RO120750B1 - Cigarette and heating element to be used in an electric smoking system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cigarette (23) and a heating element (31) to be used in an electric smoking system (21). According to the invention, the cigarette comprises a tobacco rod with filled and unfilled portions arranged so that the electric heating elements (31) may overlap both portions. The rod incudes a tubular tobacco web. The web is constructed by converting tobacco feedstock into a continuous sheet of tobacco web and by converting the continuous sheet of tobacco web into one or several bobbins of tobacco web suitable for the automated manufacture of cigarettes. The heater (25) comprises a supporting hub and electrically resistive heating blades (37) defining a receptacle (bushing) (27) for introducing the cigarette (23). Each blade comprises a first and a second heating blade legs, having a first and a second end, and a connecting section connecting the second end of the first leg and the first end of the second leg. The blades (37) are heated by a resistive heating circuit and the heat is supplied to the cigarette (23). The legs are separated by a gap to allow the flavour of the substances to be entrained, after inspiration.

Description

The present invention relates, in general, to an electric smoking system and, in particular, to a cigarette adapted to work in conjunction with an electric cigarette lighter, as well as to a heater used in the electric smoking system.

Traditional cigarettes are known to provide flavor and aroma to smokers as a result of combustion, during which a mass of combustible material, mainly tobacco, is burned at a temperature that often exceeds 800 * 0 during aspiration. The heat is passed through the adjacent table of tobacco, by inspiration at the end from the mouth, during the heating, the inefficient oxidation of the combustible material, releasing various gaseous combustion products and distilled from tobacco. As these gaseous products are inspired by the cigarette, they cool and condense to form an aerosol that provides the taste and aroma associated with smoking.

Traditional cigarettes are associated with various disadvantages. One of these is the production of auxiliary smoke, as a result of the stifling burning of inspirations, which can create a reason for rejection from non-smokers. Once lit, they must be consumed completely or they will be discarded. The resumption of a traditional cigarette is possible, but most of the time it is an unattractive proposal for a true smoker, for subjective reasons (taste, taste, smell).

An alternative to traditional cigarettes is those where the fuel material itself does not release the tobacco aerosol itself. Such smoking articles may contain a fuel, a charcoal heating element (heat source) placed at or about one end of the smoking article and a layer of tobacco-loaded items placed next to said heating element. The heating element is lit by a match or cigarette lighter, and when the smoker draws from the cigarette, the heat generated by the heating element is communicated to the layer of tobacco-loaded elements, so that it causes the layer to release tobacco aerosols. While this type of smoking device produces little or no auxiliary smoke, it nevertheless generates combustion products at the heat source, and once its heat source is on, it can no longer be used in the practical sense.

In both devices, the conventional one and the one with the coal heating element described above, combustion occurs during their use. The process naturally gives rise to many by-products, as the burned material is destroyed and interacts with the surrounding atmosphere.

US Patent Nos. 5093894, 5225498, 5060671 and 5095921 describe various heating elements and articles for generating the flavor, which significantly reduce the auxiliary smoke, allowing the smoker to selectively stop and resume smoking. However, cigarette articles described in these patents are not very durable and can be damaged, broken or broken by prolonged or cumbersome handling. In certain circumstances, these cigarettes known in the art may be shattered, as they are less resistant, and may break or break when removed from the lighter.

US Patent 5388594 discloses an electric smoking system, which includes a new, electrically actuated lighter and a new cigarette that cooperates with the lighter. The preferred embodiment of the igniter includes a plurality of coil-shaped metal heaters arranged in a configuration which receives by sliding the tobacco rod portion of the cigarette.

The preferred embodiment of the cigarette in EP-A-0615411 comprises a tubular filler loaded with tobacco, a paper for cigarettes that covers the tubular support, an arrangement of smoke-permeable filter portions, a mouthpiece end of the support and a portion configured so , so that when the cigarette is inserted into the igniter and the individual heaters are activated for each aspiration, local charring occurs at points around

EN 120750 Β1 of the cigarette, where the heater is in contact with the cigarette (hereinafter 1 will be called the heater projection). Once all the heaters have been activated, these carbonization points are spaced apart and surround a central portion of the 3 cigarette support portion.

Depending on the maximum temperatures and the total energies provided by the heaters, 5 carbonization points show more discoloration of the cigarette paper. In most applications, carbonization will create at least breakages of cigarette paper and support material 7 below, breakages that tend to weaken the cigarette mechanically. For the cigarette to be withdrawn from the lighter, the carbonized spots must be at least partially behind the heater 9. In aggravating circumstances, such as those where the cigarette is wet or softened or twisted, the cigarette may break or leave pieces after its withdrawal from the lighter. Pieces left in the lighter's fastener may interfere with the lighter's own operation and / or provide a taste reminiscent of the smoke of the next 13 cigarettes. If the cigarette breaks in two when it is withdrawn, the smoker will face not only the frustration of the damaged cigarette product, but also the prospect of cleaning 15 debris from a clogged lighter, before he can enjoy another cigarette.

The preferred embodiment of the cigarette in EP-A-0615411 and US Pat. No. 5388594 17 is essentially a hollow tube inside, between the filter portion at the mouth end of the cigarette and the portion at the distal end. This construction is considered to increase the supply 19 to the smoker, by making sufficient space in which the aerosol can be removed from the substrate, with minimal aerosol condensation on any adjacent surface. 21

Various proposals have been made to significantly reduce unwanted auxiliary smoke, while also allowing the smoker to stop smoking the article for a desired period of time and then resume smoking. For example, the patents of the same applicant, US 5093894,5225498,5060671 and 5095921 describe various heating elements and flavoring systems 25. EP-A-0615411 and US 5388594 describe an electrical system for smoking, having heaters that are activated after noticing a cigarette draw (aspirations) of 27 towards a logic and control circuit; The heaters are preferably a relatively thin coil structure which transfers adequate amounts of heat to the cigarette and is light in weight.

Although these devices and heaters remove the mentioned problems and achieve the 31 objectives proposed, several embodiments are subject to mechanical weakening and possible damage due to the weakening induced by the insertion and removal of the medium-33 cylindrical tobacco and also by adjusting the inserted cigarette.

Furthermore, unwanted electrical short circuits may occur if the shape of the heating assembly is modified, for example by adjusting the inserted cigarette. Also, the electrical smoking systems described above use heaters with electric resistance, which required relatively complex electrical connections that can be disturbed by the introduction or removal of the cigarette. 39

When cut filling was introduced, with the hollow structure inside the cigarette, as in EP-A-0615411, it was found that such cigarettes, when fully filled with the cut tobacco fill, tend to behave appropriately. an electric igniter, at the first aspirations. After that, the smoke removal tends to stop. The same phenomenon tends to occur 43 when more traditional cigarettes are smoked in an electric lighter such as an electric lighter described in EP-A-0615411. 45

When they were not filled, the hollow cigarette structures within the preferred embodiments of EP-A-0615411 were to some extent vulnerable to damage by extreme or brutal handling.

RO 120750 Β1

The technical problem that the invention solves is to make a cigarette containing a cut filling, yet it is consistently operable when it is smoked as part of an electric smoking system.

Another technical problem that the invention solves is to make a cigarette that is adapted to work with an electric igniter and to provide satisfactory levels of taste and aromas.

Another technical problem to be solved by the invention is the manufacture of a cigarette which contains a cut filling and is capable of providing, however, improved consistency of smoke from aspiration to aspiration.

Another technical problem that the invention solves is to make a heater that can generate smoke from a tobacco environment without sustained combustion, reduce the formation of auxiliary smoke, allow the smoker to suspend and resume smoking, and improve the generation of aerosol within the smoking system.

Another technical problem that the invention solves is to make a heater that can supply a number of aspirations and can be further modified to change the number and / or duration of the aspirations achieved without diminishing (sacrificing) the subjective qualities of tobacco.

Another technical problem that the invention solves is to reduce the variation of an interface between the heating element and the cigarette, in order to avoid changes in the heat transfer.

The cigarette according to the invention consists of a tobacco rod formed of a tubular tobacco fabric and a portion of tobacco placed inside the tobacco tubular fabric. The tobacco rod is adapted to be received by sliding by an electrically heated fastener so that the heating elements are placed along the tobacco rod, in a position between the free end and an opposite end of the rod. tobacco. Preferably, the tobacco portion (or column) extends from the free end of the tobacco rod to a position that is distanced from the opposite end of the tobacco rod so as to define a space (or hollow portion inside) adjacent to the opposite end.

The relative dimensions of the cigarette and the heater fixture of the igniter are determined such that, after inserting the cigarette into the igniter, each heater will be placed along the tobacco rod in a predetermined position along the tobacco rod. preference so that the longitudinal extension of the contact between the heater and the cigarette (hereinafter referred to as the heater projection) overlaps at least a portion of the abovementioned gap and at least a portion of the tobacco. This results in a consistent and satisfactory supply when the cigarette is electrically smoked and the condensation of tobacco aerosol at or around the heating elements is reduced.

Alternatively, the relative dimensions of the cigarette and the attachment of the heater to the igniter are determined such that, after inserting the cigarette into the igniter, each heater will be placed along the tobacco rod, so that at least a few, if not all, of the heater projections, overlap only on the filled portion of the tobacco rod (over the tobacco portion). In such configurations the void may still be used to facilitate aerosol formation and to help cool the smoke.

Preferably, a cigarette paper is wrapped around the tubular tobacco fabric so as to provide the appearance and feel of the traditional cigarette during handling by the smoker.

The tobacco fabric may preferably comprise a tobacco non-woven fabric and a layer of tobacco material placed along at least one side of the tobacco fabric.

RO 120750 Β1

The cigarette preferably also contains a filter tip at the opposite ends, mentioned 1 above, of the tobacco rod, which comprises a permeable filter portion (also known in the prior art as a fluttering portion), a portion filter at the 3 end for the mouth and a paper that attaches the plug of the tobacco rod.

When a cigarette, according to the present invention, is inserted into an igniter 5 of an electric smoking system, the cigarette reacts to a stop placed inside the fixture, the igniter heater (or an equivalent reaction), so that 7 electrical elements The heaters of the lighter are placed along the cigarette in general at the same position for each cigarette. When smoking begins, respectively 9 the first breath, at least one of the igniter heaters is properly activated to heat the cigarette in the aforementioned position along the tobacco rod. As the smoking progresses, the tobacco rod is heated and the aerosol is removed from the tobacco fabric and stuffed. Where the projection of the heater overlaps the gap in the tobacco rod, 13 the tobacco aerosol is almost immediately released into the space defined inside the non-filled portion of the tobacco rod and removed from the cigarette. The tobacco fabric contributes to most 15 of this fraction of total aerosol eliminated by the cigarette and its proximity is considered to favorably influence the nature and extent of smoking. Because of a larger quantity of tobacco 17 at the level of the filled portion of the tobacco rod, there is a slight delay between removing the aerosol from the place where the heater projection overlaps with the filled portion of the rod. The aerosol that is released from the filled portion of the tobacco rod contributes to an additional, dominant and strong smoke flavor. 21

Another aspect of the present invention is the ability to adjust the supply of a cigarette from an electric smoking system, in which the proportional amount of overlap 23 between the filled and non-filled portions of the tobacco rod by the heater's (projection) portion affects the desired settings. supplying one or the other brand, cigarette, or within the same 25 brand.

In a constructive embodiment, the cigarette containing the filler, operable with an electric igniter, includes a tobacco rod having a permeable filter and a portion of the non-filling rod, adjacent to the permeable filter when passing the aerosol, so as to favor production 29 consistent with aerosol.

Another constructive variant is a reinforced tubular tobacco fabric, 31 having added hemp fibers or wood cellulose to the base fabric to provide additional strength. As an alternative, cellulose fiber from tobacco stalk material 33 may be included in the composition of the base fabric as a reinforcing agent.

The resistance of the cigarette is improved by including the cut filling in the edges of the 35 tubular tobacco fabric, so as to result in a cigarette that is better at handling, including handling with cigarette or consumer machines. 37 The heater according to the invention preferably comprises a support terminal and a plurality of electric resistance heating blades, which define a receptacle for receiving the introduced cigarette. Each blade comprises a first leg of the heating blade having a first end and a second and extending from the first end of the support terminal, a second 41 foot of the heating blade having a first end and a second end and a connecting section for connecting the second end of the first leg and the first end of the 43 second leg. The second end of the second leg extends to the support terminal and is electrically insulated from it. A resistance heating circuit is formed 45 to heat the electric resistance heating plate which in turn heats the inserted cigarette. The first and second legs are separated by a space, to allow the air to enter 47 to help release the flavored substances from the heated cigarette after smoking begins. 49

RO 120750 Β1

The system according to the invention includes a cigarette and an electrically operated lighter, a lighter which includes a plurality of electric heaters each of which is adapted as a part, or together, to thermally release a predetermined quantity of tobacco aerosol from the cigarette, after activating it / them. . The cigarette comprises a tubular tobacco fabric, wherein a first portion of said tobacco tubular fabric is filled with a tobacco column, preferably in the form of a cut filling, and a second portion of the tobacco tubular fabric is left blank or empty. interior, so as to define an empty space in the tobacco column.

The present invention has the following advantages:

- Cigarettes meeting the aspects of the present invention can be easily manufactured and packed in attractive packages;

- Cigarettes meeting the aspects of the present invention can be physically resistant and reduce condensation and / or filtration of the aerosol inside the cigarette and / or lighter. They may also be resistant to breakage during cigarette withdrawal from the cigarette lighter;

- Cigarettes comprising the aspects of the present invention are suitable for use with an electric cigarette lighter and may be less vulnerable to breaking or shattering during rough handling by the consumer.

- Cigarettes comprising the aspects of the present invention are suitable for use with an electric cigarette lighter and do not deteriorate or break during manufacture or packaging;

- Cigarettes meeting the aspects of the present invention and operable with an electric igniter can be made by low cost manufacturing methods, even at high production speeds;

- a heating element comprising aspects of the invention may be mechanically suitable for inserting and removing a cigarette;

- An electric resistance heater comprising aspects of the invention may have simplified connections to an associated power source;

- A heating element comprising aspects of the invention can be mechanically stable during the heating cycle.

