KR20240000522A - Aerosol-generating articles - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerosol-generating article (1, 2) for use with an aerosol-generating device (102), comprising: a substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate (14); at least one air flow channel (16) extending along a substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate (14); and a wrapping member (22) surrounding the substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate (14) and the at least one air flow channel (16). At least one air flow channel 16 comprises two or more parts 16a, 16b with different cross-sections.

Description

Aerosol-generating articles

The present disclosure relates generally to aerosol-generating articles, and more specifically to aerosol-generating articles for use with an aerosol-generating device for heating the aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol to be inhaled by a user. The present disclosure may particularly apply to aerosol generating articles for use with hand-held aerosol generating devices.

The popularity and use of reduced or improved risk devices (also known as aerosol-generating devices or vapor-generating devices) have grown rapidly in recent years as an alternative to the use of traditional tobacco products. A variety of devices and systems are available that heat or warm an aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user.

Commonly available reduced or improved risk devices are substrate-heated aerosol generation devices or so-called heat-not-burn devices. Devices of this type produce aerosols or vapors by heating an aerosol-generating substrate to a temperature typically in the range of 150°C to 300°C. Heating the aerosol-generating substrate to a temperature within this range, with or without burning, typically generates a vapor that cools and condenses to form an aerosol that can be inhaled by the user of the device.

Currently available aerosol generating devices utilize one of several different approaches to generate aerosols, including resistive heating using resistive heating elements, and inductive heating using induction coils and inductively heatable susceptors. Heat can be provided to the substrate.

Regardless of the approach used to heat the aerosol-generating substrate, the properties of the aerosol produced by the aerosol-generating device depend on several factors, including the composition of the aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device. Accordingly, it is desired to provide an aerosol-generating article that is capable of optimizing the properties of the aerosol generated during use of the aerosol-generating article and, at the same time, is easy to use in combination with an aerosol-generating device.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-generating article for use with an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article comprising:

a substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate;

at least one air flow channel extending along a substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate; and

A substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate and a wrapping member surrounding at least one air flow channel.

Includes;

At least one air flow channel includes two or more parts with different cross-sections.

The aerosol-generating article is provided without combusting the aerosol-generating substrate to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating substrate and thereby produce a heated vapor that cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user of the aerosol-generating device. , used in conjunction with an aerosol generating device to heat the aerosol generating substrate. The aerosol generating device is a handheld, portable device.

In general terms, a vapor is a substance in the gaseous phase at a temperature below its critical temperature, meaning that the vapor can be condensed into a liquid by increasing its pressure without decreasing its temperature, while an aerosol is an air or It is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in another gas. However, it should be noted that the terms 'aerosol' and 'vapour' may be used interchangeably herein, particularly with regard to the form of inhalable medium produced for inhalation by a user.

By providing at least one air flow channel with two or more parts with different cross-sections, improved transport of vapor and/or aerosol can be achieved. Additionally, by surrounding the at least one air flow channel with a wrapping member, the vapors and/or aerosols generated during use of the aerosol-generating article within the aerosol-generating device may, prior to inhalation by the user, form within the article, It flows internally along the air flow channel. Thereby, the formation of condensed material on the internal surfaces of the aerosol generating device is substantially prevented or at least minimized, which can provide many advantages. For example, this helps reduce residue build-up within aerosol-generating devices and reduces the number of cleaning and maintenance tasks users of the device must perform. This can also help ensure that the largest possible amount of vapor and/or aerosol is delivered to the user and that the delivered vapor and/or aerosol has optimal properties.

At least one air flow channel may comprise two or more parts with different cross-sectional shapes. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one air flow channel may comprise two or more parts with different cross-sectional areas. This can promote the generation of vapor and effectively deliver the vapor and/or aerosol to the user to facilitate inhalation.

