EP4691278A1

EP4691278A1 - Flavor inhalation article

Info

Publication number: EP4691278A1
Application number: EP23931968.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Makoto Akai; Tetsuya Motodamari
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2023-04-04
Filing date: 2023-04-04
Publication date: 2026-02-11
Also published as: JPWO2024209556A1; CN120897678A; KR20250146652A; WO2024209556A1

Abstract

A flavor inhalation article (200) having a columnar shape and comprising: a tip-end plug (210) which is positioned at one end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a first filtration material (211), a first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material, and a first wrapper (212) wrapped around the first filtration material; a filter plug (250) which is positioned at another end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a second filtration material (251); a flavor-generating portion (220) which is positioned between the tip-end plug and the filter plug and contains a flavor source (221); and a second wrapper (270, 280) which wraps and joins the tip-end plug and the flavor-generating portion, wherein a tip end portion (DP) of a wrapper combination including the first wrapper and the second wrapper, which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the flavor inhalation article, has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material of 60° or greater.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a flavor inhalation article.

BACKGROUND ART

Heated flavor inhalers, in which a tobacco filling material is heated, rather than burned, to deliver a tobacco flavor to users, are used as an alternative to combustion-type flavor inhalers such as cigarettes. Heated flavor inhalers comprise the tobacco filling material together with an aerosol source. When the tobacco filling material is heated in a heated flavor inhaler, moisture in the tobacco filling material and the aerosol source are vaporized, tobacco flavor components migrate from the tobacco filling material into the vapor produced, and an aerosol (that is, tobacco vapor) is generated.
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).

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE

PTL 1: WO 2010/110226 A1

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The objective of the present invention lies in providing technology capable of suppressing an increase over time in the diameter of a tip-end plug disposed at a tip end of a flavor inhalation article.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

One aspect provides a flavor inhalation article having a columnar shape and comprising: a tip-end plug which is positioned at one end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a first filtration material, a first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material, and a first wrapper wrapped around the first filtration material;

a filter plug which is positioned at another end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a second filtration material;
a flavor-generating portion which is positioned between the tip-end plug and the filter plug and contains a flavor source; and
a second wrapper which wraps and joins the tip-end plug and the flavor-generating portion, wherein
a tip end portion of a wrapper combination including the first wrapper and the second wrapper, which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the flavor inhalation article, has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material of 60° or greater.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The present invention makes it possible to provide technology capable of suppressing an increase over time in the diameter of a tip-end plug disposed at a tip end of a flavor inhalation article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing a tobacco stick according to a first embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a tip-end plug.
Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of a first filtration material.
Fig. 4 is an exploded oblique view showing a tobacco stick according to a second embodiment.
Fig. 5 is an exploded oblique view showing a tobacco stick according to a third embodiment.
Fig. 6A is a schematic front view showing 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.
Fig. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between number of days of storage and amount of increase in circumference of the tip-end plug.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments. The aim of the following description is to describe the details of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. The embodiments described below are more specific embodiments of any of the aspects given above or any of the inventions disclosed in the original claims. The matters set forth below may be incorporated, either alone or in combination, into each of the aspects given above or each of the inventions disclosed in the original claims.
Furthermore, the embodiments described below illustrate configurations for embodying the technical concept of the present invention, which does not limit the materials, shapes and structures, etc. of components to those specified below. Various modifications may be added to the technical concept of the present invention within the technical scope defined by the claims made in the patent claims.

1. Flavor inhalation article

In a heated flavor inhaler, the amount of aerosol (smoke) decreases as a greater number of inhalations are taken in the latter half of an inhalation period, and the user senses a drop in inhalation response. The present inventors therefore arranged a tip-end plug on a tip end side (that is, the opposite side to a mouthpiece) of a flavor inhalation article and supported an additional aerosol source on a filtration material of the tip-end plug. It was here that the present inventors encountered a new problem in that the diameter of the tip-end plug increases during storage. The increase in diameter of the tip-end plug leads to splitting of the tip-end plug, and causes problems in terms of manufacturability when the tip-end plug is joined to other components of the flavor inhalation article. The objective of the present invention therefore lies in providing technology capable of suppressing an increase over time in the diameter of the tip-end plug.
One aspect provides a flavor inhalation article having a columnar shape and comprising: a tip-end plug which is positioned at one end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a first filtration material, a first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material, and a first wrapper wrapped around the first filtration material;

In the present description, the flavor inhalation article containing a tobacco flavor source as a flavor source will also be referred to as a "tobacco stick". A tobacco stick according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to fig. 1.

