EP4748242A1

EP4748242A1 - Rod part for flavor inhalation article, non-combustion type flavor inhalation article, and non-combustion type flavor inhalation system

Info

Publication number: EP4748242A1
Application number: EP23945879.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Takuya Akahane
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2023-07-19
Filing date: 2023-07-19
Publication date: 2026-05-27
Also published as: CN121568615A; KR20260022432A; WO2025017876A1; JPWO2025017876A1; TW202508470A

Abstract

A rod portion for a flavor inhalation article comprises: a filler material; a wrapper which is formed into a sheet shape and covers the outer circumference of the filler material; and a seam portion for fixing an overlap part of the wrapper. The seam portion is provided along an axial direction of the rod portion at the overlap part between end portions of the wrapper, comprises a first region afforded by a water-based adhesive and a second region afforded by a water-based adhesive and provided adjacent to a circumferential outer side of the first region at the overlap part of the wrapper, and fixes the overlap part of the wrapper. A hot-melt adhesive which is melted by heating is then not used at the seam portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rod portion for a flavor inhalation article, a non-combustion flavor inhalation article, and a non-combustion flavor inhalation system.

BACKGROUND ART

WO 2017/104079 A1 , for example, describes a form of seam portion at an overlap of a wrapper of a filter segment. Both a hot-melt adhesive, which demonstrates rapid curability when the molten form thereof is cooled, and a water-based adhesive, which has superior bonding strength (peel strength) to a hot-melt adhesive, are generally applied adjacent to each other at the overlap of a wrapper of a filter segment in order to fix the overlap.
For example, the seam portion of a wrapper of a tobacco rod, etc. in a flavor inhalation article may be fixed by using both a hot-melt adhesive and a water-based adhesive, with the seam portion then being heated at a temperature at or above a suitable temperature, such as between 200°C and 400°C, at which point there is a possibility that the hot-melt adhesive, which has a melting point of around 120°C-200°C, for example, will melt. In this case, there is a possibility of a reduction in the fixing strength of the heated seam portion of the wrapper.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The objective of the present invention lies in providing a rod portion for a flavor inhalation article, a non-combustion flavor inhalation article and a non-combustion flavor inhalation system, capable of inhibiting a reduction in the strength of a seam portion when the seam portion of a wrapper such as that of a tobacco rod of the flavor inhalation article is heated.
A rod portion for a flavor inhalation article according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a filler material; a wrapper which is formed into a sheet shape and covers the outer circumference of the filler material; and a seam portion for fixing an overlap part of the wrapper. The seam portion is provided along an axial direction of the rod portion at the overlap part between end portions of the wrapper, comprises a first region afforded by a water-based adhesive and a second region afforded by a water-based adhesive and provided adjacent to a circumferential outer side of the first region at the overlap part of the wrapper, and fixes the overlap part of the wrapper. A hot-melt adhesive which is melted by heating is then not used at the seam portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a flavor inhalation system according to an embodiment.
Fig. 2 schematically shows an internal structure of a flavor inhalation device in the flavor inhalation system shown in fig. 1.
Fig. 3A is a schematic view in longitudinal section of the flavor inhalation article shown in fig. 1.
Fig. 3B is a variant example of a mouthpiece portion of the flavor inhalation article in fig. 3A.
Fig. 4 is a schematic oblique view of a tip-end rod of a rod portion shown in fig. 3A.
Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram of the tip-end rod seen from the direction indicated by the arrow V in fig. 4.
Fig. 5B is a variant example of the schematic diagram of a tip-end rod shown in fig. 5A.
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of the wrapper of the tip-end rod seen from the direction indicated by the arrow VI in fig. 5A.
Fig. 7 is a table showing amount of water-based adhesive, conveyance speed during production, peel strength, and evaluation of peel strength of seam portions of the tip-end rod, etc. shown in fig. 4-6.
Fig. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between amount of water-based adhesive per unit length of the first seam portion, etc., and peel strength.
Fig. 9 is a schematic oblique view of a tobacco rod of the rod portion shown in fig. 3A.
Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of the tobacco rod seen from the direction indicated by the arrow X in fig. 9.
Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of the wrapper of the tobacco rod seen from the direction indicated by the arrow XI in fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a schematic oblique view showing a state in which the rod portion and a portion of a cooling portion shown in fig. 3A are covered by an outer wrapper.
Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the cooling portion and the outer wrapper seen from the direction indicated by the arrow XIII in fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of the outer wrapper seen from the direction indicated by the arrow XIV in fig. 13.
Fig. 15 is a first variant example of a schematic diagram showing a portion of the wrapper of the tip-end rod seen from the direction indicated by the arrow VI in fig. 5A.
Fig. 16 is a second variant example of a schematic diagram showing a portion of the wrapper of the tip-end rod seen from the direction indicated by the arrow VI in fig. 5A.
Fig. 17 is a third variant example of a schematic diagram showing a portion of the wrapper of the tip-end rod seen from the direction indicated by the arrow VI in fig. 5A.
Fig. 18 is a fourth variant example of a schematic diagram showing a portion of the wrapper of the tip-end rod seen from the direction indicated by the arrow VI in fig. 5A.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 shows the schematic structure of a non-combustion flavor inhalation system 200 according to an embodiment. As shown in fig. 1, the flavor inhalation system 200 comprises: a non-combustion flavor inhalation article (mainly referred to below as a "flavor inhalation article") 10; and a non-combustion flavor inhalation device (mainly referred to below as a "device") 300 for heating the outer circumference of a tobacco rod (aerosol source) 24, which will be described later, of the flavor inhalation article 10.

Flavor inhalation device 300

Fig. 2 schematically shows an internal structure of the flavor inhalation device 300 according to the embodiment.
As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the device 300 comprises: a housing 310 which is an enclosure for accommodating various constituent parts, a heater 320, a temperature sensor 350, an inhalation sensor 360, a control unit 370, and a power source 380. The heater 320, temperature sensor 350, inhalation sensor 360, control unit 370, and power source 380 are each provided in the housing 310.
The housing 310 comprises an accommodating portion 311 for accommodating a rod portion 12 (to be described later) of the flavor inhalation article 10 in such a way that the rod portion 12 can be inserted and removed from an opening end (insertion port) 311a toward a closed end (bottom portion 313) on the inside. The accommodating portion 311 has a circumferential wall (cylindrical tube) 312 and a bottom portion 313. The circumferential wall 312 and the bottom portion 313 of the accommodating portion 311 form an internal space as a columnar accommodating cavity 311b allowing insertion and removal of the rod portion 12 of the flavor inhalation article 10 through the opening end 311a. Note that the outer diameter of the accommodating cavity 311b, i.e., the inner diameter of the circumferential wall 312, may be equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flavor inhalation article 10. The flavor inhalation article 10 is therefore accommodated in the accommodating cavity 311b of the accommodating portion 311 in such a way that it can be inserted into and removed from the accommodating cavity 311b through the opening end 311a of the device 300.
In fig. 1 and 2, reference sign CL indicates the center axis of the accommodating cavity 311b in the insertion/removal direction of the flavor inhalation article 10. In the example shown in fig. 1, the center axis of the flavor inhalation article 10 is preferably aligned with the center axis CL of the accommodating cavity 311b of the device 300. A direction along this center axis CL will also be referred to below as an axial direction of the device 300 and of the rod portion 12, a cooling portion (cooling segment) 14, and a mouthpiece portion (mouthpiece segment) 16 of the flavor inhalation article 10.
The heater 320 is provided around or within the circumferential wall 312 of the accommodating portion 311. The circumferential wall 312 and the bottom portion 313 of the accommodating portion 311 are formed by a material which is resistant to the heat of the heater 320 and transmits the heat of the heater 320 to the flavor inhalation article 10. A metal such as stainless steel or a heat-resistant resin, for example, may be used as such a material used in the accommodating portion 311.
The heater 320 receives a supply of electrical power from the control unit 370 and generates heat in order to heat the flavor inhalation article 10 accommodated in the accommodating portion 311. The maximum temperature to which the flavor inhalation article 10 is heated by the heater 320 is between 200°C and 400°C, for example. Examples of the maximum heating temperature vary according to the heater 320 which is used.
A space within the accommodating cavity 311b which is heated to the prescribed temperature by the heat of the heater 320 is defined as a heated region A1, and a space axially adjacent to the opening end 311a side of the heated region A1 is defined as a non-heated region A2. The heated region A1 is formed on the bottom portion 313 side of the accommodating cavity 311b.
There is no particular limitation as to the type of heater 320, 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 temperature-controllable heaters such as 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.
The heater 320 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 320 provides heating not only at the location of contact with the circumferential wall 312 of the accommodating portion 311, but may also provide heating by means of radiation or heat transfer at locations remote from the heater 320 on the circumferential wall 312 and the bottom portion 313 of the accommodating portion 311. The heater 320 provides heating at a prescribed temperature or greater, for example, from an axial position including the bottom portion 313 of the accommodating portion 311 as far as a position B on the opening end 311a side of the circumferential wall 312, for example.
The heated region A1 is therefore a region between the position B and the bottom portion 313 in the axial direction of the accommodating portion 311. The position B is the boundary between the heated region A1 and the non-heated region A2, with the non-heated region A2 extending from the boundary B to the opening end 311a of the accommodating cavity 311b in the axial direction. It should be noted that the boundary B may be defined as the boundary between the region that reaches the prescribed temperature when actually heated by the heater 320 and the region below the prescribed temperature, or may be defined as an estimated boundary, by estimating the boundary between the region that reaches the prescribed temperature when the heater 320 generates heat under predetermined conditions, and the region below the prescribed temperature.
Fig. 1 shows a state in which the rod portion 12 of the flavor inhalation article 10 has been inserted into the accommodating cavity 311b. In this state, the heater 320 generates heat on receiving a supply of power from the control unit 370, and heats the outer circumference of the tobacco rod 24 to the prescribed temperature.
In this 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 this boundary position orthogonal to the center axis CL is defined as the boundary B, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in fig. 2. When the flavor inhalation article 10 has been inserted into the accommodating cavity 311b, the tobacco rod 24 is positioned in the heated region A1, and at least a portion of the cooling portion 14 is positioned in the non-heated region A2.
It should be noted that when the flavor inhalation article 10 is in a predetermined state, for example in a state in which the flavor inhalation article 10 has been inserted into the accommodating cavity 311b until a tip end De thereof butts against the bottom portion 313 of the accommodating portion 311, the part of the accommodating cavity 311b in which the tobacco rod 24 is positioned may be defined as the heated region A1, and the part in which the cooling portion 14 is positioned may be defined as the non-heated region A2.
When a user uses the device 300, the flavor inhalation article 10 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 311b, and in that state, the heater 320 provided in the accommodating portion 311 is caused to generate heat in order to heat a tobacco filler material inside the flavor inhalation article 10, thereby generating an aerosol comprising a tobacco component to be inhaled by the user.
The control unit 370 controls the operating state of the device 300, such as controlling heating by the heater 320 based on the temperature sensor 350 and/or the inhalation sensor 360. The control unit 370 is a computer comprising a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a memory such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM), and an input/output unit, for example.