Further examples of the invention are given in connection with FIG. 1 ... 23, which represents:

FIG. 1 and 2, perspective views of an electric smoking system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a cigarette within the fixing device and the heater of the smoking system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A, a side sectional view of a cigarette constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B, a detailed perspective view of the cigarette shown in FIG. 4A, with certain components of the cigarette partially unrepresented;

FIG. 5A and 5B, diagrams of the steps of a preferred process for making the tobacco fabric coils of a cigarette represented in FIG. 4A and 4B, in which FIG. 5A represents the steps of transforming the tobacco raw material into a sheet of tobacco fabric and FIG. 5B represents the steps of transforming the fabric of the tobacco leaf into the coils of the tobacco fabric;

FIG. 6A, a side view in section of a cigarette constructed in accordance with a hollow embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B, a graphical representation of aerosol production over time, during each expiration generated by a cigarette built in accordance with the empty embodiment inside, of the present invention, from fig. 6A;

RO 120750 Β1

FIG. 6C, a schematic of a smoke measuring device that was used to determine the results shown in FIG. 6B, 7B and 8;

FIG. 7A, a side sectional view of a cigarette constructed in accordance with an embodiment 3 with the fully filled embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B, a graphical representation of the aerosol production in relation to the time during each expiration generated by a cigarette constructed in accordance with the completely filled embodiment, from fig. 7a and 7

FIG. 8 is a graphical comparison of the aerosol volume at each sequential aspiration produced by each cigarette from those described with reference to FIG. 4A, 6A and 7A; 9

FIG. 9, a graphical representation of the relationship between the production of total particulate material (TPM) and the amount of heating overlap over the filled portion of the partially filled grid-11 grid, constructed according to the preferred embodiment (Fig. 4A), of this invention invention, 13

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of a cigarette constructed according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a cigarette constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of a heater fixture according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a heating assembly according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional side view of a heater fixture according to another aspect of the present invention utilizing an electric insulating casing;

FIG. 15, a side view, in section, of the heating fixture according to another aspect of the present invention, which uses an electrical insulating shell forming a terminal;

FIG. 16, a side sectional view of a heater fastener 27 according to another aspect of the present invention, having the legs of the serpentine heating blades;

FIG. 17A, a sectional front view of a heater blade having a flat lower side in front of the inserted cigarette;

FIG. 17B, a sectional front view of a heater blade having a lower angular side in front of the inserted cigarette;

FIG. 17C, a sectional front view of a heater blade having a curved lower side in front of the inserted cigarette;

FIG. 18, a top view of a symmetrical arrangement of flat heater blades prior to rolling;

FIG. 19, a top view of an asymmetrical arrangement of flat heater blades prior to rolling; 39

FIG. 20, a sectioned radiated view of an electric smoking system according to the present invention, illustrating another variant of the heater;

FIG. 21, a longitudinal section view of the cavity receiving the flavor cartridge of an electric smoking system according to FIG. 20, considered on line A - A of 43 fig. 20;

FIG. 22, a radial section view illustrating another variant of the heater; 45

FIG. 23, a longitudinal sectional view of the cavity receiving the flavor cartridge of an electric smoking system of fig. 22, considered on line B - B of fig. 22.47

RO 120750 Β1

Examples

Referring to FIG. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a smoking system 21, which includes a padded, partially filled cigarette 23 and a reusable lighter 25. The cigarette 23 is adapted to be inserted into / and removed from a receptacle. 27 in a front end portion 29 of the lighter 25. Once the cigarette 23 has been introduced, the smoking system 21 is used in about the same way as the traditional cigarettes, but without the ignition or burning of the cigarette 23. Cigarette 23 is discarded after one or more aspiration cycles. Preferably, each cigarette 23 provides a total of eight aspirations (suction cycles) or more per smoke; however, adjusting to a lower or higher total number of aspirations is a reason for experimentation.

The clamp 25 includes a housing 31, having front and rear portions 33 and 35. One or more batteries 35a are removably placed inside the rear portion of the housing 35 and provide power to a plurality of electrically resistant heating elements 37 , which are disposed within the front portion of the housing 33, next to the receptacle 27. A control circuit 41, in the front portion of the housing 33, establishes the electrical communication between the batteries 35a and the heating elements 37. Preferably, the rear portion 35 is adapted to be slightly open and closed so that, with screw or coupling components, it facilitates the replacement of the batteries. If desired, an electrical socket or contacts for recharging current batteries can be provided.

Preferably, the front portion of the housing 33 is removably attached to the rear portion of the housing 35, such as with a hinged tail joint or a socket. The housing 31 is preferably made of a hard, heat-resistant material. Preferred materials include metallic or preferably polymeric materials. Preferably, the housing 31 has overall dimensions of about 10.7 cm X 3.8 cm X 1.5 cm, so that it fits comfortably in the smoker's hand.

The batteries 35a are sized to provide sufficient energy to the heaters 37 to operate as intended and are preferably a type that can be replaced or recharged. Alternative energy sources such as capacitors are also suitable. In the preferred embodiment, the power source comprises four nickel-cadmium battery cells connected in series with a total non-charged voltage of approximately 4.8 to 5.6 volts. The required characteristics of the energy source are, however, selected in relation to the characteristics of other components of the smoking system 21, in particular the characteristics of the heating elements 37. US Patent 5144962 indicated as a bibliographic reference, describes several types of energy sources used in connection with Smoking systems according to the present invention, such as rechargeable battery sources and power arrangements, which contain a capacitor which is charged by a battery.

Referring further to FIG. 3, the front housing portion 33 of the lighter 25 supports a heater fixing device, essentially cylindrical, 39, which receives by sliding the cigarette 23. The fixing device 39 comprises the heater elements 37 and is adapted to support a cigarette inserted 23 in fixed relationship to the heater elements 37 so that the heater elements 37 are positioned along the cigarette, at approximately the same position along each cigarette. Where each heating element 37 is in thermal contact with a completely inserted cigarette 23, the reference (following) of the heater will be referred to below.

To ensure proper placement of the heating elements 37 relative to each cigarette 23 from the cigarette to the cigarette, the heater fixing device 39 is provided with a stop 182, against which the cigarette reacts during its placement in the igniter 25. Other experiments of cigarette 23 in relation to the lighter 25 can also be used.

RO 120750 Β1

The front casing portion 33 of the lighter 25 also includes an electrical control circuit 1 41, which provides a predetermined amount of energy from the power source 35a to the heating elements 37. In the preferred embodiment, the 3-fixing device 39n includes eight spaced circumferential heating elements 37, which are concentricly aligned with the receptacle 27 and have a serpentine shape. Details of the heaters 37 5 are illustrated and described in the patent application of the same applicant, US 07/943504, under examination, and in US patent 5388594 of the same applicant, both documents being included 7 as a whole. The additional devices for fixing the heater 37, which are operable as a part of the igniter 25, include those described in the patent application in 9 course of examination, of the same applicant, registered on January 6. 1995 (Docket Adviser no. PM 17293 CIPII); at the request of the same applicant, under examination IS no. 08 / 291,690, 11 registered on August 16, 1994, (Docket Advisor no. PM1719), all these documents being incorporated in the present description with reference to their entirety, and in the final part of the description 13 being mentioned with reference to fig. 13 ... 23. Preferably, the heaters 37 are individually supplied with energy by the power source 35a, under the control of the circuit 41, for 15 heating the cigarette 23, preferably eight times, at intervals spaced around the perimeter of the cigarette 23. the heating confers eight aspirations. from cigarette 23, as obtained by smoking a traditional 17 cigarette. It is preferable to switch on one or more heaters simultaneously for one or more aspirations. 19

Another preferred embodiment is presented in the patent application being examined, by the same applicant, US Serial no. 08/224848, filed April 8, 1994 (PM-1729B), 21 incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Referring again to FIG. 2, preferably the circuit 41 is activated by a sensor 23 operated by the aspiration of the smoke, 45, which is sensitive either to the changes in pressure or to the flow of air flow that appears after the first smoke from a cigarette 23 is drawn, by a 25 smoker. The sensor 45, actuated by the firing of the first smoke, is preferably placed inside the front portion of the casing 33 of the igniter 25 and communicates with a space inside the heater fastener 39, attached to the cigarette 23 by a passage extending by a spacer at the base of the heater fixing device 39 and, if desired, a smoke sensor suction tube (not shown). Sensor 45, actuated by firing the first smoke, suitable for use in the smoking system 21 is described in patent 31

US 5060671 (PM 1337) of the same applicant, the description of which is included in this patent application for reference. The sensor 45 preferably comprises a Model 33 163PCO1D35 silicone sensor, manufactured by the MicroSwitch department of Honeywell, Inc., Freeport, Illinois. Flow sensing devices, such as those utilizing the principles of hot-wire anemometry, are also used to activate one of the heating elements 37 after detecting a change in air flow. Once activated by the sensor 45, the control circuit 37 directs the electric current to one of the heating elements 37, close by. 39

An indicator 51 is provided in a position along the outside of the lighter 25, preferably on the front casing portion 33, to indicate the number of aspirations 41 left by cigarette smoke 23. The indicator 51 preferably includes a display with liquid crystals in seven segments. In the preferred embodiment, the indicator 51 displays the digit 43 8 when a cigarette detector 53 detects the presence of a cigarette in the heater fixture 39. The detector 53 preferably contains a light sensor at the base 45 of the heater fixture 39 , which detects the moment when a ray of light is reflected from an inserted cigarette 23. Thereafter, the cigarette detector 53 provides a signal to circuit 41, which, in return, provides a signal to

EN 120750 Β1 indicator 51. A display of digit 8 on indicator 51 reflects that eight cigarette draws provided for each cigarette 23 are available, that is, none of the heating elements 37 have been activated to heat the cigarette 23. After the cigarette 23 is completely smoked, the indicator shows digit 0. When the cigarette 23 is removed from the lighter 25, the cigarette detector 53 no longer detects the presence of a cigarette 23 and the indicator 51 closes. The cigarette detector 53 is so modulated that it does not constantly emit a ray of light, which otherwise would create an unnecessary leak at the power source 35a. A preferred cigarette detector 53 suitable for use with smoking system 21 is the OPR5005 Light Sensor, manufactured by OPTEX Technology, Inc., 1215 West Crosby Road, Carrollton, Texas 75006, USA.

As an alternative to displaying the rest of the cigarette smoke inlets, the detector display can be made to indicate whether the system is active or inactive (open or closed).

As one of the possible alternatives of using the cigarette detector 53 above, a mechanical switch (not shown) can be provided to detect the presence or absence of a cigarette 23 and a restart button (not shown) for restarting the circuit 41 when a new cigarette is inserted into the lighter 25, for example to cause the indicator 51 to display the digit 8, etc. Energy sources, circuitry, cigarette aspiration sensors, and indicators used in the smoking system 21 of the present invention are described in US Patent No. 5060671 to the same Applicant (PM 1337) and US Patent Application 07/943504 (PM 1550). of the same applicant, indicated as a bibliographic reference.

Referring further to FIG. 4A and 4B, cigarette 23, made according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprises a tobacco rod 60 and a filter stopper 62, which are attached together with wrapping paper 64.

The partially filled cigarette 23, preferably, has a diameter essentially constant throughout its length and, like most traditional cigarettes, is preferably about 7.5 mm to 8.5 mm in diameter, so that the smoking system 21 provides the smoker with a familiar buccal sensation. In a preferred embodiment, cigarette 23 has a total length of 62 mm, thereby facilitating the use of conventional packing machines for packing cigarettes 23. The combined length of the mouthpiece filter 104 and the free-pass filter 102 is, preferably 30 mm. The wrapping paper preferably extends about 6 mm above the tobacco rod 60. The total length of the tobacco rod 62 is preferably 32 mm. Other proportions, lengths and diameters can be selected instead of those indicated above, for preferred embodiments.

Tobacco rod 60 of cigarette 23 preferably includes a tobacco fabric 66, which has been folded into a cylindrical (tubular) shape.

A shell 71 overlaps intimately over the tobacco fabric 66 and is held together along a longitudinal joint, as is generally the case in the construction of most traditional cigarettes. the casing 71 retains the tobacco fabric 66 in the wrapped state around a filter 74, for the free flow and the tobacco stopper 80.

Preferably, the cigarette wrapping paper, 71 is wrapped intimately around the tobacco cloth 66, so as to give the exterior appearance and feel of the traditional cigarette. It has been found that a better-tasting smoke is made when the wrapping paper is a standard cigarette paper, preferably a hemp paper of about 20 to 50 CORESTA (defined according to the amount of air, measured in cubic centimeters, which passes through a square centimeter of material, such as a sheet of paper, in one minute at a pressure drop of 1.0 kilopascal) and preferably about 30 to 45 CORESTA, a base weight of about 23 at 35 g / m ² and more preferably about 23 to 30 g / m ² , and a filler load (preferably calcium carbonate) of about 23 to 35% by weight or more preferably 28 to 33% by weight.

