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EP4395573A1 - Article générateur d'aérosol à perforations inclinées dans une zone de ventilation - Google Patents

Article générateur d'aérosol à perforations inclinées dans une zone de ventilation

Info

Publication number
EP4395573A1
EP4395573A1 EP22768424.8A EP22768424A EP4395573A1 EP 4395573 A1 EP4395573 A1 EP 4395573A1 EP 22768424 A EP22768424 A EP 22768424A EP 4395573 A1 EP4395573 A1 EP 4395573A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
aerosol
generating article
millimetres
millimeter
perforations
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22768424.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Alberto BONICI
Ayoub LHAOU
Milica NESOVIC
Paola ORSOLINI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Philip Morris Products SA filed Critical Philip Morris Products SA
Publication of EP4395573A1 publication Critical patent/EP4395573A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/02—Cigars; Cigarettes with special covers
    • A24D1/027—Cigars; Cigarettes with special covers with ventilating means, e.g. perforations
    • 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 FOR 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 FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/04—Cigars; Cigarettes with mouthpieces or filter-tips
    • A24D1/042—Cigars; Cigarettes with mouthpieces or filter-tips with mouthpieces
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR 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
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for 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 FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/17—Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an aerosol-generating article.
  • the aerosol-generating article may comprise an aerosol-generating substrate and may be adapted to produce an inhalable aerosol upon heating.
  • the invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device having a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article.
  • the invention further relates to a method for manufacturing an aerosol-generating article.
  • Aerosol-generating articles in which an aerosol-generating substrate, such as a tobacco-containing substrate, is heated rather than combusted, are known in the art.
  • an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a heat source to a physically separate aerosol-generating substrate or material, which may be located in contact with, within, around, or downstream of the heat source.
  • volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-generating substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and are entrained in air drawn through the aerosolgenerating article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol.
  • aerosol-generating devices for consuming aerosol-generating articles.
  • Such devices include, for example, electrically heated aerosolgenerating devices in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from one or more electrical heater elements of the aerosol-generating device to the aerosol-generating substrate of a heated aerosol-generating article.
  • electrically heated aerosol-generating devices have been proposed that comprise an internal heater blade which is adapted to be inserted into the aerosol-generating substrate.
  • inductively heatable aerosolgenerating articles comprising an aerosol-generating substrate and a susceptor arranged within the aerosol-generating substrate have been proposed.
  • the susceptor arrangement may be arranged in the aerosol-generating device such as at least partly surrounding a cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article.
  • an aerosol-generating article that can be manufactured efficiently and at high speed, preferably with a satisfactory RTD and low RTD variability from one article to another. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating article that provides efficient cooling. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating article that provides efficient cooling of the aerosol. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating article that provides efficient cooling of the vaporized aerosol-forming substrate. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating article that provides efficient mixing of ambient air with the vaporized aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the extension direction of the perforations may be tilted with respect to the radial extension direction of the aerosol-generating article.
  • Having a ventilation zone with perforations may enable that ambient air is drawn into the ventilation zone.
  • This ambient air may mix with air drawn through the rod of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the rod of aerosol-forming substrate may be heated by an aerosol-generating device so that the aerosol-forming substrate is volatilized.
  • the volatilized aerosol-forming substrate may be entrained in the air flowing through the rod of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • This airflow mixes with the ambient air downstream of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate in the ventilation zone. The mix of ambient air with the air drawn through the rod of aerosol-forming substrate cools down to form an aerosol.
  • This tilt of the perforations may lead to a turbulent flow of the ambient air being drawn into the ventilation zone via the perforations. This may improve the mixing of the ambient air with the air being drawn through the rod of aerosol-forming substrate. This, in turn, may lead to an improved aerosol generation.
  • a central axis of an individual perforation may be defined by the axis running through a peripheral cross-sectional center of the perforation and an inner cross-sectional center of the perforation.
  • the peripheral cross-sectional center of the perforation may be the cross-sectional center of the perforation at the outermost opening area of the perforation.
  • the inner cross- sectional center of the perforation may be the cross-sectional center of the perforation at the innermost opening area of the perforation.
  • the perforations have an extension or length as described herein.
  • the extension is created by a relatively large thickness of the peripheral wall of the ventilation zone, since the perforations perforate the peripheral wall of the ventilation zone. Due to the extension of the perforations, the cross-sectional shape of the perforations may change over the extension of the perforation. Further, the perforations may be tilted due to the extension of the perforation.
  • the extension of the perforations is of the same magnitude than a diameter of the perforations.
  • the direction of extension may influence the airflow through the perforations, particularly change the direction of the airflow through the perforations.
