MXPA95005095A - Systems of inductive heating of articles for fu - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heating system for an electric smoking article for smoking a tobacco flavored medium, comprising: a generator for producing an alternating magnetic field, a susceptor material that can be inductively heated by the alternating magnetic field and placed in relation to the generator to be heated by the alternating magnetic field, and a tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity with the material

Description

INDUCTION HEATING SYSTEMS FOR ARTICLES FOR SMOKING Background of the Invention Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to heating systems for smoking articles that are electrically ignited, and more particularly, to inductive heating systems for smoking articles that are electrically ignited.

Discussion of Related Art The more conventional smoking devices previously known, provide flavor and aroma to the user as a result of combustion. A mass of combustible rial, mainly tobacco, is burned and the adjacent portion of rial is pyrolyzed as the result of the applied heat drawn through it, with typical combustion temperatures in a more conventional cigarette, being in excess of 800 ° C during During this heating, the inefficient oxidation of the combustible rial takes place and various products of pyrolysis and distillation are produced, as these products are dragged through the body of the smoking device towards the user's mouth, they are cooled and condensed to form a spray or vapor, which gives the consumer the flavor and aroma associated with smoking Conventional cigarettes have several perceived disadvantages associated with them, among which is the production of sidestream smoke during the space between puffs, which may be objectionable for some non-smokers, also, once turned on, they must be completely consumed or discarded. It is possible to relight a conventional cigarette, but it is generally an unattractive prospect for subjective reasons (taste, taste, smell) for a judicious smoker. An earlier alternative to more conventional cigarettes includes those in which the fuel rial itself does not directly provide the flavorings to the aerosol inhaled by the smoker. In these smoking articles, a fuel heating element, usually of a carbonic nature, is burned to heat the air as it is dragged over the heating element and through a zone, which contains elements activated by heat, which release a spray with flavor. Although this type of smoking device produces little or no sidestream smoke, it still generates combustion products, and once ignited is not suitable for being stored for future use in the conventional sense.

Our patents are US Nos. 5,093,894; 5,225,498; 5,060,671 and 5,095,921 describe various heating elements and flavor-generating articles, which significantly reduce sidestream smoke, while allowing the smoker to selectively suspend and re-smoke. However, the cigarette articles described in these patents are not very durable and can be collapsed, torn or broken by heavy or prolonged handling. In certain circumstances, these prior cigarette articles may be crushed as they are inserted into electric lighters. Once they are smoked, they are even weaker and can tear or break as they are removed from the lighter. The international patent application with serial No. WO 94/06314 filed on September 10, 1993, discloses an electrical system for smoking, which includes a novel electrically ignited igniter and a new cigarette that is adapted to cooperate with the lighter. The preferred embodiment of the lighter includes a plurality of sinusoidal metallic heaters, disposed in a configuration that receives, via insertion, a portion of the cigarette's tobacco rod. The preferred embodiment of the cigarette of WO 94/06314, preferably comprises a tubular carrier loaded with tobacco, cigarette paper overwrapped around the tubular carrier, an array of flow-through filter plugs, at one end of the carrier nozzle and a filter plug at the opposite (distal) end of the carrier, which preferably limits the flow of air axially through the cigarette. The cigarette and the lighter are configured so that, when the cigarette is inserted into the cigarette lighter and as the individual heaters are activated for each puff, a burn occurs located at points around the cigarette in the location where each heater was held against the cigarette. . Once all the heaters have been activated, these burnt spots are spaced apart from one another, and enclose a central portion of the portion of the cigarette holder. Depending on the maximum temperatures and the total energy delivered in the heaters, the burned points manifest more than simple discolorations of the cigarette paper. In most applications, burning will create, at least, small breaks in the cigarette paper and the underlying carrier material, which ruptures tend to mechanically weaken the cigarette. For the cigarette to be removed from the cigarette lighter, the burned points must be, at least partially, slipped, after the heaters. In aggravated circumstances, such as when the cigarette is wet, mistreated or twisted, the cigarette may be prone to breakage or leave parts when removed from the cigarette lighter. The pieces left in the lighter's attachment may interfere with the proper operation of the lighter and / or provide no flavor to the next cigarette's smoke. If the cigarette is broken in two while being removed, the smoker may face not only the frustration of a flawed cigarette product, but also the prospect of cleaning the waste of a clogged lighter, before he or she can enjoy another cigarette. The preferred embodiment of the cigarette of WO 94/06314 is essentially a hollow tube between the filter plugs and the cigarette end of the cigarette and the plug at the distal end. It is believed that this construction elevates delivery to the smoker by providing sufficient space in which the aerosol can be released from the carrier with minimal impact and condensation of the aerosol on any nearby surface. However, the hollow construction is susceptible to being bent, crushed, collapsed and / or torn through handling. The structure is also vulnerable to damage during the processing and packing of the cigarette, particularly in modern high-speed cigarette packaging and processing machines. It is desirable to reduce or eliminate the need for contact between the tobacco flavor medium and any associated structure, and relatively fragile heating elements to minimize the fracture or termination of the heating system as the numerous products of tobacco medium are inserted, adjust during use and they are removed. It is also important to provide uniform heat for successive ignitions of the smoking article. In addition, heating systems that require thermal contact or close thermal coincidence between the heating elements and the tobacco flavored medium, need precise processing tolerances, which may be difficult or economically unfeasible to achieve and / or maintain regimes of high mass production. In addition, it is always desirable to improve the heating efficiency of the heating systems, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the smoking articles and the mass of the energy source. Additionally, convective and / or conductive heating of a tobacco-flavored medium wrapped in paper or embedded in a paper matrix, needs to burn through the paper, releasing vapors derived from the paper in addition to the desired aerosols of the tobacco flavored medium. , which can be condensed into relatively cooling components, such as sensitive electronics, causing shorts or other degradations and / or undesired malfunctions. U.S. Patent No. 5, 060,171 of common property, issued October 29, 1991, in column 10, lines 1 to 7, describes the coupling of energy to a heat generating article by magnetic or electromagnetic induction, followed by proper recertification and conditioning before charge a capacitor, which turns on the heater. The invention helps to provide an improved heating apparatus for electric ignition articles.

According to the invention there is provided a heater for an electric smoking article, for smoking a tobacco flavored medium in a thermal proximity to a susceptor material, the heater comprising: an induction heater for generating an alternating magnetic field for heating by induction the susceptor material, which in turn, heats the medium with tobacco flavor. The invention also provides a tobacco delivery system for use with an electrical smoking article, having a source of induction heating, which produces an alternating magnetic field, the tobacco dispensing line comprising: a layer of flavored medium tobacco; and a susceptor in thermal proximity with the tobacco-flavored medium layer, by means of which the alternating magnetic field induction heats said susceptor, which in turn heats the tobacco flavored medium.

