WO2023187871A1

WO2023187871A1 - High-density tobacco molding

Info

Publication number: WO2023187871A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/014873
Authority: WO
Inventors: 光史松本; 貴久工藤; 学山田
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2022-03-28
Filing date: 2022-03-28
Publication date: 2023-10-05

Abstract

A tobacco molding that is for use in an inhalation implement for heating and atomizing an aerosol-generating liquid obtained by bringing a tobacco molding into contact with a nicotine-containing liquid, said tobacco molding having a density of 0.8 g/cm3 or more.

Description

High-density tobacco molded body

The present invention relates to a high-density tobacco molded article.

Conventionally, non-combustion heating type suction tools include a liquid storage section that stores a predetermined liquid, and an electrical load that introduces the liquid into the liquid storage section and atomizes the introduced liquid to generate an aerosol. There is known a suction tool that includes an atomizing unit having the following, and tobacco leaf powder is dispersed in the liquid in the liquid storage portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2019/211332

In general, it is desired that suction tools be made smaller in consideration of portability and ease of handling. The suction tool described in Patent Document 1 had room for improvement in this regard. In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette molded article for achieving a small-sized suction tool.

means to solve the invention

The inventors have discovered that the above-mentioned problem can be solved by a tobacco molded article having a high density.
Aspect 1
A cigarette molded body used in a suction device that heats and atomizes an aerosol-generating liquid obtained by contacting a cigarette molded body and a nicotine-containing liquid,
A tobacco molded article having a density of 0.8 g/cm3 or ^more .
Aspect 2
The tobacco molded article according to aspect 1, wherein the tobacco molded article is columnar with a through hole or a recess.
Aspect 3
The tobacco molded article according to aspect 1, wherein the tobacco molded article is in the form of a sheet.
Aspect 4
The tobacco molded article according to aspects 1 to 3, wherein the tobacco molded article contains a tobacco material and a binder.
Aspect 5
The suction tool includes a liquid storage part that stores the aerosol generation liquid, and an electric generator that atomizes the introduced aerosol generation liquid and generates an aerosol. has a load;
The tobacco molded article according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, which is used by being placed inside the aerosol generating liquid.
Aspect 6
a liquid storage section that stores the tobacco molded article according to any one of aspects 1 to 4 and a nicotine-containing liquid;
an electric load that introduces the aerosol-generating liquid generated in the liquid storage section and atomizes the introduced liquid to generate an aerosol;
comprising an atomization unit having
Suction tool.
Aspect 7
preparing a dough-like mixture comprising tobacco material, a binder, and water;
A step of filling the dough-like mixture into a mold and preforming it by applying a pressure of 0.2 to 5.0 kN, and a step of drying the preform,
The method for producing a tobacco molded article according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, comprising:

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cigarette molded article for achieving a small-sized suction tool.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a suction tool according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the atomization unit of the suction tool according to Embodiment 1. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section taken along the line A1-A1 in FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a molded body according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a tobacco molded article. It is a typical perspective view of another aspect of a tobacco molded object. It is a typical perspective view of yet another aspect of a tobacco molded object.

The present invention will be explained in detail below. In the present invention, "X to Y" includes the end values of X and Y.
1. Tobacco molded body A tobacco molded body is a member formed by molding tobacco material into a certain shape. The tobacco molded article according to one aspect of the present invention has a density of 0.8 g/cm ³ or more. When the tobacco molded body has a density within this range, the suction tool can be made smaller. From this viewpoint, the density is preferably 0.9 g/cm ³ or more, more preferably 1.0 g/cm ³ or more. The upper limit of the density is not limited, but is about 1.2 g/cm ³ or less. A tobacco molded article having this density is unlikely to collapse when immersed in a liquid. Further, the surface area of the tobacco molded article per unit weight is preferably 0.3 to 2.5 mm ² /mg, more preferably 1.0 to 1.5 mm ² /mg. When the surface area is within this range, there is an excellent balance between the elution rate of the active ingredient from the tobacco molded article into the nicotine-containing liquid and the compactness of the tobacco molded article. In order to achieve the surface area, the tobacco molded body having the above density may be processed by a known processing method such as cutting.

