JP7362760B2 - Flavor-containing sheet containing modified cellulose and smoking article containing the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles and smoking articles containing the same.

In order to generate a specific aroma in a smoking article, a method has been adopted in which a flavor component is added to tobacco in the form of a solution. Such methods have the advantage that they can be conveniently added to tobacco, such as by spraying the flavor solution. However, if the amount of flavor added is increased in order to release more flavor during smoking, the amount of solvent increases, which tends to cause stains on the cigarette paper. Another disadvantage is that the scent becomes weaker while smoking.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art described above.

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above technical problem, and other technical problems can be inferred from the following examples.

A first aspect of the present invention can provide a flavor-containing sheet for a smoking article, which includes moisture, modified cellulose, and a flavor.

A second aspect of the invention is a smoking article comprising: a first part comprising a tobacco material and a flavoring sheet; and a second part comprising a filter element; said first part and said second part comprising said smoking article; A smoking article can be provided, in which the flavor-containing sheets are sequentially arranged in a longitudinal direction of the article and include modified cellulose.

A third aspect of the present invention is a combustible cigarette, comprising: a first segment comprising a tobacco material and a flavor-containing sheet; and a second segment comprising a filter element; A combustible cigarette can be provided, in which the fragrance-containing sheets are arranged sequentially in a longitudinal direction of the combustible cigarette and include modified cellulose.

The means for solving the problems are not limited to those described above, and include all matters that can be deduced by a person of ordinary skill in this entire specification.

According to the present invention, the modified cellulose and flavor are dissolved in the slurry of the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles at room temperature. Accordingly, when producing a flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles, a separate heating process for melting is not included.

Further, according to the present invention, a flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles can be easily produced without using a separate emulsifier.

Further, according to the present invention, the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles can have improved at least one property among viscosity properties, slurry formation properties, drying properties, sheet physical properties, and flavor retention properties.

Moreover, the smoking article according to the present invention can have an improved smoking taste.

In addition, the fragrance is consistently expressed during smoking, increasing consumer satisfaction.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, but include any effects that can be inferred from the configuration described below.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a smoking article according to an example; 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the structure of another exemplary smoking article; FIG. It is a drawing showing a fragrance-containing sheet before drying. It is a drawing showing a fragrance-containing sheet after drying. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first portion of a smoking article; FIG. 1 is a drawing schematically showing the configuration of a combustible cigarette.

The terms used in the examples are selected from common terms that are currently widely used as much as possible while considering the functions of the present invention. It also varies depending on precedents, the emergence of new technology, etc. Furthermore, in certain cases, there may be terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, in which case their meanings will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention must be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, rather than the simple names of the terms.

Throughout the specification, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, it does not exclude other components unless there is a specific statement to the contrary, and even if a part further includes other components. It means good. In addition, terms such as "... section" and "... module" described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and this is realized by hardware or software. Alternatively, it can be realized by combining hardware and software.

Throughout the specification, "smoking article" refers to an article used in smoking. For example, the smoking article may be a conventional combustible cigarette that is lit and burned, or the smoking article may be a heated cigarette that is heated by an aerosol generator. As another example, the smoking article is also an article used in a manner in which a liquid contained in a cartridge is heated.

Throughout the specification, "tobacco element" means an element containing tobacco material.

Throughout the specification, "tobacco material" means any form of material containing components derived from tobacco leaves.

Throughout the specification, "cooling element" refers to an element that cools a substance. For example, the cooling element may cool the aerosol generated by the tobacco element.

Throughout the specification, "filter element" refers to an element that includes filtration material. For example, a filter element may include multiple fiber strands.

Throughout the specification, "longitudinal direction of a smoking article" means the direction in which the length of the smoking article extends or the direction in which the smoking article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

Throughout the specification, "thickening polysaccharide" means a polysaccharide substance that increases viscosity.

Throughout the specification, "modified cellulose" refers to cellulose in which specific functional groups have been substituted within the molecular structure. For example, in the case of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), cellulose modified by the degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl groups and methyl groups (or methoxy groups) and molecular weight is within the range of 4 to 40,000. It can have a grade. The grade can determine the viscosity of the modified cellulose.

Specifically, the physicochemical properties of HPMC are related to i) the ratio of methoxy groups, ii) the ratio of hydroxypropyl groups, and iii) the molecular weight, but according to the United States Pharmacology (USP), the type of HPMC can be classified into HPMC1828, HPMC2208, HPMC2906, HPMC2910, etc., depending on the ratio of methoxy groups and hydroxypropyl groups. Here, the two-digit number at the front means the ratio of methoxy groups, and the two-digit number at the rear means the ratio of hydroxypropyl groups.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in a manner that can be easily carried out by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a smoking article 100 according to an example.