Flavor inhalation article 10

An example of using the flavor inhalation article 10 as a non-combustion article will be described in this embodiment. The flavor inhalation article 10 according to this embodiment is formed with a substantially cylindrical rod shape. The flavor inhalation article 10 has a substantially constant diameter over its entire length in the longitudinal direction (also referred to below as the axial direction) from a mouthpiece end Me to the tip end De. The full length of the flavor inhalation article 10 is around 60 mm, for example, and the outer diameter thereof is around 7 mm, for example.
As shown in fig. 3A, the flavor inhalation article 10 comprises: the rod portion (rod) 12, the cooling portion 14 provided downstream of the rod portion 12, a mouthpiece portion (filter portion) 16 provided downstream of the cooling portion 14, and a sheet-like tipping paper 18 linking the above portions as a single piece.
The rod portion 12 is disposed at or close to the part which is heated by means of the device 300. The rod portion 12 comprises: the tip-end rod (tip-end plug) 22, and the tobacco rod (tobacco segment, aerosol source) 24 adjacently downstream of the tip-end rod 22. That is to say, the rod portion 12 comprises the tip-end rod 22 which is disposed on the opposite side of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article 10 to the mouthpiece portion 16, and the tobacco rod 24 which is provided between the tip-end rod 22 and the cooling portion 14.
The axial length and the outer diameter of the tip-end rod 22 and the tobacco rod 24 may be modified, as appropriate, to suit the product non-combustion flavor inhalation article 10. The axial length of the tip-end rod 22 is preferably around 5 mm, for example. The axial length of the tobacco rod 24 is preferably around 15 mm, for example.
It should be noted that when the rod portion 12 has been suitably inserted into the accommodating cavity 311b in the accommodating portion 311 of the device 300, the tobacco rod 24 is preferably inside the heater 320 over its whole circumference, but a portion of the tip-end rod 22 may also be inside the heater 320, or need not be inside the heater 320.
The tip-end rod 22 has the role of a cover, for example, and is formed as what is known as a "tip-end plug" to prevent a filler material 42 (to be described later) from falling out from the tip end side of the tobacco rod 24. The tip-end rod 22 comprises: a filler material 32, and a sheet-like inner plug wrapper (segment wrapper) 34 covering the outer circumference of the filler material 32.
The filler material 32 in the tip-end rod 22 is preferably a paper sheet material, a nonwoven fabric sheet material, a resin sheet material, or cellulose acetate tow. The filler material 32 in the tip-end rod 22 may comprise an aerosol-generating substrate. There is no particular limitation as to the type of aerosol-generating substrate, and extracts from various types of natural products and/or components thereof may be selected in accordance with the application. Aerosol-generating substrates that may be cited include glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.
The filler material 32 in the tip-end rod 22 is formed as a substantially cylindrical rod with a suitable length by creping (crimping) or folding, for example, a paper sheet material, a nonwoven fabric sheet material, or a resin sheet material. A paper sheet material which may be used by those skilled in the art as a paper filter can be employed. Glassine paper, for example, may also be used as the paper sheet material. In this embodiment, the width of the base paper of the filler material 32 is, for example, preferably 100 mm-250 mm, more preferably 150 mm-200 mm, and is 180 mm in one example, and the basis weight thereof is normally 20 gsm or greater and normally 65 gsm or less. The basis weight of the base paper of the filler material 32 according to this embodiment is 35 gsm. There is no limitation as to the thickness of the filler material 32, and it is normally 10 µm or greater and normally 100 µm or less from the perspective of rigidity, air permeability, and ease of adjustments during papermaking. In this embodiment, the thickness of the filler material 32 is 88 µm, by way of example.
The air permeability of the paper sheet material (stock paper) after creping is between 0 CU (CORESTA units) and 30,000 CU. In this embodiment, the air permeability of the sheet material of the filler material 32 in the tip-end rod 22 is 3000 CU, for example. Note that the air permeability is measured as follows. A sheet was left to stand for 48 hours under conditions of room temperature of 22°C and 60% relative humidity. The sheet was then cut to a size of 40 mm × 240 mm, and the air permeability was measured using an air permeability measurement apparatus (PPM1000M manufactured by Cerulean) under measurement conditions of a differential pressure of 1 kPa with a circular measurement head of 2 cm². The measurement environment was room temperature of 22°C and relative humidity of 60%. The air permeability was calculated as the air permeation flow rate (cm³) in 1 minute per 1 cm² under conditions of a differential pressure of 1 kPa.
The airflow resistance of the tip-end rod 22 is, for example, 0 mmH₂O/mm-12 mmH₂O/mm, and is preferably 4 mmH₂O/mm-8 mmH₂O/mm.
The crimping depth (creping depth) of the filler material 32 is preferably in a range of 0.1 mm-0.5 mm, and in one example is 0.33 mm.
Examples of additives which may be added to the filler material 32 include plasticizers such as triacetin, adsorbents such as activated charcoal, and flavoring agents such as menthol. These additives are preferably substantially uniformly dispersed in the filler material 32.
The inner plug wrapper (referred to below mainly as a "wrapper") 34 is a sheet material which is wrapped around the outer circumference of the filler material 32, and there is no particular restriction on the composition thereof, and a common wrapper may be used. For example, cellulose fiber paper can be used as the base paper employed in the wrapper 34. More specifically, hemp or wood, or mixtures thereof may be cited as the base paper used in the wrapper 34. The basis weight of the base paper of the wrapper 34 is, for example, normally 20 gsm or greater and normally 100 gsm or less, more preferably 30 gsm-80 gsm, and even more preferably 40 gsm-60 gsm.
The basis weight of the base paper of the wrapper 34 according to this embodiment is 43 gsm. There is no limitation as to the thickness of the wrapper 34, and it is normally 10 µm or greater and normally 100 µm or less from the perspective of rigidity, air permeability, and ease of adjustments during papermaking. In this embodiment the thickness of the wrapper 34 is 45 µm, by way of example. The air permeability of the wrapper 34 is preferably 0.
Shapes of the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22 which may be cited include a square shape or a rectangular shape such as an oblong, for example. When the wrapper 34 is used to wrap the filler material 32, the length of one side of the wrapper 34 may be around 5 mm, which defines the length along the axial direction of the tip-end rod 22. The length of the other side of the wrapper 34 is a length defining the diameter of the tip-end rod 22. The length of the other side of the wrapper 34 is around 24 mm. The length of the other side of the wrapper 34 in this embodiment is 23.7 mm.
The wrapper 34 may contain a loading material. The content of the loading material may be 10 wt% or greater and less than 60 wt% with respect to the total weight of the wrapper 34. In the wrapper 34, the content of the loading material is preferably 15 wt%-45 wt% within the preferred basis weight range (25 gsm-45 gsm). 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 wrapper 34, for example water-resistance improving agents can be added to improve water resistance. Water-resistance improving agents include wet-strength agents (WS agents) and sizing agents. 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, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyamide epichlorohydrin resin, or polyvinyl alcohol. Using a minute amount of oxidized starch in particular is known to improve air permeability. The wrapper 34 may also be coated, as appropriate.
A coating agent may be added to at least one of the two surfaces of the wrapper 34, namely the front surface (outer surface) and the rear surface (inner circumferential surface). There is no particular restriction on the coating agent, but a coating agent that can form a film on the surface of the paper 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).
A first seam portion 36 serving to fix an overlapped part 34a by means of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b which will be described later is formed on the wrapper 34. The structure for fixing the overlap part 34a of the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22 will be described below. The circumferential width of the overlap part 34a of the wrapper 34 is 1 mm-3 mm, and is more preferably around 2.4 mm-2.7 mm.
The wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22 will be described here with the aid of fig. 4-8. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the wrapper 34 has been wrapped around the outer circumference of the filler material 32 in the tip-end rod 22. Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram indicated by the arrow V in fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the first seam portion 36 for fixing the overlap part 34a of the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22, seen from the direction indicated by the arrow VI in fig. 5A.
As shown in fig. 5A, the wrapper 34 is wound around the outer circumference of the filler material 32 obtained by processing a sheet material to form a substantially cylindrical rod shape, for example. As shown in fig. 5A and 6, the first seam portion 36 for fixing the overlap part 34a of the wrapper 34 is provided on the wrapper 34 by placing end portions of the substantially rectangular sheet material one over the other and bonding the end portions using the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b. The first seam portion 36 is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 at the overlap part 34a between the end portions of the wrapper 34.
A hot-melt adhesive, which is melted by heating to a suitable temperature (e.g., a temperature suitable for causing the tobacco rod 24 to generate an aerosol) is not used at the first seam portion 36 as a fixing member for fixing the overlap part 34a. In other words, a paste which inhibits a fixing force resulting from heating to the suitable temperature from dropping below the desired fixing force as compared to before heating, or a paste or an adhesive which inhibits a fixing force resulting from heating to the suitable temperature from dropping below the desired fixing force as compared to before heating, i.e., only a water-based adhesive, is used as the fixing member for fixing the overlap part 34a at the first seam portion 36.
The first seam portion 36 comprises a first region (1) 36a coated with the water-based adhesive 37a, and a first region (2) 36b which is coated with the water-based adhesive 37b and is provided adjacent to and circumferentially outside the first region (1) 36a of the overlap part 34a of the wrapper 34. The first region (1) 36a and the first region (2) 36b each have a substantially rectangular shape. The first region (1) 36a and the first region (2) 36b are each 0.1 mm-1 mm and preferably 0.2 mm-0.5 mm in the circumferential direction, for example.
The water-based adhesives 37a, 37b are adhesives with which curing is promoted as a result of moisture in the adhesives evaporating, and thus the bonding force increases. The water-based adhesives 37a, 37b comprise one of: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and starch paste, or a mixture of at least two of said EVA, PVA, CMC, and starch paste. That is to say, the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b comprise a water-based paste which is cured as a result of the moisture contained therein evaporating.
This embodiment describes the example of using ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA) as the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b. It should be noted that the composition of the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b is 54% EVA, with 46% water and balance. Furthermore, in one example, the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b have a viscosity of 1100 MPa·s during production of the tip-end rod 22. The same also applies to water-based adhesives 47a, 47b, 57a, 57b (to be described later), for example.
As mentioned above, the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b are adhesives which increase the bonding force as a result of moisture contained in the adhesives evaporating. It is therefore conceivable that the strength of the seam portion 36 will increase as a result of heating to the suitable temperature using the heater 320 of the device 300, but a reduction in the strength of the seam portion 36 is not a possibility. That is to say, a reduction in the strength of the seam portion 36 when the seam portion 36 is heated is inhibited in the wrapper 34.