RO 120750 Β1

The wrapping paper 71 preferably contains little or no citrate or other combustion modification agents, with preferred levels of citrate, reaching from 0 to about 2.6% by weight of wrapping paper 71 and more preferably less than 1%. 3

The tobacco fabric 66, itself, preferably comprises a base fabric 68 and a layer of flavoring tobacco material 70, placed along the inner surface of the basic fabric 5 68. At the tip end 71, of the stem tobacco 60, tobacco fabric 66 together with the cover 71 are wrapped around the filter plug 74, tubular, free flowing. The free-flowing filter 7 provides the structural definition, supports the top end 72 of the tobacco rod 60 and allows the aerosol to withdraw from the inside of the tobacco rod 60 with a minimum pressure drop 9. The free flow filter 74 also acts as a flow constrictor at the top end 72 of the tobacco rod 60, which is believed to favor the formation of soil air 11 during a draw in the cigarette 23. The free flow filter has, preferably 7 mm long to facilitate machine handling and is preferably annular, although other shapes 13 and lower efficiency filter types are also suitable, including cylindrical filter plugs. 15

At the free end 78 of the tobacco rod 60, the tobacco fabric 66 together with the cover are wrapped around a cylindrical tobacco stop 80. Preferably, the tobacco stop 80 is 17 constructed separately from the tobacco fabric 66 and contains a relatively short column. of tobacco-cut filling which was wrapped and retained by a stopper of the plug 84. 19

Preferably, the tobacco stopper 80 is constructed on a conventional cigarette making machine, in which the cut (preferably mixed) filling is molded into the air in the form of a continuous tobacco rod on a conveyor belt and wrapped with a continuous ribbon. stopper covers 84, which are then glued along its longitudinal joint 23 and then joined by heating. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stopper wrap 84 is preferably constructed of cellulose fabric with little or no filling, with sizing or burning additives (each at levels below 0.5% by weight). and preferably with reduced or no sizing. Preferably, the casing for the tobacco plug 84 is light in weight, below 15 g / m ² and preferably about 13 g / m ² . The tobacco stopper 84 preferably has high permeability, of the order 29 of about 20,000 to 35,000 CORESTA and, more preferably, of the order of approximately 25,000 to 35,000 CORESTA and is preferably made of soft wood fiber pulp, 31 abaca cellulose or other long fiber pulp. Such papers can be obtained from PapierfabrikSchoellerand HoeschtGMBH, Postfach 1155, D-76584, Gernsbach, Germany; Another suitable type of paper to be used as a cover for stopper 84 is TW 2000 paper from DeMauduit, Euimperle France, with the addition of carboxymethyl cellulose, at a level of 2.5 by 35 weight.

The machine for making tobacco rods is actuated so as to produce a density of 37 rods of tobacco about 0.17 to 0.30 g / cm ³ , but more preferably in a range of at least 0.20 to 0. , 30 g / cm ³ , and especially preferably between about 0.24 to 0.28 g / cm ³ . Den elevated seams are preferred to avoid the free ends at the free end 78 of the tobacco rod 60. However, it is understandable that low rod densities allow the tobacco column 82 to contribute 41 to a larger proportion of aerosol and aroma in smoke. As a result, a balance must be struck between providing aerosol (which favors a low stem density in tobacco column 43 82) and avoiding free ends (which promotes high levels of stem densities).

Tobacco Column 84 preferably contains cut filler from a mixture of 45 industry-typical tobacco, which includes blends containing blond tobacco, Burley of Kentucky and Eastern along with possibly reconstituted tobacco and other components of 47

RO 120750 Β1 mixture, including flavors from traditional cigarettes. However, in the preferred embodiment, the cut filling of the tobacco column 84 contains a mixture of blond, burley and oriental tobacco in a ratio of approximately 45: 30:25 to the US market, not including reconstituted tobacco or any other flavors. Optionally, an expanded tobacco component may be included in the mixture to adjust the rod density, and flavors may be added.

The continuous tobacco rod, formed as described above, is cut into slices according to a predetermined length of the stopper, for the tobacco stopper 80. The length is preferably at least 7 mm, to facilitate handling with the apparatus. However, the length can vary from 7 mm to 25 mm or more depending on the preferences for the cigarette aspect, which will be highlighted below, with particular reference to fig. 4a and 4B.

Generally, the length 86 of the tobacco stop 80 is set relative to the total length 88 of the tobacco rod 60, so that a gap 90 is defined along the tobacco rod 60 between the filter 74, for the free flow of the aerosol, and tobacco plug 80. The gap corresponds to an unoccupied portion of the tobacco rod 60 and is in immediate fluid connection with the tip 62 through the filter 74, for free flow of the tobacco rod 60.

With particular reference to FIG. 4A, the length 86 of the tobacco stopper 80 and its relative position along the tobacco rod 60 is also chosen according to the characteristics of the heating elements 37. When the cigarette is properly placed against the stop 182 of the heater fastener 39 , a portion 92 of each heating element 37 will contact the tobacco rod 60 along an area of the tobacco rod 60. This contact area represents the trace (projection) of the heater 94. The projection of the heater 94 (shown by a double arrow in FIG. 4A) is not part of the structure of the cigarette itself, but is a representation of that area on the tobacco rod 60 in which the heating element 37 is expected to reach the heating temperatures during smoking of the cigarette 23. Because the heating elements 37 are a fixed distance 96 from the stop 182 of the heater 39, the projection of the heater 94 is placed along the tobacco rod 60 at the same predetermined distance, 96, from the free end 78, of the tobacco rod 60, for each cigarette 23, which is fully inserted into the lighter 25.

Preferably, the length of the tobacco stopper 80, the length of the projection of the heater 94 and the distance between the projection of the heater 94 and the stop 182 are selected so that the projection 94 extends behind the tobacco stopper 80 and overlaps on a portion of the gap 90 on a distance 98. The distance 98, by which the projection of the heater 94 overlaps the gap 90 (the unfulfilled portion of the tobacco rod 60) is also called the overlap of the gap of the heater 98. The distance with which the remainder of the projection of the heater 94 overlaps with the stopper of the tobacco 80 is termed the overlay of the heater filler 99. The tip 62 preferably comprises a free flowing filter 102 positioned adjacent to the tobacco rod 60 and a filter plug for the mouthpiece 104 at the distal end of the tip 62 relative to the tobacco rod 60. Preferably, the free flow filter 102 is tubular and transmits air with a very small c pressure relief. Other low-efficiency filters of standard configurations can also be used. The inner diameter of the free-flowing filter 96 is preferably 2 to 6 mm in size and is preferably larger than that of the free-flowing filter 74 of the tobacco rod 60.

The mouthpiece filter plug 104 covers the free end of the tip 62 for aesthetic considerations and if desired, to perform some filtering, although it is preferred that the mouthpiece filter plug 104 contain a low efficiency filter, preferably approximately. 15 to 25% efficiency.

RO 120750 Β1

The free flow filter 102 and the mouthpiece filter plug 104 are preferably assembled together in the form of a combined stopper 110 with a stopper cover 112. The stopper cover 112 is preferably a porous, weight cover. reduced and 3 can generally be purchased from cigarette manufacturers. Combined stopper 110 is attached to tobacco rod 60 through paper 64, with standard features conventionally used in the 5 cigarette industry. The 64 paper can be brown, white or any other color according to the decorative preferences. 7

Preferably, a cigarette 23, obtained according to the preferred embodiment, has a total length of about 62 mm, of which 30 mm represents the combined stopper 110 of tip 9 62. Thus, the tobacco rod has a length of 32 mm. Preferably, the filter for free flow 74 of the tobacco rod 60 is at least 7 mm long and the gap 91 between the filter 11 for free flow 74 and the tobacco stop 80 is preferably 7 mm long. In the preferred embodiment, the projection of the heater 94 is approximately 12 mm long and 13 so arranged that an overlap 98 of the 3 mm heater gap is obtained, remaining 9 mm from the projection of the heater 94 overlapping the tobacco stopper. 80. 15

It is to be understood that the length of the hollow 91 and the length of the tobacco stop 80 can be adjusted to facilitate the manufacture and more importantly, to adjust the smoking characteristics of the cigarette-17 network 23, including the regulation of taste. The length of the hollow 91 and the amount of overheating of the heater filler (and the overlay of the heater gap) can also be maneuvered 19 to adjust the response, to promote the consistency of supplies (based on suction - to - suction, as well as between cigarettes) and to control aerosol condensation at or around 21 heaters.

In the preferred embodiment, the gap 91 (the unfilled portion of the tobacco rod 23 60) extends approximately 7 mm to ensure the fit between the projection of the heater 94 and the filter for free flow 74. In this way, a limit is provided such that the projection 25 of heater 94 does not heat the filter for free flow 74, during smoking. Other lengths are suitable, for example, if the manufacturing tolerances allow, the gap 91 can be configured 27 to a length of 4 mm or less, or at the other end, it will have a length of over mm, so that a portion is made elongated without filter along tobacco rod 60. 29

The preferred length interval for the filterless portion (gap 91) is about 4 mm to 18 mm and more preferably from 5 to 12 mm. 31

The base fabric 68 physically separates the heating elements 37 from the flavored tobacco material, transfers the heat generated by the heating elements 37 to the flavored material 33 70 and maintains the physical cohesion of the tobacco rod during handling, insertion into the lighter 25 and cigarette removal after smoking. 35 in the description which follows certain percentage levels and / or relative weights are established for different components containing the tobacco fabric 66. Unless stated otherwise 37, or is not obviously contrary to the person skilled in the art, the indications regarding weight percentages refer to for dry matter, ie percentage levels and / or relative weights 39 (but not including) the moisture content is regulated.

The process for making tobacco fabric 66 is preferably conducted without the addition of carbon fiber 41, as described in the following paragraphs. Upon completion of the preferred manufacturing process, the base fabric 68 itself has a preferred total weight of about 43 to about 35 to 45 g / m ² , more preferably about 40 g / m ² . At 40 g / m ² , the base fabric 68 preferably contains about 28 g / m ² of tobacco fiber and about 45 matte 12 g / m ² cellulose fiber for example from wood pulp or hemp. Cellulose fiber serves as a cellulose reinforcing agent in the composition of the base network 68. It is 47

It is preferable to reduce the amount of cellulose fiber in the base fabric for subjective reasons (to avoid establishing a cigarette paper taste). In general, the ratio of tobacco fiber to cellulose fiber in the base fabric 68 based on the dry weight is about 2: 1 to 4: 1. The preferred cellulose material is unbleached cellulose, soft wood kraft, although most wood pulp and hemp can be processed.

Another reinforcing agent for the base fabric 68 is a cellulose fiber produced from tobacco stems.

Although not preferred, the alginate can be coated along one side of the base fabric 68 at a level of about 1 g / m ² . If alginate is applied, it is preferable to apply on one side of the base fabric 68 opposite the side receiving the aromatic tobacco material 70.

Tobacco material 70 is preferably applied to the base fabric 68 at levels of dry weight of at least two and more preferably about three times the basic fabric 68. In a preferred embodiment, the tobacco material has a basic weight of approximately 130 g / m ² , so that the total weight of the tobacco fabric 66 is about 170 g / m ² . Based on the dry weight, the tobacco material 70 contains a portion of ground tobacco and solids extracted in a ratio in the range of about 3.5 to 1 (3.5: 1) to 5 to 1 (5: 1) by weight, although this ratio can be varied in the range of about 3: 1 to 9: 1. In the preferred embodiment, the ratio is about 4.1.

To the tobacco material 70 is added glycerin as a wetting agent as aerosol precursor to levels of about 10 -14%, more preferably 12% by dry weight of the tobacco material 70, but this additional level can be varied from about 5% to up to 20% or more of the dry weight of tobacco material 70. When glycerin is reduced to only about 5 to 7% of the dry weight of the composition, the tobacco fabric 66 may be somewhat stiffer and more resistant to breakage when runs in tubular form.

Pectin is also added to the tobacco material 70, in percentages in dry weight in the range 0.5 to 2%, preferably about 1.4%. Pectin is added as a coating agent. in its absence, the tobacco material 70 may tend to penetrate excessively into the base fabric 68, during the coating operation, creating a granular surface texture on the covered side of the tobacco fabric 66. Too much pectin prevents penetration and weakens the connection between the tobacco material 70 and the base fabric 68. At about 1%, pectin favors adequate penetration and the bond between the layers, so that the basic fabric 68 can withstand the rigors of manufacture on the automatic cigarette plant.

Preferably, the tobacco material 70 on the base fabric 68 comprises about 1620% by weight dry solids extracted from tobacco, 66-71% by weight dry particles crushed tobacco, 8-14% glycerin and about 1.4% pectin. For the US market, the milled tobacco that is incorporated into the tobacco material 70 preferably contains a mixture of blond, Burley and oriental tobacco, in which almost half of the mixture is blond tobacco, about 1/3 is Burley and the rest is oriental. The composition and relative quantities of blended components can be advantageously adjusted to meet the needs of consumers in the US markets.

Referring to FIG. 5A and 5B, the preferred method of making a tobacco cloth batch 66 in a form suitable for the automatic manufacture of cigarettes 23 comprises a first series of steps 120 (shown in Fig. 5A) for processing the tobacco raw material, preferably , tobacco strips, in a continuous sheet of 66s tobacco fabric and a second series

RO 120750 Β1 of steps 122 (shown in Fig. 5B) for transforming the continuous sheet of tobacco fabric 1 66s into one or more coils spun 66b of tobacco fabric, which correspond to the conditions of use in the automatic manufacture of cigarettes 23. 3

With specific reference to FIG. 5A, method 120, of converting the tobacco raw material into a continuous sheet of tobacco fabric 66s, begins by subjecting the tobacco raw material 5 to an extraction step 124 (preferably with water), to separate the tobacco fiber from tobacco soluble materials from the starting material. Tobacco raw material, pre-7, contains tobacco strips, but other forms of tobacco and / or tobacco sheets that can be used in the process are suitable. Preferably, the tobacco strips consist of a mixture of 9 blond and Burley tobacco and may possibly include oriental tobacco or other varieties.

The tobacco fiber collected from the extraction process 124 is itself subjected to a process of type 11 making the paper 126 to form a continuous sheet 68s of tobacco fabric.

In process 126, the tobacco fiber from the extraction step 124 is dispersed in water 13 with the addition of a predetermined amount of cellulose fiber which serves as a reinforcing agent in the composition of the fabric 68. Preferably, the fiber contains wood cellulose pulp, 15 hemp and / or tobacco stems. Once combined, the mixed dispersion of tobacco fiber and cellulose fiber is refined to form a slab of fabric 128, suitable for being 17 introduced into the mold casting step 130, wherein the slab of fabric 128 is introduced into a molding device in the shape of a fabric forming plant and modeled on a four-band or a continuous steel strip, preferably the first one.

