EP4691280A1

EP4691280A1 - Non-combustion type flavor inhalation article and non-combustion type flavor inhalation system

Info

Publication number: EP4691280A1
Application number: EP23930421.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hirotsugu WAKABAYASHI; Tetsuya Motodamari; Takuya OTOKAWA
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2023-03-29
Filing date: 2023-03-29
Publication date: 2026-02-11
Also published as: KR20250138251A; JPWO2024201782A1; CN121174956A; WO2024201782A1

Abstract

The problem addressed lies in providing a non-combustion flavor inhalation article comprising a filter which can stably maintain the position of a capsule while retaining low filtration.

A non-combustion flavor inhalation article comprising an aerosol source portion, a cooling portion, and a filter portion, wherein
the filter portion comprises a first filter segment, and the first filter segment comprises a filter medium and a capsule,
the filter medium comprises tow that contains filaments having a C-shaped cross section, and
at least one of the capsules is arranged at a position no greater than 15 mm from an exposed end of the filter portion closest to the capsule side, out of exposed ends of the filter portion on a mouthpiece side.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a non-combustion flavor inhalation article and to a non-combustion flavor inhalation system.

BACKGROUND ART

Non-combustion flavor inhalation articles (heated tobacco) generate a smaller amount of flavor component than conventional (combusted) cigarettes. Non-combustion flavor inhalation articles therefore need to have a filter with low filtration in order to deliver flavor to the user (PTL 1).
Meanwhile, non-combustion flavor inhalation articles may also comprise a capsule (breakable capsule) placed inside the filter in order to alter the smoking taste. When a capsule is placed inside the filter, it is necessary to ensure that there are no variations in the position of the capsule during manufacture (PTL 2).

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE

PTL 1: WO 2020/012633 A1
PTL 2: WO 2020/059103 A1

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

As a result of diligent investigations carried out by the inventors of this application in light of this situation, it was found that low-filtration filters generally tend to be packed with a low amount of tow, which constitutes the filter medium, and when a breakable capsule is placed in a low-filtration filter such as this, the position of the capsule moves when the user crushes the breakable capsule, making it difficult to crush the capsule. On the other hand, it was also found that when the packing amount of tow is increased in order to stabilize the position of the capsule, there is an increase in the filtration rate. The problem addressed by the present invention lies in providing a non-combustion flavor inhalation article comprising a filter which can stably maintain the position of a capsule while retaining low filtration.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

As a result of diligent research carried out in order to solve the problem above, the present inventors found that the problem could be solved by means of a filter medium comprising tow that contains filaments having a C-shaped cross section, wherein at least one capsule is arranged at a specific position, and thus arrived at the present invention. Specific aspects of the present invention are as follows.

[1] A non-combustion flavor inhalation article comprising an aerosol source portion, a cooling portion, and a filter portion, wherein
- the filter portion comprises a first filter segment, and the first filter segment comprises a filter medium and a capsule,
- the filter medium comprises tow that contains filaments having a C-shaped cross section, and
- at least one of the capsules is arranged at a position no greater than 15 mm from an exposed end of the filter portion closest to the capsule side, out of exposed ends of the filter portion on a mouthpiece side.
[2] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in [1], wherein the packing density of the tow is 0.117 mg/mm³ or greater.
[3] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in [1] or [2], wherein the packing density of the tow is 0.125 mg/mm³ or less.
[4] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the airflow resistance per 120 mm axial length of the first filter segment is 255 mmH₂O or less.
[5] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of [1] to [4], wherein the filament denier of filaments contained in the tow is 5-12, and the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area is 600-900 denier/mm².
[6] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of [1] to [5], wherein the filter portion further comprises a second filter segment, and the second filter segment is arranged upstream of the first filter segment.
[7] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of [1] to [6], wherein an axial length of the first filter segment is 15 mm or less.
[8] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of [1] to [7], wherein the aerosol source portion comprises a tobacco filling material.
[9] A non-combustion flavor inhalation system comprising the non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of [1] to [8].

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The non-combustion flavor inhalation article according to the present invention is capable of stably maintaining the position of a capsule in a filter, while retaining low filtration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-combustion flavor inhalation system 200.
Fig. 2 is an oblique view of a non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100.
Fig. 3 is a diagram to illustrate the internal structure of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100.
Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the non-combustion flavor inhalation device 30.
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a method for evaluating positional shift of a breakable capsule.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A non-combustion flavor inhalation article and a non-combustion flavor inhalation system according to the present invention will be described below.

1. Non-combustion flavor inhalation article and non-combustion flavor inhalation system

The non-combustion flavor inhalation article according to the present invention comprises:

an aerosol source portion, a cooling portion, and a filter portion,
the filter portion comprises a first filter segment, and the first filter segment comprises a filter medium and a capsule,
the filter medium comprises tow that contains filaments having a C-shaped cross section, and
at least one of the capsules is arranged at a position no greater than 15 mm from an exposed end of the filter portion closest to the capsule side, out of exposed ends of the filter portion on a mouthpiece side.

Embodiments of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article and the non-combustion flavor inhalation system according to the present invention will be described here with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions, etc., of the components described in the present embodiment are examples. For example, the embodiments describe a non-combustion flavor inhalation article comprising a tobacco filling material as a flavor source as an example of a non-combustion flavor inhalation article, but the non-combustion flavor inhalation article may equally comprise another flavor component rather than containing a tobacco filling material.

First Embodiment

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-combustion flavor inhalation system 200 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is an oblique view of a non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 according to the embodiment, and fig. 3 is a diagram to illustrate the internal structure of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 according to the embodiment. In fig. 1-3, the left-right direction of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 or a non-combustion flavor inhalation device 30 into which the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 is inserted is represented as the X direction, the up-down direction is represented as the Y direction, and the depth direction is represented as the Z direction. The same also applies to subsequent drawings. These directions are merely examples given for convenience of description and do not limit the elements of the non-combustion flavor inhalation system 200. For example, the elements of the non-combustion flavor inhalation system 200 are not limited to being arranged in the directions shown in the drawings.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation system 200 comprises: the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, and a non-combustion flavor inhalation device 30 for heating an aerosol source portion 110 of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100. The non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 is accommodated in an accommodating cavity 313 of an accommodating portion 310 in such a way that it can be inserted into and removed from the accommodating cavity 313 through an insertion port 3A of the non-combustion flavor inhalation device 30.
When a user uses the non-combustion flavor inhalation device 30, the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 313, and in that state, a heater provided in the accommodating portion 310 is caused to generate heat in order to heat a tobacco filling material inside the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, thereby generating an aerosol comprising a tobacco component to be inhaled by the user.

Non-combustion flavor inhalation article

The non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 according to this embodiment is in the form of a rod having a substantially cylindrical shape. In the example shown in fig. 2 and 3, the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 comprises: an aerosol source portion 110, a cooling portion 120, a filter portion 130, and a tipping paper 140 that integrally links these portions together. The cooling portion 120 and the filter portion 130 are linked coaxially to the aerosol source portion 110 by being wrapped, together with the aerosol source portion 110, by the tipping paper 140.
The reference sign 101 denotes a mouthpiece end of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 (filter portion 130). The reference sign 102 denotes a tip end of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 on the opposite side to the mouthpiece end 101. The aerosol source portion 110 is arranged on the tip end 102 side of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100. In the example shown in fig. 2 and 3, the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 has a substantially constant diameter over the entire length in the longitudinal direction (also referred to below as the axial direction or the Z direction) from the mouthpiece end 101 to the tip end 102.
There is no particular restriction on the configuration of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, and it may take a general form. In the mode shown in fig. 1, the aerosol source portion 110, the cooling portion 120, and the filter portion 130 are each depicted as a single segment, but each of these portions may be formed by a single segment or by multiple segments.

Filter portion

A first filter segment included in the filter portion may serve as a downstream (mouthpiece end 101 side) segment which will be described later.
The filter portion or the first filter segment included in the non-combustion flavor inhalation article according to the present invention may also serve as a filter portion or a filter segment for a combusted cigarette.