The first region (1) 36a and the first region (2) 36b are each provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12. The water-based adhesives 37a, 37b are continuous along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 in the first region (1) 36a and the first region (2) 36b according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the whole of the first region (1) 36a is preferably coated with the water-based adhesive 37a, and the whole of the first region (2) 36b is preferably coated with the water-based adhesive 37b.
A region 38a without the water-based adhesive (adhesive-free region) is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 between the first region (1) 36a and the first region (2) 36b. The width of the adhesive-free region 38a between the first region (1) 36a and the first region (2) 36b in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12 is preferably 0.1 mm-1 mm.
Furthermore, a region 38b without the water-based adhesive (adhesive-free region) is formed between the first region (2) 36b and an end face 34b on the circumferential outer side of the wrapper 34. The width of the adhesive-free region 38b in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12, i.e., a distance on the wrapper 34 between the first region (2) 36b and the end face 34b on the circumferential outer side of the overlap part 34a, is preferably greater than 0 mm and smaller than 2 mm. This circumferential width is more preferably 0.1 mm-1 mm, for example.
Furthermore, a region 38c without the water-based adhesive (adhesive-free region) is formed between the first region (1) 36a and an end face 34c on the opposite side of the wrapper 34. The width of the adhesive-free region 38c in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12 is preferably 0.1 mm-1 mm. It should be noted that the region 38c need not be present, and the water-based adhesive 37a may be applied up to the end face 34c, or else may be applied to the filler material 32 beyond the end face 34c. That is to say, the filler material 32 and the wrapper 34 may be bonded together by means of the water-based adhesive 37a.
The total of the amount of water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a and of the amount of water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b is 1 mg/120 mm-5 mg/120 mm, for example. The amount of water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a is preferably greater than the amount of water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b, but these amounts may be the same.
Note that at least 70%, for example, of the overlap part 34a of the wrapper 34 is preferably fixed by means of the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b. This ensures bonding over a suitable area, therefore enabling stable peel strength to be maintained.
Fig. 7 is a table showing, for three samples, the amount of water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a, amount of water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b, total amount of water-based adhesive in the first seam portion 36, feed rate during production of the first seam portion 36 of the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22, peel strength of the first seam portion 36, and an evaluation of the peel strength of the first seam portion 36. Furthermore, fig. 7 is a table showing the amount of water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b, total amount of water-based adhesive, feed rate during production, peel strength, and an evaluation of the peel strength, for four samples without the water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a.
Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a correlation of the peel strength (g) of the first seam portion 36 with the total amount (mg) of water-based adhesive per 120 mm after 24 hours have elapsed from production. In the graph of fig. 8, the horizontal axis shows the amount (mg/120 mm) of water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b on the circumferential outer side, and the vertical axis shows the peel strength (g). The graph of fig. 8 does not include the amount (mg/120 mm) of water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a on the circumferential inner side.
The peel strength of the first seam portion 36 was measured in the following manner by using an EZ-SX (load cell 5 N) measurement apparatus manufactured by SHIMADZU, with a tensile speed of 100 mm/min.
The wrapper 34 here is the wrapper before being cut to a predetermined length (e.g., a length of 5 mm), and is therefore sufficiently long. In the case of the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22 which was produced, the opposite side to the seam portion 36 (the opposite side of the tip-end rod 22 to the first seam portion 36 across the center axis of the tip-end rod 22) was cut parallel to the axial direction of the rod portion 12. That is to say, the direction of cutting of the wrapper 34 is parallel to the axial direction of the first region (1) 36a and the first region (2) 36b.
Tip ends of the first seam portion 36 of the cut wrapper 34 were peeled back by hand by approximately 3 mm to produce a pair of tab portions. The pair of tab portions are produced by peeling away the first region (1) 36a and the first region (2) 36b by approximately 3 mm from one edge orthogonal to the end face 34b on the circumferential outer side of the wrapper 34 and the end face 34c on the circumferential inner side of the wrapper 34. The pair of tab portions were then each attached to clamps of a peel tester, and a T-peel test was performed. That is to say, the overlap part 34a of the wrapper 34 bonded with the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b was peeled to a displacement of 70 mm at a predetermined rate along a longitudinal axis of the rod portion 12. For the measurement results, the median value of the load produced from the start of measurement (start of peeling) up to 70 mm displacement was obtained, and the mean value from five repetitions was expressed in units of grams (g).
It should be noted that when the flavor inhalation article 10 is suitably inserted into the accommodating portion 311 of the device 300 and the outer circumference of the tip-end rod 22 and the tobacco rod 24 is heated to a suitable temperature by means of the heater 320, the peel strength of the overlap part 34a should be maintained at 10 g or greater, although this is an empirical value. According to the table shown in fig. 7 and the graph shown in fig. 8, the total amount of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b per 120 mm is preferably 1.1 mg or greater, for example.
The amount of water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a is preferably greater than the amount of water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b. For example, assuming that there is a smaller amount of the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b on the circumferential outer side than of the water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a on the circumferential inner side, then the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b on the circumferential outer side will demonstrate the ability to dry more rapidly than the water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a on the circumferential inner side.
Providing a difference in the amounts while suitably setting the total amount of the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the tip-end rod 22 allows the overlap part 34a to be fixed (temporarily fixed) beforehand in the desired state by means of the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b on the circumferential outer side. Furthermore, the water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a dries more slowly than the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b, but exhibits greater resistance to peeling of the first seam portion 36, so the first seam portion 36 is fixed in a state with the desired peel strength. The first seam portion 36 according to this embodiment is therefore fixed in such a way that the peel strength is 10 g or greater, by means of the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b which exhibits a fixing force before the water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a, and the water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a which demonstrates a greater final fixing force than the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b.
The amount of water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a is preferably substantially equal to the amount of water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b. The first seam portion 36 is divided into the water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a and the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b while the total amount of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b in the seam portion 36 is set at a suitable amount, thereby making it possible to improve the ability of the seam portion 36 to dry more quickly than when the seam portion 36 is formed in a single region.
The seam portion 36 comprising a plurality of regions 36a, 36b therefore allows the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b to dry more quickly so that a suitable bonding strength can be achieved sooner at the seam portion 36.
As shown in fig. 8, it can be seen that the peel strength of the first seam portion 36 increases as the total amount of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b increases. However, there is no great difference in peel strength between the example in which the total amount of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b is 2.4 mg/120 mm and the example in which the total amount of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b is 4.8 mg/120 mm. The total amount of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b in the first seam portion 36 should therefore presumably be around 2.4 mg/120 mm, for example. If the total amount of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b is excessively large, then it is possible that the water-based adhesive 37a will seep out inside the end face 34c, or that the water-based adhesive 37b will seep circumferentially outside the end face 34b, for example. The first seam portion 36 of the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22 is therefore produced while adjusting the amount of water-based adhesives 37a, 37b so that the first seam portion 36 has a suitable peel strength.
Moreover, as shown in fig. 5B, the filler material 32 is also preferably fixed to the wrapper 34 on the inner circumferential surface of the wrapper 34 by means of an adhesive 39 identical to the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b. A bonding position of the adhesive 39 may be set, as appropriate. In this embodiment, the bonding position of the adhesive 39 is provided on the opposite side to the overlap part 34a.
The tobacco rod 24 comprises a filler material (tobacco filler material) 42 serving as an aerosol-generating substrate, and a sheet-like wrapper (wrapping paper) 44.
The filler material 42 may employ a tobacco sheet and/or cut tobacco. There is no particular limitation as to the material of the cut tobacco contained in the filler material 42, 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 as a "homogenized sheet") which is cut. In addition, the filler material 42 may also be what is known as a "strand-type" material which is obtained by cutting, in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 24 and substantially horizontally, a homogenized sheet having a length similar to that of the tobacco rod 24 in the longitudinal direction. The width of the cut tobacco is preferably 0.5 mm-2.0 mm in order to fill the tobacco rod 24. Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the content of dried tobacco leaves contained in the filler material 42 of the tobacco rod 24, and a content of 200 mg/(tobacco rod) or greater and 800 mg/(tobacco rod) or less may be cited.
Various types of tobacco used can be used for the tobacco leaves used in the production of the cut tobacco and the homogenized sheet. Examples that may be cited include flue-cured, 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 the form of a mixture to achieve the intended taste.
The moisture content of the tobacco filler material 42 may be 10 wt%-15 wt% with respect to the total amount of tobacco filler material 42. A moisture content such as this inhibits wrapping stains on the wrapper 44 after the filler material 42 has been wrapped with the wrapper 44, and improves rolling suitability during production of the tobacco rod 24. There is no particular restriction on the size or method of preparation of the cut tobacco contained in the tobacco filler material 42. For example, a material obtained by cutting dried tobacco leaves to a width of 0.5 mm-2.0 mm may be used. Furthermore, when ground material is used in the homogenized sheet, dried tobacco leaves may be ground to an average particle size of around 20 µm-200 µm, then homogenized and formed into a sheet which may then be shredded to a width of 0.5 mm-2.0 mm for use.