The invention further provides a cigarette for use with an induction heat source, which produces an alternating magnetic field, the cigarette comprising: a tube of tobacco flavored medium; and a susceptor in thermal proximity to the tobacco flavor medium, by means of which the alternating magnetic field induction heats said susceptor, which in turn heats the tobacco flavored medium. The invention further provides a method for heating the flavored tobacco flavoring medium, the method comprising the steps of: providing tobacco flavored medium; arranging a susceptor in thermal proximity with the tobacco flavored medium; and applying an alternating magnetic field to the susceptor, wherein the susceptor is heated by induction and heats the tobacco flavored medium in the thermal proximity to it. The embodiments of the invention can reduce or eliminate contact between the tobacco flavored medium and a heating source, to increase the spatial intertrial tolerances between them. They can reduce or eliminate a requirement for thermal contact or near thermal coincidence between the tobacco flavored medium and a heating source; and reducing the precise processing tolerances for the tobacco flavored medium and a smoking article. The embodiments of the invention can have a desired energy consumption and provide relatively uniform heat to the tobacco flavored medium, during successive activations of a smoking article. The embodiments of the invention can prevent heating through paper or other materials to heat the tobacco flavored medium and reduce condensation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an induction source produces an alternating electromagnetic field (EM), which induces a parasitic current generating heat in a receiver. This heated susceptor heats, in turn, the tobacco flavored medium located in the thermal proximity to it. Preferably, a plurality of induction sources are located circumferentially around a cylinder of tobacco flavored medium. The susceptor is placed either within a layer of tobacco flavored medium and a layer is made with the tobacco flavored medium to form a laminate. Alternatively, a simple induction source and a cylinder are translated axially relative to each other. Alternatively, a movable substrate containing a tobacco flavored medium, eg, a web, is matched to a relatively stationary induction source. The induction source induction heats either the susceptor materials mixed with or in layer in the tobacco flavored medium, or induction heats a different susceptor element in thermal proximity to the tobacco flavored medium. Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exposed side view of an E-shaped induction heating source, shown in conjunction with a tobacco flavored medium with cylindrical shape or cigarette that involves the present invention; Figure 2 is an exposed side view of the induction heating source shown in conjunction with a cylindrical shaped tobacco medium or cigarette that involves the present invention; Figure 3 is a top view of induction heating sources involving the present invention, shown in conjunction with a tobacco flavor medium with cylindrical shape or cigarette; Figure 4 is an exposed side view of a cylindrical induction heating source involving the present invention, comprising a plurality of generally circular induction heating sources; Figure 5 is an exposed front vieta taken along line A-A of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an exposed side view of a generally circular induction heating source with a square cross-section; Figure 7 shows an exposed side view of a generally circular induction heating source with a circular cross-section; Figure 8 is an exposed side view of a susceptor and a laminate of tobacco flavored medium, which involves the present invention; Figure 9 is an exposed side view of a tobacco flavored medium, having a discontinuous susceptor medium thereon; Figure 10A is an exposed side view of a tobacco flavored medium having a wire eusceptor in the form of a mesh; Figure 10B is an exposed upper vieta of a tobacco flavored medium of Figure 10A; Figure 10C is an exposed side view of a tobacco flavored medium and a discontinuous susceptor laminate; Figure 11 is a schematic of a smoking article employing a web, supporting a tobacco flavored medium and an induction heating source involving the present invention; Figure 12A is an exposed side view of a web comprising a tobacco flavored medium and, if desired, susceptor material; Figure 12B is an exposed side view of a frame according to Figure 12A, further comprising a support substrate and optionally a susceptor; Figure 12C is an exposed side view of a frame according to Fiqura 12B, further comprising a support strip; Figure 12D is an exposed side view of a frame according to Figure 12C, further comprising an additional support strip; Figure 12E is an exposed side view of a frame according to Figure 12A, which further comprises a strip of support; Figure 12F is an exposed side raffle of a frame according to Figure 12E, further comprising an additional support strip; Figure 126 is a perspective of a screen comprising discrete portions of a tobacco flavored medium and, if desired, susceptor material; Figure 13 is a schematic of a smoking article employing a web that supports the flavor medium, a source of induction heating and a relatively permanent susceptor, which involves the present invention; Figure 14 is a block diagram of a smoking article employing an apparatus that involves the present invention; and Figure 15 is a schematic of a circuit involving the present invention.