Filter medium

A filter medium included in the first filter segment comprises tow that contains filaments having a C-shaped cross section, preferably comprises tow that consists of filaments having a C-shaped cross section, and more preferably consists of tow that consists of filaments having a C-shaped cross section.
The filaments having a C-shaped cross section do not need to have a perfect C-shaped cross section, and only need to have a roughly C-shaped cross section. The filaments having a roughly C-shaped cross section also include filaments such as disclosed in PTL 1, for example, which have a hollow cross-sectional shape including a hollow core portion and an outer circumferential portion covering the core portion, with an opening section that enables communication between the core portion and the exterior being formed in the outer circumferential portion.
A tow filter will be a high-filtration filter if the filaments contained in the tow have a Y-shaped or X-shaped cross section, and will be a low-filtration filter if said filaments have an R-shaped or C-shaped cross section. However, there are problems in manufacturing R-shaped filaments because of the difficulty in producing a uniform shape.
There is no particular limitation as to the filaments contained in the tow, and they may be synthetic fibers, natural fibers, or a mixture thereof, but cellulose acetate fibers are preferred.
There is no particular limitation as to the packing density of the tow in the first filter segment, but it is preferably 0.117 mg/mm³ or greater, more preferably 0.118 mg/mm³ or greater, even more preferably 0.119 mg/mm³ or greater, and most preferably 120 mg/mm³ or greater. The position of the capsule is stabilized by setting the packing density of the tow at 117 mg/mm³ or greater.
Here, the packing density of the tow is a value obtained by dividing the weight of tow in the first filter segment by the volume of the first filter segment excluding a wrapper. The volume of the first filter segment excluding the wrapper is a value obtained by multiplying the length of the first filter segment by an area calculated from the diameter of the first filter segment including the thickness of the wrapper minus the thickness of the wrapper.
Furthermore, the packing density of the tow in the first filter segment is preferably 0.125 mg/mm³ or less. Stable production without an excessive packing density is possible by setting the packing density of the tow at 0.125 mg/mm³ or less.
The numerical value ranges given above for the packing density of the tow may be combined in any way. A reduction in the packing density of the tow in the first filter segment results in a low-filtration filter which will also be softer. On the other hand, the position of the capsule will no longer be stable if there is an excessive reduction in the packing density of the tow in the first filter segment. Accordingly, it is possible to stably maintain the position of the capsule while retaining low filtration by setting the packing density of the tow in the first filter segment within the numerical value ranges given above.
There is no particular limitation as to the filament denier of the filaments contained in the tow, but it is preferably 5-12, and more preferably 7-9. A high filament denier leads to low filtration when the tow packing density is constant.
There is no particular limitation as to the total denier of the filaments contained in the tow, but it is preferably 15,000-35,000, and more preferably 26,000-30,000.
In particular, the filament denier of the filaments contained in the tow is preferably 7-9, and the total denier is preferably 26,000-30,000.
There is no particular limitation as to the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area (the ratio of total denier to filter cross-sectional area), but it is preferably 600-900 denier/mm².
In particular, a filter which maintains low filtration and hardness can be obtained by setting the filament denier of the filaments contained in the tow at 5-12, and the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area at 600-900 denier/mm².
There is no particular restriction on the configuration of the filter portion 130 other than the configuration described above, provided that it functions as a typical filter, and an acetate filter may be cited as an example, the acetate filter employing cellulose acetate tow as a filter medium 150 which is then wrapped in a cylindrical shape with a filter wrapper (rolling paper) 160. When the filter portion 130 is formed by packing with cellulose acetate tow, triacetin may be added in an amount of 5-10 wt% with respect to the weight of cellulose acetate tow in order to increase the filter hardness. In the example shown in fig. 2, the filter portion 130 is formed from a single segment, but the filter portion 130 may equally be formed from multiple segments. The filter portion 130 comprises the first filter segment mentioned above, and in some cases may further comprise a second filter segment arranged upstream of the first filter segment. In an exemplary mode of a filter portion 130 formed from multiple segments which may be cited, a hollow filter such as a center hole may be arranged on the upstream side (aerosol source portion 110 side) as an upstream segment (second filter segment), and an acetate filter (first filter segment) packed with cellulose acetate tow in a mouthpiece cross section may be arranged as a segment on the downstream side (mouthpiece end 101 side), for example. By virtue of this mode, it is possible to prevent needless loss of the generated aerosol while also improving the appearance of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100. Furthermore, a mode in which an acetate filter is arranged on the upstream side (aerosol source portion 110 side) and a hollow filter such as a center hole is arranged as a segment on the downstream side (mouthpiece end 101 side) is also possible from the perspectives of a sensory change in draw satisfaction and comfort when holding the article in the mouth. Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a mode of the filter portion 130 which employs a paper filter packed with sheet-like paper pulp as the filter medium 150, instead of using cellulose acetate tow as the filter medium 150, or another alternative filter.
The filter portion 130 may further comprise a third filter segment in addition to the abovementioned first filter segment and second filter segment. In this case, the third filter segment may be arranged on the upstream side (aerosol source portion 110 side) in addition to the second filter segment, and an acetate filter (first filter segment) packed with cellulose acetate tow in a mouthpiece cross section may be arranged as a segment on the downstream side (mouthpiece end 101 side), for example.
The first filter segment and the second filter segment, or the first filter segment, second filter segment and third filter segment are linked together by being wrapped with a wrapper.
Furthermore, a tubular segment may further be arranged downstream of the first filter segment. The tubular segment may be a paper tube or a center hole filter. There may also be a different segment other than the tubular segment upstream of the first filter segment.
Examples of general functions of the filter in the filter portion 130 which may be cited include adjusting the amount of air which is mixed when the aerosol, etc. is inhaled, lightening the flavor, and lightening nicotine and tar, etc., but not all of these functions need to be provided. Preventing tobacco filling material from falling out as the filtration function is controlled is also another important function in electrically heated tobacco products, which generate fewer components and tend to have a lower filling rate of tobacco filling material than paper-wrapped tobacco products.
The filter portion 130, e.g., the first, second or third filter segment has a substantially circular shape in transverse cross section, and the diameter of the circle may be suitably varied according to the size of the product, but it is normally 4.0 mm-9.0 mm, preferably 4.5 mm-8.5 mm, and more preferably 5.0 mm-8.0 mm. It should be noted that when the cross section is non-circular, the abovementioned diameter is assumed for a circle having the same area as the area of the relevant cross section, and the diameter of that circle is applied. The circumferential length of the filter portion 130, e.g., the first, second or third filter segment, may be suitably varied according to the size of the product, but it is normally 14.0 mm-27.0 mm, preferably 15.0 mm-26.0 mm, and more preferably 16.0 mm-25.0 mm.
The axial length of the filter portion 130, e.g., the first, second or third filter segment, may be suitably varied according to the size of the product, but it is normally 5 mm-35 mm, and preferably 10.0 mm-30.0 mm. The shape and dimensions of the filter medium may be suitably adjusted so that the shape and dimensions of the filter portion 130 fall within the ranges above.
Furthermore, in particular, the axial length of the first filter segment is preferably 25 mm or less, more preferably 15 mm or less, and most preferably 12 mm or less. The axial length of the first filter segment is preferably at least three times the diameter of the capsule. The axial length of the first filter segment may also be set at 3 mm or greater or 9 mm or greater. The numerical value ranges of the axial length of the first filter segment may be combined in any way.
By reducing the axial length of the first filter segment, it is possible to reduce the overall filtration rate and airflow resistance. Furthermore, by reducing the axial length of the first filter segment, it is possible to keep a low filtration rate and airflow resistance, even if the filter segment comprises multiple segments. On the other hand, reducing the axial length of the first filter segment makes it more difficult to stabilize the position of the capsule, but the configuration of this embodiment still makes it possible to stabilize the position of the capsule.
There is no particular restriction on the airflow resistance per 120 mm axial length of the filter portion 130, e.g., the first, second or third filter segment, but normally it is preferably 40 mmH₂O-300 mmH₂O, more preferably 70 mmH₂O-280 mmH₂O, and most preferably 90 mmH₂O-260 mmH₂O. The airflow resistance is measured by using a filter airflow resistance measurement instrument manufactured by Cerulean, for example, in accordance with the ISO standard method (ISO 6565). The airflow resistance of the filter portion 130, e.g., the first, second or third filter segment, denotes an air pressure difference between one end face (a first end face) and another end face (a second end face) when air at a predetermined air flow rate (17.5 cc/min) flows from the first end face to the second end face in a state in which air does not pass through the side face of the filter portion 130. The units of airflow resistance are generally expressed in mmH₂O. The relationship between airflow resistance of the filter portion 130 and length of the filter portion 130 is known to be a proportional relationship in a normal length range (a length of 5-200 mm), and the airflow resistance of the filter portion 130 also doubles when the length doubles.
Furthermore, the airflow resistance per 120 mm axial length of the first filter segment is especially preferably 255 mmH₂O or less. The airflow resistance per 120 mm axial length of the first filter segment may also be set at 242 mmH₂O or greater or 245 mmH₂O or greater. The numerical value ranges given above for the airflow resistance may be combined in any way.
In addition, the tow packing density in the first filter segment may be set at 0.119 mg/mm³ or greater, and the airflow resistance per 120 mm of axial length of the first filter segment may be set at 245 mmH₂O or greater.