It is more advantageous from the expense point of view to refine the dispersed mixture of tobacco fiber and reinforcing agent after mixing the two components together. They can be refined and separately and then combined. 2. 3

After the molding step 130, the resulting fabric 132 is then directed through one or more dryers, into a drying step 134, a step which preferably 25 involves passing the fabric through a Yankee dryer and one or more dryers. dryers of another type, although an arrangement of various dryers and devices is known in the art 27 in the art and they are available for performing the drying step 134. At the completion of the step 134, the drying of the fabric, a monitoring step 136 is performed, to measure the moisture content and weight of the dry fabric. The results obtained 138 regarding the measurement of the moisture content are used to adjust the drying operation 134 in order to achieve and maintain the desired final level of moisture in the 68s base fabric sheet, for the purpose of the subsequent coating operation 144. The the 68s base fabric has, preferably, a content of about 15% by weight moisture during the coating operation 144. 35

With respect to monitoring step 136, the results obtained 140 with respect to the weight of the base sheet 68s are used to adjust the molding operation 130 so that the preferred base weight 37 is obtained in the basic fabric 68 described above. Such adjustments include changes in the speed at which the slab 128 is inserted into the forming box 39 of the fabric forming apparatus in the forming step 130. The fabric forming step 126 may further comprise a covering step 142, which covers a side of 41 basic 68s fabric with alginate, at values described above along one side of the basic fabric 68s opposite the side receiving the flavored tobacco material 70. However, 43 preferred practice is to proceed without applying the alginate. .

At the conclusion of the fabric forming process 126, the base fabric is under 45 in the form of a continuous strip 68s, which allows for further coverage operation 144. Alternatively, it can be used for subsequent off-line coating operations. However, it is preferable to proceed immediately to the coating operation 144, after forming the basic fabric sheet 68s. 49

RO 120750 Β1

Preferably, the base fabric 68s enters the coating operation 144 at a moisture content of about 12 to 17%, preferably 14.5% to 15.5% humidity.

Regarding the extraction step 124, the tobacco solubles leave the extraction stage 124 as a dilute solution containing about 5 to 10% dissolved tobacco (soluble) constituents, more preferably 7 to 8% dissolved tobacco constituents. Preferably, the diluted solution is not subjected to evaporative treatment, so as to reduce the application of heat to the solution. The application of heat can have an impact on the flavor that contributes to tobacco solubles when a part of the cigarette has been smoked 23.

These solubles (also known as extracted liquid) from extraction step 124 are mixed in a mixing step 146 with finely ground tobacco, additionally, glycerin and pectin, together with water, all in relative quantities which give the final proportional content previously described for the dry conditions, the tobacco material 70. In connection with the mixing step 146, water is added in sufficient quantities so that at the end of the mixing step 124 a dispersion with a solids content of about 20 to 35% is obtained. preferably with a solids content of about 24 to 26%. The milled tobacco particles are preferably in the order of 60 to 400 mesh, in which the term mesh refers to a rate of passage of 95% of the tobacco particles through an eye having a given number of holes per square inch. Preferably, the additional particles of ground tobacco are in the order of about 100 to 200 mesh and in particular about 120 mesh.

If the size of the eye through which the milled tobacco particles pass is set above the value of 120 mesh, more precisely at or about 180 to 220 mesh, the solids content of the slurry material at the end of the mixing step 146 may be increased, up to at values of about 28 to 31%.

After the mixing step 146 is completed, the slurry of tobacco material is immediately directed to the coating operation 144, although the coating operation can be effectively conducted at a certain time interval, offline. In coating operation 144, the sludge of tobacco material should have a solids content of about 22 to 27% by weight, preferably about 24 to 25%.

In the coating step 144, the sludge of tobacco material has a final percentage weight of 4 to 8% soluble tobacco, preferably 5.5 to 6.5% soluble tobacco substances. Preferably, the sludge of tobacco material enters the coating step 144 at a temperature in the range of about 70 to 130 F, more preferably about 90 F plus or minus 50 F.

The coating step 128 is preferably driven with a standard inverted roll coating device placed behind the Yankee dryer behind the continuous or four-band belt. The coating stage may be conducted with other suitable coating devices known and available to those skilled in the art. The tobacco material 70 may instead be molded or extruded into the base fabric 68. As an alternative, the embodiment step 128 may be performed offline separately from the production of the basic fabric sheet 68s. during or after the coating step 128, if desired, the usual flavors for the conventional cigarette industry are added.

At the end of the coating operation 144, a continuous sheet of tobacco fabric 66s is obtained.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the process follows steps 122, transforming the tobacco cloth sheet 66s into a coil wound 66b, which is suitable for the automated production of cigarettes 23. Preferably, the conversion steps 122 are performed online, with the production a continuous sheet of 66s tobacco fabric. During the execution of the conversion steps 122, the operator must avoid the conditions that cause breakage, breakage

EN 120750 Β1 or other imperfections of the tobacco fabric 66s, so as to form a continuous winding of the tobacco fabric in the form of coil 66b with little or no joints at all. In addition, the tobacco fabric sheet 66s must be conditioned so that, at the completion of the 3 transformation steps 122, the tobacco fabric does not adhere to it and can be wound and unwound quickly from the coil 66b without breaking. 5

The transformation steps 122 begin with a drying step 146, wherein, preferably, the 66s tobacco cloth sheet is continuously fed into a hot-air, gas-heated, air dryer of the type available from Airtech Systems Corp. from Stroughton, Tomorrow, or in a steam-heated hot-air dryer. Other dryers, which are known in the art for weaving, can also be used instead. The drying step 146 should be performed with minimal heat application, but in sufficient quantities to dry the 68s tobacco fabric from its initial conditions (about 15% moisture content in the base fabric and about 75% humidity level in the casing itself) 13 to about 8.5 to 12% total moisture content at the end of the drying step 146.

Preferably, the dry tobacco cloth sheet 66d has a moisture content of about 15 to 11%. The final moisture content is preferred for several reasons: to facilitate longitudinal cutting operations at a later stage of the conversion step 122; for 17 to establish a humidity level that approximates the level where the material should be balanced when stored and / or shipped to manufacture; and to establish a level of humidity that avoids gluing and grasping the base fabric material itself, in coil 66b. 21

As a result of the drying step 126, the dry tobacco cloth sheet 66d is cooled to ambient temperature, preferably from the place where it is stored and / or processed, typically 23 to 65 to 80 F. This cooling step 148 does not Not only does it facilitate balancing the tobacco fabric 66 with the operating environment, but it also avoids the risk of heat being retained in coil 66b, which can initiate the self-heating process. If there is no supervision, self-heating can lead to extreme temperatures and degradation of the subjective character of the tobacco fabric 66. Preferably, the cooling stage is conducted with an air cooler, cooled with chilled water, available from Airtech Systems Corp. . Stroughton Tomorrow, although any of the usual systems known to specialists in the field of fabrics can also be used. After the steps of drying the fabric and cooling it 146 and 148, the sheet of 31 dried and cooled 66dc tobacco is passed through a smoothing plant, such as those of Thermo Electron Web Systems, Inc. Auburn, Tomorrow, or other suitable smoothing devices 33 known to those skilled in the art of weaving. At the end of the smoothing step 150, the tobacco fabric 66 is substantially devoid of thermally induced deformation along its edges and is suitable for subsequent longitudinal twisting and cutting steps.

152 and 154. However, before performing these steps, it is preferable to monitor 37 the temperature, humidity level and total weight of the 66s tobacco leaf, when leaving the smoothing step 150, to have control of the process that will It ensures that the tobacco fabric sheet 39s is suitable for longitudinal twisting and cutting, and the desired values of temperature and humidity, total weight of coil 66b, will be achieved. 41 in particular, in monitoring the tobacco cloth sheet 66, the reading of its total weight is used to adjust the coating operation 144, such as at the feed rate of the slide material 43 in the inverted roll coating device, or the distance of the game between the rollers of the covering device. The moisture level readings in the monitoring step 151 are used to control the drying operations to obtain tracked moisture levels in the sheet, as shown above. Similarly, the cooling step 148 is controlled 47 with respect to the results of the temperature readings of the tobacco cloth sheet 66 in the monitoring step 151. 49

RO 120750 Β1

Thereafter, the tobacco cloth sheet 66 is twisted in a twisting step 152, which is made with fabric twisting facilities known and available to the specialist in the field of fabric processing. Thereafter, the tobacco cloth sheet 68s is cut longitudinally into individual coils 66b, in which the width of the cut for each coil depends on the desired circumference of the cigarette 23.

Upon completion of the transformation steps 122, the coil 66b is suitable for the automated processes of cigarette manufacture 23, such as through the combined operations described with reference to FIG. 6, from the mentioned reference of the same applicant, the patent application under examination US Serial no. 07/943504, registered on September 11 1992.

Glycerin from tobacco material 70 serves as an aerosol precursor and facilitates the formation of a visible aerosol during cigarette smoking 23. In addition, because glycerin is released into the atmosphere, it condenses and provides a typical appearance expected from cigarette smoke. Other wetting agents suitable for use in the tobacco industry may be used instead.

Eventually, after modeling step 123, an alginate coating can be made along one side of the fabric 68, during or after the coating step 126. The alginate coating provides additional strength and film formation along one side. of the basic fabric 68. However, the basic fabric 68 has sufficient resistance without alginate and in practice it is preferred to make the basic fabric 68 without it.

The present invention can be carried out with other types of basic fabrics 68 (supports), including carbon fiber fabrics, or metallic or shielded fabrics described in patent applications under examination, of the same applicant no. 07/943504, no. 07/943747 and in the patents of the same applicant US 5388594 and the European publication EP-A-0615411, all given as bibliographic references in the text of the description.

With respect to the carbon fiber fabrics described in EP-A-0615411, as well as in the patent of the same applicant US 5388594, the continuation of which is patent application 08/380718 registered on 30 September. 1995, a preferred composition of such fabrics contains a base fabric 68 containing tobacco fibers of 20-30 g / m ² , more preferably about 24 to 28 g / m ² , and more preferably 26 g / m ² ; carbon fibers of 2-9 g / m ² , more preferably 2 to 4 g / m ² and in particular, preferably 3 g / m ² ; and pectin about 0.5 to 1.5 g / m ² , more preferably about 1 g / m ² pectin. Preferably, these constituents are balanced to establish a base fabric 68 having a total base weight of approximately 30 g / m ² . It is also preferable to use 1/4 inch long carbon fiber to facilitate its dispersion during the sludge forming step in the process. The initiation of carbon fiber feed dispersion is facilitated when used as described in US 4007083 and US 4234379.

In the tobacco base fabric variant 66 (ie carbon fiber fabric), the total weight of the final dried sheet is preferably about 160 g / m ² , of which 30 g / m ² represents the basic fabric a68 and 130 g / m ² represents tobacco material 70. In contrast, the most preferred embodiment of the basic tobacco fabric 66, which does not include carbon fiber, has a dry sheet weight of approximately 170 g / m ² , of which 40 g / m ² represents the basic fabric 68 and 130 g / m ² represents the tobacco material 70.

Whatever type of base fabric 68 (or support) is used, the tobacco material 70 is preferably disposed on the inner surface of the base fabric 68 and releases a flavored tobacco aerosol (response) when heated. Such materials may also include sheets, foams, gels, dry sludges or dry sludges deposited by spraying tobacco material.

RO 120750 Β1

Referring to FIG. 3 and in connection with those mentioned in the bibliographic references in US Patent 5388594 of the same applicant, when a cigarette 23 of the preferred embodiment is inserted in the bag 27, it is guided to the heater fastener 39 , until the free end 78 of the cigarette 23 is bordered by the stop 182, fixedly fixed at the base of the heater fixing device 39. Once the cigarette is in the respective position 5, smoking can also start any action of pulling the cigarette by the smoker is perceived by the flush sensor 45, which, in connection with the control circuit 41, 7 causes the electric current to be supplied to a preselected heater 37. The energy is supplied through the electrical circuit which includes conductors 183 at one end of each heater 9 37, a common ring 184 at the opposite end of each heater 37 and a common conductor 186 which extends from the common ring 184 back near the conductors 183. When each 11 heater 37 is activated, the heat energy is transferred through the wrapper 71 and the tobacco fabric 68 in sufficient quantity for the tobacco flavored material 70 of the tobacco fabric 13 66 to place freely an aerosol at the end of the tobacco rod 60, which is extracted from the cigarette 23 corresponding to the action of puffing the cigarette, carried out by the smoker at the end of the tip of the cigarette-15 net 23.

The action of pulling once from the cigarette generally takes about 1.5 to 2 seconds, 17 FTC cigarette testing procedures approximate the duration of a puff as 2.0 seconds.

Where the projection of the heater 94 is superimposed on the empty space 91, the aerosol 19 is released directly from the heated aromatic tobacco material 70 into the gap 91, after which it is withdrawn into and through the tip 62 with a very small pressure drop. On the other hand, where the projection 21 of the heater 94 overlaps with the tobacco plug 80 (the heater / filler overlap 99), close portions of the tobacco plug 80 will be heated along the close portions of the 23 tobacco fabric 66. Correspondingly , the tobacco blended from tobacco plug 80 contributes with their own fractions to the total aerosol in terms of taste or other subjective characteristics. The aerosol released from the tobacco plug 80, at or around the heater / filler overlap 99, is subjected to filtration and pressure drops when it is drawn through the tobacco plug 80 and into space 91.

The aerosol produced by heating the tobacco plug 80 has a character and taste that 29 can be modified by the mixture of tobacco, as well as by adjusting the projection of the heater projection 94 over the tobacco plug 80. The aerosol component that is produced near 31 space 91 is instantaneously released from the cigarette, because there is a lower thermal inertia at the level of space 91 and because the tobacco substance thermally vaporized at the level of space 91 is not subjected to the pressure drop of the tobacco stopper 80 and is instead communicated immediately to the tip 62 by the filter for free flowing 74. However, it has a character 35 different from that released from the tobacco plug 80, as it is released predominantly from the tobacco flavored material 70 from the base fabric 68. As will be explained in detail below, it was found that , for the satisfaction of the smoker, the aerosol released from a cigarette 23 preferably includes they are aerosol components, to ensure their immediate supply to 39 smokers and to include the aroma note attributable to the tobacco mixed with cut filling. As will become evident from the following, the presence of space 91 (and its near presence in the initial supply) ensures a consistent consistent smoking of cigarette 23 and promotes consistency between cigarettes. This relationship is justified by the comparative characteristics of 43 partially filled cigarette smoking 23 built according to the preferred embodiment (having a cut filling stop 80 and an empty space 91), compared to cigarettes - 45 teas 23 'from a first variant pattern (fig. 6A) without cut filling inside the rolled tobacco fabric, and a second pattern variant (fig. 7A) having a rolled tobacco fabric 47

EN 120750 Β1 fully filled with cut filling. In the description of these various models, it is understood that the tobacco fabric 66 'and 66 comprise a base fabric 68 and a layer of tobacco material 70 as in the preferred embodiment. The 60 'tobacco rods of these model variants also include casing 71.