FIG. 5 shows a columnar molded body 60R formed by molding tobacco material into a columnar shape. Although the figure shows an embodiment in which the cross-sectional shape is a circle, the cross-sectional shape may be an ellipse or a polygon. Its dimensions are appropriately adjusted depending on the size of the suction tool. Its length is preferably 2 to 30 mm, more preferably 3 to 7 mm. The width of the columnar molded body 60R is defined as the radius of the circumscribed circle when the cross section is a polygon or a similar shape, and is defined as the major axis when the cross section is an ellipse. The width thereof is preferably 2 to 10 mm, more preferably 3 to 5 mm. A recess or a through hole H may be provided in the columnar molded body 60R. It is preferable that the recess or through hole H extends in the longitudinal direction through the central axis of the columnar molded body 60R. The diameter of the recess or through hole H is preferably 5 to 30% of the width. The depth of the recess or through hole H is preferably 10 to 100% of the length. This lower limit value is more preferably 40% or more, 50% or more, 60% or more, or 70% or more. The density of a tobacco molded article processed in this manner is defined excluding the hollow portion created by the processing. A plurality of molded bodies 60R may be combined to form a molded body having the above dimensions.

FIG. 6 shows a sheet-like molded product 60S formed by molding tobacco material into a sheet-like shape. The thickness of the sheet is not limited, but in one embodiment is about 100 μm to 2 mm. The length of the sheet may be the same as the length of the columnar molded body 60R.

FIG. 7 shows a secondary molded body formed by laminating sheet-like molded bodies 60S. The size of the secondary molded body may be the same as that of the columnar molded body 60R. The density of the secondary formed body does not need to be 0.8 g/cm ³ or more. That is, the secondary molded body may have gaps between the plurality of sheet-like molded bodies 60S. However, the density of the sheet-like molded body 60S, which is the primary molded body constituting the secondary molded body, is 0.8 g/cm ³ or more. Therefore, although not shown, a plurality of columnar molded bodies 60R can be similarly assembled to form a secondary molded body. Such a secondary molded product has the advantage that the contact area with the nicotine-containing liquid can be increased.

(1) Tobacco material Tobacco material is a material derived from plants of the genus Nicotiana. Examples of tobacco materials include Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica. As Nicotiana tabacum, varieties such as burley variety or yellow variety can be used, for example. As the tobacco material, varieties other than burley and yellow varieties may be used.

The tobacco material may be shredded or powdered (hereinafter also collectively referred to as "material pieces"). In such a case, the particle size of the material pieces is preferably 0.5 to 1.18 mm. Such material pieces can be obtained, for example, by sieving in accordance with JIS Z 8815 using a stainless steel sieve in accordance with JIS Z 8801. For example, using a stainless steel sieve with an opening of 1.18 mm, a piece of material is sieved for 20 minutes using a dry mechanical shaking method to pass through the stainless steel sieve with an opening of 1.18 mm. Obtain a piece of material. Subsequently, using a stainless steel sieve with an opening of 0.50 mm, the material pieces were sieved for 20 minutes by a dry and mechanical shaking method, and passed through a stainless steel sieve with an opening of 0.50 mm. Remove any pieces of material. That is, the material piece is a material piece that passes through a stainless steel sieve (mesh opening = 1.18 mm) that defines the upper limit, but does not pass through a stainless steel sieve (mesh opening = 0.50 mm) that defines the lower limit. Further, the tobacco material may be shredded or stranded by cutting a tobacco sheet prepared by a known method.

The tobacco material may be tobacco residue after tobacco leaves are subjected to extraction. The extraction will be explained below.

The extraction may include, for example, an alkali treatment in which an alkaline substance is applied to the tobacco leaves. As the alkaline substance, for example, a basic substance such as an aqueous potassium carbonate solution can be used. The alkali-treated tobacco leaves are heated at a predetermined temperature (for example, a temperature of 80° C. or higher and lower than 150° C.) (hereinafter also referred to as "heat treatment"). During this heat treatment, for example, one substance selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, polyhydric alcohol such as 1,3-butanediol, and water, or a substance selected from this group. Two or more substances selected from among them (hereinafter also collectively referred to as "extraction solvent") are brought into contact with tobacco leaves.

Through this heat treatment, released components (including flavor components) released from the tobacco leaves into the gas phase are collected in a predetermined collection solvent. As the collection solvent, for example, the extraction solvent described above can be used. Thereby, a collection solvent containing flavor components can be obtained. That is, flavor components can be extracted from tobacco leaves.

Alternatively, the collection solvent may not be used. Specifically, in this case, the alkali-treated tobacco leaves are subjected to the above heat treatment and then cooled using a condenser or the like, thereby reducing the released components released from the tobacco leaves into the gas phase. It is also possible to condense and extract flavor components.