There is no particular restriction on the density of the filter medium 150 in the filter portion 130, and especially in a filter segment that does not internally contain a capsule, but it is normally 0.10 g/cm³-0.25 g/cm³, preferably 0.11 g/cm³-0.24 g/cm³, and more preferably 0.12 g/cm³-0.23 g/cm³. The filter portion 130 may comprise a filter wrapper wrapped around the filter medium, etc., from the point of view of improving strength and structural rigidity. There is no particular restriction on the form of the filter wrapper, and it may include a seam comprising one or more lines of adhesive. The adhesive may comprise a hot-melt adhesive, and further, the hot-melt adhesive may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. Furthermore, when the filter portion 130 comprises two or more segments, these two or more segments are preferably wrapped together by a linking filter wrapper (outside filter wrapper), in order to link the segments. The filter wrapper preferably wraps these two or more segments together. There is no particular restriction on the material of the filter wrapper of the filter portion 130, a well-known material may be used, and the filter wrapper may furthermore comprise a filler such as calcium carbonate.
There is no particular restriction on the thickness of the filter wrapper 160, and it is normally 20 µm-140 µm, preferably 30 µm-130 µm, and more preferably 30 µm-120 µm. There is no particular restriction on the basis weight of the filter wrapper 160, and it is normally 20 gsm-100 gsm, preferably 22 gsm-95 gsm, and more preferably 23 gsm-90 gsm. Furthermore, the filter wrapper may be coated or uncoated, but is preferably coated with a desired material from the viewpoint of allowing functions other than strength and structural rigidity to be imparted.
If the filter portion 130 comprises a center hole filter and an acetate filter, then the center hole filter and the acetate filter may be connected by the outside filter wrapper, for example. The outside filter wrapper may be cylindrical paper, for example. Furthermore, the aerosol source portion 110, the cooling portion 120, and the filter portion 130 in which a center hole filter and an acetate filter are connected may be connected by means of the tipping paper 140, for example. For these connections, for example, an inside surface of the tipping paper (tip paper) 140 may be coated with a glue such as a vinyl acetate-based glue, then the aerosol source portion 110, the cooling portion 120, and the filter portion 130 in which a center hole filter and an acetate filter are connected may be introduced and rolled therein. It should be noted that these portions may also be connected by multiple separate connections with multiple tipping papers. For example, the aerosol source portion 110 and the cooling portion 120 may be linked beforehand by a tipping paper (lining paper), then these portions may be linked with the filter portion 130 by a mouth tipping paper.
The filter portion 130, and in particular the first filter segment, internally comprises a capsule.
There may be either one capsule or two or more capsules.
According to the present invention, at least one of the capsules is arranged at a position no greater than 15 mm from an exposed end of the filter portion closest to the capsule side, out of exposed ends of the filter portion on a mouthpiece side.
The position of the capsule from the exposed end closest to the capsule side out of the exposed ends of the filter portion on the mouthpiece side is preferably no greater than 10 mm, and more preferably no greater than 5 mm. By setting the position of the capsule within the numerical value range above, it is possible to reduce the size of the first filter segment. The position of the capsule from the exposed end closest to the capsule side out of the exposed ends of the filter portion on the mouthpiece side should be 3 mm or greater. The numerical value ranges given for the position of the capsule may be combined in any way.
The position of the capsule may be determined by using a distance between the exposed end closest to the capsule side out of the exposed ends of the filter portion on the mouthpiece side, and the part of the capsule closest to this exposed end.
There is no particular restriction on the diameter of the capsule, and it is preferably 3 mm or greater, and more preferably 3-4 mm. A greater capsule diameter tends to increase the size of a region around the capsule where there is no filter medium, making the capsule more likely to move. A greater capsule diameter therefore leads to marked movement of the capsule when the user applies pressure to the capsule in order to crush the capsule.
The filter portion 130 may comprise a hollow mouthpiece end segment further downstream from the first filter segment which internally comprises the capsule. In this case, the exposed ends of the filter portion on the mouthpiece side comprise a mouthpiece-side end portion of the mouthpiece end segment, and part of a mouthpiece-side end portion of the first filter segment. In this case also, the exposed end closest to the capsule side out of the exposed ends of the filter portion on the mouthpiece side constitutes the mouthpiece-side end portion of the first filter segment.
The capsule may be a crushable additive release container 170 (e.g., a breakable capsule) comprising a crushable outer shell such as gelatin. There is no particular restriction on the form of the capsule (also referred to as an "additive release container" in this technical field), and a well-known form may be adopted, for example, it is possible to use a crushable additive release container 170 comprising a crushable outer shell such as gelatin. There is no particular limitation as to the form of the capsule, and it may be an easily-breakable capsule, for example, and the shape thereof is preferably spherical. Any of the abovementioned additives may be contained as the additive included in the capsule, but a flavoring material or activated carbon is especially preferably contained. Furthermore, one or more types of materials serving as an aid to filtering smoke may be added as an additive. There is no particular limitation as to the form of the additive, and it is normally a liquid or a solid. It should be noted that use of a capsule containing an additive is well known in this technical field. Easily-breakable capsules and methods for producing same are well known in this technical field.
Examples of flavoring materials contained in the capsule include: menthol, spearmint, peppermint, fenugreek, or clove, medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides (MCT), etc., or combinations thereof.
The flavoring material may be added to the filter medium 150 of the filter portion 130. By adding the flavoring material to the filter medium, the amount of flavoring material delivered during use is increased as compared to the prior art, where flavoring material is added to the tobacco filling material constituting the aerosol source 110. The degree of increase in the amount of flavor component delivered further increases according to the positions of openings 103 provided in the cooling portion 120. There is no particular restriction on the method of adding the flavoring material to the filter medium, and the flavoring material should be added so as to be roughly uniformly dispersed in the filter medium which has the flavoring material added thereto. As the amount of flavoring material added, there may be cited a form in which the flavoring material is added to a 10-100 vol% portion of the filter medium. The method of addition may comprise adding the flavoring material in advance to the filter medium, before the filter segment is constructed, or adding the flavoring material after the filter segment has been constructed. There is no particular limitation as to the type of flavoring material, but the same flavoring material as is contained in a tobacco filling material 111 may be used.
The filter portion 130, or the first, second or third filter segment, may comprise the filter medium 150, and activated charcoal may be added to at least a portion of the filter medium. In particular, when activated charcoal is added to the filter portion 130, activated charcoal is preferably added to at least a portion of the filter medium in the second or third filter segment. The amount of activated charcoal which is added to the filter medium may be 15.0 m²/cm²-80.0 m²/cm², as a value which is specific surface area of activated charcoal × weight of activated charcoal / cross-sectional area of filter medium in a direction perpendicular to air flow direction, in one non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100. For convenience, the abovementioned "specific surface area of activated charcoal × weight of activated charcoal / cross-sectional area of filter medium in a direction perpendicular to air flow direction" may also be expressed as "surface area of activated charcoal per unit cross-sectional area". The surface area of activated charcoal per unit cross-sectional area may be calculated on the basis of the specific surface area of the activated charcoal added to the filter medium of one non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, the weight of activated charcoal added, and the cross-sectional area of the filter medium. It should be noted that the activated charcoal need not be uniformly dispersed in the filter medium to which it is added, and it is not necessary for the range above to be satisfied over the entire cross section of the filter medium (the cross section in a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction).
The surface area of activated charcoal per unit cross-sectional area is more preferably 17.0 m²/cm² or greater, and even more preferably 35.0 m²/cm² or greater. Meanwhile, the surface area of activated charcoal per unit cross-sectional area is more preferably 77.0 m²/cm² or less, and even more preferably 73.0 m²/cm² or less. The surface area of activated charcoal per unit cross-sectional area may be adjusted, for example, by adjusting the specific surface area of the activated charcoal and the added amount thereof, and by adjusting the cross-sectional area of the filter medium in the direction perpendicular to air flow direction. The surface area of activated charcoal per unit cross-sectional area is calculated on the basis of the filter medium to which the activated charcoal is added. When the filter portion 130 is formed by multiple filter media, the calculation above is based on the cross-sectional area and length of only the filter medium to which the activated charcoal is added.
Examples of activated charcoal which may be cited include those comprising wood, bamboo, coconut shell, walnut shell, or coal, etc. as a starting material. Furthermore, activated charcoal having a BET specific area of 1100 m²/g-1600 m²/g may be used, activated charcoal having a BET specific surface area of 1200 m²/g-1500 m²/g may preferably be used, and activated charcoal having a BET specific surface area of 1250 m²/g-1380 m²/g may more preferably be used. The BET specific surface area may be determined by the nitrogen gas adsorption method (BET multipoint method). Furthermore, activated charcoal having a pore volume of 400 µL/g-800 µL/g may be used, activated charcoal having a pore volume of 500 µL/g-750 µL/g may preferably be used, and activated charcoal having a pore volume of 600 µL/g-700 µL/g may more preferably be used. The pore volume may be calculated from a maximum adsorption amount obtained using the nitrogen gas adsorption method. The amount of activated charcoal which is added per unit length, in the air flow direction, of the filter medium to which the activated charcoal has been added, is preferably 5 mg/cm-50 mg/cm, more preferably 8 mg/cm-40 mg/cm, and even more preferably 10 mg/cm-35 mg/cm. The surface area of the activated charcoal per unit cross-sectional area may be adjusted to the desired value as a result of the specific surface area of the activated charcoal and the amount of activated charcoal added being in the ranges above.
Furthermore, the cumulative 10 vol% particle size (particle size D10) of activated charcoal particles is preferably 250 µm-1200 µm. Furthermore, the cumulative 50 vol% particle size (particle size D50) of activated charcoal particles is preferably 350 µm-1500 µm. It should be noted that the particle sizes D10 and D50 are measured by means of a laser diffraction scattering method. Apparatuses suitable for this measurement that may be cited include the "LA-950" laser diffraction/scattering particle size distribution measurement apparatus produced by HORIBA, Ltd. A powder is poured into cells of the apparatus together with pure water, and the particle size is detected on the basis of light scattering information of the particles.
The measurement conditions used in this measurement apparatus are as follows.

