KR20050072127A - Electrically heated cigarette including controlled-release flavoring - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrically heated cigarettes used in an electrical smoking system include a flavoring- release additive and sorbent effective to remove one or more gas-phase constituents of mainstream tobacco smoke. The flavoring-release additive includes at least one flavoring. The flavoring is released in the cigarette upon the flavoring-release additive reaching at least a minimum temperature during smoking. The flavoring-release additive can have various forms including, for example, beads, films and inclusion complexes. Electrical smoking systems including the electrically heated cigarettes, methods of making the cigarettes, and methods of smoking the cigarettes are also provided.

Description

ELECTRICALLY HEATED CIGARETTE INCLUDING CONTROLLED-RELEASE FLAVORING}

The present invention relates to an electrically heated tobacco comprising an emission controlled flavoring agent.

Conventional cigarettes were lit by burning the ends of the wrapped cigarette rods and sucking air at the opposite end of the cigarette through the ends of the lit cigarettes. Conventional cigarettes produce smoke as a result of combustion, when cigarettes are usually burned at temperatures above 800 ° C. when soaked. The heat of combustion releases various gaseous combustion products and extracts from tobacco. As these gas products exit through the tobacco, they are cooled and condensed to form aerosols, which provide the flavor and aroma associated with tobacco.

Conventional cigarettes produce smoke at the end of the cigarette while smoke is generated between each inhalation. Once lit, cigarettes are usually completely consumed or discarded. It is possible to re-ignite conventional cigarettes, but this is undesirable for reasons such as flavor, taste and aroma.

An alternative to conventional cigarettes is electrically heated cigarettes used in electric smoking systems. Compared with conventional cigarettes, the electric smoking system significantly reduces the smoke generated at the end of the cigarette and also allows the smoker to pause and resume smoking as desired. Exemplary electric smoking systems are disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 6,026,820, 5,988,176, 5,915,387, 5,692,526, 5,692,525, 5,666,976, 5,499,636, and 5,388,594. The electric smoking system includes an electrically operated lighter and an electrically heated cigarette, which is configured for use with the lighter. The electric smoking system provides smokers by providing immediate responsiveness (as soon as they smoke), desired level (relative to FTC tar level), resistance to sucking (RTD), inhalation and inhalation, and consistency between tobacco and tobacco. It is desirable to be able to emit smoke in a manner similar to that experienced with conventional tobacco.

In order to add flavor and scent to the smoke from the accumulation of smoke and the end of the cigarette, volatile flavors were added to conventional cigarettes. See, for example, US Pat. Nos. 3,006,347, 3,236,244, 3,344,796, 3,426,011, 3,972,335, 4,715,390, 5,137,034, 5,144,964, 6,325,859, and International Publication WO 01/80671. Just do it. The added flavoring agent is preferably released when smoking cigarettes. However, volatile flavoring agents tend to migrate from tobacco to other components, and it is also possible to pass through the entire tobacco. Volatile flavors may disappear from tobacco under normal conditions of storage or distribution prior to smoking. The degree of migration of volatile flavors in cigarettes depends on the vapor pressure of the flavor, the solubility of the flavor in other components of the cigarette, and other factors, including temperature and humidity conditions. Moreover, most of the flavors added in conventional cigarettes can be lost by the smoke from the end of the cigarette.

Flavors added to conventional tobacco can be chemically and / or physically degraded by contacting and / or reacting with the environment as well as other components of the tobacco. For example, conventional tobacco has added activated carbon to remove gaseous components from direct drinking smoke. However, the flavourant added to the tobacco together with the activated carbon is absorbed by the activated carbon, blocking the absorption holes of the activated carbon and eventually inactivating the activated carbon, thus reducing the ability to filter tobacco smoke.

For these reasons, flavoring agents added to conventional tobacco have not been delivered to smokers completely satisfactorily. As a result, the flavoring agents added to conventional cigarettes did not give the smokers the desired taste, and the degree of flavor for the subjective quality of the cigarette was smaller than desired. Because of the deterioration of the flavor, the consistency of the tobacco with the added flavor was not satisfactory. In addition, the absorption of the flavourant by the tobacco absorbent inactivates the absorbent, thus reducing the ability to remove gaseous components from tobacco smoke.

1 shows a preferred embodiment of a partially disassembled state of an electrically heated tobacco for use in an electric smoking system, FIG.

FIG. 2 shows an assembled state of the electrically heated cigarette shown in FIG. 1 when one end of the cigarette is in contact with the stop piece of the electrically operated lighter of the electric smoking system, FIG.

3 shows another preferred embodiment of a partially disassembled state of an electrically heated tobacco for use in an electric smoking system;

4 shows a preferred embodiment of an electric smoking system when the electrically heated cigarette is inserted into an electrically operated lighter, FIG.

5 shows the electric smoking system shown in FIG. 4 when the cigarette is withdrawn from the lighter, FIG.

6 shows a heater mount of an electric smoking system.

In order to solve the problems described above in conventional tobacco comprising flavor and absorbent, an electrically heated tobacco comprising absorbent and controlled release flavoring is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the electrically heated tobacco comprises absorbents and flavoring agents added to the tobacco in a form that minimizes the release and movement of the flavoring agent in the tobacco prior to smoking, such as in the surrounding environment, so that the Minimize deactivation. Moreover, the flavourant is released in a controlled manner in tobacco during smoking. After all, the flavourant improves the subjective properties of the cigarette while the absorbent retains the ability to remove the gaseous components directly from the smoke they drink.

Preferred embodiments of the electrically heated tobacco comprise a flavor-releasing additive comprising at least one absorbent and one or more flavoring agents.

Flavors can be excreted when the flavor-releasing additive in the cigarette is heated to at least the minimum temperature, which occurs when smoking a cigarette.

