US20240415168A1 - Flat-Shaped Tobacco Article and Associated Aerosol Generating Device with Improved Heat Transfer - Google Patents

Flat-Shaped Tobacco Article and Associated Aerosol Generating Device with Improved Heat Transfer Download PDF

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Publication number
US20240415168A1
US20240415168A1 US18/720,128 US202318720128A US2024415168A1 US 20240415168 A1 US20240415168 A1 US 20240415168A1 US 202318720128 A US202318720128 A US 202318720128A US 2024415168 A1 US2024415168 A1 US 2024415168A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
tobacco
layer
article
core element
flat
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Pending
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US18/720,128
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English (en)
Inventor
Tilen Ceglar
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JT International SA
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JT International SA
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Assigned to JT INTERNATIONAL S.A. reassignment JT INTERNATIONAL S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CEGLAR, Tilen
Publication of US20240415168A1 publication Critical patent/US20240415168A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/20—Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
    • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
    • A24B15/10—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/01—Making cigarettes for simulated smoking devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/02—Cigars; Cigarettes with special covers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/04—Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure
    • A24D3/043—Tobacco smoke filters characterised by their shape or structure with ventilation means, e.g. air dilution
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/17—Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a flat-shaped tobacco article.
  • the present invention also concerns an aerosol generating assembly associated to such a tobacco article.
  • the present invention also concerns a method of manufacturing such a tobacco article.
  • the aerosol generating assembly comprises an aerosol generating device configured to operate with the flat-shaped tobacco article according to the invention which comprises a tobacco substrate able to form aerosol when being heated.
  • aerosol generating assemblies also known as heat-not-burn devices, is adapted to heat, rather than burn, the substrate by conduction, convection and/or radiation, to generate aerosol for inhalation.
  • reduced-risk or modified-risk devices also known as vaporisers
  • vaporisers have grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco.
  • Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm vaporizable substances as opposed to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.
  • a commonly available reduced-risk or modified-risk device is the heated substrate aerosol generation device or heat-not-burn device.
  • Devices of this type generate aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable vaporizable material to a temperature typically in the range 150° C. to 350° C. Heating an aerosol substrate, but not combusting or burning it, releases aerosol that comprises the components sought by the user but not the toxic and carcinogenic by-products of combustion and burning.
  • the aerosol produced by heating the tobacco or other vaporizable material does not typically comprise the burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning that can be unpleasant for the user and so the substrate does not therefore require the sugars and other additives that are typically added to such materials to make the smoke and/or vapour more palatable for the user.
  • Tobacco articles usable with such type of aerosol generating devices can take various forms. Some of them can present an elongated stick or any other suitable shape, like for example a flat shape. However, design of a tobacco article is often a trade-off between convenience, aesthetics and efficiency in heating.
  • One of the aims of the invention is to provide a flat-shaped tobacco article enabling an increased heating efficiency in a simple way.
  • the invention relates to a flat-shaped tobacco article configured to operate with an aerosol generating device and extending along an article axis, the flat-shaped tobacco article comprising:
  • the tobacco article is designed to ensure that, when inserted in the device, a pressure is exerted between the tobacco article and the heater of the associated device. A firm and even contact with the heater is in this way ensured with the tobacco article. This contact leads to an improved heat transfer through the interface and results in a consistent aerosol generation from the tobacco layer, despite their variation in thickness due to the manufacturing process.
  • the non-tobacco core element comprises discontinuous surface portions in contact with the first layer internal surface and voids extending between the surface portions so as to make the core element resiliently deformable when a compression force is exerted on the layer in a direction orthogonal to the first layer external surface so that the non-tobacco core element is designed to exert pressure on this internal surface to push the first layer external surface outwardly.
  • the core element is able to be compressed and exert pressure on the tobacco layer to ensure a good contact with the heater, while enabling an airflow to cross the article through the voids.