Measurement mode: manual flow mode-type cell measurement
Dispersion medium: ion exchange water
Dispersion method: measurement after 1 minute of ultrasound irradiation
Refractive index: 1.92-0.00i (sample refraction)/1.33-0.00i (dispersion medium refractive index)
Number of measurements: two measurements with different samples

Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the method of adding the activated charcoal to the filter medium of the filter portion 130, and the activated charcoal should be added so as to be roughly uniformly dispersed in the filter medium to which the activated charcoal is added.

Tipping paper

There is no particular restriction on the material of the tipping paper 140, and it is possible to employ paper made of common vegetable fibers (pulp), a sheet made from polymer-based (polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, etc.) chemical fibers, a polymer-based sheet, metal foil, or a composite material combining the above. For example, the tipping paper 140 may be fabricated from a composite material in which a polymer-based sheet is laminated onto a paper substrate. It should be noted that the tipping paper 140 referred to here means a sheet-like material that connects a plurality of segments of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, such as, for example, linking the aerosol source portion 110 and the filter portion 130.
There is no particular restriction on the basis weight of the tipping paper 140, but it is normally 32 gsm-40 gsm, preferably 33 gsm-39 gsm, and more preferably 34 gsm-38 gsm, for example. There is no particular restriction on the air permeability of the tipping paper 140, and it is normally 0 CORESTA units-30,000 CORESTA units, and preferably greater than 0 CORESTA units and no greater than 10,000 CORESTA units. The air permeability is a value measured in accordance with ISO 2965:2009, and, when a differential pressure of both surfaces of the paper is 1 kPa, the air permeability is expressed by a flow rate (cm³) of a gas passing through a surface area of 1 cm² in 1 minute. 1 CORESTA unit (1 C.U.) constitutes cm³/(min·cm²) under 1 kPa.
The tipping paper 140 may contain a loading material in addition to the above-described pulp, examples of which can include metal carbonates such as calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, metal oxides such as titanium oxide, titanium dioxide and aluminum oxide, metal sulfates such as barium sulfate and calcium sulfate, metal sulfides such as zinc sulfide, quartz, kaolin, talc, diatomaceous earth, gypsum and the like, and calcium carbonate is preferably included in particular from the viewpoint of improving whiteness and opacity and increasing the heating rate. Furthermore, these loading materials may be used alone, or two or more may be used in combination.
Various auxiliaries other than the pulp and the loading material may also be added to the tipping paper 140, for example the paper may comprise a water-resistance improving agent to improve water resistance. A water-resistance improving agent contains a wet-strength agent (WS agent) and a sizing agent. Examples of wet strength agents include urea formaldehyde resins, melamine formaldehyde resins, polyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE), and the like. Furthermore, examples of sizing agents include rosin soap, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), and highly saponified polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more.
A coating agent may be added to at least one of the two surfaces of the tipping paper 140, namely the front surface and the rear surface. There is no particular restriction on the coating agent, but a coating agent that can form a film on the surface and reduce the permeability of liquids is preferred.
There is no particular restriction on the method for manufacturing the tipping paper 140, and general methods can be applied, and for example in the case of an embodiment in which pulp is the main component, a method that uses pulp can be cited, in which the texture is adjusted and homogenized in a papermaking process employing a Fourdrinier papermaking machine, a cylinder mould papermaking machine, or a round-short combined papermaking machine, etc. It should be noted that, if necessary, a wet strength agent can be added to impart water resistance to wrapping paper, or a sizing agent can be added to adjust a printing condition of the wrapping paper.

Aerosol source portion

There is no particular restriction on the configuration of the aerosol source portion 110, and it may take a general form. For example, a tobacco filling material 111 wrapped with a wrapping paper 112 can be used. Alternatively, the aerosol source portion 110 may comprise another segment such as a tip end segment upstream of the segment containing the tobacco filling material 111. A paper or acetate fiber filling material wrapped by a wrapper into a rod shape may be used as the tip end segment.