Flavor-emitting additives may be added to the electrically heated tobacco in various forms. In one embodiment, the flavor-releasing additive comprises beads. In another embodiment, the flavourant-release additive is a film. In another embodiment, the flavourant-release additive is an inclusion complex comprising the selected main molecule and the flavourant is a guest molecule in the inclusion complex.

In another embodiment, two or more different flavor-exhaust additives having different flavor discharge temperatures are disposed at different locations in the electrically heated tobacco to reach different temperatures. The flavor-releasing additive may be placed at a position reaching the flavor discharge temperature for the flavor-releasing additive in the electrically heated tobacco. Thus, the flavor-releasing additive may provide an effective, controlled release of the flavor in smoking.

The electrically heated tobacco may comprise various absorbents. By providing the flavourant to the flavour-releasing additive that minimizes the release and / or migration of the flavourant until the flavour-releasing additive reaches the flavourant discharge temperature, the flavourant is substantially absorbed and deactivated by the absorbent. And thus does not adversely affect the ability of the absorbent to remove selected gaseous components from direct tobacco smoke. Moreover, the flavourant is expelled with temperature in the cigarette and thus can be effectively delivered to the smoker in a controlled manner during the inhalation cycle of the cigarette.

Preferred embodiments of the electric smoking system include a lighter and at least one electrically heated cigarette comprising at least one absorbent and a flavor-exhaust additive.

A preferred embodiment of a method of making an electrically heated cigarette comprises placing the absorbent and the flavor-exhaust additive in the electrically heated cigarette.

The electrically heated tobacco has at least one absorbent and at least one flavor to affect the flavor, taste and / or aroma of the tobacco smoke. In a preferred embodiment, the flavourant is placed in the tobacco of the flavor release additive, the flavor release additive preferably minimizing pre-smoking discharge and / or migration of the flavor in the cigarette. Preferably, the flavourant is discharged from the flavour-exhaust additive in a controlled manner during smoking. The flavor-releasing additive allows the flavor to enhance the subjective properties of the cigarette, while avoiding the opposite effect on the effect of the absorbent on removing the selected gaseous components from the direct smoke.

In a preferred embodiment of the electrically heated cigarette, the flavourant is expelled from the cigarette when the flavour-releasing additive is heated to at least the minimum temperature (flavour discharge temperature), which occurs when a smoker smokes directly through the cigarette. .

When a smoker smokes, different parts of the cigarette that are electrically heated reach different temperatures. According to a preferred embodiment, the other flavor-emitting additives are optionally disposed at two or more locations in the electrically heated tobacco, each reaching at least the minimum temperature at which the flavor is discharged from the flavor-emitting additive disposed at that location. . By selectively placing one or more flavor-releasing additives in the cigarette, the cigarette can provide an effective, controlled release of the flavor when the cigarette is smoked.

The flavor-releasing additive can have a variety of configurations and compositions, can be disposed at one or more locations, and can be coupled to one or more components of the electrically heated tobacco. The flavor-releasing additive may be designed to each have a different associated flavor discharge temperature. Thus, the flavor-releasing additive may be put in the most suitable position in the electrically heated tobacco for the flavor to be effectively released from the particular flavor-releasing additive.

The electrically heated tobacco may comprise one or more absorbents capable of removing the selected gaseous component from the direct drinking smoke. By providing the flavourant to the flavour-releasing additive which minimizes the release and / or migration of the flavourant until at least the minimum temperature is reached in the tobacco, the flavourant is preferably inactivated. Will be prevented. Thus, the ability of the absorbent to remove selected gaseous components from the direct drinking smoke of the cigarette is maintained. Preferably, the flavor-releasing additive allows the flavor to be delivered effectively to the smoker in a controlled manner.

As used herein, "sorption" means adsorption and / or absorption by absorption. Absorption is intended to include both the interaction with the outer surface of the absorbent and the interaction with the absorbent holes and the absorbent tube of the absorbent. That is, an "absorbent" is a substance that has the ability to compress or fix molecules of another substance to the surface, and / or to capture other substances through penetration into other structures or absorbent holes of other substances. As used herein, the term "absorbent" refers to an adsorbent, absorbent, or material that functions as both adsorbent and absorbent.

As used herein, the term "removal" refers to the adsorption and / or absorption of at least a portion of the direct smoke component.

"Mainstream smoke" includes a mixture of gases passing longitudinally through the filter and passing through the filter end, ie the amount of smoke exiting the mouth end of the cigarette when smoking. Direct drinking smoke includes air entering through the heated area of the cigarette and the paper package.

The term "molecular sieve" as used herein refers to a porous structure composed of inorganic and / or organic matter. Molecular sieves include natural and synthetic compounds. Molecular sieves can absorb a certain volume of molecules, but not larger volumes of molecules.

1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of an electrically heated cigarette 23. However, the electrically heated cigarette may have another configuration suitable for smoking with an electrically operated lighter. The electrically heated tobacco 23 consists of a tobacco rod 60 and filter tipping 62 coupled by a tipping paper. Cigarette rod 60 includes a free-flow filter 74 on one side and a tobacco web or “mat” enclosed in a tubular shape around tobacco plug 80 on the other side. It is desirable to.

The outer shell 71 surrounds the mat 66 containing the cigarette and is fixed along the longitudinal seam. The outer shell 71 keeps the mat 66 enclosing the free circulation filter 74 and the cigarette plug 80.

Mat 66 is preferably composed of a base web (68) and the tobacco material layer (70). Tobacco material 70 may be disposed along an inner surface or an outer surface of base web 68. At the end of tobacco rod 60, mat 66 and sheath 71 surround free circulation filter 74. Preferably, the tobacco plug 80 consists of a relatively short tobacco pillar 82 of cut filler tobacco, which is held by the surrounding endothelium 84.