  • the article further comprises a second tobacco layer defining a second layer internal surface and a second layer external surface designed to be heated by a heater of the aerosol generating device; the core element being arranged between the first tobacco layer and the second tobacco layer and comprising second discontinuous surface portions to be further in contact with the second layer internal surface and voids extending between the second surface portions so as to make the core element resiliently deformable when a compression force is exerted on the second layer in a direction orthogonal to the second layer external surface so that the non-tobacco core element is designed to exert pressure on the second layer internal surface to push the second layer external surface outwardly.
  • the aerosol generation is carried out between the two tobacco layers.
  • the single core element enables to ensure a firm contact between each tobacco layer and the associated heater.
  • the core element comprises one or several airflow channels extending along the article axis.
  • an airflow may flow through the tobacco article in the airflow channels enabling a mixing with the generated tobacco aerosol obtained through the heating of the tobacco layers by the respective heater. This vapour is sent through to the user for vaping.
  • the core element extends along the whole length of the or each tobacco layer.
  • the core element ensures a firm and even contact of all the tobacco layer with the associated heater.
  • the tobacco article extends between a mouth end and an abutting end along the article axis, the tobacco article comprising a mouthpiece portion adjacent to the mouth end and a tobacco portion adjacent to the abutting end, the tobacco layer(s) and the non-tobacco core element being arranged in the tobacco portion.
  • the article comprises a tobacco portion designed to be inserted in a heating chamber of the device and a mouthpiece portion designed to be inserted in a mouthpiece.
  • the core element comprises a plurality of, advantageously at least three, separated corrugations in contact with the or each layer internal surface, the corrugations extending advantageously longitudinally along the article axis.
  • the corrugations are able to be compressed and exert pressure on the tobacco layer to ensure a good contact with the heater, while enabling an airflow to cross the article.
  • the corrugations enable a stable behavior of the article under compression.
  • the core element is an elastic element configured to exert pressure when compressed, the core element being advantageously made of paper.
  • the tobacco article further comprises a wrapper assembling together the or each tobacco layer with the core element, the core element and the wrapper being advantageously made from a single sheet.
  • the manufacturing of the article is simple as a single sheet of paper is necessary to obtain the core element and the wrapper.
  • the core element comprises a moisture-resistant coating.
  • the coating prevents an excessive softening of the core element and a loss of aerosol delivery due to a wicking of the paper composing the core element.
  • the flat-shaped tobacco presents an article thickness in an orthogonal section to the article axis and the core element presents a core thickness in the orthogonal section to the article axis, the ratio between the core thickness and the article thickness being comprised between 0.2 and 0.8.
  • the core element is a heat expanding element configured to expand while being heated.
  • the invention relates to a flat-shaped tobacco article configured to operate with an aerosol generating device and extending along an article axis, the flat-shaped tobacco article comprising:
  • the tobacco article may further comprise a second tobacco layer defining a second layer internal surface and a second layer external surface designed to be heated by a heater of the aerosol generating device;
  • the core element may be formed by a foam or a metamaterial with lattice structure and/or with a positive coefficient of thermal expansion which upon heating increases the pressure between the tobacco layers and the associated heater.
  • the invention also concerns an aerosol generating assembly comprising:
  • the flat-shaped tobacco article is able to be deformed from a rest configuration to a compressed configuration in which the core is compressed and exert pressure on the internal surface, the flat-shaped tobacco article being in compressed configuration when inserted in the heating chamber.
  • the flat-shaped tobacco presents an orthogonal section to the article axis presenting an article width and an article thickness, the opening of the heating chamber presenting a chamber width and a chamber height, the chamber height being smaller than the article thickness in the rest configuration.
  • the invention also concerns a method of manufacturing such a flat-shaped tobacco article, the method comprising the following steps:
  • the method further comprises attaching a second tobacco layer to the second side of the core element, e.g., to form a sandwiched structure.
  • the forming of the core element may comprise forming a corrugated layer.
  • the layer can be bent to a corrugation form by roll forming.
  • the method may comprise placing at least a tobacco layer on top of the core element, and bending and gluing the rest of the layer around the tobacco layers.