The tobacco filler material 42 may also comprise an aerosol-generating substrate for generating an aerosol. There is no particular limitation as to the type of aerosol-generating substrate, and extracts from various types of natural products and/or components thereof may be selected in accordance with the application. Aerosol-generating substrates that may be cited include glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. There is no particular limitation as to the amount of aerosol-generating substrate contained in the tobacco filler material 42, and the amount is normally 5 wt% or greater and normally 50 wt% or less, with respect to the total amount of tobacco filler material 42, from the viewpoint of sufficient aerosol generation and imparting a good flavor.
The tobacco filler material 42 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 limitation as to the amount of flavoring material contained in the tobacco filler material 42, and preferably the amount is normally 10,000 ppm or greater and also normally 70,000 ppm or less, from the perspective of imparting a good flavor.
The wrapper (wrapping paper) 44 is a sheet material for wrapping the tobacco filler material 42. There is no particular restriction on the configuration of the wrapper 44, and a general configuration may be used. The wrapper 44 of the tobacco rod 24 may employ the same base paper as that used for the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22.
Note that in this embodiment, the length along the axial direction of the tobacco rod 24 is 15 mm, for example. The length of one side of the wrapper 44 may be around 15 mm, which defines the length along the axial direction of the tobacco rod 24. The length of the other side of the wrapper 44 is a length defining the diameter of the tobacco rod 24. The length of the other side of the wrapper 44 is around 24 mm. The length of the other side of the wrapper 44 in this embodiment is 23.7 mm.
A second seam portion 46 serving to fix an overlapped part 44a by means of water-based adhesives 47a, 47b which will be described later is formed on the wrapper 44. The structure for fixing the wrapper 44 of the tobacco rod 24 will be described below with the aid of fig. 9-11. The circumferential width of the overlap part 44a of the wrapper 44 is 1 mm-3 mm, and is more preferably around 2.4 mm-2.7 mm.
Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the wrapper 44 has been wrapped around the outer circumference of the filler material 42 in the tobacco rod 24. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram indicated by the arrow X in fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the second seam portion 46 for fixing the overlap part 44a of the wrapper 44 of the tobacco rod 24, seen from the direction indicated by the arrow XI in fig. 10.
As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the wrapper 44 is wrapped around the outer circumference of the filler material 42 which is formed into a substantially cylindrical rod shape. The second seam portion 46 for fixing the overlap part 44a of the wrapper 44 is provided on the wrapper 44 by placing end portions of the substantially rectangular sheet material one over the other and bonding the end portions using the water-based adhesives 47a, 47b. A water-based adhesive is preferably used at the second seam portion 46, similarly to the first seam portion 36, and a hot-melt adhesive which is melted by heating is not used.
As shown in fig. 9-11, the second seam portion 46 is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 at the overlap part 44a between end portions of the wrapper 44. The second seam portion 46 comprises a second region (1) 46a coated with the water-based adhesive 47a, and a second region (2) 46b which is coated with the water-based adhesive 47b and is provided adjacent to and circumferentially outside the second region (1) 46a of the overlap part 44a of the wrapper 44. The seam portion 46 comprising a plurality of regions 46a, 46b therefore allows the water-based adhesives 47a, 47b to dry more quickly so that a suitable bonding strength can be achieved sooner at the seam portion 46. The second region (1) 46a and the second region (2) 46b each have a substantially rectangular shape.
Similarly to the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b, the water-based adhesives 47a, 47b comprise one of: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and starch paste, or a mixture of at least two of said EVA, PVA, CMC, and starch paste. As mentioned above, the water-based adhesives 47a, 47b are adhesives which increase the bonding force as a result of moisture contained in the adhesives evaporating. It is therefore conceivable that the strength of the seam portion 46 will increase as a result of heating to the suitable temperature using the heater 320 of the device 300, but a reduction in the strength of the seam portion 46 is not a possibility. That is to say, a reduction in the strength of the seam portion 46 when the seam portion 46 is heated is inhibited in the wrapper 44.
The second region (1) 46a and the second region (2) 46b are each provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12. The water-based adhesives 47a, 47b are continuous along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 in the second region (1) 46a and the second region (2) 46b according to this embodiment.
A region 48a without the water-based adhesive (adhesive-free region) is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 between the second region (1) 46a and the second region (2) 46b. The width of the adhesive-free region 48a between the second region (1) 46a and the second region (2) 46b in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12 is preferably 0.1 mm-1 mm.
Furthermore, a region 48b without the water-based adhesive (adhesive-free region) is formed between the second region (2) 46b and an end face 44b of the wrapper 44. The width of the adhesive-free region 48b in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12 is preferably 0.1 mm-2 mm.
Furthermore, a region 48c without the water-based adhesive (adhesive-free region) is formed between the second region (1) 46a and an end face 44c on the opposite side of the wrapper 44. The width of the adhesive-free region 48c in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12 is preferably 0.1 mm-1 mm. It should be noted that the region 48c need not be present, and the water-based adhesive 47a may be applied up to the end face 44c, or else may be applied to the filler material 42 beyond the end face 44c. That is to say, the filler material 42 and the wrapper 44 may be bonded together by means of the water-based adhesive 47a.
The total of the amount of water-based adhesive 47a in the second region (1) 46a and of the amount of water-based adhesive 47b in the second region (2) 46b is 1 mg/120 mm-5 mg/120 mm, for example. The amount of water-based adhesive 47a in the second region (1) 46a is preferably greater than the amount of water-based adhesive 47b in the second region (2) 46b, but these amounts may be the same.
The fixed state of the second seam portion 46 at the overlap part 44a can therefore still be maintained, even if the second seam portion 46 is heated to a suitable temperature for an aerosol to be generated from the filler material 42 in the tobacco rod 24, for example, similarly to the first seam portion 36.
There is no particular restriction on the cooling portion (paper tube) 14, provided that it has the function of cooling the vapor generated by heating of the tobacco rod 24, and cardboard (a sheet material) 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-generating substrate and a tobacco flavor component comes into contact with air in the cavity and is cooled.
According to one mode, the cooling portion 14 may be a paper tube obtained by processing one sheet of paper or multiple bonded sheets of paper into a cylindrical shape. Openings 14a for taking in external air are furthermore provided in the cooling portion 14 in order to allow room-temperature external air to contact the high-temperature vapor to enhance the cooling effect. There is no particular limitation as to the number of openings 14a in the cooling portion 14. In this embodiment, a plurality of openings 14a are arranged at fixed intervals in the circumferential direction of the cooling portion 14. Furthermore, groups of openings 14a arrayed in the circumferential direction of the cooling portion 14 may be formed in multiple stages along the axial direction of the cooling portion 14. Providing the openings 14a in the cooling portion 14 enables low-temperature air to flow into the cooling portion 14 from the outside when the user draws on the flavor inhalation article 10, and it is possible to lower the temperature of volatile components and air flowing in from the tobacco rod 24. Furthermore, the vapor containing the aerosol-generating substrate and tobacco flavor component condenses as a result of being cooled by the low-temperature air introduced into the cooling portion 14 through the openings 14a. By this means, aerosol generation is promoted while it is also possible to control the size of aerosol particles. Note that the cooling effect may also be enhanced by coating an inside surface of the paper tube with a polymer coating such as polyvinyl alcohol or a polysaccharide coating such as pectin, to thereby utilize heat absorption of the coating or heat of solution associated with a change of phase. The airflow resistance of the cylindrical cooling segment is 0 mmH₂O.
When the cooling portion 14 is filled with a sheet, etc. for cooling air and volatile components flowing into the cooling portion 14 from the tobacco rod 24, there is no particular restriction on the total surface area of the cooling portion 14, 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 14 in the air flow direction. The total surface area of of the cooling portion 14 is preferably 400 mm²/mm or greater, and preferably 600 mm²/mm or less.
The cooling portion 14 preferably has a structure with a large surface area of the inner circumferential surface. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment, the cooling portion 14 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. The more folds or flutes within a given volume of the element, the greater the total surface area of the cooling portion 14. There is no particular restriction on the thickness of the material constituting the cooling portion 14, and it may be 5 µm-500 µm, for example.
It is desirable to use paper as the material of the cooling sheet member of the cooling portion 14 from the perspective of reducing the environmental burden. The paper serving as the cooling sheet material preferably has a basis weight of 30-100 gsm and a thickness of 20-100 µm. From the perspective of reducing removal of the flavor source component and aerosol-generating substrate component in the cooling portion 14, the paper serving as the cooling sheet material preferably has low air permeability, and an air permeability of 10 CU or less is preferred. The cooling effect may also be enhanced 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, to thereby utilize heat absorption of the coating or heat of solution associated with a change of phase.
The openings 14a in the cooling portion 14 should preferably be arranged at a position at least 1 mm away from the boundary between the cooling portion 14 and the mouthpiece portion 16, 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 14, but also to suppress stagnation of components generated by means of heating inside the cooling portion 14, and to increase the amount of delivery of those components.
There is no particular limitation as to the length of the cooling portion 14 in the axial direction (air flow direction) but, preferably, it is normally 10 mm or greater and normally 40 mm or less. The axial length of the cooling portion 14 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 14 at no less than the abovementioned lower limit. Furthermore, by setting the axial length of the cooling portion 14 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 14.
The structure for fixing the cooling portion 14 is preferably the same as the structure for fixing the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22 and the structure for fixing the wrapper 44 of the tobacco rod 24. A hot-melt adhesive, which is melted by heating to a suitable temperature (e.g., a temperature suitable for causing the tobacco rod 24 to generate an aerosol) is not used at the seam portion of the cooling portion 14 as a fixing member for fixing the overlap part. In other words, a paste which inhibits a fixing force resulting from heating to the suitable temperature from dropping below the desired fixing force as compared to before heating, or a paste or an adhesive which inhibits a fixing force resulting from heating to the suitable temperature from dropping below the desired fixing force as compared to before heating, i.e., only a water-based adhesive, is used as the fixing member for fixing the overlap part at the seam portion of the cooling portion 14.