Tobacco filling material

In this embodiment, the tobacco filling material 111 is configured to contain shredded tobacco. There is no particular limitation as to the material of the shredded tobacco contained in the tobacco filling material 111, and it is possible to use a well-known material such as lamina or midrib. Furthermore, ground tobacco may be formed by grinding dried tobacco leaves to an average particle size of 20 µm-200 µm, then the material which has been homogenized may be processed into a sheet (also referred to below simply as a "homogenized sheet") which is shredded. In addition, the shredded tobacco may be of what is known as the "strand-type", where the tobacco rod is filled with a material obtained by shredding, in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod and substantially horizontally, a homogenized sheet having a length similar to that of the tobacco rod in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the width of the shredded tobacco is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less in order to fill the aerosol source portion 110. Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the content of dried tobacco leaves in the aerosol source portion 110, but between 200 mg/rod portion and 800 mg/rod portion may be cited, and between 250 mg/rod portion and 600 mg/rod portion is preferred. This range is particularly suitable if the aerosol source portion 110 has a circumference of 22 mm and a length of 20 mm.
Various types of tobacco used can be used for the tobacco leaves used in the production of the shredded tobacco and the homogenized sheet. Examples that may be cited include yellow, Burley, orient, or native type, and other Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica varieties, and mixtures thereof. A suitable blend of the abovementioned varieties may be used in a mixture to achieve the intended taste. Details on tobacco varieties are disclosed in "Dictionary of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009". There are several conventional methods for producing the homogenized sheet, that is, methods for grinding tobacco leaves and processing them into a homogenized sheet. According to a first method, a paper sheet is produced by using a papermaking process. According to a second method, a suitable solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves and homogenized, after which the homogenized material is thinly cast on a metal plate or a metal plate belt and dried, to produce a cast sheet. According to a third method, a suitable solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves and homogenized, and the homogenized material is extruded into the form of a sheet and shaped to produce a calendered sheet. Details on types of homogenized sheets are disclosed in "Dictionary of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009".
The amount of moisture contained in the tobacco filling material 111 may be cited as 10 wt%-15 wt%, and preferably 11 wt%-13 wt% with respect to the total weight of the tobacco filling material 111. A moisture content such as this suppresses formation of wrapping stains and improves rolling suitability when the aerosol source portion 110 is produced. There is no particular restriction on the size or method of preparation of the shredded tobacco contained in the tobacco filling material 111. For example, a material obtained by shredding dried tobacco leaves to a width of 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less may be used. Furthermore, when ground material is used in the homogenized sheet, a sheet may be formed by grinding dried tobacco leaves to an average particle size of approximately 20 µm to 200 µm and then homogenizing the ground tobacco, and the homogenized sheet may be shredded to a width of 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less for use.
The tobacco filling material 111 may comprise an aerosol base material for generating an aerosol. There is no particular restriction on the type of aerosol base material, and extracts from various types of natural products and/or components thereof may be selected in accordance with the application. Aerosol base materials which may be cited include glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. There is no particular limitation as to the amount of the aerosol base material contained in the tobacco filling material 111, and the amount is normally 5 wt% or greater and preferably 10 wt% or greater, and normally 50 wt% or less, and preferably 15 wt% or greater and 25 wt% or less, with respect to the total amount of tobacco filling material, from the point of view of sufficient aerosol generation and imparting a good flavor.
The tobacco filling material 111 may contain a flavoring material. There is no particular limitation as to the type of flavoring material, and, from the point of view of imparting a pleasant flavor, there may be cited: acetanisole, acetophenone, acetylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, alfalfa extract, amyl alcohol, amyl butyrate, trans-anethole, star anise oil, apple juice, Peru Balsam oil, beeswax absolute, benzaldehyde, benzoin resinoid, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, benzyl propionate, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanol, butyl butyrate, butyric acid, caramel, cardamom oil, carob absolute, β-carotene, carrot juice, L-carvone, β-caryophyllene, cassia bark oil, cedar wood oil, celery seed oil, chamomile oil, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, citronella oil, DL-citronellol, clary sage extract, cocoa, coffee, cognac oil, coriander oil, cuminaldehyde, davana oil, δ-decalactone, γ-decalactone, decanoic acid, dill herb oil, 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione, 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, 2-ethyl methylbutyrate, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl lactate, ethyl laurate, ethyl levulinate, ethyl maltol, ethyl octanoate, ethyl oleate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl phenylacetate, ethyl propionate, ethyl stearate, ethyl valerate, ethyl vanillin, ethyl vanillin glucoside, 2-ethyl-3,(5 or 6)-dimethylpyrazine, 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine, eucalyptol, fenugreek absolute, genet absolute, gentian root infusion, geraniol, geranyl acetate, grape juice, guaiacol, guava extract, γ-heptalactone, γ-hexalactone, hexanoic acid, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, hexyl acetate, hexyl alcohol, hexyl phenylacetate, honey, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, 4-hydroxyundecanoic acid sodium, immortelle absolute, β-ionone, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, isoamyl phenylacetate, isobutyl acetate, isobutyl phenylacetate, jasmine absolute, kola nut tincture, labdanum oil, lemon terpeneless oil, glycyrrhiza extract, linalool, linalyl acetate, lovage root oil, maltol, maple syrup, menthol, menthone, acetic acid L-menthyl, paramethoxybenzaldehyde, methyl-2-pyrrolyl ketone, methyl anthranilate, methyl phenylacetate, methyl salicylate, 4'-methylacetophenone, methylcyclopentenolone, 3-methylvaleric acid, mimosa absolute, molasses, myristic acid, nerol, nerolidol, γ-nonalactone, nutmeg oil, δ-octalactone, octanal, octanoic acid, orange flower oil, orange oil, orris root oil, palmitic acid, ω-pentadecalactone, peppermint oil, petitgrain Paraguay oil, phenethyl alcohol, phenethyl phenylacetate, phenylacetic acid, piperonal, plum extract, propenyl guaethol, propyl acetate, 3-propylidene phthalide, prune juice, pyruvic acid, raisin extract, rose oil, rum, sage oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil, styrax absolute, marigold oil, tea distillate, α-terpineol, terpinyl acetate, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,5,9-tetramethyl-13-oxacyclo(8.3.0.0(4.9))tridecane, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, thyme oil, tomato extract, 2-tridecanone, triethyl citrate, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)-2-buten-4-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadienyl)-2-buten-4-one, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, γ-undecalactone, γ-valerolactone, vanilla extract, vanillin, veratraldehyde, violet leaf absolute, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboamide (WS-3), and ethyl-2-(p-menthane-3-carboxamide) acetate (WS-5), with menthol being especially preferred. One of these flavoring materials may be used alone, or two or more may be used in combination.
There is no particular restriction on the amount of flavoring contained in the tobacco filler 111, and, from the point of view of imparting a good flavor, the content is normally 10,000 ppm or greater, preferably 20,000 ppm or greater, and more preferably 25,000 ppm or greater, and is normally 70,000 ppm or less, preferably 50,000 ppm or less, more preferably 40,000 ppm or less, and even more preferably 33,000 ppm or less.

Wrapping paper

The wrapping paper 112 is a sheet material for wrapping the tobacco filling material 111, there being no particular restriction on the composition thereof, and a common wrapping paper can be used. For example, cellulose fiber paper can be used as the base paper used for the wrapping paper 112, and more specifically hemp or wood, or mixtures thereof, can be cited. The basis weight of the base paper of the wrapping paper 112 is normally 20 gsm or greater, and preferably 25 gsm or greater, for example. Meanwhile, the basis weight is normally 65 gsm or less, preferably 50 gsm or less, and even more preferably 45 gsm or less. There is no particular limitation as to the thickness of the wrapping paper 112 having the characteristics above, but it is normally 10 µm or greater, preferably 20 µm or greater, and more preferably 30 µm or greater, and furthermore is normally 100 µm or less, preferably 75 µm or less, and more preferably 50 µm or less, from the viewpoint of rigidity and air permeability, and ease of making adjustments during papermaking.
Square or rectangular may be cited as shapes of the wrapping paper 112 of the aerosol source portion 110 (tobacco filling material 111). When used as the wrapping paper 112 for wrapping the tobacco filling material 111 (for producing the aerosol portion 110), one side may have a length of around 6 mm-70 mm, and the other side may have a length of 15 mm-28 mm, preferably a length of 22 mm-24 mm, and even more preferably a length of around 23 mm.
In addition to the abovementioned pulp, the wrapping paper 112 may also comprise a loading material. The content of the loading material may be 10 wt% or greater and less than 60 wt%, and is preferably 15 wt%-45 wt%, with respect to the total weight of the wrapping paper 112. In the wrapping paper 112, the content of the loading material is preferably 15 wt%-45 wt% within the preferred basis weight range (25 gsm-45 gsm). In addition, if the basis weight is 25 gsm-35 gsm, then the content of the loading material is preferably 15 wt%-45 wt%, and if the basis weight is greater than 35 gsm and no greater than 45 gsm, then the content of the loading material is preferably 25 wt%-45 wt%. Calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, or kaolin, etc. may be used as the loading material, but calcium carbonate is preferably used from the point of view of improving flavour and whiteness, etc.
Various auxiliaries other than the base paper and the loading material may also be added to the wrapping paper 112, for example water-resistance improving agents can be added to improve water resistance. A water-resistance improving agent contains a wet-strength agent (WS agent) and a sizing agent. Examples of wet strength agents include urea formaldehyde resins, melamine formaldehyde resins, polyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE), and the like. Furthermore, examples of sizing agents include rosin soap, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), and highly saponified polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more. A paper strength agent may be added as an auxiliary, for example polyacrylamide, cationic starch, oxidized starch, CMC, polyamide epichlorohydrin resin, or polyvinyl alcohol. Using a minute amount of oxidized starch in particular is known to improve air permeability (e.g., see JP 2017-218699 A ). The wrapping paper 112 may also be coated as appropriate.
A coating agent may be added to at least one of the two surfaces of the wrapping paper 112, namely the front surface and the rear surface. There is no particular restriction on the coating agent, but a coating agent that can form a film on the surface and reduce the permeability of liquids is preferred. Examples include polysaccharides such as alginic acid and salts thereof (e.g., sodium salt), and pectin; cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and nitrocellulose; and starch and derivatives thereof (e.g., ether derivatives such as carboxymethyl starch, hydroxyalkyl starch, and cationic starch, and ester derivatives such as acetate starch, phosphate starch, and octenyl succinate starch).
The axial length of the aerosol source portion 110 may be appropriately varied according to the size of the product, but it is, for example, 5 mm or greater, preferably 10 mm or greater, more preferably 12 mm or greater, and even more preferably 18 mm or greater, and furthermore is normally 70 mm or less, preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 30 mm or less, and even more preferably 25 mm or less.