  • the method may further comprise cutting the layers of the sandwiched structure into individual flat-shaped articles.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating assembly according to the invention, the aerosol generating assembly comprising an aerosol generating device and a flat-shaped tobacco article according the invention, the flat-shaped tobacco being usable with the aerosol generating device;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flat-shaped tobacco article of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the flat-shaped tobacco article of FIG. 2 in a rest configuration and in a compressed configuration;
  • FIG. 4 is a transversal cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating assembly of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the aerosol generating assembly of FIG. 1 , without the mouthpiece;
  • FIG. 6 is a sequential representation of a method of manufacturing the flat-shaped tobacco article of FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of different variants of the core element of the flat-shaped tobacco article.
  • the term “aerosol generating device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of a heater element explained in further detail below.
  • the device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user.
  • the device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating the heater element for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger.
  • the trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor.
  • the inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapour to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.).
  • the device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.
  • aerosol may include a suspension of vaporizable material as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. Aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material.
  • vaporizable material may refer to a smokable material which may for example comprise nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former.
  • tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco.
  • Suitable aerosol formers include: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin or vegetable glycerin.
  • the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol.
  • the substrate may also comprise at least one of a gelling agent, a binding agent, a stabilizing agent, and a humectant.
  • FIG. 1 shows an aerosol generating assembly 10 comprising an aerosol generating device 11 and a flat-shaped tobacco article 12 , called hereinafter tobacco article 12 .
  • the flat-shaped article 12 is in particular planar shape, meaning that the effective thickness is much smaller than the other dimensions.
  • the aerosol generating device 11 is intended to operate with the tobacco article 12 which is shown in more detail on FIG. 2 .
  • the aerosol generating device 11 comprises a device body extending along a device axis Y.
  • the device body comprises a mouthpiece 13 and a housing 14 arranged successively along the device axis Y.
  • the mouthpiece 13 and the housing 14 form two different pieces.
  • the mouthpiece 13 is here designed to be fixed on or be received in an insertion opening formed at one of the ends of the housing 14 .
  • the tobacco article 12 can be inserted inside the device 11 when the mouthpiece 13 is removed from the housing 14 .
  • the mouthpiece 13 and the housing 14 form one unique piece.
  • the tobacco article 12 can be inserted inside the device 11 through for example a flow outlet.
  • the mouthpiece 13 defines a through hole adapted to receive at least partially the tobacco article 12 .
  • the heating chamber 20 can form a cup shape adapted to receive at least a portion of the tobacco article 12 .
  • the heating chamber 20 may form a cuboid shape extending along the device axis Y, complementary of the shape of the tobacco article 12 .
  • the device 11 comprises at least a heater 26 .
  • the device 11 comprises two heaters 26 .
  • Each heater 26 may be arranged in contact with one of the external surface of the narrow walls 22 A, 22 B of the heating chamber 20 .
  • Each heater 25 may comprise a polyimide film heater extending along substantially the total area of said outer surface of the chamber narrow walls 22 A, 22 B or only along a part of this surface. In this last case, said part may form a width substantially equal to the width W of the aerosol generating substrate 12 .
  • Each heater 26 is powered by the battery and controlled by the control module of the aerosol generating device 11 .
  • the aerosol generating device 11 may comprise a single heater 26 attached on one of the outer surface of one of the chamber narrow walls 22 A, 22 B.
  • the narrow walls are preferably made of thin conductive material, preferably metal, such as stainless steel.
  • the tobacco article 12 is for example a flat-shaped cuboid extending along an article axis X and having external dimensions La ⁇ Wa ⁇ Da.
  • the length La of the article 12 according to the article axis X equals substantially to 33 mm while its width Wa and thickness Da are substantially equal respectively to 12 mm and 4 mm.
  • the values La, Wa and Da can be selected within a range of +/ ⁇ 40%, for example.
  • the thickness Da of the tobacco article 12 is formed by a pair of parallel walls 30 A, 30 B, called hereinafter narrow walls 30 A, 30 B, and the width W of the substrate is formed by a pair of parallel walls 32 A, 32 B, called hereinafter wide walls 32 A, 32 B.
  • the edges between the wide and narrow walls 30 A, 30 B, 32 A, 32 B may be rounded.