In addition, when alkali treatment is not performed, the extraction solvent is added to tobacco leaves (tobacco leaves that have not been subjected to alkali treatment). Next, the tobacco leaves to which this has been added are heated, and the components released during heating are collected in a collection solvent or condensed using a condenser or the like. Flavor components can also be extracted by such a process. Alternatively, the aerosol obtained by aerosolizing the extraction solvent is passed through tobacco leaves (tobacco leaves that have not been subjected to alkali treatment), and the aerosol that has passed through the tobacco leaves is collected by a collection solvent. Flavor components can also be extracted by such a process.

The extraction step may further include reducing "the amount of carbonized components that become carbonized when heated to 250 ° C." contained in the flavor components extracted by the method described above.

The specific method for reducing the amount of carbonized components contained in the extracted flavor components is not particularly limited. For example, by cooling the extracted flavor components, the precipitated components are filtered using filter paper, etc. By doing so, the amount of carbonized components contained in the extracted flavor components may be reduced. Alternatively, the amount of carbonized components contained in the extracted flavor components may be reduced by centrifuging the extracted flavor components with a centrifuge. Alternatively, the amount of carbonized components contained in the extracted flavor components may be reduced by using a reverse osmosis membrane (RO filter).

(2) Binder It is preferable that the tobacco molded article contains a binder. The binder binds the tobacco materials together to improve density. The binder is selected from the group consisting of starch, hydroxyalkylalkylcellulose, gum base, and combinations thereof, from the viewpoint of suppressing swelling or partial disintegration of the tobacco molded article when immersed in a nicotine-containing liquid. It is preferable that

1) Starch Starch is a polymer of D-glucose, preferably a mixture of amylose and amylopectin. Starch also includes high molecular compounds derived from starch. Examples of starch-derived polymer compounds include those obtained by modifying, modifying, and processing starch. The molecular weight of starch is not limited. However, if starch dissolves in the nicotine-containing liquid, the suction device may deteriorate. From this point of view, starch preferably has a molecular weight such that the viscosity measured in a 5% by weight aqueous solution is 500 to 3000mMPa.

2) Hydroxyalkylalkylcellulose Hydroxyalkylalkylcellulose (hereinafter also referred to as "HAAC") is a cellulose in which H of at least one -OH group of a pyranose ring constituting cellulose is substituted with a group containing a hydroxyalkyl group, and at least This is a compound in which H in one -OH group is substituted with an alkyl group. That is, HAAC is a cellulose ether ester, and is also a cellulose ether ester in which the ester group has a hydroxyalkyl group at the end. Specifically, HAAC is represented by the following chemical formula (I).

In the formula, R is H, an alkyl group, or a group represented by -(AO)m-H, and n is the repeating number, which is an integer of 1 or more. m is an integer of 1 or more, and A is an alkylene group. If HAAC is completely dissolved in the nicotine-containing liquid, the suction device may deteriorate. From this point of view, the alkylene group preferably has 2 to 5 carbon atoms, more preferably 2 or 3 carbon atoms. Further, the alkyl group is preferably a methyl group or an ethyl group, more preferably a methyl group. That is, in one embodiment, the HAAC is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

Although the molecular weight of HAAC is not limited, from the viewpoint of efficiently expressing the above effects, it is preferable to have a molecular weight such that the viscosity measured in an aqueous solution with a concentration of 2% by weight is 20 to 7000 mm ^{2 /} s.

3) Gum base Gum base is a substance that serves as the base material for chewing gum. The gum base has a function as a binder and is difficult to dissolve in the aerosol generating liquid. Gum bases include vinyl acetate resin, jelutong, and chicle. The vinyl acetate resin is vinyl acetate monomer, polyvinyl acetate, or a combination thereof. Jelutong is a substance obtained by removing the water-soluble components of latex obtained from a branch of the Apocynaceae jelutong tree, and its main components are amylin acetate and cis-polyisoprene. Chicle is a substance obtained from the sap of the Sapodilla plant. The molecular weight of polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) is not limited, but from the viewpoint of efficiently expressing the above effects, the viscosity measured in an aqueous solution with a concentration of 40% by weight is preferably 500 to 10,000 mPa·s, more preferably 10,000 to 50,000 mPa·s. The molecular weight is as follows.