  • a turbulent airflow can be created by tilting the extension direction of the perforations with respect to the cross-sectional center of the ventilation zone.
  • a smallest distance between the central axis of each perforation and the central axis of the aerosol-generating article may be between 3% and 15% of the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article, preferably between 4% and 13% of the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article, more preferably between 5% and 10% of the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article, most preferably 6% of the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.
  • Each central axis of each perforation may be angled with respect to a radial direction of the aerosol-generating article by an angle of between 3° and 20°, preferably by an angle of between 4° and 15°, more preferably by an angle of between 5° and 10°, most preferably by an angle of 7°.
  • the length of a perforation may result in the perforation influencing the airflow through the perforation.
  • the airflow can be directed by the shape of the perforation.
  • a tilting of the perforation as described herein may lead to a turbulent airflow when the air exits the perforation.
  • One or more of the perforations may be slit-shaped or may have an oval cross-section.
  • a thickness of the peripheral wall of the ventilation zone may be between 0.8 millimeter and 2.2 millimeter, more preferably between 1 .2 millimeter and 1 .8 millimeter, most preferably around 1 .5 millimeter.
  • the invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosolgenerating device having a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article as described herein.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may have an aerosol former content of between about 5 percent and about 30 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, such as between about 10 percent and about 25 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, or between about 15 percent and about 20 percent by weight on a dry weight basis.
  • the susceptor extends all the way to a downstream end of the rod of aerosolgenerating article.
  • the susceptor may extend all the way to an upstream end of the rod of aerosol-generating article.
  • the susceptor has substantially the same length as the rod of aerosol-forming substrate, and extends from the upstream end of the rod to the downstream end of the rod.
  • the susceptor preferably has a length from about 5 millimetres to about 15 millimetres, for example from about 6 millimetres to about 12 millimetres, or from about 8 millimetres to about 10 millimetres.
  • a preferred susceptor may comprise or consist of a ferromagnetic material, for example a ferromagnetic alloy, ferritic iron, or a ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel.
  • a suitable susceptor may be, or comprise, aluminium.
  • Preferred susceptors may be formed from 400 series stainless steels, for example grade 410, or grade 420, or grade 430 stainless steel. Different materials will dissipate different amounts of energy when positioned within electromagnetic fields having similar values of frequency and field strength. Thus, parameters of the susceptor such as material type, length, width, and thickness may all be altered to provide a desired power dissipation within a known electromagnetic field.
  • Preferred susceptors may be heated to a temperature in excess of 250 degrees Celsius.
  • the aerosol-generating article may further comprise a downstream section at a location downstream of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the downstream section may comprise an intermediate hollow section comprising an aerosol-cooling element arranged in alignment with, and downstream of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • a hollow tubular segment provides an unrestricted flow channel. This means that the hollow tubular segment provides a negligible level of resistance to draw (RTD).
  • RTD resistance to draw
  • the flow channel should therefore be free from any components that would obstruct the flow of air in a longitudinal direction.
  • the flow channel is substantially empty.
  • the inventors have found that a satisfactory cooling of the stream of aerosol generated upon heating the aerosol-forming substrate and drawn through one such aerosol-cooling element is achieved by providing a ventilation zone at a location along the hollow tubular segment. Further, the inventors have found that, as will be described in more detail below, especially by arranging the ventilation zone at a precisely defined location along the length of the aerosol-cooling element and by preferably utilising a hollow tubular segment having a predetermined peripheral wall thickness or internal volume, it may be possible to counter the effects of the increased aerosol dilution caused by the admission of ventilation air into the article.
  • the aerosol-cooling element is arranged substantially in alignment with the rod. This means that the length dimension of the aerosol-cooling element is arranged to be approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod and of the article, for example within plus or minus 10 degrees of parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod. In preferred embodiments, the aerosol-cooling element extends along the longitudinal axis of the rod.
  • the longitudinal axis of the rod is preferably identical with the longitudinal axis of the aerosolgenerating article.
  • the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article is preferably identical with the central axis of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the aerosol-cooling element preferably has an outer diameter that is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate and to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the aerosol-cooling element may have an outer diameter of between 5 millimetres and 12 millimetres, for example of between 5 millimetres and 10 millimetres or of between 6 millimetres and 8 millimetres. In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-cooling element has an external diameter of 7.2 millimetres plus or minus 10 percent.
  • a peripheral wall of the aerosol-cooling element may have a thickness of less than about 2.5 millimetres, preferably less than 22 millimetres. In particularly preferred embodiments, the peripheral wall of the aerosol-cooling element has a thickness of between 1.2 millimetres and 1.8 millimetres.
  • a ratio between the length of the aerosol-cooling element and the overall length of the aerosol-generating article substrate is preferably from about 0.13 to about 0.2, more preferably from about 0.14 to about 0.2, even more preferably from about 0.15 to about 0.2.
  • the aerosol-cooling element may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials.
  • the aerosol-cooling element may be formed from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: cellulose acetate; cardboard; crimped paper, such as crimped heat resistant paper or crimped parchment paper; and polymeric materials, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE).
  • LDPE low density polyethylene
  • PHA polyhydroxyalkanoate
  • the ventilation zone comprises a plurality of perforations through the peripheral wall of the aerosol-cooling element.
  • the ventilation zone comprises at least one circumferential row of perforations.
  • the ventilation zone may comprise two circumferential rows of perforations.
  • the perforations may be formed online during manufacturing of the aerosol-generating article.
  • each circumferential row of perforations comprises from 8 to 30 perforations.
  • the specific number of 5 to 15 perforations, 7 to 14 perforations, 9 to 13 perforations, 10 to 12 perforations, particularly the number of 11 perforations leads to improved aerosol generation.
  • the ventilation zone preferably comprises at least one corresponding circumferential row of perforations provided through a portion of the combining plug wrap. These may also be formed online during manufacture of the smoking article.
  • the circumferential row or rows of perforations provided through a portion of the combining plug wrap are in substantial alignment with the row or rows of perforations through the peripheral wall of the aerosol-cooling element.
  • a distance between the ventilation zone and an upstream end of the hollow tubular segment of the aerosol-cooling element is at least about 1 millimetre.
  • a distance between the ventilation zone and an upstream end of the hollow tubular segment of the aerosol-cooling element is at least about 2 millimetres. More preferably, a distance between the ventilation zone and an upstream end of the hollow tubular segment of the aerosol-cooling element is at least about 3 millimetres.
  • a distance between the ventilation zone and a mouth end of the aerosol-generating article is preferably less than or equal to about 26 millimetres. More preferably, a distance between the ventilation zone and a mouth end of the aerosol-generating article is less than or equal to about 24 millimetres. Even more preferably, a distance between the ventilation zone and a mouth end of the aerosol-generating article is less than or equal to about 22 millimetres. In particularly preferred embodiments, a distance between the ventilation zone and a mouth end of the aerosol-generating article is less than or equal to about 20 millimetres.
  • a distance between the ventilation zone and a downstream end of the susceptor may be between 9 millimetres and 10 millimetres.
  • a distance between the ventilation zone and a downstream end of the aerosol-forming substrate may be between 9 millimetres and 10 millimetres.
  • An aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention may have a ventilation level of at least about 5 percent.
  • ventilation level may also be denoted as “ventilation percentage”.
  • ventilation level is used throughout the present specification to denote a volume ratio between the airflow admitted into the aerosol-generating article via the ventilation zone (ventilation airflow) and the sum of the aerosol airflow and the ventilation airflow. The greater the ventilation level, the higher the dilution of the aerosol flow delivered to the consumer.
  • the aerosol-generating article preferably has a ventilation level of less than about 75 percent, preferably of less than about 65 percent, more preferably of less than about 60 percent.
  • the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level of about 30 percent. In particularly preferred embodiments, the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level from about 28 percent to about 42 percent. In some particularly preferred embodiments, the aerosol-generating article has a ventilation level of about 30 percent.
  • Such critical cluster is identified as the key nucleation core from which droplets are expected to grow due to condensation of molecules from the vapour. It is assumed that virgin droplets that just nucleated emerge with a certain original diameter, and then may grow by several orders of magnitude. This is facilitated and may be enhanced by rapid cooling of the surrounding vapour, which induces condensation. In this connection, it helps to bear in mind that evaporation and condensation are two sides of one same mechanism, namely gas-liquid mass transfer. While evaporation relates to net mass transfer from the liquid droplets to the gas phase, condensation is net mass transfer from the gas phase to the droplet phase. Evaporation (or condensation) will make the droplets shrink (or grow), but it will not change the number of droplets.
  • the temperature and rate of cooling can play a critical role in determining how the system responds.
  • different cooling rates may lead to significantly different temporal behaviours as concerns the formation of the liquid phase (droplets), because the nucleation process is typically nonlinear.
  • nucleation burst a strong, short-lived increase in this growth.
  • This nucleation burst would appear to be more significant at lower temperatures.
  • higher cooling rates may favour an earlier onset of nucleation.
  • a reduction of the cooling rate would appear to have a favourable effect on the final size that the aerosol droplets ultimately reach.
  • the inventors have surprisingly found that the diluting effect on the aerosol - which can be assessed by measuring, in particular, the effect on the delivery of aerosol former (such as glycerol) included in the aerosol-forming substrate) is advantageously minimised when the ventilation level is within the ranges described above.
  • ventilation levels between 20 percent and 70 percent, preferably between 25 percent and 50 percent, and even more preferably between 28 and 42 percent, have been found to lead to particularly satisfactory values of glycerin delivery.
  • the extent of nucleation and, as a consequence, the delivery of nicotine and aerosol-former (for example, glycerol) are enhanced.
  • “short” aerosol-generating articles such as ones wherein a length of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate is less than about 40 millimetres, preferably less than 25 millimetres, even more preferably less than 20 millimetres, or wherein an overall length of the aerosol-generating article is less than about 70 millimetres, preferably less than about 60 millimetres, even more preferably less than 50 millimetres.
  • a length of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate is less than about 40 millimetres, preferably less than 25 millimetres, even more preferably less than 20 millimetres, or wherein an overall length of the aerosol-generating article is less than about 70 millimetres, preferably less than about 60 millimetres, even more preferably less than 50 millimetres.
  • the ventilated hollow tubular element substantially does not contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article
  • the overall RTD of the article can advantageously be fine-tuned by adjusting the length and density of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate or the length and optionally the length and density of a segment of filtration material forming part of the mouthpiece or the length and density of a segment of filtration material provided upstream of the aerosol-forming substrate and the susceptor.
  • the overall RTD of the article depends essentially on the RTD of the rod and optionally on the RTD of the mouthpiece and or upstream plug. This is because the hollow tubular segment of the aerosolcooling element and the hollow tubular segment of the support element are substantially empty and, as such, substantially only marginally contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosolgenerating article.
  • the support element may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials.
  • the support element may be formed from one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: cellulose acetate; cardboard; crimped paper, such as crimped heat resistant paper or crimped parchment paper; and polymeric materials, such as low density polyethylene (LDPE).
  • LDPE low density polyethylene
  • the support element is formed from cellulose acetate.
  • Other suitable materials include polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) fibres.
  • the radial hardness of the support element of aerosol-generating articles in accordance with the invention may be further increased by circumscribing the support element by a stiff plug wrap, for example, a plug wrap having a basis weight of at least about 80 grams per square metre (gsm), or at least about 100 gsm, or at least about 1 10 gsm.
  • a stiff plug wrap for example, a plug wrap having a basis weight of at least about 80 grams per square metre (gsm), or at least about 100 gsm, or at least about 1 10 gsm.
  • an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the invention into an aerosol-generating device for heating the aerosol-forming substrate
  • a user may be required to apply some force in order to overcome the resistance of the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article to insertion. This may damage one or both of the aerosolgenerating article and the aerosol-generating device.
  • the application of force during insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the aerosol-generating device may displace the aerosol-forming substrate within the aerosol-generating article. This may result in the heating element of the aerosol-generating device not being properly aligned with the susceptor provided within the aerosol-forming substrate, which may lead to uneven and inefficient heating of the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the support element is advantageously configured to resist downstream movement of the aerosol-forming substrate during insertion of the article into the aerosol-generating device.
  • the hollow tubular segment of the support element may be adapted to generate a RTD in the range of approximately 0 millimetre H 2 O (about 0 Pa) to approximately 20 millimetres H 2 O (about 200 Pa).
  • the hollow tubular segment of the support element is adapted to generate a RTD between approximately 0 millimetres H 2 O (about 0 Pa) to approximately 10 millimetres H 2 O (about 100 Pa).
  • the mouthpiece element may optionally comprise a flavourant, which may be provided in any suitable form.
  • a flavourant which may be provided in any suitable form.
  • the mouthpiece element may comprise one or more capsules, beads or granules of a flavourant, or one or more flavour loaded threads or filaments.
  • the mouthpiece element preferably has an external diameter that is approximately equal to the external diameter of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the mouthpiece element may have an external diameter of between about 5 millimetres and about 10 millimetres, or between about 6 millimetres and about 8 millimetres. In a preferred embodiment, the mouthpiece element has an external diameter of approximately 7.2 millimetres.
  • the mouthpiece element preferably has a length of at least about 5 millimetres, more preferably at least about 8 millimetres, more preferably at least about 10 millimetres. Alternatively or in addition, the mouthpiece element preferably has a length of less than about 25 millimetres, more preferably less than about 20 millimetres, more preferably less than about 15 millimetres.
  • the mouthpiece element preferably has a length from about 5 millimetres to about 25 millimetres, more preferably from about 8 millimetres to about 25 millimetres, even more preferably from about 10 millimetres to about 25 millimetres. In other embodiments, the mouthpiece element preferably has a length from about 5 millimetres to about 10 millimetres, more preferably from about 8 millimetres to about 20 millimetres, even more preferably from about 10 millimetres to about 20 millimetres.
  • the mouthpiece element has a length of at least 10 millimetres. In such embodiments, the mouthpiece element is therefore relatively long compared to the mouthpiece element provided in prior art articles.
  • the provision of a relatively long mouthpiece element in the aerosol-generating articles of the present invention may provide several benefits to the consumer.
  • the mouthpiece element is typically more resilient to deformation or better adapted to recover its initial shape after deformation than other elements that may be provided downstream of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate, such as an aerosol-cooling element or support element. Increasing the length of the mouthpiece element is therefore found to provide for improved grip by the consumer and to facilitate insertion of the aerosol-generating article into a heating device.
  • a longer mouthpiece may additionally be used to provide a higher level of filtration and removal of undesirable aerosol constituents such as phenols, so that a higher quality aerosol can be delivered.
  • the use of a longer mouthpiece element enables a more complex mouthpiece to be provided since there is more space for the incorporation of mouthpiece components such as capsules, threads and restrictors.
  • a ratio between the length of the mouthpiece element and the length of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate may be from about 0.5 to about 1 .5.
  • a ratio between the length of the mouthpiece element and the length of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate is from about 0.6 to about 1.4, preferably from about 0.7 to about 1 .4, more preferably from about 0.8 to about 1 .4. In other embodiments, a ratio between the length of the mouthpiece element and the length of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate is from about 0.6 to about 1 .3, preferably from about 0.7 to about 1 .3, more preferably from about 0.8 to about 1.3. In further embodiments, a ratio between the length of the mouthpiece element and the length of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate is from about 0.6 to about 1 .2, preferably from about 0.7 to about 1 .2, more preferably from about 0.8 to about 1.2.
  • a ratio between the length of the mouthpiece element and the overall length of the aerosol-generating article substrate may be from about 0.2 to about 0.35.
  • a ratio between the length of the mouthpiece element and the overall length of the aerosol-generating article substrate is at least about 0.22, more preferably at least about 0.24, even more preferably at least about 0.26.
  • a ratio between the length of the mouthpiece element and the overall length of the aerosol-generating article substrate is preferably less than about 0.34, more preferably less than about 0.32, even more preferably less than about 0.3.
  • a ratio between the length of the mouthpiece element and the overall length of the aerosol-generating article substrate is preferably from about 0.22 to about 0.34, more preferably from about 0.24 to about 0.34, even more preferably from about 0.26 to about 0.34.
  • the upstream element may be made of a porous material or may comprise a plurality of openings. This may, for example, be achieved through laser perforation. Preferably, the plurality of openings is distributed homogeneously over the cross-section of the upstream element.
  • the porosity or permeability of the upstream element may advantageously be varied in order to provide a desirable overall resistance to draw of the aerosol-generating article.
  • the RTD of the upstream element is at least about 5 millimetres H 2 O. More preferably, the RTD of the upstream element is at least about 10 millimetres H 2 O. Even more preferably, the RTD of the upstream element is at least about 15 millimetres H 2 O. In particularly preferred embodiments, the RTD of the upstream element is at least about 20 millimetres H 2 O.
  • the RTD of the upstream element is preferably less than or equal to about 80 millimetres H 2 O. More preferably, the RTD of the upstream element is less than or equal to about 60 millimetres H 2 O. Even more preferably, the RTD of the upstream element is less than or equal to about 40 millimetres H 2 O.
  • the upstream element may be made of any material suitable for use in an aerosolgenerating article.
  • the upstream element may, for example, be made of a same material as used for one of the other components of the aerosol-generating article, such as the mouthpiece, the cooling element or the support element.
  • Suitable materials for forming the upstream element include filter materials, ceramic, polymer material, cellulose acetate, cardboard, zeolite or aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the upstream element is formed from a plug of cellulose acetate.
  • the upstream element preferably has a substantially homogeneous structure.
  • the upstream element may be substantially homogeneous in texture and appearance.
  • the upstream element may, for example, have a continuous, regular surface over its entire cross section.
  • the upstream element may, for example, have no recognisable symmetries.
  • an overall length of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the invention is at least about 38 millimetres. More preferably, an overall length of an aerosolgenerating article in accordance with the invention is at least about 40 millimetres. Even more preferably, an overall length of an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the invention is at least about 42 millimetres.
  • an overall length of the aerosol-generating article is preferably from about 38 millimetres to about 60 millimetres, more preferably from about 40 millimetres to about 60 millimetres, even more preferably from about 42 millimetres to about 60 millimetres. In further embodiments, an overall length of the aerosol-generating article is preferably from about 38 millimetres to about 50 millimetres, more preferably from about 40 millimetres to about 50 millimetres, even more preferably from about 42 millimetres to about 50 millimetres. In an exemplary embodiment, an overall length of the aerosol-generating article is about 45 millimetres.
  • the aerosol-generating article has an external diameter of less than or equal to about 12 millimetres. More preferably, the aerosol-generating article has an external diameter of less than or equal to about 10 millimetres. Even more preferably, the aerosolgenerating article has an external diameter of less than or equal to about 8 millimetres.
  • the aerosol-generating article has an external diameter from about 5 millimetres to about 8 millimetres, preferably from about 6 millimetres to about 8 millimetres, more preferably from about 7 millimetres to about 8 millimetres.
  • a diameter (D M E) of the aerosolgenerating article at the mouth end is (preferably) greater than a diameter (DDE) of the aerosolgenerating article at the distal end.
  • a ratio (D E/DDE) between the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the mouth end and the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the distal end is (preferably) at least about 1 .005.
  • a ratio (DME/DDE) between the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the mouth end and the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the distal end is (preferably) at least about 1.01. More preferably, a ratio (DME/DDE) between the diameter of the aerosolgenerating article at the mouth end and the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the distal end is at least about 1 .02. Even more preferably, a ratio (DME/DDE) between the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the mouth end and the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the distal end is at least about 1 .05.
  • a ratio (DME/DDE) between the diameter of the aerosolgenerating article at the mouth end and the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the distal end is from about 1 .01 to 1 .30, more preferably from 1 .02 to 1 .30, even more preferably from 1 .05 to 1 .30.
  • a ratio (DME/DDE) between the diameter of the aerosolgenerating article at the mouth end and the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the distal end is from about 1 .01 to 1 .25, more preferably from 1 .02 to 1 .25, even more preferably from 1.05 to 1.25. In further embodiments, a ratio (DME/DDE) between the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the mouth end and the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the distal end is from about 1.01 to 1.20, more preferably from 1.02 to 1.20, even more preferably from 1.05 to 1.20.
  • a ratio (DME/DDE) between the diameter of the aerosol-generating article at the mouth end and the diameter of the aerosolgenerating article at the distal end is from about 1.01 to 1.15, more preferably from 1.02 to 1.15, even more preferably from 1 .05 to 1.15.
  • the external diameter of the article may be substantially constant over a distal portion of the article extending from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article for at least about 5 millimetres or at least about 10 millimetres.
  • the external diameter of the article may taper over a distal portion of the article extending from the distal end for at least about 5 millimetres or at least about 10 millimetres.
  • the elements of the aerosolgenerating article are arranged such that the centre of mass of the aerosol-generating article is at least about 60 percent of the way along the length of the aerosol-generating article from the downstream end. More preferably, the elements of the aerosol-generating article are arranged such that the centre of mass of the aerosol-generating article is at least about 62 percent of the way along the length of the aerosol-generating article from the downstream end, more preferably at least about 65 percent of the way along the length of the aerosol-generating article from the downstream end.
  • the centre of mass is no more than about 70 percent of the way along the length of the aerosol-generating article from the downstream end.
  • Providing an arrangement of elements that gives a centre of mass that is closer to the upstream end than the downstream end results in an aerosol-generating article having a weight imbalance, with a heavier upstream end.
  • This weight imbalance may advantageously provide haptic feedback to the consumer to enable them to distinguish between the upstream and downstream ends so that the correct end can be inserted into an aerosol-generating device.
  • This may be particularly beneficial where an upstream element is provided such that the upstream and downstream ends of the aerosol-generating article are visually similar to each other.
  • the aerosol-cooling element and the support element are combined prior to being circumscribed by the combined wrapper, before they are further combined with the mouthpiece segment.
  • an aerosol-cooling element of 10 millimetres can be combined with a pair of support elements of 7 millimetres on each side (and potentially with other elements like the rod of aerosol-forming substrate, etc.) to provide a hollow segment of 24 millimetres, which is subsequently cut into two intermediate hollow sections of 12 millimetres.
  • At least one of the components of the aerosol-generating article is wrapped in a hydrophobic wrapper.
  • the hydrophobic wrapper is one including a paper layer having a water contact angle of about 30 degrees or greater, and preferably about 35 degrees or greater, or about 40 degrees or greater, or about 45 degrees or greater.
  • an aerosol-generating article in accordance with the present invention comprises, in linear sequential arrangement, an upstream element, a rod of aerosol-forming substrate located immediately downstream of the upstream element, a support element located immediately downstream of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol-cooling element located immediately downstream of the support element, a mouthpiece element located immediately downstream of the aerosol-cooling element, and an outer wrapper circumscribing the upstream element, the support element, the aerosol-cooling element and the mouthpiece element.
  • the rod of aerosol-forming substrate may abut the upstream element.
  • the support element may abut the rod of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the aerosol-cooling element may abut the support element.
  • the mouthpiece element may abut the aerosol-cooling element.
  • the aerosol-generating article has a substantially cylindrical shape and an outer diameter of about 7.25 millimetres.
  • the perimeter of the aerosol-generating article is preferably between 20 millimetres and 23 millimetres, more preferably between 21 millimetres and 22 millimetres.
  • the upstream element has a length of about 5 millimetres
  • the rod of aerosol-generating article has a length of about 12 millimetres
  • the support element has a length of about 8 millimetres
  • the mouthpiece element has a length of about 12 millimetres.
  • an overall length of the aerosol-generating article is about 45 millimetres.
  • the upstream element is in the form of a plug of cellulose acetate wrapped in stiff plug wrap.
  • the aerosol-generating article comprises an elongate susceptor arranged substantially longitudinally within the rod of aerosol-forming substrate and is in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the susceptor is in the form of a strip or blade, has a length substantially equal to the length of the rod of aerosol-forming substrate and a thickness of about 60 micrometres.
  • the support element is in the form of a hollow cellulose acetate tube and has an internal diameter of about 1 .9 millimetres. Thus, a thickness of a peripheral wall of the support element is about 2.675 millimetres.
  • the aerosol-cooling element is in the form of a finer hollow cellulose acetate tube and has an internal diameter of about 3.25 millimetres. Thus, a thickness of a peripheral wall of the aerosol-cooling element is about 2 millimetres.
  • Example C Aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein each central axis of each perforation is angled with respect to a radial direction of the aerosol-generating article by an angle of between 3° and 20°, preferably by an angle of between 4° and 15°, more preferably by an angle of between 5° and 10°, most preferably by an angle of 7°.
  • Example G Aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples, wherein one or more of the perforations are slit-shaped or have an oval cross-section.
  • Example W Aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device having a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article according to any of the preceding examples.
  • Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through a ventilation zone of the aerosolgenerating article.
  • the aerosol-generating article 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a rod 12 of aerosolforming substrate 12 and a downstream section 14 at a location downstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate. Further, the aerosol-generating article 10 comprises an upstream section 16 at a location upstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate. Thus, the aerosolgenerating article 10 extends from an upstream or distal end 18 to a downstream or mouth end 20.
  • the aerosol-generating article has an overall length of about 45 millimetres.
  • the internal cavity 28 is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity 28.
  • the first hollow tubular segment 26 - and, as a consequence, the support element 22 - does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 10.
  • the RTD of the first hollow tubular segment 26 (which is essentially the RTD of the support element 22) is substantially 0 millimetres H 2 O.
  • the first hollow tubular segment 26 has a length of about 8 millimetres, an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres, and an internal diameter (D F TS) of about 1.9 millimetres.
  • a thickness of a peripheral wall of the first hollow tubular segment 26 is about 2.67 millimetres.
  • the aerosol-cooling element 24 comprises a second hollow tubular segment 34.
  • the second hollow tubular segment 34 is provided in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube made of cellulose acetate.
  • the second hollow tubular segment 34 defines an internal cavity 36 that extends all the way from an upstream end 38 of the second hollow tubular segment to a downstream end 40 of the second hollow tubular segment 34.
  • the internal cavity 36 is substantially empty, and so substantially unrestricted airflow is enabled along the internal cavity 36.
  • the second hollow tubular segment 28 - and, as a consequence, the aerosol-cooling element 24 - does not substantially contribute to the overall RTD of the aerosol-generating article 10.
  • the RTD of the second hollow tubular segment 34 (which is essentially the RTD of the aerosol-cooling element 24) is substantially 0 millimetres H 2 O.
  • the second hollow tubular segment 34 has a length of about 8 millimetres, an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres, and an internal diameter (D S TS) of about 3.25 millimetres.
  • a thickness of a peripheral wall of the second hollow tubular segment 34 is about 2 millimetres.
  • a ratio between the internal diameter (D F TS) of the first hollow tubular segment 26 and the internal diameter (D ST s) of the second hollow tubular segment 34 is about 0.75.
  • the aerosol-generating article 10 comprises a ventilation zone 60 provided at a location along the second hollow tubular segment 34.
  • the ventilation zone is provided at about 2 millimetres from the upstream end of the second hollow tubular segment 34.
  • a ventilation level of the aerosol-generating article 10 is about 25 percent.
  • the mouthpiece element 42 is provided in the form of a cylindrical plug of low-density cellulose acetate.
  • the mouthpiece element 42 has a length of about 12 millimetres and an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres.
  • the RTD of the mouthpiece element 42 is about 12 millimetres H2O.
  • the rod 12 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate of one of the types described above.
  • the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate has an external diameter of about 7.25 millimetres and a length of about 12 millimetres.
  • the aerosol-generating article 10 further comprises an elongate susceptor 44 within the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the susceptor 44 is arranged substantially longitudinally within the aerosol-forming substrate, such as to be approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rod 12. As shown in the drawing of Figure 1 , the susceptor 44 is positioned in a radially central position within the rod and extends effectively along the longitudinal axis of the rod 12.
  • the susceptor 44 extends all the way from an upstream end to a downstream end of the rod 12. In effect, the susceptor 44 has substantially the same length as the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the susceptor 44 is provided in the form of a strip and has a length of about 12 millimetres, a thickness of about 60 micrometres, and a width of about 4 millimetres.
  • the upstream section 16 comprises an upstream element 46 located immediately upstream of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate, the upstream element 46 being in longitudinal alignment with the rod 12.
  • the downstream end of the upstream element 46 abuts the upstream end of the rod 12 of aerosol-forming substrate. This advantageously prevents the susceptor 44 from being dislodged. Further, this ensures that the consumer cannot accidentally contact the heated susceptor 44 after use.
  • Figure 2 shows the ventilation zone 60 of the aerosol-generating article, more particularly a cross-sectional view of the ventilation zone 60.
  • Multiple perforations 62 are provided in the ventilation zone 60.
  • the perforation 62 are provided in the hollow tubular segment 34.
  • 11 perforations 62 are provided.
  • the perforations 62 penetrate the hollow tubular segment 34 such that ambient air can flow into the hollow tubular segment 34 through the perforations 62.
  • Ambient air can flow through the perforations 62 into the internal cavity 36 of the hollow tubular segment 34.

Landscapes

  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un article générateur d'aérosol comprenant une tige de substrat générateur d'aérosol. L'article générateur d'aérosol comprend en outre une zone de ventilation disposée en aval de la tige de substrat générateur d'aérosol. La zone de ventilation comprend des perforations (62). Les perforations sont ménagées dans une paroi périphérique de la zone de ventilation. Chaque perforation a un axe central (CAPER). L'article générateur d'aérosol a un axe central (CAART). Une distance minimale (d) entre l'axe central de chaque perforation et l'axe central de l'article générateur d'aérosol est comprise entre 3 % et 15 % du diamètre externe de l'article générateur d'aérosol. L'épaisseur de la paroi périphérique de la zone de ventilation est comprise entre 0,1 millimètre et 2,5 millimètres. L'article générateur d'aérosol a un niveau de ventilation d'au moins 20 pour cent. L'invention concerne en outre un système générateur d'aérosol comprenant un dispositif générateur d'aérosol ayant une cavité pour recevoir un article générateur d'aérosol. L'invention concerne en outre un procédé de fabrication d'un article générateur d'aérosol.
EP22768424.8A 2021-08-31 2022-08-29 Article générateur d'aérosol à perforations inclinées dans une zone de ventilation Pending EP4395573A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21194075 2021-08-31
PCT/EP2022/073899 WO2023031089A1 (fr) 2021-08-31 2022-08-29 Article générateur d'aérosol à perforations inclinées dans une zone de ventilation

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4395573A1 true EP4395573A1 (fr) 2024-07-10

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22768424.8A Pending EP4395573A1 (fr) 2021-08-31 2022-08-29 Article générateur d'aérosol à perforations inclinées dans une zone de ventilation

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20240341348A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4395573A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2024530328A (fr)
KR (1) KR20240046729A (fr)
CN (1) CN117794404A (fr)
WO (1) WO2023031089A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070074734A1 (en) * 2005-09-30 2007-04-05 Philip Morris Usa Inc. Smokeless cigarette system
RU2600911C2 (ru) * 2011-09-09 2016-10-27 Филип Моррис Продактс С.А. Фильтр курительного изделия с ограничивающим элементом и полостью
ITBO20130640A1 (it) * 2013-11-25 2015-05-26 Gd Spa Elemento filtrante ed articolo da fumo comprendente tale elemento filtrante.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN117794404A (zh) 2024-03-29
US20240341348A1 (en) 2024-10-17
KR20240046729A (ko) 2024-04-09
WO2023031089A1 (fr) 2023-03-09
JP2024530328A (ja) 2024-08-16

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