In terms of the relationship with the device 300, it should be noted that when the cooling portion 14 is disposed in the area of the non-heated region A2 which is not heated, a water-based adhesive and a hot-melt adhesive may be provided together at the seam portion of the cooling portion 14. In this case, the water-based adhesive which can be used in the wrappers 34, 44 is preferably disposed on the circumferential inner side, and the hot-melt adhesive is preferably disposed on the circumferential outer side.
The outer circumferences of the wrapper 34 of the tip-end rod 22, the wrapper 44 of the tobacco rod 24, and the cooling portion 14 are fixed by a sheet-like outer wrapper 54 which links the tip-end rod 22, the tobacco rod 24, and the cooling portion 14. The outer wrapper 54 covers the outer circumferences of the wrapper 34 and the wrapper 44. A tip end of the outer wrapper 54 is preferably aligned with the tip end of the tip-end rod 22. A rear end of the outer wrapper 54 is arranged at a suitable position between the tip end and the rear end of the cooling portion 14.
The structure for fixing the outer wrapper 54 will be described with the aid of fig. 12-14. The circumferential width of the overlap part 54a of the wrapper 54 is 1 mm-3 mm, and is more preferably around 2.4 mm-2.7 mm.
Here, fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the wrapper 54 has been wrapped around the outer circumferences of the tip-end rod 22, the tobacco rod 24, and the cooling portion 14. Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of the rod portion 12 and the cooling portion 14 seen from the direction indicated by the arrow XII in fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a portion of the outer wrapper seen from the direction indicated by the arrow XIV in fig. 13.
As shown in fig. 12 and 13, the wrapper 54 is wrapped around the outer circumferences of the tip-end rod 22, the tobacco rod 24, and the cooling portion 14, which are formed in the shape of substantially columnar rods having substantially the same diameter, with the tobacco rod 24 being adjacent to a downstream side of the tip-end rod 22, and the cooling portion 14 being adjacent to a downstream side of the tobacco rod 24.
As shown in fig. 13 and 14, the third seam portion 56 for fixing the overlap part 54a of the wrapper 54 is provided on the wrapper 54 by placing end portions of the substantially rectangular sheet material one over the other and bonding the end portions using water-based adhesives 57a, 57b. A hot-melt adhesive which is melted by heating is not used at the third seam portion 56.
The third seam portion 56 is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 at the overlap part 54a between the end portions of the wrapper 54. The third seam portion 56 comprises a third region (1) 56a coated with the water-based adhesive 57a, and a third region (2) 56b which is coated with the water-based adhesive 57b and is provided adjacent to and circumferentially outside the third region (1) 56a of the overlap part 54a of the wrapper 54. The seam portion 56 comprising a plurality of regions 56a, 56b therefore allows the water-based adhesives 57a, 57b to dry more quickly so that a suitable bonding strength can be achieved sooner at the seam portion 56. The third region (1) 56a and the third region (2) 56b each have a substantially rectangular shape.
The water-based adhesives 57a, 57b comprise one of: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and starch paste, or a mixture of at least two of said EVA, PVA, CMC, and starch paste. As mentioned above, the water-based adhesives 57a, 57b are adhesives which increase the bonding force as a result of moisture contained in the adhesives evaporating. It is therefore conceivable that the strength of the seam portion 56 will increase as a result of heating to the suitable temperature using the heater 320 of the device 300, but a reduction in the strength of the seam portion 56 is not a possibility. That is to say, a reduction in the strength of the seam portion 56 when the seam portion 56 is heated is inhibited in the wrapper 54.
The third region (1) 56a and the third region (2) 56b are each provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12. The water-based adhesives 57a, 57b are continuous along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 in the third region (1) 56a and the third region (2) 56b according to this embodiment.
A region 58a without the water-based adhesive (adhesive-free region) is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 between the third region (1) 56a and the third region (2) 56b. The width of the adhesive-free region 58a between the third region (1) 56a and the third region (2) 56b in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12 is preferably 0.1 mm-1 mm.
Furthermore, a region 58b without the water-based adhesive (adhesive-free region) is formed between the third region (2) 56b and an end face 54b of the wrapper 54. The width of the adhesive-free region 58b in the circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12 is preferably 0.1 mm-2 mm.
Furthermore, the outer circumferences of the tip-end rod 22, the tobacco rod 24, and the cooling portion 14 are coated with the water-based adhesive 57a beyond an end face 54c on the opposite side of the wrapper 54, between the third region (1) 56a and the end face 54c. That is to say, the tip-end rod 22, the tobacco rod 24 and the cooling portion 14 are bonded with the wrapper 54 by means of the water-based adhesive 57a.
The total of the amount of water-based adhesive 57a in the third region (1) 56a and of the amount of water-based adhesive 57b in the third region (2) 56b is 1 mg/120 mm-5 mg/120 mm, for example. The amount of water-based adhesive 57a in the third region (1) 56a is preferably greater than the amount of water-based adhesive 57b in the third region (2) 56b, but these amounts may be the same.
The fixed state of the third seam portion 56 at the overlap part 54a can therefore still be maintained, even if the third seam portion 56 is heated to a suitable temperature for an aerosol to be generated from the filler material 42 in the tobacco rod 24, for example, similarly to the first seam portion 36 and the second seam portion 46.
There is no particular restriction on the configuration of the mouthpiece portion 16, provided that it has the general functions of a filter.
As shown in fig. 3A, the mouthpiece portion 16 in this embodiment comprises a first mouthpiece segment 62 and a second mouthpiece segment 64. Here, the first mouthpiece segment 62 includes a mouthpiece end Me, and the second mouthpiece segment 64 is adjacent to a tip end side of the first mouthpiece segment 62. A rear end of the cooling portion 14 is adjacent to the tip end side of the second mouthpiece segment 62.
Examples of general functions of the mouthpiece portion 16 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 the filler material 42 inside the tobacco rod 24 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 packing rate of the tobacco filler material than paper-wrapped tobacco products.
The transverse section of the mouthpiece portion 16 is substantially circular. The diameter of the mouthpiece portion 16 may be suitably varied according to the size of the product, but it is preferably comparable with the diameter of the rod portion 12. 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 axial length of the mouth portion 16 may be suitably varied according to the size of the product, but normally it is preferably 5 mm-35 mm. The shape and dimensions of the mouthpiece portion 16 may be suitably adjusted so that the shape and dimensions of the mouthpiece portion 16 fall within the ranges above.
There is no particular restriction on the airflow resistance per 120 mm axial length of the mouthpiece portion 16, but normally it is preferably 40 mmH₂O-300 mmH₂O. The relationship between airflow resistance of the mouthpiece portion 16 and length of the mouthpiece portion 16 is known to be a proportional relationship in a normal length range (a length of 5-200 mm), and the airflow resistance of the mouthpiece portion 16 also doubles when the length doubles.
The first mouthpiece segment 62 comprises: a cellulose acetate tow filter 72 formed into a columnar shape as a filler material, and a sheet-like filter wrapper (wrap) 74 which is wrapped around the acetate tow filter 72.
Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the density of the acetate tow filter 72 in the mouthpiece portion 16, but normally it is preferably 0.10 g/cm³-0.25 g/cm³.
There is no particular limitation as to the single-yarn fineness and total fineness of the cellulose acetate tow filter 72. In the case of the mouthpiece portion 16 having a circumference of 22 mm, the single-yarn fineness is preferably 5-20 g/9000 m, and the total fineness is preferably 12,000-30,000 g/9000 m. When the mouthpiece portion 16 is formed by packing with the cellulose acetate tow filter 72, triacetin may be added in an amount of 5-10 wt% with respect to the weight of the cellulose acetate tow filter 72 in order to increase the filter hardness.
Furthermore, the first mouthpiece segment 62 may also employ an another alternative filter, such as a paper filter packed with a sheet of pulp paper as a filter medium, instead of using the cellulose acetate tow filter 72. The paper filter which is used may be the same as the material of the filler material 32 in the tip-end rod 22.
A flavoring material may be added to the acetate tow filter 72 in the mouthpiece portion 16. The amount of flavoring material delivered during use can be increased by adding the flavoring material to the acetate tow filter 72, as compared to when the flavoring material is added to the tobacco filler material 42 constituting the tobacco rod 24. The degree of increase in the amount of flavor component delivered can be further increased according to the positions of the openings 14a provided in the cooling portion 14. There is no particular restriction on the method of adding the flavoring material to the acetate tow filter 72, and the flavoring material should be added so as to be roughly uniformly dispersed in the acetate tow filter 72 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 acetate tow filter 72. There is no particular limitation as to the type of flavoring material, but the same flavoring material as that contained in the tobacco filler material 42 may be used.
Activated charcoal may also be added to at least a portion of the acetate tow filter 72 in the first mouthpiece segment 62 of the mouthpiece portion 16.
The mouthpiece portion 16 may contain, inside the acetate tow filter 72 in the first mouthpiece portion 16, for example, a capsule having a breakable outer shell made of gelatin or the like. There is no particular restriction on the form of capsule, and it may be a capsule which can be easily broken by the force of the user's fingers, etc. and the capsule preferably has a spherical shape. Any of the abovementioned additives may be contained as additives contained in the capsule, but a flavoring material or activated charcoal is especially preferably contained. Examples of flavoring materials include: menthol, spearmint, peppermint, fenugreek, or clove, medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides (MCT), etc., or combinations thereof.
From the perspective of increasing strength and structural rigidity, the first mouthpiece segment 62 preferably comprises a filter wrapper 74 for wrapping the acetate tow filter 72. There is no particular restriction on the form of the filter wrapper 74, and it may include a seam comprising one or more lines of adhesive. The adhesive may comprise both a water-based adhesive and a hot-melt adhesive, and the hot-melt adhesive may furthermore comprise polyvinyl alcohol.
There is no particular restriction on the thickness of the filter wrapper 74 and normally it is preferably 20 µm-140 µm. There is no particular restriction on the basis weight of the filter wrapper 74, and normally it is preferably 20 gsm-100 gsm. Furthermore, the filter wrapper 74 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.
The second mouthpiece segment 64 is formed as a channel filter (hollow segment portion), for example. The second mouthpiece segment 64 comprises a filling layer 64a having one or more hollow channels. The filling layer 64a comprises fibers, for example, and has a high packing density of these fibers, so the air and aerosol flow only through the hollow channels when the user draws in, with virtually none flowing through the filling layer 64a itself. Reducing the length of the first mouthpiece segment 62 to substitute the first mouthpiece segment 62 with the second mouthpiece segment 64 are effective for adjusting the amount of aerosol delivered by the flavor inhalation article 10 when it is desirable to reduce a decrease in aerosol components due to filtration by the mouthpiece portion 16.
Furthermore, when the mouthpiece portion 16 comprises two or more segments 62, 64, these two or more segments 62, 64 are preferably wrapped together by a sheet-like linking filter wrapper (outside filter wrapper) 66, in order to link these segments 62, 64. That is to say, the mouthpiece portion 16 comprises the linking filter wrapper 66 in addition to the two or more segments 62, 64. There is no particular restriction on the material of the filter wrapper 66 in the mouthpiece portion 16, a well-known material may be used, and the filter wrapper 66 may furthermore comprise a loading material such as calcium carbonate. The same material as that of the filter wrapper 74 of the first mouthpiece segment 62 may be used as the filter wrapper 66, which is fixed in the same way as the filter wrapper 74 of the first mouthpiece segment 62. A seam portion may then be formed in the filter wrapper 66 by providing a hot-melt adhesive adjacent to a water-based adhesive, or the seam portion may be formed solely by a water-based adhesive.
The mouthpiece portion 16 may have a form in which the first mouthpiece segment 62 is disposed on the upstream side and the second mouthpiece segment 64 is disposed on the downstream side (mouthpiece end Me side), from the perspective of a sensory change in draw satisfaction and comfort when holding the article in the mouth.
The mouthpiece portion 16 is also preferably formed in the manner shown in fig. 3B. The mouthpiece portion 16 shown in fig. 3B comprises a first mouthpiece segment (1) 62a, a first mouthpiece segment (2) 62b, the second mouthpiece segment 64, and the sheet-like filter wrapper 66.
The first mouthpiece segment (1) 62a comprises a filler material 72a, and a sheet-like wrapper 74a. A cellulose acetate tow filter is used for the filler material 72a as one example. The wrapper 74a which is used is the same as the wrapper 74.
The first mouthpiece segment (2) 62b comprises a filler material 72b and a sheet-like wrapper 74b. As one example, the filler material 72b employs a paper filter which is formed as a substantially cylindrical rod with a suitable length by creping (crimping) and folding. The wrapper 74b which is used is the same as the wrapper 74.
In the mouthpiece portion 16, the first mouthpiece segment (1) 62a is disposed at the mouthpiece end Me, the first mouthpiece segment (2) 62b is disposed on the upstream side thereof, and the second mouthpiece segment 64 is disposed on the upstream side of the first mouthpiece segment (2) 62b, then the first mouthpiece segment (1) 62a, the first mouthpiece segment (2) 62b, and the second mouthpiece segment 64 are wrapped with the filter wrapper 66.
A suitable structure is thus employed for the mouthpiece portion 16.
The outer circumferences of the mouthpiece portion 16 and the cooling portion 14 are covered by the tipping paper 18. A tip end of the tipping paper 18 covers the rear end of the outer wrapper on the outer circumference of the cooling portion 14. A rear end of the tipping paper 18 is aligned with the rear end of the mouthpiece portion 16.
There is no particular restriction on the material of the tipping paper 18, 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 18 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 18 referred to here means a sheet-like material that connects a plurality of segments of the flavor inhalation article 10, such as, for example, linking the rod portion 12 and the mouthpiece portion 16.
A seam portion may then be formed in the tipping paper 18 by providing a hot-melt adhesive adjacent to a water-based adhesive, or the seam portion may be formed solely by a water-based adhesive.
There is no particular restriction on the basis weight of the tipping paper 18, and normally it is preferably 10 gsm-120 gsm. There is no particular restriction on the air permeability of the tipping paper 18, but normally it is preferably 0 CU-30,000 CU. 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 CU constitutes cm³/(min·cm²) under 1 kPa.
The tipping paper 18 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 18, for example the paper may comprise a water-resistance improving agent to improve water resistance. Water-resistance improving agents include wet-strength agents (WS agents) and sizing agents. 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 18, 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 of the paper and reduce the permeability of liquids is preferred.
Openings 18a for taking in external air are provided in the tipping paper 18 in order to allow room-temperature external air to contact the high-temperature vapor to enhance the cooling effect. The openings 18a in the tipping paper 18 are produced together with the openings 14a in the cooling portion 14. The openings 18a in the tipping paper 18 therefore communicate with the openings 14a in the cooling portion 14.
Moreover, the openings 18a are preferably provided in the tipping paper 18 at positions directly above (positions vertically overlapping) the openings 14a provided in the cooling portion 14. To this end, the tobacco rod 24, the cooling portion 14, and the mouthpiece portion 16 may be wrapped with the tipping paper 18 and joined together, then the tipping paper 18 and the cooling portion 14 may be irradiated with laser light from above the tipping paper 18 so as to be penetrated by the laser light, thereby providing the openings 14a, 18a.
There is no particular limitation as to the number of openings 18a in the cooling portion 18. In this embodiment, a plurality of openings 18a are arranged at fixed intervals in the circumferential direction of the tipping paper 18. Furthermore, groups of openings 18a arrayed in the circumferential direction of the tipping paper 18 may be formed in multiple stages along the axial direction of the tipping paper 18. Providing the openings 18a in the tipping paper 18 enables low-temperature external air to flow into the openings 14a in the cooling portion 14 through the openings 18a in the tipping paper 18 when the user draws on the flavor inhalation article 10, and it is possible to lower the temperature of volatile components and air flowing in from the tobacco rod 24. Furthermore, the vapor containing the aerosol-generating substrate and tobacco flavor component condenses as a result of being cooled by the low-temperature air introduced into the tipping paper 18 through the openings 18a. By this means, aerosol generation is promoted while it is also possible to control the size of aerosol particles. Note that the cooling effect may also be enhanced by coating an inside surface of the paper tube with a polymer coating such as polyvinyl alcohol or a polysaccharide coating such as pectin, to thereby utilize heat absorption of the coating or heat of solution associated with a change of phase. The airflow resistance of the cylindrical cooling segment is 0 mmH₂O.
Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the airflow resistance in the axial direction per single flavor inhalation article 10 configured in the manner described above, but preferably it is normally between 10 mmH₂O and 100 mmH₂O from the point of view of ease of drawing. The airflow resistance is measured by using a filter airflow resistance measurement instrument produced 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 flavor inhalation article 10. The units are generally expressed in mmH₂O. The relationship between airflow resistance and the flavor inhalation article 10 is known to be a proportional relationship in a normal length range (a length of 5-200 mm), and the airflow resistance of the flavor inhalation article 10 also doubles when the length doubles.
The rod-shaped flavor inhalation article 10 preferably has a columnar shape, satisfying a shape with an aspect ratio = h/w of 1 or greater as defined below. Here, w is the width (outer diameter) of the tip end De of the flavor inhalation article 10, and h is the length in the axial direction of the flavor inhalation article 10, and preferably h≥w. There is no particular restriction on the transverse-sectional shape of the flavor inhalation article 10, and it may be polygonal, rounded polygonal, circular, or elliptical, etc. The width w of the flavor inhalation article 10 is the diameter when the transverse-sectional shape of the flavor inhalation article 10 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 length h of the flavor inhalation article 10 in the axial direction, and preferably it is normally 40 mm-100 mm, for example. There is no particular restriction on the width w of the tip end De of the flavor inhalation article 10, and preferably it is normally 5 mm-10 mm, for example. There is no particular restriction on a ratio (cooling portion 14 : mouthpiece portion 16) between the lengths of the cooling portion 14 and the mouthpiece portion 16, in the length of the flavor inhalation article 10, but from the viewpoint of the amount of flavoring material delivered and the appropriate aerosol temperature, preferably this ratio is normally 0.60-1.40:0.60-1.40. By setting the ratio of the lengths of the cooling portion 14 and the mouthpiece portion 16 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 14, and the function of the mouthpiece portion 16 in adjusting the volume of air and the flavor, thereby making it possible to achieve a good flavor and intensity of flavor.
The action of the flavor inhalation system 200 according to the embodiment will be described. It should be noted that the flavor inhalation article 10 is used at least a few days after production to ensure a suitable peel strength at the seam portions of the wrappers 34, 44, 54, 74, 66 and the tipping paper 18. That is to say, the shape of the flavor inhalation article 10 is maintained during normal use.
As shown in fig. 1, the tip-end rod 22 side of the flavor inhalation article 10 is inserted into the accommodating portion 311 of the device 300. At this time, the outer circumferences of the tip-end rod 22 and the tobacco rod 24 of the flavor inhalation article 10 are completely covered by the heated region A1 which is heated by the heater 320. Furthermore, a portion of the outer circumference of the cooling portion 14 of the flavor inhalation article 10 is covered by the non-heated region A2 which is not heated by the heater 320. Note that a portion of the heated region A1 may cover a portion of the outer circumference of the cooling portion 14.
In this state, the control unit 370 causes the heater 320 to heat to a predetermined temperature using power from the power source 380, based on the user pressing a switch (not depicted) provided on the device 300, based on detection of the tip-end rod 22 of the flavor inhalation article 10 being inserted into the accommodating portion 311 of the device 300, or based on detection of the user drawing on the flavor inhalation article 10 after the tip-end rod 22 has been inserted into the accommodating portion 311 of the device 300. The heater 320 heats the first seam portion 36, the second seam portion 46, and a portion of the third seam portion 56 in the heated region A1.
When the region containing the hot-melt adhesive is heated to a predetermined temperature so that the hot-melt adhesive melts, it is feasible that there will be a drop in smoking taste as compared to before the hot-melt adhesive melted. In the flavor inhalation article 10 according to this embodiment, none of the first seam portion 36, the second seam portion 46, or the third seam portion 56 contains a hot-melt adhesive. A reduction in smoking taste is therefore inhibited even if the first seam portion 36, the second seam portion 46 and the third seam portion 56 of the flavor inhalation article 10 are heated.
Furthermore, none of the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b in the first seam portion 36, the water-based adhesives 47a, 47b in the second seam portion 46, or the water-based adhesives 57a, 57b in the third seam portion 56 will melt even if heated by the heater 320. It is therefore possible to prevent the water-based adhesives 37a, 37b, 47a, 47b, 57a, 57b from adhering to the accommodating portion 311 of the device 300. It is therefore possible to reduce the number of maintenance operations in the accommodating portion 311 of the device 300 as compared to when a hot-melt adhesive is used.
This embodiment therefore makes it possible to provide a rod portion for a flavor inhalation article, a non-combustion flavor inhalation article and a non-combustion flavor inhalation system, capable of inhibiting a reduction in the strength of a seam portion when the seam portion of a wrapper such as that of the tobacco rod of the flavor inhalation article is heated. Furthermore, this embodiment is also capable of inhibiting a molten adhesive or glue, etc. from the rod portion for a flavor inhalation article from adhering to a device comprising a heater.
It should be noted that the embodiment described an example in which the first seam portion 36 has two regions 36a, 36b, the second seam portion 46 has two regions 46a, 46b, and the third seam portion 56 has two regions 56a, 56b. For example, one or two of the first seam portion 36, the second seam portion 46, and the third seam portion 56 may be fixed by the water-based adhesive in only one region. That is to say, at least one of the first seam portion 36, the second seam portion 46, and the third seam portion 56 may fix the overlap part with a single line of water-based adhesive along the axial direction of the rod portion 12.

