KR20200038536A - Aerosol-generating material rod segment - Google Patents

Abstract

The process for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments 126 includes: longitudinally cutting a sheet 104 of aerosol-generating material to create a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands 112; Collecting strands 112 together to form an aerosol-generating material rod 120 where each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands 112 is substantially uncoiled; And cutting the aerosol-generating material rod 120 into segments 126 to create the aerosol-generating material rod segments 126. An apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments 126 and a product comprising aerosol-generating material rod 120 are also disclosed.

Description

Aerosol-generating material rod segment

The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments.

In a known process for manufacturing cigarettes, tobacco leaves are cut into short fine strips, also referred to as cut rag tobacco. The sliced tobacco is then dispersed over a continuous web of cigarette paper. A machine, also known as a cigarette maker, wraps paper around the shredded tobacco to form a continuous rod. The rod is cut into segments of the desired length. A filter is added to each tobacco rod segment to produce cigarettes.

Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, cigars, etc., burn cigarettes during use to produce cigarette smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds from tobacco or other materials without burning. Examples of such products are so-called "heat not burn" products or tobacco heating devices or products, or aerosols, which release compounds by heating but not burning a material such as tobacco. Generation devices or products.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a process for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments is provided, the process comprising aerosol-generating material strands to produce a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands Cutting the sheet in the longitudinal direction; Collecting the strands together to form an aerosol-generating material rod in which each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands is substantially non-coiled; And cutting the aerosol-generating material rod into segments to create the aerosol-generating material rod segments.

Collecting may include collecting the strands together to form a rod of aerosol-generating material in which a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands are substantially parallel to each other.

Collecting may include collecting the strands together to form a rod of aerosol-generating material where each of the aerosol-generating material strands is substantially straight.

The sheet of aerosol-generating material can be a sheet of tobacco.

The tobacco sheet can be a reconstituted tobacco sheet.

The sheet of aerosol-generating material may include glycerol.

The sheet of aerosol-generating material can have a substantially constant mass per unit length.

The process can include providing a sheet of aerosol-generating material from a bobbin of sheet of aerosol-generating material.

The process includes providing a mother reel of a sheet of aerosol-generating material; And slitting the mother reel to produce a bobbin.

The process includes selecting mass per unit length for aerosol-generating material rod segments; Determining a bobbin width based on the mass per unit area of the sheet of aerosol-generating material, and the selected mass per unit length for aerosol-generating material rod segments; And slitting the mother reel to produce a bobbin having a determined bobbin width.

The process includes selecting a strand number and / or strand width for aerosol-generating material rod segments; And based on the selected strand number and / or strand width, determining the number of cuts and / or the cut interval; Cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material may include cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material at a determined number of cuts and / or cut intervals.

The process may include feeding a sheet of aerosol-generating material in a sheet feeding direction; Cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material may include cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction.

Collecting may include collecting each of the strands toward an axis lying in one plane, one plane comprising a feed direction, and perpendicular to the plane defined by the plurality of strands before the plurality of strands are collected to be.

Collecting may include collecting each of the strands toward an axis that lies in the center of the plurality of strands.

Collecting may include collecting each of the strands substantially transversely to form a rod.

Collecting may include supplying strands through a funnel to collect the strands.

The process may include feeding a sheet of aerosol-generating material through a funnel to form a rod of aerosol-generating material of the non-cut tobacco sheet prior to cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material.

Each of the plurality of strands may have a width substantially in the range of 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

The process can include wrapping the aerosol-generating material rod with a wrapping material.

The wrapping material can be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil.

Each of the aerosol-generating material rod segments can have an outer diameter substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm.

The aerosol-generating material rod segments can be consumables for an aerosol-generating device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments is provided, the apparatus longitudinally cutting a sheet of aerosol-generating material to create a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands A first cutter arranged so as to be arranged; A collector arranged to collect the strands together to form an aerosol-generating material rod in which each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands is substantially uncoiled; And a second cutter arranged to cut the aerosol-generating material rod into segments to create the aerosol-generating material rod segments.

The collector can be arranged to collect the strands together so that a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands form an aerosol-generating material rod that is substantially parallel to each other.

The collector can be arranged to collect the strands together to form a rod of aerosol-generating material where each of the aerosol-generating material strands is substantially straight.

The device can be arranged to provide a sheet of aerosol-generating material from a bobbin of sheet of aerosol-generating material.

The first cutter can be adjustable to adjust the number and / or width of the strands.

The first cutter may be adjustable so as not to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material or to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material to create the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands.

The device can be arranged to supply a sheet of aerosol-generating material to the first cutter in the sheet feeding direction; The first cutter can be arranged to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction.

The collector can be arranged to collect each of the strands towards an axis lying in the first plane, the first plane comprising a feed direction and perpendicular to the second plane defined by the plurality of strands before the plurality of strands are collected to be.

The collector can be arranged to collect each of the strands towards an axis that lies in the center of the plurality of strands.

The collector can be arranged to collect each of the strands substantially transversely to form a rod.

The collector can include a funnel.

The first cutter cuts the sheet of aerosol-generating material longitudinally to create a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands each having a width in the range of substantially 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Can be arranged.

The device can include a wrapper arranged to wrap the aerosol-generating material rod with a wrapping material.

The wrapping material can be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil.

The device can be arranged to create aerosol-generating material rod segments having an outer diameter substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm.

The aerosol-generating material rod segments can be consumables for an aerosol-generating device.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a product comprising a rod of aerosol-generating material, wherein the rod of aerosol-generating material is formed of a plurality of longitudinal strands of aerosol-generating material, and a plurality of aerosol-generating materials Each of the longitudinal strands is substantially uncoiled.

The plurality of strands may be substantially parallel to each other.

Each of the plurality of strands may be substantially straight.

Each of the plurality of strands may have a width substantially in the range of 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

One or more of the strands may be or may contain tobacco.

One or more of the strands may be or include recycled tobacco.

One or more of the strands may include glycerol.

The product may include wrapping material wrapped around an aerosol-generating material rod.

