EP4643673A1

EP4643673A1 - Filter portion for flavor inhalation article and flavor inhalation article

Info

Publication number: EP4643673A1
Application number: EP22969962.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hiroshi SHIBUICHI; Tetsuya Motodamari
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2022-12-26
Filing date: 2022-12-26
Publication date: 2025-11-05
Also published as: KR20250114364A; WO2024142168A1; CN120475914A; JPWO2024142168A1

Abstract

A filter portion 30 for a flavor inhalation article, the filter portion 30 comprising: a paper filter which is filled with a sheet member such that a void is formed over the longitudinal direction; and a hollow member 33 which is disposed in the paper filter along the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30 and has a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the paper filter, wherein at least one end of the hollow member 33 is disposed at a position within a predetermined distance from a longitudinal-direction end of the filter portion 30.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article and a flavor inhalation article.

BACKGROUND ART

PTL 1 discloses a cigarette comprising a tobacco rod and a filter element connected to the tobacco rod, the filter element having an end at a proximal end of the tobacco rod and an end at a distal end from the tobacco rod, wherein: the filter element comprises a first portion of a filter material at the proximal end of the tobacco rod, and a second longitudinal extending portion of the filter material at the distal end from the tobacco rod and arranged in an end-to-end configuration to the first portion of the filter material; and the first portion of the filter material comprises one or more tubes inserted into the first portion of the filter material and extending through the first portion of the filter material.

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE

PTL 1: JP 2014-509872 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

As a filter for a flavor inhalation article, a paper filter, for example, may be used in view of the environment. Here, the ability of the paper filter to filter the aerosol is generally higher than a filter using fibers such as cellulose acetate. Therefore, when a paper filter is used, the smoking flavor due to the aerosol is reduced more than that of a filter using fibers such as cellulose acetate.
An elongate hollow member may be arranged in the paper filter for the purpose of adjusting the flavor and hardness of the filter portion. Preferably, the hollow member is sized to penetrate through the filter portion longitudinal direction, but it is difficult in terms of manufacturing to arrange the through-sized hollow member in the paper filter.
An object of the present disclosure is to balance delivery efficiency and ease of manufacture when arranging an elongate hollow member in a filter portion of a flavor inhalation article.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

A first feature of the present disclosure completed for such purpose is a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, the filter portion comprising: a paper filter which is filled with a sheet member such that a void is formed over the longitudinal direction; and a hollow member which is disposed in the paper filter along the longitudinal direction of the filter portion and has a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the paper filter, wherein at least one end of the hollow member is disposed at a position within a predetermined distance from a longitudinal-direction end of the filter portion.
A second feature is that the hollow member may have one end within a predetermined distance from a downstream end side of the filter portion, and another end provided with an opening on an upstream side end of the filter portion.
A third feature is that the predetermined distance may be 1/2×A×√3 (A is the diameter of a circumferential circle of the opening).
A fourth feature is that the hollow member may include at least paper.
A fifth feature is that the hollow member may be a straight paper tube formed by cylindrically wrapping paper or a spiral paper tube formed by obliquely wrapping band-shaped paper.
A sixth feature is that the paper filter may be a filter in which the sheet member is gathered.
A seventh feature is that the paper filter may be a filter obtained by crimping a sheet member formed from paper or nonwoven fabric.
An eighth feature is that the sheet member may be crimped in the longitudinal direction of the filter portion.
A ninth feature is that the filling density of the sheet member may be 105-720 mg/cm³ at a location where the hollow member is present.
A tenth feature is that the ratio of the outer diameter of the hollow member to the outer diameter of the paper filter may be at least 0.2 but less than 0.7.
An eleventh feature is that the airflow resistance of the paper filter may be at least 0 [mmH₂O/10 mm] but less than 20 [mmH₂O/10 mm].
A twelfth feature is a flavor inhalation article comprising said filter portion and a substrate part containing an aerosol source.
A thirteenth feature is that the flavor inhalation article may be a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article.
A fourteenth feature is that the flavor inhalation article may be a burn-type flavor inhalation article.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the first feature, it is possible to provide a filter portion of a flavor inhalation article having both delivery efficiency and ease of manufacture, as compared to when the hollow member is not within a predetermined distance from the longitudinal-direction end of the filter portion.
According to the second feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article having an excellent delivery efficiency, as compared to when one end of the hollow member is arranged beyond a predetermined distance from the downstream end of the filter portion.
According to the third feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article having excellent delivery efficiency as compared to when the predetermined distance exceeds 1/2×A×√3 (A is the diameter of a circumferential circle of the opening).
According to the fourth feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article in which the material constituting the hollow member is close to the paper filter, as compared to when the hollow member does not include paper.
According to the fifth feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article which can be used in a hollow member, even if the basis weight of the paper is low, and has good formability and excellent strength, as compared to when the hollow member is not formed from a straight paper tube formed by cylindrically wrapping paper or a spiral paper tube formed by obliquely wrapping band-shaped paper.
According to the sixth feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article having a higher ability to filter an aerosol, as compared to a filter in which the sheet member is not gathered.
According to the seventh feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article having a higher ability to filter an aerosol, as compared to when the paper filter is not crimped.
According to the eighth feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article having a higher ability to filter an aerosol, as compared to when the paper filter is not crimped.
According to the ninth feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article in which favorable hardness of the filter portion is exhibited as compared to when the filling density of the paper filter is less than 105 mg/cm³ at a location where the hollow member is not present, and in which aerosol components are not overfiltered as compared to when the filling density of the paper filter exceeds 720 mg/cm³.
According to the tenth feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article in which it is possible to maintain the delivery amount while filtering an aerosol, as compared to when the ratio of the outer diameter of the hollow member to the outer diameter of the paper filter is less than 0.2 or at least 0.7.
According to the eleventh feature, it is possible to provide the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article in which a hole is not formed at the filter end and smoking flavor is not adversely affected, as compared to when the airflow resistance of the paper filter is at least 20 [mmH₂O/10 mm].
According to the twelfth to fourteenth features, it is possible to provide a flavor inhalation article having both delivery efficiency and ease of manufacture, as compared to when the hollow member is not within a predetermined distance from the longitudinal-direction end of the filter portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to a first embodiment.
Fig. 2 is a schematic view schematically showing a configuration example of an inhalation device according to the first embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a view showing a transversal cross-section of a filter portion of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to the first embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a view showing a transversal cross-section of the filter portion of the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to another example of the first embodiment.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the filter portion of the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to the first embodiment.
Fig. 6 is a schematic view for explaining the filter portion of the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to the first embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to another embodiment.
Fig. 8 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to another embodiment.
Fig. 9 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to a second embodiment.
Fig. 10 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to a second embodiment.
Fig. 11 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings, identical parts are indicated by identical reference signs.

<Heat-not-bum flavor inhalation article>

Fig. 1 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article 1 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic view schematically showing a configuration example of an inhalation device 100 according to the first embodiment.
The heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "flavor inhalation article 1") comprises a substrate part 10, a cooling part 20, and a filter portion 30. A mouthpiece segment 50 may be gripped in the mouth by a user during inhalation, and in the example of fig. 1, includes the cooling part 20 and the filter portion 30. Furthermore, the substrate part 10 is formed in a columnar shape. Hereinafter, the direction of the centerline CL of the substrate part 10 may be referred to as the "centerline direction". The flavor inhalation article 1 is wound in a state where the substrate part 10, the cooling part 20, and the filter portion 30 are arranged in this order in the centerline direction, and the article further includes a tipping paper 40 that integrates them.
Hereinafter, one end side (the left side in fig. 1) in the centerline direction may be referred to as the first side, and the other end side (the right side in fig. 1) in the centerline direction may be referred to as the second side. The first side is an end side to be inserted into the inhalation device 100, and is the upstream side in the flow of aerosol during inhalation. The second side is opposite to the first side and is an end side where the user holds the article in the mouth for inhalation, and is the downstream side in the flow of aerosol during inhalation. Furthermore, the cross-section along the centerline direction is referred to as the "longitudinal cross-section", and the cross-section cut at a plane orthogonal to the centerline direction is defined as a "cross-section".