1-1. First embodiment

As shown in fig. 1, a tobacco stick 200 according to the first embodiment 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 tipping wrapper 270. That is to say, in the first embodiment, the tipping wrapper 270 joins the tip-end plug 210 and the flavor-generating portion 220 while also joining the filter plug 250 to the flavor-generating portion 220. The hollow tube portion 230 and the hollow filter portion 240 may each be omitted in fig. 1.
In the tobacco stick 200 according to the first embodiment, a tip-end plug wrap 212 wrapped around a first filtration material 211 in the tip-end plug 210 corresponds to the "first wrapper", and the tipping wrapper 270 corresponds to the "second wrapper". The tip-end plug wrap 212 and the tipping wrapper 270 therefore form the "wrapper combination".

Basis weight and contact angle of tip end portion

As indicated above, a feature of the tobacco stick 200 lies in the fact that "a tip end portion of a wrapper combination (referred to below simply as the "tip end portion"), which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the tobacco stick 200, has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material 211 (that is, a face on the inside of the tip-end plug wrap 212) of 60° or greater. When the tobacco stick 200 has such a feature, it is possible to suppress an increase over time in the diameter of the tip-end plug 210 arranged at the tip end of the tobacco stick 200. There is no particular limitation as to the upper limit of the basis weight of the tip end portion, but it is 200 g/m² or less, for example. There is no particular limitation as to the upper limit of the contact angle of the tip end portion, but it is 120° or less, for example. That is to say, according to an example, the tobacco stick 200 may be characterized by the tip end portion having a basis weight of 80-200 g/m², or having a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 60-120°.
The tip-end plug is joined to other components of the flavor inhalation article to manufacture the flavor inhalation article, but the tip-end plug is not joined to the other components immediately after being produced, and may be stored for a time or transported to a different factory. It is therefore possible to prevent splitting of the tip-end plug if an increase over time in the diameter of the tip-end plug 210 is suppressed. Furthermore, if an increase over time in the diameter of the tip-end plug 210 is suppressed, then it is possible to solve the problem of manufacturability which arises due to differences between the diameter of the tip-end plug and the diameter of the other components of the flavor inhalation article when the tip-end plug is joined to the other components.
The "tip end portion of the wrapper combination which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the tobacco stick 200" is shown as DP in fig. 1. In fig. 1, the tipping wrapper 270 exposes the tip-end plug wrap 212 at the tip end portion. In this case, the tip end portion consists only of the tip-end plug wrap 212 and does not include the tipping wrapper 270 (see fig. 1).
Alternatively, the tipping wrapper 270 may cover the tip-end plug wrap 212 up to the tip end, rather than exposing the tip-end plug wrap 212 at the tip end portion. That is to say, the tipping wrapper 270 may cover the whole of the part of the tip-end plug wrap 212 positioned at the tip end portion. In this case, the tip end portion comprises the tipping wrapper 270 and the tip-end plug wrap 212. In this case, the basis weight of the tip end portion may be calculated by adding together the basis weight of the tipping wrapper 270 and the basis weight of the tip-end plug wrap 212.
Preferably, the tip end portion has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 (that is, the face on the inside of the tip-end plug wrap 212) of 80° or greater. More preferably, the tip end portion has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 60° or greater. Even more preferably, the tip end portion has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 80° or greater. These preferred modes make it possible to more effectively suppress an increase over time in the diameter of the tip-end plug 210. The upper limit of the basis weight of the tip end portion in each of these preferred modes is 200 g/m² or less, for example. The upper limit of the contact angle of the tip end portion in each of these preferred modes is 120° or less, for example. That is to say, preferably, the tip end portion has a basis weight of 80-200 g/m², or has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 80-120°. More preferably, the tip end portion has a basis weight of 80-200 g/m² and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 60-120°. Even more preferably, the tip end portion has a basis weight of 80-200 g/m² and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 80-120°.
The tip end portion has a thickness of 35-250 µm, preferably a thickness of 50-200 µm, and more preferably a thickness of 80-160 µm, for example. When the tip end portion comprises one wrapper, such as when it consists only of the tip-end plug wrap 212, the tip end portion has a thickness of 35-125 µm, for example. Alternatively, when the tip end portion comprises two wrappers, such as when it comprises the tipping wrapper 270 and the tip-end plug wrap 212, the tip end portion has a thickness of 70-250 µm, for example.
The tip end portion preferably comprises one or more papers and does not comprise either a metal foil or a polymer film. Specifically, the tip-end plug wrap 212 (i.e., the first wrapper) is preferably paper, and the tipping wrapper 270 (i.e., the second wrapper) is preferably paper. That is to say, the wrapper combination preferably comprises paper.
If the first wrapper and the second wrapper are each paper, and if the wrapper combination comprises paper, this offers advantages, such as a small environmental burden, low cost, ease of checking whether the flavor inhalation article is filled with a predetermined amount of tobacco filling material (tobacco weight control), and reduced wear of cutters used to cut tip-end plugs to predetermined lengths.

