EP4654840A1

EP4654840A1 - System and method for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article

Info

Publication number: EP4654840A1
Application number: EP24701955.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ricardo CALI; Andreas LÖB; Edoardo MONTANARI; Luca DINI
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2023-01-26
Filing date: 2024-01-26
Publication date: 2025-12-03
Also published as: KR20250134240A; JP2026509970A; CN120614990A; WO2024156846A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article, comprising: a conveyor (5) configured to convey an aerosol-generating substrate (3) in a conveying direction (101); an applicator (9) comprising a holder (11), the holder (11) being adapted to receive an additive body (13) along an application direction (105), wherein the holder (11) is adapted to guide the additive body (13) in the application direction (105). The invention also relates to an aerosol-generating article, wherein its aerosol generating-substrate (3) comprises a band (41) of additive (13) having a width shorter than a width of the aerosol generating-substrate (3). The invention also further relates to a method comprising applying additive (14) from the additive body (13) to the aerosol-generating substrate (3) by means of a frictional force, the frictional force being caused by contact of the additive body (13) with the aerosol-generating substrate (3). The invention also relates to a use of a solid additive body (13) for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate (3) for an aerosol-generating article.

Description

System and method for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article

The present disclosure relates to a system for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article and a method of producing an aerosol-generating substrate of an aerosol-generating article, where the aerosol-generating substrate comprises an additive.

Aerosol-generating articles not only refer to filter cigarettes and other smoking articles in which material is combusted to form smoke, but also those articles that generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating substrate without requiring combustion thereof. Such articles are often designated as “heat-not-burn” aerosol-generating articles, since an aerosol-generating substrate is heated to a relatively low temperature to induce the formation of an aerosol but prevent the combustion of material contained within the aerosol-generating substrate.

Aerosol-generating articles are available in flavored varieties. Flavoring an aerosolgenerating article may be achieved by incorporating flavoring additive in the aerosol-generating substrate. It is known to apply additive, in particular flavoring additive, on an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article by means of a spraying nozzle. The spraying nozzle produces a spray of additive liquid droplets. The additive liquid droplets are projected and deposited on the aerosol-generating substrate.

The application of additive, in particular of a flavoring additive, is an important requirement for the user experience, because it may have an impact on both the smoking experience and the appearance of the aerosol-generating article.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article. Optionally, the apparatus comprises a conveyor configured to convey an aerosol-generating substrate in a conveying direction. The apparatus comprises an applicator. The applicator comprises a holder. The holder is adapted to receive an additive body along an application direction. The holder is adapted to guide the additive body in the application direction. In particular, the holder is adapted to receive a solid additive body along an application direction. More in particular, the holder is adapted to guide the solid additive body in the application direction

The apparatus allows applying the additive on the aerosol-generating substrate by means of an additive body. The additive body may form a unitary block. The holder may be adapted to guide the unitary block in the application direction.

The application direction may be perpendicular with respect to the conveying direction. This enables that the frictional force applied by the substrate to the additive body is perpendicular to the application direction. Thus, the effect of the frictional force on the movement of the additive body in the application direction is reduced. The application direction may be inclined with respect to the conveying direction. Thus, the contact surface of the additive body on the aerosol-generating substrate may be increased.

The application direction may be straight or along a curve, in particular with constant curvature.

The apparatus allows applying the additive on the aerosol-generating substrate by means frictional force, the frictional force being caused by contact of the additive body with the aerosolgenerating substrate. The applicator makes it possible to apply the additive of the additive body locally on the aerosol-generating substrate. The position of the applicator with respect to the aerosol-generating substrate allows applying the additive on the aerosol-generating substrate in a particular delimited region. The additive may be applied to the aerosol-generating substrate so as to delimitate a region of the aerosol-generating substrate comprising the additive from another region of the aerosol-generating substrate devoid of additive. Thus, a more precise application compared to spraying may be obtained. The width of the additive applied on the aerosolgenerating substrate may be more accurately controlled than by in the prior art spraying applications because the application is independent from the number of droplet per unit of volume and the droplet size distribution. The application of additive on the aerosol-generating substrate by means of an additive body allows improving the accuracy of the quantity of additive per article, thereby preventing inconsistences in quantities that could be felt by user during the smoking experience.

In comparison to a spraying application, the application of an additive from an additive body allows reducing the exposure time of the additive with the environmental air. When the additive is a flavor compound containing menthol for instance, reducing its exposure to environment air allows avoiding the volatilization and the crystallization of the menthol. Still in comparison to spraying application, the application by means of an additive body reduces the diffusion of particles of additive in the air. At least 90 percent, more in particular 98 percent of the weight of one additive body may be directly applied to the aerosol-generating substrate. In contrast, in prior art spraying applications, a significant portion of the additive does not reach the substrate, but contaminates adjacent machinery. Thus, contamination of components adjacent to the aerosolgenerating substrate may be reduced or prevented by the invention. Hence, the application of an additive by means of an additive body received in the holder on the applicator may reduce the necessary cleaning effort. It may improve the availability of the production line, as the occurrence of production stoppages for maintenance purposes may be reduced. It may allow preventing waste of additive. Clogging of the nozzle used for spraying the additive, especially when the additive contains menthol, may be avoided. The system may be free of pumps for the additive, in particular downstream of the reservoir. In prior art systems, a pump required for spraying may be subject to clogging, in particular due to crystallization of menthol. The holder may comprise at least one guide surface extending along a direction parallel to the application direction. The at least one guide surface may be provided with a textured surface. The at least one guide surface may be provided with at least one ridge or protrusion extending along the application direction. It may provide a greater frictional force between the additive body and the at least one guide surface. It may help guiding the additive body along the application direction. This may enable adjusting the displacement movement of the additive body along the application direction.

The holder may have at least partially a complementary shape to a cross-section of the additive body. The holder may comprise one first portion having a complementary shape to a cross-section of the additive body and at least a second portion having a cross section normal to the application direction that is greater than a cross-section of the additive body. The at least second portion may have a cross section with dimension that varies in a decreasing manner along the application direction. A smallest cross section of the at least second portion may have a complementary shape to a cross-section of the additive body. Varying the cross-section of the holder enables to selectively define areas where the additive body is in surface contact with the holder. It allows adjusting the frictional resistance between the additive body and the holder.

The apparatus may comprise a one-piece integrally formed holder. The holder may be defined by its height, where the height of the holder is parallel to the application direction. The height of the holder may be smaller than a height of an additive body to be received in the holder. The holder may be defined by lateral walls. The lateral walls may be defined by the height of the holder. The lateral walls may be mechanically connected to one another. Alternatively or in combination, at least two lateral walls may be partially spaced apart from another. A partial clearance region may be provided in between two adjacent lateral walls of the holder. A surface of the additive body may be free of contact with any surfaces of the holder in the partial clearance region defined between two adjacent lateral walls. The partial clearance region between two adjacent lateral walls may allow reducing the frictional resistance. This may ease the sliding of the additive body in the holder along the application direction.

The lateral walls of the holder may define a hollow passage for receiving the additive body. The hollow passage may extend from a first open end to a second open end along the height of the holder. The first open end may provide an opening for inserting an additive body in the holder. The first open end may provide an access to a pushing element. The pushing element may be configured to push the additive body received in the holder towards the application direction. The second open end may allow the additive body to partially protrude beyond the second open end of the holder along the application direction. A portion of the additive body protruding beyond the second open end may be applied, in particular by friction, on an aerosol-generating substrate. At least one of the lateral walls of the holder may be provided with a recess or a through opening. It allows reducing weight the structure in comparison to a structure with only full solid walls. A through opening further allows a visual access to the inside of the holder. A visual check of the additive body received in the holder is thus possible. The holder may be made of a transparent or translucent material. The transparent material may allow seeing through the holder. The holder may be made by plastic injection molding. The holder may be made of stainless steel. The holder may be made a carbon-fiber woven composite. The holder may be made of a nonferromagnetic material.

The holder may be adapted to guide the center of mass of the additive body in the application direction. In particular, the holder may be adapted to guide the center of mass of the unitary block forming the additive body. The center of mass may be the point in the additive body at which the whole mass of the additive body may be considered as concentrated. During application, when the additive is applied by friction to the aerosol-generating substrate, the center of mass of the additive body received in the holder may be displaced. During application, the center of mass of the additive body received in the holder is displaced along the application direction. During application, the center of mass of the additive body received in the holder is linearly displaced along the application direction.

The holder may have a constant cross-section normal to the application direction. Alternatively, the holder may have a cross-section normal to the application direction, where the dimension of the cross-section varies along of the application direction.

The applicator may further comprises a pushing element. The pushing element may be configured to apply pressure on an additive body received in the holder along the application direction. In particular, the pushing element may be configured to apply pressure on a solid additive body received in the holder along the application direction. The pushing element enables to control the amount of additive applied from the additive body to the aerosol-generating substrate.

The pushing element may be controlled by a pressure applicator device.

A weight of the pushing element may be greater than a friction force of the additive body in the holder, such that the additive body may be gravity driven along the application direction. In particular, a weight of the pushing element may be greater than a friction force of the solid additive body in the holder, such that the solid additive body may be gravity driven along the application direction.

The weight of the pushing element may be at least 5 times greater than the total initial weight of the additive body, in particular 7 times greater. The pushing element may comprise at least two portions. The at least two portions of the pushing element may be fixedly attached one another. The at least two portions of the pushing element may be mechanically attached to one another by a fastening means. The fastening means may comprise at least one of a screw, a bolt, a nut or a tongue. The fastening means may be an adhesive, like glue. Alternatively, the at least two portions of the pushing element may be integrally formed in one-piece. The first portion and the second portion of the pushing element may be arranged in an inclined manner to each other. In particular, the first portion may be arranged perpendicularly to the second portion. The first portion may extend longitudinally along a direction parallel to the application direction. A crosssection transverse to the application direction of the first portion may be smaller than a crosssection transverse to the application direction of the hollow passage of the holder. It provides the first portion with dimensions that enable the first portion to penetrate at least partially inside the hollow passage of the holder. It allows the first portion to be able to push the additive body, even when the additive body is located inside the holder.

The pushing element, in particular the first portion of the pushing element, may comprise a pushing surface. The pushing surface may be configured to contact an additive body received in the holder. In particular, the pushing surface may be configured to contact a solid additive body received in the holder. The pushing surface may extend in a plane perpendicular to the application direction. The pushing surface may be a flat surface.

The applicator may further comprise a supporting guide. The pushing element may be slidadly arranged along the application direction in the supporting guide.

The supporting guide may comprise a groove extending along the application direction. Alternatively, the supporting guide may comprise a ridge extending along the application direction.

The pushing element, in particular the second portion of the pushing element, may comprise a coupling portion. The coupling portion of the pushing element may be configured to be slidably received in the supporting guide along the application direction.