Usage of Flavor Inhalation Article 1

The flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment is used in a heat-not-burn inhalation device 100. As shown in fig. 2, the inhalation device 100 includes a power source unit 111 for storing power and supplying power to each component of the inhalation device 100, a sensor unit 112 for detecting various information about the inhalation device 100, and a notification unit 113 for notifying the user of the information. Furthermore, the inhalation device 100 also includes a storage unit 114 for storing various information for the operation of the inhalation device 100, a communication unit 115 for transmitting and receiving information between the inhalation device 100 and other devices, and a control unit 116 for controlling the entire operation in the inhalation device 100. Additionally, the inhalation device 100 includes heating units 121 for heating the flavor inhalation article 1, a holding portion 140 for holding the flavor inhalation article 1, an opening 142 for communicating an internal space 141 with the outside, and heat insulating portions 144 for preventing heat transfer from the heating units 121 to other components of the inhalation device 100. A user inhales with the inhalation device 100 in a state in which the flavor inhalation article 1 is held by the holding portion 140.
The heating units 121 heat the substrate part 10 of the flavor inhalation article 1. The heating unit 121 is formed by any material such as a metal or polyimide. For example, the heating unit 121 is configured in a film shape and disposed so as to cover the outer circumference of the holding portion 140. When the heating units 121 generate heat, an aerosol source 11 (omitted in fig. 2) contained in the flavor inhalation article 1 is heated from the outer periphery of the flavor inhalation article 1. The heating unit 121 generates heat when supplied with electricity from the power source unit 111. As an example, the electricity may be supplied when the sensor unit 112 has detected that there has been predetermined user input. When the temperature of the flavor inhalation article 1 heated by means of the heating units 121 has reached a predetermined temperature, inhalation by the user is then possible. After this, the electrical supply may be stopped when the sensor unit 112 has detected that there has been predetermined user input. As an example of the usage, the aerosol may be generated by electricity being supplied during a period in which the sensor unit 112 detects that there is inhalation by the user from the downstream filter portion 30.
The heat insulating portions 144 are disposed so as to cover at least the outer periphery of the heating units 121. For example, the heat insulating portion 144 is configured by a vacuum insulating material or an aerogel insulating material, etc. It should be noted that a vacuum insulating material is a heat insulating material in which a state of high vacuum is created by wrapping glass wool and silica (silicon powder), etc. in a resin film, for example, so that heat conduction by gas is as close as possible to zero.

Flavor Inhalation Article 1

The flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment is a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article.
The transversal cross-section of the flavor inhalation article 1 is substantially circular and the outer diameter thereof can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but the outer diameter is usually 16-27 mm, preferably 21-23 mm. It should be noted that when the transversal cross-section is not circular, the aforementioned outer diameter is applied assuming a circle having the same area as the area of the cross-section.
The size of the flavor inhalation article 1 in the centerline direction can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but is usually 40-100 mm, preferably 50-70 mm.