Cooling portion

There is no particular restriction on the configuration of the cooling portion 120, provided that it has the function of cooling the vapor generated by heating of the aerosol source portion, and cardboard processed into a cylindrical shape can be cited, for example. In this case, the inside of the cylinder is a cavity, and vapor containing the aerosol base material and a tobacco flavor component comes into contact with air in the cavity and is cooled. In the example shown in fig. 2, the cooling portion 120 is formed from a single segment, but the cooling portion 120 may equally be formed from multiple segments.
According to one mode, the cooling portion 120 may be a paper tube obtained by processing one sheet of paper or multiple bonded sheets of paper into a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, openings for introducing room-temperature external air are preferably present around the paper tube in order to increase the cooling effect afforded by contact between the external air and the high-temperature vapor. The openings 103 for taking in air from the outside are provided in the cooling portion 120. There is no particular limitation as to the number of openings 103 in the cooling portion 120. In this embodiment, a plurality of openings 103 are arranged at fixed intervals in a circumferential direction of the cooling portion 120. Furthermore, groups of openings 103 arrayed in the circumferential direction of the cooling portion 120 may be formed in multiple stages along the axial direction of the cooling portion 120. Providing the openings 103 in the cooling portion 120 enables low-temperature air to flow into the cooling portion 120 from the outside when the user draws on the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, and it is possible to lower the temperature of volatile components and air flowing in from the aerosol source portion 110. Furthermore, the vapor containing the aerosol base material and tobacco flavor component condenses as a result of being cooled by the low-temperature air introduced into the cooling portion 120 through the openings 103. By this means, aerosol generation is promoted while it is also possible to control the size of aerosol particles. The cooling effect may also be increased by utilizing heat absorption by a coating or heat of solution associated with a change of phase, by coating an inside surface of the paper tube with a polymer coating such as polyvinyl alcohol or a polysaccharide coating such as pectin. The airflow resistance of the cylindrical cooling segment is 0 mmH₂O.
When the cooling portion 120 is filled with a sheet, etc. for cooling air and volatile components flowing into the cooling portion 120 from the aerosol source portion 110, there is no particular restriction on the total surface area of the cooling portion 120, and it may be 300 mm²/mm-1000 mm²/mm, for example. This surface area is the surface area per length (mm) of the cooling portion 120 in the air flow direction. The total surface area of the cooling portion 120 is preferably 400 mm²/mm or greater and more preferably 450 mm²/mm or greater, while preferably being 600 mm²/mm or less, and more preferably 550 mm²/mm or less.
The internal structure of the cooling portion 120 preferably has a large total surface area. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the cooling portion 120 may be formed by a sheet which is a thin material that is creased and then fluted, gathered and folded in order to form channels. This sheet may also be wrapped by a wrapper. The more folds or flutes within a given volume of the element, the greater the total surface area of the cooling portion 120. There is no particular restriction on the thickness of the material constituting the cooling portion 120, and it may be 5 µm-500 µm, or may be 10 µm-250 µm, for example.
It is also desirable to use paper as the material of the cooling sheet member from the perspective of reducing the environmental burden. The paper serving as the cooling sheet material preferably has a basis weight of 30-100 g/m² and a thickness of 20-100 µm. From the perspective of reducing removal of the flavor source component and aerosol base material component in the cooling segment, the paper serving as the cooling sheet material preferably has low air permeability, and an air permeability of 10 CORESTA units or less is preferred. The cooling effect may also be increased by utilizing heat absorption by a coating or heat of solution associated with a change of phase, by coating the paper serving as the cooling sheet material with a polymer coating such as polyvinyl alcohol or a polysaccharide coating such as pectin.
The openings 103 in the cooling portion 120 should preferably be arranged at a position at least 1 mm away from the boundary between the cooling portion 120 and the filter portion 130, and should more preferably be arranged at a position at least 2 mm away. This makes it possible not only to improve the cooling ability of the cooling portion 120, but also to suppress stagnation of components generated by means of heating inside the cooling portion 120, and to increase the amount of delivery of those components. Moreover, openings are preferably provided in the tipping paper 140 at positions directly above (positions vertically overlapping) the openings 103 provided in the cooling portion 120. To this end, the aerosol source portion 110, the cooling portion 120, and the filter portion 130 may be wrapped with the tipping paper 140 and joined together, then the tipping paper 140 and the cooling portion 120 may be irradiated with laser light from above the tipping paper 140 so as to be penetrated by the laser light, thereby providing the openings. The openings in the cooling portion 120 are preferably provided so that a ratio of inflow air from the openings during drawing at 17.5 mL/second on an automatic smoking machine (a volume ratio of air flowing in from the openings when the proportion of air drawn from the mouthpiece end is 100 vol%) is 10-90 vol%, preferably 50-80 vol%, and more preferably 55-75 vol%, for example, the number of openings V per group of openings may be selected from a range of 5-50 openings, the diameter of the openings V may be selected from a range of 0.1-0.5 mm, and the above ratio may be achieved by a combination of these selections. The air inflow ratio may be measured by a method based on ISO9512, using an automatic smoking machine (e.g., a 1-port smoking machine, manufactured by Borgwaldt). There is no particular limitation as to the length of the cooling portion 120 in the axial direction (air flow direction), but it is normally 10 mm or greater and preferably 15 mm or greater and furthermore is normally 40 mm or less, preferably 35 mm or less, and more preferably 30 mm or less. The axial length of the cooling portion 120 is particularly preferably 20 mm. It is possible to ensure a sufficient cooling effect and to obtain a pleasant flavor by setting the axial length of the cooling portion 120 at no less than the abovementioned lower limit. Furthermore, by setting the axial length of the cooling portion 120 at no greater than the abovementioned upper limit, it is possible to inhibit loss caused by adhesion of the vapor and aerosol generated during use to the inner wall of the cooling portion 120.
Furthermore, a portion of the outer surface of the tipping paper 140 may also be covered by a lip-release material in the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 configured in the manner described above. A lip-release material means a material configured for assisting in easy separation, substantially without adhesion, of contact between the lips and the tipping paper 140 when the user holds the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 in their mouth. The lip-release material may comprise ethylcellulose or methylcellulose, etc., for example. For example, the outer surface of the tipping paper 140 may be coated with a lip-release material by applying an ethylcellulose-based or methylcellulose-based ink to the outer surface of the tipping paper 140.
In this embodiment, the lip-release material on the tipping paper 140 is arranged at least on a predetermined mouthpiece region which is contacted by the user's lips when the user holds the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 in their mouth. Specifically, a lip-release material arrangement region R1 (see fig. 2) on the outer surface of the tipping paper 140 which is covered by the lip-release material is defined as a region lying between the mouthpiece end 101 of the filter portion 130 and the openings 103.
Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the airflow resistance in the long axis direction per non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 configured in the manner described above, but, from the viewpoint of ease of drawing, it is normally 8 mmH₂O or greater, preferably 10 mmH₂O or greater, and more preferably 12 mmH₂O or greater, and is also normally 100 mmH₂O or less, preferably 80 mmH₂O or less, and more preferably 60 mmH₂O or less. The airflow resistance is measured by using a filter airflow resistance measurement instrument manufactured by Cerulean, for example, in accordance with the ISO standard method (ISO6565:2015). The airflow resistance denotes an air pressure difference between one end face (a first end face) and another end face (a second end face) when air at a predetermined air flow rate (17.5 cc/min) flows from the first end face to the second end face in a state in which air does not pass through the side face of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100. The units are generally expressed in mmH2O. The relationship between airflow resistance and the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 is known to be a proportional relationship in a normal length range (a length of 5-200 mm), and the airflow resistance of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 also doubles when the length doubles.
The rod-shaped non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 preferably has a columnar shape, satisfying a shape with an aspect ratio of 1 or greater as defined below. $Aspect ratio = h / w$
w is the width of the tip end 102 of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, and h is the length in the axial direction, and preferably h≥w. There is no particular restriction on the transverse-sectional shape of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, and it may be polygonal, rounded polygonal, circular, or elliptical, etc. The width w of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 is the diameter when the transverse-sectional shape of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 is circular, is the major axis when the shape is elliptical, is the diameter of the circumscribing circle when the shape is polygonal, or is the major axis of the circumscribing ellipse when the shape is a rounded polygon. There is no particular restriction on the axial length h of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, and it is normally 40 mm or greater, preferably 45 mm or greater, and more preferably 50 mm or greater, for example. Furthermore, the axial length h is normally 100 mm or less, preferably 90 mm or less, and more preferably 80 mm or less. There is no particular restriction on the width w of the tip end 102 of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, and it is normally 5 mm or greater, and preferably 5.5 mm or greater, for example. Furthermore, the width w is normally 10 mm or less, preferably 9 mm or less, and more preferably 8 mm or less. There is no particular restriction on a ratio (cooling portion : filter portion) between the lengths of the cooling portion 120 and the filter portion 130, in the length of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100, but from the viewpoint of the amount of flavoring material delivered and the appropriate aerosol temperature, this ratio is normally 0.60-1.40:0.60-1.40, preferably 0.80-1.20:0.80-1.20, more preferably 0.85-1.15:0.85-1.15, even more preferably 0.90-1.10:0.90-1.10, and particularly preferably 0.95-1.05:0.95-1.05. By setting the ratio of the lengths of the cooling portion 120 and the filter portion 130 within the above ranges, a balance is achieved between the cooling effect, the effect of suppressing losses due to adhesion of the generated vapor and aerosol to the inner wall of the cooling portion 120, and the function of the filter in adjusting the volume of air and the flavor, thereby making it possible to achieve a good flavor and intensity of flavor.

Non-combustion flavor inhalation device

Fig. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the non-combustion flavor inhalation device 30 according to the first embodiment. The non-combustion flavor inhalation device 30 comprises a housing 31 which is an enclosure for accommodating the various components. The housing 31 accommodates a heater 32, a temperature sensor 35, an inhalation sensor 36, a control unit 37, and a power source 38, etc.

Accommodating portion

The housing 31 comprises the accommodating portion 310 for accommodating the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 in such a way that the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 can be inserted and removed from a front end toward a rear end. The accommodating portion 310 comprises a cylindrical circumferential wall 312 that extends in the insertion/removal direction of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 and that defines the outer circumference of a space into which the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 is inserted, and a disc-shaped rear wall 311 that closes the rear end of the circumferential wall 312 so as to define the rear end of the space. The circumferential wall 312 or the rear wall 311 of the accommodating portion 310 may be formed integrally with the housing 31, or may be formed separately from the housing 31 and assembled to the housing 31.
The open end of the circumferential wall 312 of the accommodating portion 310 is open toward the outside of the housing 31 and serves as the insertion port 3A for inserting the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100. Furthermore, the internal space of the circumferential wall 312 is a cylindrical accommodating cavity 313 into and from which the tip end part of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 can be inserted and removed via the insertion port 3A. In fig. 4, reference sign CL indicates the center axis of the accommodating cavity 313 in the insertion/removal direction of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100. Hereinafter, the direction along the center axis CL is also referred to as the axial direction. It should be noted that the outer diameter of the accommodating cavity 313, that is, the inner diameter of the circumferential wall 312, may be equal to, slightly larger than, or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100.
The heater 32 is provided around the circumferential wall 312 of the accommodating portion 310. The circumferential wall 312 and the rear wall 311 of the accommodating portion 310 are formed from a material which is resistant to the heat of the heater 32 and also transfers the heat of the heater 32 to the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100. Examples of such materials that may be used in the accommodating portion 310 include metals such as stainless steel and heat-resistant resins. The heater 32 may be arranged within the circumferential wall 312.

Heater

The heater 32 receives a supply of electrical power from the control unit 37 and generates heat in order to heat the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 accommodated in the accommodating portion 310. That is to say, the heater 32 is a form of heating unit for heating the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100.
Furthermore, there is no particular limitation as to the type of heater 32, and examples that may be used include heaters in which a heat generating wire (for example, a wire material having a high electrical resistance such as nichrome, iron chromium, or iron nickel) is laid out on a steel material, or a ceramic heater or a sheathed heater. It should be noted that a sheathed heater is a heater in which a heat generating wire is covered with a metal pipe together with a filler.
Fig. 1 shows a state in which the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 has been inserted into the accommodating cavity 313. In this state, the heater 32 receives a supply of power from the control unit 37 and heats the aerosol source portion 110 to a prescribed temperature, as will be described later. Here, a space within the accommodating cavity 313 which is heated to the prescribed temperature by the heat of the heater 32 is defined as a heated region A1, and a space adjacent to the insertion port side of the heated region A1 in the axial direction (insertion/removal direction) is defined as a non-heated region A2. The non-heated region A2 is formed on the insertion port side of the accommodating cavity 313, and the heated region A1 is formed on the interior side of the accommodating cavity 313. Here, the heater 32 is disposed around or within the circumferential wall 312 in the heated region A1, and heats the heated region A1 from the outside. It should be noted that the heater 32 heats not only parts that are in contact therewith, but also heats parts that are separated from the heater 32, by radiation or heat transfer. For example, the heater 32 heats to the prescribed temperature from the front end of the heater 32 to a position 317 on the insertion port side in the axial direction. The heated region A1 is therefore a region from the position 317 to the rear wall 311 in the axial direction of the accommodating portion 310. That is, the position 317 is the boundary between the heated region A1 and the non-heated region A2, and the non-heated region A2 extends from the boundary 317 to the front end of the accommodating cavity 313 in the axial direction. It should be noted that the boundary 317 may be defined at the boundary between the region that reaches the prescribed temperature when actually heated by the heater 32 and the region that is below the prescribed temperature, or may be defined at an estimated boundary, by estimating the boundary between the region that reaches the prescribed temperature when the heater 32 generates heat under predetermined conditions, and the region that is below the prescribed temperature. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, a boundary position between the region where the circumferential wall 312 reaches the prescribed temperature and the region where the circumferential wall 312 is below the prescribed temperature is estimated, and a plane passing through the boundary position orthogonal to the center axis CL is defined as the boundary 317, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in fig. 4. When the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 has been inserted into the accommodating cavity 313, the aerosol source portion 110 is positioned in the heated region A1, and at least a portion of the cooling portion 120 is positioned in the non-heated region A2. It should be noted that when the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 is in a predetermined state, for example in a state in which the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 100 has been inserted into the accommodating cavity 313 until the tip end 102 of the flavor inhalation article 100 butts against the rear wall 311 of the accommodating portion 310, the part of the accommodating cavity 313 in which the aerosol source portion 110 is positioned may be defined as the heated region A1, and the part in which the cooling portion 120 is positioned may be defined as the non-heated region A2.

EXAMPLES

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

EXAMPLE 1

Tow consisting of filaments having a C-shaped cross section (filament denier: 8.2, total denier: 29,000) was prepared, and a triacetin plasticizer was uniformly added to the tow by spraying. The triacetin was added to achieve a target triacetin content of 6 wt% with respect to the weight of the tow.
Breakable capsules (roughly spherical, diameter: 3.5 mm) were placed at equal intervals within the tow to which triacetin had been added, and the outer circumference thereof was wrapped with a filter wrapper (oil resistant paper having a basis weight of 26 gsm and a thickness of 40 µm) to produce a cylindrical filter rod (continuous filter segment, axial length: 120 mm, circumference: 21.3 mm). The resulting filter rod corresponds to 10 filter segments (axial length: 12 mm). The 10 breakable capsules were placed inside the filter rod obtained, the distance between centers of adjacent breakable capsules was 12 mm, and the distance between the center of the breakable capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and that end portion was 6 mm (the distance between the part of the capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and the end portion of the filter rod was 4.25 mm). Furthermore, the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area was 803 denier/mm² for the filter rod obtained. Here, the filter cross-sectional area is a cross-sectional area calculated from the diameter of the filter rod minus the thickness of the filter wrapper.
As shown in Table 1 below, the packing density of the tow inside the filter rod was 0.120 mg/mm³.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

A cylindrical filter rod (axial length: 120 mm, circumference: 21.3 mm) was produced in the same way as in Example 1, except that a feed amount of the tow was changed so that the packing density of the tow inside the filter rod obtained was 0.115 mg/mm³. 10 breakable capsules were placed inside the filter rod obtained, similarly to Example 1, the distance between centers of adjacent breakable capsules was 12 mm, and the distance between the center of the breakable capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and that end portion was 6 mm (the distance between the part of the capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and the end portion of the filter rod was 4.25 mm). Furthermore, the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area was 803 denier/mm² for the filter rod obtained.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

A cylindrical filter rod (axial length: 120 mm, circumference: 21.3 mm) was produced in the same way as in Example 1, except that a feed amount of the tow was changed so that the packing density of the tow inside the filter rod obtained was 0.117 mg/mm³. 10 breakable capsules were placed inside the filter rod obtained, similarly to Example 1, the distance between centers of adjacent breakable capsules was 12 mm, and the distance between the center of the breakable capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and that end portion was 6 mm (the distance between the part of the capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and the end portion of the filter rod was 4.25 mm). Furthermore, the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area was 803 denier/mm² for the filter rod obtained.

EXAMPLE 2

A cylindrical filter rod (axial length: 120 mm, circumference: 21.3 mm) was produced in the same way as in Example 1, except that tow consisting of filaments having a C-shaped cross section (filament denier: 12, total denier: 28,000) was used instead of the tow consisting of filaments having a C-shaped cross section (filament denier: 8.2, total denier: 29,000). As shown in Table 1 below, the packing density of the tow inside the filter rod was 0.119 mg/mm³. 10 breakable capsules were placed inside the filter rod obtained, similarly to Example 1, the distance between centers of adjacent breakable capsules was 12 mm, and the distance between the center of the breakable capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and that end portion was 6 mm (the distance between the part of the capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and the end portion of the filter rod was 4.25 mm). Furthermore, the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area was 794 denier/mm² for the filter rod obtained.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3

A cylindrical filter rod (axial length: 120 mm, circumference: 21.3 mm) was produced in the same way as in Example 2, except that a feed amount of the tow was changed so that the packing density of the tow inside the filter rod obtained was 0.116 mg/mm³. 10 breakable capsules were placed inside the filter rod obtained, similarly to Example 2, the distance between centers of adjacent breakable capsules was 12 mm, and the distance between the center of the breakable capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and that end portion was 6 mm (the distance between the part of the capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and the end portion of the filter rod was 4.25 mm). Furthermore, the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area was 794 denier/mm² for the filter rod obtained.

EXAMPLE 3

A cylindrical filter rod (axial length: 120 mm, circumference: 21.3 mm) was produced in the same way as in Example 1, except that tow consisting of filaments having a C-shaped cross section (filament denier: 5, total denier: 30,000) was used instead of the tow consisting of filaments having a C-shaped cross section (filament denier: 8.2, total denier: 29,000). As shown in Table 1 below, the packing density of the tow inside the filter rod was 0.120 mg/mm³. 10 breakable capsules were placed inside the filter rod obtained, similarly to Example 1, the distance between centers of adjacent breakable capsules was 12 mm, and the distance between the center of the breakable capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and that end portion was 6 mm (the distance between the part of the capsule closest to the end portion of the filter rod and the end portion of the filter rod was 4.25 mm). Furthermore, the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area was 851 denier/mm² for the filter rod obtained.

Evaluation

The airflow resistance (PD) indicated below was measured and positional shift of the breakable capsules was evaluated for the filter rods of Examples 1, 2 and 3, and of Comparative Examples 1 and 2 produced in the manner described above. The results are shown in Table 1.

Airflow resistance (PD)

The airflow resistance (PD) of the filter rods was measured by means of an airflow resistance measurement gauge (trade name: SODIMAX, manufactured by SODIM) in accordance with ISO 6565:2015.

Evaluation of positional shift of breakable capsules

Using a pinch tester, pronounced positional shift was evaluated for the breakable capsule contained in the filter segment located at the terminal (also referred to below as the terminal filter segment) of the filter rod (continuous filter segment). Specifically, as shown in fig. 5, pinching members 443 of the pinch tester were used to apply pressure to and pinch a boundary portion between a terminal filter segment 442 having an axial length of 12 mm, and a second-place filter segment 441 having an axial length of 12 mm which was adjacent to the terminal filter segment 442. After the end of pinching, the continuous filter segment was moved 1 mm in a feed direction 444 to move the pinch position 1 mm to the terminal side, after which the pinching process was again repeated 11 times.
If the breakable capsule 440 in the terminal filter segment 442 had moved by 3.0 mm or more after the end of the test, this was evaluated as pronounced positional shift. The evaluations were carried out for 30 continuous filter segments, and the rate of pronounced positional shift was calculated. The results are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Table 1

	Tow packing density (mg/mm³)	Airflow resistance (PD) (mmH₂O)	Rate of pronounced positional shift (%)
Example 1	0.120	253	0
Example 2	0.119	251	30
Example 3	0.120	405	0
Comparative Example 1	0.115	220	84
Comparative Example 2	0.117	243	70
Comparative Example 3	0.116	214	90

As shown in Table 1, the rate of pronounced positional shift was low in the terminal filter segments of Examples 1-3, and positional shift of the breakable capsules was suppressed even when an external force was supplied.
Meanwhile, the rate of pronounced positional shift was high in the terminal filter segments of Comparative Examples 1-3, and positional shift of the breakable capsules occurred when an external force was applied.
As described above, the non-combustion flavor inhalation article according to the present invention, in which a filter medium comprising tow that contains filaments having a C-shaped cross section, wherein at least one capsule is arranged at a position no greater than 15 mm from an exposed end of a filter portion closest to the capsule side, out of exposed ends of the filter portion on a mouthpiece side, makes it possible to stabilize the position of the capsule while maintaining low filtration.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

100: Non-combustion flavor inhalation article
101: Mouthpiece end
102: Tip end
103: Opening
110: Aerosol source portion
111: Tobacco filling material
112: Wrapping paper
120: Cooling portion
130: Filter portion
140: Tipping paper
150: Filter medium
160: Filter wrapper
170: Additive release container
R1: Lip-release material arrangement region
200: Non-combustion flavor inhalation system
30: Non-combustion flavor inhalation device
3A: Insertion port
31: Housing
32: Heater
35: Temperature sensor
36: Inhalation sensor
37: Control unit
38: Power source
310: Accommodating portion
311: Rear wall
312: Circumferential wall
313: Accommodating cavity
317: Boundary
CL: Center line
A1: Heated region
A2: Non-heated region
440: Breakable capsule
441: Second-place filter segment
442: Terminal filter segment
443: Pinching member
444: Feed direction

Claims

A non-combustion flavor inhalation article comprising an aerosol source portion, a cooling portion, and a filter portion, wherein
the filter portion comprises a first filter segment, and the first filter segment comprises a filter medium and a capsule,

the filter medium comprises tow that contains filaments having a C-shaped cross section, and

at least one of the capsules is arranged at a position no greater than 15 mm from an exposed end of the filter portion closest to the capsule side, out of exposed ends of the filter portion on a mouthpiece side.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packing density of the tow is 0.117 mg/mm³ or greater.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the packing density of the tow is 0.125 mg/mm³ or less.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the airflow resistance per 120 mm axial length of the first filter segment is 255 mmH₂O or less.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the filament denier of filaments contained in the tow is 5-12, and the total denier of filaments contained in the tow/filter cross-sectional area is 600-900 denier/mm².
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filter portion further comprises a second filter segment, and the second filter segment is arranged upstream of the first filter segment.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an axial length of the first filter segment is 15 mm or less.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the aerosol source portion comprises a tobacco filling material.
A non-combustion flavor inhalation system comprising the non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.