4) Content The total amount of binder in the tobacco molded article is preferably 1 to 20% by weight, more preferably 3 to 10% by weight. In the present invention, content means dry weight unless otherwise specified.

(3) Gelation promoter The tobacco molded article may contain a gelation promoter that promotes gelation of the binder. The type of gelation accelerator is not limited, but examples thereof include compounds containing divalent or higher cations. Examples of divalent or higher cations include calcium, magnesium, iron, and the like. These may be in the form of salts. Therefore, in one embodiment, the gelation promoter may be a salt consisting of an acid and the cation that is certified as a food additive, or a hydrate of the salt. Such salts include calcium lactate or its hydrate. The amount of the gelation accelerator is not limited as long as it can gel the binder and improve water resistance, but it is preferably 0.5 to 5 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the binder. The amount is 1 to 3 parts by weight.

2. Manufacture of tobacco molded article A tobacco molded article can be manufactured by preparing a tobacco material, mixing it with a binder, water, and other components as necessary, and molding the mixture. Among these, a step of preparing a dough-like mixture containing a tobacco material, a binder, and water, a step of filling the dough-like mixture into a mold and preforming it by applying a pressure of 0.2 to 5.0 kN; A method comprising the steps of: and drying the preform is preferred. The manufacturing method will be explained below using this method as an example.

(1) Step of preparing dough-like mixture A dough-like mixture is a dough-like mixture having extensibility and elasticity. Each component in the dough-like mixture is appropriately adjusted to provide the desired flavor, but the content of the tobacco material is preferably 20 to 50% by weight, more preferably 30 to 40% by weight on a wet basis. . The amount of water in the dough mixture is preferably from 50 to 80% by weight, more preferably from 55 to 70% by weight on a wet basis. The amount of binder in the dough mixture is preferably from 0.5 to 5% by weight, more preferably from 1 to 5% by weight on a wet basis.

(2) Preforming step In this step, the dough-like mixture is filled into a mold and preforming is performed by applying a pressure of 0.2 to 5.0 kN. Since compression is usually performed using a male mold, this molding is also called tablet molding. Since molding becomes difficult if the pressure is too low or too high, the pressure is preferably about 0.5 to 2.0 kN. This step is preferably carried out at room temperature.

(3) Drying process In this process, the preform is dried to remove moisture. Drying conditions are not limited, but for example, drying can be carried out at 80 to 150°C for 1 to 2 hours. In this way, a high-density tobacco molded body can be manufactured.

In addition to the above, a high-density tobacco molded body can also be produced by, for example, calendering a paper sheet or a cast sheet to increase its density.

3. Nicotine-containing liquid A nicotine-containing liquid is a liquid containing nicotine. Nicotine may be derived from natural products or may be chemically synthesized. Therefore, examples of nicotine-containing liquids include liquids containing aroma and flavor components derived from plants of the genus Nicotiana and liquids containing synthetic nicotine obtained by subjecting tobacco materials to an extraction process. The tobacco materials are as described above. The amount of nicotine is adjusted appropriately, but in one embodiment, it may be 0.1 to 10% by weight, 0.5 to 7.5% by weight, or 1 to 5% by weight in the nicotine-containing liquid. It's fine.
(1) Flavor component The nicotine-containing liquid may contain a flavor component. Examples of flavor components include alkaloids other than nicotine derived from plants of the genus Nicotiana.

(2) Medium The nicotine-containing liquid preferably contains water or a polyhydric alcohol as a medium. Polyhydric alcohols can also function as aerosol-generating substrates when used in suction devices. The polyhydric alcohol is preferably selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and combinations thereof.

(3) Others The nicotine-containing liquid may contain known additives such as fragrances. The amount may be a known amount.

(4) Method for producing nicotine-containing liquid A nicotine-containing liquid can be produced by a known method. For example, a residue and an extraction solution or a collection solution may be obtained by the method described above, and the liquid may be used as a nicotine-containing liquid. Alternatively, a nicotine-containing liquid can also be produced according to the method disclosed in Patent No. 6101860. Furthermore, a nicotine-containing liquid can also be produced by dissolving or dispersing nicotine chemically synthesized by a known method in the medium.

4. Aerosol-generating liquid The aerosol-generating liquid is a liquid obtained by bringing the tobacco molded article into contact with the nicotine-containing liquid, and generates an aerosol when heated. Although the blending ratio of the two is not limited, in one embodiment, the amount of the nicotine-containing liquid is about 50 to 500 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the tobacco molded article. The contact temperature is also not limited, and can be, for example, about room temperature (10 to 35°C).