Basis weight and contact angle of tip-end plug wrap 212

According to a preferred mode, the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 60° or greater. When the tip-end plug wrap 212 alone has a predetermined basis weight or a predetermined contact angle, an increase over time in the diameter of the tip-end plug 210 can thus be even more effectively suppressed.
That is to say, according to a preferred mode, the tobacco stick 200 has a columnar shape and comprises:

the tip-end plug 210 which is positioned at one end of the tobacco stick 200 and includes the first filtration material 211, the first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material 211, and the tip-end plug wrap 212 wrapped around the first filtration material 211;
the filter plug 250 which is positioned at the other end of the tobacco stick 200 and includes a second filtration material 251;
the flavor-generating portion 220 which is positioned between the tip-end plug 210 and the filter plug 250 and contains the flavor source 221; and
the tipping wrapper 270 which wraps and joins the tip-end plug 210 and the flavor-generating portion 220,
wherein
the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 60° or greater.

There is no particular limitation as to the upper limit of the basis weight of the tip-end plug wrap 212, but it is 200 g/m² or less, for example. There is no particular limitation as to the upper limit of the contact angle of the tip-end plug wrap 212, but it is 120° or less, for example.
According to a more preferred mode, the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 80° or greater. According to an even more preferred mode, the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 60° or greater. According to an even more preferred mode, the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 80° or greater. The upper limit of the basis weight of the tip-end plug wrap 212 in each of these preferred modes is 200 g/m² or less, for example. The upper limit of the contact angle of the tip-end plug wrap 212 in each of these preferred modes is 120° or less, for example. That is to say, according to a more preferred mode, the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80-200 g/m², or has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 80-120°. According to an even more preferred mode, the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80-200 g/m² and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 60-120°. According to an even more preferred mode, the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80-200 g/m² and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 80-120°.
The tip-end plug wrap 212 has a thickness of 35-125 µm, and preferably has a thickness of 35-100 µm, for example.
In the present description, "basis weight" indicates a value obtained in accordance with a method conforming to JIS P8124:2011. Specifically, a testpiece is conditioned under conditions of a temperature of 23°C and humidity of 50% RH, the area and mass of the conditioned testpiece are measured, and the basis weight is calculated from the measured values. It should be noted that when the tip end portion comprises a plurality of wrappers (e.g., the tipping wrapper 270 and the tip-end plug wrap 212), the basis weight of the tip end portion may be calculated by adding together the basis weights of each of the wrappers, as indicated above.
Furthermore, in the present description, "contact angle" indicates a value obtained by depositing a 5 µL droplet of glycerol on a testpiece and measuring the contact angle after 300 seconds from the deposited droplet by means of the θ/2 method using a DM-701 fully automatic contact angle meter (Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd.) as the measurement instrument and FAMAS (Kyowa Interface Science Co., Ltd.) as the analysis software.
The structure and components of the tobacco stick 200 according to the first embodiment will be described in order below.