There is an empty space 90 between the free circulation filter 74 and the cigarette plug 80. The empty space 90 is an unfilled portion of the tobacco rod 60 and is fluidly connected to the tipping 62 through a free circulation filter 74.

The tipping 62 includes a free circulation filter 92 disposed adjacent the tobacco rod 60 and a mouthpiece filter plug 94 at the centrifugal end of the tipping from the tobacco rod 60. Preferably, free circulation filter 92 is tubular and blows out air with a very low pressure drop. Mouthpiece filter plug 94 closes the free end of tipping 62.

The cigarette 23 optionally includes at least one row of through holes 12 adjacent the free end 15 of the cigarette 23. The through hole may be formed like a slit 17, which preferably extends through the sheath 71, the mat 66, and the endothelium 84.

To further enhance delivery, at least one additional row of through holes 14 including slits 17 may optionally be formed at a location along the tobacco plug 80. The through holes 12 and 14 may consist of a single row or double rows of slits 17. The number and size of slits may be selected to control the resistance to inhalation (RTD) and delivery along the sidewalls of the cigarette 23.

An optional hole 16 provided in the mat 66 is covered by the sheath 71. The through holes 12, 14 are used to approximate the desired delivery level of the cigarette 23, and the holes 16 have a smaller impact on the RTD and are used to regulate delivery.

Tobacco 23 preferably has a substantially constant diameter along the longitudinal direction. The diameter of the cigarette 23 is preferably between 7.5 mm and 8.5 mm, like a traditional cigarette, so that the electric cigarette system 21 can provide a smoker a familiar “oral sensation” when smoking.

Cigarette column 82 consists of a cut filler of a common tobacco mixture, including conventional tobacco flavours, such as bright Burley, optionally reconstituted tobacco and a mixture of oriental tobacco with other ingredients.

The free circulation filter 92 and the mouthpiece filter plug 94 are preferably joined together as plugs connected by a plug wrap 101. The plug wrap 101 is porous and preferably a lightweight plug wrap. The connected plug is attached to the tobacco rod 60 by tipping paper 64.

As described above, the electrically heated tobacco 23 may include one or more absorbents that remove the gaseous components of the tobacco smoke. The absorbent may consist of one or more porous materials through which tobacco smoke can pass. In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent is activated carbon. For example, the absorbent may consist of activated carbon grains located in the hollow space of the filter, or activated carbon particles placed on a fibrous material or paper. Activated carbon can be in various forms, including particles, fibers, beads, and the like. Activated carbon can have varying porosities at selected pore sizes and total pore volumes.

In other embodiments, the absorbent is one or more suitable molecular sieve absorbers. The molecular sieve absorber used in the electrically heated tobacco 23 is a mixed gel oxide further comprising one or more zeolites, mesoporous silicates, aluminum phosphides, mesoporous aluminosilicates and, optionally, inorganic or organic ions and / or metals. And other related porous materials such as, and the like. See, eg, published international patent application WO 01/80973.

In a preferred embodiment, the absorbent is at least one zeolite. Zeolites include crystallin aluminosilicates with holes that are uniform and have molecular sized tubes and / or cavities. There are many known unique zeolite structures with holes of various sizes and shapes, which greatly influence the properties of these materials for absorption and separation processes. The molecules can be separated by the zeolite according to the size and shape effects associated with the possible orientations in the pores of the molecules and / or by differences in absorption strength. One or more zeolites having pores larger than one or more selected gaseous gas components that are desired to be filtered can be used in the electrically heated cigarette 23, so that only selected molecules small enough to pass through the pores of the molecular sieve material Can enter the cavity and be absorbed onto the zeolite.

The zeolite may be, but is not limited to, one or more zeolite A, zeolite X, zeolite Y, zeolite KG, zeolite ZK-5, zeolite BETA, zeolite ZK-4, and zeolite ZSM-5. In a preferred embodiment, zeolite ZSM-5 and / or zeolite BETA are used. Zeolite ZSM-5 is in MFI structure classification and is represented by crystal chemical data [Na _n (Al _n Si _96-n O ₁₉₂ ) ~ 16H ₂ O, with n <27, orthorhombic, Pnma], zeolite BETA is BEA In the structural classification, it is represented by crystal chemical data [Na ₇ (Al ₇ Si ₅₇ O ₁₂₈ ) tetragonal, P4 ₁ 22]. These two zeolites may be coupled to tobacco filters and / or tobacco rods of tobacco 23 that are thermally stable and electrically heated at temperatures up to about 800 ° C.

According to another preferred embodiment, the absorbent encased in the electrically heated tobacco 23 has a mixed composition. In such embodiments, the absorbent consists, for example, of the activated carbon and one or more molecular sieve materials described above. For example, the absorbent fibers may be infused with at least one absorbent.

Microporous, mesoporous and / or macroporous molecular sieves can be used in the electrically heated tobacco 23, depending on the selected components that must be removed from the direct drinking smoke.

The absorbent may be inserted at one or more positions of the tobacco 23 that are electrically heated. For example, the absorbent may be located in the passage 74, in the free circulation filter 92 and / or in the void 90 of the tubular free circulation filter. The absorbent may be additionally or alternatively inserted into the tobacco plug 80.

3 shows another preferred embodiment of an electrically heated cigarette 23 with a filter 150. The filter 150 includes oriented fibers 152 and an absorbent in the form of a sleeve 154 such as paper surrounding the fibers. The absorbent may be, for example, one or more activated carbons, silica gels, zeolites, and other molecular sieves in fiber form. The absorber may be a surface modified material such as surface modified silica gel such as amino propyl cyryl (APS) silica gel. Absorbent mixtures can provide various permeation properties to achieve the targeted filtered smoke component.