Smoking article 100 may include a first portion 100 that includes a tobacco element and a second portion 120 that includes a filter element.

Referring to FIG. 1, the first portion 100 and the second portion 120 may be sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction of the smoking article 100. Here, the longitudinal direction of smoking article 100 is also the direction in which the length of smoking article 100 extends. For example, the longitudinal direction of smoking article 100 is also the direction from first section 100 to second section 120.

The first portion 100 may include a tobacco element. A tobacco element is also a specific form of tobacco material. For example, the tobacco element can have the form of shredded tobacco, tobacco particles, tobacco sheets, tobacco beads, tobacco granules, or tobacco extracts. The tobacco material may also include, for example, one or more of tobacco leaves, tobacco lateral veins, puffed tobacco, shredded tobacco, shredded leaf tobacco, and reconstituted tobacco.

The second portion 120 may include a single segment filter element. The filter element is also a cellulose acetate filter. There are no restrictions on the shape of the filter element. For example, the filter element can be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod with a hollow interior. The filter element may also be a recessed rod.

The second portion 120 is also made to generate flavor. For example, a perfumed liquid may be sprayed onto the second portion 120, or a separate fiber coated with a perfumed liquid may be inserted into the second portion 120.

Second portion 120 may also include at least one capsule 130. Here, the capsule 130 may perform the function of generating a flavor or the function of generating an aerosol. For example, the capsule 130 also has a structure in which a liquid containing a fragrance is covered with a film. Capsule 130 can have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

Additionally, the second portion 120 may include multiple segments. Such an embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

The second portion 120 may include a filter element 123 and may further include a cooling element 121.

The cooling element 121 may cool the airflow passing through the first portion 100 from the exterior of the smoking article 100. The cooling element 121 is also a hollow cylindrical paper tube made of paper material. In addition, the cooling element 121 may be made of a polymeric material or a biodegradable polymeric material, and may have a cooling function. For example, the cooling element 121 is made of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, but is not limited thereto. The cooling element 121 may also be made of a cellulose acetate filter with a plurality of holes formed therein. However, the cooling element 121 is not necessarily limited to the above-mentioned examples, and the invention includes without limitation any material that performs the function of cooling the airflow. Further, the cooling element 121 is also a hollow tube filter or paper tube.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the smoking article 100 may further include a plug (not shown). A plug may be placed at the distal end of smoking article 100. For example, a plug may be placed at the distal end of smoking article 100 adjacent first portion 100. The plug may function to appropriately adjust the overall length of smoking article 100. The plug may also function to adjust the first portion 100 to be placed in a proper position within the aerosol generator when the smoking article 100 is inserted into the aerosol generator (not shown). .

Smoking article 100 may include at least one wrapper 140. For example, smoking article 100 may include a first wrapper surrounding first portion 100 and a second wrapper surrounding second portion 120. The smoking article 100 may also include a third wrapper that wraps around the first portion 100 and the second portion 120. Smoking article 100 may also include a fourth wrapper that wraps around second portion 120. The fourth wrapper generally serves as a tip paper.

At least one of the first to fourth wrappers is also biodegradable wrapping paper. When biodegradable wrapping paper is used, smoking article 100 is rapidly degraded by microorganisms, thereby reducing environmental pollution.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating another exemplary smoking article 200. As shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, smoking article 200 may include a first portion 210 and a second portion 220. Second portion 220 may include a filter element. The above description of the second portion 120 in FIG. 1 may be applied to the second portion 220 in the same manner.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first portion 210 may be divided into two sections. The first portion 210 may include an aerosol-generating substrate 211 and a nicotine-generating substrate 213.

Aerosol-generating substrate 211 may include, for example, crimped paper impregnated with an aerosol-generating substance. The aerosol-generating substance (or aerosol-forming agent) may include, for example, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol.

The nicotine generating substrate 213 may include, for example, shredded tobacco, tobacco particles, tobacco sheets, tobacco beads, tobacco granules. As another example, nicotine generating substrate 213 may include crimped paper impregnated with tobacco extract. When the nicotine-generating substrate 213 is heated, nicotine may be generated from the nicotine-generating substrate 213 and transferred to the second portion 220 .

