.
[5] The tobacco filler according to any of [1] to [4], wherein the first tobacco sheet or second tobacco sheet further comprises 1 to 8% by mass malic acid.
[6] The tobacco filler according to any of [1] to [5], wherein the first tobacco sheet or second tobacco sheet further comprises an aerosol-generating agent.
[7] A flavor inhaler, comprising the tobacco filler according to any one of [1] to [6].
[8] The flavor inhaler according to [7], which is a heat-not-burn flavor inhaler.
[9] A method for producing the tobacco filler according to any of [1] to [6], comprising:
the step of combining the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The tobacco filler of the present invention allows the percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio to be flexibly varied in the form of a tobacco sheet.
In some cases, the tobacco filler of the present invention also allows flavor to be controlled according to product features, in addition to allowing the percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio to be flexibly varied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view showing an example of a heat-not-burn flavor inhaler.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic view showing an example of a heat-not-burn smoking system.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The tobacco filler, flavor inhaler, and method for producing tobacco filler of the present application are described below.

1. Tobacco Filler

The tobacco filler of the present invention comprises:

a first tobacco sheet, a second tobacco sheet, or a combination thereof, wherein
the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet each comprise
three saccharides selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof, and
three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof,
the ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) in the first tobacco sheet is 50 or more,
and the ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) in the second tobacco sheet is 20 or less.

(First Tobacco Sheet)

The ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) included in the first tobacco sheet is 50 or more, preferably 50 to 120, more preferably 50 to 100, and ideally 50 to 80, or can be 60 or more or 70 or more, based on the first tobacco sheet in its entirety.
The three saccharides included in the first tobacco sheet are selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof; glucose, fructose, or mixtures thereof, are particularly preferred. As used herein, saccharides refer to all saccharides that are chemically or enzymatically chemically degraded and that have a reducing terminal.
The three saccharides included in the first tobacco sheet can be saccharides derived from, for example, tobacco leaf (tobacco sheet raw material), externally added saccharides, or combinations thereof. Combining tobacco sheet raw material-derived saccharides and externally added saccharides from among these will allow the amount of the three saccharides included in the first tobacco sheet to be set to a relatively high value.
The content of the three saccharides included in the first tobacco sheet, based on the first tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 30% by mass, more preferably 7 to 25% by mass, and ideally 9 to 20% by mass. The three saccharide content can be determined based on the procedure and method described in the (Determination of Three Amino Acid and Three Saccharide Content) section in [Example 1].
The first tobacco sheet comprises three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof. The first tobacco sheet can comprise amino acids other than aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or asparagine, where alanine, proline, serine, threonine, and mixtures thereof can be used as such other amino acids.
The three amino acids included in the first tobacco sheet (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, or mixtures thereof) can be combined with amino acids derived from, for example, tobacco leaf (the tobacco sheet raw material), externally added three amino acids, or combinations thereof.
The content of the three amino acids included in the first tobacco sheet, based on the first tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.12 to 0.80% by mass, more preferably 0.12 to 0.60% by mass, and ideally 0.15 to 0.50% by mass. The three amino acid content can be determined based on the procedure and method described in the (Determination of Three Amino Acid and Three Saccharide Content) section in [Example 1].
The first tobacco sheet can further comprise malic acid.
The content of the malic acid included in the first tobacco sheet, based on the first tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 8% by mass, more preferably 2 to 7% by mass, and ideally 3 to 6% by mass. Ensuring that the content of the malic acid is within the above numerical range will make it possible to minimize disagreeable sensations compromising aroma and taste in the mouth.
As used herein, "disagreeable sensations compromising aroma and taste" mean irritation of the oral cavity or throat upon inhalation.
The first tobacco sheet can further comprise an aerosol-generating agent.
The aerosol-generating agent can be, but is not particularly limited to, a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol; triacetin; 1,3-butanediol; or mixtures of two or more thereof.
The content of the aerosol-generating agent included in the first tobacco sheet, based on the first tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 30% by mass or less, more preferably 5 to 25% by mass, and ideally 10 to 20% by mass. Ensuring that the content of the aerosol-generating agent is within the above numerical range can ensure enough aerosol for non-combusted smoking.