First variant example

The embodiment above described an example in which the whole of the first region (1) 36a is coated with the water-based adhesive 37a, and the whole of the first region (2) 36b is coated with a water-based adhesive 37b.
As shown in fig. 15, the first region (2) 36b is coated with multiple lines of water-based adhesives 37b1, 37b2.
The water-based adhesive 37b1 is continuous along the axial direction of the rod portion 12. The water-based adhesive 37b2 is likewise continuous along the axial direction of the rod portion 12. The water-based adhesives 37b1, 37b2 may be left in the form of multiple lines or may be mixed together in the first region (2) 36b. The amounts of the water-based adhesives 37b1, 37b2 may be the same or different. If the amounts are different, then there may be a greater amount of the water-based adhesive 37b2 on the circumferential outer side than of the water-based adhesive 37b1 on the circumferential inner side, or vice versa, for example.
Furthermore, the combined amounts of the water-based adhesives 37b1, 37b2 may be greater than the amount of water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a. In this case, a smaller amount of either of the water-based adhesives 37b1, 37b2 than the water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a enables the water-based adhesive 37b1 or the water-based adhesive 37b2 to dry sooner in the first region (2) 36b than the water-based adhesive 37a, allowing the overlap part 34a to be fixed sooner.
Moreover, the first region (1) 36a may also be coated with multiple lines of the water-based adhesive 37a.
The water-based adhesive 37a in the first region (1) 36a and/or the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b may therefore be applied in multiple lines of water-based adhesive.
Furthermore, the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b such as described above may also be employed for the water-based adhesive 47b in the second region (2) 46b of the wrapper 44, and for the water-based adhesive 57b in the third region (2) 56b of the outer wrapper 54, etc.

Second variant example

As shown in fig. 16, a plurality of water-based adhesives 37b are applied to the first region (2) 36b in a distributed manner at predetermined intervals along the axial direction of the rod portion 12, for example. These water-based adhesives 37b may be left in a distributed form or may be mixed together in the first region (2) 36b.
Furthermore, the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b such as described above may also be employed for the water-based adhesive 47b in the second region (2) 46b of the wrapper 44, and for the water-based adhesive 57b in the third region (2) 56b of the outer wrapper 54, etc.

Third variant example

As shown in fig. 17, a plurality of water-based adhesives 37b are applied to the first region (2) 36b at predetermined intervals along the axial direction of the rod portion 12, for example. The plurality of water-based adhesives 37b are differently arranged along the axial direction of the rod portion 12 within the first region (2) 36b so that there is water-based adhesive 37b offset to the side of the end face 34c on the circumferential inner side of the wrapper 34 and water-based adhesive 37b offset to the side of the end face 34b on the circumferential outer side of the wrapper 34. These water-based adhesives 37b may be left in a distributed form or may be mixed together in the first region (2) 36b.
Furthermore, the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b such as described above may also be employed for the water-based adhesive 47b in the second region (2) 46b of the wrapper 44, and for the water-based adhesive 57b in the third region (2) 56b of the outer wrapper 54, etc.