Additionally, second portion 220 may include multiple segments. For example, the second portion 220 may include a filter element 223 and may further include a cooling element 221.

The above-described contents regarding the first cooling element 121 and the filter element 123 may be applied to the cooling element 221 and the filter element 223 in FIG. 2 in the same manner. Therefore, descriptions of duplicate content will be omitted.

The flavor-containing sheet for a smoking article according to the present invention is included, for example, in the first portion 110, 210 or the second portion 120, 220 of the smoking article 100, 200 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A slurry (or crude liquor) containing distilled water, alcohol, modified cellulose, and flavoring agent may be used to produce a flavored sheet for smoking articles according to the present invention. Additionally, the slurry may further include at least one of a bulking agent, an aerosol forming agent, and an emulsifier.

The slurry contains about 1 to 80 wt% alcohol. By mixing alcohol into the slurry at a weight ratio within the above numerical range, the modified cellulose can be more easily dissolved.

More specifically, in the slurry, distilled water and alcohol may be mixed in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to 10:1. Desirably, distilled water and alcohol may be mixed in a weight ratio of about 2.33:1. By mixing distilled water and alcohol in a weight ratio within the above numerical range, the modified cellulose can be more easily dissolved.

Distilled water is also a factor that determines the viscosity of the slurry.

Alcohol can be utilized as a solvent. Alcohol is also, for example, ethanol. When the slurry contains ethanol, modified cellulose such as HPMC, MC, CMC, or EC and flavor ingredients such as L-menthol can be well dissolved in the slurry at room temperature.

Modified cellulose is also cellulose in which specific functional groups have been substituted within the molecular structure. Modified cellulose is also, for example, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose (MC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or ethyl cellulose (EC). Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose can have a grade within the range of about 4 to 40,000 depending on the degree to which the hydroxypropyl and methyl (or methoxy) groups are substituted. The grade can determine the viscosity of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

The modified cellulose is also available under the product name AN6, AN15, AN50, BN10, BN50, MC15, or MC50 of Lotte Fine Chemicals, for example.

When using MC15 or MC50 (cellulose substituted with methyl groups) as the modified cellulose, the viscosity properties, slurry formation properties, drying properties, sheet physical properties, and fragrance retention properties of the fragrance-containing sheet are excellent. It was confirmed. In such cases, the smoking article flavor-containing sheet can have a viscosity within the range of about 100 to about 10,000 cp when the slurry is prepared.

Flavoring agents include, for example, menthol, leaf tobacco extract, natural plant fragrances (e.g., cinnamon, sage, herbs, chamomile, arrowroot, sweet tea, cloves, lavender, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose). Oil, lemon, orange, cinnamon, caraway, jasmine, ginger, coriander, vanilla extract, spearmint, peppermint, cassia, coffee, celery, cascarilla, sandalwood, cocoa, ylang ylang, fennel, anise, licorice, St. John's bread, plum extract, peach extract, etc.), sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, high fructose sugar, caramel, etc.), cocoa (powder, extract, etc.), esters (e.g., isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, linalyl butyrate) ), ketones (e.g., menthone, ionone, damascenone, ethylmaltol, etc.), alcohols (e.g., geraniol, linalool, anethole, eugenol, etc.), aldehydes (e.g., vanillin, benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, etc.), lactones (e.g., vanillin, benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, etc.) Examples include γ-undecalactone, γ-nonalactone, etc.), animal fragrances (eg, musk, ambergris, civet, castoreum, etc.), and hydrocarbons (eg, limonene, pinene, etc.). The perfume may be used in solid form or dissolved or dispersed in a suitable solvent such as propylene glycol, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, triethyl citrate. Further, it is possible to use fragrances that are easily dispersed in a solvent by adding an emulsifier, such as hydrophobic fragrances and oil-soluble fragrances. These fragrances may be used alone or in mixtures. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to what has been described above, and the present invention may include any flavoring agent used in smoking articles.

A bulking agent can serve to increase the total mass (ie, dry mass) of components other than water in the raw slurry, thereby increasing the volume of the perfume-containing sheet produced. The filler is a substance that only serves to increase the volume of the perfume-containing sheet and does not affect the original function of the perfume-containing sheet. Specifically, the filler does not substantially increase the viscosity of the raw slurry and does not adversely affect the flavor retention function of the flavor-containing sheet.