The wrapping material can be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil.

The product can have an outer diameter substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm.

The product can be a consumable for an aerosol-generating device.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings and will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention given by way of example only.

1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco rod segments according to a first example;
2 schematically illustrates a side view of an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco rod segments according to a second example;
3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a mother reel of a tobacco sheet, according to an example;
4 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of a process for manufacturing tobacco rod segments, according to an example;
5A and 5B schematically illustrate the insertion of a blade heater into a tobacco rod segment, according to one example.

Referring to FIG. 1, in an overview overview, an exemplary apparatus 100 for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 126 includes a first cutter 106, a collector 114, and a second cutter 124. . The first cutter 106 is arranged to cut the tobacco sheet 104 longitudinally to create a plurality of tobacco strands 112. The collector 114 is arranged to collect the strands 112 together to form a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially uncoiled. The second cutter 124 is arranged to cut the tobacco rod 120 into segments to create the tobacco rod segments 126.

As described in more detail below, a collector 114 arranged to collect strands 112 together to form a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially uncoiled. Allows the creation of a number of tobacco rod segments 126 in which a bladed heater of the aerosol-generating device can be easily inserted in use (see FIGS. 5A and 5B), such that the tobacco rod segment 126 is heated. When facilitates the transport of volatile materials through it, thereby reducing losses of volatile materials.

Returning to FIG. 1, the first cutter 106 is arranged to cut the tobacco sheet 104.

The tobacco sheet 104 may be a sheet or web of reconstituted tobacco. Recycled tobacco sheets can be produced, for example, by a papermaking process, band casting, or extrusion. For example, the recycled tobacco sheet may be paper recycled tobacco. In paper recycled tobacco, after the tobacco feedstock is extracted with a solvent to provide a residue comprising an extract of soluble material and a fiber material, the extract (usually after concentration, and optionally after further processing) extracts the fiber. Tobacco material formed by a process that is recombined with the fibrous material from the residue (usually after purification of the fibrous material and optionally a portion of non-tobacco fibers are added) by deposition of the extract on the material. The recombination process is similar to the manufacturing process. The feedstock may comprise or consist of one or more of tobacco strips, tobacco stems and / or whole leaf tobacco. Alternatively or additionally, scraps, fines and winnowings can be used as feedstock. It will be appreciated that recycled tobacco sheet 104 formed by any process may be used.

The recycled tobacco sheet 104 is malleable.

The tobacco sheet 104 can be provided from the bobbin 102 of the tobacco sheet 104. The bobbin 102 includes a spindle 102a on which the continuous tobacco sheet 104 is wound. The bobbin 102 is arranged to rotate to feed the tobacco sheet 104 from the bobbin 102 to the first cutter 106 along the sheet feeding direction (arrow A). In some examples, the device 100 may be configured to drive the bobbin 102 rotationally. In other examples, the bobbin 102 can rotate freely, and the bobbin 102 by downstream components of the device, for example, a roller or drive belt (not shown in FIG. 1). The tobacco sheet 104 pulled from) may cause the bobbin to rotate.

Tobacco sheet 104 may include glycerol. For example, recycled tobacco sheet 104 may be impregnated with glycerol or formed in other ways. When heated, glycerol can volatilize to form an aerosol, which can enhance the user experience of an aerosol-generating device or any suitable “non-combustion heating” device that can be used with the tobacco rod segment 126.

Cigarette sheet 104 has known dimensions. For example, the width and thickness of the tobacco sheet 104 supplied from the bobbin 102 may be constant and known. For example, the tobacco sheet 104 can have a given constant mass per unit length. This can ensure that the resulting tobacco rod segments 126 have a constant weight per unit length. Thus, the use of cigarette sheets 104 of known (and constant) dimensions allows the resulting cigarette without the need for weighing systems for the weighing of the tobacco rod 120 or tobacco rod segments 126. Allows weight control of the rod segments 126.

The first cutter 106 is arranged to cut the tobacco sheet 104 longitudinally to create a plurality of tobacco strands 112. The resulting cigarette strands 112 are elongated. The first cutter 106 includes a cutter array 106a. The cutter array 106a includes a plurality of circular discs 108 arranged along an axle 110. Each of the discs 108 has sharp edges. The axle 110 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction (arrow A), and each disc 108 has a cutting edge of the disc 108 substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction (arrow A). It is arranged to extend. As the tobacco sheet 104 is fed through the first cutter 106, each disc 108 cuts the tobacco sheet 104 in the longitudinal direction, i.e. cuts the tobacco sheet 104 along its length. Are arranged. For example, the cutter array 106a can cut the tobacco sheet 104 against a support surface (not shown) arranged on the opposite side of the tobacco sheet 104 from the cutter array 106a. The plurality of discs 108 act to cut the tobacco sheet 104 into a plurality of substantially parallel elongated tobacco strands 112.

The number of tobacco strands 112 produced depends on the number of cutting discs 108 included in the cutter array 106a. For example, a cutter array 106a comprising eight cutting discs 108 will produce a total of nine tobacco strands. Generally, a cutter array 106a comprising n cutting disks 108 will produce n + 1 tobacco strands 112.

The strand width of the tobacco strands 112 depends on the spacing between successive cutting disks of the cutting disks 108. The discs 108 are equally spaced along the length of the axle 110 and along the width of the tobacco sheet 104, so that each of the elongated tobacco strands 112 has a substantially equal width. This arrangement can help ensure consistency of the generated tobacco rod segments 126. The cutter array 106a may be arranged such that each of the plurality of elongated tobacco strands 112 has a width in the range of substantially 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. This will correspond, for example, to the cutting discs 108 being spaced apart by substantially 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, respectively.

The first cutter 106 may be adjustable to adjust the number and / or width of the strands 112 from which the tobacco sheet 104 is cut. For example, the cutting disc 108 adjusts the number of discs 108 on the axle 110, and / or adjusts the axle () to adjust the spacing between each disc 108 along the axle 110. 110). As another example, the cutter array 106a can be replaced with another cutter array 106a having a different number of disks 108 and / or different spacing between the disks 108. This allows flexibility in the number and / or width of strands 112 in the generated tobacco rod segments 126, and thus flexibility in the properties of these tobacco rod segments 126.