Detailed description of Preferred Modes Induction heating is a known phenomenon described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm's law. More specifically the Faraday law of induction states that if the magnetic induction ß in a conductor is changed, a changing electric field E is produced in the conductor. Because this electric field E is produced in a conductor, a current, known as a parasitic current, will flow in the conductor according to Ohm's law. The parasitic current will generate heat proportional to the density of the current and the resistivity of the conductor. A conductor that is capable of being heated by induction is known as a receiver. The present invention employs an inductive heating source, which generates an alternating magnetic field ß of an alternating current source, t.al as an LC circuit. More specifically, an EM field is produced. The field produced will be referred to as a magnetic field, because it is believed that this component is the agent of the induction heating of the receiver. Then, parasitic heat generating currents are generated in a susceptor, which is either part of the tobacco flavor medium supplying system or a different element in the thermal proximity to it. The primary heat transfer mechanisms for the susceptor for the tobacco medium are, in order of effect, conduction, radiation and possibly convection. Driving is the main mechanism of heat transfer. The tobacco flavored medium used in the present invention is defined in greater detail in WO 94/06314 and other applications and comprises tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, combinations thereof, etc., which can be heated to release desired flavors. A parasitic current can not be induced in such a tobacco-flavored medium, because tobacco is considered a dielectric. More specifically, tobacco has a high specific resistivity and low magnetic permeability. Accordingly, a susceptor is employed which is in thermal proximity to the tobacco flavored medium, i.e., the susceptor is positioned in relation to the tobacco flavored medium to transfer an adequate amount of heat to the flavored medium. tobacco, to release the desired flavors. For example, the susceptor may be a different element, which is close enough to the tobacco-flavored medium to transfer heat thereto, a layer of susceptor material in the thermal proximity to the tobacco-flavored medium, or a discontinuous susceptor material layered on, interspersed in, or surrounded by tobacco-flavored medium, as described below. For example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the induction heating source 10 may comprise a suitably shaped pole piece 11, composed of ferrite or other magnetically permeable material, having a current that supports an excitation wire or coil. 12 wrapped around a portion of it, to form a toroid. The cable that supports current 12 is connected to an AC current circuit LC. The induction source can be formed as an E, as shown in Figure 1, with the spiral-shaped cable 12 around the central leg 20 located between, and extending in the same direction as, two end legs or as a C-square, as shown in Figure 2, with the cable 12 spirally formed along the center section 30 between the two legs 32 and 34 extending perpendicularly. Alternatively, the pole piece comprises a bar surrounded by an excitation coil. The circuit can be any suitable LC circuit connected to a battery or other source of electrical power, as discussed in more detail below. The source of induction heating will form an alternating magnetic field according to it. In the case of the E-shaped pole piece of Figure 1, the lines of the magnetic field ß will extend from the central leg to each respective end leg, forming two respective arcs composed of a plurality of field lines. Accordingly, the magnetic field seals itself between the legs. In the case of the C-shaped pole piece of Figure 2, the magnetic field lines will extend between the end legs in an arc comprising a plurality of field lines and sealing itself. The generated alternating magnetic field will induce eddy currents within properly placed susceptors, as discussed below. As best seen in Figure 3, in one embodiment, a plurality of induction sources 10 are employed and arranged circumferentially around the cylindrical cigarette C, composed of tobacco-flavored medium, in a substantially planar relationship. Although six induction sources 10 are shown in Figure 3, the preferred number of induction sources in this embodiment is equal to the desired number of puffs to be generated by heating the cigarette, eg, six, seven, eight, nine or more. Each induction source is configured to generate an alternating magnetic field in response to a signal indicating that the smoker is sucking in the article. The respective ignitions of an inductive source can be in a sequential order around the circumference or in any other desired pattern, such as igniting a first induction source, followed by the oppositely located induction source, followed by the induction source following the first source, and so on, to minimize the unwanted heat transfer to portions of the cigarette, that are not intended to heat, that is, areas that are not the "objective". As a result, the longitudinally extending portions of the tobacco flavored medium tube are heated uniformly around the tube. In an alternative embodiment, the circumferentially arranged induction sources 10 may be staggered relative to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. For example, the induction sources 10 may be spiral shaped around the cigarette. As a result, the longitudinally extending staggered portions of the tobacco flavored medium tube are heated. Another embodiment of the induction source is shown in Figures 4 and 5. The cylindrical induction source 100 comprises a plurality of individual circular generally induction sources 102, separated and magnetically isolated from each other, by respective annular shields 114. A shield outer 110 may be a separate stainless steel magnetic collar, surrounding all induction sources 0 and the plurality of different shield rings 114, which respectively separate adjacent induction sources 102. The number of discrete induction sources 102 preferably equals the number of desired puffs to be generated from a cigarette C, inserted in the hollow cylindrical cavity defined by the cylindrical induction source 100. Each induction source 102 comprises a separate winding of cable 104 forming an excitation coil around the cigarette inserted and connected to an alternating magnetic field generator circuit appropriate. Each induction source 102 further comprises a respective pole piece ring 106 of a material, such as ferrite material, which collapses the interior β of the interior of the magnetic field generated towards the inserted cigarette. A thin inner cylindrical wall 120 separates the collapsing rings 106 from the magnetic field and the adjacent shield rings 114 from the inserted cigarette C. The wall 120 holds the cigarette C and allows the air to be transported to the cigarette. The wall 120 may be a suitable material having a low magnetic permeability, and a corresponding high reluctance corresponding to the air, such as poly tete (e te r) ce tone or PEEK ™, polymer commercially available from Imperial Chemical Industries of Great Britain. The cylindrical tube 100, the ferrite pole 106 rings, the exciter coils, the shield rings 114 and the inserted cigarette C are coaxial.