Fillers are also starches or starch hydrolysates. Starch hydrolyzate means a substance obtained by a process of hydrolyzing starch. The starch hydrolyzate is, for example, a substance obtained by directly hydrolyzing starch (i.e., dextrin), or a substance obtained by hydrolyzing starch after heat treatment (i.e., indigestible dextrin). The filler is, for example, also a dextrin, more particularly a cyclodextrin.

The starch hydrolyzate is also generally a starch hydrolyzate having a DE value comprised in the range of about 2 to 40, preferably also a starch hydrolyzate having a DE value comprised in the range of about 2 to 20. . Examples of starch hydrolyzate having a DE value in the range of about 2 to 20 include Pine Index #100 (Matsuya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), Pine Fiber (Matsuya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), TK-16 (Matsuya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.), Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. can be utilized.

DE is an abbreviation for dextrose equivalent, and the DE value is a value indicating the degree of starch hydrolysis, that is, the saccharification rate of starch. DE values can be measured by the Willstatter-Schudel method. The DE value is determined as a specific value by the Willstatter-Schudel method. The properties of the hydrolyzed starch (i.e., the starch hydrolyzate), such as the molecular weight of the starch hydrolyzate and the arrangement of the sugar molecules that make up the starch hydrolyzate, may vary between the molecules of the starch hydrolyzate. They are not identical and also differ by some distribution or variation. The starch hydrolyzate exhibits different physical properties (for example, DE value) for each molecule depending on the distribution and variation of the properties of the starch hydrolyzate, or the difference in the section to be cut. In this way, starch hydrolyzate is a collection of molecules that exhibit different physical properties, but the measurement results (i.e., DE value) by the Willstatter-Schudel method indicate the degree of starch hydrolysis. treated as a representative value.

Desirably, the starch hydrolyzate may be selected from the group consisting of dextrins having a DE value of about 2 to 5, resistant dextrins having a DE value of about 10 to about 15, and mixtures thereof. As a dextrin having a DE value of about 2 to 5, for example, Paindex #100 (manufactured by Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) can be used. As the indigestible dextrin having a DE value of about 10 to about 15, for example, Pine Fiber (manufactured by Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) can be used.

The fragrance-containing sheet for smoking articles may contain about 2 to 15 parts by weight of water, about 25 to 90 parts by weight of modified cellulose, and about 0.1 to 60 parts by weight of fragrance, based on 100 parts by weight of the whole. .

The slurry may further include at least one of a filler, an aerosol former, and an emulsifier. As mentioned above, the filler is also, for example, dextrin, the aerosol-forming agent is also, for example, at least one of glycerin and propylene glycol, and the emulsifier is also, for example, lecithin.

FIG. 3A is a drawing showing the fragrance-containing sheet 300 before drying, and FIG. 3B is a drawing showing the fragrance-containing sheet 400 after drying.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the pre-dried perfume-containing sheet 300 may have a thickness _d1 . The perfume-containing sheet 400 after drying can have a thickness _d2 . The thickness d ₁ before drying is also greater than or equal to the thickness d ₂ after drying. As an example, the perfume-containing sheet 300 before drying has a thickness of about 0.2 to 2.0 mm, and the perfume-containing sheet 400 after drying has a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.3 mm. I can do it. The thickness difference mentioned above is due to the difference in moisture content due to drying.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional diagram of a first portion 500 of an exemplary smoking article.

For example, FIG. 4 also depicts a cross-section of a first portion of the smoking article of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first portion 500 may include a tobacco material 511 and a flavor-containing sheet 513. The tobacco material 511 may also be in the form of a tobacco sheet, such as, for example, shredded tobacco. Tobacco material 511 may also be a tobacco sheet impregnated with an aerosol-generating material or the like.

When the first portion 500 is burned or heated, an aerosol is generated from the tobacco material 511, and flavor components volatilized from the flavor-containing sheet 513 may be transferred with the aerosol.

Hereinafter, the advantages in manufacturing the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles will be described in detail.

Generally, when producing slurry using polysaccharide materials such as agar, gelatin, and gellan gum, the overall process is (1) heating water to about 80°C to about 100°C, (2) agar, gelatin, gellan gum, etc. Alternatively, the method may include a step of adding and dissolving gellan gum, (3) cooling to about 60° C., and (4) adding a flavor component such as menthol.

In step (3), the slurry needs to be maintained at about 60° C. in a storage tank, a transfer line, a coating nozzle, and the like.

Also, since fragrance ingredients such as menthol are not soluble in water, it is necessary to apply an emulsifier.