The aerosol-generating article can include a distal end, a rostral end, and a longitudinal axis that can extend between the rostral and distal ends. The rostral end is located at the end of the aerosol-generating article opposite the distal end. More specifically, the rostral end is positioned downstream of the distal end with respect to the direction of air flow through the aerosol-generating article, such as during use of the aerosol-generating article in an aerosol-generating device. The at least one air flow channel may extend in a first direction, which may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. During use of the aerosol-generating article, air flows along at least one air flow channel from the distal end to the rostral end, such that a maximum amount of volatile components is transferred from the heated aerosol-generating substrate into the air as the air flows through the air flow channel. It can be released. This can then ensure that the largest possible amount of vapor and/or aerosol is generated and delivered to the user during use of the aerosol generating article.

The two or more portions of the at least one air flow channel may include an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion and downstream portion correspond to the direction of air flow through the aerosol-generating article. In other words, the upstream portion is disposed at the distal end of the aerosol-generating article and the downstream portion is disposed at the rostral end of the aerosol-generating article, i.e. the downstream portion is disposed at the aerosol-generating article, for example during use of the aerosol-generating article in the aerosol-generating device. It is placed downstream of the upstream part with respect to the direction of air flow through it. The downstream portion may have a larger cross-sectional area than the upstream portion. This arrangement can facilitate the production of vapor, and can facilitate cooling and condensation of the generated vapor to create an aerosol with properties suitable for inhalation by a user.

The upstream portion of the at least one air flow channel may include a groove that may be formed in a surface of the substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate. A downstream portion of the at least one air flow channel may include a slit that may be formed at one end of the substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate.

A substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate can have a flat rectangular shape, which can have a pair of major surfaces. The wrapping member may include a pair of rectangular sheets that can each be attached to a pair of major surfaces. The aerosol-generating article can have a pleasing aesthetic appearance due to the flat, rectangular shape of the aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-generating substrate can be easily covered by a wrapping member, thereby ensuring that the user does not come into direct contact with the aerosol-generating substrate during handling of the aerosol-generating article. The flat, rectangular shape can also facilitate packaging and storage of multiple aerosol-generating articles.

The aerosol-generating article may include a support member that may form a proximal-end portion of the article. The support member may have the shape of a tube, for example a rectangular tube, to accommodate the aerosol generating substrate and the downstream end of the at least one air flow channel, for example a portion of the at least one air flow channel having a larger cross-sectional area. there is. The support member may be self-supporting and may comprise, for example, cardboard or plastic material. The support member can advantageously deliver vapors and/or aerosols generated during use of the article directly to the user's mouth. The support member allows heated vapors generated during use of the aerosol-generating article to cool and condense to form an aerosol with optimal properties for inhalation by a user.

The wrapping member may comprise a substantially non-electrically conductive and non-magnetic permeable material and may include, for example, a paper wrapper. The use of paper wrappers can facilitate the manufacture and handling of aerosol-generating articles and can enhance aerosol generation.

The wrapping member can have a porous interior surface that can face toward the aerosol-generating substrate to absorb condensate. The porous interior surface can also help ensure that condensation is substantially prevented or at least minimized from forming on the interior surfaces of the aerosol generating device. The wrapping member can have an anti-stick outer surface that can face away from the aerosol generating substrate. For example, the wrapping member may include an anti-stick coating on the exterior surface. The anti-stick outer surface can help ensure that the wrapping member does not stick to the surface of the aerosol generating device when heated. Both a porous internal surface and an anti-stick external surface can help reduce residue build-up within the aerosol generating device, thereby reducing the number of cleaning and maintenance tasks that must be performed by users of the device.

The aerosol generating substrate may include non-liquid aerosol generating materials, such as any type of solid or semi-solid material. Exemplary types of aerosol-generating solids include powders, granules, pellets, flakes, strands, particles, gels, strips, loose leaves, cut leaves, cut fillers, porous materials, foam materials or sheets. Aerosol-generating substrates may include plant-derived materials, particularly tobacco. Advantageously, it may comprise, for example, tobacco and reconstituted tobacco comprising any one or more of cellulose fibers, tobacco stem fibers, and inorganic fillers such as CaCO3.