A simple induction source 102 is activated as discussed, causing an alternating current for the flow in the excitation coil formed by the wound cable 104, and thereby generating an alternating magnetic field, which collapses inwardly and through the wall 120 by the ring of the particular pole piece 106, and towards a portion of the cigarette C inserted substantially underlying, or surrounded by, the first ring of the pole piece 106. The shield rings 114 located on each side of each source of adjacent induction of excitation coil shield 102, of the generated magnetic field, minimizes undesirable magnetic field lines by colliding, and thereby heating, portions of the cigarette other than the objective portion substantially underlying the ignition source 102, and increases the force of the magnetic field collapsed on the underlying cigarette portion. As shown, a space may be present between wall 120 and cigarette C inserted to reduce the rigidity of processing tolerances. The magnetic field lines can bridge the space for the heat susceptor material by induction in thermal contact, with the tobacco flavored medium. Such a configuration can produce a series of circular burning patterns in the cylindrical cigarette around its longitudinal axis. The ignition sequence can be in any desired order, and preferably the source of induction corresponding to the distal end of the cigarette, in relation to the mouth of the smoker, i.e., the ultimate induction source, is first turned on. Preferably, the ignition does not occur in a linear sequence along the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. As a result, the circumferential rings of the tobacco flavored medium tube are heated. Such a cylindrical tube configuration provides a soft receptacle for repeated insertions of cigarettes. The tube is relatively strong compared to the cigarette, and accordingly the sources of induction heating should not be damaged by the insertion, adjustment and removal of the cigarettes. In addition, a barrier is formed by the tube 120 to prevent the harmful vapors of the component and odors from escaping, to the other components and air passages of the electrical smoking articles. Another preferred embodiment is shown in Figures 6-7. The induction source 235 comprises a circular donut-shaped outer shell ring, having a hollow central region. Cylindrical cigarette C is inserted through this hollow central region. The ring 222 comprises the two shell halves 220 and 221, which are joined and completely closed except for an annular ring-shaped space 224, through the inner circumference of the ring. The outer shell ring 222 is preferably composed of a ferrite material for collapsing the magnetic field in space 224. The outer shell ring 222 surrounds a coiled wire to form an exciting coil 230, concentric with the outer shell and the outer shell. inserted cigarette The excitation coil 230 is connected to an appropriate circuit to generate an alternating magnetic field. A separating layer 240, which may be semi-circular as shown, is located between the coiled excitation coil 230 and the outer shell 222 in the space 224. The separator 240 serves to facilitate the fabrication and placement of the excitation coil. in relation to space 224 to ensure the dimensions of consistent magnetic space; ensure consistent field strength around the annular space while maintaining the rotation orientation; and protect the excitation coil. The separator 240 is preferably a material having a low magnetic permeability, such as poly tert (et r) ketone or PEEKMR polymer commercially available from Imperial Chemical Industries of Great Britain. Such structure gives as a result the complete magnetic path being composed of the outer shell 222 and the space 224. When the relative permeability of the ferrite is high, the strength of the magnetic field is strictly a function of the characteristics of the space and the excitation current. This modality falls on the relatively weak marginal fine field emanating from space 224 towards the cigarette as opposed to the relatively strong magnetic field established in space. The inner annular space 224 is preferably equidistant through the shell ring 222, that is, the opposite inner faces of the shell ring 222, which define the space 224 are parallel. If the faces are tapered towards the outer circumference of the shell, that is, the separation of the space decreases towards the target to be heated, then the relative amount of marginal field effect increases. However, the magnitude of the marginal field remains approximately the same, because the taper reduces the effective area of the space, which increases the magnetic path reluctance, which in turn decreases the field strength ß. The inner cross section of the ring 222 defined by the shell halves 220 and 221 is square in Figure 6 and circular in Figure 7. A circular cross section is preferred to shorten the magnetic path, thereby resulting in minor reluctance and greater permeability. A square cross section is preferred for processing. Each induction source described can comprise an excitation coil, comprising single or multiple cables. The cable or cables are wound in a single or multiple turns. The number of amperes of current per revolution required to generate a sufficient magnetic field, to heat the tobacco-flavored medium via a susceptor, is dependent on the specific amount of application of energy supplied to the target of the susceptor, the maximum desired temperature, the desired speed of temperature rise, geometry of the coil and the material (or materials) of selected sensor. For example, when the excitation coil is activated, an alternating magnetic field is generated and collapses in space 224. The computer model indicates that the field strength is concentrated through space 224 and that the marginal field effects of this concentration interacts with the inserted cigarette C. For successive ignitions, the ring-shaped induction source 235 and the inserted cigarette C ee move relative to each other, to place the successive portions of the cigarette in coincidence with the concentrate space of the cigarette. field 224. Preferably, the induction source 235 is axially moved along the relatively stationary cigarette by suitable mechanical or electromechanical positioning mechanisms. As a result, the circumferential rings of the tobacco flavored medium tube are heated. In the previous examples shown in Figures 1-7, a cylindrical cigarette is used. A preferred cigarette construction is described in the patent application related to serial No. WO94 / 06314. The cigarette has a diameter of, for example, approximately 7.8 m. Because the induction sources do not need to come into contact with the cigarette to transfer energy thereto, the outer curvature of the cigarette does not need to come very close to the inner circumference of the induction sources 102, 235, thus allowing tolerances of less stringent elaboration for the induction sources and the C cigarette, and significantly reducing the collision damage to the C cigarette and / or the heater during the insertion, adjustment or removal of the C cigarette. Of course, a stop retention is desirable. of the C cigarette and can be maintained by closed tolerance or a suitable retention mechanism (not shown). The aerosol-generating tobacco flavored medium can take many forms such as full cylindrical cigarettes, hollow cylindrical cigarettes, or continuous patterns as discussed in more detail below. Regardless of the format used, the tobacco flavored medium must generate flavors and aerosols subjectively equivalent to a desired smoker of a more conventional cigarette, with each lit activated by aspiration of the particular induction source. For example, a hollow cylindrical cigarette should repeat lae 7-8 puffs, for example, 8 puffs of a conventional cigarette. The energy required to heat a 10.5 mm zone of medium with tobacco flavored medium, which has a density of 0.50 g / cm ° for a required temperature of 600 β C in 0.5 seconds is approximately 1.58 Joules. Of course, the heat capacity and the density of the susceptor heated by induction must be taken into account. Preferably, in a mat arrangement (layered susceptor), the susceptor area corresponds to the mat or is as large as practical with respect to it, because the efficiency of the heat transfer of the surface of the susceptor to the last target of the tobacco-flavored medium surface increases as the surface area of the interface between the two surfaces increases. The cigarette C described in the above patent application with serial No. WO 94/06314 is a hollow cylinder composed of a tobacco flavored medium or a material including tobacco flavored medium, and a paper overwrap comprising preferably a paper based on tobacco or containing a coating with tobacco flavor. As discussed, a susceptor is required because the tobacco flavored medium is not capable of being heated by induction. A discrete and separate susceptor can be used SE, which is a more permanent part of the article for smoking, ie, together with the inductive sources, circuits, logic, sensors, etc., and which is heated by induction by the source or sources of induction, to heat the tobacco flavored medium in the thermal vicinity thereof. In addition or alternatively, the susceptor material is a part of the cylindrical cigarette or other format of the medium with tobacco flavor. The separate susceptor element may comprise a scrubber coaxially located around an inserted cylindrical cigarette, such that a portion of the scrubber intersects a radially extending space of a closed toroidal ring except for this space. The thermal mass of such a discrete discrete element should not be so high as to work with a heat collector to decrease the desired rates of temperature rise. Referring to Figure 8, a laminate cross-section of the cigarette is shown to comprise a cylindrical layer of tobacco flavored material TM, a cylindrical susceptor layer 300 adjacent to the TM layer, and an overwrapped 31 paper 2 0. The generated magnetic field passes through the paper envelope 310, which is not heated by eddy currents because the paper has a high magnetic permeability, thereby reducing condensation, because the paper is not burned by the magnetic field. The paper wrapper 310 is dimensioned and manufactured so that the paper is not burned by the heated eusceptor. The generated magnetic field induces eddy currents in the underlying susceptor layer 300. The susceptor layer 300 is heated in that manner and predominantly heats by conduction the TM layer of tobacco material close to or in intimate contact, to release the desired flavors. The susceptor material used in the present invention must have a low magnetic reluctance and a correspondingly high relative magnetic permeability, to optimize surface eddy currents generated by an alternating electromagnetic field of a given force. The susceptor should also have relatively low electrical resistance, to increase the heat dissipation of Joule. The smaller the product of specific heat and density, the greater the heating efficiency. A material with a high relative permeability can be used to invoke the additional heating mechanism associated with magnetic hysteresis. The susceptor layer 300 should have a thickness, which is relatively thin in relation to its depth of outer layer dependent on the frequency of excited particle excitation, so that the vast majority of the magnetic field c reates heat producing eddy currents in the susceptor . This is especially convenient when the marginal fields of a separate spy array are present. As the thickness of the susceptor increases, the magnetic field is unable to penetrate deep enough into the material, necessitating an increase requirement in the unskilled energy, to heat the increased thermal mass of the susceptor. If the susceptor layer is too thin, for example, much smaller than the depth of the outer layer, a low conversion of the magnetic field to the heat energy occurs via eddy currents. If the susceptor layer is too thick, for example, greater than three depths of the outer layer, a high conversion efficiency results, but the thermal load of the susceptor, ie the mass, reduces , the thermal elevation speed. Most non-permeable metals achieve an optimum magnetic field of, for example, approximately 550 gauss in approximately a thickness of 0.00508 cm at an excitation frequency of 500 KHz. Preferably, the magnetic field is between about 400 and 800 gauss. The minimum energy required in theory is 3.5 watts to reach a desired temperature of 500 ° C ambient temperature conditions in about one second Possibly suitable susceptible materials may include conductive carbon such as graphite, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, bronze or any combination thereof with aluminum alone or being preferred in combination.Materials having similar ranges of electrical resistivity and magnetic permeability can be employed alone or in combination.A desired susceptor thickness is between about 0.000635 and 0.00127 cm. 300 adjacent to the paper wrapper 310, has sufficient thickness and / or gaseous impermeability to retain the vast majority of aerosols generated within the formed cylinder, to ensure an aerosol supply *. the smoker, and to further reduce the eecape of the aerosols inside the cigarette, which could cause noxious condensation of components. The overvoltage to 310 must have sufficient thickness and / or burn rate characteristics to avoid being burned by the heated susceptor 300. As stated above, no paraeitae currents are generated in the overwrapped paper by the source of induction heating. The order of layers 300 and 310 can be reversed; However, such an arrangement would need heat being unnecessarily conducted through the paper layer to the tobacco-flavored medium, possibly producing vapors. The appropriate adhesives are used for joining the susceptor layer 300 to the paper overwrapper 310 may constitute a thin sheet metal laminate, for example a thin foil laminate of aluminum. In addition to this modality of rolling medium with tobacco / susceptor flavor, other embodiments of the pre The invention forms a combined layer of tobacco flavored medium and susceptor. These embodiments minimize the unintentional heating of adjacent portions of tobacco-flavored medium, due to the conduction of the objective lens receiver heated by induction, through another portion of the susceptor, and to the portion of non-target tobacco flavored adjacent medium. For example, the SM susceptor materials are dispersed in the tobacco flavored medium TM in an amount sufficient to heat by conduction the surrounding tobacco flavored medium when excited, as shown in Figure 9. The SM susceptor medium can be continuous fibers, broken fibers, particles or any combination thereof. These susceptor particles are not in conductive relationship with each other, to reduce the unwanted conductive heating of portions of tobacco-flavored medium and non-target, neighboring susceptors. These susceptible materials can be interposed in patterns, to delineate target areas to be heated by induction. A particularly preferred embodiment is shown in Figures 10A-C. The susceptor comprises an integral layer 400 having several discontinuities 410 therethrough. For example, the integral layer 400 may be a screen, mesh or thin sheet of perforated metal of a suitable susceptor material and is mixed with, and preferably encapsulated or completely surrounded by, the tobacco flavored medium TM, as shown in Figures 10A and 10B. This arrangement increases the effective interface area between the sueceptor and the tobacco flavored medium, because the vast majority of the susceptor area is in thermal contact with the tobacco flavored medium to conduct heat thereto. The heat conduction in the plane of the susceptor 400 is decreased by the discontinuities 410, thereby reducing the heating of non-target portions of the tobacco flavored medium. The mechanical force and more specifically the tension, of such modality is superior to that employed in interposed susceptor particles, because an integral framework is provided to support the tobacco-flavored medium, especially the medium with flavored relatively fragile heated tobacco. This configuration is also more flexible than a laminate of tobacco-flavored medium / susceptor due to discontinuities, perforations or openings. In addition, such a configuration has a lower thermal mass than a described susceptor layer, decreasing energy requirements. Additionally, this susceptor geometry results in a faster thermal response to the susceptor, favorably increasing the rate of flavor evolution of the aerosol to more rapidly heat the tobacco flavored medium. Discontinuities 410 allow released aerosols to flow through susceptor 400, increasing the transfer of aerosol mass in the desired flow direction.