According to the present invention, the slurry of flavored sheets for smoking articles may include a modified cellulose (eg, HPMC, MC, CMC, or EC) having a grade in a particular numerical range. A slurry of flavor-containing sheets for smoking articles may also include, for example, distilled water, ethanol, dextrin, glycerin, and menthol. In such a case, dextrin and glycerin may be dissolved in distilled water at room temperature, and modified cellulose (eg, HPMC, MC, CMC, or EC) and menthol may be dissolved in ethanol at room temperature.

In addition, according to the present invention, the slurry of the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles contains a relatively low content of distilled water and a certain amount or more of alcohol, which has the advantage of a relatively short drying time.

When producing the slurry of the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles according to the present invention, (1) adding and dispersing cellulose (for example, HPMC, MC, CMC, or EC) modified by dissolving menthol in ethanol; It may also include the steps of 2) adding distilled water and (3) adding a fragrance ingredient. In such a case, there is no need for a separate step of heating the slurry, thereby eliminating the need to maintain the temperature in storage tanks, transfer lines, coating nozzles, and the like. Further, the slurry does not necessarily need to contain an emulsifier.

Table 1 below shows the content ratio of each component in the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles according to one example. Any ethanol was evaporated as the slurry was dried.

The manufactured flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles had excellent properties in at least one of viscosity properties, slurry formation properties, drying properties, sheet physical properties, and flavor retention properties. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a combustible cigarette 600.

A third aspect of the present invention is a combustible cigarette 600 including a first segment 610 including a tobacco material and a flavor-containing sheet, and a second segment 620 including a filter element, the first segment 610 and the second segment 620 , the fragrance-containing sheets are arranged in sequence based on the longitudinal direction of the combustible cigarette 600, and can provide the combustible cigarette 600 including modified cellulose.

A first segment 610 may be fired by a user. When the first segment 610 is ignited, the fragrance generated from the fragrance-containing sheet flows into the second segment 620 along with the tobacco smoke.

The content regarding the flavor-containing sheet for a smoking article and the smoking article described above may be similarly applied to the combustible cigarette 600 according to the third aspect of the present invention.

Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field related to this embodiment will understand that it is possible to implement the present invention in modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics described above. Therefore, the disclosed method must be considered in a descriptive rather than a restrictive light. The scope of the invention is indicated in the claims, not in the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents should be construed as included in the invention.

Claims (9)

In a fragrance-containing sheet for smoking articles,
moisture and
modified cellulose,
including fragrance,
The fragrance-containing sheet for smoking articles contains 2 to 15 parts by weight of water, 25 to 90 parts by weight of modified cellulose, and 0.1 to 60 parts by weight of fragrance, based on 100 parts by weight of the whole.
The flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles, wherein the modified cellulose is hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) having a grade within the range of 4 to 40,000. The flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles further comprises a bulking agent. The flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles further comprises an aerosol forming agent or an emulsifier. The flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the flavor-containing sheet for smoking articles has a thickness of 0.01 to 0.3 mm. In smoking articles,
a first portion comprising a tobacco material and a flavoring sheet;
a second portion including a filter element;
the first portion and the second portion are sequentially aligned with respect to the longitudinal direction of the smoking article;
The fragrance-containing sheet includes modified cellulose,
The fragrance-containing sheet contains 2 to 15 parts by weight of water, 25 to 90 parts by weight of modified cellulose, and 0.1 to 60 parts by weight of fragrance, based on 100 parts by weight of the whole.
The smoking article, wherein the modified cellulose is hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) having a grade within the range of 4 to 40,000. 6. The smoking article of claim 5 , wherein the flavor-containing sheet further includes a filler. 6. The smoking article of claim 5 , wherein the perfume-containing sheet further comprises an aerosol former or an emulsifier. A smoking article according to claim 5 , wherein the perfume-containing sheet has a thickness of 0.01 to 0.3 mm. In combustible cigarettes,
a first segment comprising a tobacco material and a flavoring sheet;
a second segment including a filter element;
The first segment and the second segment are sequentially aligned with respect to the longitudinal direction of the combustible cigarette,
The fragrance-containing sheet includes modified cellulose,
The fragrance-containing sheet contains 2 to 15 parts by weight of water, 25 to 90 parts by weight of modified cellulose, and 0.1 to 60 parts by weight of fragrance, based on 100 parts by weight of the whole.
The combustible cigarette, wherein the modified cellulose is hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) having a grade within the range of 4 to 40,000.