The collector 114 is arranged to collect a plurality of tobacco strands 112 together to form the tobacco rod 120. Collector 114 is a funnel 114. The funnel 114 includes a funnel portion 116 and a stem portion 118. The funnel portion 116 and the stem portion 118 are circular in cross section and coaxial. The funnel 114 is symmetric about its axis. The funnel portion 116 is narrowed from the relatively wide mouth 116a to the relatively narrow stem portion 118. Cigarette strands 112 move from the funnel portion 116 through the funnel 114 to the stem portion 118. As the tobacco strands 112 move through the funnel 114, the narrowing diameter of the funnel portion 116 collects the strands 112 together to form the tobacco rod 120.

The funnel 114 is aligned with the plurality of tobacco strands 112 and positioned in the center of the plurality of tobacco strands 112. Thus, funnel 114 collects each strand 112 in a substantially transverse direction to form rod 120. Specifically, the funnel 114 collects each of the strands 112 toward an axis lying in the center of the plurality of strands 112. The funnel 114 aligned with the tobacco strands 112 in this manner can cause the strands 112 to be uniformly collected in the center of the funnel 114.

The funnel 114 is aligned with the tobacco sheet 104 and positioned in the center of the tobacco sheet 104. Specifically, the axis in which the strands 112 are collected by the funnel 114 lies in the first plane, the first plane includes a supply direction (arrow A), and the plurality of strands 112 is collected Before being perpendicular to the second plane defined by the plurality of strands 112. Such alignment can help ensure uniform tension across the plurality of strands 112 when the plurality of strands 112 are collected by the funnel 114.

The funnel 114 applies substantially transverse forces to the strands 112 as the strands 112 pass through the funnel 114, these transverse forces being substantially central to the plurality of strands 112. Is oriented. Cigarette strands 112 are not coiled when they are collected, that is, when they are collected (i.e., during collection), that is, they remain substantially uncoiled when passing through the funnel 114. For example, tobacco strands 112 are not entangled, twisted, vortexed, or rolled with respect to each other when collected, for example, when collected, twisted, vortexed, or spiraled It does not form structures or shapes. Thus, the funnel 114 collects the strands 112 together, forming a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially uncoiled. Cigarette strands 112 remain substantially parallel to each other when collected, that is, when passing through funnel 114. Thus, the funnel 114 collects the strands 112 together, forming a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially parallel to each other. Cigarette strands 112 are substantially not bent, wrinkled, crimped, deformed, etc. when collected, and remain substantially straight when collected, that is, when passing through funnel 114. Thus, the funnel 114 collects the strands 112 together, forming a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially straight.

The device 100 includes a wrapper 122 arranged to wrap the tobacco rod 120 with a wrapping material 128. The wrapper 122 may be, for example, the same or similar to the wrapper 222 described below with reference to FIG. 2. In summary, the wrapper 122 wraps a continuous sheet of wrapping material 128 around the circumference of the continuous tobacco rod 120 and loads the wrapping material 128 by applying adhesive to the wrapping material 128. (120) It is sealed in place around. The wrapping material can be or include, for example, one or both of paper and aluminum foil. For example, the wrapping material can be a laminate of aluminum foil and paper. Such a stack can help prevent ignition of the tobacco rod segment 126, for example, the tobacco rod segment 126 may be attached to a “non-combustion heating” device, or a tobacco heating product device or an aerosol generating device. It can be useful when it is intended to be used as a consumable.

Once wrapped, the outer diameter of the tobacco rod 120 is, for example, the mass per unit length of the tobacco sheet 104 used, the thickness and width of the tobacco sheet 104 used, and the garniture during rod formation. Compression level at and / or, for example, properties of wrapper 122 and / or wrapping material 128 used. The outer diameter of the wrapped tobacco rod 120 may be constant during a given operating cycle of the device 100. The outer diameter can be, for example, substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm.

The second cutter 124 segments the tobacco rod 120 (eg, the tobacco rod after being wrapped with the wrapping material 128 by the wrapper 122) to produce the tobacco rod segments 126 ( 126). The second cutter 124 cuts the tobacco rod 120 transversely to create a tobacco rod 120 of a predetermined length (ie, tobacco rod segments 126). The second cutter 124 is, for example, a blade (not shown) with a cutting surface (not shown) arranged vertically to the length of the tobacco rod 120 and slicable through the tobacco rod 120 ). The tobacco sheet 104, the tobacco strands 112, and the tobacco rod 120 may proceed through the device 100 at a constant rate. The second cutter 124 is arranged to cut continuous tobacco rods 120 at regular time intervals, thereby producing tobacco rod segments 126 of the same length. Cigarette rod segments 126 may have a length in the range of 12 mm to 60 mm, for example. For example, tobacco rod segments 126 may be 12 mm in length, 42 mm in length, or 60 mm in length. Other lengths can be obtained, for example, by changing the spacing between successive cuts.

In use, the first cutter 106 cuts the tobacco sheet 104 in the longitudinal direction to create a plurality of tobacco strands 112. The collector 114 collects the strands 112 together to form a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially uncoiled, eg, substantially straight. The second cutter 124 cuts the tobacco rod 120 into segments to create tobacco rod segments 126.

Thereby, the device 100 includes a plurality of longitudinal tobacco strands (not shown), that is, cigarettes each including a tobacco rod 130 formed of tobacco strands extending along the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 130 Create rod segments 126, each of the plurality of longitudinal strands (not shown) being substantially coiled.

The first cutter 106 may be adjustable so as not to cut the tobacco sheet 104 into a plurality of strands 112 or to cut the tobacco sheet 104 at all. In use, when the device 100 is first used for a given cigarette sheet 104, the first cutter 106 can be adjusted so as not to cut the cigarette sheet 104 into a plurality of strands 112. Next, the non-cutting tobacco sheet 104 can be supplied through the funnel 114 to form a tobacco rod (not shown) of the non-cutting tobacco sheet 104, and the non-cutting tobacco sheet 104 The resulting rod (not shown) is fed through the wrapper 122 and the second cutter 124 to form segments (not shown) of the rod (not shown) of the non-cut tobacco sheet 104. can do. If the formation of the rod (not shown) of the non-cut tobacco sheet 104 is stable, for example, several segments (not shown) of the rod (not shown) of the non-cut tobacco sheet 104 are shown. Once created, the first cutter 106 is adjusted to cut the tobacco sheet 104 into a plurality of strands 112, as described above, whereby the tobacco rod 130 formed from the plurality of tobacco strands 112 Each of the plurality of strands 112 may be generated. The tobacco rod segments 126 may be generated. Some segments (not shown) of the rod (not shown) of the non-cut tobacco sheet 104 created before tobacco rod segments 126 comprising a plurality of tobacco strands 112 are generated are discarded Can be. This may allow for a simpler and more consistent setting of the device 100 upon installation or replacement of the tobacco sheet 104, eg, the bobbin 102 of the tobacco sheet 104.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an apparatus 200 for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 226 according to another example is schematically illustrated. Components of the apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 that are the same or similar to components already described with reference to FIG. 1 are not described in detail again, but are the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 except that they are increased by 100. Is given as

The device 200 includes a first cutter 206, a collector 214 and a second cutter 224. The first cutter 206 is arranged to cut the tobacco sheet 204 longitudinally to produce a plurality of tobacco strands 212. The collector 214 is arranged to collect the strands 212 together to form a tobacco rod 220 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 212 is substantially uncoiled, eg, substantially straight. . The second cutter 224 is arranged to cut the tobacco rod 220 into segments 226 to produce tobacco rod segments 226.

The device 200 includes a bobbin 202 of the tobacco sheet 204. The tobacco sheet 204 is supplied from the bobbin 202 of the tobacco sheet 204 toward the first cutter 226.

The apparatus 200 includes a tension arrangement 205 comprising a plurality (four in this example) of tension rollers 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d. The tobacco sheet 104 is fed over the tension rollers 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d from the bobbin 202 before being fed to the first cutter 206 in the sheet feeding direction (arrow A). This can help ensure that the tobacco sheet 204 has sufficient tension to be effectively cut by the first cutter 206, eg, longitudinal tension. This can also help to smooth out the creases in the tobacco sheet 104, for example, to remove any creases that may be in the tobacco sheet 104.

The first cutter 206 includes two cutting arrays 206a, 206b arranged to contact the major surfaces of the tobacco sheet 204. Each cutting array 206a, 206b may be the same or similar to the cutting array 106a described above with reference to FIG. 1. The cutting arrays 206a, 206b are arranged to press against the tobacco sheet toward each other, thereby cutting the tobacco sheet 204 longitudinally into a plurality of tobacco strands 112 (multiple tobacco strands ( 112) is distributed along the plane extending into the ground of FIG. 2). For example, the cutting arrays 206a, 206b may be offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of supply of the tobacco sheet (i.e., offset in the direction extending into the ground in FIG.

Collector 214 includes funnel 214 that includes funnel portion 216 and stem portion 218. The axis of the funnel 114 lies in the center of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 and lies in the plane in which the plurality of tobacco strands are distributed. The plurality of tobacco strands 112 are collected together as they move through the funnel 214 to form the tobacco rod 220.

The device 200 includes a wrapper 222 arranged to wrap the tobacco rod 220 with a wrapping material 228. For example, the wrapper 222 can be or include a rod maker as known in the art, for example, a kinetic fluxion media (KDF) filter rod maker for controlling the orientation and tensile wrapping material 228. You can.

The wrapper 222 includes a drive belt 246, a wrapper material bobbin 252, a garnish 240, an adhesive section 242, and a heater section 244.

The drive belt 246 is a continuous strip of flexible material looped around the two rollers 248a, 248b and supported by them. The drive belt 246 is held taut between the rollers 248a, 248b to define a generally flat upper drive belt surface 246a. The rollers 248a, 248b are arranged to rotate about their respective axes so that the drive belt surface 246a can be translated between the two rollers 248a, 248b. One or both of the rollers 248a, 248b are driven to rotate about the axis (clockwise from the side in FIG. 2), so that the upper drive belt surface 246a (from left to right in the side in FIG. 2) Lets translate.

The wrapping material bobbin 252 supplies a continuous sheet or web of wrapping material 228 to the upper drive belt face 246a. The wrapping material 228 can be supplied on the upper drive belt surface 246a by friction of the moving upper drive belt surface 246a against the sheet of wrapping material 228. Thus, the sheet of wrapping material 228 moves on the top of the upper drive belt face 246a (from left to right in the side of FIG. 2). Cigarette rod 220 is supplied on a sheet of wrapping material 228 on top drive belt surface 246a. The friction between the moving wrapping material 228 and the tobacco rod 220 may, at least in part, cause the tobacco rod 220 to be supplied on the wrapping material 228 to move with the wrapping material 228. Alternatively or additionally, the tobacco rod 220 can be supplied on the moving wrapping material 228 by other means, such as one or more feed rollers. In either case, the tobacco rod 220 is supplied on the wrapping material 228, so that the tobacco rod 220 eventually wraps with the upper drive belt surface 246a (ie, at the same speed) as the wrapping material 228 With (ie, at the same speed).

The garnish 240, as is known per se, wraps the wrapping material 228 around the tobacco rod 220 as they travel through the garnish 240. The garnish 240 wraps the wrapping material 228 around the circumference of the tobacco rod 220. The garnish wraps the wrapping material 228 around the tobacco rod 220 slightly more than the circumference of the tobacco rod 120 such that there is a portion (not shown) where the wrapping material 228 overlaps itself. .

The adhesive section 242 applies adhesive to the wrapping material 228 to secure the wrapping material 228 in place around the tobacco rod 220. Specifically, the adhesive section 242 applies the adhesive to the portion where the wrapping material 228 overlaps itself, securing the wrapping material 228 to itself around the tobacco rod 220.