5. Suction Tool In one embodiment, the suction tool of the present invention includes a liquid storage section that accommodates a nicotine-containing liquid and the tobacco molded body, and an aerosol generating liquid generated in the liquid storage section, and a The atomization unit includes an electrical load that atomizes the liquid to generate an aerosol. Alternatively, in another aspect, the suction tool includes a liquid storage part that stores the aerosol-generating liquid, and the aerosol-generating liquid from the liquid storage part is introduced, and atomizes the introduced liquid to generate an aerosol. an atomization unit having an electrical load;

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, a suction tool 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings of the present application are schematically illustrated to facilitate understanding of the features of the embodiments, and the dimensional ratios of each component are not necessarily the same as the actual ones. Further, in the drawings of the present application, XYZ orthogonal coordinates are illustrated as necessary.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of a suction tool 10 according to the present embodiment. The suction device 10 according to the present embodiment is a non-combustion heating type suction device, and specifically, is a non-combustion heating type electronic cigarette.

As an example, the suction tool 10 according to the present embodiment extends in the direction of the central axis CL of the suction tool 10. Specifically, the suction tool 10 has, for example, a "longitudinal direction (direction of the central axis CL)", a "width direction" perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a "thickness direction" perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the width direction. It has an external shape with . The dimensions of the suction tool 10 in the longitudinal direction, width direction, and thickness direction decrease in this order. In this embodiment, among the X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinates, the Z-axis direction (Z direction or -Z direction) corresponds to the longitudinal direction, and the X-axis direction (X direction or -X direction) corresponds to the width direction. The direction of the Y axis (Y direction or -Y direction) corresponds to the thickness direction.

The suction tool 10 has a power supply unit 11 and an atomization unit 12. The power supply unit 11 is detachably connected to the atomization unit 12. Inside the power supply unit 11, a battery as a power source, a control device, etc. are arranged. When the atomization unit 12 is connected to the power supply unit 11, the power supply of the power supply unit 11 and the load 40 of the atomization unit 12, which will be described later, are electrically connected.

The atomization unit 12 is provided with an outlet 13 for discharging air (that is, air). Air containing aerosol is discharged from this discharge port 13. When using the suction tool 10, the user of the suction tool 10 can inhale the air discharged from the outlet 13.

A sensor is arranged in the power supply unit 11 to output the value of the pressure change inside the suction tool 10 caused by the user's suction through the discharge port 13. When the user starts suctioning air, a sensor detects the start of suctioning air and notifies the control device, and the control device starts energizing the load 40 of the atomization unit 12, which will be described later. Furthermore, when the user finishes suctioning the air, the sensor detects the end of the suction of air, notifies the control device, and the control device ends the energization of the load 40.

The power supply unit 11 may be provided with an operation switch for transmitting a request to start air suction and a request to end air suction to the control device by a user's operation. In this case, the user can transmit a request to start air suction or a request to end suction to the control device by operating the operation switch. The control device that receives the air suction start request or suction end request starts or ends energization to the load 40.

The configuration of the power supply unit 11 as described above is the same as that of a known suction tool power supply unit as exemplified in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-141705, so further detailed explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the atomization unit 12 of the suction tool 10. Specifically, FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross section of the main part of the atomization unit 12 taken along a plane including the central axis CL. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section taken along the line A1-A1 in FIG. 2 (that is, a cross section cut along a plane normal to the central axis CL). The atomization unit 12 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The atomization unit 12 includes a plurality of walls (walls 70a to 70g) extending in the longitudinal direction (direction of the central axis CL), and a plurality of walls (walls 71a to 70g) extending in the width direction. ~ wall portion 71c). Further, the atomization unit 12 includes an air passage 20, a wick 30, an electrical load 40, a liquid storage section 50, and a molded body 60.

The air passage 20 is a passage through which air passes when the user suctions air (that is, when suctioning an aerosol). The air passage 20 according to this embodiment includes an upstream passage section, a load passage section 22, and a downstream passage section 23. As an example, the upstream passage section according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of upstream passage sections, specifically, an upstream passage section 21a ("first upstream passage section") and an upstream passage section 21b. ("second upstream passage section").