Filter Portion 30

The filter portion 30, which is a feature of the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment, will be described.
Fig. 3 is a view showing an example of a configuration of the filter portion 30 according to the first embodiment, where (A) is a view showing one example of a cross-section of the I-I section of fig. 1, and (B) is a view showing one example of the cross-section of the II-II section of fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view showing another example of a configuration of the filter portion 30 according to the first embodiment, where (A) is a view showing another example of the cross-section of the I-I section of fig. 1, and (B) is a view showing another example of the cross-section of the II-II section of fig. 1.
The filter portion 30 is formed in a columnar shape in which the size in the centerline direction is larger than the width of the transversal cross-section. Thus, the filter portion 30 is arranged such that the longitudinal direction is the centerline direction.
The filter portion 30 has a filter 31 through which an aerosol passes, a hollow member 33 having a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the filter 31, and wrapping paper 35 present between the filter 31 and the tipping paper 40 and wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the filter 31 (see fig. 1). The filter portion 30 is connected (coupled) to the cooling part 20 by integrally wrapping the cooling part 20 and the filter portion 30 by using the tipping paper 40 (see fig. 1). It should be noted that the wrapping paper 35 need not be provided.
There is no particular restriction on the form of the wrapping paper 35, and the paper may include a seam comprising one or more lines of adhesive. The adhesive may comprise a hot-melt adhesive, and further, the hot-melt adhesive may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. When the filter portion 30 is composed of two or more members, it is preferable that the wrapping paper is further wrapped together with another wrapping paper after each of the two or more members is wrapped.
There is no particular restriction on the material of the wrapping paper 35, and a well-known material may be used, and the wrapping paper may furthermore comprise a filler such as calcium carbonate, etc.
There is no particular restriction on the thickness of the wrapping paper 35, and the thickness is normally 20 µm-140 µm, preferably 30 µm-130 µm, and more preferably 30 µm-120 µm.
There is no particular restriction on the basis weight of the wrapping paper 35, but the basis weight is normally 20 gsm-100 gsm, preferably 22 gsm-95 gsm, and more preferably 23 gsm-90 gsm.
There is no particular restriction on the air permeability of the wrapping paper 35, and it is normally 0 CORESTA units-30,000 CORESTA units, and preferably greater than 0 CORESTA units and no greater than 10,000 CORESTA units.
Furthermore, the wrapping paper 35 may be coated or uncoated, but is preferably coated with a desired material from the point of view of enabling functions other than strength and structural rigidity to be imparted.
The cross-section of the filter 31 of the filter portion 30 is substantially circular and the outer diameter thereof can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but an example of the outer diameter includes 22-25 mm. It should be noted that when the transversal cross-section is not circular, the aforementioned outer diameter is applied assuming a circle having the same area as the area of the cross-section.
The size of the cooling part 30 in the centerline direction can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but is usually 5.0-30.0 mm, preferably 12.5-27.5 mm, and more preferably 15.0-25.0 mm.
There is no particular restriction on the airflow resistance per size of 10 mm in the centerline direction of the filter portion 30, but said airflow resistance is preferably usually 0-20 mmH₂O.
The airflow resistance is measured by using a filter airflow resistance measurement instrument produced by Cerulean, for example, in accordance with the ISO standard method (ISO6565). The airflow resistance of the filter portion 30 denotes an air pressure difference between a first side face and a second side when air at a predetermined air flow rate (17.5 cc/min) flows from the first side to the second side in a state in which air does not pass through the side face of the filter portion 30. The units are generally expressed in mmH₂O.
The filter 31 is a paper filter molded by filling a sheet member, and is filled so as to form a void through which an aerosol can pass along the longitudinal direction. In other words, the filter 31 is a paper filter molded by filling a sheet member so as to ensure a passage path for the aerosol extending in the centerline direction.
There is no particular restriction on the fill density of the sheet member constituting the filter 31, but the fill density is usually 90 mg/cm³ to 720 g/cm³. The fill density of the sheet member depends on the presence or absence of the hollow member 33. Fig. 5 schematically illustrates, in the filter portion 30, a region 301 in which the hollow member 33 is not arranged in the transversal cross-section of the filter 31 and a region 302 in which the hollow member 33 is arranged in the transversal cross-section of the filter 31. A transversal cross-sectional view of the filter portion of the region 301 is fig. 3(A) and a transversal cross-sectional view of the filter portion of the region 302 is fig. 3(B). As shown in fig. 3(A), the fill density of the sheet member in the region where the hollow member 33 is not disposed is preferably 90 mg/cm³ to 360 g/cm³, and more preferably 150 mg/cm³ to 240 g/cm³. Furthermore, as shown in fig. 3(B), the fill density of the sheet member in the region where the hollow member 33 is disposed is preferably 105 mg/cm³ to 720 g/cm³, and more preferably 170 mg/cm³ to 480 g/cm³.
There is no particular restriction on the material of the sheet member constituting the filter 31 as long as it is possible to achieve the general function of a filter, but it is preferable that the material be paper such as pulp paper having pulp as a main component, or a non-woven fabric, and more preferably paper. Alternatively, a polymer sheet, a metal sheet, or the like may be used as the material of the sheet member constituting the filter 31. It should be noted that general functions of the filter which may be cited include adjusting the amount of air which is mixed when the aerosol, etc. is inhaled, lightening the flavor, and lightening nicotine and tar, etc., but not all of these functions need to be provided. Furthermore, in the non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation article 1, which tends to have fewer generated components and a lower filling rate of the aerosol source 11 compared to cigarette products, it is also an important function to prevent the detachment of components contained within the flavor inhalation article 1 while suppressing the filtration function.
The filter 31 is formed of a sheet member that is folded or wrinkled, gathered, or the like, and is filled so as to secure a passage path for the aerosol extending in the centerline direction. Specifically, as shown in fig. 3(A), the filter 31 is a paper filter filled with a sheet member such that a gap is formed over the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30, and the sheet member is gathered. Here, "gathered" means that the sheet member is filled in a state folded back a plurality of times horizontally to the centerline direction of the filter 31.
The sheet member constituting the filter 31 may be one sheet or two or more sheets. Furthermore, there need not be folding or folds, as long as a passage path for the aerosol extending in the centerline direction is ensured. Specifically, the filter 31 may be a paper filter filled with strip-shaped sheet members as shown in fig. 4(A).
By crimping the entire sheet member, voids can be efficiently formed in the sheet member. Crimping is a process of providing wrinkles on the sheet. Crimping can be implemented by, for example, by passing the sheet member to be processed between a pair of rollers having multiple protrusions on the surface, wrinkles extending orthogonally to the sheet transport direction can be provided on both the front and back surfaces of the sheet member.
The hollow member 33 is arranged in the paper filter (filter 31) along the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30 and has a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the paper filter. The degree of filtration of the smoking flavor of the hollow member 33 can be reduced due to the low filtration rate, and the hardness of the filter portion 30 can be adjusted by using the hollow member 33 at the same time.
In the present embodiment, the downstream (second side) end of the hollow member 33 is within a predetermined distance from the downstream (second side) end of the filter portion 30. This positional relationship allows for a balance between aerosol delivery efficiency and ease of manufacture of the filter portion 30, compared to a case where the downstream end of the filter portion 30 is at a position further than a predetermined distance from the end of the hollow member 33.
Said predetermined distance is preferably 1/2×A×√3 when the downstream end of the hollow member 33 forms a flat surface. Here, A is the diameter of the circumferential circle that the hollow member 33 has downstream. If the shape of the downstream end is not a circle, a circle having the same area as the shape formed by the end is assumed, and serves as the diameter of the circumferential circuit of said circle. Furthermore, if the downstream end face of the hollow member 33 does not form a flat surface, the diameter of the circumferential circle of the transverse cross-section at the downstream end of the hollow member 33 is found. 1/2×A×√3 corresponds to the height of an equilateral triangle when having created the equilateral triangle with one said being the diameter of the circumferential circle.
The reason that 1/2×A×√3 is preferable will be explained. In the present embodiment, the filter portion 30 is manufactured by connecting four filter portions 30. In the manufacturing of the filter portion 30, a sheet member with a size corresponding to four filters 31 is first overlaid on a flat paper for the wrapping paper 35 with a length corresponding to four filter portions, while crimping the sheet member. The hollow member 33 is placed over the crimped sheet member, and the wrapping paper 35 and the sheet member are wound to manufacture the filter portion 30 in four successive lengths, and then the length direction is cut in fourths to obtain four filter portions 30.
In order to reduce the degree of smoking flavor filtration in the aerosol, it is preferable that the hollow member 33 has the same length as the filter portion 30. However, in the case of the above manufacturing method, the hollow member 33 with the length of the four filter portions 30 needs to be prepared and supplied on the sheet member and wrapped, making it extremely difficult to manufacture. As such, the hollow member 33 is made shorter in length than the filter portion and the downstream end of the hollow member 33 is arranged at a distance from the end of the filter portion.
A schematic view of the longitudinal cross-section of the filter portion 30 is shown in fig. 6(A). In the filter portion 30, the filter 31 has a high filling density at a location where the hollow member 33 is arranged, and a low filling density at a location where the hollow member 33 is not arranged, but the downstream side of the hollow member 33 is formed in a funnel-like shape at a location where the filter 31 is not present. In the longitudinal cross-section of the filter portion, the distance from the hollow member 33 at the position where the filter 31 is not present is close to the height of an equilateral triangle (1/2×A×√3) having the bottom side being the diameter of the circumferential circle at the downstream end of the hollow member 33, and thus the predetermined distance is preferably 1/2×A×√3.