Fourth variant example

As shown in fig. 18, a plurality of water-based adhesives 37b are applied to the first region (2) 36b at suitable intervals along the axial direction of the rod portion 12, for example. The plurality of water-based adhesives 37b are arranged within the first region (2) 36b in sets along the axial direction of the rod portion 12, each set including water-based adhesive 37b offset to the side of the end face 34c on the circumferential inner side of the wrapper 34, water-based adhesive 37b arranged between the end face 34c on the circumferential inner side of the wrapper 34 and the end face 34b on the circumferential outer side of the wrapper 34, and water-based adhesive 37b offset to the side of the end face 34b on the circumferential outer side of the wrapper 34. These water-based adhesives 37b are arranged in multiple sets along the axial direction of the rod portion 12. These water-based adhesives 37b may be left in a distributed form or may be mixed together in the first region (2) 36b.
Furthermore, the water-based adhesive 37b in the first region (2) 36b such as described above may also be employed for the water-based adhesive 47b in the second region (2) 46b of the wrapper 44, and for the water-based adhesive 57b in the third region (2) 56b of the outer wrapper 54, etc.
A structure in which there are multiple regions in the direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion 12 and these multiple regions lie along the axial direction of the rod portion 12, and a structure in which one region lies along the axial direction of the rod portion 12, are thus appropriately selected as the structures for fixing (structures for connecting) the first seam portion 36, the second seam portion 46, and the third seam portion 56 of the flavor inhalation article 10.
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.

Addenda

[1] A rod portion for a flavor inhalation article, the rod portion for a flavor inhalation article comprising:
- a filler material;
- a wrapper which is formed into a sheet shape and covers the outer circumference of the filler material; and
- a first seam portion which is provided along an axial direction of the rod portion at an overlap part between end portions of the wrapper, comprises a first region (1) afforded by a water-based adhesive and a first region (2) afforded by a water-based adhesive and provided adjacent to a circumferential outer side of the first region (1) at the overlap part of the wrapper, and fixes the overlap part of the wrapper,
- wherein
- a hot-melt adhesive which is melted by heating is not used at the first seam portion.
[2] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in addendum 1, wherein the first region (2) is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion.
[3] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in addendum 1 or 2, wherein an amount of the water-based adhesive in the first region (1) is greater than an amount of the water-based adhesive in the first region (2).
[4] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of addenda 1 to 3, wherein the amount of water-based adhesive in the first region (1) and in the first region (2) is 1 mg/120 mm-5 g/120 mm.
[5] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of addenda 1 to 4, wherein a region without the water-based adhesive is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion between the first region (1) and the first region (2).
[6] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in addendum 5, wherein the width of the region without the water-based adhesive in a circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion is 0.1 mm-2 mm.
[7] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of addenda 1 to 6, wherein the width of the first seam portion in a circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion is 1 mm-3 mm.
[8] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of addenda 1 to 7, wherein a distance on the wrapper between the first region (2) and an end face of the overlap part on a circumferential outer side is greater than 0 mm and smaller than 2 mm.
[9] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of addenda 1 to 8, wherein the filler material comprises at least one of: a sheet material formed by a nonwoven fabric or a resin material, cellulose acetate, cut tobacco, and sheet tobacco.
[10] The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of addenda 1 to 9, wherein the water-based adhesive comprises one of: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and starch paste, or a mixture of at least two of said EVA, PVA, CMC, and starch paste.
[11] A non-combustion flavor inhalation article comprising: the rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of addenda 1 to 10, disposed on or in the vicinity of a part which is heated;
- a cooling portion provided downstream of the rod portion;
- a mouthpiece portion provided downstream of the cooling portion;
- a sheet-like outer wrapper connecting the outer circumferences of the rod portion and the cooling portion; and
- a second seam portion which is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion at an overlap part between end portions of the outer wrapper, has a region afforded by a water-based adhesive, and fixes the overlap part of the outer wrapper,
- wherein
- a hot-melt adhesive which is melted by heating is not used at the second seam portion.
[12] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in addendum 11, wherein the second seam portion is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion at the overlap part between end portions of the outer wrapper, and comprises a second region (1) afforded by a water-based adhesive, and a second region (2) afforded by a water-based adhesive and provided adjacent to a circumferential outer side of the second region (1) at the overlap part of the outer wrapper.
[13] The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in addendum 11 or 12, wherein the rod portion comprises a tip-end rod which is disposed on the opposite side of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article to the mouthpiece portion, and a tobacco rod which is provided between the tip-end rod and the cooling portion.
[14] A non-combustion flavor inhalation system comprising: the non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any one of addenda 11 to 13; and
- a device comprising an accommodating portion for accommodating an outer side of the rod portion of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article, and
- a heater which is provided in the accommodating portion and heats the outer circumference of the rod portion.
[15] The non-combustion flavor inhalation system as disclosed in addendum 14, wherein the filler material comprises an aerosol-generating substrate for generating an aerosol by means of heating provided by the heater.
[16] A non-combustion flavor inhalation system comprising: the non-combustion flavor inhalation article as disclosed in addendum 13; and
- a device comprising an accommodating portion for accommodating outer sides of the tip-end rod and the tobacco rod of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article, and
- a heater which is provided in the accommodating portion and heats at least the outer side of the tobacco rod, out of the outer sides of the tip-end rod and the tobacco rod.
[17] The non-combustion flavor inhalation system as disclosed in addendum 16, comprising, as a filler material of the tobacco rod, an aerosol-generating substrate for generating an aerosol by means of heating provided by the heater.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10... Non-combustion flavor inhalation article, 12... Rod portion, 14... Cooling portion, 18... Tipping paper, 22... Tip-end rod, 24... Tobacco rod, 32... Filler material, 34... Inner plug wrapper, 34a... Overlap part, 34b, 34c... End face, 36... First seam portion, 36a... First region (1), 36b... First region (2), 37a, 37b... Water-based adhesive, 38a, 38b, 38c... Adhesive-free region, 42... Filler material, 44... Wrapper, 44a... Overlap part, 44b, 44c... End face, 46... Second seam portion, 46a... Second region (1), 46b... Second region (2), 47a, 47b... Water-based adhesive, 48a, 48b, 48c... Adhesive-free region, 54... Outer wrapper, 54a... Overlap part, 54b, 54c... End face, 56... Third seam portion, 56a... Third region (1), 56b... Third region (2), 57a, 57b... Water-based adhesive, 58a, 58b... Adhesive-free region

Claims

A rod portion for a flavor inhalation article, the rod portion for a flavor inhalation article comprising:
a filler material;

a wrapper which is formed into a sheet shape and covers the outer circumference of the filler material; and

a first seam portion which is provided along an axial direction of the rod portion at an overlap part between end portions of the wrapper, comprises a first region (1) afforded by a water-based adhesive and a first region (2) afforded by a water-based adhesive and provided adjacent to a circumferential outer side of the first region (1) at the overlap part of the wrapper, and fixes the overlap part of the wrapper,

wherein

a hot-melt adhesive which is melted by heating is not used at the first seam portion.
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first region (2) is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion.
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein an amount of the water-based adhesive in the first region (1) is greater than an amount of the water-based adhesive in the first region (2).
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amount of water-based adhesive in the first region (1) and in the first region (2) is 1 mg/120 mm-5 g/120 mm.
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a region without the water-based adhesive is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion between the first region (1) and the first region (2).
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the width of the region without the water-based adhesive in a circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion is 0.1 mm-2 mm.
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the width of the first seam portion in a circumferential direction intersecting the axial direction of the rod portion is 1 mm-3 mm.
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a distance on the wrapper between the first region (2) and an end face of the overlap part on a circumferential outer side is greater than 0 mm and smaller than 2 mm.
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the filler material comprises at least one of: a sheet material formed by a nonwoven fabric or a resin material, cellulose acetate, cut tobacco, and sheet tobacco.
The rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the water-based adhesive comprises one of: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and starch paste, or a mixture of at least two of said EVA, PVA, CMC, and starch paste.
A non-combustion flavor inhalation article comprising: the rod portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, disposed on or in the vicinity of a part which is heated;
a cooling portion provided downstream of the rod portion;

a mouthpiece portion provided downstream of the cooling portion;

a sheet-like outer wrapper connecting the outer circumferences of the rod portion and the cooling portion; and

a second seam portion which is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion at an overlap part between end portions of the outer wrapper, has a region afforded by a water-based adhesive, and fixes the overlap part of the outer wrapper,

wherein

a hot-melt adhesive which is melted by heating is not used at the second seam portion.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second seam portion is provided along the axial direction of the rod portion at the overlap part between end portions of the outer wrapper, and comprises a second region (1) afforded by a water-based adhesive, and a second region (2) afforded by a water-based adhesive and provided adjacent to a circumferential outer side of the second region (1) at the overlap part of the outer wrapper.
The non-combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the rod portion comprises a tip-end rod which is disposed on the opposite side of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article to the mouthpiece portion, and a tobacco rod which is provided between the tip-end rod and the cooling portion.
A non-combustion flavor inhalation system comprising: the non- combustion flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13; and
a device comprising an accommodating portion for accommodating an outer side of the rod portion of the non-combustion flavor inhalation article, and

a heater which is provided in the accommodating portion and heats the outer circumference of the rod portion.