Structure

As shown in fig. 1, the tip-end plug 210 preferably adjoins the flavor-generating portion 220, and the filter plug 250 is preferably spaced apart from the flavor-generating portion 220. The tip-end plug 210 adjoining the flavor-generating portion 220 readily causes continuous aerosol generation from the flavor-generating portion 220 and aerosol generation from the tip-end plug 210 when the user draws on the tobacco stick 200. Furthermore, when the filter plug 250 is spaced apart from the flavor-generating portion 220, the aerosol generated from the tip-end plug 210 and the flavor-generating portion 220 by heating of the tobacco stick 200 is readily cooled while being transported to the filter plug 250.
The tobacco stick 200 has a columnar shape extending along one direction. The tobacco stick 200 preferably has a cylindrical shape extending along one direction. The tobacco stick 200 has a length of 50-100 mm, for example. When the tobacco stick 200 has a cylindrical shape, the diameter thereof is 4-10 mm, for example. The tip-end plug 210 has a length of 5-20 mm, for example, the flavor-generating portion 220 has a length of 5-20 mm, for example, the hollow tube portion 230 has a length of 10-30 mm, for example, the hollow filter portion 240 has a length of 5-15 mm for example, and the filter plug 250 has a length of 5-15 mm, for example. The lengths of these individual components may be modified, as appropriate, according to manufacturability and required quality, etc.

Components

Components of the tobacco stick 200 (i.e., the tip-end plug, flavor-generating portion, hollow tube portion, hollow filter portion, filter plug, and tipping wrapper) will be described in order below.

Tip-end plug

As shown in fig. 1, the tip-end plug 210 is positioned at the tip end of the tobacco stick 200. The tip-end plug 210 comprises the first filtration material 211, and the tip-end 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.
The first filtration material 211 may be a material which is generally usable as a filtration material in a flavor inhalation article, and examples of materials which may be cited include paper, plastic film, cellulose acetate, and nonwoven fabric, etc. The first filtration material 211 is preferably paper.
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 µm, for example, and a basis weight of 20-50 g/m², 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.). When the first filtration material 211 comprises a material other than paper and is in the shape of a sheet, such a first filtration material 211 may have the same thickness and size as for the paper.
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. In fig. 2, the tip-end plug 210 comprises the first filtration material 211, and the tip-end plug wrap 212 wrapped around the first filtration material 211. Here, 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.

Measurement apparatus: VHX-8000 and VHX-H5M (3D profile measurement module), manufactured by KEYENCE.
Measurement method: An end face of the tip-end plug is observed under a microscope while fixed to a base with said end face facing directly upward
Measurement magnification: 80 times
The thickness of the corrugated sheet is largely the same as the thickness of the sheet before the shaping treatment. The thickness of the corrugated sheet is therefore 20-1500 µm, for example.

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. For example, 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. When the shape of the corrugations is a triangular wave or a sine wave, the corrugation pitch may be the mean value of intervals between peaks of adjacent ridge portions 211a. When the shape of the corrugations is a rectangular wave, 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. At this time, 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.
In this way, when 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. Furthermore, 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 tip-end plug wrap 212 wrapped around the first filtration material 211 which is used may be the same as a plug wrap used in cigarettes. As stated above, preferably, the tip-end plug wrap 212 has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material 211 of 60° or greater.
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 aerosol source is supported on the first filtration material 211 in an amount of 1-10 mg, preferably 1.5-5 mg, per 1 mm length of the tip-end plug 210, for example.
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.
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.