  • the tobacco article 12 may have any other suitable flat shape and/or external dimensions.
  • the tobacco article 12 When inserted in the heating chamber 20 , the tobacco article 12 remains flat-shaped.
  • the tobacco article 12 comprises a tobacco portion 40 and a mouthpiece portion 42 arranged along the article axis X.
  • the tobacco portion 40 may for example be slightly longer than the mouthpiece portion 42 .
  • the length of the tobacco portion 40 according to the article axis X may be substantially equal to 18 mm and the length of the mouthpiece portion 16 according to the article axis X may be substantially equal to 15 mm.
  • the tobacco portion 40 defines an abutting end 44 of the article 12 and the mouthpiece portion 42 defines a mouth end 46 of the article 12 .
  • the tobacco portion 40 and the mouthpiece portion 42 may be fixed one to the other by a wrapper 48 extending around the article axis X.
  • the wrapper 48 forms the narrow and wide walls 30 A, 30 B, 32 A, 32 B of the tobacco article 12 .
  • the wrapper 48 may be formed from a same wrapping sheet.
  • the wrapper 48 may, for example, comprise paper and/or non-woven fabric and/or aluminium foil.
  • the wrapper 48 may be porous or air impermeable and forms a plurality of airflow channels extending inside the article 12 between the abutting end 44 and the mouth end 46 .
  • the wrapper 48 and the core element arranged in the tobacco portion 40 are advantageously made from a single sheet, particularly a single sheet of paper.
  • the corresponding wide walls 32 A, 32 B of the tobacco article 12 face the corresponding wide walls 23 A, 23 B of the heating chamber 20 and the corresponding narrow walls 30 A, 30 B of the tobacco article 12 face the corresponding narrow walls 22 A, 22 B of the heating chamber 20 and the abutting end 44 of the tobacco article 12 abuts against the bottom wall defining the closed end 24 .
  • the heating chamber 20 is configured to receive the tobacco article 12 so that the narrow wall 30 A (respectfully 30 B) of the tobacco article 12 faces the narrow wall 22 B (respectfully 22 A) of the heating chamber 20 , and the wide wall 23 A (respectfully 23 B) of the tobacco article 12 faces the wide wall 32 B (respectfully 32 A) of the heating chamber 20 .
  • the mouthpiece portion 42 forms a cooling and/or filtering portion.
  • the mouthpiece portion 42 is intended to act for example as a cooler and/or as a filter to cool slightly the vapour and/or to filter it, as represented by arrows F on FIGS. 1 and 2 , before it is inhaled by the user.
  • the mouthpiece portion may contain filtering material such as paper and/or cellulose acetate fibre.
  • the tobacco portion 40 is intended to be heated by the heater(s) 26 , visible on FIG. 5 , as it will be explained in further detail below.
  • the tobacco portion 40 comprises at least a tobacco layer 50 and a non-tobacco core element 52 .
  • the tobacco portion 40 comprises a first tobacco layer 50 A and a second tobacco layer 50 B.
  • the core element 12 presents a core thickness De in the orthogonal section to the article axis X.
  • the ratio between the core thickness De and the article thickness Da is comprised between 0.2 and 0.8.
  • Each tobacco layer 50 comprises a vaporizable material as defined above.
  • Each tobacco layer 50 extends inside the tobacco portion 40 along the article axis X.
  • the first tobacco layer 50 A and the second tobacco layer 50 B forms two opposite sides of the tobacco portion 40 .
  • Each tobacco layer 50 is in contact with the wrapper 48 .
  • the first tobacco layer 50 A is in contact with the wide wall 32 A and the second tobacco layer 50 B is in contact with the other wide wall 32 B.
  • the two tobacco layers 50 forms a gap between them, in which the core element 52 is arranged.
  • the first tobacco layer 50 A defines a first layer internal surface 60 A and a first layer external surface 62 A.
  • the first layer internal surface 60 A is designed to be in contact with the core element 52 .
  • the first layer external 62 A surface is designed to be heated by the associated heater 26 of the device 11 .