When the filter portion 30 is cut at the transversal cross-section XIIB in fig. 6(A) in order for the downstream end of the filter portion 30 to be closer to the hollow member 33 than 1/2×A×√3, a hole not covered by the paper filter (filter 31) is formed in the downstream end face of the filter portion 30, as shown in fig. 6(B), which connects the hollow member 33 to the outside. As shown in fig. 6(A), when the upstream end of the filter portion 30 is arranged with the opening of the hollow member 33 and the downstream side of the filter portion 30 is cut at the transversal cross-section XIIB, the length of the hollow member 33 is substantially the same as the filter portion 30 and the degree of smoking flavor filtration in the aerosol can be reduced.
At least one end of the hollow member 33 is arranged within a predetermined distance from the longitudinal end of the filter portion 30. The term "within the predetermined distance" includes a case where the opening is provided at the end in the longitudinal direction, in which case the other end is a position inward of the end of the filter portion 30.
The hollow member 33 preferably has an elongate shape due to being arranged in the paper filter. The shape of the outer periphery of the hollow member 33 in the transversal cross-section can be changed as appropriate to match the shape of the product, but is a circle, an oval, a polygon, or a round polygon, for example, and is preferably a columnar shape in appearance.
Additionally, the ratio of the area of the hollow member 33 to the area of the filter portion 30 in the cross-section is not particularly restricted, but can be 15% to 50%, with 20% to 40% being preferred. If multiple hollow members 33 are disposed in parallel within the filter 31, it is preferred that the total area ratio of the multiple hollow members 33 to the area of the filter portion 30 in one transversal cross-section is within the above range.
In the transversal cross-section of the hollow member 33, if the shape of the outer periphery thereof is substantially circular, the outer diameter thereof can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but outer diameter is usually 6-15 mm, and preferably 9-11 mm. The ratio of the outer diameter of the hollow member 33 to the outer diameter of the filter 31 is usually 0.20 or more but less than 0.70, and preferably 0.35-0.50. It should be noted that when the transversal cross-section is not circular, the aforementioned outer diameter is applied assuming a circle having the same area as the area of the cross-section.
A specific example of the configuration of the hollow member 33 will be described.
For example, the hollow member 33 is a tube molded such that a cross-section of a cylinder or the like forms a hollow section by being wrapped with a sheet member that contains the same material as the sheet member constituting the filter 31. Specifically, the hollow member 33 is a paper tube molded by being wrapped with paper. By using the hollow member 33 as a paper tube, the material constituting the hollow member 33 can be made approximately the same as that of the filter 31.
The hollow member 33 is a paper tube, a so-called spiral paper tube, molded by sticking together a plurality of sheet member including at least paper to each other and spirally wrapping the sheets. In the manufacturing method of the spiral paper tube, it is possible to easily form a paper tube with a circular cross-section. By adopting a spiral paper tube for the hollow member 33, the ratio of the area of the hollow member 33 to the area of the filter portion 30 can be reduced while improving the strength of the hollow member 33. Additionally, by laminating sheet members containing fragrance components, flavor components, tobacco powder, etc., with paper, new aromatic flavors can be imparted to the aerosol.
Alternatively, the hollow section 33 may be a straight paper tube, which is a paper tube formed by wrapping paper in multiple layers in a cylindrical shape. In the manufacturing method of the straight paper tube, compared to the manufacturing method of the spiral paper tube, the amount of glue used for attaching the paper can be reduced.
The hollow member 33 may be a paper tube molded by laminating a plurality of sheet members including at least paper. By laminating multiple sheet members, the strength of the hollow member 33 can be maintained even when the basis weight of each sheet member is small.
Note that the hollow member 33 is not limited to a paper tube formed by wrapping paper and may be formed by a tube of synthetic resin or the like that already has a hollow transversal cross-section. The thickness of the hollow member 33 is not particularly restricted, and when a plurality of members overlaid, the total thickness thereof may be 50-500 µm, and may be 100-250 µm. Such a thickness can reduce deformation due to pressure from the surrounding filled paper filter.
Fig. 7 is a view showing another example of the longitudinal cross-section of the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment, and is an example in which the substrate part 10 has a tip member 13 that prevents the aerosol source 11 from falling off from the first side end surface of the substrate part 10. Fig. 7(A) is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of the flavor inhalation article 1 with a plurality of the hollow members 33 arranged in a straight line, and (B) is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of the flavor inhalation article 1 arranged with the hollow members 33 both upstream and downstream within a predetermined distance from the end of the filter portion 30. When arranging a plurality of hollow members 33 in a straight line, the distance between the hollow members 33 is preferably a predetermined distance, particularly 1/2×A×√3 or less, resulting in substantially connected hollow members.
Examples of other implementations of the filter portion 30 are shown in fig. 8.
The examples in fig. 8 are all a flavor inhalation article 2 in which the substrate part 10 has a tip member 13 for preventing the aerosol source 11 from falling off from the first side end face of the substrate portion 10, further having a separate filter 32 as a filter portion 230, and the hollow member 33 is region in the area filled with the filter 31. Fig. 8(A) is a view showing that the hollow member 33 has an opening at the boundary between the filter 31 and the separate filter 32, and downstream side is positioned within a predetermined distance from the downstream end of the filter portion 30, fig. 8(B) is a view showing that the hollow member 33 is positioned within a predetermined distance from both the upstream side (first side) and downstream side (second side) of the filter 31, and fig. 8(C) is a view showing that the hollow member 33 has an opening at both the upstream end and downstream end of the region filled with the filter 31 on both the upstream side and the downstream side, and the spacing between two of the hollow members 33 is positioned within a predetermined distance.
The flavor inhalation article 2 of fig. 8 differs from the flavor inhalation article 1 of fig. 7 in the filter portion 230 corresponding to the filter portion 30. The differences from the embodiment of fig. 7 will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in fig. 7 and fig. 8, and detailed descriptions are omitted.
The filter portion 230 includes a filter 31, which is a paper filter, a separate filter 32 that is an independent filter separate from the filter 31, a hollow member 33, and a winding paper 35 that exists between the filter 31 and a tipping paper 40 and is wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the filter 31. The filter portion 230 is connected (linked) to the cooling part 20 by being wrapped together with the cooling part 20 using the tipping paper 40. It should be noted that the wrapping paper 35 need not be provided.
The cross-section of the separate filter 32 of the filter portion 230 is substantially circular and the outer diameter thereof can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but an example of the outer diameter includes 22-27 mm. It should be noted that when the transversal cross-section is not circular, the aforementioned outer diameter is applied assuming a circle having the same area as the area of the cross-section.
It can be exemplified that the air resistance and the size in the centerline direction of the filter portion 230 are the same as the air resistance and the size in the centerline direction of the filter portion 30. The shape and dimensions of the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 may be suitably adjusted such that the shape and dimensions of the filter portion 230 are in the range above.
The separate filter 32 includes a filter material and is not particularly limited as long as it has the general functions of a filter. The general functions of a filter include, for example, adjusting the amount of air mixed during aerosol inhalation, reducing flavor, and reducing nicotine and tar, but it is not necessary to have all of these functions. Furthermore, in the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article 1, which generates fewer components and tends to have a lower filling rate of the aerosol source 11 than a cigarette product, an important function of the filter also lies in preventing the aerosol source 11 from falling out, while controlling a filtration function. Note that the separate filter 32 may have a lower filtration rate than the filter 31 and a higher hardness than the filter 31.
The filter material constituting the separate filter 32 is, for example, a hollow member such as cellulose acetate fibers, nonwoven fabric, or pulp paper formed into a cylindrical shape. Additionally, a paper filter filled with sheet-like pulp paper may be used. In addition to these filling materials, inorganic adsorbents such as activated carbon, sepiolite, palygorskite, zeolite, activated carbon fibers, activated alumina, sepiolite mixed paper, silica gel, activated clay, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, as well as pulp, various fibers, ion exchange resins, and other polymer porous bodies can be used.
The filling density of the filter material is not particularly limited, but is usually 90 mg/cm³ or more and 360 mg/cm³ or less, and preferably 150 mg/cm³ or more and 240 mg/cm³ or less.
The filter 31 may comprise a frangible additive release container (e.g., a capsule) comprising a frangible outer shell, such as gelatin. There is no particular restriction on the form of the additive release container such as a capsule, and a well-known form may be adopted. In the case of a capsule, when the capsule is ruptured before use, during use, or after use by a user, a liquid or a substance (normally a flavorant) contained inside the capsule is released, the liquid or substance is then carried while the stick is being used, and diffused to the ambient environment after use.
There is no particular limitation as to the form of the capsule, and it may be an easily-rupturable capsule, for example, and the shape thereof is preferably spherical. Any of the additives may be contained as the additive included in the capsule, but a flavorant or activated carbon is especially preferably contained. Furthermore, one or more types of materials serving as an aid to filtering the aerosol may be added as an additive. There is no particular limitation as to the form of the additive, and it is normally a liquid or a solid. Easily-rupturable capsules and methods for producing the same are well known.
Flavorants include menthol, spearmint, peppermint, fenugreek, or clove, and may be medium-chain triglyceride (MCT), etc. or one of these or a combination thereof can be used, for example.
The filter may further comprise other components such as inorganic fine powder (Kaolin; talc, silica earth, quartz, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, titanium oxide, alumina, etc.), a heat stabilizing agent (such as alkalis or salts of alkaline earth metals), a coloring agent, a brightness enhancing agent, oils, yield enhancing agents, sizing agents, biodegradation or photodegradation enhancing agents (such as anatase titanium oxide), natural polymers or derivatives thereof (such as cellulose powder), etc., for example. In addition to these filling materials, inorganic adsorbents such as activated carbon, sepiolite, palygorskite, zeolite, activated carbon fibers, activated alumina, sepiolite mixed paper, silica gel, activated clay, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, as well as pulp, various fibers, ion exchange resins, and other polymer porous bodies can be used. Other components can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[Substrate Part 10]

As described above, the flavor inhalation article 1 is wound in a state where the substrate part 10, the cooling part 20, and the filter portion 30 are arranged in this order in the centerline direction, and the article further includes a tipping paper 40 that integrates these. The substrate part 10 will now be described.
The substrate part 10 has an aerosol source 11 which generates a vapor from which an aerosol is generated when heated, and a wrapping paper 12 which covers the outer periphery of the aerosol source 11. The substrate part 10 of fig. 1 is an example of a substrate part that contains an aerosol source. The substrate part 10 is formed in a columnar shape by wrapping the aerosol source 11 with the wrapping paper 12. The aerosol source 11 may be tobacco-derived, such as processed products formed into granules, sheets, or powders from shredded tobacco or tobacco raw materials, for example. The aerosol source 11 may also include non-tobacco-derived materials made from plants other than tobacco (e.g., mint, herbs, etc.). As one example, the aerosol source 11 may contain a flavoring component such as menthol. If the inhalation device 100 is a medical inhaler, the aerosol source 11 may include a drug for the patient to inhale. Note that the aerosol source 11 is not limited to solids and may be a liquid such as polyhydric alcohols like glycerin and propylene glycol, as well as water, for example. At least a part of the substrate part 10 is accommodated in the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140 when the flavor inhalation article 1 is held in the holding portion 140.
The substrate part 10, formed by wrapping the aerosol source 11 with the wrapping paper 12, preferably has a cylindrical shape that satisfies an aspect ratio of 1 or more as defined by equation 1.
$Aspect ratio = h / w$
In equation 1, w is the width of the cross-section of the substrate part 10, and h is the size in the centerline direction of the substrate part 10, and it is preferable that h ≥ w. The shape of the transverse cross-section is not limited and may be polygonal, rounded polygonal, circular, elliptical, etc.; in the case of a circular cross-section, the width w is the diameter; in the case of an elliptical cross-section, it is the major axis; and in the case of a polygonal or rounded polygonal cross-section, it is the diameter of the circumscribed circle or the major axis of the circumscribed ellipse. The width of the aerosol source 11 constituting the substrate part 10 is preferably 4 mm to 9 mm.
The size of the substrate part 10 in the centerline direction can be appropriately adjusted according to the size of the product, but it is usually 10 mm or more, preferably 12 mm or more, more preferably 15 mm or more, and even more preferably 18 mm or more. Additionally, the size of the substrate part 10 in the centerline direction is usually 70 mm or less, preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 30 mm or less, and even more preferably 25 mm or less.
Furthermore, the ratio of the size of the substrate part 10 to the size of the flavor inhalation article 1 in the centerline direction is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of balancing delivery amount and aerosol temperature, this is usually 10% or more, preferably 20% or more, more preferably 25% or more, and even more preferably 30% or more. Furthermore, the ratio of the size of the substrate part 10 to the size of the flavor inhalation article 1 is usually 80% or less, preferably 70% or less, more preferably 60% or less, even more preferably 50% or less, particularly preferably 45% or less, and most preferably 40% or less.
The content of the aerosol source 11 in the substrate part 10 is not particularly limited, but examples include 200 mg or more and 800 mg or less, with 250 mg or more and 600 mg or less being preferred. This range is particularly suitable for a substrate part 10 with a circumference of 22 mm and a size of 20 mm in the centerline direction.
Here, the aerosol source 11 including shredded tobacco will be described. The material of the shredded tobacco included in the aerosol source 11 is not particularly limited, and known materials such as lamina and midrib can be used. Additionally, dried tobacco leaves can be pulverized to an average particle size of 20 µm or more and 200 µm or less to create a tobacco powder, which is then homogenized and sheet-processed (hereinafter simply referred to as a homogenized sheet) and shredded. Furthermore, a so-called strand type, in which a homogenized sheet with a size approximately the same as the size in the centerline direction of the substrate part 10 is shredded horizontally in the centerline direction of the substrate part 10 and filled as the aerosol source 11, may also be used. The width of the shredded tobacco is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less for filling in the aerosol source 11.
Regarding the tobacco leaves used for producing shredded tobacco and homogenized sheets, various types of tobacco can be used. Examples that may be cited include yellow, Burley, orient, or native type, and other Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica varieties, and mixtures thereof. A suitable blend of the varieties may be used in a mixture to achieve the intended taste. Details on tobacco varieties are disclosed in "Dictionary of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009". There are several conventional methods for producing homogenized sheets, i.e., methods for processing pulverized tobacco leaves into homogenized sheets. According to a first method, a paper sheet is produced by using a papermaking process. According to a second method, a suitable solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves and homogenized, after which the homogenized material is thinly cast on a metal plate or a metal plate belt and dried, to produce a cast sheet. According to a third method, a suitable solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves and homogenized, and the homogenized material is extruded into the form of a sheet and shaped to produce a calendered sheet. Details of the types of homogenized sheets are disclosed in "Tobacco Encyclopedia, Tobacco Research Center, March 31, 2009".
The moisture content of the aerosol source 11 can be 10% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less relative to the total amount of the aerosol source 11, with 11% by mass or more and 13% by mass or less being preferred. Such a moisture content suppresses the occurrence of roll stains and improves the winding suitability during the production of the substrate section 10.
The aerosol source 11 is not particularly limited and may include extracts and/or their components from various natural substances according to the application. Examples of extracts and/or their components include glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.
The content of extracts and/or their components in the aerosol source 11 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of sufficiently generating aerosol and imparting a good flavor, is usually 5% by mass or more, preferably 10% by mass or more, relative to the total amount of the aerosol source 11. Additionally, the content of extracts and/or their components in the aerosol source 11 is usually 50% by mass or less, preferably 15% by mass or more, and 25% by mass or less.
The aerosol source 11 may include a fragrance. The type of fragrance is not particularly limited, but menthol is particularly preferred from the viewpoint of imparting a good flavor. These flavorings may be used alone, or two or more may be used in combination.
The filling density of the aerosol source 11 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring the performance of the flavor inhalation article 1 and imparting a good flavor, it is usually 250 mg/cm³ or more, preferably 300 mg/cm³ or more. Additionally, the filling density of the aerosol source 11 is usually 400 mg/cm³ or less, preferably 350 mg/cm³ or less.
The aerosol source 11 may also be composed of tobacco sheets. There may be one tobacco sheet, or two or more tobacco sheets.
In the case where the aerosol source 11 is composed of a single tobacco sheet, an example mode is a so-called gather sheet, where a tobacco sheet with one side having a size approximately the same as the size in the centerline direction of the filled object is filled in a state of being folded back multiple times horizontally in the centerline direction of the filled object. Another example mode is where a tobacco sheet with one side having a size approximately the same as the size in the centerline direction of the filled object is filled in a state of being wound in a direction orthogonal to the centerline direction of the filled object.
In the case where the aerosol source 11 is composed of two or more tobacco sheets, an example mode is where multiple tobacco sheets, each having one side with a size approximately the same as the size in the centerline direction of the filled object, are filled in a state of being wound in a direction orthogonal to the centerline direction of the filled object so that they are arranged concentrically. "Arranged concentrically" means that the centers of all the tobacco sheets are positioned at approximately the same location. The number of tobacco sheets is not particularly restricted but can be two, three, four, five, six or seven, for example.
The two or more tobacco sheets may all have the same composition or physical properties, or some or all of the tobacco sheets may have different compositions or physical properties. Additionally, the thickness of each tobacco sheet may be the same or different.
There are no restrictions on the thickness of each tobacco sheet, but from the viewpoint of balancing heat transfer efficiency and strength, a thickness of 150 µm or more and 1000 µm or less is preferred, with 200 µm or more and 600 µm or less being more preferred.
The aerosol source 11 can be manufactured by preparing multiple tobacco sheets with different widths, forming a laminate that narrows from the first side to the second side, and then winding it through a winding tube.
According to this manufacturing method, multiple tobacco sheets extend in the centerline direction and are arranged concentrically around the centerline CL.
In this manufacturing method, it is preferable that the laminate is prepared so that a non-contact portion is formed between adjacent tobacco sheets after winding. If there is a non-contact portion (gap) where the tobacco sheets do not contact each other between multiple tobacco sheets, it is possible to secure a flavor flow path and enhance the delivery efficiency of flavor components. On the other hand, since heat from the heater can be transferred to the outer tobacco sheets through the contact portions of multiple tobacco sheets, high heat transfer efficiency can be ensured.
To provide a non-contact portion between multiple tobacco sheets, for example, methods such as using embossed tobacco sheets, laminating without bonding the entire surface of adjacent tobacco sheets, bonding part of adjacent tobacco sheets, or lightly bonding the entire surface or part of adjacent tobacco sheets so that they peel off after winding can be used to prepare the laminate.
When preparing the substrate part 10 including the wrapping paper 12, the wrapping paper 12 may be placed on the end face of the first side of the laminate.
Glycerin, propylene glycol, a polyol such as 1,3-butanediol, etc., may be added to the tobacco sheet. The amount added to the tobacco sheet is preferably 5-50% by mass with respect to the dry mass of the tobacco sheet, and more preferably 15-25% by mass.
The tobacco sheet may be appropriately produced by well-known methods such as sheet-forming, slurry or rolling. Moreover, the homogenized sheet described above may also be used.
In the case of sheet-forming, the tobacco sheet may be produced by a method comprising the following steps. 1) Dried tobacco leaf is coarsely ground, extracted with water and then separated into water extract and residue. 2) The water extract is dried under reduced pressure and concentrated. 3) Pulp is added to the residue, the materials are fibrillated in a refiner and then formed into paper. 4) The concentrated water extract is added to a sheet formed from the paper and dried to form a tobacco sheet. In this case, a step of removing some of the components such as nitrosamine may also be added (see JP 2004-510422 A ).
In the case of a slurry process, the tobacco sheet may be produced by a method comprising the following steps. 1) Crushed tobacco leaf is mixed with water, pulp, and a binder. 2) The mixture is spread thinly (cast) and dry. In this case, a step may be added where the slurry that has been obtained by mixing the ground tobacco leaf with water, pulp, and a binder is exposed to ultraviolet or X-ray radiation to remove some components such as nitrosamine.
In addition to the above, a nonwoven fabric tobacco sheet produced by means of a method comprising the following steps may also be used, as disclosed in WO 2014/104078 A1 . 1) Granular tobacco leaf and a binder are mixed. 2) The mixture is interposed between nonwoven fabrics. 3) The laminate is formed into a fixed shape by heat welding to obtain a nonwoven tobacco sheet.
The types of tobacco leaves used as raw materials in each of the above methods can be the same as those described for the aerosol source 11 including shredded tobacco.
The composition of the tobacco sheet is not particularly limited, but for example, the content of tobacco raw material (tobacco leaves) is preferably 50% by mass or more and 95% by mass or less relative to the total mass of the tobacco sheet. The tobacco sheet may also include a binder, and examples of such binders include guar gum, xanthan gum, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose, etc. The amount of binder is preferably 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less relative to the total mass of the tobacco sheet. The tobacco sheet may further comprise other additives. Examples of other additives which may be cited include fillers such as pulp.
The configuration of the wrapping paper 12 used for the substrate part 10 is not particularly limited, and can be a general form, an example of which includes those in which pulp is a main component. Pulps which may be used include wood pulps such as softwood pulp and hardwood pulp, and additionally, non-wood pulp such as flax pulp, hemp pulp, sisal pulp, and esparto, etc. generally used in wrapping paper for a tobacco article, and the wrapping paper 12 may be obtained by a papermaking process employing one or more of these pulps.
Types of pulp include chemical pulp made by kraft pulping, acid, neutral, or alkaline sulfite pulping, soda pulping, etc., and groundwood pulp, chemigroundwood pulp, and thermomechanical pulp, etc.
Using pulp, the wrapping paper 12 is manufactured by adjusting and homogenizing the formation during the papermaking process using a Fourdrinier machine, cylinder machine, or twin-wire machine. Moreover, water resistance may be imparted to the wrapping paper 12 by adding a wet strength agent, as required, and a printing condition of the wrapping paper 12 may be adjusted by adding a sizing agent. Furthermore, papermaking additives such as sulfuric acid bands, various anionic, cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric retention aids, drainage aids, and paper strength agents, as well as papermaking additives such as dyes, pH adjusters, defoamers, pitch control agents, and slime control agents can be added.
The basis weight of the base paper for wrapping paper 12 is usually 20 gsm or more, preferably 25 gsm or more. On the other hand, the basis weight is usually 65 gsm or less, preferably 50 gsm or less, and more preferably 45 gsm or less.
The thickness of the wrapping paper 12 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of rigidity, breathability, and ease of adjustment during papermaking, is usually 10 µm or more, preferably 20 µm or more, and more preferably 30 µm or more. Additionally, the thickness of the wrapping paper 12 is usually 100 µm or less, preferably 75 µm or less, and more preferably 50 µm or less.
The shape of the wrapping paper 12 for producing the substrate part 10 can be square or rectangular, for example.
When used as wrapping paper 12 to wrap the aerosol source 11, the length of one side can be about 12 mm or more and 70 mm or less, and the length of the other side can be 15 mm or more and 28 mm or less, with a preferred length of 22 mm or more and 24 mm or less, and more preferably about 23 mm. When wrapping the aerosol source 11 cylindrically with the wrapping paper 12, for example, in the circumferential direction, the ends of the wrapping paper 12 can be overlapped by about 2 mm and glued to form a cylindrical paper tube shape, with the aerosol source 11 filled inside. The size of the rectangular wrapping paper 12 can be determined based on the size of the substrate part 10.
In addition to the above pulp, the wrapping paper 12 may include fillers. The content of fillers can be 10% by mass or more and 60% by mass or less relative to the total mass of the wrapping paper 12, with 15% by mass or more and 45% by mass or less being preferred.
In the preferred basis weight range of the wrapping paper 12 (25 gsm or more and 45 gsm or less), it is preferred that the filler content is 15% by mass or more and 45% by mass or less.
Furthermore, when the basis weight is 25 gsm or more and 35 gsm or less, it is preferred that the filler is 15% by mass or more and 45% by mass or less, and when the basis weight is 35 gsm or more and 45 gsm or less, it is preferred that the filler is 25% by mass or more and 45% by mass or less.
Fillers such as calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and kaolin can be used, but calcium carbonate is preferred from the viewpoint of enhancing flavor and whiteness.
Various additives other than base paper and fillers may be added to the wrapping paper 12, such as water resistance enhancers to improve water resistance. Water resistance enhancers include wet strength agents (WS agents) and sizing agents. Examples of wet strength agents include urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine-formaldehyde resin, and polyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE). Examples of sizing agents include rosin soap, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), and highly saponified polyvinyl alcohol with a saponification degree of 90% or more.
Additives such as paper strength enhancers may also be added, including polyacrylamide, cationic starch, oxidized starch, CMC, polyamide epichlorohydrin resin, and polyvinyl alcohol, etc. In particular, it is known that using a very small amount of oxidized starch can improve air permeability (see JA 2017-218699 A).
The wrapping paper 12 may have a coating agent added to at least one of its two surfaces, the front and back. There is no particular restriction on the coating agent, but it is preferably a coating agent that is capable of forming a film on the surface of the paper and of reducing liquid permeability. Examples include polysaccharides such as alginic acid and its salts (e.g., sodium salt), pectin, cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, and starch and its derivatives (e.g., ether derivatives such as carboxymethyl starch, hydroxyalkyl starch, and cationic starch, and ester derivatives such as acetate starch, phosphate starch, and octenyl succinate starch).

Cooling Part 20

The cooling part 20 is positioned adjacent to the substrate member 10 and the filter portion 30 and is formed into a part with a hollow (cavity) cross-section such as a cylinder by wrapping a sheet 21. The cooling part 20 cools the vapor generated by heating the substrate part 10 to produce aerosol.
Specifically, the cooling part 20 is a paper tube shaped by a sheet 21 made of paper being rolled up. The cooling part 20 is a spiral paper tube formed by laminating multiple sheets 21, at least including paper, and winding them spirally. In the manufacturing method of the spiral paper tube, it is possible to easily form a paper tube with a circular cross-section. By adopting a spiral paper tube for the cooling part 20, the area of the cooling part 20 can be reduced while improving the strength of the cooling part 20. Additionally, by laminating sheet members containing fragrance components, flavor components, tobacco powder, etc., with paper, new aromatic flavors can be imparted to the aerosol.
Alternatively, the cooling part 20 may be a straight paper tube, which is a paper tube formed by wrapping paper in multiple layers in a cylindrical shape. In the manufacturing method of the straight paper tube, compared to the manufacturing method of the spiral paper tube, the amount of glue used for attaching the paper can be reduced.
Furthermore, the cooling part 20 may be a paper tube formed by laminating multiple sheets 21, at least including paper. By laminating multiple sheets 21, the strength of the cooling part 20 can be maintained even when the basis weight of each sheet 21 is small.
The cross-section of the cooling part 20 is substantially circular and the outer diameter thereof can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but the outer diameter is preferably approximately the same as the outer diameter of a filter 31, which will be described later. It should be noted that when the transversal cross-section is not circular, the aforementioned outer diameter is applied assuming a circle having the same area as the area of the cross-section.
The size of the cooling part 20 in the centerline direction can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but is usually 5 mm or greater, preferably 10 mm or greater, and more preferably 15 mm or greater. Additionally, the size of the cooling part 20 in the centerline direction is usually 35 mm or less, preferably 30 mm or less, and more preferably 25 mm or less. By setting the size in the centerline direction of the cooling part 20 at or above the abovementioned lower limit, it is possible to ensure a sufficient cooling effect and to obtain a pleasant flavor, and by setting the size at or below the abovementioned upper limit, it is possible to inhibit loss caused by adhesion of the generated vapor and aerosol to a sheet 21.
The thickness of the sheet 21 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, 50 µm or more and 500 µm or less, and may also be 100 µm or more and 250 µm or less. The material of the sheet 21 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, one with pulp as the main component, or one with polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, and aluminum foil as the main component, or any combination thereof.
The cooling part 20 is a part formed by wrapping the sheet 21, but is an example of a cylindrical member formed in a cylindrical shape, and it is not limited to this configuration as long as the cross-section is hollow. The cooling part 20 may be formed by a tube of synthetic resin or the like that already has a hollow cross-section.
The cooling part 20 is provided with through-holes 60 (also referred to as a "ventilation filter (Vf)" in this technical field) which are in the circumferential direction and concentric. The through-holes 60 are holes that penetrate the sheet 21. The shape of the holes can be exemplified as polygonal, rounded polygonal, circular, elliptical, etc. The through-holes 60 exist in a region where air can flow in from outside the flavor inhalation article 1, in other words, in a region that protrudes from the opening 142 when the flavor inhalation article 1 is held in the holding portion 140 of the inhalation device 100.
Due to the presence of the through-holes 60, the concentrations of the inhaled flavor component and aerosol can be adjusted. Further, the presence of the plurality of through-holes 60 allows air to flow into the cooling part 20 from the outside during inhalation, and can lower the temperature of vapor and air flowing in from the substrate part 10. Furthermore, by positioning the through-holes 60 at a location 4 mm or more from the boundary between the cooling part 20 and the filter portion 30 in the direction of the cooling part 20, not only can the cooling capacity be improved, but the retention of the product generated by heating within the cooling part 20 can be suppressed, thereby improving the delivery amount of the product.
It should be noted that vapor generated with the aerosol as the condensation nucleus by heating the substrate part 10 makes contact with air from outside and decreases in temperature, thereby being liquefied, which can promote the generation of the aerosol.
When the plurality of through-holes 60 present concentrically in the cooling part 20 are treated as one group of through-holes, there may be one group of through-holes, or there may be two or more groups of through-holes. When there are two or more groups of through-holes, the groups of through-holes are preferably not provided in a region lying less than 4 mm in the direction of the cooling part 20 side from the boundary between the cooling part 20 and the filter portion 30 from the point of view of increasing the amount of delivery of components generated by means of heating.
Additionally, when the flavor inhalation article 1 is in a form where the substrate part 10, the cooling part 20, and the filter portion 30 are wrapped with the tipping paper 40, it is preferable that the tipping paper 40 is provided with a vent hole directly above the through-hole 60 provided in the cooling part 20. When manufacturing such a flavor inhalation article 1, the tipping paper 40 with a vent hole overlapping with the through-hole 60 may be prepared and wrapped, but from the perspective of ease of manufacturing, it is preferable to first produce a flavor inhalation article 1 without the through-hole 60, and then create a hole that penetrates both the cooling portion 20 and the tipping paper 40 simultaneously.
The region where the through-hole 60 is present is not particularly limited as long as the region is 4 mm or more in the direction of the cooling part 20 side from the boundary between the cooling part 20 and the filter portion 30 from the viewpoint of improving product delivery by heating, but is preferably a region that is 4.5 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, and more preferably 5.5 mm or more, from the viewpoint of further improving product delivery. Furthermore, the region where the through-hole 60 is present is preferably a region lying no more than 15 mm, more preferably a region lying no more than 10 mm, and even more preferably a region lying no more than 7 mm from the boundary between the cooling part 20 and the filter portion 30, from the point of view of ensuring a cooling function.
Furthermore, considering the boundary between the cooling part 20 and the substrate part 10 as a reference, when the size in the centerline direction of the cooling part 20 is 20 mm or greater, the region where the through-hole 60 is present is preferably a region lying at least 5 mm, more preferably a region lying at least 10 mm, and even more preferably a region lying at least 13 mm in the direction of the cooling part 20 side from the boundary between the cooling part 20 and the substrate part 10, from the point of view of ensuring a cooling function. Furthermore, the region where the through-hole 60 is present is preferably no more than 16 mm, more preferably a region lying no more than 15.5 mm, even more preferably a region lying no more than 15 mm, and particularly preferably a region lying no more than 14.5 mm, from the boundary between the cooling part 20 and the substrate part 10, from the point of view of improving delivery of components generated by means of heating.
The through-holes 60 are provided such that the air inflow ratio from the through-holes 60 when the air is inhaled at 17.5 ml/seconds by an automated smoking machine is 10-90% by volume. This "air inflow ratio" is the volume ratio of air flowing in from the through-hole 60 when the ratio of air inhaled from the mouthpiece end is set to 100% by volume. The air inflow ratio is preferably 50% by volume or more and 80% by volume or less, and more preferably 55% by volume or more and 75% by volume or less. These air inflow ratios can be achieved by selecting, for example, the number of through-holes 60 per group of through-holes from a range of 5 to 50, and selecting the diameter of the through-holes 60 from a range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and by the combination of these selections.
The air inflow ratio can be measured using a wrapping quality measuring device (SODIMAX D74/SODIM manufactured by S.A.S) in accordance with ISO 9512.

Tipping Paper 40

The tipping paper 40 is wrapped around outer peripheral surfaces of the substrate part 10, the cooling part 20, and the filter portion 30.
There is no particular restriction on the shape of the tipping paper 40, and the tipping paper may have a square or rectangular shape, for example.
The basis weight of the tipping paper 40 is not particularly limited, but is usually 32 gsm or more and 60 gsm or less, preferably 33 gsm or more and 55 gsm or less, and more preferably 34 gsm or more and 53 gsm or less.
The air permeability of the tipping paper 40 is not particularly limited, but is usually 0 Coresta units or more and 30,000 Coresta units or less, preferably more than 0 Coresta units and 10,000 Coresta units or less. Here, "air permeability" is a value measured in accordance with ISO 2965:2009, expressed as the flow rate (cm³) of gas passing through an area of 1 cm² per minute when the differential pressure on both sides of the paper is 1 kPa. One Coresta unit (1 Coresta unit, 1 C.U.) is cm³/(min·cm²) at 1 kPa.
The configuration of the tipping paper 40 is not particularly limited, and can be a general form, an example of which includes those in which pulp is a main component. Pulps which may be used include wood pulps such as softwood pulp and hardwood pulp, and additionally, non-wood pulp such as flax pulp, hemp pulp, sisal pulp, and esparto, etc. generally used in wrapping paper for a tobacco article, and the wrapping paper may be obtained by a papermaking process employing one or more of these pulps. These pulps can be used alone or in combination of multiple types in any ratio.
Forms of pulp which may be used include chemical pulp, ground pulp, chemiground pulp, and thermomechanical pulp, etc. which are obtained by means of kraft digestion, acid/neutral/alkaline sulfite digestion, and soda digestion, etc. Note that the tipping paper 40 can be manufactured by the above-mentioned manufacturing methods or commercial products can be used.
The tipping paper 40 may contain a loading material in addition to the above-described materials, examples of which can include metal carbonates such as calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, metal oxides such as titanium oxide, titanium dioxide and aluminum oxide, metal sulfates such as barium sulfate and calcium sulfate, metal sulfides such as zinc sulfide, quartz, kaolin, talc, diatomaceous earth, gypsum and the like, and calcium carbonate is preferably included in particular from the viewpoint of improving whiteness and opacity and increasing the heating rate. These fillers can be used alone or in combination of two or more.
In addition to the above materials and fillers, various additives may be added to the tipping paper 40, such as water resistance enhancers to improve water resistance. Water resistance enhancers include wet strength agents (WS agents) and sizing agents. Examples of wet strength agents include urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine-formaldehyde resin, and polyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE). Examples of sizing agents include rosin soap, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), and highly saponified polyvinyl alcohol with a saponification degree of 90% or more.
The tipping paper 40 may have a coating agent added to at least one of its two surfaces, the front and back. There are no particular restrictions on the coating agent, but a coating agent that can form a film on the surface and reduce the permeability of liquids is preferred.
A portion of the outer surface of the tipping paper 40 may be coated with a lip release material. The lip release material is designed to facilitate easy separation without substantial adhesion between the lips and the tipping paper 40 when the user holds the filter portion 30 of the flavor inhalation article 1 in their mouth. The lip release material may include, for example, ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, or nitrocellulose. For instance, the outer surface of the tipping paper 40 may be coated with a lip release material by applying an ethyl cellulose-based or methyl cellulose-based ink.
As described above, in any embodiment, the filter portion 30 for the flavor inhalation article comprises: a paper filter (filter 31) filled with a sheet member so as to form a void in the longitudinal direction; and a hollow member 33 which is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30 in the paper filter and has a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the paper filter, wherein the hollow member 33 has at least one end arranged at one end within a predetermined distance from the longitudinal end of the filter portion 30. By having this configuration, it is possible to provide a filter portion of a flavor inhalation article and a flavor inhalation article that combine delivery efficiency and ease of manufacture.

<Heat-not-bum flavor inhalation article>

Fig. 9 and fig. 10 are diagrams showing a longitudinal section of a flavor inhalation article 4 according to a second embodiment. The flavor inhalation article 4 according to the second embodiment differs from the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment in the usage thereof. The flavor inhalation article 4 according to the second embodiment differs from the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment in a mouthpiece part 450 corresponding to the mouthpiece segment 50, and a communication hole 460 corresponding to the through-hole 60. The differences from the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the same components in the first embodiment and second embodiment, and detailed descriptions are omitted.
The flavor inhalation article 4 is a burn-type flavor inhalation article. It is used by burning the end face on the first side, which is the side opposite to the second side that the user holds in their mouth for inhalation. The aerosol source 11 contained in the substrate part 10 generates vapor, which is used to produce aerosol through heating associated with combustion.
The transversal cross-section of the flavor inhalation article 4 is substantially circular and the outer diameter thereof can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but the outer diameter is usually 16-27 mm, preferably 22-25 mm. It should be noted that when the transversal cross-section is not circular, the aforementioned outer diameter is applied assuming a circle having the same area as the area of the cross-section.
The size of the flavor inhalation article 4 in the centerline direction can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but is usually 60-120 mm, preferably 80-100 mm.
The mouthpiece part 450 is composed of the filter portion 30.
The size of the mouthpiece part 450 in the centerline direction can be changed as appropriate to match the size of the product, but is usually 20-40 mm, preferably 25-30 mm.
Further, the mouthpiece part 450 is provided with a plurality of communication holes 460 in the circumferential direction and concentrically. The communication hole 460 is a hole for communicating air flowing in from a vent hole provided in the tipping paper 40 with a gap in the filter 31. By adjusting the amount of air flowing in from the communication hole 460, the concentration of the aerosol that the user inhales can be adjusted.
Furthermore, in the case where the filter portion 30 of the mouthpiece part 450 is a form in which the filter 31 is wrapped with the wrapping paper 35 and the tipping paper 40, it is preferable that at least the wrapping paper 35 is provided with the communication hole 460 at a position corresponding to the vent hole provided in the tipping paper 40. When the flavor inhalation article 4 having such a mouthpiece part 450 is fabricated, the tipping paper 40 may be wrapped such that the communication hole 460 and the vent hole provided in the tipping paper 40 overlap, but, from the point of view of ease of production, it is preferable that the flavor inhalation article 4 not having the communication hole 460 is fabricated, after which holes are simultaneously formed in the mouthpiece part 450 and the tipping paper 40.
The region where the communication hole 460 is present is preferably a region of the filter 31 where the fill density of the sheet member constituting the filter 31 is relatively low, or in other words, a region of the filter 31 where the hollow member 33 is not disposed, from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of air inflow.
In the example shown in fig. 10(A), a hollow member 33 smaller than the size of the filter 31 in the centerline direction is positioned on the second side (downstream side) within the filter 31, and the communication hole 460 is provided in a region where the hollow member 33 is not disposed within the filter 31. Specifically, the communication hole 460 is provided in the region downstream of the hollow member 33.
The communication hole 460 is not limited to the above-described configuration, as long as the communication hole is provided in a region of the filter 31 where the hollow member 33 is not disposed.
In fig. 9, the upstream end and downstream end of the hollow member 33 are both arranged within a predetermined distance from the longitudinal end of the filter portion 30. Fig. 10(A) is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of the flavor inhalation article 4 in which the hollow member 33 has an opening downstream (on the second side) of the filter portion 30, and the upstream (first side) is within a predetermined distance, and (B) is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of the flavor inhalation article 4 with a plurality of hollow members 33 arranged linearly. In (B), two of the hollow members 33 are positioned in the filter 31 with a predetermined distance between the hollow members 33, particularly 1/2×A×√3 or less.
Fig. 11 is a view showing a longitudinal cross-section of a flavor inhalation article 5 according to the second embodiment. The flavor inhalation article 5 according to the second embodiment differs from the flavor inhalation article 4 according to the second embodiment in a filter portion 530 corresponding to the filter portion 30. The differences from the flavor inhalation article 4 will now be explained. The same reference numerals are used for the same components between the flavor inhalation article 4 and the flavor inhalation article 5, and detailed descriptions are omitted.
The filter portion 530 has a filter 31 which is a paper filter, a separate filter 32 which is an independent filter separate from the filter 31, a hollow member 33 having a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the filter 31, and wrapping paper 35 present between the filter 31 and the tipping paper 40 and wrapped around the outer peripheral surface of the filter 31. The filter portion 530 is connected (linked) to the substrate part 10 by being wrapped together with the filter portion 230 using the tipping paper 40. Note that it is preferable for the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 to be wrapped with separate wrapping papers 35 and then further wrapped together with another winding paper 35.
It can be exemplified that the configuration of the separate filter 32 of the filter portion 530 is the same as that of the separate filter 32 included in the filter portion 230 according to the second embodiment. The shape and dimensions of the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 may be suitably adjusted such that the shape and dimensions of the filter portion 530 are in the range above.
The filter portion 530 has a separate filter 32 connected to the second side of the substrate part 10 and a filter 31 positioned on the second side of the separate filter 32. In fig. 11(A), the separate filter 32 is located upstream and the filter 31 is located downstream, but the reverse arrangement may be used, as shown in fig. 11(B). As shown in fig. 11(A), a hollow member 33 smaller than the size in the centreline direction of the filter 31 may be arranged with an opening in the filter 31 on the second side (downstream side), the first side (upstream side) of the hollow member 33 may be arranged within a predetermined distance from the boundary between the filter 31 and the separate filter 32, and a communication hole 460 may be provided in the region upstream to the hollow member 33. Furthermore, as shown in fig. 11(B), a hollow member may be arranged with an opening on the first side (upstream side) of the filter portion 530, the second side (downstream side) may be arranged within a predetermined distance from the boundary between the filter 31 and the separate filter 32, and the communication hole 460 may be provided in the region upstream to the hollow member 33.
The configuration of the filter portion 530 is not limited to the examples shown in figs. 11(A), (B), and the positional relationship between the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 may be modified. Furthermore, the separate filter 32 may comprise therein a frangible additive release container (e.g., a capsule) comprising a frangible outer shell, such as gelatin.
As described above, in any embodiment, the filter portion 30 etc. for the flavor inhalation article comprises a paper filter (filter 31) filled with a sheet member so as to form a void in the longitudinal direction, and a hollow member 33 which is disposed in the paper filter and has a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the paper filter, wherein the downstream end of the filter portion 30 is at a position a predetermined distance or greater from the end of the hollow member. By having this configuration, it is possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article and a flavor inhalation article in which a hole is not formed at the filter end.

It should be noted that the present disclosure includes the following features.

(1) A filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, the filter portion comprising: a paper filter which is filled with a sheet member such that a void is formed over the longitudinal direction; and a hollow member which is disposed in the paper filter along the longitudinal direction of the filter portion and has a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the paper filter, wherein at least one end of the hollow member is disposed at a position within a predetermined distance from a longitudinal-direction end of the filter portion.
(2) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to (1), wherein the hollow member has one end within a predetermined distance from a downstream end side of the filter portion, and another end provided with an opening on an upstream side end of the filter portion.
(3) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to (2), wherein the predetermined distance is 1/2×A×√3 (A is the diameter of a circumferential circle of the opening).
(4) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to (1) or (2), wherein the hollow member includes at least paper.
(5) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to (4), wherein the hollow member is a straight paper tube formed by cylindrically wrapping paper or a spiral paper tube formed by obliquely wrapping band-shaped paper.
(6) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to (1), wherein the paper filter is a filter in which the sheet member is gathered.
(7) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to (6), wherein the paper filter is a filter obtained by crimping a sheet member formed from paper or nonwoven fabric.
(8) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to any one of (1)-(7), wherein the sheet member is crimped in the longitudinal direction of the filter portion.
(9) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to any one of (1)-(8), wherein the filling density of the sheet member is 105-720 mg/cm³ at a location where the hollow member is present.
(10) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to any one of (1)-(9), wherein the ratio of the outer diameter of the hollow member to the outer diameter of the paper filter is at least 0.2 but less than 0.7.
(11) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to any one of (1)-(10), wherein the airflow resistance of the paper filter is at least 0 [mmH₂O/10 mm] but less than 20 [mmH₂O/10 mm].
(12) A flavor inhalation article comprising: the filter portion according to any one of (1)-(11); and a substrate part containing an aerosol source.
(13) The flavor inhalation article according to (12), wherein the flavor inhalation article is a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article.
(14) The flavor inhalation article according to (12), wherein the flavor inhalation article is a burn-type flavor inhalation article.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1, 2 ... heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article, 4, 5 ... burn-type flavor inhalation article, 10 ... substrate part, 11 ... aerosol source, 20 ... cooling part, 30, 230, 530 ... filter portion, 31 ... filter, 32 ... separate filter, 33 ... hollow member, 35 ... wrapping paper, 40 ... tipping paper, 50 ... mouthpiece segment, 60 ... through-hole, 460 ... communication hole

Claims

A filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, the filter portion comprising:
a paper filter which is filled with a sheet member such that a void is formed over the longitudinal direction; and

a hollow member which is disposed in the paper filter along the longitudinal direction of the filter portion and has a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the paper filter, wherein

at least one end of the hollow member is disposed at a position within a predetermined distance from a longitudinal-direction end of the filter portion.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to claim 1, wherein the hollow member has one end within a predetermined distance from a downstream end side of the filter portion, and another end provided with an opening on an upstream side end of the filter portion.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined distance is 1/2×A×√3 (A is the diameter of a circumferential circle of the opening).
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hollow member includes at least paper.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to claim 4, wherein the hollow member is a straight paper tube formed by cylindrically wrapping paper or a spiral paper tube formed by obliquely wrapping band-shaped paper.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to claim 1, wherein the paper filter is a filter in which the sheet member is gathered.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to claim 6, wherein the paper filter is a filter obtained by crimping a sheet member formed from paper or nonwoven fabric.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the sheet member is crimped in the longitudinal direction of the filter portion.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the filling density of the sheet member is 105-720 mg/cm³ at a location where the hollow member is present.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the ratio of the outer diameter of the hollow member to the outer diameter of the paper filter is at least 0.2 but less than 0.7.
The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the airflow resistance of the paper filter is at least 0 [mmH₂O/10 mm] but less than 20 [mmH₂O/10 mm].
A flavor inhalation article comprising: the filter portion according to any one of claims 1-11; and
a substrate part containing an aerosol source.
The flavor inhalation article according to claim 12, wherein the flavor inhalation article is a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article.
The flavor inhalation article according to claim 12, wherein the flavor inhalation article is a burn-type flavor inhalation article.