The upstream passage portions 21a and 21b are arranged upstream of the load passage portion 22 (upstream in the air flow direction). The downstream ends of the upstream passage sections 21a and 21b communicate with the load passage section 22. The load passage section 22 is a passage section in which a load 40 is disposed. The downstream passage section 23 is a passage section disposed downstream of the load passage section 22 (downstream side in the air flow direction). An upstream end of the downstream passage section 23 communicates with the load passage section 22 . Further, the downstream end of the downstream passage section 23 communicates with the discharge port 13 described above. The air that has passed through the downstream passage section 23 is discharged from the discharge port 13.

Specifically, the upstream passage section 21a according to the present embodiment is provided in an area surrounded by a wall 70a, a wall 70b, a wall 70e, a wall 70f, a wall 71a, and a wall 71b. There is. Further, the upstream passage portion 21b is provided in an area surrounded by the wall portion 70c, the wall portion 70d, the wall portion 70e, the wall portion 70f, the wall portion 71a, and the wall portion 71b. The load passage section 22 is provided in an area surrounded by a wall 70a, a wall 70d, a wall 70e, a wall 70f, a wall 71b, and a wall 71c. The downstream passage section 23 is provided in an area surrounded by the cylindrical wall section 70g.

A hole 72a and a hole 72b are provided in the wall portion 71a. Air flows into the upstream passage section 21a through the hole 72a, and flows into the upstream passage section 21b through the hole 72b. Further, the wall portion 71b is provided with a hole 72c and a hole 72d. Air that has passed through the upstream passage section 21a flows into the load passage section 22 through the hole 72c, and air that has passed through the upstream passage section 21b flows into the load passage section 22 through the hole 72d.

In this embodiment, the direction of air flow in the upstream passages 21a and 21b is opposite to the direction of air flow in the downstream passage 23. Specifically, in this embodiment, the direction of air flow in the upstream passages 21a, 21b is the -Z direction, and the direction of air flow in the downstream passage 23 is the Z direction.

Further, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the upstream passage section 21a and the upstream passage section 21b according to the present embodiment sandwich the liquid storage section 50 between the upstream passage section 21a and the upstream passage section 21b. As such, it is arranged adjacent to the liquid storage section 50.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the upstream passage section 21a according to the present embodiment has one side with the liquid storage section 50 in between, in a cross-sectional view taken along a section normal to the central axis CL. side (-X direction side). On the other hand, the upstream passage section 21b is arranged on the other side (the side in the X direction) with the liquid storage section 50 in between in this cross-sectional view. In other words, the upstream passage section 21a is arranged on one side of the liquid storage section 50 in the width direction of the suction tool 10, and the upstream passage section 21b is arranged on one side of the liquid storage section 50 in the width direction of the suction tool 10. placed on the other side.

The wick 30 is a member for introducing the liquid in the liquid storage section 50 into the load 40 in the load passage section 22. The specific configuration of the wick 30 is not particularly limited as long as it has such a function, but the wick 30 according to the present embodiment, for example, uses capillarity to drain the liquid in the liquid storage section 50. It is introduced into load 40.

The load 40 is an electrical load to which the liquid in the liquid storage section 50 is introduced and which atomizes the introduced liquid to generate an aerosol. The specific configuration of the load 40 is not particularly limited, and for example, a heating element such as a heater or an element such as an ultrasonic generator may be used. In this embodiment, a heater is used as an example of the load 40. As this heater, a heating resistor (that is, a heating wire), a ceramic heater, a dielectric heater, or the like can be used. In this embodiment, a heating resistor is used as an example of this heater. Moreover, in this embodiment, the heater as the load 40 has a coil shape. That is, the load 40 according to this embodiment is a so-called coil heater. This coil heater is wound around the wick 30.

Further, the load 40 according to the present embodiment is arranged in the wick 30 inside the load passage section 22, for example. The load 40 is electrically connected to the power source and control device of the power supply unit 11 described above, and generates heat when electricity from the power source is supplied to the load 40 (that is, generates heat when energized). Further, the operation of the load 40 is controlled by a control device. The load 40 heats the liquid introduced into the load 40 via the wick 30 and atomizes it to generate an aerosol.

The configurations of the wick 30 and load 40 are similar to those used in known suction tools such as those exemplified in JP-A No. 2020-141705, so further detailed explanation will be omitted. do.