(Second Tobacco Sheet)

The ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) included in the second tobacco sheet is 20 or less, preferably 1 to 20, more preferably 1 to 15, and ideally 1 to 10, or can be 3 to 20 or 5 to 20, based on the second tobacco sheet in its entirety.
The compounds described in the (First Tobacco Sheet) section above can be used as the three saccharides included in the second tobacco sheet.
The three saccharides included in the second tobacco sheet (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof) can be saccharides derived from, for example, tobacco leaf (tobacco sheet raw material), externally added saccharides, or combinations thereof. Using tobacco sheet raw material-derived saccharides from among these will allow the amount of the three saccharides included in the second tobacco sheet to be set to a lower value than in the first tobacco sheet.
The content of the three saccharides included in the second tobacco sheet, based on the second tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0 to 15% by mass, more preferably 1 to 10% by mass, and ideally 1 to 7% by mass. The three saccharide content can be determined based on the procedure and method described in the (Determination of Three Amino Acid and Three Saccharide Content) section in [Example 1].
The compounds described in the (First Tobacco Sheet) section above can be used as the three amino acids included in the second tobacco sheet. The second tobacco sheet can comprise amino acids other than aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or asparagine, where alanine, proline, serine, threonine, and mixtures thereof can be used as such other amino acids.
The three amino acids included in the second tobacco sheet (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, or mixtures thereof) can be combined with amino acids derived from, for example, tobacco leaf (the tobacco sheet raw material), externally added three amino acids, or combinations thereof.
The content of the three amino acids included in the second tobacco sheet, based on the second tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 2.0% by mass, more preferably 0.2 to 1.8% by mass, and ideally 0.3 to 1.5% by mass. The three amino acid content can be determined based on the procedure and method described in the (Determination of Three Amino Acid and Three Saccharide Content) section in [Example 1].
The second tobacco sheet can further comprise malic acid.
The content of the malic acid included in the second tobacco sheet, based on the second tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 8% by mass, more preferably 2 to 7% by mass, and ideally 3 to 6% by mass. Ensuring that the content of the malic acid is within the above numerical range will make it possible to minimize disagreeable sensations compromising aroma and taste in the mouth.
The second tobacco sheet can further comprise an aerosol-generating agent.
The aerosol-generating agent is not particularly limited, but the compounds described in the (First Tobacco Sheet) section noted above can be used.
The content of the aerosol-generating agent included in the second tobacco sheet, based on the second tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 30% by mass or less, more preferably 5 to 25% by mass, and ideally 10 to 20% by mass. Ensuring that the content of the aerosol-generating agent is within the above numerical range can ensure enough aerosol for non-combusted smoking.
The first tobacco sheet or second tobacco sheet can furthermore include, in addition to the components noted above, an antioxidant or inulin, for example, or combinations of two or more thereof. The use of an antioxidant and inulin can minimize TSNA or disagreeable sensations compromising aroma and taste.
The first tobacco sheet or second tobacco sheet can be obtained by molding a composition comprising aged tobacco leaf into the form of a sheet. There is no particular limitation as to the aged tobacco leaf used in the tobacco sheet, but aged tobacco leaf which has been destemmed and separated into lamina and midrib may be cited, for example. A "sheet" as referred to in the present specification means a shape having a pair of substantially parallel main faces and a side face.
The tobacco leaf serving as the raw material of the first tobacco sheet is not particularly limited, but flue-cured tobacco, air-cured tobacco, sun-cured tobacco, fire-cured tobacco, or combinations of two or more thereof can be used. Of these, flue-cured tobacco and sun-cured tobacco are preferred. The use of flue-cured tobacco and sun-cured tobacco will ensure that enough tobacco-derived sugars are contained, resulting in a mellow sweetness.
The tobacco leaf serving as the raw material of the second tobacco sheet is not particularly limited, but flue-cured tobacco, air-cured tobacco, sun-cured tobacco, fire-cured tobacco, or combinations of two or more thereof can be used. Of these, flue-cured tobacco and air-cured tobacco are preferred. The use of flue-cured tobacco and air-cured tobacco will ensure that enough tobacco-derived amino acids are contained, resulting in a roasty aroma.
The method for molding the first tobacco sheet or second tobacco sheet is not particularly limited, but fine tobacco powder, nicotine, a flavor development aid, and a binder, for example, as well as an aerosol-generating agent and flavoring as needed, can be mixed, water can be added to the mixture to knead the materials, and the resulting kneaded product can be molded by a known method such as a sheet-forming method, casting method, or rolling method. Details on various types of tobacco sheets molded by such methods are disclosed in "Dictionary of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009".

As used herein, "tobacco leaf" is a generic term for harvested tobacco leaves before they have been aged. One mode of ageing includes curing.
By contrast, "aged tobacco leaf" refers to tobacco leaves that have been aged but that have not yet been processed into the various forms that are used in tobacco products (such as cut tobacco, tobacco sheets, and tobacco granules). Furthermore, "processed tobacco leaf" refers to aged tobacco leaves that have been processed into the various forms that are used in tobacco products.
An example of an embodiment of processed tobacco leaf used in tobacco products is a "tobacco sheet" that is obtained as follows: a composition comprising aged tobacco leaf that has been ground to a predetermined diameter (referred to below as "fine tobacco powder") is molded into the form of a sheet.