As a result, aerosol-generating devices intended for use with aerosol-generating articles may be referred to as “heated tobacco devices,” “non-combustible heated tobacco devices,” “devices for vaporizing tobacco products,” etc., which achieve this effect. It is interpreted as a device suitable for the following. The features disclosed herein are equally applicable to devices designed to vaporize any aerosol-generating substrate.

The aerosol-generating substrate may include an aerosol former. Examples of aerosol formers include polyhydric alcohols and mixtures thereof such as glycerin or propylene glycol. Generally, the aerosol-generating substrate may include an aerosol former in an amount of about 5% to about 50% by dry weight. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate may include an aerosol former in an amount of about 10% to about 20% by dry weight, and possibly about 15% by dry weight.

The aerosol generating article may be configured for use with an electrically-operated aerosol generating device that includes a heater. The heater may be a resistance heater or an induction heater. Upon heating, aerosol-generating substrates can release volatile compounds. Volatile compounds may include flavor compounds such as nicotine or tobacco flavoring.

1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an aerosol-generating article.
Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an aerosol-generating article.
Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to Figures 1-3, a first embodiment of an aerosol generating article 1 for use with an electrically-operated aerosol generating device 102 is shown, an example of which is shown with reference to Figure 5. This will be described later in the specification. The aerosol-generating article 1 is substantially planar and has a distal end 10 and a rostral end 12 (or proximal ends) at opposing ends of the aerosol-generating article 1 . The rostral end 12 is located downstream of the distal end 10 with respect to the direction of air flow through the aerosol-generating article 1, as indicated by the three arrows in Figure 1. A longitudinal axis extends between the distal end 10 and the rostral end 12 to define the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article 1.

The aerosol-generating article (1) includes a substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate (14). The aerosol-generating substrate 14 contains a bulk or mass of aerosol-generating material and has a flat rectangular shape with a pair of opposed major surfaces 14a, 14b. The aerosol-generating article 1 is a consumable or disposable article, and the aerosol-generating substrate 14 may include tobacco or tobacco material.

The aerosol-generating article 1 includes a plurality of air flow channels 16, including a plurality of grooves 18 formed in the major surface 14a of the aerosol-generating substrate 14, in the embodiment shown. The grooves 18 are arranged laterally and parallel to each other, and the grooves 18 extend longitudinally between the distal end 10 and the rostral end 12, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The grooves 18 form a fluted surface 20 . The grooves 18 may be formed in any suitable manner, for example by pressing the major surface 14a of the aerosol-generating substrate 14 with a suitably shaped pressing tool. Although three grooves 18 are shown in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, any suitable number of grooves (18) may be used, for example, depending on the desired resistance-to-draw of the aerosol-generating article 1. 18) can be provided. It should be noted that groove 18 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, including, but not limited to, rectangular, square, trapezoidal, or semi-circular as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Each air flow channel 16 includes a first part 16a and a second part 16b with different cross-sections. In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3, the second part 16b is arranged downstream of the first part 16a. The first part 16a (or upstream part) has a first cross-sectional area and the second part 16b (or downstream part) has a second cross-sectional area that is larger than the first cross-sectional area. The first portion 16a of each air flow channel 16 includes a first groove portion 18a formed in the major surface 14a of the aerosol-generating substrate 14. The second portion 16b of each air flow channel 16 includes a second groove portion 18b formed in the major surface 14a of the aerosol-generating substrate 14. The second groove portion 18b is wider and deeper than the first groove portion 18a, resulting in the larger second cross-sectional area described above. The second groove portion 18b (i.e., the second portion 16b of each air flow channel 16) terminates within a slit 19 formed in one end 30 of the aerosol-generating substrate 14.

The aerosol-generating article (1) further comprises an aerosol-generating substrate (14) and a wrapping member (22) surrounding a groove (18) defining an air flow channel (16). Accordingly, the aerosol-generating substrate 14 and the groove 18 are completely surrounded by a wrapping member 22, which may comprise, for example, cigarette paper or similar material. Wrapping member 22 includes a pair of rectangular sheets 24, 26 attached to major surfaces 14a, 14b, respectively, of aerosol-generating substrate 14. The rectangular sheets 24, 26 are generally wrapped around the aerosol-generating substrate 14 and are overlapped to secure the wrapping members 22 in place about the aerosol-generating substrate 14 and the grooves 18. It is formed by a single sheet of material, which may have edges.

In an exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, the aerosol-generating substrate 14 can have a length (in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article 1) of about 18.0 mm, a width of about 11.8 mm, and a width of about 1.2 mm. It may have a thickness (or depth) of mm. The aerosol-generating substrate 14 may be spaced inwardly from the distal end 10 of the aerosol-generating article 1 by a short distance, for example about 3.0 mm, as shown in FIG. 1 . The aerosol-generating article 1 may have a width of about 12.0 mm and a thickness (or depth) of about 1.4 mm to accommodate the aerosol-generating substrate 14 within the wrapping member 22. An aerosol-generating article (1) can be formed between a distal end (10) and a rostral end (12) by varying the length of the portion of the wrapping member (22) that extends between the downstream end and the rostral end (12) of the aerosol-generating substrate (14). It can have any suitable length in between. As the vapor flows through this portion of the wrapping member 22 during use of the aerosol generating article 1 within the aerosol generating device 102, the vapor may cool and condense to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user. there is. Accordingly, the length of the portion of the wrapping member 22 extending between the downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate 14 and the rostral end 12 of the aerosol-generating article 1 may be adjusted during manufacture to provide an aerosol with desired properties. can be selected.

In some embodiments, wrapping member 22 includes a porous interior surface 22a that faces toward aerosol-generating substrate 14 and is capable of absorbing condensation that may form during heat treatment. Alternatively or additionally, the wrapping member 22 may face away from the aerosol generating substrate 14 to reduce the risk that the wrapping member 22 may stick to the surface of the aerosol generating device 102 when heated. It may include an anti-stick outer surface 22b. The anti-stick outer surface 22b may include an anti-stick coating on the outer surface 22b of the wrapping member 22.

Referring now to Figure 4, a second embodiment of an aerosol-generating article 2 is shown. The aerosol-generating article 2 is similar to the aerosol-generating article 1 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and corresponding features are identified using the same reference numerals.

The aerosol-generating article 2 is configured to form a rostral-end portion 34 with which a user's lips may be contacted during use of the aerosol-generating article 2 in the aerosol-generating device 102. It includes a support member (28) disposed at the rostral end (12). The support member 28 generally comprises a self-supporting material, such as cardboard or a plastic material, and is formed in a cross-section to receive the downstream end of the groove 18 formed in the aerosol-generating substrate 14 and surface 14a. When viewed, it has a rectangular tube shape. Wrapping member 22 also surrounds support member 28.

Referring now to Figure 5, an aerosol generating system 100 is shown comprising a first embodiment of an aerosol generating device 102 and an aerosol generating article 1 as described above with reference to Figures 1-3. . It will be appreciated that the aerosol generating device 102 may be used in combination with alternative aerosol generating articles according to the present disclosure, such as the second embodiment of the aerosol generating article 2 described above with reference to FIG. 4. .

The aerosol generating device 102 includes a receiving chamber 106 and a heater 104 disposed within the device body 108 to provide heat to the receiving chamber 106. Heater 104 may be a resistive heater, or alternatively may be an inductive heater comprising an electromagnetic field generator comprising a susceptor and an induction coil.

In use, a user inserts the aerosol-generating article 1 into the receiving chamber 106. Aerosol generating device 102 may include a cover 110 and a pivot mount 112 that allows cover 110 to be moved between a closed position shown in FIG. 5 and an open position (not shown). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the user must pivot the cover 110 to an open position allowing insertion of the aerosol generating article 1 into the receiving chamber 106 and then place the cover back into the closed position shown in FIG. 5 . The aerosol-generating article 1 must be pivoted into position to maintain it in place within the receiving chamber 106.