Fiber 152 also consists of one or more absorbent materials, such as carbon, silica, zeolites, or the like, injected into microcavity fibers such as TRIAD ™ micro-cavity fibers, such as those disclosed in published International Publication WO 01/80973. Can be. In a preferred embodiment, the fiber is shaped like a microcavity fiber into which particles of one or more absorbent materials have been injected, or are continuous activated carbon fibers. Preferably, the fibers have a diameter from about 10 microns to about 100 microns. Preferably, the fibers have a length from about 10 microns to about 200 microns, for example.

According to another preferred embodiment, the fiber is a bundle of discontinuous fibers, which is preferably parallel to the direction of the flow of smoke that is directly consumed through the electrically heated tobacco.

Filter 150 comprising fibers 152 is preferably controlled whole and angular filament denier, for example through a sleeve 154 that is preformed or in-situ formed during the filter manufacturing process. It can be formed by pulling a bundle of wrinkle-free absorbent fibrous material with). The formed filter can be cut to the desired length. For example, the filter can have a length from about 5 mm to about 30 mm.

Filter 150 comprising fibers 152 may be inserted into tobacco that is electrically heated at one or more desired locations. 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment, the filter 150 may be replaced with a total free circulation filter 92. In another preferred embodiment, free circulation filter 150 may be replaced by a portion of free circulation filter 92. The filter 150 may contact (contact) the free circulation filter 74 located between the free circulation filter 74 and the mouthpiece filter plug 94 or may contact (contact) the mouthpiece filter plug 94. can do. The filter 150 preferably has a diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the free circulation filter 92 to minimize the bypass of smoke during the infiltration process.

The fibrous absorbents preferably have a high loft with suitable packing density and fiber length so that parallel passages can be created between the fibers. Such a structure can effectively remove a significant amount of selected gaseous components, such as formaldehyde and / or acrolein, while removing only a minimum amount of particulate from the smoke, and thus not affecting the total particulate matter (TPM) in the gas. In this way, significant removal of the components of the selected gas phase can be achieved. Sufficiently low packing densities and sufficiently short fiber lengths are desirable to achieve such penetration performance.

The amount of absorbent used in the preferred embodiment of the electrically heated cigarette 23 depends on the amount of gaseous components selected from the tobacco smoke and the amount of components to be removed from the tobacco smoke.

As described above, the electrically heated tobacco 23 comprises at least one flavourant-exhaust additive. Flavoring agents include, for example, mints such as menthol, peppermint and spearmint, chocolate, licorice, citrus and other fruit flavors, gamma octalactone, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, breath freshener flavor, spices like cinnamon, methyl salicylate One or more flavoring agents, including but not limited to silates, linalule, bergamot oil, geranium oil, lemon oil, ginger oil, and tobacco flavor. In a preferred embodiment, the flavoring agent is menthol and optionally at least one mint flavoring agent.

As described above, the flavor-releasing additive may have other structures and configurations in the electrically heated tobacco. In one embodiment, the flavor-releasing additive is in the form of beads. The beads are preferably wrapped with a flavourant and preferably provide a controlled release of flavourant from the tobacco during the inhalation cycle.

The beads preferably comprise at least one wrapping material and at least one flavourant. The wrapping material preferably comprises a binder, for example one or more of palm oil, konjac gum, xylitol, zein, hydroxypropylcellulose, sorbitol, maltitol and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. Can be. The encapsulating material may optionally be added to the beads as well as other materials known to enhance or increase the stability of the bead formation. In a preferred embodiment, the beads have a substantially homogeneous composition in which the flavors are uniformly dispersed. With such a structure, the flavourant can be released from the beads in a more uniform manner when smoking.

Depending on the composition of the beads, the minimum temperature at which the beads release the flavourant may be adjusted. Beads comprising at least one of the aforementioned binders preferably have a minimum temperature at which the flavoring agent is discharged at least about 40 ° C., ie from about 40 ° C. to about 150 ° C. The beads prevent the flavourant from being exposed to undesirable substances in the air (eg, ambient air, inside of the package) and undesirable substances of the tobacco, and the tobacco-releasing additive is sufficiently high when smoking. It is desirable to minimize the release and / or migration of the flavourant until heated to. As a result, the movement of the flavoring agent in the cigarette, the reaction with other substances or the surrounding environment of the cigarette, and the inactivation of the absorbent present in the cigarette are substantially prevented.

The beads may have any desired shape, such as various regular and irregular shapes, including round, square, rectangular, oval, other polygonal shapes, cylinders, fibrous shapes, and the like. Beads can have various sizes. Preferably, the beads are micro beads having a maximum particle size of less than about 25 microns, more preferably less than about 1 micron. Reducing the size of the beads can provide more homogeneous and controlled release of the flavourant by providing increased surface area of the beads.

Beads can be prepared by any suitable process for producing beads having a desired structure, composition, and size. For example, the beads can be manufactured by injection, spray drying, coating, or other suitable process. In a preferred embodiment, the beads can be made by forming a solution, dispersion, or emulsion comprising a binder, a flavourant, and optional additives that form the beads and are separated and dried. The process of making beads comprising an active ingredient such as a flavourant is disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,325,859.

The electrically heated tobacco 23 preferably comprises an amount of beads that provides the tobacco with the desired amount of flavor. In a preferred embodiment, the electrically heated tobacco comprises beads up to about 20%, more preferably from about 10% to about 15%, based on the total weight of tobacco leaves in the tobacco. For example, tobacco containing 100 mg tobacco leaves preferably contains up to about 20 mg of beads. The beads contain up to about 20% flavor. Tobacco includes, for example, from about 1 mg to about 15 mg of flavourant.