(Tobacco Filler)

The tobacco filler can comprise a first tobacco sheet and a second tobacco sheet, or can consist of a first tobacco sheet and a second tobacco sheet. The first tobacco sheet can consist of a single first tobacco sheet or a combination of a plurality of first tobacco sheets. The second tobacco sheet can consist of a single second tobacco sheet or a combination of a plurality of second tobacco sheets.
In the tobacco filler of the present embodiment, first and second tobacco sheets having different ratios of the percent by mass of three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of three amino acids can be used, and the mass ratio of the first and second tobacco sheets can be varied, as appropriate. In the tobacco filler of the present embodiment, the mass ratio of the first and second tobacco sheets can be easily varied in the production step, thus allowing the percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio in the tobacco filler to be varied in a more flexible manner.
Including first and second tobacco sheets in the tobacco filler can further enhance flavor while minimizing sensations compromising aroma and taste as compared with tobacco filler in which only a first tobacco sheet is used and the percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio of the tobacco filler as a whole is about the same.
It is known that heating-induced reactions between sugars and amino acids result in sugar-amino acid reactions, significant production of flavor components such as pyrazine, and improved flavor qualities. Three saccharides and three amino acids are thus important components for controlling flavor.
The mass ratio of the first and second tobacco sheets in the tobacco filler is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5:95 to 95:5, more preferably 10:90 to 90:10, even more preferably 20:80 to 80:20, and ideally 40:60 to 60:40. Ensuring that the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet and second tobacco sheet is within the above numerical range will result in good sweetness and a roasty smoke flavor.
The ratio of the percent by mass of three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of three amino acids (percent by mass three saccharides/percent by mass three amino acids) is not particularly limited, but is preferably 15 to 50, more preferably 15 and 45, and ideally 20 to 40 are preferred. Ensuring that the ratio of the percent by mass of three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of three amino acids, based on the tobacco filler in its entirety, is within the above numerical range will result in good sweetness and a roasty smoke flavor.
The content of the three saccharides (total of glucose, fructose, and sucrose) included in the tobacco sheet, based on the tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 25% by mass, more preferably 6 to 20% by mass, and ideally 7 to 15% by mass. The content of three saccharides included in the tobacco filler can be calculated based on the content of three saccharides included in the first tobacco sheet, the content of three saccharides included in the second tobacco sheet, and the mass ratio of the first and second tobacco sheets in the tobacco filler.
A three saccharide content less than 5% by mass may result in too strong of a physiological sensation compromising aroma and taste in the mouth, making the aerosol disagreeable. A three saccharide content more than 25% by mass may result in an acidic aerosol, making the aerosol disagreeable.
The content of the three amino acids (total of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) included in the tobacco sheet, based on the tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 1.5% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 1.0% by mass, and ideally 0.1 to 0.8% by mass. The content of three amino acid included in the tobacco filler can be calculated based on the content of three amino acids included in the first tobacco sheet, the content of three amino acids included in the second tobacco sheet, and the mass ratio of the first and second tobacco sheets in the tobacco filler.
The tobacco filler can further comprise malic acid.
The content of the malic acid included in the tobacco sheet, based on the tobacco sheet in its entirety, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 8% by mass, more preferably 2 to 7% by mass, and ideally 3 to 6% by mass. Ensuring that the content of the malic acid is within the above numerical range will make it possible to minimize disagreeable sensations compromising aroma and taste in the mouth.
The tobacco filler can further comprise an aerosol-generating agent.
The aerosol-generating agent is not particularly limited, but the compounds described in the (First Tobacco Sheet) section noted above can be used.
The content is not particularly limited, but is preferably 30% by mass or less, more preferably 5 to 25% by mass, and ideally 10 to 20% by mass.
The content of the aerosol-generating agent included in the tobacco filler can be calculated based on the content of the aerosol-generating agent included in the first tobacco sheet, the content of the aerosol-generating agent includeed in the second tobacco sheet, and the mass ratio of the first and second tobacco sheets in the tobacco filler.
Ensuring that the content of the aerosol-generating agent is within the above numerical range can ensure enough aerosol for non-combusted smoking.
Tobacco filler refers to processed tobacco leaves that are used in a predetermined form to fill an object that is being filled. The "object to be filled" is a part of a tobacco product that is filled with the processed tobacco leaf. Examples of objects to be filled include, but are not limited to, cylindrically rolled wrapping paper, and containers having an air inlet and outlet.
Examples of embodiments in which objects to be filled are filled with processed tobacco include, but are not particularly limited to: embodiments in which filling is accomplished by wrapping the processed tobacco leaf inside wrapping paper (also referred to below as "tobacco rod") or embodiments in which the air inlet and outlet of a container are filled with the processed tobacco leaf (also referred to below as "tobacco cartridge").
In the present application, tobacco filler composed of a tobacco sheet (first tobacco sheet and/or second tobacco sheet) used to fill an object to be filled can be used as the tobacco filler.

2. Method for Producing Tobacco Filler

The method for producing tobacco filler described in the "1. Tobacco Filler" section above in the present invention comprises
the step of combining the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.
The components described in the (1. Tobacco Sheet) section above can be used as the components of the above tobacco filler, above first tobacco sheet, and above second tobacco sheet.
The method for producing the tobacco filler can furthermore comprise the step of preparing the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.

3. Flavor Inhaler

The flavor inhaler of the present invention comprises the tobacco filler described in the "1. Tobacco Filler" section above.
Examples of flavor inhalers (smoking articles) include flavor inhalers with which users taste flavors via inhalation, and smokeless cigarettes (smokeless smoking articles) with which users taste flavors, with the product held directly in the oral or nasal cavities. Flavor inhalers can be broadly divided into combusted smoking articles, such as conventional cigarettes, and heat-not-burn smoking articles.
Examples of combusted flavor inhalers include cigarettes, pipes, kiserus (Japanese smoking pipes), cigars, and cigarillos.
Heat-not-burn flavor inhalers (heated smoking products) may be heated by a heating device that is separate from the product, or by a heating device that is integrated with the product. In the former type of flavor inhaler (separate heating device), the heat-not-burn flavor inhaler and the heating device are collectively referred to as a "heat-not-burn smoking system." An example of a heat-not-burn smoking system is described below with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a heat-not-burn flavor inhaler 20. As shown in Fig. 1, the heat-not-burn flavor inhaler 20 (referred to below simply as "flavor inhaler 20") has a cylindrical shape. In circumference, the length of the flavor inhaler 20 is preferably 16 mm to 27 mm, more preferably 20 mm to 26 mm, and even more preferably 21 mm to 25 mm. The total length (horizontal length) of the flavor inhaler 20 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 40 mm to 90 mm, more preferably 50 mm to 75 mm, and even more preferably 50 mm to 60 mm.
The flavor inhaler 20 consists of a smoking segment 20A and a filter portion 20C constituting the mouthpiece, which are connected by a connecting portion 20B.
The smoking segment 20A is cylindrical, the total length (axial length) of which is, for example, preferably 5 to 100 mm, more preferably 10 to 50 mm, and even more preferably 10 to 25 mm. The shape of the cross-section of the smoking segment 20A is not particularly limited, but can be circular, elliptical, or polygonal, for example.
The smoking segment 20A has: a smoking composition sheet (tobacco sheet) 21 or material derived therefrom (tobacco filler); and a wrapper 22 wrapped therearound. The smoking composition sheet 21 (or material derived therefrom) may contain flavoring.
The filter portion 20C is cylindrical. The filter portion 20C has a rod-shaped first segment 25 that is made by being filled with cellulose acetate fibers, and a rod-shaped second segment 26 that is similarly made by being filled with cellulose acetate fibers. The first segment 25 is located on the smoking segment 20A side. The first segment 25 may have a hollow portion. The second segment 26 is located on the mouthpiece side. The second segment 26 is solid. The first segment 25 is composed of a first filling layer (cellulose acetate fibers) 25a and an inner plug wrapper 25b that is wrapped around the first filling layer 25a. The second segment 26 consists of a second filling layer (cellulose acetate fibers) 26a and an inner plug wrapper 26b that is wrapped around the second filling layer 26a. The first and second segments 25 and 26 are connected by an outer plug wrapper 27. The outer plug wrapper 27 is adhered to the first segment 25 and second segment 26 by a vinyl acetate emulsion-based adhesive, for example.
The length of the filter portion 20C can be 10 to 30 mm, for example, the length of the connecting portion 20B can be 10 to 30 mm, for example, the length of the first segment 25 can be 5 to 15 mm, for example, and the length of the second segment 26 can be 5 to 15 mm, for example. The lengths of these individual segments are examples, and can be modified, as appropriate, depending on, for example, the manufacturability, the required quality, and the length of the smoking segment 20A.
For example, the first segment 25 (centre hole segment) is composed of the first filling layer 25a having one or more hollow portions, and the inner plug wrapper 25b that covers the first filling layer 25a. The first segment 25 has the function of increasing the strength of the second segment 26. The first filling layer 25a of the first segment 25 is, for example, densely filled with cellulose acetate fibers. To the cellulose acetate fibers are added and cured a triacetin-containing plasticizer, in an amount of 6 to 20% by mass, for example, relative to the mass of the cellulose acetate. The hollow portion of the first segment 25 may, for example, have an inner diameter of φ 1.0 to φ 5.0 mm.
The first filling layer 25a of the first segment 25 may, for example, be configured with a relatively high fiber filling density, or may be the same as the fiber filling density of the second filling layer 26a of the second segment 26 described below. Thus, when drawn, air or aerosol will flow only through the hollow portion, and virtually no air or aerosol will flow through the first filling layer 25a. In cases where, for example, less of a filtration-induced reduction in the aerosol component is desired in the second segment 26, the length of the second segment 26 can be shortened, for example, to allow the first segment 25 to be lengthened accordingly.
Replacing the shortened second segment 26 with the first segment 25 will effectively increase aerosol delivery. The first filling layer 25a of the first segment 25 is a fiber filled layer, and the user therefore will not feel any discomfort when touching the outside during use.
The second segment 26 is composed of the second filling layer 26a and an inner plug wrapper 26b that covers the second filling layer 26a. The second segment 26 (filter segment) is filled with cellulose acetate fibers in a commonly used density, and has a commonly used aerosol filtration capacity.
The filtration capacity for filtering the aerosol (mainstream smoke) released from the smoking segment 20A may differ between the first segment 25 and the second segment 26. At least one of the first segment 25 or the second segment 26 may comprise flavouring. The filter portion 20C may have any structure, and may be a structure having a plurality of segments as described above, or may be composed of a single segment. The filter portion 20C may be composed of one segment. In such cases, the filter portion 20C may be composed of either the first segment or the second segment.
The connecting portion 20B is cylindrical. The connecting portion 20B has a paper tube 23 that is cylindrically formed using cardboard, for example. The connecting portion 20B may be filled with a cooling member for cooling the aerosol. Examples of cooling members includes a sheet of a polymer such as polylactic acid, which can be folded and filled. A support that prevents the position of the smoking segment 20A from moving around may furthermore be provided between the smoking segment 20A and the connecting portion 20B. The support can be composed of known materials such as a centre hole filter of the kind in the first segment 25.
A wrapper 28 is cylindrically wrapped around the outside of the smoking segment 20A, connecting portion 20B, and filter portion 20C to integrally join these parts. One surface (the inner surface) of the wrapper 28 is coated with a vinyl acetate-emulsion-based adhesive, over the entire surface or substantially the entire surface, except near the ventilation holes 24. A plurality of ventilation holes 24 are externally formed by a laser process after the smoking segment 20A, connecting portion 20B, and filter portion 20C have been integrated by the wrapper 28.
The ventilation holes 24 comprise two or more through-holes that pass through the connecting portion 20B in the thicknesswise direction. The two or more through-holes are formed so as to be radially arranged, as viewed along a line extending through the central axis of the flavor inhaler 20. In the present embodiment, the ventilation holes 24 are provided in the connecting portion 20B, but may be provided in the filter portion 20C. In this embodiment, the two or more through-holes of the ventilation holes 24 are provided in a single row at a constant interval in a circular pattern, but may be provided in two rows at a constant interval in a circular pattern, where the one or two rows of the ventilation holes 24 may be provided discontinuously or irregularly. When a user holds the mouthpiece in the mouth and draws, outside air is taken into the mainstream smoke through the ventilation holes 24. However, no ventilation holes 24 need be provided.
An example of a heat-not-burn smoking system is shown in Fig. 2. As shown in the figure, the heat-not-burn smoking system comprises a heat-not-burn flavor inhaler 20 and a heating device (heater) 10 which heats the smoking segment 20A from the outside.
The heating device 10 comprises: a body 11, a heater 12, a metal tube 13, a battery unit 14, and a control unit 15. The body 11 has a tubular recess 16, where the heater 12 and metal tube 13 are disposed at positions facing the smoking segment 20A inserted therein. The heater 12 can be a heater employing electrical resistance, where heating by the heater 12 is effected by the supply of electrical power from the battery unit 14 per commands from the control unit 15, which controls the temperature. Heat emitted from the heater 12 is transferred through the highly thermoconductive metal tube 13 to the smoking segment 20A. The figure depicts an embodiment in which the heating device 10 heats the smoking segment 20A from the outside, but the segment may also be heated from the inside. The heating temperature of the heating device 10 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 400°C or below, more preferably 150 to 400°C, and even more preferably 200 to 350°C. The heating temperature refers to the temperature of the heater of the heating device 10. The method of heating using the heating device 10 is not particularly limited, and induction heating or microwave heating, for example, can be employed in addition to heating by the heater noted above.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be described experimentally through the following examples, but the following description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention to those examples.

(Production of First Tobacco Sheet)

The tobacco raw material was 100 g of flue-cured tobacco leaf (saccharides: 18.7% by mass; amino acids: 0.37% by mass). To 100 g of the tobacco raw material were added and mixed 8 g of wood pulp, 8 g of carboxymethyl cellulose, 20 g of glycerol, 12.5 g of 80% fructose solution, and 400 g of water, forming a slurry. The resulting slurry was used to produce tobacco sheets based on a known casting method.

(Production of Second Tobacco Sheet)

The tobacco raw material was a mixture of 60 g of flue-cured tobacco leaf (saccharides: 12.8% by mass; amino acids: 0.62% by mass) and 40 g air-cured tobacco leaf (saccharides: 0.1% by mass; amino acids: 0.78% by mass). To 100 g of the resulting tobacco raw material were added and mixed 8 g of wood pulp, 8 g of carboxymethyl cellulose, 20 g of glycerol, and 400 g of water, forming a slurry. The resulting slurry was used to produce tobacco sheets based on a known casting method.

(Production of Third Tobacco Sheet)

The tobacco raw material was 100 g of flue-cured tobacco leaf (saccharides: 12.8% by mass; amino acids: 0.42% by mass). To 100 g of the tobacco raw material were added and mixed 8 g of wood pulp, 8 g of carboxymethyl cellulose, 20 g of glycerol, and 400 g of water, forming a slurry. The resulting slurry was used to produce tobacco sheets based on a known casting method.

(Determination of Three Amino Acid and Three Saccharide Content)

The following procedures and methods of measurement were used to determine the mass (g) of three amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) and of three saccharides (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) in each of the first through third tobacco sheets obtained in the manner described above, and to calculate the content (percent by mass) of three amino acids and three saccharides in each sheet.
The content (percent by mass) of three amino acids and three saccharides thus calculated was used as the basis to calculate the ratio of the percent by mass of three saccharides (total of glucose, fructose, and sucrose) relative to the percent by mass of three amino acids (total of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) in each tobacco sheet (percent by mass three saccharides/percent by mass three amino acids).
The results are shown in Table 1.

2.0 g samples of each tobacco sheet (first through third tobacco sheets) were placed in a bench-top spin dryer (rotary dryer) and dried for 3 hours at 80±1°C, and the moisture content W (percent by weight) of each tobacco sheet was determined based on the reduction in weight.
An absolute mill (ABS-W: by Osaka Chemical Co., Ltd.) was also used to produce 1.0 g powder from the 2.0 g samples of each tobacco sheet. Extracts were obtained by adding 20 mL of extraction solvent (80% methanol (methanol: ultrapure water (by Milli-Q)=8:2)) to the 1 g of resulting powder samples and extracting amino acids via 30 minutes of ultrasonic treatment. The resulting extracts were filtered through 2 µm filters, and the filtered extracts were analyzed as such via the high-performance liquid chromatography described below to quantify the concentrations (mg/L) of amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or asparagine) in the extracts. Based on these values, the percent by mass of each amino acid in the tobacco sheets was calculated on a dry weight basis using the following equation (1).

Analyzer: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Diode Array Detector (DAD) (Agilent 1290)
- Column: Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse AAA
- Mobile Phase A: 40mM phosphate buffer
- Mobile Phase B: 45% acetonitrile/45% methanol aqueous solution
- Gradient: Yes
  [Math. 1] $Amino acid mass % = \frac{C_{A} \times V_{C} \times 10^{- 6}}{W_{S} \times R_{S}} \times 100$
- *C_A: Amino acid (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or asparagine) concentration (mg/L) (analyzed value)
- Vc: Extraction solvent content (20 mL)
- Ws: Weight of tobacco sheet used (1.0 g)
- Rs: Proportion of tobacco sheet solids {100-W (moisture content: percent by weight)}/100

2.0 g samples of each tobacco sheet (first through third tobacco sheets) were placed in a bench-top spin dryer (rotary dryer) and dried for 3 hours at 80±1°C, and the moisture content W (percent by weight) of each tobacco sheet was determined based on the reduction in weight.
An absolute mill (ABS-W: by Osaka Chemical Co., Ltd.) was also used to produce 1.0 g tobacco filler powder from the 2.0 g samples of each tobacco sheet. Extracts were obtained by adding 40 mL of extraction solvent (acetonitrile: ultrapure water (by Milli-Q)=1:1) to the 1.0 g of resulting powder samples and extracting saccharides via 30 minutes of shaking at 100 rpm. The resulting extracts were filtered through 0.45 µm filters, and the filtered extracts were analyzed as such via the high-performance liquid chromatography described below to determine the concentrations (mg/L) of saccharides (glucose, fructose, or sucrose) in the extracts. Based on these values, the percent by mass of each saccharide in the tobacco sheets was calculated on a dry weight basis using the following equation (2), and these were totaled to calculate the percent by mass of total three saccharides (glucose, fructoes, and sucrose).

Analyzer: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography RI Detector (JASCO Corporation)
- Column: HPLC NH2 Column (Capcell PakNH 2 UG80, by Shiseido, Co., Ltd.)
- Mobile Phase: 75% acetonitrile (NeCN: distilled water=75:25)
  [Math. 2] $Saccharide mass % = \frac{C_{A} \times V_{C} \times 10^{- 3}}{W_{S} \times R_{S}} \times 100$
- *Cs: Saccharide (glucose, fructose, or sucrose) concentration (mg/mL) (analyzed value)
- Vc: Extraction solvent content (40 mL)
- Ws: Weight of tobacco sheet used (1.0 g)
- Rs: Proportion of tobacco sheet solids {100-W (moisture content: percent by weight)}/100

[Table 1]

Table 1

		First tobacco sheet	Second tobacco sheet	Third tobacco sheet
Three amino acid percent by mass	Aspartic acid	0.046	0.122	0.040
	Glutamic acid	0.024	0.063	0.032
	Asparagine	0.157	0.277	0.246
	Total	0.227	0.462	0.318
Three saccharide percent by mass	Fructose	13.01	2.04	5.67
	Glucose	3.09	1.21	3.32
	Sucrose	0.95	-	0.78
	Total	17.05	3.25	9.77
Percent by mass three saccharides/percent by mass three amino acids		75.1	7.0	30.7

*Dash marks in Table 1 mean "not calculated."

(Examples 1 through 5, and Comparative Examples 1 through 3)

The first and second tobacco sheets were mixed in the mixing ratios shown in Table 2, resulting in the three saccharide content and three amino acid content shown in Table 2, and rolling papers (wrappers) were filled therewith to obtain the tobacco fillers (280 mg) of Examples 1 though 5. Rolling papers (wrappers) were also filled with first through third tobacco sheets to obtain the tobacco fillers (280 mg) of Comparative Examples 1 though 3.
The ratio of the percent by mass of three saccharides (total of glucose, fructose, and sucrose) relative to the percent by mass of three amino acids (total of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) in the fillers of each tobacco sheet in Examples 1 through 5 and Comparative Examples 1 through 3 (percent by mass three saccharides/percent by mass three amino acids) could be calculated, as shown in Table 2.

[Table 2]

Table 2

	Mixing ratio [unit: percent by mass]			Total three saccharides [unit: percent by mass]	Total three amino acids [unit: percent by mass]	Ratio of percent by mass three saccharides/three amino acids
	First tobacco sheet	Second tobacco sheet	Third tobacco sheet	Total three saccharides [unit: percent by mass]	Total three amino acids [unit: percent by mass]
Comparative Example 1	100			17.05	0.227	75.1
Comparative Example 2		100		3.25	0.462	7.0
Comparative Example 3			100	9.77	0.318	30.7
Example 1	20	80		6.31	0.415	15.2
Example 2	30	70		7.84	0.392	20.0
Example 3	50	50		10.90	0.345	31.6
Example 4	70	30		13.96	0.298	46.9
Example 5	80	20		15.49	0.274	56.5

Tobacco filler has conventionally been produced using a single tobacco sheet that has a predetermined three saccharide content, as in Comparative Examples 1 through 3 above, thus making it necessary to produce the individual tobacco sheets on a case-by-case basis according to the three saccharide content of each product when product features are enhanced by varying the content of three saccharides included in the tobacco filler. It has thus been difficult, in terms of labor and productions costs, to flexibly vary the three saccharide content to enhance product features.
On the other hand, it was found that the use of a plurality of tobacco sheets having a different three saccharide content, as in Examples 1 through 5 above, allows the content of three saccharides included in the tobacco filler to be varied in a flexible manner to enhance product features.

(Assessment of Flavor and Sensations Compromising Aroma and Taste)

The tobacco fillers of Examples 1 through 5 and Comparative Examples 1 through 3 obtained as described above were used as smoking segments (tobacco segments) to prepare the heat-not-burn flavor inhaler shown in Fig. 1. Each of the resulting heat-not-burn flavor inhalers was then installed in the heat-not-burn smoking system shown in Fig. 2.
The flavor inhalers thus prepared were assessed for flavor, as well as for sensation compromising aroma and taste by ten well-trained panelists.
The flavor, as well as sensation compromising aroma and taste, of the flavor inhalers were assessed by calculating the average rating of 10 panelists whose assessments were based on 10 ranked criteria, from 1 (little, weak) to 10 (a lot, strong). Average values to the first decimal place were rounded off at the first decimal place to calculate the scores.
Flavor indicates total heated flavor obtained on the basis of the sugar-amino acid reaction noted above, and sensation compromising aroma and taste indicates the total extent to which total flavor is compromised by sensation compromising aroma and taste.
Flavor (X) and sensation compromising aroma and taste (Y) were assessed, overall assessment (X-Y) was calculated, and an overall assessment score of 1 point or more was established as the acceptable range.

[Table 3]

Table 3

	Flavor (X)	Sensation compromising aroma and taste (Y)	Overall assessment (X-Y)
Comparative Example 1	2	2	0
Comparative Example 2	6	7	-1
Comparative Example 3	5	5	0
Example 1	6	4	2
Example 2	6	4	2
Example 3	7	3	4
Example 4	5	3	2
Example 5	4	2	2

The results in Table 3 show that, in terms of flavor as well as sensation compromising aroma and taste, the tobacco filler of Examples 1 through 5 were assessed as being better than Comparative Examples 1 through 3. The results for overall assessment of the tobacco filler of Examples 1 through 5 were higher than those of Comparative examples 1 through 3, indicating that flavor can be enhanced while minimizing sensation compromising aroma and taste. In particular, the three amino acid content, three saccharide content, and percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio of the tobacco sheet of Example 3 and of the tobacco sheet of Comparative example 3 were similar, but the overall assessment of the tobacco sheet of Example 3 was far higher than that of the tobacco sheet of Comparative Example 3. Comparison of the results of Examples 1 through 5 also revealed that the tobacco sheet of Example 3, in which the mass ratio of the first and second tobacco sheets was 50:50, had a particularly exceptional overall assessment.
On the other hand, the tobacco filler of Comparative Example 1 had weak flavor, a strong sensation compromising aroma and taste, and the tobacco filler of Comparative Example 2 had a strong flavor but a strong sensation compromising aroma and taste.
In the tobacco filler of Examples 1 through 5, it appears that mixing two types of tobacco sheets having different three saccharide-three amino acid ratios allowed the three saccharides and three amino acids to be properly controlled and allowed flavor quality to be enhanced.
The above results showed that mixing tobacco sheets having a different content of three saccharides and three amino acids allows flavor, as well as sensation compromising aroma and taste, to be adjusted, and allows product features to be enhanced.
As noted above, the tobacco filler of the present invention allows the percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio to be flexibly varied in the form of a tobacco sheet. In some cases, the tobacco filler of the present invention also allows flavor to be controlled according to product features, in addition to allowing the percent by mass three saccharide/percent by mass three amino acid ratio to be flexibly varied.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10 Heating device
11 Body
12 Heater
13 Metal tube
14 Battery unit
15 Control unit
16 Recess
17 Ventilation holes
20 Heat-not-burn smoking flavor inhaler
20A Smoking segment
20B Connecting portion
20C Filter portion
21 Smoking composition sheet or material derived therefrom
22 Wrapper
23 Paper tube
24 Ventilation hole portion
25 First segment
25a First filling layer
25b Inner plug wrapper
26 Second segment
26a Second filling layer
26b Inner plug wrapper
27 Outer plug wrapper
28 Wrapper

Claims

A tobacco filler, comprising:
a first tobacco sheet, a second tobacco sheet, or a combination thereof,

wherein the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet each comprise
three saccharides selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof, and

three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof,

the ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) in the first tobacco sheet is 50 or more, and

the ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) in the second tobacco sheet is 20 or less.
The tobacco filler according to Claim 1, comprising the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.
The tobacco filler according to Claim 2, wherein the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet is 5:95 to 95:5.
The tobacco filler according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the ratio of the percent by mass of the three saccharides relative to the percent by mass of the three amino acids (percent by mass of three saccharides/percent by mass of three amino acids) is 15 to 50, based on the tobacco filler in its entirety.
The tobacco filler according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the first tobacco sheet or second tobacco sheet further comprises 1 to 8% by mass malic acid.
The tobacco filler according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the first tobacco sheet or second tobacco sheet further comprises an aerosol-generating agent.
A flavor inhaler, comprising the tobacco filler according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.
The flavor inhaler according to Claim 7, which is a heat-not-burn flavor inhaler.
A method for producing the tobacco filler according to any of Claims 1 to 6, comprising:
the step of combining the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.