A coil heating element set at 15 Joule energy was used to generate the comparative data shown in FIG. 6B and 7B with the cigarettes of FIG. 6A and 7A respectively.

Referring to FIG. 6A, a cigarette adapted for smoking in an electric smoking system, according to the first model variant, comprises a tobacco rod 60 'and a tip 62' which includes components marked with prime numbers corresponding to the components of the preferred embodiment of fig. 4A. However, the tobacco rod '60' of the cigarette 23 'does not include any filler cut inside its tobacco fabric 66' and the free end 78 'of the tobacco rod 60' is provided with a 200 * back filter. The basic fabric 68 'of the tobacco fabric 66' is of the type that includes carbon fiber, as described above. The construction of the 23 'cigarette is also detailed in US Patent 5388594 of the same applicant, given as a bibliographic reference, entirely in the text. In the following description reference will be made to the 23 'cigarette as an unfilled cigarette 23'.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the experiments were conducted using a smoking machine together with a smoking system 21. The values obtained from the smoking machine were passed during each puff through a smoke measuring device 6y having a transparent chamber 6v, in which a light beam 6u from a source 6w passes through the transparent chamber 6v to a photodetector 6z at the opposite end of the transparent chamber 6v. The results obtained from the photosensor 6z are processed to solve the intensity of the light radiation 6u when it hits the sensor 6z. Any tobacco spray passing through the 6v chamber will have a light scattering effect on the 6u light beam, so any change in the light intensity detection at the 6z photodetector will be an inverse indication of the particle material (TPM). from aerosol. According to the FTC testing practices of cigarettes, it is preferable for the smoker to perform a two-second flush of the smoking system 21.

The graphical information presented in fig. 6B indicates the intensity recorded on the smoke measuring device in relation to the time the smoking machine passes through each of a succession of puffs in a 23 'unfilled cigarette. The results indicate the following: with a 23 'unfilled cigarette, the first and second puffs are inconsistent with the rest of the three puffs, the last three puffs are more consistent than any other; and the aerosol is released before the expiration of two seconds for each flush. The unfilled cigarette 23 'is less consistent in terms of aerosol release in the first few puffs and the consistency is more pronounced in the last puffs. The results of the first puff are associated with the observation that the 23 'non-filled cigarette smoking machine provides less aerosol during the first puff if no immediate action is taken such as punching the tobacco rod 60' or other measures as provided in US Patent 5,388594.

Referring to FIG. 7A, another model of the electric drive cigarette 23 "has a tobacco rod 60" having a tip 62 with components and an arrangement similar to that of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 4A, with similar components noted with double prime (). However, cigarette 23 of FIG. 7A includes a backflow filter 200 at the free end 78 and a cut filler column 220 "extending along the entire length of the tobacco rod 60 between the back flow filter 200 and the free flow filter 74 of the tobacco rod. 60.

RO 120750 Β1

Tobacco column 220 of cigarette 23 comprises a mixture of Kentucky Burley tobacco, 1 blonde and oriental, at a stem density of 0.275 g / cm ³ . The base fabric 68 of the tobacco fabric 66 is the type containing carbon fiber as described above. In the following description, reference will be made to cigarette 23 as a fully filled cigarette 23. 5

Referring to FIG. 7B, the measurements of light intensity from a smoke measuring device 6y were correlated with the progression of the time flow of each puff for a sequence of puffs numbered one to seven, for the cigarette with filling, completely filled 23. The results presented in FIG. 7B are representative of two obvious aspects 9 in making a cigarette built according to cigarette 23 with padding, completely filled: the first puffs provide significant aerosol release, but this release 11 is then reduced to such an extent that the last three the puffs provide substantially less aerosol than the first puffs (unless corrective measures are taken); 13 with the cigarette 23 completely filled, the aerosol release is delayed and the initial puffs (puffs one, two and three) do not reach maximum release until 15 after a substantial period of two seconds has elapsed.

During the first few puffs, cigarette 23 with a fully filled cigarette tends to release a greater total volume of aerosol than cigarette 23 'without padding. A comparison of the results presented in fig. 7B and 6B highlight these general observations, in that the total surfaces above the lines of the first puffs in fig. 7B for the completely filled cigarette 23 cigarette are larger than the total surfaces above the 21 lines of the first puffs in fig. 6B for cigarette 23 'without filling. The surfaces above each puff in fig. 7B and 6B are an indication of total release during that 23 puff.

However, it is found that the delay in supplying cigarette 23 with a completely stuffed 25 filling, induces the smoker to undertake a gesture of firing stronger and longer, in the desire to obtain an immediate aroma response from cigarette 23 ”. The more pronounced pull of the cigarette 27 on the other hand, causes the heated portions of the shell 71 and the tobacco cloth 66 to be completely consumed (oxidized) by the additional drawing of the air passing through them 29, so that a rupture and possibly a collapse occur. locality of the tobacco column 220 during the first puffs. In addition, it is believed that once pyrolysis initiated in the completely filled cigarette, it tends to be more self-sustaining, due to the presence of a higher mass of combustible tobacco and / or because of its more compacted state. In any case, because the air 33 can be drawn more easily into the tobacco rod by the combustion breaches of the first puffs, these localized breaches shorten the desired trajectories of air flow of the following puffs. As a result, the supply decreases during the last puffs, at cigarette 23 with filling, completely filled. 37

The results shown in fig. 7B and the explanations above relate to the general observation that a fully-filled cigarette 23, or a traditional cigarette, when smoked with electric lighters, tends to diminish their flow if their smoking progresses. 41

Due to delayed, but more self-sustained pyrolysis, the fully filled cigarette 23 'tends to generate a larger amount of aerosol in the last stage of puffiness, and may continue to produce an aerosol amount after the time the smoker has actually pulls the cigarette. The latter situation may result in the production of a post-flush aerosol which may be delayed inside the housing 33 of the lighter 25, in particular at or around the fixing device 39 of the heater. Part of this post-flush spray will be 47

EN 120750 Β1 problematic condensation on heating elements 33 or it will be long enough to be pulled into cigarette 23 during the next puff. Any of these consequences is detrimental to providing a pleasant and consistent taste.

Referring again to FIG. 6B, 23 'unfilled cigarette puff lines highlight that the aerosol supply is increased (where the lines are most inclined), before the two-second duration of a standardized puff is over, and the supply is minimal in the later stages of the puffing, so that the production of post-puffy aerosol is not such a problem in cigarettes 23 'without filling. However, as mentioned above, the unfilled cigarette 23 'provides a smaller total volume of aerosol than the fully stuffed, stuffed cigarette 23, has inconsistency during the first puffs and is devoid of the subjective attributes and flexibilities that are commonly used. - it would have been had it contained mixed (or even unmixed) cut filling.

Fig. 8 is a presentation of the results obtained from comparative smoking on a smoking machine using a smoke measuring device 6y as previously described for cigarettes 23 'according to the unfilled cigarette; according to cigarette 23 with filling, completely filled; and according to the partially filled cigarette, with filling, constructed according to the preferred embodiment (shown in Fig. 4A) of the present invention. A layer of carbon fiber was used as a support (base fabric) for all these types of cigarettes. A discussion of the results in fig. 8 will show that cigarette 23, filled, partially filled from the present invention provides a much more consistent flow during smoking. It avoids the flow of flow that occurs in the last puffs in the case of cigarette 23 with filling, completely filled, and is more consistent in the flow as the cigarette 23 'without filling, during the first puffs.

Cigarette 23, partially filled, with filling that was tested to collect the results used in fig. 8 was filled in half with cut filling, so that the superimposition of the heater over the empty space of the cigarette model was relatively large, about 6 mm. The heating elements 37 used to generate the results shown in fig. 8 were serpentine type with an energy of 15 Joules per heating cycle.

Referring to FIG. 8 in particular, the results presented within it represent the amount of aerosol (in milligrams) generated during the first two seconds of each puffiness in a progression of puffiness during the smoking of each particular type of cigarette. In connection with the results shown in FIG. 6B and 7B, an aerosol amount indicated in FIG. 8 will correspond analytically to an integral (the area defined above) for each puff line from 0 to 2 s in fig. 6B and 7B.

The presentation of the data in fig. 8 clearly illustrates the decrease in flow rate occurring in a fully filled, progressively filled, cigarette 23 cigarette from the first puff to the next puff. In contrast, the unfilled cigarette did not suffer a flow decrease as the completely filled cigarette 23 filled.

The presentation of the results in fig. 8 also illustrates clearly the fact that cigarette 23 with filling, completely filled, provides consistency in flow, comparable to that of cigarette 23 'without filling, during the six puffs. Moreover, it acts in this way with a contribution of cut filling to its taste and subjective impact.

Referring to Table II, the data is an indication of how changes in the amount of overheating of the heater in the void of a cigarette built according to cigarette 23 can affect the flow. The results presented in Table II were produced from a partially filled cigarette smoking machine having a 32 mm tobacco rod, a 7 mm free flowing filter at the top end of the tobacco rod and a 30 mm long tip, in which the projection of the heater was 12 cm long and centered at the middle point of the tobacco rod of each cigarette.

RO 120750 Β1

Table II 1

Hollow length (mm) 4 7 10 Overheating of the heater along the gap (mm) 1 4 7 Overheating of the heater along the tobacco stopper 11 8 5 Average TPM 4.9 5.5 7.0 Adjusted average TPM (skipping lower reading) 5.2 5.9 7.3 Standard deviation of the adjusted mean 0.34 0.35 0.50

Fig. 9 is a graphical representation of the total particulate material (TPM) 9 provided, relative to the amount of superheat filler heater (in mm). The results presented were obtained using standard testing techniques to determine the FTC levels of tar using Cambridge buffers and two puff intervals on standard smoking machines. The tested cigarettes were partially filled cigarettes, 13 having a carbon fiber base fabric and a total length of 58 mm, except for the results that appear along the ordinate in fig. 9, which were obtained from a cigarette without 15 fillings, having a carbon fiber base fabric and the same total length. Because the overlap of the tobacco heater was varied, the projection of the heater remained at a constant Jun-17 and centered on the midpoint of the tobacco rod. As a result, any increase in the overlap of the tobacco heater created a proportional decrease in the overlap of the blank 19 of the heater. The heater was like a serpentine with a projection of about 10 mm. All the data taken together indicate that there is a second degree equation in these 21 circumstances between the particulate material provided and the amount of superheat filler filler. The results shown in fig. 9 and the separate set of results set 23 in Table II shows that the amount of overlay of the heater filler can be adjusted to obtain a desired (tracked) level of flow in a partially filled, stuffed, cigarette 23.

Adjusting the amount of overfill of the heater filler is the preferred method 27 of achieving the desired level of tar in partially filled cigarette fillers, for reasons that include the finding that changes in the overlay of the heated filler have a more pronounced and control effect. they have the changes in the density of the rod at the tobacco stop 80. Also, this finding allows the selection of a 31 density of the rod in the tobacco stop 80 and for purposes other than the level of the tar, such as the control of the free ends and / or the creation of the desired degree of pressure drop and / or filtration 33 at the free end 78 of the tobacco rod 60, or to facilitate manufacture. It also provides the ability to modify the release of tar in cigarette-like products, without the need to change the tobacco fabric 66 or the tobacco stopper 80.

It is also advantageous to configure the relative dimensions of the cigarette 37 23 with padding, partially filled, and those of the fastener 39 of the lighter 21, so that, after inserting the cigarette 23 into the lighter 21, each heating element 39 37 has be placed along the tobacco rod 60 so that at least a few, if not all, projections of the heater overlap only with the filled portions of the tobacco rod 60 (over 41 tobacco plug 80). In such configurations, the empty space 91 still facilitates aerosol formation and helps cool the smoke. It is considered that the filter 74 for free flow helps to form the aerosol 43 by having a constriction in flow with respect to the constituents of the aerosol as they are drawn from the larger empty space 91. In this sense it is noted that the filter 74 45

RO 120750 Β1 for free flow of the tobacco rod 60 shows the edges 73 and 75 at the transition between it and the empty space 91, on the one hand, and between it and the free flow filter 102, on the other. These edges 73 and 75 are a consequence of the free-flowing filter 74 which has a smaller interior radius than the other two adjacent areas (the empty space 91 and the space included inside the free-flowing filter 102). It is believed that these edges 73 and 75 (and possibly other adjacent portions of the free-flowing filter 74) favor turbulence and other favorable flow conditions for the formation of an aerosol from the gas phase and the phase constituents of released particles from the heated tobacco portions. of stem 60.

Referring to FIG. 10, a cigarette 23a is constructed according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, having the components and their arrangement identical to those established in the description of cigarette 23 according to fig. 4A, but with the addition of a reverse flow filter 200a placed at the free end 78a of the tobacco rod 60a. The reverse flow filter 200a prevents the tobacco from the tobacco stopper 80a from coming out at the free end 78a. The free flowing filter 200a may possibly be colored to indicate that cigarette 23a is a cigarette that is used in an electric smoking device instead of one that is lit with a conventional cigarette or cigarette lighter, as are most traditional cigarettes. . Although the reverse flow filter 200a is presented as a separate component of the tobacco wrap stop 80a, in the manufacture of cigarette 23a the tobacco stop 80a can be combined with the reverse flow filter 200a with a stopper (not shown). With the reverse flow filter plug, cigarette 23a can be provided with a tobacco stopper 80a having a low density in the rod without risks such as those of the free ends or falling tobacco outside the tobacco rod 60a. As stated in EP-A-0615411 and in patent application no. 07/943504 registered on September 11th. 1992, of the same applicant, as well as in US patent 5388594 of the same applicant, the reverse flow filter 200a is configured so as to completely limit or prevent the release of the aerosol from the free end 78a of the tobacco rod 60a, upon completion of a puffs and create a pressure drop at the free end 78a, so as to favorably limit the amount of air that is drawn into the cigarette 23a from the free end 78a relative to the proportional amount of air allowed along the sides of the tobacco rod 60a.

Regarding the design techniques for cigarette 23, partially filled with filling, from the preferred embodiment, the energies of the heater and the amount of overlap of the filler of the heater can be used to set and / or adjust the flow to a desired level of tar. As a result, during the design of a new cigarette 23 partially filled, with filling, a selection of the rod density in the tobacco stopper 80 can generally be made, in order to obtain a desired degree of pressure drop at the free end 78 and / or to control the reverse flow, in the same way that it is made with a reverse flow filter 200a from alternative embodiment 23a.

Referring further to FIG. 11, another cigarette 23b constructed according to another preferred embodiment includes a tobacco stop 80b, which contains a low density portion 310b, adjacent to the empty space 91b, and a high density portion 320b, adjacent to the free end 78b of the cigarette rod. 60b. Cigarette 23b is configured so that the projection of the heater 94b is superimposed on the low density portion 310b of the tobacco stopper 80b so as to obtain improved flow, achievable with the low densities of the rod. The high density area of the cut filler 320b is disposed to avoid the free ends and limit the transmission of axial air through the rod 60b in a manner analogous to the reverse flow filter 200a.

RO 120750 Β1

Preferred embodiments of the heater are shown in FIG. 12 ... 21. These heaters are suitable for any of the cigarette variants presented above, that is, for completely filled, partially filled and unfilled cigarettes in fig. 4A, 4B, 6A, 3

7A, 10 and 11 and the modifications of these types of cigarettes.

These heaters provide improved mechanical strength for repeated 5 inputs, adjustments and removals of cigarettes 23 and significantly improve the generation of aerosols from the heated cigarette while maintaining the energy requirement. It has been found that the 7 generated aerosols tend to flow radially inward, away from the pulsation heater.

In general, there are preferably eight heater blades 121, which performs eight puffs at the sequential ignition of the heater blades 121, thereby simulating how to puff from a conventional cigarette. Specifically, the heater blades 121 11 extend from the support terminal 110, to form a cylindrical arrangement of the blades of the heater receiving a cigarette inserted 23. Preferably, an opening 129 is defined between 13 two adjacent blades 121 of the heater.

It may be desirable to change the number of puffs and, consequently, the number of blades 15 of heater 121 made, when a cigarette is inserted in the cylindrical sleeve CR. This desired number is obtained by forming a desired number of blades of the heater 121. This 17 can be achieved by providing equally or unequally sized blades. The clamping device is placed in the sleeve 27 in the clamp 25. The cigarette 23 is inserted, possibly 19 the filter 200 of reverse flow, into the clamp 27 of the clamp 25 in a substantially cylindrical space of the clamping device of the heater 39 defined by a cover 83 , ring-shaped, 21 with a free end for receiving the cigarette, a cylindrical air sleeve channel 87, a heater assembly 100 including heater blades 121, a conductive pole or common conductor 104A, which serves as a common conductor for the heating elements of the heating assembly, electrically conductive poles or conductors 104B and the spacer. 25 The lower inner surface 81 of the spacer stops the cigarette 23 in a desired position in the fixing device 39, so that the blades of the heater 121 are disposed adjacent to the cavity 27 79 in the cigarette and, in a preferred embodiment, they are arranged so as described above with reference to FIG. 1 to 11. 29 In general, all the fixing devices of the heater 39 are disposed internally and secured in the respective position by a sliding adjustment with the housing 31 of the front part 33 31 of the catcher 25. A leading edge 93 of the cover 83 is preferably disposed at, or extending slightly outside the first end 29 of the retainer 25 and preferably includes, 33 an inclined or rounded portion to facilitate guide of the cigarette 23 in and out of the fixing device 39. Poles 104A and 104B are, preferably, caught in the corresponding sockets 35 (not shown), thereby relying on a support for the heater fixture 39 in the igniter 25, and the conductors or polar circuits lead from the socket to the various electrical elements 37. Other poles may provide additional support to strengthen the pole assembly. Poles 104A and 104b may be of any suitable material and are preferably made of phosphorus bronze in bronze. 39 The passage passage 47 from the spacer and the base 50 communicates with the flush actuated sensor 45 and the light sensor 53 notices the presence or absence of a cigarette 23 in the detector 25.

As shown in FIG. 12 and 13, a heater assembly 100 is preferably 43 a monolithic structure comprising eight heater blades 121, which extend from a central terminal 110 in symmetrical arrangement or, as will be discussed below, with reference FIG. 19, 45

RO 120750 Β1 in an asymmetrical arrangement. As is best shown in FIG. 13, the heating assembly defines a generally circular insertion opening 360 having a neck 365, which points to the cigarette inserted into the coaxially defined cylindrical CR receptacle having a diameter that is smaller than the opening of the insertion 360. The opening of the insertion 360 is defined by the portions 360. end 118B of the connecting sections 118 of the heater blades 121 and the neck section 365 is defined by the portions of the sections 118 between the connecting edges 118A and the end 118B. The insertion end 360 preferably has a diameter that is larger than the inserted cigarette 23 to guide the cigarette to the CR receptacle and the CR receptacle is approximately equal in diameter to the cigarette 23 to make a sliding adjustment for good heat transfer. . Cigarette 23 preferably has a diameter that is approximately equal to the known diameters of the prior art. Given acceptable tolerances in cigarette manufacture for cigarette 23, the gradually narrowing surface of the neck 365 at the passage between the distal end and the CR receptacle may also serve to slightly compress the cigarette to increase thermal contact with the surrounding blades 121, serving as the inner wall of the receptacle. Without giving a limiting example, the insert end 360 has an inner diameter of about 0.356 inches - 0.02 inches and the CR receptacle preferably has an inner diameter of about 0.278 inches + 0.02 inches. The blades 120 can be curved inwards to increase the thermal contact with the cigarette by constriction of the diameter of the cylindrical receptacle.

Each U-shaped heating element 121 comprises a first section or leg 116a, which extends to a first end of terminal 111, a connecting section 118, connected to a second opposite end of the first section or leg 116A, and a second section or foot 116B extending to a first end of the connecting section 118 to the terminal 111. The first and second legs 116A and 116B are separated by an opening 125, which may be relatively constant, are , in general, parallels in any unrolled state, as shown in FIG. 18 and 19 discussed below, are continuous in the direction of cigarette insertion to reduce cigarette breakage and are oriented to define a CR cylindrical receptacle for cigarette insertion 23. Connection section 118 has a curved gripping edge 118A for gripping the opposite inner edges of the legs of the blade 116A and 116B, so as to form an elongated U-shaped trajectory, which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inserted cigarette and extends along the cigarette, as will be shown in detail below. The curved clamping edge 118A preferably has a curvature of about 180 ° ± 20 °, so that a U-shaped blade is formed, and has a curvature that is concave towards the terminal 111 and convex towards the opening of the insertion 360. The first end of of the first leg of the blade 116A at the terminal 111 may have increased width, with the same approximate thickness, at the portion 115 relative to the remainder of the first leg 116A to reduce the current density and the density of the power at the portion 115, to reduce the ohmic heating of the portion 115. , this widening increases the mechanical integrity of blade 121 at terminal 111.

A second end 122 of the second leg of the blade 116B is preferably raised relative to the main portion of the second section of the blade 116B in step form, to facilitate electrical connection with a corresponding pole. positive 104B. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the end 122 comprises three sections, namely a section 1 22A which is a generally flat continuation of the main section of the second leg of the blade 116B, a transitional section 122B which rises at an angle as It is

RO 120750 Β1 illustrated, and a final connection section 122C, which is generally parallel to section 1 122A. The end sections 122 may be wider than the foot of the second blade 122B for increased strength, to achieve a suitable contact surface for 3 a positive connection to the final connection section 122C, and to reduce the current density and thus ohmic heating of the end 122. The final section 122C is preferably 5 welded by soldering or electrically or thermally connected or by any other positive pole 104B technique. 7

Another embodiment for obtaining positive connections for the blades 121 of the heater is shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15. The connection end 122 is not, preferably, in step form, as in FIG. 12 and 13; rather, it is a flat extension of a second heater foot, 116B, which simplifies the fabrication described below. For 11 to decrease the possibility of short circuits arising from the contact between the positive end 122 with the terminal 111 and / or section 115 of the first leg 116A, when, for example, the introduced cigarette 13 is twisted or adjusted in any other way by the smoker, a wrapper Ceramic electric insulator 300 is applied at the end 122, terminal 111 and section 115, in particular to the corresponding muscles which are in front of these elements.

Preferably, the ceramic coating is applied by any conventional technique, for example 17 plasma spraying, on terminal 111, connecting end 122, and section 115 of the first leg 116A. The ceramic has, preferably, a relatively high dielectric constant. 19 Any suitable electrical insulator can also be used, such as aluminum, zirconia, mulch, corderite, spinel, fosterite, combinations thereof. Preferably, zirconium or other ceramic is used having a thermal expansion coefficient that closely matches the metal heating structure below, to avoid differences in expansion and contraction values 23 during heating and cooling, and thereby , to avoid crushing and / or peeling during operation. The ceramic layer remains chemically and physically stable 25 when the heating element is heated. For the electrical insulator, for example, a thickness of about 0.1 to 10 mils, or about 0.5 to 6 mils, 27 and most preferably 1-3 mils is preferred. Preferably, a portion of the end 122 is not covered.

The positive poles 104b are then connected as shown. To simplify the masking, a corresponding portion 29 of section 115 is also uncoated with ceramic.

The ceramic can also be applied, for example in the same plasma spray step 31, in the opening 127 between the ends 122 and the sections 115 of the first legs 116A and in the opening 126 between the ends 122 and the terminal 110 to form a 33 ceramic terminal structure. which increase the mechanical integrity of the heater assembly, as shown in FIG. 15. The size of this structure of the ceramic terminal may be larger than shown. With or without this additional ceramic application, the ceramic coating electrically insulates the positive ends 122 and the wide openings 127 and 125 can be small-37 hinged, providing protection against short circuits. As a result, the final section 122 and section 115 of the first leg 116A may have a larger area, thereby strengthening the receptacle and, in the case of the ceramic terminal, increasing the structure of the skeleton and further strengthening the heater assembly. In addition, such a ceramic coating levels the sharp edges that define openings 125 and 127, reduces the potential for damage to the cigarette, especially during the introduction, removal or adjustment by the smoker. Alternatively, the entire blade 121, and especially the first and second legs 116A and 116B, are completely covered on a surface, for example on the outer surface opposite the cigarette, both the inner and outer surfaces and / or the edges. defining the openings with layer

EN 120750 Β1 ceramic, for example about 2 mm of zirconium, to strengthen the blades of the heater, maintaining the openings if desired. The blades 121 may be suitably thinner, for example about 2 to 6 mm, thereby increasing the resistance of the heating path and allowing the blades to be wider for the increased thermal interface with the inserted cigarette 23, while maintaining the same overall blade resistance. This increased blade width along the ceramic layer further strengthens the heater structure. Also, the ceramic coating on the outer surface of the blades 121 opposite the inserted cigarette can prevent thermal losses from a heated blade to the environment. The ceramic is preferably applied by plasma spraying or any other method described in the reference applications and is preferably applied by physical deposition in electron-flow vapors to avoid the induction of residual shocks that may occur during processing by plasma spray from surface treatment and / or particle impact.

Each blade 121 forms a heating element through resistance. Specifically, the first end 115 of the first section of the blade 116A is electrically connected to the negative contact foot of the power source, and more specifically is an integral extension of the terminal 111 or is mechanically or electrically connected to the terminal 111, which, in turn, , is electrically and mechanically connected to the negative contact pole 104a, by welding by welding or any other technique, such as welding with brass alloy or soft welding. Preferably, two contact poles 104A are used to achieve a balanced support, because the negative and positive connections also serve as mechanical support for the heater. Terminal 111 thus operates electrically in common for all heater blades 121. In either embodiment, the negative connections for each heater can be made individually, for example a close negative contact is deposited on one end of the heater opposite the respective positive surface of the heater. contact 122.

A respective positive connection for each heater blade 121 is made when connecting the terminal section 122C of the second section of the blade 116B, as shown. The terminal section connection 122C is electrically isolated or isolated from the common terminal through a space 127; by the section of the first blade 116A, and in particular the terminal end 115 of the associated blade of the heater 120 through a space 125; and the adjacent blade of the heater through space 131, to allow thermal expulsion. in addition, the ceramic coatings mentioned above may be applied. Alternatively, the connected terminal sections 122C are connected to the ground respectively.

The positive and negative connections mentioned provide an even more specific passage of resistance, a circuit for the application of the current from the electricity source, for example through the control circuit, to a certain blade 120 after the activation of the smoking system by the smoker. The first heated surface of the blade contains a first leg of the blade 116a, terminal portions 118a and a second leg of the blade 116B. As a result, a portion of the inserted cigarette 23, which is below and contacts the actuated blade 121, which extends along it, will heat up into an outer surface shape, which corresponds to the heated portion of the blade, that is to say. an elongated U-shape, corresponding to the upper blade, especially by conduction and radiation, with the appearance of some convection. In addition, the portion of cigarette inserted between the legs, ie below the opening 125, is heated by overlapping or intersecting, the cumulative transfer of radiative and conductive heat from both legs 116A and 116B. If the opening 125 is too wide, the desired overlap will not occur and the portion of cigarette inserted below the opening 125 will not be adequately heated. Also, the radiative and conductive heat will only heat the strips of the cigarette

EN 120750 Β1 inserted behind the outer edges of the legs of the heating blades 116A and 116B. 1

The various heated portions together constitute a heated area of the cigarette 23, which extends slightly behind the outer edge of the foot 116A, near the foot 116A, along the opening 3 125, near the foot 116B, slightly behind the foot 116B, slightly behind the foot 116B and which corresponds to a puff of tobacco aroma. Size 5 of the heated portion is dependent on the blade geometry and heating characteristics, as well as the amount and duration of the energy pulse. Preferably, the heater blade 7 is thermally sized and designed to heat an inserted cigarette segment of sufficient size, i.e., 18 mm ² , to generate a smoker-acceptable pouch, 9 in response to a pulse driven by the energy pulse. Terminal surfaces of the relatively larger blades 115 and 122 forming part of the current path are not heated at these temperatures - 11 operating lines, because their relatively larger volumes decrease the current density and thus decrease the ohmic heating. Also, a section of the terminal section 13 of connection 118 is not heated at these operating temperatures because the heating path tends to follow the edge 118A and this section constitutes a relatively large volume 15 and consequently has a low current density and thus it has a lower ohmic heating than the 118A edge and the immediately adjacent sections. To further reduce undesired heating of the remainder of the connected portion 118, one may (1) increase the thickness of the monolithic material of the portion 118 relative to the curved edge 118A in the area 118C, to further reduce the current density and ohmic heating, as shown in FIG. 5, (2), the portion 118 may be perforated, to reduce the ohmic and / or heating conductive paths and / or (3) 21 an additional heat reduction material 119 may be added to the portion 118, to reduce the heat transfer towards the portion, as shown in FIG. 6. To perform this function of heat reduction, a non-conductive material from a thermal point of view, such as a thermal insulator such as ceramic, is applied. Examples of suitable ceramics include aluminum, 25 zirconia, a mixture of aluminum and zirconium, mold, etc., as is the case with heating blades. Any of these changes should be evaluated for any adverse effect 27 on the mechanical integrity of the connecting portions 118, which support the heating assembly and define openings for cigarette insertion and withdrawal. 29

After the heater blade 121 is pulsed, there is a predetermined minimum length of time before the next puff is allowed. Premature heating of a portion of the cigarette also results in unwanted and / or partial aerosol generation or heat-induced degradation of the portion of the cigarette prior to the desired heating. 33 Further reheating of a previously heated portion may result in the development of unwanted flavors and aromas. 35

If a flush longer than that obtained by pulsing a single heater blade is desired, then a logic control circuit is configured to turn on another 37 heater or the additional heater blades immediately after the initial heater blade is pressed, or during the final portion of the initial pulse, to heat another segment of the 39 cigarette. The additional heater blade may be a successive radial heater blade or another heater blade. The heater blades should be sized to obtain the desired total number of blowers of the desired duration.

In one embodiment, the number of heating blades 121 corresponds to the number of desired blowers 43, for example eight. In another embodiment, the number of heated blades formed 121 is twice the number of puffs, that is, there are sixteen portions 45 with eight-puff cigarette heaters. Such a configuration allows for sequences

EN 120750 Β1 different ignition than the successive normal ignition for about 2 s and preferably the sequential radial ignition sequence for an embodiment in which the number of heating blades 121 corresponds to the calculation of the blowers. For example, the logic circuit may dictate that two opposing circumferential heater blades 121, i.e. the heater blades separated at 1800 on the tube, simultaneously light up to heat together an adequate amount of the cigarette to generate a puff. Alternatively, a first ignition sequence of each other blades of the heater 121, for a cigarette, is followed by a second ignition sequence of the blades of the heater 121, for the next cigarette. Alternatively, this first ignition sequence may be repeated for a predetermined life cycle of numerous cigarettes and then the second ignition sequence is initiated. Any combination of heating blades can be used. The number of heating blades may be smaller, equal to or greater than the number of puffs of a single cigarette used. For example, a nine-bladed system can be used for a six-puff cigarette, in which a different set of six heaters is lit for each subsequent cigarette and the associated set of three remaining heaters is not lit.

The heater assembly 100 is electrically and mechanically fixed at one end by the welding pole (s) 104A at the terminal 110 and by the poles 104B at the ends 122. The poles 104A and 104B are preferably preformed in the plastic terminal, or otherwise fixed, preferably in a way to reduce air leakage. Preferably, this fixed end is opposite the inlet port 360. The connecting sections 118 and the specifically opposite ends 118B, opposite the connecting edges 118a, define the opening (orifice) 360. The terminal sections 118B may be outwardly defined, defining the section neck 365. The blades 121 are then narrowed from this section of the neck to define an inner diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the inserted cigarette 23, at, for example, the midpoint of the blade, to achieve the desired thermal contact, ie compressive forces between the blades and the cigarette. Terminal sections 118B are free to expand upon heating, that is, terminal sections 118B are not fixed. Specifically, each end 118B is positioned within a corresponding groove 210 placed in the inner wall 201 of the lighter terminal cover 83. More specifically, the radial outward movement of the terminal sections 118B of the inner-biased blades 121 is limited by the ends 118B, which it radially contacts the outer walls of the channels 210, thereby establishing an area for polarization and defining the inner pole. This inner pole can be supplemented by the inner pole of manufacture, as mentioned. As shown, the inner wall 201 is facing outwardly to allow the insertion of a portion of the ends of the blade 118B. The contact end 118B of the radially outward wall of the channel 200 is sized and formed to allow an adequate amount to be introduced from the end of the blade 118B so that the end of the blade will not leave the channel 210 during heating or cooling of the blade or insertion or cigarette withdrawal. If desired, this radially outward channel is provided with a support, for example trapezoid, which contacts the ends 118B. In an alternative embodiment, a portion 118D of the end of the blade 118B is rounded, and more precisely elliptical, before the terminal portion introduced 118B. This rounded portion 118D allows the inserted portion to pivot inside the channel 210 in response to thermally or mechanically induced moments, thereby maintaining the inserted portion of the blade end inside the channel 210. In addition, or alternatively, the ends of the blade 118B are more rounded.

In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the channel 210 is sized so that the end 118B of the heater blade 121 can be expanded in a translational manner, ie

EN 120750 Β1 to the front face 202 of the channel 210, after inserting the cigarette 23 and / or heating a 1 blade, so that the desired contact between the cigarette and the blades is achieved. Such a configuration in which one end of the blade is free relative to the opposite localized terminal, allows mechanical displacement 3 and / or thermal expansion and contraction of the blades of the heater 121 in longitudinal direction after respective insertion / withdrawal, and / or heating / cooling of the cigarette, by 5 this inducing shocks. A second embodiment, shown in FIG. 14, a trapezoidal support 204 is placed inside the channel 210, so that when 7 the heater blade 121 thermally expands upon heating or displacement, when the cigarette 23 is inserted, the end 118b contacts the support 204 and establishes a point of pivoting which allows the blade 121 to polarize inwardly towards the inserted cigarette 23, thereby reducing shocks on the blade and increasing the desired thermal contact, ie compressive forces, 11 between the blade and the cigarette. By the pivot point, it is understood that the blade 121 is free to rotate, but preferably does not translate, relative to this support 204. The heating assembly 100 is thus preferable to a monolithic structure which is eventually coated with such a ceramic. as it turned out. Terminal 111 and heater blades 121 are made of a material having the desired strength and electrical force. For example, materials with an electrical resistance of about 50 to about 500 uohm.cm, and more preferably from about 17 to 100 to about 200 uohm.cm are preferred, so that temperatures of about 2000 to about 10000 ° C are reached, and preferably from about 4000 "C at about 19 to 9500 ° C and, particularly preferably, from about 3000C to about 8500C, through the activated blade 120 in about 0.2 to about 2.0 s, with a pulse of about 10 to about 21 Joules 50, more preferably about 10 to about 25 Joules, and even more preferably about 20 Joules. The material should be able to withstand about 1800 to 23 approximately 10,000 such pulses without deteriorating, suffering significant degradation or unwanted bending of the blades 121. 25

The materials of which the heater blades 121 are made are preferably chosen to ensure repeated use at least 1800 on / off cycles without damage. The fixing device 39 is preferably detachable, separate from the clamp 25, which includes the power source 37 and the circuit which is preferably detached, removed after 3600 cycles 29 or more. The heater materials and other metal components are also chosen based on their resistance to oxidation and are generally not insured against oxidation or otherwise react with cigarette 23 at any temperature similar to those encountered. If desired, the heater blades 121 and other metal components are encapsulated in a thermally conductive inert material, such as a suitable ceramic material, to further prevent oxidation and reaction. 35

Preferably, however, the heater blades 121 and other metal components are made of a heat-resistant alloy having a combination of high mechanical strength 37 and resistance to surface oxidation, corrosion and degradation at high temperatures.

Preferably, the blades of the heater 121 are made of a material having a high strength and surface stability at temperatures up to 80% of their melting point. Such alloys include those known under the common name of super-alloys and 41 are generally nickel, iron or cobalt based. For example, alloys, mainly iron or nickel with aluminum and yttrium, are suitable. Preferably, the heating blade alloy 121 43 includes aluminum to further enhance the performance of the heating element, that is, by achieving an oxidation resistance. Preferred materials include iron and nickel aluminum, 45 and more preferably the alloys described are those of US patent application 08/365952 registered

RO 120750 Β1 to 29. dec. 1994, by the same applicant, and in the background examination, and in particular the application entitled Iron aluminum alloys used as electric heating elements, included as references in the text.

Several elements can be additionally included in Ni ₃ AI alloys. The main addition elements are B and Si for the heating layer alloys 122. B is designed to increase the strength of the granules and is more efficient when Ni ₃ AI is rich in nickel, for example Al <: 24% at. And it is not added to the Ni ₃ AI alloys in large quantities, because the addition of Si over a maximum of 3% by weight will form nickel silicas and after oxidation will lead to SiO ₂ . Addition of Mo improves resistance to high and high temperatures. Zirconia helps to improve the resistance to oxidative exfoliation during thermal cycling. Hf can also be added to improve resistance to high temperatures. A preferred Ni ₃ AI alloy for use as substrate 300 and heater with resistance 122 is rated IC-50 and contains approximately 77.92% Ni, 21.73% Al, 0.34% Zr, and 0.01% B in Intermetallic Aluminum Processing, V. Sikka, Intermetallic Metallurgy and Intermetallic Compound Processing ed. Stoloff et. al., Van Nestrand Reinhold, NY, 1994, Table 4. Different elements can be added to the iron alumina. Possible additions may include Nb, Cu, Ta, Zr, Ti, Mn, Si, Mo and Ni. Heating material can be Haynes 214 alloy (Haynes 214 alloy is a nickel-based alloy containing 16.0% chromium, 3.0% iron, 4.5% aluminum, yttrium traces and the rest, about 75% available on sale from Haynes International of Kokomo, Indiana, Inconel 702 alloy, MCAIY FeCrAly alloy, Nichrome brand alloys (54-80% nickel, 10-20% chromium, 7-27% iron, 0-11% copper, 0- 5% manganese, 0.3-4.6% silicon and sometimes 1% molybdenum and 0.25% titanium; Nichrom I was established to contain 60% nickel, 25% iron, 11% chromium, and 2% manganese; Nichrom II75 % nickel, 22% iron, 11% chromium and 2% manganese; and Nichrom III a thermo-resistant alloy containing 85% nickel and 15% chromium), as described in the parallel patent application No. 08/380718, registered at January 30, 1995 and in US Pat. No. 5388594, or materials having similar properties.

As shown in FIG. 12, the heater blades 121 are arranged to extend symmetrically from the terminal 111. Alternatively, asymmetrical arrangements are used. For example, the plurality of six or eight heater blades 121 may be subdivided into, for example, two equally numbered subgroups, for example three or four heater blades. The heater blades in each subgroup are separated by the openings 131 as shown above. The subgroups are separated by a wider opening, as shown in FIG. 19, in unrolled flat state. The opening 135 is defined such that the transfer of conductive heat and, in particular, radiative, from the adjacent blades 121, of the adjacent subgroups is reduced to the portion of the cigarette 23 below the opening 135. As a result, the opening 135 provides a larger unheated robust portion. of the cigarette which is stronger than the unheated portions of the cigarette below the narrower openings 131, thereby improving the strength of the cigarette column 23 to facilitate removal of the cigarette after smoking and consistent heating and weakening of the portions. If desired, the logic circuit may activate more than one heater simultaneously in symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangements.

The present invention having two heater legs 116A and 116B, separated by opening 125, results in a significant improvement in the amount of aerosol generated when compared with the amount generated by a solid heating element. A solid heater achieves a good thermal transfer with cigarettes; however, the aerosol mass transfer in the drawn air stream is compromised by the optimal air entrainment that blocks the solid structure, located outside the cigarette, to the cigarette, especially if the closing of the smoking system housing is provided with perforations for air communication outside the closure.

RO 120750 Β1 to the outer surface of the cigarette. A heater according to the present invention, having the same volume as a solid heater, but having a larger perimeter results in a larger drive, for example due to opening 125, and consequently results in an improved release of 3. aroma on the energy unit towards the blade 121. As shown, the opening 125 should be sized to achieve optimum radiation overlap for a given geometry of the blade. As a larger amount of aerosols is generated, the required mass of the blades can be increased with the generation of the same desired amount of flavors, which results in a lighter unit and a decrease in energy needed to adequately heat the heater blades 121 and the cigarette introduced, which further reduces the weight of the unit, because the energy source, for example the batteries, may be smaller.

Using a non-limiting example, the opening 125 may be about 11 0.020 inches ± about 0.005 inches wide, the legs of the blades 116A and 116B may be about 0.0125 inches to about 0.017 inches ± about 0.005 inches wide and about 13 0.55 inches ± approximately 0.005 inch in length; and about 0.008 inches to about 0.010 inches thick ± about 0.005 inches; and the length from the edge of the terminal 110 to the tip 15 of the connection section 118 can be about 1,062 inches + about 0.0625 inches.

It has been found that a mainly transverse or radial air flow relative to the introduced cigarette 17 results in a more desirable generation of smoke than a mainly longitudinal flow. Openings 125,127 and 131 provide passageways for the air 19 to be brought into contact with the introduced cigarette. Additional passageways are provided to optimize the transverse flow of air through the perforated sections of the heater blades 21.