Flavor-generating portion

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 flavor source wrapper 222 wrapped around the flavor source 221. The flavor source 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 preferably 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.
Alternatively, the tobacco filling material may be one sheet of sheet tobacco. For example, the flavor source wrapper 222 may be filled with one sheet of sheet tobacco in an accordion-folded state, or the flavor source wrapper 222 may be filled with one sheet of sheet tobacco in a spiral-wound state. When one sheet of sheet tobacco is used as the tobacco filling material, the size of the sheet tobacco in the length direction when the flavor source 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 flavor source 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. As indicated above, 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 supported on the flavor source 221 in an amount of 1-10 mg, preferably 1.5-4 mg, per 1 mm length of the flavor-generating portion 220, for example.
The second aerosol source is preferably of the same type as the first aerosol source. For example, when 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.
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.

Hollow tube portion

The hollow tube portion 230 is arranged adjacently downstream of the flavor-generating portion 220. According to one example, the hollow tube portion 230 is a paper tube formed by winding cardboard into a cylindrical shape with a cavity on the inside. According to another example, 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.
Furthermore, in order to suitably adjust airflow resistance of the tobacco stick 200, an opening portion (air inflow hole) 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.

Hollow filter portion

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 hollow filter plug wrap 242 wrapped around the filtration material 241. The hollow filter plug wrap 242 which is used may be the same as a plug wrap used in cigarettes. The hollow filter 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 (to be described below) 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.

Filter plug

The filter plug 250 is positioned at the end portion of the tobacco stick 200 on the mouthpiece side. The filter plug 250 comprises the second filtration material 251, and the filter plug wrap 252 wrapped around the second filtration material 251. The filter 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 mmH₂O, and preferably 10-30 mmH₂O, 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.

Tipping wrapper

As shown in fig. 1, 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) are joined by the tipping wrapper 270. In fig. 1, the tipping 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. Alternatively, the tipping 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 tipping wrapper 270 which is used may be the same as a tipping paper used in cigarettes. An outer surface of the tipping 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 tipping wrapper 270. The part which is coated with the lip-release agent functions as a mouthpiece of the tobacco stick 200.

1-2. Second embodiment

A tobacco stick according to a second embodiment will be described below with reference to fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an exploded oblique view showing a tobacco stick according to the second embodiment. In fig. 4, 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. In fig. 4, 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.

Structure

As shown in fig. 4, a tobacco stick 200 according to the second embodiment 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, similarly to the tobacco stick according to the first embodiment. The hollow tube portion 230 and the hollow filter portion 240 may each also be omitted in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment.
The tobacco stick 200 according to the second embodiment differs from the tobacco stick according to the first embodiment in the manner of joining the five components mentioned above. In the tobacco stick 200 according to the second embodiment, the five components are joined by using an outer plug wrap 280, an outer plug wrap 260, and a tipping wrapper 290.
Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, 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. Furthermore, 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 tipping wrapper 290 further joins the first joined body 285, the hollow tube portion 230, and the second joined body 265. Here, the tipping wrapper 290 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. It should be noted that 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.
In the tobacco stick 200 shown in fig. 4, the tip-end plug wrap 212 corresponds to the "first wrapper wrapped around the first filtration material 211", the outer plug wrap 280 corresponds to the "second wrapper which wraps and joins the tip-end plug 210 and the flavor-generating portion 220", and the tipping wrapper 290 serving as a "third wrapper" is further provided. Specifically, the tobacco stick 200 shown in fig. 4 further comprises the tipping wrapper 290 (third wrapper) which at least partially covers the the outer plug wrap 280 (second wrapper) while also joining the filter plug 250 to the flavor-generating portion 220.
Accordingly, in the tobacco stick 200 shown in fig. 4, the tip-end plug wrap 212, the outer plug wrap 280, and the tipping wrapper 290 form a "wrapper combination".