  • the second tobacco layer 50 B defines a second layer internal surface 60 B and a second layer external surface 62 B.
  • the second layer internal surface 60 B is designed to be in contact with the core element 52 .
  • the second layer external surface 60 B designed to be heated by the associated heater 26 , different from the heater 26 associated to the first layer 50 A.
  • the non-tobacco core element 52 is in contact with the first layer internal surface 60 A, and advantageously with the second layer internal surface 60 B. It is understood that the core element 52 does not comprise any vaporizable material.
  • the tobacco article 12 is able to switch from a rest configuration, represented on part A of FIG. 3 , to a compressed configuration, represented on part B of FIG. 3 . In the rest configuration, no external force is applied on the tobacco article 12 . In the compressed configuration, the core element 52 is compressed. In particular, the core element 52 is compressed in a compression axis Z, orthogonal to the article axis X.
  • the core element 52 exerts pressure on the internal surfaces 60 A, 60 B of the tobacco layers 50 A, 50 B in response to this compression.
  • the tobacco article 12 is in the compressed configuration when inserted in the heating chamber 20 .
  • the chamber height Hc is smaller than the article thickness Ha in the rest configuration. Therefore, the tobacco article 12 is compressed in order to be inserted in the heating chamber 20 through the opening 25 .
  • the core element 52 exerts pressure on the internal surface 60 A to push the first layer external surface 60 A toward the associated heater 26 .
  • the core element 52 is designed to exert pressure on the internal surface 60 B to push the second layer external surface 60 B toward the associated heater 26 .
  • the core element 52 ensures an even and efficient heat transfer between each heater 26 and the associated tobacco layer 50 A, 50 B by increasing the contact pressure and thereby reducing associated contact losses.
  • the core element 52 prevents the formation of any gaps between the heater 26 and the tobacco layer 50 A, 50 B which could penalize the heating performance.
  • the core element 52 comprises first discontinuous surface portions 64 A in contact with the first layer internal surface 60 A.
  • the core element 52 comprises advantageously second discontinuous surface portions 64 B in contact with the second layer internal surface 60 B.
  • each discontinuous surface portion 64 is a line extending along the article axis X.
  • the core element 52 further comprises voids 66 extending between the surface portions 64 so as to make the core element 52 resiliently deformable when a compression force is exerted on the layer 50 A, 50 B in a direction orthogonal to the associated layer external surface 62 A, 62 B so that the non-tobacco core element 52 is designed to exert pressure on this internal surface 60 A, 60 B to push the layer external surface 62 A, 62 B outwardly.
  • the core element 52 is an elastic element configured to exert pressure when compressed.
  • the core element 52 is advantageously made of paper.
  • the core element 52 extends along the whole length of each tobacco layer 50 A, 50 B along the article axis X.
  • the core element 52 extends advantageously along the whole width of each tobacco layer 50 A, 50 B perpendicular to the article axis X.
  • the core element 52 is here a corrugated sheet.
  • the core element 52 comprises a plurality of separated corrugations 65 in contact with each layer internal surface 60 A, 60 B.
  • the core element 52 comprises at least three corrugations 65 ensuring a stable behavior under compression.
  • the corrugations 65 extend here longitudinally along the article axis X.
  • the corrugations 65 form undulations able to be compressed under pressure.
  • the corrugated sheet presents a thickness advantageously comprised between 80 ⁇ m and 300 ⁇ m.
  • the core element 52 may comprise a moisture-resistant coating. This coating prevents excessive softening of the core element 52 during the use of the assembly 10 by the user and a loss of vapor delivery due to wicking of the paper composing the core element 52 .
  • the core element 52 comprises one or several airflow channels extending along the article axis X. As visible on FIG. 2 , the airflow channels are formed by the voids 66 arranged between the surface portions 64 and enable the vapour flow F to go through the article 12 .
  • the tobacco article 12 is extracted from the device 11 .
  • the user In order to insert it, the user first takes off the mouthpiece 13 from the housing 14 . The tobacco article 12 is then in the rest configuration.