Referring to Figure 10C, a modality is shown compiling a laminate of tobacco flavored medium TM, a layer of susceptor material SM and a paper overwrap 310. The embodiment is similar to the embodiment of Figure 8, except that the layer of the susceptor material SM comprises discrete portions of the susceptor material separated by spaces. Thus, the spaces are relatively uniform, as shown, or they can be tapered either towards the paper over wrapper 310 or the tobacco flavored medium layer TM. The discrete susceptor layer 300 described above, may also have discontinuities and may take the form of a screen, mesh or perforated thin metal sheet. For example, a thin sheet metal sheet laminate may be employed, where sheet metal strips are provided. If a waterproof susceptor layer is employed, a vapor barrier typically occurs between the susceptor layer and the tobacco flavored medium T. This vapor barrier reduces heat transfer from the sueceptor layer to the tobacco flavored medium. The presence of discontinuities allows the constituents that comprise the vapor barrier to pass through the susceptor. This discontinuous susceptor can be used to heat a tobacco flavored medium in any desired geometric shape for smoking. For example, the tobacco flavored medium may be in the form of a hollow or full cylinder, as described in the patent with Serious No. WO 94/06314 or a screen, such as that discussed in the United States patent application. with serial No. 08/105, 346. As discussed above, to heat respective regions of the tobacco-flavored medium for respective smoking puffs, either the induction source is marked in relation to the tobacco flavored medium, or vice versa, or both move in relation to each other. Preferred embodiments wherein the tobacco flavored medium is marked in relation to the source of induction heating Ia, are d in the commonly assigned patent application with Serial No. 08 / 105,346. This patent application with serial No. 08 / 105,346 discloses a system for matching a web of tobacco flavored medium in the thermal proximity with an electrical resistance heat source. A portion of the weft is supported in thermal proximity to the heat source, heated to generate a tobacco flavored substance, and then advanced past this point of coincidence. If a frame supply is provided, this advance results in a subsequent frame portion matching the source of electric heating.

As shown generally in Figures 11 and 13, a smoking article 500 has an energized movable head 502, driven by an appropriate gear and motor and a de-energized mobile head 504. A supply of a weave W of flavored medium of tobacco is spun on a spool mounted on the desirably movable head 504, and is guided from the supply spool on an inactive guide roller 510 towards coincidence with an induction heating source generally designated as IS, on guide rollers inactive 512 and 514, to a recovery spool mounted on and driven by energized moving head 502. The matched pattern, described in greater detail below, is heated by the eceptor (or susceptors), heated by induction by the IS source to generate an aerosol in the chamber 516, which is drawn by the smoker via the nozzle 518. The induction heating source IS can be any source of induction heating according to the present invention. More specifically, the E-shaped or C-shaped induction heating source of FIGS. 1 and 2, or the induction heating source of FIGS. 6 and 7, which have a ring 222, are employed. lae Figure 11 and 13, the preferred C-shape of Figure 2 is shown. Any other suitable geometry capable of producing an alternating β-field of sufficient strength can be employed. The web W comprises or supports medium with tobacco flavor. The frame may have the general configuration described above with reference to Figures 8-10C. More specific embodiments will now be described with reference to Figures 12A-12G. The web W may be made of a tobacco flavored medium TM by itself, formed in an elongated sheet form by methods that are well known in, for example, the manufacture of reconstituted tobacco products, as shown in the Figure 12A. The tobacco flavored medium is mixed with eusceptor material SM as discussed above with reference to Figure 8, if the raster is used in the embodiment of Figure 11, and if desired, with the embodiment of Figure 13, using a separate susceptor element. Such an alternative may be sufficient in some applications, depending on the article for smoking, and the amount of friction and tension expected from the advance of the frame. If the configuration is such that an unsupported frame can be broken, especially after heating when the frame weakens, then an alternative such as that shown in Figure 12B can be used. As shown in Figure 1.2B, the web W is a laminate of the tobacco flavored medium TM and a backing layer 531. The backing layer 531 may be a woven or non-woven carbon fiber mat, for which suitable carbon fibers may be 2.54 cm long cut carbon fibers available from Akzo Fortafil, Inc., of Rockwood, Tennessee, a subsidiary of Akzo America, Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, as F0RTAFILMR 3C. The layer 531 can also be any other suitable material, for example, properly treated paper that adds strength to the TM layer and can withstand the temperatures at which the TM layer will be heated without generating subjective flavors. The support layer 531 may function as a susceptor as described above with reference to Figure 9, if the suitable material is selected. If so, the tobacco medium medium layer TM may be provided with susceptor material SM or not, depending on whether the parasitic currents generated in the susceptor support layer 531 are sufficient to adequately heat the layer T. It can be found that additional support is needed beyond that provided by the support layer 531. As shown in Figure 12C, the web W further includes a reinforcement strip 541. The strip 541 can be paper, thin foil or a thin foil / foil laminate. As can be seen in Figure 12D, additional support can be provided by a second reinforcing strip 551 similar to strip 10541.