The liquid storage section 50 is a part for storing liquid (Le). The liquid storage section 50 according to the present embodiment is provided in an area surrounded by a wall 70b, a wall 70c, a wall 70e, a wall 70f, a wall 71a, and a wall 71b. Further, in this embodiment, the aforementioned downstream passage section 23 is provided so as to penetrate the liquid storage section 50 in the direction of the central axis CL.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the molded body 60. With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the tobacco molded article (hereinafter also simply referred to as "molded article") 60 is as described above. In this embodiment, the liquid storage section 50 is filled with a nicotine-containing liquid, and the molded object 60 is further immersed in the liquid. The number of molded bodies 60 is not limited, and may be one, two, or three or more. An aerosol generating liquid is generated within the liquid storage section 50 .

The shape of the molded body 60 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a rod shape (that is, a shape where the length is longer than the width) extending in a predetermined direction, or a cubic shape (a shape with sides of the same length). ), or may have a sheet shape, or may have other shapes.

The shape of the molded body 60 according to this embodiment is, for example, a rod shape. Specifically, the rod-shaped molded body 60 according to the present embodiment has, for example, a rod-like polyhedral shape, and, as an example, has a cylindrical shape with a circular cross section. The cross-sectional shape of the molded body 60 is not limited to a circle, and may be a polygon (a triangle, a quadrangle, a pentagon, or a polygon with six or more corners), for example. Further, when a sheet-shaped molded body 60 is used, specifically, a paper-made sheet of tobacco leaves, a cast sheet of tobacco leaves, a rolled sheet of tobacco leaves, etc. can be used as the molded body 60.

Further, the specific values of the width (i.e., outer diameter) (W), which is the length of the molded body 60 in the lateral direction, and the total length (L), which is the length of the molded body 60 in the longitudinal direction, are as described above. However, there is no particular limitation, and an example of the numerical values is as follows. That is, as the width (W) of the molded body 60, a value selected from the range of, for example, 2 to 20 mm can be used. As the total length (L) of the molded body 60, a value selected from the range of 5 to 50 mm can be used, for example. However, these values are only examples of the width (W) and the total length (L) of the molded body 60, and the width (W) and the total length (L) of the molded body 60 may be determined according to the size of the suction tool 10. Just set the value.

Further, in the present embodiment, the density (mass per unit volume) of the molded body 60 is as described above, and is, for example, 1100 mg/cm ³ or more and 1450 mg/cm ³ or less. However, the density of the molded body 60 is not limited thereto, and may be less than 1100 mg/cm ³ or greater than 1450 mg/cm ³ .

Suction using the suction tool 10 is performed as follows. First, when the user starts suctioning air, the air passes through the upstream passage sections 21 a and 21 b of the air passage 20 and flows into the load passage section 22 . Aerosol generated in the load 40 is added to the air that has flowed into the load passage section 22 . This aerosol contains the flavor component contained in the nicotine-containing liquid and the flavor component eluted from the molded body 60. The air to which this aerosol has been added passes through the downstream passage section 23, is discharged from the discharge port 13, and is sucked into the user.

According to the suction tool 10 according to the present embodiment as described above, the aerosol generated by the load 40 allows the user to fully enjoy the flavor of tobacco leaves.

Further, according to the suction tool 10 according to the present embodiment, the molded body 60 is arranged inside the nicotine-containing liquid in the liquid storage section 50, and the molded body 60 and the electrical load 40 of the suction tool 10 are physically connected. Since they are separated from each other, it is possible to prevent tobacco materials such as tobacco leaves from adhering to the load 40 of the suction tool 10. Thereby, deterioration of the load 40 of the suction tool 10 can be suppressed. In particular, since the molded body 60 contains the binder, it is possible to suppress the carbonized component from being liberated into the aerosol generation liquid. Therefore, deterioration of the load 40 can be particularly suppressed.

(Embodiment 2)
In this embodiment, the liquid storage section 50 is filled with a separately prepared aerosol generation liquid. The aerosol generating liquid is prepared by bringing the nicotine-containing liquid into contact with the tobacco molded article of the present invention, and this liquid is filled into the liquid storage section 50. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to arrange the molded body 60 in the liquid storage section 50, but the molded body 60 may be disposed in order to obtain a stronger aromatic taste.

[Example 1]
Tobacco powder that passed through a mesh with an opening of 212 μm, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (NE-4000 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), and water were blended with the composition shown in Table 1, and mixed by hand to form a dough-like mixture. was prepared. However, the tobacco powder was obtained by washing tobacco raw materials under the following conditions.
Washing conditions 1) 80°C warm water was mixed at a solid-liquid weight ratio of 1:15, stirred for 15 minutes, and then dehydrated.
2) The operation in 1) above was repeated a total of 7 times.