  • the user compresses the tobacco article 12 as represented in FIG. 3 .
  • the user inserts the tobacco part 40 of the article 12 into the heating chamber 20 .
  • the tobacco article 12 is compressed at the insertion into the heating chamber 20 by a guiding channel piece.
  • a mechanism is arranged in the heating chamber 20 , which compress on the tobacco article 12 when the latter is fully inserted.
  • the user fixes the mouthpiece 13 on the housing 14 by sliding the mouthpiece part 42 of the tobacco article 12 inside the mouthpiece 13 .
  • the user may activate the operation of the aerosol generating assembly 10 by actuating for example an ON button or by performing a puff. This creates an airflow in an airflow path formed inside the device 11 between a flow inlet and a flow outlet in the device 11 .
  • the flow inlet may be arranged near the mouthpiece 13 and the airflow passes between the wide walls 23 A, 23 B of the heating chamber 20 and the article 12 .
  • a transition portion is arranged at the closed end 24 of the heating chamber 20 which forms a “U” turn inside the heating chamber 20 . The transition portion forces the airflow F to flow inside the tobacco article 12 , as shown on FIG. 2 .
  • the flow inlet may be arranged at the opposite of the mouthpiece 13 and the airflow F crosses directly the device 11 and the article 12 without U turn.
  • the airflow F flows through the tobacco article 12 , in the airflow channels formed by the voids 66 between the corrugations 65 .
  • the air mixes with the tobacco aerosol obtained through the heating of the tobacco layers 50 A, 50 B by the respective heater 26 .
  • the flow flowing towards the mouthpiece may further comprise fresh air entered through these holes.
  • vapour comprising the tobacco aerosol is send through the mouthpiece 13 to the user, as shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the method comprises in a first step (A) the providing of a layer of an elastic element, advantageously a layer of paper.
  • the method comprises a step of forming the compressible three-dimensional core element 52 from the layer of elastic material.
  • the core element 52 has a flat shape with a thickness and first and second larger sides opposed one another.
  • the core element 52 is obtained by roll forming a part of the layer.
  • a tobacco layer 50 A is attached to the first side of the core element 52 to form the discontinuous surface portions 64 A.
  • the method further comprises advantageously a step of attaching a second tobacco layer 50 B to the second side of the core element 52 to form the second discontinuous surface portions 64 B.
  • the attaching steps of the tobacco layers 50 A, 50 B to the core element may be performed simultaneously or successively.
  • the tobacco layers 50 A, 50 B are placed on both sides of the core element 52 to form a sandwiched structure.
  • a step (D) the rest of the paper layer is wrapped around the tobacco layers 50 A, 50 B to form the wrapper 48 .
  • the rest of the paper layer is bended and glued around the tobacco layers 50 A, 50 B at the tobacco article sides 30 A and 30 B.
  • the core element 52 and the wrapper 48 of the article 12 are here made from the same paper sheet folded around the tobacco layers 50 A, 50 B.
  • a first portion of the paper layer is folded on the outer surface of the top tobacco layer 50 A and a second, opposite, portion of the paper layer is folded on the outer surface of the bottom tobacco layer 50 B.
  • the outer surfaces of the tobacco layers are advantageously fully covered by their respective portion of paper layer.
  • the method may comprise an optional step of adding additional parts in the cooling section 42 , such as filters or other structure which continue in the article axis X from the tobacco layers 50 A, 50 B with the same width and thickness.
  • the method comprises an optional final step of cutting the core element and the wrapper to single pieces to obtain several tobacco articles 12 .
  • FIG. 7 shows different variants of the core element 52 .
  • each corrugation 65 presents a triangular transversal section.
  • Each corrugation 65 is then a right prism with triangular base extending along the article axis X. Voids are present between the corrugations.
  • the article 12 here comprises a first discontinuous surface portions 64 A under the form of parallel lines extending along the article axis X.
  • a second discontinuous portions also under the form of parallel lines extending along the article axis X can be formed at the junction between the prims.
  • Each first and second discontinuous surfaces portions can be attached to a tobacco layer to form channels between the tobacco layers and the voids.