The groove or the ridge of the supporting guide may comprise an abutment face, such that the pushing element may reach an end position along the application direction when the coupling portion of the pushing element abuts against the abutment face of the supporting guide. The abutment face may be provided with a sensing element. The sensing element may be configured to sense the abutment of the pushing element against the abutment face. The sensing element may be a pressure sensor. The sensing element may be a light sensor. The sensing element may be an inductive sensor. The sensing element may be connected to a controller of the apparatus. The detection of an abutment by the sensing element may trigger an alarm signal. The alarm signal may be communicated to the controller. The detection of an abutment by the sensing element may cause the conveyor to stop.

A length of the groove or the ridge of the supporting guide, a height of the first portion of the pushing element and a height of the holder are selected in relation to the dimensions, in particular the height, of the additive body to be received in the holder. The supporting guide and the holder of the applicator may be fixed with respect to one another. The pushing element of the applicator may be relatively movable with respect to supporting guide and the holder of the applicator.

The supporting guide and the holder of the applicator may be integrally formed.

The holder of the apparatus may be configured to receive at least two additive bodies. The two additive bodies may be the same. The two additive bodies may be different in chemical composition from one to another. The two additive bodies may be different in size from one to another.

The apparatus may comprise at least two applicators respectively comprising a holder for receiving an additive body. The at least two holders may have identical dimensions and shapes. Alternatively, the at least two holders may have a different size or shape from one to another. A first holder may contain a first additive body. A second holder may contain a second additive body. The first additive body may contain a first additive. The second additive body may contain a second additive. The first additive and the second additive may be the same additive. Alternatively, the first additive may be different from the second additive.

The apparatus may further comprise a temperature controlling device. The temperature controlling device may be configured to monitor and control the temperature of the holder. The temperature of the additive body may be controlled to be between 10 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius, in particular between 15 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius, more in particular between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

The temperature controlling device may comprise a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be arranged to sense the temperature of an additive body received in the holder.

The apparatus may comprise at least one cooling device. The at least one cooling device may be configured to lower the temperature of the additive body in the holder. The at least one cooling device may be configured to lower the temperature of at least one external surface of additive body. The at least one cooling device may be provided on at least one lateral wall of the holder.

The cooling device may be configured to maintain the temperature of the holder above below a predetermined threshold temperature.

The apparatus may comprise at least one heating device. This may improve the processing of the additive body. This may reduce the viscosity of the additive body. The at least one heating device may be provided on at least one lateral wall of the holder. The apparatus may be provided with a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the additive body contained in the holder. The temperature controlling device in combination with at least one of the heating device or the cooling device may be configured to maintain the temperature of the holder above or below a predetermined threshold temperature.

The conveyor may actively drive the aerosol-generating substrate in the conveying direction or passively guide the aerosol-generating substrate in the conveying direction. The conveyor may comprise a conveyor belt, or several conveyor belts. In particular, the aerosol-generating substrate may be conveyed in between an upper or lower conveyor belt. The conveyor may comprise a conveyor roller, or several conveyor rollers. In particular, the aerosol-generating substrate may be conveyed in between an upper or lower conveyor rollers.

A system according to a second aspect may comprise an apparatus as specified above and an aerosol-generating substrate. The system may comprise an additive body, in particular an additive body according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments.

The system may comprise at least one backing roller. The aerosol-generating substrate may be arranged between the at least one backing roller and the holder. The at least one backing roller may be part of the conveyor. Alternatively, the backing roller may form the conveyor roller or one of the conveyor rollers.

The applicator and the at least one backing roller may be arranged to apply pressure from both sides to the aerosol-generating substrate. This enables to increase the frictional forces in between the aerosol-generating substrate and the additive body. Further, this may protect the potentially aerosol-generating substrate from mechanical degradation.

The at least one backing roller may be made of metal, in particular steel.

The at least one backing roller may be coated with elastomeric material, in particular rubber. This may compensate potential variations in the force in the application direction with which the applicator body is pressed against the aerosol-generating substrate. Thus, variations in the frictional force and hence of the application amount may be reduced. The elastomeric material may also compensate tolerances regarding the thickness of the aerosol-generating substrate.

The system may comprise at least one supporting base. The at least one supporting base may be arranged downstream of the at least one backing roller with respect to the conveying direction. The at least one supporting base and the applicator via the additive body, in particular the solid additive body, may be arranged to apply pressure from both sides to the aerosolgenerating substrate.

A surface of the at least one supporting base may be provided with an anti-adherent layer adapted for reducing the frictional contact between said surface of the at least one supporting base and the aerosol-generating substrate.

The anti-adherent layer may comprise a carbon-based material. The anti-adherent layer comprises at least one of columnar pyrolytic graphite, laminar pyrolytic graphite and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG).

The rotational axis of the at least one backing roller may be perpendicular to the conveying direction. The respective rotational axis of the backing rollers may be parallel to one another. The at least one backing roller may be configured to rotate around its respective rotational axis in a first direction. The at least one backing roller may be configured to rotate around its respective rotational axis in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.

The system may further comprise an adjustment device. The adjustment device may be configured for adjusting the relative position of the at least one backing roller with respect to the holder of the applicator. The pressure applied on the aerosol-generating substrate between the at least one backing roller and the holder can thus be adjusted.

The system may further comprise an optical sensing device to detect the presence of additive on the aerosol-generating substrate. Alternatively or in addition, the optical sensing device may be configured to detect the absence of additive on the aerosol-generating substrate. The optical sensing device may comprise an optical sensor.

The optical sensing device may be provided on the supporting guide of the applicator.

The optical sensing device may be arranged downstream of the applicator with respect to the conveying direction.

A greatest dimension of a cross-section of the holder is smaller than a width of the aerosolgenerating substrate, in particular 20 percent smaller.

The width of the aerosol-generating substrate may be defined perpendicularly with respect to the conveying direction.

A cross-section of the holder may have a rectangular shape. This may enable a constant application thickness of the additive on the aerosol-generating substrate.

A cross-section of the holder may have an oval or circular shape. This may enable a convex application thickness of the additive on the aerosol-generating substrate.

The additive body may form part of the system. Optionally, the additive body may comprise at least one flavoring component. In particular, the additive body is solid. The flavoring component may be natural or artificially based. The flavoring component may comprise natural or synthetic menthol.

The width of the additive body may define the width of the additive applied on the aerosolgenerating substrate. The width of the additive applied on the aerosol-generating substrate can thus be more accurately controlled than by spraying application because it is independent from the number of droplet per unit of volume and the droplet size distribution. When the width of the additive body is shorter than the width of the aerosol-generating substrate, it allows creating margins of same width free of additive on each side of the band of additive applied on the aerosol- generating substrate. The distribution of additive on the aerosol-generating substrate can thus be better controlled, in particular with more accuracy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, in particular according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate comprises a band of additive. The band of additive is provided on the aerosol-generating substrate. The band of additive has a width shorter than a width of the aerosol- generating substrate.

The band of additive may have a thickness. The thickness may be the height of the additive on the aerosol-generating substrate or the penetration depth of the additive in the aerosolgenerating substrate or the sum of both. A variation of the thickness of the band of additive along the width of the band of additive may be less than 50 percent, in particular less than 30 percent, more in particular less than 20 percent. The band of additive may have a thickness of at least 0.020 millimeters. Hence, an aerosol-generating article with a precise and accurate amount of additive on the aerosol-generating substrate is advantageously obtained. A better reproducibility of the aerosol-generating article may contribute to enhance the user experience.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article. The method comprises providing an additive body in a solid state. The method comprises moving the aerosolgenerating substrate along a conveying direction. The method comprises applying additive from the additive body to the aerosol-generating substrate by means of a frictional force, the frictional force being caused by contact of the additive body with the aerosol-generating substrate.

This may enable to deposit additive into the aerosol-generating substrate at a well-defined position.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a use of a solid additive body for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article. The additive body may comprise a flavoring component.

The apparatus, system, method or use according to the system may be operated in an environment with a relative humidity of in between 40 percent and 60 percent, in particular in between 45 percent and 55 percent.

The aerosol-generating substrate may be a homogenized tobacco sheet. More generally, the aerosol-generating substrate may contain tobacco. Instead or in addition to tobacco, other plant-based materials may be part of the aerosol-generating substrate.

The aerosol-generating substrate may be a tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based cast sheet. More generally, the aerosol-generating substrate may comprise plant-based material.

Alternatively, the aerosol-generating substrate may be homogenized sheet of non-tobacco. The aerosol-generating substrate may comprises a fiber-based material, in particular at least one of a polymer fiber-based material, a biodegradable fiber-based material, cotton, or cellulose. The aerosol-generating substrate may be a polylactic acid substrate. The aerosol-generating substrate may comprise acetate.

The aerosol-generating substrate may contain an alkaloid, in particular nicotine.

The aerosol-generating substrate may be made of a crimped aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating material may be converged into a rod-shape. Crimped aerosol-generating material may facilitate converging the aerosol-generating material into a rod-shape. The aerosolgenerating substrate may be crimped after or prior to the application of the additive.

The aerosol-generating substrate may have a plurality of corrugations. Corrugations may comprise ridges or protrusions. Corrugations may comprise troughs or recesses. The corrugations are formed by ridges and recesses or ridges or recesses. A width of the ridges may be defined as a first distance between two peaks of the consecutive recesses. A width of the recesses may be defined as a first distance between two peaks of the consecutive ridges. A distance between a peak of the ridge and a peak of the recesses may define a height of the ridges or recesses.

The aerosol-generating substrate may be adapted to be converged or folded into a segment or rod-shape to form part of an aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating article may be an aerosol-generating article for producing an aerosol comprising an aerosol-generating substrate that is intended to be heated rather than combusted in order to release volatile compounds that can form an aerosol.

The aerosol-generating substrate may be a substrate capable of releasing upon heating volatile compounds, which can form an aerosol. The aerosol generated from aerosol-generating substrates may be visible or invisible and may include vapors (for example, fine particles of substances, which are in a gaseous state) as well as gases and liquid droplets of condensed vapors.

The aerosol-generating substrate may be a sheet, a foil or a web of aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating substrate may be a laminar substrate. The aerosol-generating substrate may have a width and length substantially greater than the thickness of the substrate.

The aerosol-generating substrate may have a thickness comprised between 0.110 millimetres and 0.380 millimetres, in particular between 0.170 and 0.270 millimetres.

The aerosol-generating substrate may comprise comprises humectants.

The aerosol-generating substrate may comprise comprises aerosol formers, such as polyhydric alcohols, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol and glycerine; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. The aerosol-generating substrate may comprise at least 3 percent per weight, in particular at least 5 percent by weight, and more in particular at least 10 percent per weight, of aerosol former with respect to the weight of the aerosol-generating substrate.

The additive body may comprise an additive. The additive of the additive body may be at least partially absorbed into the aerosol-generating substrate.

The apparatus or system may be at a temperature, at which the additive body is solid. The apparatus or system may be adapted to be controlled to be at a temperature, at which the additive body is solid.

The additive body may be in a solid state at a temperature between 5 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius. The additive body may be in a solid state at a temperature between 10 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius. The additive body may be in a solid state at a temperature between 15 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.

The additive body may be in a solid state at a temperature between 16 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius. The additive body may be in a solid state at a temperature between 18 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius. The use of a solid additive body allows considerably simplifying the manufacturing and the maintenance because it enables avoiding the inconveniences linked to the handling of fluids.

The additive body may comprise aerosol former, in particular glycerin.

The additive body may comprise 45 to 90 percent by weight of glycerin, in particular 65 to 85 percent by weight of glycerin.

The additive body may comprise 15 to 55 percent by weight of organic botanical glycerite, in particular 20 to 35 percent by weight of organic botanical glycerite. The additive body may comprise at least one botanical compound. The botanical compound may be tobacco leave, clove, echinacea sp., fennel, ginger, hawthorn berry, ederberry, monarda, mullein leave, nettle, plantain, turmeric, yarrow or a combination thereof. The additive body may comprise 1 to 15 percent by weight, in particular 2 to 7 percent by weight, of botanical compound. The additive of the additive body may comprise essential oil. The additive of the additive body may comprise allyl hexanoate, benzyl alcohol, citral, ethanol, itsea cubeba oils, lemon oil, lime oil, L-menthol, menthol, orange oils sweet, orange oil terpeneless, orange oil terpenes, tangerine oils terpene-free, or a combination thereof. The additive body may comprise 0.5 to 5 percent by weight, in particular 1 to 3 percent by weight, of a botanical essential oil. A botanical essential may comprise tobacco, palm, coconut, and wooden-based essential oils.

The additive of the additive body may be an active ingredient, in particular alkaloid, such as nicotine.

The additive may be devoid of fibers or fibrous compound.

The additive body may comprise a solid gel.

The additive body may comprise a wax. The additive body may form a unitary block. It allows easily handling and manipulating the additive in comparison to additive in liquid form. The additive body may have the shape of a solid bar. The additive body may have a square cross-section normal to the application direction. A length of a side of the square cross-section may be comprised between 20 millimeters and 100 millimeters. In particular, a length of a side of the square cross-section may be comprised between 30 millimeters and 80 millimeters. More in particular, a length of a side of the square cross-section may be comprised between 40 millimeters and 70 millimeters.

The additive body may have a rectangular cross-section normal to the application direction. A length of the greatest side of the rectangular cross-section may be comprised between 20 millimeters and 150 millimeters. In particular, a length of the greatest side of the rectangular crosssection may be comprised between 30 millimeters and 110 millimeters. More in particular, a length of the greatest side of the rectangular cross-section may be comprised between 40 millimeters and 90 millimeters. A length of the smallest side of the rectangular cross-section may be comprised between 5 millimeters and 70 millimeters. In particular, a length of the smallest side of the rectangular cross-section may be comprised between 10 millimeters and 50 millimeters. More in particular, a length of the smallest side of the rectangular cross-section may be comprised between 20 millimeters and 45 millimeters.

The additive body may have an oval cross-section normal to the application direction. A length of the greatest dimension of the oval cross-section may be comprised between 20 millimeters and 150 millimeters. In particular, a length of the greatest dimension of the oval crosssection may be comprised between 30 millimeters and 110 millimeters. More in particular, a length of the greatest dimension of the oval cross-section may be comprised between 40 millimeters and 90 millimeters. A length of the smallest dimension of the oval cross-section may be comprised between 5 millimeters and 70 millimeters. In particular, a length of the smallest dimension of the oval cross-section may be comprised between 10 millimeters and 50 millimeters. More in particular, a length of the smallest dimension of the oval cross-section may be comprised between 20 millimeters and 45 millimeters.

The additive body may have a circular cross-section normal to the application direction. A diameter of the circular cross-section may be comprised between 15 millimeters and 130 millimeters. In particular, a diameter of the circular cross-section may be comprised between 20 millimeters and 90 millimeters. More in particular, a diameter of the circular cross-section may be comprised between 30 millimeters and 80 millimeters.

The initial weight of the additive body may be greater than 0,8 kilogram. In particular, the initial weight of the additive body may be greater than 1 kilogram. The initial weight of the additive body corresponds to the weight of the additive body before any application of additive to the aerosol-generating substrate. The apparatus or system according to the first and second aspects may produce an article according to the third aspect. The apparatus or system according to the first and second aspects may be operated with the method according to the fourth aspect. The apparatus or system according to the first and second aspects may be part of the use of the fifth aspect.

The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example Ex1 : Apparatus for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article, comprising: a conveyor configured to convey an aerosol-generating substrate in a conveying direction; an applicator; the applicator comprising a holder, the holder being adapted to receive an additive body along an application direction, wherein the holder is adapted to guide the additive body in the application direction.

Example Ex2: Apparatus according to Ex1 , wherein the application direction is perpendicular or inclined with respect to the conveying direction.

Example Ex3: Apparatus according to Ex1 or Ex2, wherein the holder comprises at least one guide surface extending along a direction parallel to the application direction.

Example Ex4: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex3, wherein the holder has at least partially a complementary shape to a cross-section of the additive body.

Example Ex5: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex4, wherein the holder is adapted to guide the center of mass of the additive body in the application direction.

Example Ex6: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex5, wherein the holder has a constant cross-section normal to the application direction.

Example Ex7: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex6, wherein a cross-section of the holder has a rectangular shape.

Example Ex8: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex6, wherein a cross-section of the holder has an oval or circular shape.

Example Ex9: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex8, wherein the applicator further comprises: a pushing element, the pushing element is configured to apply pressure on an additive body received in the holder along the application direction.

Example Ex10: Apparatus according to Ex9, wherein the pushing element is controlled by a pressure applicator device.

Example Ex11 : Apparatus according to Ex9 or Ex10, wherein a weight of the pushing element is greater than a friction force of the additive body in the holder, such that the additive body is gravity driven along the application direction. Example Ex12: Apparatus according to any of Ex9 to Ex11 , wherein the weight of the pushing element is at least 5 times greater than the total initial weight of the additive body, in particular 7 times greater.

Example Ex13: Apparatus according to any of Ex9 or Ex12, wherein the pushing element comprises a pushing surface, the pushing surface being configured to contact an additive body received in the holder.

Example Ex14: Apparatus according to any of Ex9 or Ex13, wherein the applicator further comprises: a supporting guide, and wherein the pushing element is slidadly arranged along the application direction in the supporting guide.

Example Ex15: Apparatus according to Ex14, wherein the supporting guide comprises a groove extending along the application direction, the pushing element comprises a coupling portion, the coupling portion of the pushing element is configured to be slidably received in the groove of the supporting guide along the application direction.

Example Ex16: Apparatus according to Ex15, wherein the groove of the supporting guide comprises an abutment face, such that the pushing element reaches an end position along the application direction when the coupling portion of the pushing element abuts against the abutment face of the supporting guide.

Example Ex17: Apparatus according to any of Ex14 to Ex16, wherein the supporting guide and the holder of the applicator are fixed with respect to one another, and wherein the pushing element of the applicator is relatively movable with respect to supporting guide and the holder of the applicator.

Example Ex18: Apparatus according to any of Ex14 to Ex17, wherein the supporting guide and the holder of the applicator are integrally formed.

Example Ex19: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex18, wherein the holder is configured for receiving at least two additive bodies.

Example Ex20: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex19, wherein the system comprises at least two applicators as specified above.

Example Ex21 : Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex20, wherein the system further comprises a temperature controlling device, wherein the temperature controlling device is configured to monitor and control the temperature of the holder.

Example Ex22: Apparatus according to Ex21 , wherein the temperature controlling device comprises a temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is arranged to sense the temperature of an additive body received in the holder.

Example Ex23: Apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex22, wherein the system further comprising a cooling device. Example Ex24: Apparatus according to Ex23, wherein the cooling device is configured to maintain the temperature of the holder below a predetermined threshold temperature.

Example Ex25: System comprising an apparatus according to any of Ex1 to Ex24 and an aerosol-generating substrate.

Example Ex26: System according to Ex25, further comprising: at least one backing roller, the aerosol-generating substrate is arranged between the at least one backing roller and the holder.

Example Ex27: System according to Ex26, wherein the applicator and the at least one backing roller are arranged to apply pressure from both sides to the aerosol-generating substrate.

Example Ex28: System according to Ex26 or Ex27, wherein the at least one backing roller is made of metal, in particular steel.

Example Ex29: System according to any of Ex26 to Ex28, wherein the at least one backing roller is coated with rubber.

Example Ex30: System according to any of Ex26 to Ex29, further comprising: at least one supporting base, the at least one supporting base is arranged downstream of the at least one backing roller with respect to the conveying direction, and the at least one supporting base and the applicator via the additive body are arranged to apply pressure from both sides to the aerosol-generating substrate.

Example Ex31 : System according to Ex30, wherein a surface of the at least one supporting base is provided with an anti-adherent layer adapted for reducing the frictional contact between said surface of the at least one supporting base and the aerosol-generating substrate.

Example Ex32: System according to Ex31, wherein the anti-adherent layer comprises a carbon-based material.

Example Ex33: System according to Ex31 or Ex32, wherein the anti-adherent layer comprises at least one of columnar pyrolytic graphite, laminar pyrolytic graphite and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG).

Example Ex34: System according to any of Ex25 to Ex33, further comprising an optical sensing device to detect the presence of additive on the aerosol-generating substrate.

Example Ex35: System according to Ex34, wherein the optical sensing device is provided on the supporting guide of the applicator.

Example Ex36: System according to Ex34 or Ex35, wherein the optical sensing device is arranged downstream of the holder with respect to the conveying direction. Example Ex37: System according to any of Ex25 to Ex36, wherein a greatest dimension of a cross-section of the holder is smaller than a width of the aerosol-generating substrate, in particular 20 percent smaller.

Example Ex38: System according to any of Ex25 to Ex37, further comprising an additive body, wherein the additive body comprises at least one flavoring component.

Example Ex39: An aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol generating-substrate, wherein the aerosol generating-substrate comprises a band of additive, the band of additive is provided on the aerosol generating-substrate, and the band of additive has a width shorter than a width of the aerosol generating-substrate.

Example Ex40: A method for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article, comprising: providing an additive body in a solid state, moving the aerosol-generating substrate along a conveying direction, applying additive from the additive body to the aerosol-generating substrate by means of a frictional force, the frictional force being caused by contact of the additive body with the aerosol-generating substrate.

Example Ex41 : Use of a solid additive body for applying an additive to an aerosolgenerating substrate for an aerosol-generating article.

Example Ex42: The aerosol-generating substrate in any of the examples Ex.25 to Ex.41 is a homogenized tobacco sheet.

Example Ex43: The aerosol-generating substrate in any of the examples Ex.25 to Ex.42 is a tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based cast sheet.

Example Ex44: The aerosol-generating substrate in any of the examples Ex.25 to Ex.41 comprises a fiber-based material, in particular at least one of a polymer fiber-based material, a biodegradable fiber-based material, cotton, or cellulose.

Example Ex45: The aerosol-generating substrate in any of the examples Ex.25 to Ex.42 contains an alkaloid, in particular nicotine.

Example Ex46: The aerosol-generating substrate in any of the examples Ex.25 to Ex.45 is made of a crimped aerosol-generating material.

Example Ex47: The aerosol-generating substrate in any of the examples Ex.25 to Ex.46 has a thickness comprised between 0.110 millimeters and 0.380 millimeters, in particular between 0.170 and 0.270 millimeters.

Example Ex 48: The additive body according to examples Ex. 38, Ex.40 or Ex.41 is in a solid state at a temperature between 16 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius, in particular between 18 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius.

Example Ex 49: The additive body according to examples Ex. 38, Ex.40, Ex41 or Ex.48 may comprise 45 to 90 percent by weight of glycerin, in particular 65 to 85 percent by weight of glycerin. Example Ex 50: The additive body according to examples Ex. 38, Ex.40, Ex41 , Ex.48 or Ex.49 comprises a solid gel.

Example Ex 51 : The additive body according to examples Ex. 38, Ex.40, Ex41 , Ex.48 or Ex.49 comprises a wax.

Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an apparatus for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate.

Fig. 2 shows the applicator represented on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of the aerosol-generating substrate after application of the additive by means of an apparatus shown on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a holder according to another embodiment.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic side view of a holder according to another embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate 3, which is conveyed by a conveyor 5 in a conveying direction 101. The conveyor 5 comprises a backing roller 7. The backing roller 7 is adapted to rotate around a rotational axis 103. The rotational axis 103 is arranged transversally with respect to the conveying direction 101. The backing roller 7 may be made of metal, in particular of steel.

The apparatus 1 comprises an applicator 9. The applicator 9 comprises a holder 11. The holder 11 is adapted to receive an additive body 13 along an application direction 105. In the embodiment illustrated by Fig. 1 , the application direction 105 is perpendicular to the conveying direction 101. In the embodiment illustrated by Fig. 1 , the holder 11 comprises four lateral walls 15. Only two lateral walls 15 are visible in Fig. 1 , but all four lateral walls 15 are visible in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 illustrates the applicator 9 of Fig. 1. In the following, reference is made to Figs. 1 and 2. Similar elements are identified by the same reference numerals. As shown in Fig. 2, the four lateral walls 15 of the holder 11 defined a hollow passage 17 extending from a first end 16 to a second end 18 along the application direction 105. The hollow passage 17 in the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 has a constant cross-section normal to the application direction 105. The cross-section normal to the application direction 105 of the hollow passage 17 has a rectangular shape defined by a width 107 and a length 109, the length 109 being greater than the width 107. The holder 11 is adapted to guide the additive body 13 in the application direction 105. In particular, the surface of the lateral walls 15 facing the hollow passage 17 may respectively provide a guide surface 19 extending along the application direction 105. The hollow passage 17 has a complementary shape to a cross-section of the additive body 13. Accordingly, in the embodiment illustrated by Fig. 1 , the additive body 13 has the shape of a rectangular prism with a width 107 and a length 109. The apparatus 1 allows applying the additive 13 on the aerosol-generating substrate 3 by means of a frictional force, the frictional force being caused by contact of the additive body 13 with the aerosol-generating substrate 3. To enable the contact of the additive body 13 with the aerosol-generating substrate 3, the apparatus 1 comprises a pushing element 21. The pushing element 21 is configured to apply pressure along the application direction 105 on the additive body 13 received in the holder 11 . The weight of the pushing element 21 is greater than a friction force of the additive body 13 in the holder 11 , such that the additive body 13 is gravity driven along the application direction 105. In the embodiment illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the pushing element 21 comprises bent arm structure. The bent arm structure comprises a first portion 23 and a second portion 25. The first portion 23 is inclined, in particular perpendicular, to the second portion 25. The first portion 23 extends longitudinally along the application direction 105. The first portion 23 is provided with a pushing surface 27. The pushing surface 27 is configured to contact an upper surface 29 of the additive body 13 received in the holder 11 . The pushing element 21 is slidadly arranged along the application direction 105 in a supporting guide 31 of the apparatus 1. The supporting guide 31 and the holder 11 are fixed with respect to one another. The supporting guide 31 comprises a groove 33 extending along the application direction 105. The second portion 25 of the pushing element 21 comprises a coupling portion 35. The coupling portion 35 of the pushing element 21 is configured to be slidably received in the groove 33 of the supporting guide 31 along the application direction 105. The pushing element 21 is relatively movable with respect to the supporting guide 31 and the holder 11. The groove 33 of the supporting guide 31 comprises an abutment face 37. The pushing element 21 reaches an end position (not represented) along the application direction 105 when the coupling portion 35 of the pushing element 21 abuts against the abutment face 37 of the groove 33 of the supporting guide 21 .

In the embodiment illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the apparatus 1 further comprises an optical sensing device 39 to detect the presence of additive 13 on the aerosol-generating substrate 3. The optical sensing device 39 is provided on the supporting guide 31. As shown in Fig. 1 , the optical sensing device 39 is arranged beneath the holder 11 with respect to the conveying direction 101.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of the aerosol-generating substrate 3 after application of the additive 13 obtained by means of the apparatus 1.

The aerosol-generating substrate 3 comprises a band 41 of additive. The band 41 of additive is provided on the aerosol-generating substrate 3. The band 41 of additive may be partially absorbed by the aerosol-generating substrate 3, in particular depending on the porosity of the aerosol-generating substrate 3. The band 41 of additive has a width 43 shorter than a width 45 of the aerosol-generating substrate 3. The width 43 of the additive applied on the aerosolgenerating substrate 3 may be more accurately controlled than by spraying application because it is independent from the number of droplet per unit of volume and the droplet size distribution. The width 43 of the band 41 of additive is defined by the width 109 of additive body 13. In the embodiment represented by Figs. 1 and 3, the width 109 of the additive body 13 is shorter than the width 45 of the aerosol-generating substrate 3. Moreover, in the embodiment represented by Figs. 1 and 3, the middle of the width 109 of the additive body 13 is centered with a longitudinal central axis 111 of the aerosol-generating substrate 3. Because the width 109 of the additive body 13 is shorter than the width 45 of the aerosol-generating substrate 3, it allows creating margins 77 of same width free of additive on each side of the band 41 of additive. The apparatus 1 thus allows producing an aerosol-generating substrate 3 with a distribution of additive 13 that can be better defined and controlled and, in particular with respect to the known additive spraying method.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a holder according to another embodiment than the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a holder 49. The holder 49 differs from the holder 11 in that, in at least one cross section transverse to the application direction 105, the adjacent lateral walls 51 , 53, 55 are separated from each other by a respective clearance 57. In the respective clearance 57, the external surface of the additive body 13 is thus not brought in direct surface contact with a lateral wall of the holder 49. In the area of the respective clearance 57, the frictional resistance is thus reduced. This may ease the sliding of the additive body 13 in the holder 49 along the application direction 105.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic side view of a holder according to another embodiment than the embodiments shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows a holder 59. The holder 59 differs from the holder 11 in that, the holder 59 comprises a first portion 63 having a cross-section normal to the application direction, where the dimension of the cross-section varies in a decreasing manner along of the application direction 105. The application direction 105 is directed towards the aerosol-generating substrate 3. The holder 59 further comprises a second portion 61 having a constant cross-section normal to the application direction 105. The second portion 61 is arranged below the first portion 63 along the application direction 105. The first portion 63 is provided with the first open end 16 of the hollow passage 17 of the holder 59. The second portion 61 is provided with the second open end 18 of the hollow passage 17 of the holder 59. In the holder 59, the first open end 16 is greater than the second open end 18. The cross section of the second open 18 normal to the application direction 105 has a complementary shape to the cross-section normal to the application direction 105 of the additive body 13. In the second portion 61 , the external surface of the additive body 13 is thus not brought in direct surface contact with a lateral wall of the holder 49. For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 10% of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

1 . Apparatus for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosolgenerating article, comprising: a conveyor configured to convey an aerosol-generating substrate in a conveying direction; an applicator; the applicator comprising a holder, the holder being adapted to receive a solid additive body along an application direction, wherein the holder is adapted to guide the solid additive body in the application direction.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises at least one guide surface extending along a direction parallel to the application direction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the applicator further comprises: a pushing element, the pushing element is configured to apply pressure on a solid additive body received in the holder along the application direction.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a weight of the pushing element is greater than a friction force of the solid additive body in the holder, such that the solid additive body is gravity driven along the application direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pushing element comprises a pushing surface, the pushing surface being configured to contact a solid additive body received in the holder.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the applicator further comprises: a supporting guide, and wherein the pushing element is slidadly arranged along the application direction in the supporting guide.

7. System comprising the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and an aerosolgenerating substrate.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising: at least one backing roller, the aerosol-generating substrate is arranged between the at least one backing roller and the holder.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising: at least one supporting base, the at least one supporting base is arranged downstream of the at least one backing roller with respect to the conveying direction, and the at least one supporting base and the applicator via the additive body are arranged to apply pressure from both sides to the aerosol-generating substrate.

10. The system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising an optical sensing device to detect the presence of additive on the aerosol-generating substrate.

11. The system according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein a greatest dimension of a cross-section of the holder is smaller than a width of the aerosol-generating substrate, in particular 20 percent smaller.

12. The system according to any one of claims 7 to 11 , further comprising a solid additive body, wherein the solid additive body comprises at least one flavoring component.

13. An aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol generating-substrate, wherein the aerosol generating-substrate comprises a band of additive, the band of additive is provided on the aerosol generating-substrate, and the band of additive has a width shorter than a width of the aerosol generating-substrate.

14. A method for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosolgenerating article, comprising: providing an additive body in a solid state, moving the aerosol-generating substrate along a conveying direction, applying additive from the additive body to the aerosol-generating substrate by means of a frictional force, the frictional force being caused by contact of the additive body with the aerosol-generating substrate.

15. Use of a solid additive body for applying an additive to an aerosol-generating substrate for an aerosol-generating article.