300 mg of the mixture was weighed out and shaped into a rod shape by hand. The rod-shaped mixture was filled into a tableting mold, and tableting was performed using a male mold by applying a pressure of 1.0 kN. The molded product was placed in a 120°C oven and dried for 1 to 2 hours. In this way, cylindrical tobacco molded bodies having a density of 0.8 to 1 g/cm ³ were produced (Table 2).

[Liquid absorption test]
A solution (also referred to as "VB solution") containing 38% by weight of nicotine, 25% by weight of water, and 37% by weight of glycerin was prepared. Each of cylindrical molded bodies #5 to #7 was placed in a container. At this time, the longitudinal direction of the molded body was made to be parallel to the vertical direction. Using a pipette, the VB solution was dropped from the top of each molded body. The amount of VB solution added was such that when all the nicotine in the molded body was transferred to the VB liquid, the nicotine concentration in the VB liquid would be 5% by weight. After dropping the required amount of VB solution, the amount of liquid absorbed by the VB solution was measured from the change in weight of the molded article. As a result, molded bodies #5 to #7 each absorbed approximately 35% by weight of the dropped VB solution.

A hole with a diameter of 0.8 mm and a length of 4 mm (approximately 4 mm ³ ) was formed in the longitudinal direction from the center of the top surface of molded bodies #8 and #10 using a drill. The VB solution was added dropwise to the molded body according to the method described above. As a result, molded bodies #8 and #10 absorbed 100% by weight of the dropped VB solution.

[Immersion test]
Approximately 1000 ml of liquid (glycerin:propylene glycol = 7:3 (weight ratio), water 5% by weight) (hereinafter also referred to as "E-liquid") was charged into a screw tube. Molded bodies #5 to 7 were immersed together in E-liquid. At this time, the entire molded body was immersed in the E-liquid.

Approximately 300 ml of E-liquid was charged into the screw tube, and molded body #8 having a recess was immersed therein. Another screw tube was prepared, and molded body #10 having a concave portion was similarly immersed in E-liquid. At this time, the entire molded body was immersed in the E-liquid, and the recesses were also filled with the E-liquid. The nicotine content in the E-liquid after immersion was measured, and the dissolution rate after storage was determined. Nicotine was determined by a standard method using gas chromatography. The results are shown in Table 3.

"Nic concentration in E-liquid" in the table is the nicotine concentration in E-liquid after immersion. "Nic amount contained in the molded object" is the amount of nicotine (theoretical value) retained in the molded object before being immersed in E-liquid. "Maximum Nic concentration in E-liquid" is the nicotine concentration (theoretical value) when the entire amount of nicotine in the molded article is transferred to E-liquid. The "elution amount after storage" is defined as Nic concentration in E-liquid/maximum Nic concentration in E-liquid, and is an index representing the ease of transfer of nicotine from the molded article to E-liquid.

It is clear that elution of nicotine is further promoted by increasing the surface area by providing recesses.

10 Suction tool 12 Atomization unit 20 Air passage 40 Load 50 Liquid storage section 60 Molded object Le Extract liquid
60R Column-shaped molded body 60S Sheet-shaped molded body H Recess, through hole

Claims

A cigarette molded body used in a suction device that heats and atomizes an aerosol-generating liquid obtained by contacting a cigarette molded body and a nicotine-containing liquid,
A tobacco molded article having a density of 0.8 g/cm3 or more .
The tobacco molded article according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco molded article is columnar with a through hole or a recess.
The tobacco molded article according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco molded article is in the form of a sheet.
The tobacco molded article according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco molded article contains a tobacco material and a binder.
The suction tool includes a liquid storage part that stores the aerosol generation liquid, and an electric generator that atomizes the introduced aerosol generation liquid and generates an aerosol. has a load;
The tobacco molded article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is used by being placed inside the aerosol generating liquid.
A liquid storage section that stores the tobacco molded article according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and a nicotine-containing liquid;
an electric load that introduces the aerosol-generating liquid generated in the liquid storage section and atomizes the introduced liquid to generate an aerosol;
comprising an atomization unit having
Suction tool.
preparing a dough-like mixture comprising tobacco material, a binder, and water;
A step of filling the dough-like mixture into a mold and preforming it by applying a pressure of 0.2 to 5.0 kN, and a step of drying the preform,
The method for producing a tobacco molded article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: