Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B13/00—Tobacco for pipes, for cigars, e.g. cigar inserts, or for cigarettes; Chewing tobacco; Snuff
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/10—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/16—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes of tobacco substitutes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/18—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/28—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances
  • A24B15/30—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances by organic substances
  • A24B15/32—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances by organic substances by acyclic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
  • A24D1/02—Cigars; Cigarettes with special covers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
  • A24D1/20—Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
  • A24D3/0275—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters for filters with special features
  • A24D3/0287—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters for filters with special features for composite filters
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/04—Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
  • A24D3/062—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters characterised by structural features
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
  • A24D3/08—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as carrier or major constituent
  • A24D3/10—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as carrier or major constituent of cellulose or cellulose derivatives
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/17—Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/30—Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a flavor inhalation article and to a flavor inhalation system.
• An electrically-heated flavor inhaler comprising a flavor inhalation article which includes a tobacco filling material and a wrapper wrapped around the tobacco filling material; and a heating device for electrically heating the flavor inhalation article is known as a typical example of a heated flavor inhaler (see PTL 1).
• a first aspect provides a flavor inhalation article having a columnar shape and comprising:
• the present invention is capable of providing technology enabling stable generation of an aerosol throughout an inhalation period of a flavor inhalation article.
• a smaller amount of aerosol mainstream smoke
• a tip-end plug on a tip end side (that is, the side opposite a mouthpiece) of the flavor inhalation article, and supporting an additional aerosol source on a filtration material in the tip-end plug, and thereby arrived at the present invention.
• a flavor inhalation article has a columnar shape and comprises:
• a tobacco stick 200 comprises, in succession from a tip end side (i.e., the opposite side to the mouthpiece): a tip-end plug 210, a flavor-generating portion 220, a hollow tube portion 230, a hollow filter portion 240, and a filter plug 250. These five components are joined by means of a second wrapper 270.
• the tip-end plug 210 is positioned at the tip end of the tobacco stick 200.
• the tip-end plug 210 comprises a first filtration material 211, and a first inner plug wrap 212 wrapped around the first filtration material 211.
• the tip-end plug 210 further includes a first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material 211.
• Paper which is used as a paper filter in a flavor inhalation article may be employed for the paper serving as the first filtration material 211.
• the paper serving as the first filtration material 211 has a thickness of 20-1500 ⁇ m, for example, and a basis weight of 20-50 g/m 2 , for example.
• the paper serving as the first filtration material 211 preferably has a rectangular shape, in which case one side thereof may have largely the same length as the length of the tip-end plug 210, and the other side thereof may have a length of 100 mm-300 mm.
• the thickness, basis weight and size of the paper used as the first filtration material 211 have been described, but these values denote values for the paper prior to a shaping treatment (e.g., fluting treatment, etc.).
• a shaping treatment e.g., fluting treatment, etc.
• the first filtration material 211 does not contain a tobacco material such as shredded tobacco or sheet tobacco.
• Fig. 2 shows an example of the tip-end plug 210.
• the tip-end plug 210 comprises the first filtration material 211, and the first inner plug wrap 212 wrapped around the first filtration material 211.
• the first filtration material 211 comprises a sheet which is shaped into a corrugated form and folded in a direction of arrangement of corrugations. As indicated above, this sheet is preferably paper.
• Fig. 3 schematically shows the sheet before being folded, that is, the sheet shaped into a corrugated form (referred to below as a corrugated sheet).
• the corrugated sheet has an alternating arrangement of ridge portions 211a and valley portions 211b.
• the thickness of the corrugated sheet (that is, the sheet after the shaping treatment) may also be measured in the manner described below after the corrugated sheet has been incorporated into the tip-end plug 210 as the first filtration material 211.
• the corrugated sheet has a corrugation (i.e., flute) pitch of 0.4-1.6 mm, and preferably 0.6-1.0 mm, for example.
• the corrugation pitch indicates the mean value of intervals between adjacent flutes when the flutes of the corrugated sheet are stretched out in a planar form.
• the corrugated sheet may be prepared by subjecting a film to a well-known treatment of forming flutes in an accordion shape.
• This well-known treatment may also be referred to as pleating, crimping or creping.
• JP H9-294577 A discloses a fluting treatment where a starting material sheet for a cigarette paper filter is passed between a pair of fluting rollers.
• Fig. 3 shows a corrugated sheet with triangular corrugations, but the shape of the corrugations is not limited to this, and the shape may equally be that of a sine wave or a rectangular wave, etc.
• the corrugation pitch may be the mean value of intervals between peaks of adjacent ridge portions 211a.
• the corrugation pitch may be the mean value of intervals between centers of adjacent ridge portions 211a.
• the first filtration material 211 shown in fig. 2 is formed when the corrugated sheet is folded in the direction of arrangement of the corrugations (i.e., a direction D shown in fig. 3 ) so as to form a cylindrical shape overall.
• the ridge portions 211a and the valley portions 211b of the corrugated sheet form a plurality of air flow passages extending in a length direction of the first filtration material 211.
• the first filtration material 211 comprises a sheet which is shaped into a corrugated form and folded in the direction of arrangement of the corrugations, it is possible to increase the surface area of the first filtration material 211 contained in the tip-end plug 210, and thereby increase the amount of first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material 211.
• the amount of aerosol generated from the tip-end plug 210 can be increased as a result.
• a paper corrugated sheet is superior in that it has dead-fold properties (that is, the property of being capable of maintaining a folded structure when subjected to folding deformation).
• the first inner plug wrap 212 wrapped around the first filtration material 211 which is used may be the same as a plug wrap used in cigarettes.
• the first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material 211 is a liquid which is heated at a predetermined temperature to generate a vapor.
• An aerosol source used in conventional heated flavor inhalers may be employed as the first aerosol source.
• Examples of the first aerosol source that may be cited include glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.
• the first aerosol source preferably contains glycerol.
• the first aerosol source may also consist of glycerol.
• the first filtration material 211 may support only the first aerosol source, or may also support a flavoring (e.g., menthol) together with the first aerosol source.
• a flavoring e.g., menthol
• the first aerosol source may be supported on the first filtration material 211 by applying the first aerosol source to the first filtration material 211.
• the first aerosol source may be applied to the first filtration material 211 by means of coating or spraying, for example.
• the flavor-generating portion 220 is arranged adjacently downstream of the tip-end plug 210.
• the flavor-generating portion portion 220 comprises: the flavor source 221, and a first wrapper 222 wrapped around the flavor source 221.
• the first wrapper 222 which is used may be the same as a wrapper used to wrap a tobacco filling material in cigarettes.
• the flavor-generating portion 220 further contains a second aerosol source supported on the flavor source 221.
• the flavor source 221 is a tobacco filling material, for example.
• the tobacco filling material comprises leaf tobacco and releases a tobacco flavor when heated.
• Leaf tobacco means dried tobacco leaves that are ready to be incorporated into a tobacco product.
• the tobacco filling material preferably constitutes a plurality of shaped bodies each comprising leaf tobacco.
• the plurality of shaped bodies are chopped pieces of sheet tobacco.
• Sheet tobacco means a shaped body which is a tobacco material, such as tobacco debris or tobacco shreds produced from leaf debris, shredded debris, etc. in raw material factories and manufacturing plants, that is formed into a sheet.
• the plurality of shaped bodies are preferably chopped pieces of sheet tobacco obtained by chopping the sheet tobacco into the shape of strips. That is to say, the plurality of shaped bodies preferably each have a shape extending in the length direction of the flavor-generating portion 220. In this case, each of the shaped bodies has a width of 0.5-1.5 mm, for example, and a length of 1-20 mm, for example.
• the tobacco filling material may be one sheet of sheet tobacco.
• the first wrapper 222 may be filled with one sheet of sheet tobacco in an accordion-folded state, or the first wrapper 222 may be filled with one sheet of sheet tobacco in a spiral-wound state.
• the size of the sheet tobacco in the length direction when the first wrapper 222 is filled therewith is preferably comparable with the length of the flavor-generating portion 220.
• the flavor source 221 may comprise a polysaccharide-based flavoring-containing sheet, in addition to the tobacco filling material.
• the flavoring-containing sheet is a sheet in which a flavoring is contained in a polysaccharide gel, and is well known in this technical field.
• the flavoring-containing sheet contains a flavoring which is covered by the polysaccharide, and can therefore demonstrate high storage stability of the flavoring.
• the flavoring-containing sheet may be cut to a similar size to the tobacco filling material and mixed and blended with the tobacco filling material, or may be placed inside or outside the first wrapper 222 so as to enclose the tobacco filling material.
• the second aerosol source supported on the flavor source 221 may be of the same type as the first aerosol source described above, or may be of a different type.
• the first aerosol source is the aerosol source contained in the tip-end plug 210.
• the second aerosol source is a liquid which is heated at a predetermined temperature to generate a vapor, similarly to the first aerosol source.
• An aerosol source used in conventional heated flavor inhalers may be employed as the second aerosol source. Examples of the second aerosol source that may be cited include glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.
• the second aerosol source preferably contains glycerol.
• the second aerosol source may also consist of glycerol.
• the second aerosol source is preferably of the same type as the first aerosol source.
• the first aerosol source is glycerol
• the second aerosol source is glycerol.
• the flavor source 221 may support only the second aerosol source, or may also support a flavoring (e.g., menthol) together with the second aerosol source.
• a flavoring e.g., menthol
• the second aerosol source may be supported on the flavor source 221 by applying the second aerosol source to the flavor source 221.
• the second aerosol source may be applied to the flavor source 221 by means of coating or spraying, for example.
• An “amount of the first aerosol source per unit length of the tip-end plug 210" is preferably greater than an "amount of the second aerosol source per unit length of the flavor-generating portion 220".
• Such a configuration enables a sufficient amount of aerosol to be generated from the first aerosol source contained in the tip-end plug 210 in the latter half of an inhalation period of the tobacco stick 200 also. This enables stable aerosol generation without any drop in the amount of aerosol generated even as more puffs are taken.
• a ratio of the "amount of the first aerosol source per unit length of the tip-end plug 210" and the “amount of the second aerosol source per unit length of the flavor-generating portion 220" is preferably 1:1-3:1.
• the ratio of the "amount of the first aerosol source per unit length of the tip-end plug 210" and the “amount of the second aerosol source per unit length of the flavor-generating portion 220" is more preferably 2:1-3:1.
• the "amount of the first aerosol source per unit length of the tip-end plug 210" is, for example, 1-10 mg/mm, and preferably 1.5-5 mg/mm
• the "amount of the second aerosol source per unit length of the flavor-generating portion 220" is, for example, 1-10 mg/mm, and preferably 1.5-4 mg/mm.
• the hollow tube portion 230 is arranged adjacently downstream of the flavor-generating portion 220.
• the hollow tube portion 230 is a paper tube formed by winding cardboard into a cylindrical shape with a cavity on the inside.
• the hollow tube portion 230 may be a filter (center hole filter) having a center hole formed penetrating through the center in a transverse section of a cylindrical cellulose acetate fiber bundle.
• the hollow tube portion 230 is capable of cooling the aerosol generated from the tip-end plug 210 and the flavor-generating portion 220 by heating of the tobacco stick 200.
• the hollow tube portion 230 may be omitted.
• an opening portion may be provided in the hollow tube portion 230 for taking in external air.
• the air inflow hole may be provided at a position within 10 mm from the downstream end of the hollow tube portion 230.
• An air inflow ratio from the air inflow hole is 30-80%, and preferably 40-70%, for example.
• the hollow filter portion 240 is arranged adjacently downstream of the hollow tube portion 230.
• the hollow filter portion 240 comprises: a third filtration material 241, and a third inner plug wrap 242 wrapped around the third filtration material 241.
• the third inner plug wrap 242 which is used may be the same as a plug wrap used in cigarettes.
• the third inner plug wrap 242 may be omitted.
• the third filtration material 241 is formed by high-density packed fibers and has one or more channels (hollow portions). Each of the one or more channels extends in the length direction of the tobacco stick 200 (referred to below as the longitudinal direction). When a user draws on the tobacco stick 200, air and aerosol therefore flow only through the channel, largely without flowing through gaps between fibers.
• the length of the filter plug 250 may be reduced and the filter plug 250 may be replaced with the hollow filter portion 240 when it is desirable to reduce a decrease in aerosol components due to filtration by the filter plug 250 in the tobacco stick 200. Replacing a portion of the filter plug 250 with the hollow filter portion 240 is effective for increasing the amount of aerosol delivered. Alternatively, the hollow filter portion 240 may be omitted.
• the filter plug 250 is positioned at the end portion of the tobacco stick 200 on the mouthpiece side.
• the filter plug 250 comprises: a second filtration material 251, and a second inner plug wrap 252 wrapped around the second filtration material 251.
• the second inner plug wrap 252 which is used may be the same as a plug wrap used in cigarettes.
• the airflow resistance of the filter plug 250 is 0-50 mmH 2 O, and preferably 10-30 mmH 2 O, for example.
• the second filtration material 251 may be a material which is generally usable as a filtration material on the mouthpiece side of a flavor inhalation article, and cellulose acetate may be cited as an example thereof.
• the hollow filter portion 240 and the filter plug 250 are joined by an outer plug wrap 260.
• the outer plug wrap 260 which is used may be the same as an outer plug wrap which is used to join filter segments of a multisegment filter of a cigarette.
• the components described above i.e., the tip-end plug 210, flavor-generating portion 220, hollow tube portion 230, and joined body comprising the hollow filter portion 240 and filter plug 250
• the second wrapper 270 is wrapped around so as to cover the entirety of the components except for the tip-end plug 210, and a portion of the tip-end plug 210, thereby exposing the tip-end plug 210 at the upstream end.
• the second wrapper 270 may be wrapped around so as to cover the entirety of all components including the tip-end plug 210, without exposing the tip-end plug 210 at the upstream end.
• the second wrapper 270 which is used may be the same as a tipping paper used in cigarettes.
• An outer surface of the second wrapper 270 close to the end on the filter plug 250 side may be coated with a lip-release agent for facilitating separation of the user's lips from the second wrapper 270.
• the part which is coated with the lip-release agent functions as a mouthpiece of the tobacco stick 200.
• Fig. 1 shows an example in which the five components (i.e., the tip-end plug 210, flavor-generating portion 220, hollow tube portion 230, hollow filter portion 240, and filter plug 250) are joined by using the outer plug wrap 260 and the second wrapper 270, but the method of joining the five components is not limited to this example.
• the five components i.e., the tip-end plug 210, flavor-generating portion 220, hollow tube portion 230, hollow filter portion 240, and filter plug 250
• the method of joining the five components is not limited to this example.
• FIG. 4 and 5 are exploded oblique views showing different examples of a tobacco stick.
• elements having identical or similar functions to the components of the tobacco stick shown in fig. 1 are assigned the same reference signs and will not be described again.
• gaps are provided between adjacent components to make it easier to see how the components are joined, but the components of the actual tobacco stick are adjoining without gaps.
• the five components are joined by using an outer plug wrap 280, the outer plug wrap 260, and the second wrapper 270.
• the outer plug wrap 280 is wound so as to join the tip-end plug 210 and the flavor-generating portion 220 while also covering same in their entirety.
• This joined body will be referred to as a first joined body 285.
• the outer plug wrap 260 is wound so as to join the hollow filter portion 240 and the filter plug 250 while also covering same in their entirety.
• This joined body will be referred to as a second joined body 265.
• the second wrapper 270 further joins the first joined body 285, the hollow tube portion 230, and the second joined body 265.
• the second wrapper 270 covers the whole of the hollow tube portion 230 and the second joined body 265, and part of the first joined body 285, while exposing the first joined body 285 at its upstream end.
• the five components may be joined in a form such as shown in fig. 4 .
• the outer plug wrap 280 covers the flavor-generating portion 220 as far as its downstream end, but the flavor-generating portion 220 may equally be exposed at its downstream end, without the flavor-generating portion 220 being covered as far as its downstream end.
• the five components are joined by using the outer plug wrap 280, the outer plug wrap 260, and the second wrapper 270.
• the outer plug wrap 280 joins the tip-end plug 210, the flavor-generating portion 220, and the hollow tube portion 230.
• the outer plug wrap 280 is wound so as to cover the whole of the tip-end plug 210 and the flavor-generating portion 220, and part of the hollow tube portion 230.
• This joined body will be referred to as a first joined body 285.
• the outer plug wrap 260 is wound so as to join the hollow filter portion 240 and the filter plug 250 while also covering same in their entirety.
• This joined body will be referred to as a second joined body 265.
• the second wrapper 270 further joins the first joined body 285 and the second joined body 265.
• the second wrapper 270 covers the whole of the second joined body 265, and part of the first joined body 285, while exposing the first joined body 285 at its upstream end.
• the five components may be joined in a form such as shown in fig. 5 .
• the outer plug wrap 280 exposes the hollow tube portion 230 at its downstream end, without covering the hollow tube portion 230 as far as its downstream end, but the hollow tube portion 230 may equally be covered as far as its downstream end.
• the flavor inhalation article according to the present invention comprises a tip-end plug upstream of a flavor-generating portion which contains a flavor source and an aerosol source, and this tip-end plug includes a first filtration material and an additional aerosol source supported on the first filtration material.
• a conventional flavor inhalation article that does not have a tip-end plug a smaller amount of aerosol is generated from the flavor-generating portion as more puffs are taken, whereas the flavor inhalation article according to the present invention enables an aerosol originating from the tip-end plug to be generated in the latter half of the inhalation period.
• the flavor inhalation article according to the present invention enables stable generation of an aerosol throughout the inhalation period.
• the tobacco stick 200 described above may be combined with a heating device to construct a flavor inhalation system. That is, another aspect provides a flavor inhalation system comprising: the flavor inhalation article described above; and a heating device including a heater for heating the flavor inhalation article.
• the flavor inhalation system is formed by an aerosol-generating device 100 and the tobacco stick 200.
• the aerosol-generating device 100 is an example of a heating device.
• Fig. 6A is a schematic front view of an example of an aerosol-generating device.
• Fig. 6B is a schematic top view of the aerosol-generating device shown in fig. 6A .
• Fig. 6C is a schematic bottom view of the aerosol-generating device shown in fig. 6A .
• Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along a line III-III of the aerosol-generating device shown in fig. 6B .
• An X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinate system may be applied to the drawings for convenience of description.
• the Z-axis is oriented vertically upwards
• the X-Y plane is arranged cutting across the aerosol-generating device 100 in a horizontal direction
• the Y-axis is arranged extending from the front surface to the rear surface of the aerosol-generating device 100.
• the Z-axis may also refer to a direction of insertion of the tobacco stick, which is accommodated in a cylindrical body 150 of an atomization unit 130 to be described later, or an axial direction of the cylindrical body 150.
• the X-axis is a direction orthogonal to the Y-axis and Z-axis, and the X-axis and Y-axis are radial directions orthogonal to the axial direction of the cylindrical body 150, or a radial direction of the chamber 150.
• the aerosol-generating device 100 is configured to generate an aerosol containing a flavor by heating the tobacco stick 200.
• the aerosol-generating device 100 comprises an outer housing 101 (corresponding to an example of an enclosure), a slide cover 102, and a switch unit 103.
• the outer housing 101 constitutes the outermost housing of the aerosol-generating device 100, and is sized to fit in a user's hand. When the user is using the flavor inhalation system, the user can inhale the aerosol while holding the aerosol-generating device 100 in their hand.
• the outer housing 101 may be configured by assembling a plurality of members.
• the outer housing 101 is, for example, made of resin, and may in particular be formed from e.g. a polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polymer alloy containing multiple types of polymer, or a metal such as aluminum.
• PC polycarbonate
• ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
• PEEK polyether ether ketone
• the outer housing 101 comprises an opening (not depicted) for receiving the tobacco stick, and the slide cover 102 is slidably attached to the outer housing 101 so as to close this opening.
• the slide cover 102 is configured to be movable along an outer surface of the outer housing 101 between a closed position (the position shown in fig. 6A and 6B ) for closing the opening of the outer housing 101, and an open position (the position shown in fig. 7 ) for opening the opening.
• the user can manually operate the slide cover 102 to move the slide cover 102 between the closed position and the open position.
• access of the tobacco stick to the inside of the aerosol-generating device 100 can be permitted or restricted.
• the switch unit 103 is used to switch operation of the aerosol-generating device 100 on and off. For example, a user may heat-not-burn the tobacco stick by operating the switch unit 103, with the tobacco stick inserted in the aerosol-generating device 100, to supply power to a heating element (see reference sign 140 in fig. 7 ) from a power source (see reference sign 121 in fig. 7 ).
• the switch unit 103 may be a switch provided outside the outer housing 101, or may be a switch located inside the outer housing 101. If the switch is located inside the outer housing 101, the switch is indirectly pressed by pressing the switch unit 103 on the surface of the outer housing 101. In the example described here, the switch of the switch unit 103 is located inside the outer housing 101.
• the aerosol-generating device 100 may further comprise a terminal (not depicted).
• the terminal may be an interface for connecting the aerosol-generating device 100 to an external power source, for example. If the power source included in the aerosol-generating device 100 is a rechargeable battery, connecting an external power source to the terminal allows a current to flow from the external power source to the power source, thereby charging the power source.
• a data transmission cable may also be connected to the terminal to allow data relating to the operation of the aerosol-generating device 100 to be sent to an external device.
• the tobacco stick used in the aerosol-generating device 100 denotes the tobacco stick 200 described in the "1. Flavor inhalation article" section above.
• Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along a line III-III of the aerosol-generating device 100 shown in fig. 6B .
• an inner housing 110 (corresponding to an example of an enclosure) is provided on the inside of the outer housing 101 of the aerosol-generating device 100.
• the inner housing 110 is, for example, made of resin, and may in particular be formed from e.g. a polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polymer alloy containing multiple types of polymer, or a metal such as aluminum.
• the inner housing 110 is preferably PEEK.
• a power source unit 120 and the atomization unit 130 are provided in an internal space of the inner housing 110.
• the power source unit 120 includes a power source 121.
• the power source 121 may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery, for example.
• the power source 121 is electrically connected to the atomization unit 130.
• the power source 121 is thereby able to supply power to the atomization unit 130 so that the tobacco stick 200 is suitably heated.
• the atomization unit 130 comprises: the metallic cylindrical body 150 extending in the direction of insertion of the tobacco stick 200 (Z-axis direction); the heating element 140 covering a portion of the cylindrical body 150; a heat insulating portion 132; and a substantially cylindrical insertion guide member 134 abutting the opening of the cylindrical body 150.
• the cylindrical body 150 is configured to surround the periphery of the tobacco stick 200.
• the heating element 140 is substantially cylindrical overall and is arranged so as to cover the cylindrical body 150.
• the heating element 140 contacts an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 150 and heats the tobacco stick 200 which has been inserted into the cylindrical body 150.
• the heating element 140 may be a meandering conductor line which is provided on a flexible insulating layer 141 (see fig. 8 ).
• the heating element 140, insulating layer 141, and cylindrical body 150 are components of a heater 160.
• a bottom member 136 is provided at a bottom portion of the cylindrical body 150.
• the bottom member 136 abuts the tobacco stick 200 inserted in the cylindrical body 150 in the direction of insertion of the tobacco stick 200, and may function as a stopper for positioning the tobacco stick 200.
• an accommodating portion for accommodating at least a portion of the tobacco stick 200 is formed by the cylindrical body 150 and the bottom member 136.
• the bottom member 136 may be formed by a resin material, for example.
• the bottom member 136 may have unevenness on the surface thereof which is abutted by the tobacco stick 200, and this unevenness may define a first air flow path which enables air to be supplied to an air intake port of the tobacco stick 200 (i.e., which communicates with the tobacco stick 200 accommodated in the accommodating portion).