The aerosol generating device 102 includes a power source 114, such as a rechargeable battery, and a controller 116, all of which are connected to a heater 104. Heater 104 may be activated manually, for example via a user interface, such as a button on aerosol generating device 102, or in response to a user sucking on mouthpiece 118 of aerosol generating device 102. It can operate automatically. The aerosol generating device 102 includes one or more air inlets 120 that allow air to flow into the aerosol generating article 1 and through grooves 18 formed in the surface of the aerosol generating substrate 14. The air flow direction is shown by arrows in Figure 5.

Once the aerosol-generating article 1 is placed within the receiving chamber 106, power is supplied from the power source 114 to the heater 104 (by manual or automatic operation of the heater 104 as described above), and thus Non-combustible heating of the aerosol generating substrate 14 releases one or more volatile components. Volatile components are entrained in the air flowing through the grooves 18, thereby forming vapor. As the vapor flows through the grooves 18, it cools and condenses to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 118 of the aerosol generating device 102.

When the aerosol-generating substrate 14 is exhausted and no longer releases sufficient volatile components to generate an aerosol of acceptable quality, the cover 110 is pivoted to an open position and the aerosol-generating article 1 is placed in the receiving chamber ( 106) and a replacement aerosol-generating article 1 can be inserted in its place.

When the aerosol-generating device 102 is used with an aerosol-generating article having a support member 28, such as the second embodiment of the aerosol-generating article 2 described above with reference to FIG. 4, the support member 28 ) may protrude from the open end 106a of the receiving chamber 106, such that the user's lips may come into contact with the rostral-end portion 34 of the aerosol-generating article 3 defined by the support member 28. You can.

Although example embodiments have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be understood that various modifications may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the scope and scope of the claims should not be limited by the exemplary embodiments described above.

Any combination of the above-described features in all possible variations is encompassed by the present disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and claims of the present invention, the terms "comprise", "comprising", etc. are used in an inclusive rather than exclusive or limiting sense, i.e., "including but limited to" It should be interpreted as meaning “it doesn’t work.”

Claims (8)

An aerosol-generating article (1, 2) for use with an aerosol-generating device (102), comprising:
a substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate (14);
at least one air flow channel (16) extending along the substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate (14); and
A wrapping member (22) surrounding the substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate (14) and at least one air flow channel (16).
Including,
An aerosol-generating article, wherein the at least one air flow channel (16) comprises two or more parts (16a, 16b) with different cross-sections. According to paragraph 1,
The aerosol-generating article includes a distal end (10), a rostral end (12), a longitudinal axis extending between the rostral end (12) and the distal end (10), and the at least one air flow channel (16). ) extends in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. According to claim 1 or 2,
The two or more portions (16a, 16b) comprise an upstream portion (16a) and a downstream portion (16b), the downstream portion (16b) having a larger cross-sectional area than the upstream portion (16a). According to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The two or more portions (16a, 16b) include an upstream portion (16a) and a downstream portion (16b), wherein the upstream portion (16a) of the at least one air flow channel (16) is configured to generate the substantially planar aerosol. a groove (18a) formed in a surface (14a) of the substrate (14), wherein the downstream portion (16b) of the at least one air flow channel (16) is located at one end of the substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate (14). An aerosol-generating article comprising a slit (19) formed in (30). According to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The substantially planar aerosol-generating substrate 14 has a flat rectangular shape with a pair of major surfaces 14a, 14b, and the wrapping member 22 is positioned on each of the pair of major surfaces 14a, 14b. An aerosol-generating article comprising a pair of attached rectangular sheets (24, 26). According to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The aerosol-generating article includes a support member (28) forming a rostral-end portion (34) of the article, the support member (28) comprising the aerosol-generating substrate (14) and the at least one air flow channel ( 16) An aerosol-generating article having a tube shape for receiving the downstream end of the article. According to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The wrapping member 22 has a porous inner surface 22a facing towards the aerosol-generating substrate 14 for absorbing condensation, and an anti-stick outer surface 22b facing away from the aerosol-generating substrate 14. ), an aerosol-generating article having an aerosol-generating article. In clause 7,
wherein the wrapping member (22) comprises an anti-stick coating on the outer surface (22b).