In another alternative embodiment, it can be found that the strip 541, or the combination of strips 541, 551 is sufficient to support strip of medium with continuous tobacco flavor and two such alternative embodiments are shown in Figures 12E and 12F. Another embodiment of a flavor pattern according to this invention is shown in Figure 12G. In this embodiment, the individual portions 591 of the tobacco flavored medium TM are deposited in a carrier web 592. Any of the alternative structures shown in Figures 12B-12F can be used in this embodiment. This mode requires greater precision in the transport of the frame than the first mode, so that the portions 591 are in inductive coincidence with the alternating magnetic field. However, depending on the related heat conductivities of the various weft materials, both modalities can be advanced approximately the same distance between smokes, as discussed above, to avoid overheating the tobacco-flavored medium in order to eliminate the generation of unpleasant flavors. An alternative embodiment is shown in Figure 13, wherein the induction heating source IS induction heats one or two susceptor elements of the SM susceptor material, located near or in contact with the trip of the W-frame, between the supply spools. and recovery 502 and 504. The discrete element of any suitable susceptor material SM heats the web W, which is in intimate thermal contact therewith. In the configuration shown, the susceptor roller (or rollers) is in chamber 516 and is fixed relative to the frame. The roller 515 can rotate to advance the weft and can also be moved slightly with the weft to reduce the tension in the weft. The web W may be any of the previously discussed embodiments of Figures 12A-12G, and may contain additional susceptor material as described, if necessary to adequately heat the tobacco flavored medium. A preferred embodiment for providing a sueceptor, for induction heating the tobacco flavored medium will now be discussed. Eeta modality is applicable to the medium with tobacco flavor in the form of a cylindrical shape, a weft or any other geometric shape suitable to be smoked. A susceptor material having a high magnetic permeability and a low specific electrical resistances is used, such as any mentioned material, which is capable of heating a tobacco substrate at necessary temperatures, to produce aerosol supply within a smoking device, when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. For example, silver or aluminum ink is used. The sueceptor is formed by mixing a food grade binder, for example, a hydrocolloid such as pectin or "Konjac", together with other minor components and a susceptor charge. The resulting ink is then applied to the desired geometry via a conventional method of application to the desired tab-co-flavor medium and / or paper substrate. Eeta tinta can be used to manufacture susceptores of two general types. In the first case, the ink is cured by drying it at low temperatures, for example, around room temperature. This results in a susceptor element, which consists of conductive / resistive (permeable) filter particles within the matrix of the binder. The curing time and temperature determine the volumetric proportion of the charge for the binder and thus influences the measured reluctance of the element according to the percolation phenomenon. This type of susceptor can be deposited and cured on substrates that can not tolerate exposure to high temperatures, for example, cellulose materials such as tobacco or paper. In the second case, the ink can be deposited on a high temperature substrate such as alumina and raised at sufficiently high temperatures and times long enough to oxidize the binder leaving a "film" composed of the susceptor material. The final magnetic reluctance will depend on the original charge of the charger in the ink, the loader material, the intimacy of the diffusion or flow of the loader material towards the substrate surface, and the temperature history of the deposited film. These parameters impact the morphology of the final particle, which influences the resis- tence, apparent re-emergence, of the element. The ink produced is applied to the paper and / or the tobacco-flavored medium via screen printing, engraving printing, ink jet application, vapor distribution, vacuum deposition, plasma spraying, etc. The susceptor ink is printed in that manner or otherwise deposited on paper and / or tobacco-flavored medium. Preferably, the susceptor is in contact with the tobacco flavored medium. If you print on paper, the susceptor is preferably on the paper side facing the tobacco flavored medium. The paper should be thick enough and / or have appropriate burn speed characteristics, to minimize burning as the susceptor ink becomes hot. A paper wrapper can be used as discussed above. This modality offers several advantages. Various conventional food grade binders are used, which are compatible with tobacco material. The cure of the ink is at room temperature, thereby simplifying the process and avoiding unwanted subsequent heat treatment of the susceptors applied to the tobacco-flavored medium, which can alter the concentrations of the volatile flavor components. Healing can be accelerated by raising the healing temperature slightly. The resultant suscepting patterns are flexible, allowing use with substrates with tobacco-flavored medium, which are subsequently rolled, bent or otherwise manufactured, to achieve a specific geometry. The printed susceptor has a low mass, thus decreasing the amount of energy stored in the susceptor maea and resulting in higher efficiency of heat transfer to the substrates. The ink of the dream can be applied using conventional printing technology, such as silk-screen printing or engraving discussed. The printing and processing of the rheological rheology of the ink results in an integration of the heater film into the tobacco-flavored medium substrate. This integration results in an intimate contact between the susceptor materials and the substrate, resulting in a good thermal transfer via conduction. In addition, such integrated printed susceptor is less easy to be delaminated. The amount of heat transferred depends on the type of susceptor material selected, the relative proportion of susceptor material to the ink, and the particular geometric pattern of ink used. This pattern should be located in the medium charger with tobacco and paper flavor, so that the applied susceptor material is matched by induction with the magnetic field generated upon insertion and activation. The susceptor ink can be applied as a uniform coating or layer as discussed in the above embodiments. Alternatively, a pattern may be printed by discrete regions, each region integrated and in intimate contact with a corresponding region of tobacco flavored medium sized to generate a puff. The printed susceptor regions are separated to avoid heating by undesired induction of the adjacent ßusceptor regions, for example, the susceptor regions are separated in a tobacco taste medium sub-layer. Regardless of the configuration of the tobacco medium used, the receiver is in thermal contact with the tobacco-flavored medium, ie, these elements are located so that the induction heated sensor transfers a sufficient amount of heat to the medium with tobacco flavor to release aerosols. A simplified scheme is shown in Figure 14 of an electrical article for smoking, employing an induction heater according to the present invention. The energy source represented, for example, a battery, 600, control circuits 610, sensor 620, and optional motor / motor 630, are described in greater detail in the noted related applications, incorporated herein by reference. The sensor 620 generates a signal in response to the smoker sucking the particular electrical article. The "suction" signal is fed to the control circuit 610 which sends a discharge or "on" signal to the LC circuit 640. The LC 640 circuit is energized by the battery 600. The LC 640 circuit sends an alternating current to the heater through simple induction 650, or one or more of the plurality of heaters for general alternating magnetic field to heat the receiver. The engine / engine 630 is energized by battery 600 and activated by the control circuit 610 as described in the application with serial No. 08 / 105,346 to match the heater by induction or fixed susceptor with the moving frame. Alternatively, the motor / gear r 630 is used to move the cigarette and the induction heater and heater in relation to another as described. Any suitable circuit can be used to generate an alternating current for the excitation coils, in order to convert to an alternating magnetic field. An exemplary control circuit is shown in Figure 15 consisting of a control circuit 611, such as a PWM control logic chip (pulse width modulated), which drives FET excitation transformers (effect transistor). field) 615. FET's 615, four as shown, are connected in a complete bridge configuration. This preferred circuit typology is used to maximize the transfer of energy to the work excitation coil 614, while minimizing the impedance of the source and reducing the ignition losses. The input euminote voltage, depending on the circuit request, would vary between 3 and 24 VDC. The power delivery of the power supply 600 (shown in Figure 14) to the work coil 614 is dynamically superimposed (real time) by the use of a current transformer 616. The current scaled from the current transformer 616 is directed to a first signal conditioning network 618 and converted to a voltage to provide an error signal to the PWM controller 61 1. The voltage scaled signal also feeds a second separate signal conditioning network 622, which provides a signal of variant direct current, in relation to the reflected impedance of the susceptor within a cigarette, and the particular physical properties of the susceptor such as strength, magnetic permeability, geometry, etc. This signal is directed to an identification processor labeled circuit subsystem 624. The impedance of the cigarette susceptor is monitored by the insertion of the cigarette into the lighter subsystem, by the application of less than 5% of the nominal applied energy for the cigarette lighter. short "on" of a magnetic field that has less force than the magnetic field generated to heat the susceptor, that is, the initial field is unable to heat the eusceptor. The receiver of the cigarette reflects impedance to the work coil 614 depending on the applied frequencies. The identification processor 624 compares the reflected load impedance with values stored in a ROM table (read only memory) at various arbitrary frequencies. The discriminating accuracy of the cigarette susceptor, and the detection of cigarettes without specification or foreign objects is based on the number of test frequencies used and the tolerance window allowed for each test response. The identification processor 624 provides an "ADVANCE / NO-ADVANCE" authorization signal to a power delivery control and a 612 logical subsystem of the igniter, which then controls the timing operation and synchronization of the PWM 611 logic control driver chip. The identification processor 624 also detects the delivery of unexpected power to the susceptor, due to a significant shift in the detected physical properties of the susceptor and interrupts the operation of the igniter by turning off the PWM controller chip 611 via subsystem 612. Many substitutions, modifications and improvements may be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as described in the following specification claims.

Claims (56)

1. A heating appliance for an electric smoking article for smoking a tobacco flavored medium in thermal proximity to the susceptor material, the heater comprising: an induction heater for g enerating an alternating magnetic field for induction heating the susceptor material , which in turn heats the medium with tobacco flavor.

2. A heating appliance according to claim 1, computing a plurality of induction heaters, each heater generating an alternating magnetic field, the heaters being positioned to heat separate portions of the tobacco flavored medium via the susceptor material.

3. A heating appliance according to claim 2, wherein the tobacco flavored medium is cylindrical and the induction heaters are arranged circumferentially around the cylindrical tobacco-flavored medium.

4. A heating appliance according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of induction heaters arranged in circumference are in the same plane.

5. A heating apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a susceptor member of susceptor material in thermal proximity to the flavor medium, by means of which the generated alternating magnetic field, or the respective one, induction heats said eueceptor element, which in turn heats the medium with tobacco flavor.

6. A heating appliance according to claim 5, wherein said susceptor is aluminum, conductive carbon, graphite, stainless steel, copper, bronze or a combination thereof.

7. A heating appliance according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the or each induction heater comprises: a ferrite structure; and an excitation coil wrapped around said ferrite structure.

A heating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ferrite structure comprises an E-shaped structure, having two end legs and a central leg extending in the same direction from a common section, wherein the excitation coil is wound around the central leg.

A heating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the ferrite structure comprises a C-shaped structure, having two end legs extending in the same direction from a common section, wherein said coil is rolled around the common section.

A heating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said ferrite structure comprises a ring defining a hollow annular interior and said exciting coil is wound through the annular interior, said ring surrounding the tobacco flavored medium .

11. A heating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the ring space is defined through an inner circumferential wall of said ring, whereby the alternating magnetic field collapses in the defined space.

12. A heating appliance according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising a magnetically permeable separator, located in the hollow interior between the excitation coil and the ring.

13. A heating appliance according to claim 2, wherein the tobacco flavored medium comprises a cylindrical cigarette and the heating system further comprises: a cylindrical tube, said tube defined by separate coaxial outer and inner walls, defining the inner wall a hollow cylindrical receptacle for the insertion of the cylindrical cigarette, located the plurality of induction heaters mentioned between the outer and inner walls separated.

A heating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of induction heating comprises a ferrite ring located between the inner and outer tube walls disclosed and coaxial with the same, and an excitation wire connected to a power source wound around each ring, to form a coaxial excitation coil with each ring.

A heating apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of magnetic shield rings, each magnetic shield ring interposed between two adjacent ferrite rings and associated excitation coils, said magnetic shield rings coaxial with said ferrite rings.

16. A heating appliance according to claim 13, 14 or 15, further comprising a susceptor, whereby the alternating magnetic field induction heats said susceptor, which in turn heats the tobacco flavored medium of the cylindrical cigarette .

17. A heating apparatus according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the inner tubular wall is magnetically permeable.

18. A heating appliance according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the outer tubular wall is a magnetic shield.

19. A heating appliance system according to any of claims 13 to 18, wherein said susceptor member is aluminum, conductive carbon, graphite, stainless steel, copper, bronze or a combination thereof.