Basis weight and contact angle of tip end portion

In the same way as in the first embodiment, a feature of the tobacco stick 200 according to the second embodiment lies in the fact that "a tip end portion of a wrapper combination (referred to below simply as the "tip end portion"), which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the tobacco stick 200, has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material 211 (that is, a face on the inside of the tip-end plug wrap 212) of 60° or greater.
The "tip end portion of a wrapper combination, which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the tobacco stick 200" is shown as DP in fig. 4. In fig. 4, the outer plug wrap 280 covers the whole of the part of the tip-end plug wrap 212 positioned at the tip end portion. Furthermore, in fig. 4, the tipping wrapper 290 exposes the outer plug wrap 280 at the tip end portion. In this case, the tip end portion comprises the outer plug wrap 280 and the tip-end plug wrap 212. In this case, the basis weight of the tip end portion may be calculated by adding together the basis weight of the outer plug wrap 280 and the basis weight of the tip-end plug wrap 212.
The tip end portion preferably comprises one or more papers and does not comprise either a metal foil or a polymer film. Specifically, the tip-end plug wrap 212 (i.e., the first wrapper) is preferably paper, the outer plug wrap 280 (i.e., the second wrapper) is preferably paper, and the tipping wrapper 290 (i.e., the third wrapper) is preferably paper. That is to say, the wrapper combination preferably comprises paper.

1-3. Third embodiment

A tobacco stick according to a third embodiment will be described below with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an exploded oblique view showing a tobacco stick according to the third embodiment. In fig. 5, 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. In fig. 5, 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.

Structure

As shown in fig. 5, a tobacco stick 200 according to the third embodiment 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, similarly to the tobacco stick according to the first embodiment. The hollow tube portion 230 and the hollow filter portion 240 may each also be omitted in the third embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment.
The tobacco stick 200 according to the third embodiment differs from the tobacco stick according to the first embodiment in the manner of joining the five components mentioned above. In the tobacco stick 200 shown in fig. 5, the five components are joined by using an outer plug wrap 280, an outer plug wrap 260, and a tipping wrapper 290.
Specifically, as shown in fig. 5, the outer plug wrap 280 is wound so as to join the tip-end plug 210, the flavor-generating portion 220, and the hollow tube portion 230 while also covering same. Here, 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. Furthermore, 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 tipping wrapper 290 further joins the first joined body 285 and the second joined body 265. Here, the tipping wrapper 290 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. It should be noted that 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.
In the tobacco stick 200 shown in fig. 5, the tip-end plug wrap 212 corresponds to the "first wrapper wrapped around the first filtration material 211", the outer plug wrap 280 corresponds to the "second wrapper which wraps and joins the tip-end plug 210 and the flavor-generating portion 220", and the tipping wrapper 290 serving as a "third wrapper" is further provided. Specifically, the tobacco stick 200 shown in fig. 5 further comprises the tipping wrapper 290 (third wrapper) which at least partially covers the the outer plug wrap 280 (second wrapper) while also joining the filter plug 250 to the flavor-generating portion 220.
Accordingly, in the tobacco stick 200 shown in fig. 5, the tip-end plug wrap 212, the outer plug wrap 280, and the tipping wrapper 290 form a "wrapper combination".

Basis weight and contact angle of tip end portion

In the same way as in the first embodiment, a feature of the tobacco stick 200 according to the second embodiment lies in the fact that "a tip end portion of a wrapper combination (referred to below simply as the "tip end portion"), which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the tobacco stick 200, has a basis weight of 80 g/m³ or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material 211 (that is, a face on the inside of the tip-end plug wrap 212) of 60° or greater.
The "tip end portion of the wrapper combination which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the tobacco stick 200" is shown as DP in fig. 5. In fig. 5, the outer plug wrap 280 covers the whole of the part of the tip-end plug wrap 212 positioned at the tip end portion. Furthermore, in fig. 5, the tipping wrapper 290 exposes the outer plug wrap 280 at the tip end portion. In this case, the tip end portion comprises the outer plug wrap 280 and the tip-end plug wrap 212. In this case, the basis weight of the tip end portion may be calculated by adding together the basis weight of the outer plug wrap 280 and the basis weight of the tip-end plug wrap 212.
The tip end portion preferably comprises one or more papers and does not comprise either a metal foil or a polymer film. Specifically, the tip-end plug wrap 212 (i.e., the first wrapper) is preferably paper, the outer plug wrap 280 (i.e., the second wrapper) is preferably paper, and the tipping wrapper 290 (i.e., the third wrapper) is preferably paper. That is to say, the wrapper combination preferably comprises paper.

2. Flavor inhalation system

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.
An example of a flavor inhalation system will be described below with reference to fig. 6A, 6B, 6C and 7. In this example, 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. In this coordinate system, the Z-axis is oriented vertically upwards, the X-Y plane is arranged cutting across the aerosol-generating device 100 in a horizontal direction, and 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. Furthermore, 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.
As shown in fig. 6A-6C, 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.
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. Specifically, 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. For example, the user can manually operate the slide cover 102 to move the slide cover 102 between the closed position and the open position. As a result, 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). It should be noted that 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.
The internal structure of the aerosol-generating device 100 will be described next. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along a line III-III of the aerosol-generating device 100 shown in fig. 6B. As shown in fig. 7, 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. Note that from the perspective of heat resistance and strength, 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.
As shown in fig. 7, 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. For example, the heating element 140 may be a meandering conductor line which is provided on a flexible insulating layer.
Furthermore, as shown in fig. 7, 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. Here, 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. Note that 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. In fig. 7, 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.
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. Note that the insertion guide member 134 may be formed by a metal, glass or ceramic, etc. Furthermore, from the perspective of heat resistance, 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).

EXAMPLES

1. Production of tip-end plug

Tip-end plugs of Examples 1-5 were produced as follows.
Paper (thickness: 88 µm, basis weight: 35 g/m²,air permeability: 3000 CORESTA units) was shaped into a corrugated form to prepare a filtration material (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 120 mm.
Glycerol was supported on the surface of the filtration material in an amount of 400 mg. The filtration material supporting glycerol was wrapped with the papers indicated below (tip-end plug wraps) to produce the tip-end plugs of Examples 1-5. The glue which was used was a vinyl acetate-based emulsion.

Example 1 (Glatz 100 gsm)

Thickness: 125 µm, basis weight: 100 g/m², contact angle: 94.2°

Example 2 (Glatz 82 gsm 8969)

Thickness: 100 µm, basis weight: 82 g/m², contact angle: 107.6°

Example 3 (35NFB)

Thickness: 40 µm, basis weight: 35 g/m², contact angle: 89°

Example 4 (ACMC1)

Thickness: 45 µm, basis weight: 43 g/m², contact angle: 66.3°

Example 5 (35 coated)

Thickness: 52 µm, basis weight: 35 g/m², contact angle: 41.7°
The "contact angle" of each paper (tip-end plug) denotes the contact angle of the face contacting the filtration material. The tip-end plugs which were produced had a length of 120 mm. Furthermore, glycerol was supported on the filtration materials of the tip-end plugs produced in an amount of 3.3 mg per 1 mm length of the tip-end plugs.

2. Evaluation method

The tip-end plugs were placed in a polypropylene bag (PP bag) and stored under conditions of 22°C and 60% RH. After storage for a predetermined time, the tip-end plugs were removed from the polypropylene bag and circumferences of the tip-end plugs were measured. Storage was for 24 hours, 14 days and 28 days. The circumference was measured using a SODIM-D diameter module (manufactured by SODIM). Specifically, a shadow of the tip-end plug was detected using a laser optical measurement meter, and the diameter thereof was measured.
A difference between the circumference measured after storage and the circumference measured immediately after production of the tip-end plug was calculated, and the calculated value was taken to be an "amount of increase in circumference".

3. Evaluation results

Evaluation results are shown in fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between number of days of storage and amount of increase in circumference of the tip-end plug.
A tendency for the circumference of the tip-end plug to increase after storage was apparent when the tip-end plug comprised a filtration material supporting an aerosol source. The tip-end plugs of Examples 1 and 2 were capable of keeping the amount of increase in circumference of the tip-end plug after storage to an appreciably low level. Furthermore, the tip-end plugs of Examples 3 and 4 were capable of keeping the amount of increase in circumference of the tip-end plug after storage to a somewhat low level. Meanwhile, the tip-end plug of Example 5 had the largest increase in circumference of the tip-end plug after storage.
These results show the following. That is to say, the amount of increase in circumference of the tip-end plug can be kept to an appreciably low level when a filtration material supporting an aerosol source is wrapped with a paper having a large basis weight and also having a large contact angle. Furthermore, the amount of increase in circumference of the tip-end plug can be kept to a somewhat low level when a filtration material supporting an aerosol source is wrapped with a paper having a large basis weight, or having a large contact angle. Specifically, the paper for wrapping the filtration material is preferably "paper having a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or having a contact angle of 60° or greater", more preferably "paper having a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or having a contact angle of 80° or greater", even more preferably "paper having a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and also having a contact angle of 60° or greater", and still more preferably "paper having a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and also having a contact angle of 80° or greater".
In the experiments, the filtration material was wrapped with one sheet of paper, but it may also be wrapped with multiple sheets of paper. When the filtration material is wrapped with multiple sheets of paper, the combination comprising the multiple sheets of paper preferably has the abovementioned basis weight and/or the abovementioned contact angle.
It should be noted that 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. Furthermore, 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.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100... 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, 134... Insertion guide member, 136... Bottom member, 137... First holding portion, 138... Second holding portion, 140... Heating element, 150... Cylindrical body, 160... Heater
200... Tobacco stick, 210... Tip-end plug, 211... First filtration material, 211a... Ridge portion, 211b... Valley portion, 212... Tip-end plug wrap, 220... Flavor-generating portion, 221... Flavor source, 222... Flavor source wrapper, 230... Hollow tube portion, 240... Hollow filter portion, 241... Third filtration material, 242... Hollow filter plug wrap, 250... Filter plug, 251... Second filtration material, 252... Filter plug wrap, 260... Outer plug wrap, 265... Second joined body, 270... Tipping wrapper, 280... Outer plug wrap, 285... First joined body, 290... Tipping wrapper, DP... Tip end portion

Claims

A flavor inhalation article having a columnar shape and comprising:
a tip-end plug which is positioned at one end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a first filtration material, a first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material, and a first wrapper wrapped around the first filtration material;

a filter plug which is positioned at another end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a second filtration material;

a flavor-generating portion which is positioned between the tip-end plug and the filter plug and contains a flavor source; and

a second wrapper which wraps and joins the tip-end plug and the flavor-generating portion,

wherein

a tip end portion of a wrapper combination including the first wrapper and the second wrapper, which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the flavor inhalation article, has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material of 60° or greater.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tip end portion comprises one or more papers and does not comprise either a metal foil or a polymer film.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first filtration material comprises a sheet which is shaped into a corrugated form and folded in a direction of arrangement of corrugations.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sheet is a paper.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first aerosol source contains glycerol.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first aerosol source is supported on the first filtration material in an amount of 1-10 mg per 1 mm length of the tip-end plug.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tip end portion has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material of 80° or greater.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tip end portion has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and also has a contact angle of the face contacting the first filtration material of 60° or greater.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tip end portion has a thickness of 35-250 µm.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first wrapper has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material of 60° or greater.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first wrapper has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material of 80° or greater.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first wrapper has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and also has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material of 60° or greater.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first wrapper has a thickness of 35-125 µm.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the second wrapper further joins the filter plug to the flavor-generating portion.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second wrapper covers the whole of a part of the first wrapper positioned at the tip end portion.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second wrapper exposes the first wrapper at the tip end portion.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a third wrapper which at least partially covers the second wrapper while also joining the filter plug to the flavor-generating portion, wherein the wrapper combination further includes the third wrapper.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second wrapper covers the whole of a part of the first wrapper positioned at the tip end portion.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 18, wherein the third wrapper exposes the second wrapper at the tip end portion.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the tip-end plug adjoins the flavor-generating portion, and the filter plug is spaced apart from the flavor-generating portion.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the flavor source is a tobacco filling material.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 21, wherein the tobacco filling material constitutes a plurality of shaped bodies each comprising leaf tobacco.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 22, wherein the plurality of shaped bodies each have a shape extending in a length direction of the flavor-generating portion.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the flavor-generating portion further comprises a second aerosol source.
The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 24, wherein the second aerosol source contains glycerol.