  • each corrugation 65 presents a trapezoid transversal section.
  • Each corrugation 65 is then a right prism with trapezoid base extending along the article axis X.
  • the voids are present in the form of parallel channels between the corrugations.
  • the article 12 here comprises only the first discontinuous surface portions 64 A under the form of parallel stripe extending along the article axis X.
  • each corrugation 65 is a cylinder arranged between the two tobacco layers 50 A, 5 B.
  • the corrugations are spaced apart in both longitudinal and transversal directions to form voids between the corrugations.
  • the article 12 here comprises disk-shaped first discontinuous surface portions 64 A and second discontinuous surface portions 64 B.
  • each corrugation 65 is a paraboloid.
  • the core element 52 presents then an egg box form.
  • the article 12 here comprises dot-shaped first discontinuous surface portions 64 A and second discontinuous surface portions 64 B.
  • the corrugations 65 may be obtained by additive manufacturing.
  • the corrugations 65 extend transversally, perpendicular to the article axis X.
  • the core element 52 is a heat expanding element configured to expand while being heated.
  • the core element 52 is a foam or a metamaterial with high effective thermal expansion coefficient which upon heating increase the pressure between the tobacco article 12 and the respective heaters 26 . In this case, no compression of the tobacco article 12 is necessary upon its insertion. Expanding is performed upon heating the heat expanding material.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)
  • Hybrid Electric Vehicles (AREA)
US18/720,128 2022-01-05 2023-01-04 Flat-Shaped Tobacco Article and Associated Aerosol Generating Device with Improved Heat Transfer Pending US20240415168A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP22150328 2022-01-05
EP22150328.7 2022-01-05
PCT/EP2023/050108 WO2023131618A1 (en) 2022-01-05 2023-01-04 Flat-shaped tobacco article and associated aerosol generating device with improved heat transfer

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20240415168A1 true US20240415168A1 (en) 2024-12-19

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US (1) US20240415168A1 (enExample)
EP (1) EP4460190A1 (enExample)
JP (1) JP2025501874A (enExample)
KR (1) KR20240128830A (enExample)
CN (1) CN118510409A (enExample)
WO (1) WO2023131618A1 (enExample)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN120435237A (zh) * 2022-12-23 2025-08-05 菲利普莫里斯生产公司 气溶胶生成制品和系统
WO2025099177A1 (en) * 2023-11-07 2025-05-15 Jt International Sa An aerosol generating device comprising a clamping mechanism
EP4623726A1 (en) * 2024-03-28 2025-10-01 Nicoventures Trading Limited An article for use with an aerosol provision device
EP4623712A1 (en) * 2024-03-28 2025-10-01 Nicoventures Trading Limited Aerosol provision device
WO2026068712A1 (en) * 2024-09-30 2026-04-02 Philip Morris Products S.A. Aerosol-generating article

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170119050A1 (en) * 2015-10-30 2017-05-04 British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited Article for Use with Apparatus for Heating Smokable Material
KR102593693B1 (ko) * 2016-05-25 2023-10-26 필립모리스 프로덕츠 에스.에이. 에어로졸 발생 장치를 제공하기 위한 방법, 에어로졸 발생 장치, 및 이러한 장치에 사용하기 위한 납작한 에어로졸 발생 물품
WO2019128551A1 (zh) * 2017-12-27 2019-07-04 深圳市新宜康电子技术有限公司 薄片式加热不燃烧装置及使用其加热的烟草
EA202193242A1 (ru) * 2019-05-29 2022-03-18 ДжейТи ИНТЕРНЕШНЛ СА Картридж для устройства, генерирующего аэрозоль
EP4337042B1 (en) * 2021-05-10 2025-01-29 JT International S.A. Aerosol generating device comprising a cup-shaped heating chamber defining an open end and a sealed end

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WO2023131618A1 (en) 2023-07-13
KR20240128830A (ko) 2024-08-27
JP2025501874A (ja) 2025-01-24
EP4460190A1 (en) 2024-11-13
CN118510409A (zh) 2024-08-16

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