The heater section 244 heats the tobacco rod 220 to help dry and / or cure the adhesive. This helps to ensure that the adhesive is sufficiently dry / cured before the tobacco rod is cut into tobacco rod segments 226.

The second cutter 224 is arranged to cut the tobacco rod 220 into segments to create the tobacco rod segments 226. The second cutter 224 may be the same or similar to the second cutter 124 described above with reference to FIG. 1.

In use, the first cutter 206 cuts the tobacco sheet 204 in the longitudinal direction to create a plurality of tobacco strands 212. The collector 214 collects the strands 212 together to form a tobacco rod 220 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 212 is substantially uncoiled. The second cutter 224 cuts the tobacco rod 220 into segments to create tobacco rod segments 226.

Thereby, the device 200 includes a plurality of longitudinal tobacco strands (not shown), that is, cigarettes each including a tobacco rod 230 formed of tobacco strands extending along the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 230 The rod segments 226 are created, and the plurality of longitudinal strands (not shown) are not substantially coiled, for example substantially straight.

Similar to that described with reference to the device 100 of FIG. 1, the first cutter 206 of the device 200 of FIG. 2 cuts the tobacco sheet 104 into a plurality of longitudinal strands 112, or It may be adjustable so as not to cut the tobacco sheet 104. As described above, this may allow for a simpler and more consistent setting of the device 200 upon installation or replacement of the tobacco sheet 204, eg, the bobbin 202 of the tobacco sheet 204. .

As mentioned above, in some examples, cigarette sheets 104 and 204 are provided from bobbins 102 and 202 of cigarette sheets 104 and 204.

Referring to FIG. 3, for example, the bobbin 302a of the tobacco sheet 304, which can be used as the bobbins 102 and 202 as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, is the mother of the tobacco sheet 304. May be provided from reel 370. The mother reel 370 can be slit transversely to create the bobbin 302a of the tobacco sheet 304 (see broken line 372).

The mother reel 307 can be slitting to create a bobbin 302a having a certain width W. This provides that the tobacco sheet 304 of the bobbin 302a has a specific mass per unit length, so that the resulting tobacco rod segments (not shown in FIG. 3) have a specific mass per unit length. Thus, at the start of the manufacturing process, the desired mass per unit length of tobacco rod segments (not shown in FIG. 3) can be selected. Next, the bobbin width W can be determined based on a selected mass per unit length for a tobacco rod segment (not shown), and a known mass per unit area of the tobacco sheet 304 of the mother reel 370. For example, the mass per unit area of the tobacco sheet 304 (also referred to as grammage) may be 100 g / m 2. Next, the mother reel 370 can be slitting to produce a bobbin 302a having a determined bobbin width W. Next, the bobbin 302a is, for example, in the apparatus 100, 200 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, tobacco rod segments having a desired mass per unit length (not shown in FIG. 3) Can be used to generate The mother reel 370 can be slit multiple times to create bobbins 302b, 302c, 302d, 302e having the same or different bobbin widths W, as desired. This can allow convenient and inexpensive control of the mass per unit length of the tobacco rod segments produced (not shown in FIG. 3).

4 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of a process for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 126 and 226, according to one example. For example, the process can be performed using the devices 100 and 200 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Therefore, reference numerals used in FIGS. 1 and 2 are also suitably used in the following.

In step S402, the process includes cutting the tobacco sheets 104, 204 longitudinally to create a plurality of tobacco strands 112, 212.

The tobacco sheets 104, 204 can have a substantially constant mass per unit length, can be recycled tobacco sheets, and / or can include glycerol.

The process may include providing tobacco sheets 104, 204 from bobbins 102, 202 of tobacco sheets 104, 204 prior to step S402. This may include providing a mother reel 307 of the tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304, and slitting the mother reel to create bobbins 102, 202, 302a. This, on its own, selects mass per unit length for tobacco rod segments 126, 226, mass per unit area of tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304, and per selected unit length for tobacco rod segments Based on the mass, determining the bobbin width (W), may include slitting the mother reel (307) to create bobbins (102, 202, 302a) having the determined bobbin width (W). .

The process may include, before step S402, supplying the tobacco sheets 104, 204 in the sheet supply direction A. Next, cutting the tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304 in S402 may include cutting the tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304 substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction A.

Step S402 may include cutting the tobacco sheets 104 and 204 at a determined number of cuts and / or cut intervals. The number of cuts and / or cut spacing selects the number of strands 112, 212 and / or the width of strands 112, 212 for tobacco rod segments 126, 226, and the selected strand number and / or strand width Based on this, it can be determined by determining the number of cuts and / or the cut interval. Each of the plurality of strands may have a width substantially in the range of 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

In step S404, the process includes collecting the strands 112, 212 together to form a tobacco rod 112, 212 where each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112, 212 is substantially uncoiled. do. Step S404 collects the strands 112 and 212 together to form the tobacco rods 120 and 220 where the plurality of tobacco strands 112 and 212 are substantially parallel to each other and / or each are substantially straight. It may include steps. Step S404 includes collecting each of the elongated strands 112, 212 in a substantially transverse direction toward a central axis of the plurality of strands 112, 212 to form the rod 120. You can. The axis from which the strands 112, 212 are collected may lie in one plane, the one plane includes the feed direction A, and the plurality of strands 112, 212 before the plurality of strands 112, 212 are collected. 212). Step S404 may include feeding the strands 112, 212 through funnels 114, 214 to collect the strands 112, 212.

The process, before the step of cutting the tobacco sheet 104, 204 in step S402, the tobacco sheet 104, 204 to form a tobacco rod (not shown) of the non-cut tobacco sheet 114, 214. And feeding through funnels 114,214.

In step S406, the process includes cutting the tobacco rod 120 (of the tobacco strands 112, 212) into segments to create the tobacco rod segments 126, 226.

The process may include wrapping tobacco rods 120 and 220 with wrapping materials 128 and 228 prior to step S406. The wrapping materials 128, 228 can be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil. For example, the wrapping materials 128 and 228 can be a stack of paper and aluminum foil. The tobacco rod segments 126, 226 (wrapped) can each have an outer diameter substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm. Cigarette rod segments 126 and 226 may be consumables for an aerosol-generating device.

5A schematically illustrates a tobacco rod segment 526 according to an example disposed on a blade heater 580 of an aerosol-generating device (not shown). Specifically, FIG. 5A illustrates the tobacco rod segment 526 before it is installed over the blade heater 580, and FIG. 5B illustrates the tobacco rod segment 526 after it is installed over the blade heater 580.

The tobacco rod segment 526 may be, for example, the same or similar to the tobacco rod segments 126 and 226 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Cigarette rod segment 526 may be generated, for example, by the devices 100 and 200 described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, and / or by the process described above with respect to FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the tobacco rod segment 526 is formed of a plurality of longitudinal tobacco strands 512, ie, a plurality of tobacco strands 512 extending in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 530 Rod 530, wherein each of the plurality of longitudinal strands 512 is substantially uncoiled. The plurality of strands 512 are substantially parallel to each other, substantially straight, and each extend substantially along the entire length of the tobacco rod segment 526. The tobacco rod segment 526 includes a wrapping material 528 wrapped around the tobacco rod 530.

The blade heater 580 may take the form of an elongated rectangular parallelepiped rather than wide or long. The width of the blade heater 580 is smaller than the outer diameter of the tobacco rod segment 526. Blade heater 580 is a hand-held (hand-held) aerosol-generating device (not shown) is powered by a battery (not shown) and a resistive heater (not shown) controllable to heat by a user It can contain. In some examples, blade heater 580 may have a pointed end (not shown) to facilitate insertion of the blade heater into tobacco rod segment 526.

The blade heater 580 can be inserted into the tobacco rod segment 526 (arrow B in FIG. 5A), or equivalently, the tobacco rod segment 526 can be pressed over the blade heater 580, thereby Accordingly, the blade heater 580 extends longitudinally into the tobacco rod segment 526 (as shown in FIG. 5B).

The plurality of longitudinal strands 512 of the substantially uncoiled tobacco rod segment 526 allows the blade heater 580 to be easily inserted into the tobacco rod segment 526. This is because the uncoiled longitudinal strands 512 exhibit relatively little resistance to the longitudinal insertion of the blade heater 580. This can provide for convenient installation or replacement of the tobacco rod segment 528 on the blade heater 580, and the tobacco rod segment 526 can be a consumable of the entire aerosol-generating device (not shown). This reduces damage to the tobacco rod segment 526 upon insertion of the blade heater 580 and may allow for a more consistent and accurate placement of the tobacco rod segment 526 relative to the blade heater 580. This can be contrasted with a virtual tobacco rod segment comprising longitudinal strands arranged in a coiled, eg helical structure: in this case, the insertion of the blade heater is limited by the strands traversing the insertion path. The blade heater may deform and compress portions of the cigarette, which may result in a relatively difficult and inconsistent placement of the virtual cigarette rod segment, and increase the risk of damaging the virtual cigarette rod segment. .

The plurality of longitudinal strands 512 of the tobacco rod segment 526 that are parallel and / or straight to each other similarly allow the blade heater 580 to be easily inserted into the tobacco rod segment 526. In this case, the insertion axis of the blade heater 580 is parallel to each axis of the longitudinal strands 512, and only a small surface area is provided at the leading edge of the blade heater 580 when the blade heater 580 is inserted. . Similar to the one mentioned above, this provides convenient installation or replacement of the tobacco rod segment 526, and / or reduces damage to the tobacco rod segment 526, and / or the blade heater 580. It may provide a more consistent and accurate placement of the tobacco rod segment 526. This can be contrasted with a hypothetical tobacco rod segment comprising, for example, randomly oriented pieces of cut rag tobacco, or crimped or corrugated tobacco sheets: in this case, the insertion of the blade heater is cut lag It is possible to deform and compress portions of a cigarette or edges of crimped or corrugated cigarette sheets, which can result in a relatively difficult and inconsistent placement of the virtual cigarette rod segment, increasing the risk of damaging the virtual cigarette rod segment I can do it.

When the tobacco rod segment 526 is inserted over the blade heater 580 of the entire aerosol-generating device (not shown), the blade heater 580 is heated (eg, through resistance heating inside the blade heater 580). By this, it is possible to control the tobacco strands 512 to be heated but not burned. This can release components, such as volatile components, from the tobacco strands 512. As mentioned above, tobacco strands 512 may include glycerol, which may volatilize when heated by blade heater 580 to form an aerosol.

The plurality of substantially uncoiled longitudinal strands 512 of the tobacco rod segment 526 are between the plurality of longitudinal strands 512 and a corresponding plurality of substantially coiled through the tobacco rod segment 526. Establish un-ringed longitudinal paths 513. These paths 513 pass through the tobacco rod segment 526 of volatile materials (eg, volatile components of the cigarette itself or volatile glycerol or both) released from the tobacco strands 512 upon heating. It facilitates transport. This can reduce the loss of such materials as they pass through the tobacco rod segment 526, for example, the relatively short and unblocked paths 513 allow volatile materials to be part of the tobacco rod segment 526. It is possible to reduce occurrences of condensation on the fields again. This can be contrasted with a hypothetical tobacco rod segment, including, for example, randomly oriented pieces of cut rag tobacco (eg, in standard cigarettes), where the volatile material exits the virtual tobacco rod. The length is relatively long. This can also be contrasted with an imaginary tobacco rod segment comprising a plurality of coiled longitudinal strands, where the path length through which the volatile materials exit the imaginary tobacco rod is also relatively long.

As mentioned above, the wrapping material 528 can be, or include, for example, a laminate of paper or aluminum foil, or both, for example, paper and aluminum foil. A stack of paper and aluminum foil can be useful to prevent the tobacco rod segment 526 from being ignited by the blade heater 580.

Each of the plurality of strands 512 may have a width substantially in the range of 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. The tobacco rod segment 526 can have an outer diameter substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm. This allows the use of a relatively large blade heater 580, thus increasing the heating surface area of the blade heater 580, so that the rate at which the cigarette can be heated and / or can be heated by the blade heater 580. You can increase the amount of cigarettes.

The above examples should be understood as illustrative examples of the present invention.

For example, in the above examples, the tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304 are described as being sheets of recycled tobacco, although this is not necessary, and in other examples, the tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304 are different materials. It can be made of. Tobacco sheet 104 may or may not include glycerol, and may include other materials, such as additives or enhancers, instead of or in addition to glycerol.

In some of the examples above, cigarette sheets 104, 204, 304 are described as being provided from bobbins 102, 202, 302, but need not be, for example, other devices or sources (not shown) ), And the device or source does not necessarily form part of the apparatus 100, 200.

In the above examples, the first cutters 106, 206 are described as including an array of circular disks 108, but this is not necessary, and in other examples, the first cutters 106, 206 are a plurality of It may be any suitable cutter or cutting means for longitudinally cutting the tobacco sheet 104 to form tobacco strands 112, 212.

In the examples above, collectors 114 and 214 are described as funnels 114 and 214 having a circular cross-section, but this is not necessary, and in other examples, collectors 114 and 214 may take different forms. For example, the collectors 114, 214 can be or include so-called stuffer jets (not shown) arranged to supply and collect a plurality of strands 112, 212 using air pressure. You can. As another example, funnels 114 and 214 need not have circular cross-sections, but may have other cross-sections, for example rectangular or square. Indeed, the collector may be any suitable means for collecting strands 112 and 212 together to form tobacco rods 120 and 220 where each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 and 212 is substantially uncoiled. You can.

In the above examples, the device 100, 200 may be configured to generate the tobacco rod segments 126, 226 before the tobacco rod is cut into segments 126, 226 by the second cutter 124. Includes wrappers 122, 222 arranged to wrap 120, 220 with wrapping materials 128, 228, but is not required, and in other examples, the apparatus 100, 200 may be configured with wrappers 122, 222. ), And the (unwrapped) tobacco rods 120, 220 are segmented 126, 226 by the second cutter 124, 224 to create the tobacco rod segments 126, 226. ). In this example, the resulting tobacco rod segments 126, 226 need not necessarily include wrapping materials 128, 228.

1 and 2 schematically show examples of an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 126 and 226 according to one example, and in other examples, the apparatus 100 or 200 is added (or less) ) Components, e.g., one or more feeding rollers, tobacco sheet 104, 204 and / or multiple for supplying tobacco sheet 104, 204 and / or a plurality of strands 112, 212. One or more tension rollers for tensioning the strands 112, 212, and / or tobacco sheets 104, 204 and / or a plurality of strands 112, 212 and / or tobacco rods 120, 220, and It will be understood that it may include one or more drive belts for transporting segments of the tobacco rods 120, 220.

In the above examples, the tobacco strands 112, 212 are described as being straight and parallel to each other, but it is not necessary, and in other examples, the tobacco strands 112, 212 may not be substantially straight, And / or may not be substantially parallel to each other. For example, the tobacco strands 112, 212 can be processed to include a longitudinally corrugated or corrugated or zigzag shape, or in practice, the tobacco sheet 104 will essentially comprise a longitudinal corrugated or corrugated or zigzag shape Or it can be processed to have such a shape or configuration. Indeed, the tobacco rod segment 126, 226 may include any tobacco rod 130, 530 formed of a plurality of longitudinal tobacco strands 112, 212, where the plurality of longitudinal strands 112, 212) Each is not substantially coiled.

In the above examples, tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526 are described as being generated by the device 100, 200, and / or by a process as described with reference to FIG. 3, but must be It is not necessary, and in other examples, a tobacco rod formed of a plurality of longitudinal tobacco strands 112, 212, 512, each of a plurality of longitudinal strands 112, 212, 512 substantially not coiled ( Any suitable method or apparatus for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526 including 130, 530 may be used.

In some of the examples above, the tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526 are described as being consumables for a “non-combustion heating” device or the like that includes a blade heater 580, but this is not necessary, and in other examples , Tobacco rod segment 126, 226, 526 may be used in other devices and / or may be used for other purposes. For example, the tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526 can be consumables of any aerosol-generating device, such as tobacco heating products or devices that do not necessarily include a blade heater 580.

In the above examples, the tobacco sheets 102, 204, 304 are cigarettes, e.g., recycled tobacco, or are described as including, but need not be, and in other examples, the sheets 104, 204, 304 are It can be or include a sheet of any aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating material may be, for example, a material that produces an aerosol when heated by the blade heater 580 of the entire aerosol-generating device. For example, the sheets of aerosol-generating material 104, 204, 304 can be or include a flavor substrate. Flavor substrates 104, 204, 304 may include flavors such as tobacco flavors or other flavors, and / or may include other additives or enhancers in place of or in addition to glycerol, or glycerol. Flavor substrates with or without glycerol or other additives can be heated to produce an aerosol.

In general, it can be noted that an aerosol is a colloid of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or other gas, wherein the colloid is a material in which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended across other materials. On the other hand, steam is a gaseous material at a temperature lower than the critical temperature, which means, for example, that the steam can be condensed into a liquid by increasing its pressure without reducing the temperature. As used herein, the term aerosol should be understood to include aerosols and / or vapors.

In some examples, aerosol-generating material rod segments 126, 226, 526 are, for example, a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands, as described above for sheets 102, 204, 304 of recycled tobacco. Longitudinally cutting sheets 102, 204, 304 of aerosol-generating material to produce (112, 212, 512); Each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands 112, 212, 512 collects strands 112, 212, 512 together to form a substantially uncoiled aerosol-generating material rod 130, 530. that; And by cutting the aerosol-generating material rods 130, 530 into segments 126, 226, 526 to produce aerosol-generating material rod segments 126, 226, 526. It will be understood that it can be made from sheets 102, 204, 304.

Similarly, the product may include rods 130, 530 of aerosol-generating material, and rods 130, 530 of aerosol-generating material may comprise a plurality of longitudinal strands 112, 212 of aerosol-generating material. 512), where it will be appreciated that each of the plurality of longitudinal strands 112, 212, 512 of the aerosol-generating material is substantially uncoiled.

Any feature described in connection with any one example may be used alone or in combination with other features described, and may also be combined with any combination of one or more features of any other examples or any other examples. It should be understood that it can be used. In addition, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (49)

A process for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments,
Cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material longitudinally to create a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands;
Collecting the strands together to form an aerosol-generating material rod in which each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands is not substantially coiled; And
Cutting the aerosol-generating material rod into segments to create the aerosol-generating material rod segments,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. According to claim 1,
The collecting step,
Collecting the strands together to form the aerosol-generating material rod in which the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands are substantially parallel to each other,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The collecting step,
Collecting the strands together to form the aerosol-generating material rod, each of the aerosol-generating material strands being substantially straight,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The sheet of aerosol-generating material is a tobacco sheet,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. According to claim 4,
The tobacco sheet is a reconstituted tobacco sheet,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises glycerol,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The sheet of aerosol-generating material has a substantially constant mass per unit length,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Providing a sheet of aerosol-generating material from a bobbin of sheet of aerosol-generating material,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 8,
Providing a mother reel of the sheet of aerosol-generating material; And
Slitting the mother reel to produce the bobbin,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 9,
Selecting a mass per unit length for the aerosol-generating material rod segments;
Determining a bobbin width based on the mass per unit area of the sheet of aerosol-generating material, and the selected mass per unit length for the aerosol-generating material rod segments; And
Slitting said mother reel to produce a bobbin having a determined bobbin width,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Selecting a strand number and / or strand width for the aerosol-generating material rod segments; And
Determining, based on the selected strand number and / or strand width, the number of cuts and / or the cut interval;
Cutting the sheet of the aerosol-generating material,
Cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material at a determined number of cuts and / or cut intervals,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
Supplying a sheet of the aerosol-generating material in a sheet feeding direction;
Cutting the sheet of the aerosol-generating material,
Cutting a sheet of the aerosol-generating material substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 12,
The collecting step,
Collecting each of the strands towards an axis lying in one plane, the one plane including the feed direction, and perpendicular to the plane defined by the plurality of strands before the plurality of strands are collected ,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
The collecting step,
Collecting each of the strands towards an axis that lies in the center of the plurality of strands,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
The collecting step,
Collecting each of the strands in a substantially transverse direction to form the rod,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
The collecting step,
Supplying the strands through a funnel to collect the strands,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 16,
Before the step of cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material,
Supplying a sheet of the aerosol-generating material through the funnel to form a rod of aerosol-generating material of the non-cutting tobacco sheet,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17,
Each of the plurality of strands has a width substantially in the range of 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18,
Wrapping the rod of aerosol-generating material with a wrapping material,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 19,
The wrapping material is or includes one or both of paper and aluminum foil,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 19 or 20,
Each of the aerosol-generating material rod segments has an outer diameter substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21,
The aerosol-generating material rod segments are consumables for an aerosol-generating device,
The process of manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. An apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments, comprising:
A first cutter arranged to longitudinally cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material to create a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands;
A collector arranged to collect the strands together to form a rod of aerosol-generating material where each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands is substantially uncoiled; And
A second cutter arranged to cut the aerosol-generating material rod into segments to create the aerosol-generating material rod segments,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 23,
The collector is arranged to collect the strands together such that the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands form the aerosol-generating material rod substantially parallel to each other,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 23 or 24,
The collector is arranged to collect the strands together to form the aerosol-generating material rod where each of the aerosol-generating material strands is substantially straight,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 25,
The device is arranged to provide a sheet of the aerosol-generating material from the bobbin of the aerosol-generating material sheet,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 26,
The first cutter is adjustable to adjust the number and / or width of the strands,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 27,
The first cutter is adjustable so as not to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material or to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material to produce the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 28,
The device is arranged to supply the sheet of aerosol-generating material to the first cutter in the sheet feeding direction; The first cutter is arranged to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 29,
The collector is arranged to collect each of the strands toward an axis lying in a first plane, the first plane including the feed direction, and the first defined by the plurality of strands before the plurality of strands are collected. 2 perpendicular to the plane,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 30,
The collector is arranged to collect each of the strands toward an axis that lies in the center of the plurality of strands,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 31,
The collector is arranged to collect each of the strands substantially transversely to form the rod,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 32,
The collector comprises a funnel,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 33,
The first cutter terminates the sheet of aerosol-generating material to produce the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands each having a width in the range of substantially 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Arranged to cut in the direction,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 34,
The device comprises a wrapper arranged to wrap the aerosol-generating material rod with a wrapping material,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 35,
The wrapping material is or comprises one or both of paper and aluminum foil,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method of claim 35 or 36,
The device is arranged to create aerosol-generating material rod segments having an outer diameter substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 37,
The aerosol-generating material rod segments are consumables for the aerosol-generating device,
Apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments. A product comprising an aerosol-generating material rod,
The aerosol-generating material rod is formed of a plurality of longitudinal strands of aerosol-generating material, each of the plurality of longitudinal strands of aerosol-generating material being substantially uncoiled,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method of claim 39,
The plurality of strands are substantially parallel to each other,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method of claim 39 or 40,
Each of the plurality of strands is substantially straight,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 41,
Each of the plurality of strands has a width substantially in the range of 0.25 mm to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 42,
At least one of the strands is or comprises a cigarette,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method of claim 43,
At least one of the strands is or includes recycled tobacco,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 44,
At least one of the strands comprises glycerol,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 45,
The product comprises a wrapping material wrapped around the aerosol-generating material rod,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method of claim 46,
The wrapping material is or comprises one or both of paper and aluminum foil,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method of claim 46 or 47,
The product has an outer diameter substantially in the range of 5.4 mm to 7.8 mm, or substantially in the range of 6.7 mm to 7.8 mm,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods. The method according to any one of claims 39 to 48,
The product is a consumable for an aerosol-generating device,
Products comprising aerosol-generating material rods.

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