20. A heating apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a controller which optionally activates said induction source.

21. A heating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said controller comprises means for activating said induction source at a specified time, and for deactivating said induction source after a predetermined period.

22. A heating appliance according to claim 20 or 21, wherein said controller is in response to an aspiration on the smoking article.

23. A heating apparatus according to claim 20, 21 or 22, further comprising a means for determining whether an appropriate susceptor material is present, said determining means activating said controller only if an appropriate susceptor material is present.

24. A heating apparatus according to any of claims 20 to 23, wherein said controller applies an initial alternating magnetic field to an intended position of the susceptor material, the initial magnetic field being incapable. of heating by induction the eusceptor material, and said controller determines whether to apply the alternating magnetic field based on a reflection of the initial magnetic field that indicates the presence of. a desired susceptor material.

25. A heating apparatus according to any of claims 20 to 24, wherein said controller deactivates said source of induction, in response to a displacement in a certain characteristic of the material subject r.

26. A cigarette for use with an induction heating source, which produces an alternating magnetic field, the cigarette comprising: a tube of medium with tobacco flavor; and a receiver in thermal proximity to the tobacco-containing medium, whereby the alternating magnetic field induction heats said susceptor, which in turn heats the tobacco-flavored medium.

27. A cigarette according to claim 26, further comprising an envelope surrounding said tube.

28. A cigarette according to claim 27, wherein said envelope comprises paper.

29. A cigarette according to claim 27, wherein the susceptor comprises a mixture of a binder and a sorbent charger mixed in the member, said mixture being applied to the aforementioned carrier.

30. A tobacco delivery system for use with an electrical smoking article, having an induction heating source that produces an alternating magnetic field, the tobacco delivery system comprising: a layer of tobacco flavored medium; and a susceptor in thermal proximity with the tobacco flavored medium layer, whereby the alternating magnetic field induction heats said susceptor, which in turn heats the tobacco flavored medium.

31. The tobacco delivery system according to claim 30, wherein said layer of tobacco flavor medium comprises a web.

32. The tobacco delivery system according to claim 30, wherein said layer of tobacco flavored medium is a web wound around a supply reel and extending to a recovery reel.

33. A tobacco delivery system according to claims 30, 31 or 32, wherein said susceptor comprises a susceptor charger interspersed in said layer of tobacco flavored medium.

34. The tobacco delivery system according to claims 30, 31, 32 or 33, wherein said eceptor or contact comprises a layer of susceptor material in thermal proximity or in contact with said layer of tobacco flavored medium.

35. A cigarette according to any of claims 26 to 28, or a tobacco delivery system according to any of claims 30 to 34, wherein said susceptor comprises a mixture of a binder and a gadget of the mixed solvent in the same, said mixture being applied to the tobacco-flavored medium.

36. A cigarette according to claim 29 or claim 35, or a tobacco delivery system according to claim 35, wherein the binder is a hydrocolloid.

37. A cigarette according to claim 29 or claim 35, or a tobacco supply tamper according to claim 35, wherein the binder is a pectin.

38. A cigarette according to claim 29 or claim 35, or a tobacco delivery system according to claim 35, wherein the binder is "Konjac".

39. A cigarette according to claims 26, 27 or 28 or any of claims 35 to 38, or a tobacco delivery system according to any of claims 30 to 38, wherein said sueceptor comprises a layer of tobacco. Suecer material surrounding said medium tube with tobacco flue.

40. A cigarette according to claim 26, 27 or 28, or any of claims 35 to 38, or a tobacco delivery system according to any of claims 30 to 38, wherein said sueceptor comprises susceptor- that has discontinuities through it.

41. A cigarette according to claim 40, wherein the susceptor material is a thin foil foil sheet.

42. A cigarette according to claim 40, wherein the susceptor material is a screen.

43. A cigarette according to claims 40, 41 or 42, wherein the tobacco-flavored medium and the susceptor material are intermixed.

44. A cigarette according to claim 40, 41 or 42, wherein the tobacco-flavored medium surrounds said susceptor material.

45. A method of heating tobacco-flavored medium for deep-eating eatables, the method comprising the steps of: providing tobacco-flavored medium; disposing a sueceptor in thermal proximity with the tobacco flavored medium; and applying an alternating magnetic field to the susceptor, wherein the susceptor is heated by induction, and heating the tobacco flavored medium in thermal proximity thereto.

46. The method according to claim 45, wherein said supplying step further comprises advng a weft supply of tobacco-flavored medium from a supply vessel to a recovery spool, wherein the alternating magnetic field is applied to the receiver. to heat the tobacco-flavored medium, which extends between the supply spool and the recovery spool.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein said disposition step comprises providing a layer of susceptor material, which extends from the supply reel to the recovery reel, and thermally contacting the weft of the flavored medium. tobacco.

48. The method according to claim 46, wherein said disposing step comprises placing an eusceptor between the supply spool and the recovery spool, the susceptor being in thermal contact with the advd weft to the tobacco-flavored medium.

49. The method according to claim 45, wherein said supply step comprises providing a cylindrical bar of tobacco flavored medium.

50. The method according to claim 45, 46 or 49, wherein said disposition step comprises interspersed susceptor material within the supply of tobacco flavored medium.

51. The method according to claim 45, 46 or 49, wherein the disposition step comprises arranging a layer of the absorber material in thermal contact with the medium bar with tobacco edge.

52. The method according to claim 49, wherein the alternating magnetic field is applied circumferentially around the cylindrical bar of tobacco flavored medium.

53. The method according to claim 49, wherein the alternating magnetic field is sequentially applied to a plurality of circumferential areas of the cylindrical to tobacco-flavored medium.

54. The method according to claim 49, wherein the alternating magnetic field is sequentially applied around the circumference of the bar to longitudinally extending portions of the cylindrical bar of the tobacco medium.

55. The method according to any of claims 45 to 54, further comprising the steps of applying an initial alternating magnetic field to an intended position of the susceptor, the initial magnetic field being incapable of heating the susceptor; receive a signal indicative of the initial magnetic field. reflected; and determining whether to continue with the sub-sequential application step based on whether the received signal indicates the presence of a desired susceptor.

56. A heating apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the or each induction heater comprises a bar of magnetically permeable material, and an excitation coil surrounding the bar. EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION An induction heating source (100) is provided for use with an electrical article for smoking. The source of induction heating provides an alternating electromagnetic field, which inductively heats a susceptor in thermal proximity with the tobacco flavored medium to generate aerosols. A plurality of induction heaters (102) are employed and / or the tobacco flavored medium is translated with respect to the induction heater or susceptor. The tobacco flavored medium can form an intimate structure with the susceptor, and can take the form of a cylindrical cigarette or a weft.