JP7395356B2 - Method and apparatus for producing crimped material sheets - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for crimping a sheet of material and a process for manufacturing a crimped sheet of material, the crimped sheet of material being preferably used in the manufacture of an aerosol-generating article.

Generally, aerosol-generating articles include multiple elements assembled in the form of a rod. The plurality of elements generally includes an aerosol-forming substrate and a filter element. One or both of the filter and the aerosol-forming substrate may include multiple channels to provide airflow through the rod. A plurality of channels may be provided by crimping a sheet of material and consequent collection of material within a rod to form channels. In such embodiments, the crimped sheet is generally formed by crimping a substantially continuous web and cutting a plurality of crimped sheets from the crimped and assembled web.

In the field of aerosol-generating articles, the continuous web crimped material can be tobacco cast leaf (TCL), polylactic acid (PLA), tow, or the like.

Methods and apparatus for producing crimped webs for use in aerosol generating articles are well known in the art. Known methods of producing crimped webs generally include feeding a substantially continuous web between a pair of alternating rollers to form a plurality of longitudinally extending crimped corrugations in series. The process of applying it to the web is involved. The crimped web is then assembled to form a continuous rod having a plurality of axial channels. The rod is then rolled and cut into smaller segments to form an aerosol-generating substrate or filter for an aerosol-generating article.

The crimping process creates various effects on the material that is pressed between the crimping rollers.

The first area of benefit relates to the manufacturing process (eg, the fact that the crimped material can then be easily compressed into a rod that fits into the aerosol-generating article).

When the crimped material is compressed into a rod and added to an aerosol generating article, a second area of effect relates to the crimping (such as the user's smoking experience). More specifically, the crimping process affects the air contact between the air penetrating the aerosol-generating article and the crimped sheet of material, and the resistance to draw (RTD).

Therefore, the crimping process is important for the correct manufacture of the article and for obtaining the desired smoking experience.

However, a non-optimal or sub-optimal crimping process can weaken the web of crimped material, worsening the release of substances from the crimped material sheet into the rod's permeating air, as well as worsening the RTD (drawout resistance) value may be adversely affected.

It would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for producing crimped sheets of material, preferably for aerosol-generating articles, that allow better control over the properties of the aerosol-generating article and greater flexibility with respect to the crimping process. It turns out.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for crimping a sheet of material, the apparatus comprising first and second opposed crimping rollers defining first and second axes of rotation. , at least one of the first and second crimping rollers includes a plurality of ridges, each ridge defining a first and second flank and a tip, and the first or second flank defining a tip. The radial direction passing through the radial direction forms a flank angle, the flank angle being about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees.

Preferably, the flank angle is between about 4 degrees and about 20 degrees.

Until now, optimization of the crimping process has been carried out with the aim of obtaining an improved experience for the end consumer, with a particular focus on suitable RTD values and good release of substances emitted by aerosol-generating articles. It was something like that. This has sometimes resulted in particularly poor and error-prone production techniques, particularly for the crimping process. Here, with the manufacturing methods according to the state of the art, there was quite often a deterioration in the quality of the crimped material sheets. Even shredding of the material sheet may be observed during the crimping process. This not only disadvantaged manufacturing in that maintenance shutdowns of manufacturing equipment were required frequently, but were sometimes unpredictable. Moreover, such shredding or deterioration of the crimped material sheet can lead to a poor smoking experience for the end consumer, such as due to changes in RTD. Using the present invention, a crimped sheet of material may be significantly less prone to any damage or otherwise detrimental alteration of the material sheet. At the same time, a particularly advantageous smoking experience may be provided for the end consumer.

The two axes of rotation of the rollers may be aligned essentially parallel to each other or may exhibit a certain or preferably small finite angle between them.

The term "sheet" as used herein means a layered element having a width and length substantially greater than its thickness.

The term "crimped" as used herein refers to a sheet or web having multiple corrugations. The term "crimping" refers to the formation of a crimped sheet of material, preferably with respect to the production of a structured surface from an essentially flat or previously untreated sheet of material.

As used herein, the term "pitch value" or "pitch" refers to the lateral distance between troughs on either side of a particular corrugation peak, or between two adjacent or consecutive peaks. or the lateral distance between the ridges.

The term "amplitude value" or "amplitude" as used herein means the height of a corrugation from its peak to the deepest point of its deepest immediately adjacent trough.

As used herein, the term "ridge" means a protrusion seen in the outer or inner radial direction from the axis of rotation of the respective roller, thus giving a corner-shaped or rounded shape. Either tip can be formed. Each tip may be limited by two flanks, one on each side of the tip. The ridge or tip may have some extent along the surface of the roller when viewed tangentially. Also, ridges as corrugations define amplitude in a similar manner. A "trough" exists between the two ridges.

A flank has a direction given by its tangent. The "flank angle" takes into account the angle formed between the tangent to the flank and the radial direction passing through the tip of the ridge. The radial direction can be visualized as the radius of the roller that connects the center of the crimping roller (where the axis of rotation of the roller is) and the tip of the ridge.

Since there can be multiple tangents, the term "flank angle" refers to the local flank angle as it follows the shape of the surface of the roller between two successive tips or between the tip and the trough bottom. Defined in terms of minimum or maximum angle. The bottom of the trough may be the location where the local minimum radius of the roller is defined between two adjacent tips. The minimum or maximum value of the angle may be related to the magnitude of the respective value. However, other prominent or well-defined locations along the surface of the flank may be used to also define the flank angle.

The ridges may be symmetrical about the axis of rotation of the respective roller, just as the flanks on opposite sides of the tips may be symmetrical. Particularly in this case, the angle between two flanks forming the same ridge is twice that of either of the two flank angles. Alternatively, one or more of the ridges may be asymmetric about the axis of rotation of the respective roller. That is, the flank angles of both flanks of the ridge may be different. This statement may relate to certain parts of the roller (such that the surface areas of at least two of the rollers are different) or to some parts or even most parts of the roller.

The term "ridge angle" as used herein means the angle between the ridge and the longitudinal direction.

As used herein, the term "corrugation" refers to a plurality of substantially parallel ridges formed from alternating peaks and troughs joined by corrugation flanks. These may be formed within the sheet by the ridges of the crimping roller. The roller may also have corrugations formed by a plurality of adjacent ridges. Corrugations can have a number of different shapes, including, but not limited to, corrugations having a diamond-like profile, a sinusoidal profile, a triangular profile, a sawtooth profile, or any combination thereof.

Definitions regarding the size and shape of ridges, amplitudes, pitches, tips, flanks, and the like, as used herein, may be understood with respect to the rollers of a crimping device. Preferably, the resulting crimped sheet of material can exhibit substantially identical dimensions and shapes over at least some of its corrugations. However, certain deviations may exist. In particular, the particular material properties of the sheet of material being crimped may result in deviations from the shape or dimensions of one or both of the rollers.

As used herein, the term "substantially interleaved" refers to a corrugation of at least partially meshed first and second rollers. This includes symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangements of the corrugations on one or both of the rollers. The roller corrugations may be substantially aligned or at least partially offset. The peaks of one or more ridges of the first or second roller may alternate with troughs between two ridges of the other of the first and second rollers. the first and second rollers such that substantially all corrugation troughs of one of the first and second rollers receive a single corrugation peak of the other of the first and second rollers, respectively; Preferably, the corrugations are arranged alternately.

The term "longitudinal" as used herein means a direction extending along or parallel to the length of a web or sheet.

As used herein, the term "axis of rotation" refers to a direction that extends along a line essentially indicating no translation as the respective roller rotates during its normal operating conditions. This may be referred to as the axis of the respective roller.

The term "width" as used herein means the direction perpendicular to the length of the web or sheet, or in the case of a roller, parallel to the axis of the roller.

The term "rod" as used herein refers to a generally cylindrical element of substantially circular or oval cross-section.

The terms "axial" or "axially" as used herein mean a direction extending along or parallel to the cylindrical axis of the rod.

As used herein, the term "collected" or "collected" means that the webs or sheets are coiled or otherwise compressed substantially transversely to the cylindrical axis of the rod. Or it means being tightened.

As used herein, the term "section" of a roller refers to a specific area on the outer circumferential surface of at least one of the rollers. The surface limits may be defined along a particular range along the axial direction of the respective roller (parallel to the axis of rotation of the respective roller). Additionally or alternatively, the limits may be defined in terms of a particular range along the tangential direction of the respective roller (defining a particular angular range).

The aerosol-generating article can be a heated aerosol-generating article, which is an aerosol-generating article that includes an aerosol-forming substrate that is intended to be heated rather than combusted to release volatile compounds capable of forming an aerosol. The heated aerosol-generating article may include on-board heating means forming part of the aerosol-generating article, or configured to interact with an external heater forming part of a separate aerosol-generating device. Good too.

In order to produce a crimped sheet of material, the sheet of material, which can be, for example, a sheet formed of tow, PLA, or an alkaloid-containing material (e.g. homogenized tobacco material), is conveyed along a conveying direction. Ru. Conveying can be carried out by any suitable means, for example by pulling through rollers, in particular by pulling using said first crimping roller and said second crimping roller. During transport, the material sheet or web passes through a so-called "nip" formed between a first crimping roller and a second crimping roller.

At least one of the first roller or the second roller or both rollers includes a ridge, which contacts the sheet of material such that a corresponding corrugation is formed on the sheet as it passes through the nip.

Both the first crimp roller and the second crimp roller may exhibit multiple ridges or corrugations. In particular, in this case the rollers may be designed in such a way that at least some of them are arranged in a substantially alternating manner.

Alternatively, only one of the first and second rollers may exhibit corrugations, with the other roller exhibiting an essentially smooth cylindrical surface.

Both the first roller and the second roller may both exhibit corrugation (but in non-corresponding parts), i.e. for each part of the sheet of material in contact with the roller, the first roller and the second only one of the rollers forms a crimp corrugation on that portion of the sheet of material.

Each ridge includes two flanks that terminate at the tips of the ridges. At least one of the flanks forms a flank angle with respect to the radial direction, i.e., the direction along the radius of the roller starting from the same axis of rotation is from about 4 degrees to about 20 degrees, and from about 8 to about 10 degrees. Preferably. The flank angle is the angle between the tangent to the flank (the flank includes straight sections) and the radial direction as defined above.

Preferably, all ridges of the first or second roller form such a flank angle.

Even more preferably, both flanks of each ridge form a flank angle within this range.

Tests have shown that the ridges forming the claimed flank angles reduce the phenomenon of shredding and possibly also damage to the sheet of material entering the waist between the rollers. Therefore, improved control of the crimping process is possible.

Preferably, the ridges are spaced apart from each other at a constant pitch. This statement may apply essentially to the entire outer circumferential surface of the first or second roller. This statement may apply essentially to the entire outer circumferential surface of the rollers, in particular to the circumference or both of the respective rollers. However, the first or second roller exhibits several sections, and constant pitch can only occur within each section. A crimped sheet of material crimped using such a roller may exhibit particularly advantageous properties, and perhaps a particularly advantageous RTD.

Advantageously, the ridges all have substantially the same amplitude. This statement may apply essentially to the entire outer circumferential surface of the rollers, in particular to the circumference or both of the respective rollers. However, the first or second roller exhibits several sections, and the same amplitude can only occur within each section. A crimped sheet of material crimped using such rollers may exhibit particularly advantageous properties, particularly for collections of crimped material sheets.

Preferably, the first and second flanks are symmetrical in a radial direction passing through the tip. This statement may apply essentially to the entire outer circumferential surface of the rollers, in particular to the circumference or both of the respective rollers. By using such rollers, the sheet of material being crimped may be less susceptible to fracturing or other harmful alterations. Corresponding devices may therefore be particularly preferred.

It is even more preferred that the first or second roller is realized in metal. Naturally, both rollers can also be realized in metal. Such a roller design may result in a particularly long life for the roller and the equipment in which it is used.

Preferably, the flank angle is about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees. This statement may apply essentially to the entire outer circumferential surface of the rollers, in particular to the circumference or both of the respective rollers. Using such dimensions, a device can be achieved which exhibits a particularly low tendency to shredding of the material sheet being crimped. Additionally, the smoking experience for the end user of the final product may be particularly high. These dimensions can be used only in certain sections or only on certain parts of the surface of the first or second roller.

It is still further preferred that the other of the first and second crimping rollers include a plurality of ridges, the first and second rollers being arranged such that the ridges on the first roller are substantially equal to the ridges on the second roller. arranged in an alternating manner. This statement may apply essentially to the entire outer circumferential surface of the rollers, in particular to the circumference or both of the respective rollers. Similarly, statements may apply only to certain portions of the outer circumferential surface of the roller. Using such a design, the resulting crimped material sheet may exhibit a particularly advantageous shape with respect to achieving a desired RTD or releasing a desired amount of volatile compounds when used in a final product.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a crimped sheet for an aerosol-generating article is provided, the method comprising feeding a substantially continuous sheet of material to a set of crimping rollers. a set of rollers including a first roller and a second roller, at least one of the first or second rollers including a plurality of ridges; The substantially continuous sheet is crimped by the first and second rollers such that the ridges of the first or second rollers apply a plurality of crimped corrugations to the substantially continuous sheet of material. forming a crimped web by longitudinally feeding a sheet of material between and the first or second flank defines a flank angle with a radial direction passing through the tip, the flank angle being about 8 degrees to about 10 degrees.

The method can be implemented particularly well when using the device according to the previous proposal. When the method according to this aspect of the invention is employed, effects and advantages similar, at least in analogy, to those previously described in connection with the above-described apparatus for crimping of sheets of material may be realized. . Furthermore, the method may also be modified, at least in analogy, in the sense previously described. When adopting such modifications, similar effects and advantages may be realized, at least in analogy, and also in connection with the method.

In particular, the method includes the step of manufacturing a crimped sheet as heretofore proposed, and further includes the step of assembling the crimped sheet to form a continuous rod, and forming a plurality of continuous rods. cutting the crimped sheet into rod-shaped components, each rod-shaped component having an aggregate of crimped sheets formed from cut portions of the crimped sheet; The method can be modified so that the corrugation includes defining a plurality of channels within the rod-like component.

In this way, aerosol-generating articles that meet current market needs can be realized in an efficient and inexpensive manner. In particular, an aerosol-generating article resembling a conventional combustion type aerosol-generating product, in particular a conventional cigarette, may be realized. "Aggregation" may include, among other things, the aggregation methods described above. In particular, "gathering" refers to a folding process in which two parts of a crimped sheet of material can be layered on top of each other by a folding-type action, usually along a straight line, or a crimped sheet that is not initially gathered. The act of rolling the sheet of material into some type of coil-like configuration may also be included. In some cases, a combination of folding and rolling processes may also be used, where a folding-type operation is typically performed before the rolling operation.

Preferably, the crimped material sheet can be used to be one of an alkaloid-containing material sheet, a plastic sheet, or a cellulose-containing sheet. For such sheets, the method proposed here may be particularly suitable. Preferably, the alkaloid-containing material sheet comprises a homogenized tobacco sheet.

An "alkaloid-containing material" is a material that contains one or more alkaloids. Among the alkaloids, nicotine is the preferred alkaloid, which can be found in tobacco.

Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring compounds containing primarily basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even slightly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds with similar structures are also called alkaloids. In addition to carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, alkaloids may also contain other elements such as oxygen, sulfur, and, more rarely, chlorine, bromine, and phosphorous.

Alkaloids are produced by a wide variety of organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. These can be purified from crude extracts of these organisms by acid-base extraction. Caffeine, nicotine, theobromine, atropine, and tubocurarine are examples of alkaloids.

As used herein, the term "homogenized tobacco material" refers to a material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco containing the alkaloid nicotine.

A crimped sheet of material crimped in the sense described above may be used for an aerosol-generating article comprising a rod formed from a collection of crimped sheets produced in the manner described above.

Such aerosol generating articles may resemble combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes. The aerosol generating article may include tobacco. Aerosol generating articles may be disposable. The aerosol-generating article may alternatively be partially reusable and include a refillable or replaceable aerosol-forming substrate.

As used herein, the term "homogenized tobacco material" refers to material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco.

The homogenized tobacco material may be in the form of a sheet. The homogenized tobacco material may have an aerosol former content of greater than 5 percent on a dry mass basis. Alternatively, the homogenized tobacco material can have an aerosol former content of about 5 to about 30 weight percent on a dry weight basis. A homogenized sheet of tobacco material is formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco obtained by grinding or otherwise comminuting tobacco leaf lamina and/or tobacco leaf petiole. The homogenized sheet of tobacco material may alternatively or additionally be made of tobacco dust, tobacco fines and other particulate tobacco by-products formed during tobacco processing, handling and transportation, for example. may include one or more of the following. The homogenized sheet of tobacco material may contain one or more inherent binders (i.e., tobacco endogenous binders), one or more extrinsic binders (i.e., Alternatively or in addition, the homogenized sheet of tobacco material may contain tobacco and non-tobacco fibers, aerosol formers, wetting agents, plasticizers, flavors, etc. Other additives may also be included, including but not limited to agents, fillers, aqueous and non-aqueous solvents, and combinations thereof. The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may include both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may include a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavor compounds that are released from the substrate upon heating. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may include non-tobacco materials. The aerosol-forming substrate may further include an aerosol former. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerin and propylene glycol.

When the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate, the solid aerosol-forming substrate is one of medicinal herb leaves, tobacco leaves, tobacco stem fragments, reconstituted tobacco, homogenized tobacco, extruded tobacco and expanded tobacco. For example, it may include one or more of the following, including powders, granules, pellets, pieces, spaghetti, strips, or sheets. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be in uncontained form or may be provided in a suitable container or cartridge. For example, the aerosol-forming material of a solid aerosol-forming substrate can be contained within a paper or other wrapper and have the form of a plug. When the aerosol-forming substrate is in the form of a plug, the entire plug, including any wrapper, is considered to be an aerosol-forming substrate.

Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate can include additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavor compounds that are released upon heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may also contain capsules containing, for example, additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavor compounds, and such capsules may melt during heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may be provided on or embedded within a thermally stable carrier. The carrier may take the form of a powder, granules, pellets, pieces, spaghetti, strips or sheets. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited on the surface of the carrier, for example in the form of a sheet, foam, gel, or slurry. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited over the entire surface of the carrier, or alternatively in a pattern to provide non-uniform flavor delivery during use. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate is formed from a collection of crimped sheets according to any of the embodiments described above. In such embodiments, the collection of crimped sheets may comprise a sheet of homogenized tobacco material. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate is deposited on the surface of the carrier in the form of a collection of crimped sheets according to any of the embodiments described above.

Preferably, the elements of the aerosol generating article are assembled by means of a suitable wrapper, such as cigarette paper. The cigarette paper may be any suitable material for packaging the components of the aerosol generating article in the form of a rod. Preferably, the cigarette paper holds and aligns the components of the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is assembled and holds the components of the aerosol-generating article in place within the rod. Suitable materials are well known in the art.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate is formed from or comprises a homogenized tobacco material having greater than 5 percent aerosol former and water by dry mass. For example, the homogenized tobacco material can have an aerosol former content of about 5 to about 30 weight percent on a dry mass basis. Aerosols generated from these aerosol-forming substrates may be considered by users to have particularly high temperatures, and the use of large surface area, low withdrawal resistance aerosol cooling elements can reduce the perceived temperature of the aerosol to a user's convenience. can be reduced to an acceptable level.

The aerosol generating article may be substantially cylindrical in shape. The aerosol generating article may be substantially elongated. The aerosol generating article may have a length and a circumference substantially perpendicular to the length. The aerosol-forming substrate may be substantially cylindrical. The aerosol-forming substrate may be substantially elongated. The aerosol-forming substrate may also have a length and a circumference substantially perpendicular to the length. The aerosol-forming substrate can be received in the aerosol-generating device such that the length of the aerosol-forming substrate is substantially parallel to the direction of airflow within the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol cooling element may be substantially elongated.

The aerosol generating article may have an overall length of about 30 millimeters to about 100 millimeters. The aerosol generating article may have an outer diameter of about 5 millimeters to about 12 millimeters.

The aerosol generating article may include a filter or mouthpiece. The filter may be located at the downstream end of the aerosol generating article. The filter may be an acetylcellulose filter plug. The filter, in one embodiment, is about 7 millimeters long, but may have a length of about 5 millimeters to about 10 millimeters. The aerosol-generating article can include a spacer element located downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a crimped sheet realized according to the second aspect. The crimped sheets of the present invention are easier to form with respect to aggregation and have less tendency to shred.

Preferably, the crimped material sheet is one of an alkaloid-containing material sheet, a plastic sheet, or a cellulose-containing sheet. Preferably, the alkaloid-containing material sheet comprises a homogenized tobacco sheet.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to an aerosol-generating article comprising a portion of a crimped sheet realized according to the third aspect.
Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description thereof, with non-limiting reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an apparatus for producing crimped sheets of material. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a pair of crimped rollers and a nip being formed for crimping material. FIG. 3 is a partial schematic diagram of the tapered shape of the crimped teeth of a pair of crimped rollers.

In FIG. 1, the basic layout of a device 1 for producing crimped material sheets 7 for an aerosol generator is shown in a schematic side view.

The raw material is supplied by the first coil, supply coil 2. In the supply coil 2 an "endless" sheet of flat and thin layer of material 3 is provided which is crimped using the device 1 . The material 3 may be a homogenized tobacco sheet, including a sheet of plastic or a sheet of cellulose type, onto which some type of tobacco-like flavoring compound may be applied. It should be understood that the sheet of material 3 wound onto the coil 2 is not strictly endless. However, the overall length of the material sheet can be several hundred meters and is therefore much longer than its width. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a handover mechanism between two successive supply coils 2 (not shown) so that continuous crimping is possible.

The sheet unwound from the supply coil 2 enters the "main part" of the device 1, where the processing of the material 3 is carried out. The material 3 is supplied to the device 1 as one flat layer of material 3. The processing of the flat layer of material 3 is carried out by placing the two rollers 4, 5 at a certain distance, with a nip 6 being formed between the upper roller 4 and the lower roller 5. The width of the nip 6 is approximately within the thickness of the incoming layer of material 6. The width of the nip 6 is usually defined as the distance to the neighboring surface section of the other roller 4, 5 in a direction essentially perpendicular to the surface section in question. Depending on the current needs of the processing process, the width of the nip 6 is typically such that the width of the incoming layer of material 3 is slightly compressed within the nip 6. Slightly less than the thickness. Therefore, a traction force can be applied to the flat layer of material 3 by the rollers 4, 5.

In the embodiment currently shown, both the upper roller 4 and the lower roller 5 exhibit an outer surface 11 with a corresponding surface structure (see also FIGS. 2 and 3). That is, the first ridge 9 of the roller 4 partially projects into the second adjacent trough 10 of the roller 5 and vice versa. This will be explained in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The design of the rollers 4 , 5 , in particular the outer surface 11 of the rollers 4 , 5 , corrugates the sheet of material 3 passing through the nip 6 . The corrugated material sheet 7 leaves a processing nip 6 on its opposite side. The corrugated sheet 7 is fed to a product coil 8 on which the processed and corrugated material sheet 7 is wound up. The corrugations of the corrugated sheet 7 are shown in FIG. 1 in an exaggerated manner for illustrative purposes.

In an embodiment of the invention, only one of the rollers 4, 5 is structured, although the outer surfaces of both rollers 4, 5 exhibit a fully structured outer surface 11. one or both of the rollers 4, 5 exhibiting an outer surface 11 that is only partially structured (a portion of the outer surface 11 of each roller is essentially structured); It is to be understood that it is also possible to refer to a non-external surface.

In FIG. 2, the nip 6 formed by the upper roller 4 and the lower roller 5 "as seen from the incoming 3 sheets of material" is shown in more detail. In other words, the view of FIG. 2 is perpendicular to the view of FIG. As best seen in FIG. 2, both upper rollers 4, 5 exhibit a structured surface 11 comprising a series of alternating ridges 9 and troughs 10, with a pitch between two consecutive ridges 9 or The pitch between two successive troughs 10 remains essentially constant over the entire width of the respective roller 4, 5. Furthermore, the amplitude of the surface structure, the difference in the radius 4,5 of the rollers between the top of the ridge 9 and the bottom of the trough 10 likewise remains essentially constant for the entire width of the respective roller 4,5. .

As can be further seen in FIG. 2 and as shown in more detail in FIG. offset to In particular, normally the offset between the structures of the outer surfaces of the rollers 4, 5 is essentially equal to about half the pitch 12 between two successive ridges 9 or between two successive troughs 10.

Depending on the design of the rollers 4, 5, the material sheet 7 leaving the nip 6 (i.e. the material sheet 7 processed by the device 1 as shown in FIG. 1) exhibits a corresponding surface structure.

Naturally, the surface structure 11 and the arrangement of the rollers 4, 5 shown in this embodiment are only according to a typical example. Different embodiments are possible as well. For example, only one of the rollers (e.g. upper roller 4) exhibits a surface structure 11 comprising ridges 9 and troughs 10, while the other roller (e.g. lower roller 5) is essentially structured. Shows no outer surface. Similarly, the surface structures 11 on the two rollers 4, 5 may likewise differ. As a non-limiting example, different choices may be made for the amplitude 14 of the surface structure 11 of the two rollers 4, 5.

In FIG. 3 the geometry of the surface structure 11 is shown in more detail. For completeness, due to the scale of FIG. 3, only a very limited number of ridges 9 and troughs 10 are shown. In practice, the number of ridges 9 and troughs 10 is usually significantly larger. Furthermore, due to the chosen scale, only parts of the outer surfaces 11 of the adjacent rollers 4, 5 forming the nip 6 can be displayed in FIG.

（ミリメートルの長さ）
である。 The pitch 12 of the ridges 9 (peak or tip), which is the distance between two consecutive ridges 9 measured in the axial direction of the corresponding rollers 4, 5, is currently selected to be approximately 1 mm. The surface structures 11, in particular the ridges 9 and the troughs 10, are arranged symmetrically, so that the distance 13 between the ridges 9 and the adjacent troughs 10 when viewed in the axial direction of the respective roller 4, 5 is half the pitch 12. , thus approximately 0.5 mm. In the example currently shown, the amplitude 14, which is the distance between the radial ridge 9 and the trough 10 of each roller 4, is currently 1 millimeter. The slope distance between the ridge 9 (peak) and the adjacent trough 10 is therefore correspondingly larger. Currently, this can be calculated by the Pythagorean theorem, whose value is

(length in millimeters)
It is.

Furthermore, the offset between the two surface structures 11 in the axial direction can be seen in FIG. 3 as well. Currently, the offset is chosen to be half the pitch 12 between two adjacent ridges 9, which is approximately 0.5 millimeters according to the geometry of the invention. In this way, the ridges 9 of the upper roller 4 are axially aligned with the troughs 10 of the lower roller 5, and vice versa.

According to an important aspect of the invention, the flank angle is the angle subtended between the flank 16 adjacent to the ridge 9 and a radially arranged line of the respective roller 4, 5 passing through the tip 9 of the ridge. 15 has a constant value. Due to the currently symmetrical design of the surfaces 11 of the rollers 4, 5, the angle enclosed between the two flanks 16 adjacent to the ridge 9 is approximately twice the flank angle 15.

In the example currently shown (where FIG. 3 is not drawn to scale), the flank angle 15 has been chosen to be approximately 9 degrees. Therefore, the degree of freedom for changing the dimensions of the coil is reduced. In particular, flank angle 15 may be selected to be between about 4 degrees and about 20 degrees. According to a preferred embodiment, flank angle 15 may be selected to be between about 8 degrees and about 10 degrees. However, different upper and lower limits are possible (including combinations of the indicated limits), such as about 5 degrees, about 6 degrees, or about 7 degrees (particularly as a lower limit) or about 11 degrees, about 12 degrees. , about 13 degrees, about 14 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 16 degrees, about 17 degrees, about 18 degrees, or about 19 degrees (particularly as an upper limit).

It is particularly preferred that the flank 16 exhibits a constant length that is straight, meaning that it exhibits no local surface curvature. The ridges 9 and troughs 10 are preferably rounded according to an essentially circular shape. Of course, it should be understood that different designs are possible. In particular, the surface curves can also be splines or others. In this case (but perhaps also in other cases as well), the recursion point of the respective curve can be chosen as the defining point of the flank 16 from which one line of the flank angle 15 is measured (the line indicating the radial direction is the other line of the flank angle 15). However, different definitions of the flank angle 15 are likewise possible.

Claims (10)

An apparatus for crimping a sheet of material for an aerosol-generating article, the apparatus comprising:
a first crimp roller and a second crimp roller facing each other defining a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation, respectively, the first crimp roller and the second crimp roller; At least one of the
a plurality of ridges, each ridge defining first and second flanks and a tip, forming a flank angle by a radial direction in which the first flank or the second flank passes through the tip; A device in which all ridges of the plurality form a flank angle of between 4 degrees and 12 degrees. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ridges are spaced apart from each other at a constant pitch. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ridges all have substantially the same amplitude. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second flanks are symmetrical with respect to the radial direction passing through the tip. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first or the second crimp roller is realized in metal. The other of the first and second crimping rollers includes a plurality of ridges, such that the ridges of the first crimping roller substantially alternate with the ridges of the second crimping roller. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first and second crimp rollers are arranged at. 1. A method of manufacturing a crimped sheet for an aerosol-generating article, the method comprising:
feeding a substantially continuous sheet of material to a set of crimping rollers, said set of crimping rollers including a first crimping roller and a second crimping roller; one or the second crimp roller includes at least one of a plurality of ridges;
The ridges of the first or second crimp rollers apply a plurality of crimp corrugations to the substantially continuous sheet of material. crimping the substantially continuous web to form the crimped web by longitudinally feeding the sheet of material between a second crimping roller;
The ridge in the first or second crimp roller defines first and second flanks and a tip, and the first or second flank defines a flank by a radial direction passing through the tip. forming an angle, wherein the flank angle formed by all ridges of the first and second crimping rollers is between 4 degrees and 12 degrees. 1. A method of manufacturing a component of an aerosol-generating article, the method comprising:
A step of manufacturing a crimped sheet according to claim 7;
collecting the crimped sheets to form a continuous rod;
cutting the continuous rod into a plurality of rod-like components, each rod-like component forming a collection of crimped sheets formed from cut portions of the crimped sheet; and cutting, wherein the crimped corrugations of the crimped sheet define a plurality of channels within the rod-like component. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the material sheet is one of an alkaloid-containing material sheet, a plastic sheet or a cellulose-containing sheet. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sheet of alkaloid-containing material comprises a homogenized tobacco sheet.

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