In a preferred embodiment, the beads are placed in at least one position in the electrically heated cigarette 23 which reaches at least the minimum temperature at which the flavourant is discharged from the beads into the cigarette. For example, the beads may include a tobacco rod 60, an empty space 90 between the tobacco plug 80 and the free circulation filter 74, the surface of the one or more free circulation filters 74, the mat 66, and / or tobacco. It can be placed in the endothelial 84 surrounding the plug 80.

In other embodiments, different bead compositions having two or more different minimum flavourant-exhaust temperatures may be placed in two or more locations in the electrically heated tobacco that reach different temperatures at those locations when smoking. For example, beads having a first flavourant-exhaust temperature may be placed in a first position in a cigarette that reaches the first flavour-exhaust temperature and may have a second flavour-exhaust temperature higher than the first flavourant-exhaust temperature. The beads having may be placed in a second position of the cigarette to reach the second flavourant-discharge temperature. For example, the two flavourant exit temperatures vary up to about 100 ° C. For example, these two temperatures vary by about 10 ° C, 20 ° C, 30 ° C, 40 ° C, 50 ° C, 60 ° C, 70 ° C, 80 ° C, 90 ° C, and 100 ° C.

In another preferred embodiment, the flavor-releasing additive comprises a film. The film surrounds the flavourant and allows for controlled temperature release of the flavourant during smoking. In a preferred embodiment, the film comprises up to 20% by weight, more preferably from about 10% to about 15% flavoring agent. In a preferred embodiment, the film surrounds mint which is optionally different from menthol.

It is preferred that the film type flavourant-release additive comprises at least one encapsulating material and at least one flavourant. The wrapping material preferably comprises a binder, which is one or more carrageenan, gelatin, agar, gelatin gum, gum arabic, guar gum, santum gum, and pectin. Other materials known to enhance the film-forming properties of the encased material or to enhance its stability may optionally be added to the film. In a preferred embodiment, the film has a substantially homogeneous composition in which the flavors are uniformly dispersed. With such a structure, the flavoring agent is discharged from the film in a more preferred manner when smoking. The material surrounding the film provides a barrier to the release of the flavourant.

Depending on the composition of the film, the minimum temperature at which the film releases the flavourant may be adjusted / selected. Films comprising at least one of the aforementioned binders have a temperature of at least about 50 ° C., ie up to about 120 ° C., which is the minimum temperature at which the flavor is discharged. The film protects the flavourant from exposure to undesirable substances in tobacco and the surrounding environment, and substantially prevents flavourant release until the film is heated to the flavourant discharge temperature.

The film is applied as a liquid coating that dries into a film on one or more components of the tobacco that are electrically heated. The size of the dried film is not limited. Preferably, the dried film has a maximum thickness of about 50 microns to about 150 microns, more preferably about 75 microns.

The film can be made by any suitable process to produce a film having the desired structure, composition, and size. For example, the film can be applied by coating processes such as spray coating, dipping processes, electrostatic deposition, printing wheel applications, gravure printing, inkjet applications, and the like. According to a preferred embodiment, an emulsion, a suspension or slurry comprising a binder, a flavourant and an optional additive are prepared and applied as a coating to one or more selected surfaces of one or more selected components of the tobacco which are electrically heated. The coating is preferably dried to remove water and / or other absorbents and to form a solid film having the desired size. Exemplary processes that can be used to prepare films are described in US Pat. Nos. 3,006,347 and 4,715,390.

The electrically heated tobacco 23 preferably has an amount of film that discharges the desired amount of flavor when smoking. In a preferred embodiment, the electrically heated tobacco comprises up to about 20%, more preferably from about 10% to about 15% of the film, based on the total weight of tobacco leaves in the tobacco to which the film is applied. For example, if a film is applied to the mat, the weight of tobacco leaves contained in the mat is preferably a weight basis for the film amount. If the film is applied to the mat and the tobacco plug, the total weight of the tobacco leaf contained in the mat and the tobacco plug is preferably the weight basis for the amount of film applied to the tobacco. Preferably, the weight of tobacco contained in the mat is a weight basis for the amount of film applied to the mat, and the weight of tobacco leaves included in the tobacco plug is preferably a weight basis for the amount of film applied to the tobacco plug. In a preferred embodiment, the tobacco preferably contains from about 1 mg to about 15 mg flavoring agent.

In a preferred embodiment, the film is preferably placed in at least one position in the electrically heated tobacco 23 which at least reaches the flavor discharge temperature. For example, the film is preferably disposed on the tobacco plug 80, on the endothelium 84 surrounding the tobacco plug 80, on the mat 66, and / or on the envelope 71 surrounding the mat. When the film is placed on the endothelium 84 and / or sheath 71, the weight of the endothelium 84 and / or sheath 71 is a weight basis for the amount of film. In other embodiments, the film may be preformed, flaked, and inserted at the tobacco plug 80, and / or at another selected location to reach the flavor discharge temperature.

In another preferred embodiment, various flavored films with two or more different minimum flavor-ejection temperatures can be inserted at various locations in the electrically heated cigarette, and during smoking, the temperature at various locations Exceeds the minimum discharge temperature of the various films.

In another embodiment, the flavourant-release additive is an inclusion complex. Inclusion complexes include "host molecules" and flavors are "guest molecules" in inclusion complexes. Inclusion complexes provide controlled release of tobacco when smoking. In a preferred embodiment, the flavourant is a lipophilic organic flavourant, which is preferably concentrated in the hydrophobic cavity of the main molecule. Suitable flavours include mints such as menthol, peppermint and spearmint, chocolate, licorice, citrus and other fruit flavors, gamma octalactone, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, breath freshener flavors, spices like cinnamon, methyl salicylate Include, but are not limited to, silates, linalul, bergamot oil, geranium oil, lemon oil, ginger oil, and tobacco flavor. In a preferred embodiment, the flavoring agent includes vanillin and gamma octalactone. In a preferred embodiment, the inclusion complex comprises up to about 20% by weight, more preferably up to about 10% to about 15% flavoring agent.

The main molecule of the inclusion complex is preferably cyclodextrin. Cyclodextrins are oligosaccharides comprising glucopyranose subunits, as described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 3,426,011 and 5,144,964. Inclusion complexes are formed when the flavourant material is mixed in the solution with the selected cyclodextrin. Flavoring agents are present in the cyclodextrin ring structure. Cyclodextrins and flavorings are usually precipitated together, filtered and dried.

Alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin, and gamma-cyclodextrin comprise 6, 7, 8 glucopyranose subunits, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the inclusion complex comprises beta-cyclodextrin, which can accommodate a wide variety of guest molecules and is readily available. Beta-cyclodextrin comprises a hydrophobic cavity of 7.5 mm diameter and a hydrophilic upper and lower edge and has a ring structure of subunits connected in a three-dimensional torus configuration.

The minimum temperature at which the encapsulation complex comprising cyclodextrins discharges the flavor is preferably at least about 60 ° C., such as from about 60 ° C. to about 125 ° C. By incorporating the flavourant into the encapsulation complex, the flavourant can be protected from exposure to unwanted substances in tobacco and the surrounding environment, and when smoked, the flavor of the flavourant can be It is desirable to minimize emissions and / or movements.

The inclusion composite is preferably in powder form. The powder preferably has a maximum size of less than about 200 microns.

Inclusion complexes can be made by forming flavors with an aqueous solution of beta-cyclodextrin. Inclusion complexes can be recovered from a solution in powder form. However, the solution is applied directly to one or more selected locations of one or more components of the tobacco that are electrically heated by any suitable process. Encapsulated composite powders can also be used to form solutions or suspensions. Encapsulation composites may be applied by coating processes such as slurry coating, spraying, dipping processes, electrostatic deposition, printing wheel applications, gravure printing, inkjet applications, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, a solution, suspension or slurry comprising cyclodextrin and a flavourant is applied as a coating to a selected side of a selected component of the tobacco that is prepared and electrically heated. Exemplary processes that can be used to apply encapsulation composites in electrically heated tobacco are disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,144,964.

The electrically heated tobacco 23 preferably comprises an amount of encapsulation composite that provides the desired amount of flavourant in the tobacco. In a preferred embodiment, the electrically heated tobacco comprises an encapsulation composite of up to about 15%, more preferably less than about 8%, based on the weight of the sheath or mat. For example, if the encapsulation composite is applied to the mat, the weight of the mat is preferably the weight basis for the amount of encapsulation composite applied to the mat. If the encapsulation composite is applied to the mat and the sheath, the total weight of the mat and the sheath is preferably the weight basis for the amount of the encapsulation composite applied to the mat and the sheath. The weight percentage of the inclusion composite applied to the mat and / or sheath may be the same or different. In a preferred embodiment, the tobacco preferably contains from about 1 mg to about 15 mg flavoring agent.

In a preferred embodiment, the encapsulation complex is disposed in at least one position in the electrically heated tobacco at which the flavourant reaches at least the minimum temperature at which the encapsulation complex is discharged from the encapsulation complex of tobacco. For example, the encapsulation composite is disposed on the endothelium 84, mat 66, and / or sheath 71.

In another preferred embodiment, the electrically heated tobacco comprises two or more different types of flavor-exhaust additives, such as, for example, beads and films and / or encapsulation composites, each flavor-exhaust additive having a different flavor discharge temperature. Has Other flavor-releasing additives may be inserted at two or more locations in the same electrically heated cigarette that reach different temperatures when smoking to provide more controlled flavor release during smoking.

4 and 5 show a preferred embodiment of an electric smoking system in which a preferred embodiment of an electrically heated cigarette can be used. However, preferred embodiments of electrically heated cigarettes may be used in electric smoking systems having other configurations, such as having other electrically operated lighter configurations. The electric smoking system 21 has an electrically heated cigarette 23 and a reusable lighter 25. The cigarette 23 is configured to be inserted into and removed from a cigarette receiver 27, which is open to the front end portion 29 of the lighter 25. Once the cigarette 23 is inserted, the smoking system 21 does not ignite or smoke the cigarette, but is used in the same manner as a conventional cigarette. The cigarette 23 is discarded after smoking.

Preferably, each cigarette 23 provides at least eight inhalations (suction cycles) per cigarette. However, the cigarette 23 can be made to provide more or less inhalation.

The lighter 25 has a housing 31 with housing portions 33 and 35 at the front and back, respectively. A power source 35a, such as one or more batteries, is disposed within the rear housing portion 35 and energizes the heater mount 39. Heater mount 39 includes a plurality of electrically resistive heating elements 37 (FIG. 6). The heating element 37 is arranged in the front housing part 33 for slipping the cigarette. A stop 183 disposed in the heater mount 39 defines the end of the tobacco receiver 27 (FIG. 2).

The control circuit 41 in the front housing portion 33 selectively establishes electrical communication between the powder source 35a and the one or more heating elements 37 during each suction cycle.

The rear housing portion 35 of the housing 31 is made to be open and closed to facilitate the replacement of the powder source 35a. Preferably, the front housing portion 33 is removably attached to the rear housing portion 35 by mechanical coupling.

Referring to Fig. 5, in the preferred embodiment, the control circuit 41 is activated by the intake-actuating sensor 45, which is a method of changing the pressure or the rate of air flow generated by sucking a cigarette by a smoker. All are sensitive to change. The suction-actuated sensor 45 is located in the front housing portion 33 of the lighter 25 and is heated via the port 45a extending through the side wall portion 182 of the heater mount 39. Communicate with space within). Once operated by the sensor 45, the control circuit 41 directs current to an appropriate one of the heating elements 37.

In a preferred embodiment, the indicator 51 is provided at a position along the outside of the lighter 25 to visually indicate the number of inhalations remaining in the cigarette 23, or other selected information. Indicator 51 includes a liquid crystal display. In a preferred embodiment, the indicator 51 shows the selected image when the cigarette detector 57 detects the presence of cigarettes in the heater mount 39. Detector 57 may be in any arrangement that detects the presence of an electrically heated cigarette. For example, the detector may consist of an inductive coil 1102 adjacent to the cigarette receiver 27 of the heater mount 39 and an electrical lead 1102 connecting the coil 1102 with the oscillator circuit in the control circuit 41. . In such a case, the cigarette 23 may comprise a metal element (not shown), which means that when a suitable cigarette 23 is inserted into the receiver 27, the detector 57 is present with respect to the circuit 41. It may affect the inductance of the coil winding 1102 to produce a signal that indicates that it is. The control circuit 41 provides a signal to the indicator 51. Once the cigarette 23 is removed from the lighter 25, the cigarette detector no longer detects the presence of the cigarette 23, and the indicator 51 is turned off.

The heater mount 39 inserts the inserted tobacco 23 into the heating element 37 such that the heating element 37 is positioned side by side with the cigarette 23 at approximately the same position for each newly inserted cigarette 23. Support in a fixed relationship. In a preferred embodiment, the heater mount 39 comprises eight mutually parallel heater elements 37, which are arranged concentrically around the axis of symmetry of the cigarette receiver 27. The position where each heating element 37 contacts the fully inserted cigarette 23 is referred to as a heater contact range or char zone 42.

As shown in FIG. 6, the heating element 37 preferably comprises at least first and second serpentine, elongated members 53a, 53b abutting the tip 54. The heater portions 53a, 53b, 54 form a heater blade 120. Tip 54 abuts opening 55 of tobacco receiver 27. Opposite ends 56a, 56b of each heating element 37 are electrically connected to the opposite pole of power source 35a, which is optionally established by controller 41. The electrical path through each heating element 37 is routed through the terminal pin 104, through the connection 121 between the pin 104 and the free end portion 56a of one of the serpentine members 53a, the other winding. Each is made through at least one portion of the tip 54 and distal portion 56b relative to one member 53b. Preferably, connecting ring 110 provides a common electrical connection for each distal portion 56b. In a preferred embodiment, ring 110 is connected to the positive electrode of power source 35a via a connection 123 between ring 110 and pin 105.

Preferably, the heating element 37 is individually energized by the power source 35a under the control of the control circuit 41 to heat the cigarette 23 eight times in the space around the cigarette 23. Heating allows eight inhalations from the cigarette 23, which is usually possible with conventional cigarettes. It is preferred to activate one or more heating elements simultaneously for one or more or all inhalations.

The heater mount 39 has an air intake port 1200 through which air enters the lighter. A drop in pressure is caused for the air entering the lighter so that the intake sensor 45 is operated to recognize the start of inhalation. The range of pressure drop caused is selected to be within the range of pressure drop detectable by the pressure sensor 45.

The length of the tobacco plug 80 and its relative position along the tobacco rod 60 is preferably selected based on the configuration and position of the heating element 37 of the electric smoking system 21. When the cigarette 23 is properly positioned relative to the stop 182 in the lighter of the electric smoking system, a portion of each heating element is in contact with the tobacco rod 60. This contact area is called the heater contact range 95, which is such that the heating element 37 in the tobacco rod 60 is expected to reach a temperature high enough to smoke without burning the tobacco paper, mat or tobacco leaf. Area. The heater contact range 95 may be positioned along the tobacco rod 60 at the same predetermined distance 96 from the free end 78 of the tobacco rod 60 for all tobacco 23 fully inserted into the lighter 25. Can be.

Preferably, the length of the cigarette plug 80 of the cigarette 23, the length of the heater contact range 95, and the distance between the heater contact range 95 and the stop 182, the heater contact range 95 is a cigarette It is selected to extend beyond the plug 80 and overlap the empty space 91 portion by a distance 98. The distance 98 is called "heater-space overlap 98". The distance that the rest of the heater contact range 95 overlaps the tobacco plug 80 is called "heater-pillar overlap 99".

The length of the space 91, the distribution of the cigarette plug 80, the through-hole 263 can be adjusted to adjust the smoking properties of the cigarette 23, including adjustments in taste, inhalation, and delivery. The pattern of holes 263, the length of the space 90, and the amount of heater-filler overlap 99 (and heater-space overlap 98) are manipulated to control the instantaneous response and to promote the consistency of delivery. Can be.

The invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, while the invention has been shown and described in accordance with various preferred embodiments, variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

An electrically heated cigarette according to a preferred embodiment has the advantage. By wrapping one or more added flavoring agents, in particular volatile flavoring agents, the flavoring agent may be retained in the cigarette until it is smoked. Moreover, the flavourant is released in a controlled manner when smoking, thus providing smokers with improved subjective properties of the cigarette. Since the flavourant can remain in the flavour-releasing additive until the cigarette is smoked, the deactivation of the absorbent of the tobacco is minimized. In the end, the absorbent maintains the ability to remove the selected gaseous component from the direct drinking smoke.

Claims (37)

An electrically heated cigarette for an electric smoking system, At least one absorbent and; An electrically heated tobacco, comprising a flavor-releasing additive comprising at least one flavor that is expellable from the electrically heated tobacco when the flavor-releasing additive is heated to at least a minimum temperature. The tobacco of claim 1, wherein the absorbent is activated carbon. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 1, wherein the absorbent is a zeolite. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 1, wherein the flavoring agent is 1) menthol, or 2) vanillin and gamma octalactone. The flavourant of claim 1 wherein the flavoring agent is menthol, mint, chocolate, licorice, fruity, gamma octalactone, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, respiratory freshener, spice, methyl salicylate, linalul, bergamot oil, geranium oil, At least one flavor selected from the group consisting of lemon oil, ginger oil and tobacco flavor. 2. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 1, wherein the flavor-emitting additive is in the form of beads. 7. The electrically heated beads of claim 6 wherein the beads comprise a binder selected from the group consisting of palm oil, cornzag, hydroxypropylcellulose, xylitol, zein, sorbitol, maltitol and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose. tobacco. 7. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 6, wherein the beads have a maximum particle size of less than about 25 microns. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 8, wherein the beads have a maximum particle size of less than about 1 micron. 7. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 6, comprising up to about 20% by weight of the beads, based on the total weight of the tobacco leaves in the electrically heated cigarette. 7. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 6, wherein the beads comprise up to about 20% flavor by weight. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 6, wherein the minimum temperature is about 40 ° C. and the beads are disposed in at least one location of the electrically heated cigarette that reaches at least about 40 ° C. when smoking the cigarette. . 7. The beads of claim 6, wherein the beads are disposed on a tobacco rod, an empty space between the tobacco plug and the free circulation filter, on a free circulation filter, on a mat containing tobacco, and / or on an inner skin surrounding the tobacco plug. Tobacco electrically heated. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 1, wherein the flavourant-release additive is a film. 15. The binder of claim 14 wherein the film comprises a binder selected from the group consisting of carraghenan, gelatin, agar, gellan gum, gum arabic, guar gum, xanthum and pectin. An electrically heated cigarette comprising: 15. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 14, wherein the film has a thickness of less than about 150 microns. 15. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 14, comprising up to about 20% by weight of the film, based on the total weight of the tobacco leaf in the electrically heated cigarette. 15. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 14, wherein the film comprises up to about 20% flavor by weight. 15. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 14, wherein the film is flake shaped. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 14, wherein the minimum temperature is about 50 ° C. and the film is disposed in at least one location of the electrically heated cigarette that reaches at least about 50 ° C. when smoking. . 15. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 14, wherein the film is disposed on a tobacco plug, an endothelial enclosing the tobacco plug, a mat comprising tobacco, and / or an envelop surrounding the mat. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 1, wherein the flavourant-releasing additive is an encapsulation complex comprising a main molecule and the flavourant is a guest molecule of the encapsulation complex. 23. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 22, wherein the main molecule is beta-cyclodextrin. 23. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 22, comprising an encapsulation composite having a weight less than about 15% based on the weight of the skin and / or mat. 23. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 22, wherein the encapsulation composite comprises up to about 20% flavoring agent. The electrically heated component of claim 22, wherein the minimum temperature is about 60 ° C. and the encapsulation composite is disposed at at least one location of the electrically heated tobacco that reaches at least about 60 ° C. when smoking. tobacco. 23. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 22, wherein the flavourant-release additive is disposed on an endothelial surrounding the tobacco plug, on a mat comprising tobacco, and / or on an outer skin surrounding the mat. 2. The electrically heated cigarette of claim 1, wherein the absorbent is a fiber. 29. The electrically heated tobacco of claim 28, wherein the fibers are continuous or discontinuous fibers. 29. The electrically heated tobacco of claim 28, wherein the fiber contains at least one absorbent. In the method for producing an electrically heated tobacco according to claim 1, A flavorant comprising an electrically heated cigarette comprising (a) at least one absorbent and (b) at least one flavor releasable from the electrically heated cigarette when the flavor-emitting additive is heated to at least the minimum temperature -Manufacturing method characterized in that it comprises the step of adding the discharge additive. In the method of smoking the electrically heated cigarette according to claim 1, Heating a portion of the tobacco that is electrically heated to form smoke; And sucking the smoke through the electrically heated cigarette, And the absorbent removes at least one selected gaseous component from the direct drinking smoke. A lighter and; At least one electrically heated cigarette, At least one electrically heated cigarette, At least one absorbent, And a flavour-releasing additive comprising at least one flavourant that is ejectable from the electrically heated tobacco when the flavour-releasing additive is heated to at least a minimum temperature. At least one absorbent and; At least one flavor-releasing additive in a form selected from the group consisting of beads, films, and encapsulation composites, Wherein each flavor-exhaust additive comprises at least one flavor releaseable from the electrically heated tobacco when the flavor-exhaust additive is heated to at least a minimum temperature. The method of claim 34, wherein The flavor-releasing additive comprises at least two flavor-releasing additives in the form of beads, films, and / or encapsulation composites, The flavored-exhaust additive is an electrically heated cigarette characterized in that it has a different minimum temperature at which the flavor is discharged while smoking the electrically heated cigarette. A method of making an electrically heated cigarette according to claim 34, wherein (A) at least one sorbent and (b) at least one flavour-releasing additive in the form of beads, film, and / or encapsulation composite, into the electrically heated tobacco, The flavor-exhaust additive comprises at least one flavor releaseable from the electrically heated tobacco when the flavor-exhaust additive is heated to at least a minimum temperature. 36. A method of smoking an electrically heated cigarette according to claim 34, Heating a portion of the tobacco that is electrically heated to form smoke; And sucking the smoke through the electrically heated cigarette, And the absorbent removes at least one selected gaseous component from the direct drinking smoke.