• the bottom member 136 is, for example, made of resin, and may in particular be formed from e.g. a polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polymer alloy containing multiple types of polymer, or a metal such as aluminum.
• the bottom member 136 is preferably formed by a material having low thermal conductivity, in order to inhibit heat transfer to the heat insulating portion 132, etc.
• the heat insulating portion 132 is substantially cylindrical overall and is arranged so as to cover the cylindrical body 150.
• the heat insulating portion 132 may comprise an aerogel sheet, for example.
• the heat insulating portion 132 is held by means of a first holding portion 137 and a second holding portion 138 which will be described later.
• a cover element 133 may be arranged so as to cover the cylindrical body 150, and the heat insulating portion 132 may be arranged so as to cover the cover element 133, as shown in fig. 8 .
• the insertion guide member 134 is provided between the slide cover 102 in the closed position and the cylindrical body 150.
• the insertion guide member 134 is, for example, made of resin, and may in particular be formed from e.g. a polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a polymer alloy containing multiple types of polymer, or a metal such as aluminum.
• PC polycarbonate
• ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
• PEEK polyether ether ketone
• the insertion guide member 134 may be formed by a metal, glass or ceramic, etc.
• the insertion guide member 134 is preferably made of PEEK.
• the insertion guide member 134 communicates with the outside of the aerosol-generating device 100 when the slide cover 102 is in the open position, and guides the insertion of the tobacco stick 200 into the cylindrical body 150 when the tobacco stick 200 is inserted into the insertion guide member 134. Providing the insertion guide member 134 allows the tobacco stick 200 to be easily inserted into the cylindrical body 150.
• the aerosol-generating device 100 further comprises the first holding portion 137 and the second holding portion 138 for holding both ends of the cylindrical body 150 and the heat insulating portion 132.
• the first holding portion 137 is arranged to hold end portions of the cylindrical body 150 and the heat insulating portion 132 on the Z-axis negative direction side.
• the second holding portion 138 is arranged to hold end portions of the cylindrical body 150 and the heat insulating portion 132 on the slide cover 102 side (Z-axis positive direction side).
• Fig. 8 shows a state in which the tobacco stick 200 is inserted in the cylindrical body 150 of the aerosol-generating device 100.
• Fig. 8 shows a gap provided between the outer circumferential surface of the tobacco stick 200 and the cylindrical body 150 in order to show a clear distinction between the tobacco stick 200 and the cylindrical body 150, but the outer circumferential surface of the tobacco stick 200 is preferably inserted in the cylindrical body 150 in a state of contact with the cylindrical body 150 in order for the tobacco stick 200 to be efficiently heated by the heat of the cylindrical body 150.
• the outer circumferential surface of the tobacco stick 200 may or may not contact the cylindrical body 150 when the tobacco stick 200 is inserted in the cylindrical body 150. Furthermore, a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the tobacco stick 200 may contact the cylindrical body 150 when the tobacco stick 200 is inserted in the cylindrical body 150. When a perfectly circular tobacco stick 200 is inserted in an elliptical cylindrical body 150, a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the tobacco stick 200 may be allowed to contact the cylindrical body 150.
• the cylindrical body 150, the heating element 140 surrounding the cylindrical body 150, and the flexible insulating layer 141 supporting the heating element 140 constitute the heater 160.
• the cover element 133 is further arranged so as to cover the cylindrical body 150, and the heat insulating portion 132 is further arranged so as to cover the cover element 133.
• the aerosol-generating device 100 comprises the bottom member 136 which is abutted by the tip-end plug 210 when the tobacco stick 200 is inserted in the cylindrical body 150.
• the length of the heating element 140 is denoted by L1
• the length of a part of the heating element 140 facing the flavor-generating portion 220 is denoted by L2
• the length of a part of the heating element 140 facing the tip-end plug 210 is denoted by L3
• the length of a part of the heating element 140 facing the hollow tube portion 230 is denoted by L4.
• L1 is 5-20 mm, for example.
• L2 is 4-20 mm, preferably 5-15 mm, and more preferably 5-10 mm, for example.
• L3 is 0-5 mm, preferably 0-3 mm, and more preferably 0-1 mm, for example.
• L4 is 0-5 mm and preferably 0-3 mm, for example.
• L2 is preferably greater than L3.
• most of the heating element 140 is thus preferably located at a position facing the flavor-generating portion 220 rather than the tip-end plug 210. More specifically, an "area of a region of the heating element 140 facing the flavor-generating portion 220" when the tobacco stick 200 is inserted in the cylindrical body 150 and the tip-end plug 210 is abutting the bottom member 136 is preferably greater than an "area of the region of the heating element 140 facing the tip-end plug 210".
• the "region of the heating element 140 facing the flavor-generating portion 220" indicates a region in which the heating element 140 is facing the flavor-generating portion 220 with the cylindrical body 150 interposed therebetween.
• the "region of the heating element 140 facing the flavor-generating portion 220” is thus not limited to a region in which the heating element 140 is directly facing the flavor-generating portion 220, and may also be a region in which the heating element 140 is facing the flavor-generating portion 220 with another component interposed therebetween.
• the "region of the heating element 140 facing the tip-end plug 210" is not limited to a region in which the heating element 140 is directly facing the tip-end plug 210, and may also be a region in which the heating element 140 is facing the tip-end plug 210 with another component interposed therebetween.
• the "area of the region of the heating element 140 facing the flavor-generating portion 220" is 89.2-446 mm 2 , and preferably 111.5-334.5 mm 2 , for example, and the "area of the region of the heating element 140 facing the tip-end plug 210" is 0-111.5 mm 2 , and preferably 0-66.9 mm 2 , for example.
• the heat of the heating element 140 is first transmitted to the flavor-generating portion 220, and then transmitted to the tip-end plug 210.
• An aerosol is therefore readily generated from the second aerosol source contained in the flavor-generating portion 220 in the first half of the inhalation period of the tobacco stick 200, and an aerosol is readily generated from the first aerosol source contained in the tip-end plug 210 in the latter half of the inhalation period of the tobacco stick 200.
• an aerosol can be generated throughout the whole inhalation period.
• an "area of a region of a circumferential surface of the tip-end plug 210 not facing the heating element 140" when the tobacco stick 200 is inserted in the cylindrical body 150 and the tip-end plug 210 is abutting the bottom member 136 is more preferably greater than an "area of a region of a circumferential surface of the flavor-generating portion 220 not facing the heating element 140".
• a "ratio S 1/S FP of an area S1 of a first region of the circumferential surface of the tip-end plug 210 not facing the heating element 140, which occupies an area S FP of the circumferential surface of the tip-end plug 210" when the tobacco stick 200 is inserted in the cylindrical body 150 and the tip-end plug 210 is abutting the bottom member 136 is more preferably greater than a "ratio S2/S FG of an area S2 of a second region of the circumferential surface of the flavor-generating portion 220 not facing the heating element 140, which occupies an area S FG of the circumferential surface of the flavor-generating portion 220".
• the "ratio S1/S FP of an area S1 of a first region of a circumferential surface of the tip-end plug 210 not facing the heating element 140, which occupies an area S FP of the circumferential surface of the tip-end plug 210" when the tobacco stick 200 is inserted in the cylindrical body 150 and the tip-end plug 210 is abutting the bottom member 136 is 0.375-1, preferably 0.625-1, and more preferably 0.875-1, for example, and the "ratio S2/S FG of an area S2 of a second region of the circumferential surface of the flavor-generating portion 220 not facing the heating element 140, which occupies an area S FG of the circumferential surface of the flavor-generating portion 220" is 0-0.667, preferably 0-0.583, and more preferably 0.167-0.583,
• the heat of the heating element 140 is likewise first transmitted to the flavor-generating portion 220, and then transmitted to the tip-end plug 210.
• An aerosol is therefore readily generated from the second aerosol source contained in the flavor-generating portion 220 in the first half of the inhalation period of the tobacco stick 200, and an aerosol is readily generated from the first aerosol source contained in the tip-end plug 210 in the latter half of the inhalation period of the tobacco stick 200.
• an aerosol can be generated throughout the whole inhalation period.
• a glycerol-supporting paper filter was incorporated into a commercially-available Ploom X tobacco stick (Japan Tobacco, Inc.) to produce a tobacco stick of Example 1A.
• a commercially-available Ploom X tobacco stick has the structure of the tobacco stick shown in fig. 1 , without the tip-end plug. That is to say, a commercially-available Ploom X tobacco stick comprises, in succession from a tip end side (i.e., the opposite side to the mouthpiece): a flavor-generating portion (length 20 mm), a hollow tube portion (length 20 mm), a hollow filter portion (length 12 mm), and a filter plug (length 8 mm).
• the flavor-generating portion of this tobacco stick contains chopped pieces of sheet tobacco as a flavor source, while also containing glycerol (30 mg) as an aerosol source.
• Paper (thickness: 88 ⁇ m, basis weight: 35 g/m 2 , air permeability: 3000 CORESTA units) was shaped into a corrugated form to prepare a paper filter (see fig. 3 ).
• the paper which was used was rectangular, with the length in the direction of arrangement of the corrugations (i.e., the direction D shown in fig. 3 ) being 180 mm, and the length in a direction orthogonal to the direction of arrangement of the corrugations being 8 mm. 12 mg of glycerol was supported on the surface of the paper filter.
• the glycerol-supporting paper filter was prepared by this means.
• a portion of the tobacco filling material (an 8 mm section from the tip end) was removed from the flavor-generating portion of the commercially-available Ploom X tobacco stick, and the glycerol-supporting paper filter (length 8 mm) was inserted therein so as to be folded in the direction of arrangement of the corrugations (see fig. 2 ).
• a tobacco stick having the structure shown in fig. 1 was produced by this means. This tobacco stick will be referred to as the "tobacco stick of Example 1A".
• the length of the tip-end plug was 8 mm
• the length of the flavor-generating portion was 12 mm
• the length of the hollow tube portion was 20 mm
• the length of the hollow filter portion was 12 mm
• the length of the filter plug was 8 mm.
• the tip-end plug contains 12 mg of glycerol as the first aerosol source
• the flavor-generating portion contains 18 mg of glycerol.
• the abovementioned commercially-available Ploom X tobacco stick (Japan Tobacco, Inc.) was used as the "tobacco stick of Comparative Example 1A".
• the flavor-generating portion contains 30 mg of glycerol.
• a tobacco stick was produced by the same procedure as for producing the tobacco stick of Example 1A, except that 26 mg of glycerol was supported on the surface of the paper filter.
• the tobacco stick produced in this way will be referred to as the "tobacco stick of Example 2A".
• the length of the tip-end plug was 8 mm
• the length of the flavor-generating portion was 12 mm
• the length of the hollow tube portion was 20 mm
• the length of the hollow filter portion was 12 mm
• the length of the filter plug was 8 mm.
• the tip-end plug contains 26 mg of glycerol as the first aerosol source
• the flavor-generating portion contains 18 mg of glycerol.
• the tobacco stick produced in this way will be referred to as the "tobacco stick of Comparative Example 2A".
• the flavor-generating portion contains 44 mg of glycerol.
• a smoking test was carried out by heating the produced tobacco sticks with the aerosol-generating device 100 shown in fig. 6A-6C and 7 . As shown in fig. 8 , the tobacco sticks were heated with said tobacco sticks inserted in the cylindrical body 150 so that the tip-end plug 210 abuts the bottom member 136. In Examples 1A and 2A, the positional relationship of the heating element 140 and the tobacco stick during heating of the tobacco stick was as follows (see fig. 8 ).
• Length (L1) of the heating element 140 14 mm
• Analysis specimens were obtained by shaking the Cambridge filter following the smoking test in 10 mL of methanol (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.; special grade chemical) for 10 minutes. 1 ⁇ L of the analysis specimens obtained was collected in a microsyringe, and the amount of glycerol was analyzed in a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (manufactured by Agilent; GC-FID/TCD, GC: 7890B). Since glycerol is the main component of the aerosol (mainstream smoke), the amount of glycerol analyzed here is equivalent to the amount of aerosol (mainstream smoke) generated. In the description below, the amount of glycerol analyzed here will also be referred to as the "amount of glycerol delivered”.
• Fig. 9 and 10 show the relationship between the number of puffs and the amount of glycerol delivered.
• the results of Example 1A and Comparative Example 1A (when the amount of glycerol added was 30 mg per tobacco stick) are shown in fig. 9 .
• the results of Example 2A (when the amount of glycerol added was 44 mg per tobacco stick) are shown in fig. 10 .
• the tobacco stick of Example 2A could maintain the amount of glycerol delivered, without a drop, in the latter half of the inhalation period also. Even as more puffs were taken in the latter half of the inhalation period, the tobacco stick of Example 2A could still maintain the amount of glycerol delivered at a higher level than the tobacco stick of Example 1A.
• the "amount of glycerol per unit length of the tip-end plug" is preferably greater than the "amount of glycerol per unit length of the flavor-generating portion". It can furthermore be seen from the results of Examples 1A and 2A that when the "amount of glycerol per unit length of the tip-end plug" is at least twice the "amount of glycerol per unit length of the flavor-generating portion", even more stable aerosol generation is possible in the latter half of the inhalation period.
• the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified in various ways at the implementation stage within a scope that does not depart from the essential point of the present invention.
• the embodiments may be implemented in suitable combinations, in which case the combined effects thereof are achieved.
• the embodiments further include various inventions, and various inventions may be extracted using combinations selected from the plurality of constituent requirements disclosed. For example, if the problem can still be solved and the effects can still be achieved when some of the constituent requirements are deleted from the constituent requirements disclosed as a whole in the embodiments, then a configuration from which those constituent requirements have been deleted may be extracted as an invention.
• Aerosol-generating device 101... Outer housing, 102... Slide cover, 103... Switch unit, 110... Inner housing, 120... Power source unit, 121... Power source, 130... Atomization unit, 132... Heat insulating portion, 133... Cover element, 134... Insertion guide member, 136... Bottom member, 137... First holding portion, 138... Second holding portion, 140... Heating element, 141... Insulating layer 150... Cylindrical body, 160... Heater 200... Tobacco stick, 210... Tip-end plug, 211... First filtration material, 211a... Ridge portion, 211b... Valley portion, 212... First inner plug wrap, 220... Flavor-generating portion, 221... Flavor source, 222... First wrapper, 230...

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• 2023
  • 2023-04-04 WO PCT/JP2023/013980 patent/WO2024209555A1/ja not_active Ceased
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