Another embodiment of the blade geometry is shown in FIG. 16, in which both 23 the first leg 116A and the second leg 116B are serpentine. The serpentine forms of the legs 116A and 116B are parallel, so that the legs are even 25 apart and the opening 125 also has a serpentine shape. Such a serpentine shape increases the perimeter of the blade and thus improves aerosol entrainment. This 27 form of coil is more fully described in EP-A-0615411 and in the patent application of the same applicant no. 08/380718 registered on January 30. 1995 and U.S. Patent 5,3885,94. 29

A first method of manufacture with reference to FIG. 18 and 19. The manufacturing stages defined here can be performed in any desired order, to achieve 31 manufacturing speeds, material savings, etc.

A strip or band of suitable material, having a thickness, for example, of about 33 mm 2 to about 20 mm, for example about 10 mm, is formed to define a plurality of blades 121 which generally extend perpendicularly via respective sections 35 of the first blade 116A, and in particular via the first respective terminal sections 115, from a generally straight section in a comb-like arrangement. The blades 121 are substantially 37 parallel to each other with openings 131 located between the opposite edges of the section of the second blade 116B of a blade and the section of the first blade 116A of the adjacent blade. As shown, the blades 121 are either symmetrically arranged with equal openings 131 between them, as shown in FIG. 18, or are asymmetrically arranged, for example with equal openings 131 between 41 adjacent blades 121 defining subgroups 121As121B of blades and a wider distance 133 between the two subgroups of width X as shown in FIG. 19. It will be noted that section 43a straight 111A has two end portions with a length of at least half the length of one half of X to form a second distance 133 after running. These 45 end portions should be longer than X to achieve overlap for connection.

RO 120750 Β1

By means of non-limiting examples, the opening 131 may be about 0.040 inch ± 0.005 inch wide in any of the embodiments and the opening 135 may be approximately 0.125 inch ± 0.005 inch wide in the form of asymmetric relay.

The slats are configured as shown above to form connecting sections 118 and the legs 116A and 116B.

This formation of sheets or strips of material in the described configuration is accomplished by any conventional technique such as punching or cutting, for example with carbon dioxide laser or Yag. If a tape format is required, the number of heater strips 121 formed by the tape may exceed the number required for a single cylindrical heater arrangement. The straight band is cut if necessary to form sections 111A having the desired number of heater blades 121 extending therefrom. If desired, the step shape of sections 122A, 122B and 122C is formed by punching.

the ceramic coating 300 is then applied by masking the punched profile and, for example, thermal spraying the coating on sections 111A, 115,122 or the entire blade or any portion thereof, to form the desired pattern, as shown. Alternatively, the ceramic coating is applied after the rolling step by this process or, if desired, before forming the blades. As is known, appropriate masks are applied before each heating and ceramic deposition step is performed to define application surfaces.

Section 111A is then rolled to form the round terminal 111. Section 111A can be rolled in either direction. Preferably, section 111A is rolled so that the positive contacts 122C at the terminal section 122 are on the outer surface of the cylindrical shaped heater, ie the opposite side of the cigarette, to simplify the connection with the poles 104B and to avoid damage during the insertion and removal of the cigarette. The rolled section can be rolled to a diameter smaller than the last desired diameter and is inserted into the fastener. The running section expands and is still maintained in the form of electrical connections. Alternatively, the rolled section is trapped, for example via any welding technique such as spot welding or laser welding, to form terminal 111.

Preferably, a polarization is imposed on each blade 121, so that the legs 116A and 116B and the connector edge 118A will exert a compressive force on the inserted cigarette when the heating assembly is formed, as shown in FIG. 13. This polarization preferably occurs before running, but it can also be introduced after running. This polarization increases the thermal contact between the heater blade and the inserted cigarette, to improve the heat transfer efficiency.

The efficiency of the heat transfer is also improved by optimizing the amount of areas of the legs of the blades 116A and 116B, which are in an efficient thermal relationship with the cigarette below. As shown in FIG. 17A, the undersides 117 of the legs 116A and 116B (the leg 116A is shown by way of an example) is flat, that is, plane on a transverse direction of the leg of the blade in the embodiment discussed. To improve the heat transfer relationship, the lower side 117 is formed with various unplanned geometries, ie an angle or a curve to maximize the area of the heated foot relative to the cigarette without the unwanted increase in volume, and consequently the undesirable decrease in current density and heating. the ohmic resultant of the heater foot, as shown in fig. 17B, respectively FIG. 17C. The lower side, formed, 117, preferably, does not pierce any part of the cigarette 23, in order to avoid weakening and possible deterioration of the cigarette during its introduction, adjustment or removal. Rather, the central point or tip of the lower side 117 contacts or is in close thermal proximity to the cigarette 23, and the remainder of the lower side 117 is in radiative thermal relationship with the cigarette 23.

RO 120750 Β1

Preferably, this shape of the lower side is made by punching 1 of the legs 116A and 116B of the blades 121 in non-rolled state. This punching can take place at the same time as punching to achieve the polarization presented above. This 3 punching to form the lower side also increases the resistance of the legs 116A and 116B, thereby avoiding unwanted short circuits and deformations. 5

A second method of manufacture will be described below. A tube of suitable material is provided. The blades 121 are then formed by any technique such as laser cutting. Alternatively, the blades are formed by a forging molding technique in which an inner spindle is inserted into the tube to form said profiles of the blades and then another molding either internal or external is used to cut the profile. A ceramic coating 300, if desired, is provided on the profiled tube, as shown above. 11

The present invention also reduces potential shocks induced by thermal damage. Because the blades of the heater 121 and the terminal 111 are monolithic, shocks that appear 13 from the interconnection of the discrete portions of a heating element are avoided.

The multiple embodiments of the present invention are all intended to provide an efficient quantity of flavored tobacco to the smoker, under standard conditions of use. In particular, it is hereby understood that it is desirable to provide between 5 and 17 13 mg, preferably between 7 and 10 mg of aerosol to a smoker, for 8 puffs, each puff being 35 ml and having a duration of two seconds. It has been found that in order to provide such a supply 19, the heating elements 121 should be able to carry the temperature as previously shown, in connection with the heat transfer relation for the cigarette 21 23. further, the heating blades 121 would should preferably consume said energy. A lower energy requirement is used by the heater blades 121, which are 23 inwardly curved, towards the cigarette 23, to improve the heat transfer relationship.

Of course, the heater resistance is also dictated by the particular source of 25 power 37, which is used to achieve the electricity requirement to heat the heater blades 121. For example, the resistors of the heater above correspond to the embodiments wherein the power is provided by four cells of nickel cadmium batteries connected in series with a total power source of approximately 4.8 to 29 5.8 V. alternatively, if six or eight such batteries are connected in series, The blades of the heater 121 should preferably have a resistance between about 3 ohms 31 and about 5 ohms or between about 5 ohms and about 7 ohms, respectively.

Another embodiment 450 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 20 and 21 33 containing a plurality of heating elements 451. Each heating element 451 is shaped like an elongated U, each having both ends 452, 453 of the respective legs 35 connected to the side wall of the cavity 430 adjacent to the terminal wall 443 of the cavity 430. Each respective end 452 is individually connected to the control circuit and finally to the source 37 of electricity for the individual operation of the heating elements 451, while the ends 453 are connected jointly to the ground. While the ends 454, adjacent to the end 39 of the mouth of the cavity 430, are not electrically connected and thus no longer need to touch the lateral wall of the cavity 430, they are not directed towards the lateral wall of the cavity 430, as can be seen from FIG. . 20 and FIG. 21, to make a conductor for the removable portion, that is, the cigarette inserted, as shown above. It will be mentioned that 43 in FIG. 21 the elements above and below 451 are shown cut at the level of the U-shaped tips 454. 45 in another embodiment, 470, shown in fig. 22 and 23, the heating elements

471 are somewhat more distant from the wall of cavity 470, and each is provided with 47

EN 120750 Β1 a sharp tip V 472, as well as with the fold 473 which increases its rigidity. In this way, the heating elements 471 pierce and extend towards the portion available to achieve the desired thermal contact. The free cell sponge structure described above is particularly suitable for such an embodiment. In this example, because the heating elements 471 are further away from the side wall of the cavity 430, the ends 452,453 are not attached to the side wall of the cavity 430, but to its terminal wall 443. Preferably, the connections of the ends 452,453 to the terminal wall 443 are made. by the spacers 480 which are neither conductive nor heat nor electricity. In this way, by means of a removal action, the residues of the ends 452,453 and of the spacers 480 are deleted, where the residues are not reheated, as more fully described in US patent 5249586. to be drawn through portion 480, as more fully described in U.S. Patent No. 5249586 above, cited in the text as a reference material.

Many modifications, substitutions and improvements may be apparent to those skilled in the art without altering the spirit and scope of the present invention, as described and defined hereinafter by claims. For example, the smoothing step may be performed prior to the cooling step, in a modification of the process portion described above with reference to FIG. 5B.

Claims (26)

claims 1. The cigarette (23) used in an electric smoking system (21), containing a tobacco rod (60), characterized in that the tobacco rod (60) contains a tubular tobacco cloth (66) and a stopper of tobacco tobacco (80) disposed within said tobacco fabric (66), wherein the tobacco rod has a free end (78) and an opposite end (72), wherein the tobacco fabric contains a basic fabric (68) and a layer (70) of tobacco flavored material supported by said basic fabric (68), the basic fabric being adapted to transfer heat from an electric heating element (37) to said flavored tobacco material, wherein said tobacco rod (60) is adapted to operatively receive the electric heating element (37) along the tobacco rod (60), in a position between the free end (78) and the opposite end (72), wherein said tobacco stopper (80) is placed adjacent to the free end (78), the blackberry plug one (80) being spaced from the free end (78) so as to define an unoccupied space (91) between the tobacco stopper (80) and the opposite end (72). The cigarette according to claim 1, characterized in that the position along the tobacco rod (66) is such that said position overlaps at least on a portion of the unoccupied space (91) and overlaps at least on one portion. from the tobacco stopper (80). Cigarette according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said tobacco rod (60) includes a free flowing filter (74) adjacent to the free end (78), said free flowing filter (74) being spaced from the stopper. tobacco (80) so as to define the unoccupied space (91) between the free flowing filter (74) and the tobacco stopper. The cigarette according to claim 3, characterized in that it further comprises a second filter for free flow (102) adjacent to the opposite end (72) and a filter plug for the mouthpiece (104) adjacent to the second filter. for free flowing (102), wherein the first free flowing filter (74) of the tobacco rod (60) includes a first passage (75) and the second free flowing filter (102) includes a second passage, the first and second passage communicating the respective unoccupied space (91) of the tobacco rod (60) mentioned with the filter plug for the mouthpiece (104), the second passage having a second larger inner radius than a first inner radius of the first passage mentioned (75). RO 120750 Β1 5. Cigarette (23) used in an electric smoking system (21), characterized in that 1, in a constructive version, contains a tobacco rod (60) having a free end of resistance for reverse flow (78) and an opposite end (72), said tobacco rod containing 3 a tubular tobacco fabric (66) which includes a layer of tobacco material (70), a flow strangulation (74) acting at said opposite end of the fabric respective tobacco 5 and operative tobacco (78,80), located adjacent to the free end (78) respectively and away from the choke (74), the tobacco containing cut filling, which partially fills the respective tobacco rod (60), 7 so as to define a portion of the filled tobacco rod and a portion of the non-filled tobacco rod, the non-filled portion being placed adjacent to the flow choke (74), the tobacco fabric 9 being thus disposed to transmit the heat received by the tubular fabric respective (66) to said tobacco, the tobacco rod (60) being disposed such that, during a suction of said cigarette (23), with heat application along an area of said tubular fabric, at least a portion of the tobacco is determined to release the aerosol 13 of the tobacco which is drawn by said flow strangulation (74). 6. Electric cigarette smoking system (21) containing cigarette (23) and lighter (37), 15 characterized in that said cigarette (23) contains a tobacco fabric tube (60), partially filled with cut tobacco filler, so as to define a portion of a 17-filled tobacco rod and a portion of the non-filled tobacco rod (91), the lighter including the heater (39), the respective cigarette (23) and the respective lighter (25) being reciprocally placed such that 19 the electric heating element of the igniter (37) must at least partially overlap at least one of the filled or unfilled portions of the tobacco rod when the cigarette (23) 21 is in operative position in the respective igniter (37). System according to claim 6, characterized in that said portion of rod 23 filled with tobacco (91) includes a tobacco stopper (80), and said electric heater (39) is superimposed on at least a portion of said non-filled space ( 91) and a portion of said tobacco stopper (80) is superimposed on at least 25 when the cigarette is in the operative position in the lighter. 27 8. System according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the cigarette (23) comprises a first filter for free flowing (74) away from the cut filling tobacco, in order to define the unfilled position of said tobacco rod (60). , a second filter for free flow (102) and a filter plug (80) for the mouthpiece, wherein the first and second filters 31 include a first (75) and a second passage respectively (102) , said passages communicating said non-filled portion of tobacco rod with the filter plug for said mouthpiece, wherein the interior radius of the first passage is smaller than the inner radius of the second passage. 35 9. The system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the electric heating element comprises an electric resistance heating blade, the igniter comprising a plurality of electric resistance heating blades (121) defining a receptacle receiving the cigarette (23). ) inserted therein and extends along the inserted cigarette, 39 each blade containing a first foot of the heater blade (116A) having a first and a second end, a second foot of the blade (116B) having a first and a second end (122), 41 and a connecting section (118) connecting the second end of the first leg of the heater blade (116A) and the first end of the second leg of the heater blade 43 (116B), wherein said first and second heater blade legs of each heater blade (116A, 116B) are separated respectively by a space (125), in c has the second end 45 (122) and the second leg of the heater blade (116B) are connected in RO 120750 Β1 common, and wherein the first end of said first leg of the heater blade (116A) is adapted to be in electrical contact with the source of electricity, in which the respective trajectories of resistance heating are made up of the first leg of the heater blade. heater (116A), of the connecting section (118) and of the second leg of said heater blade (116B), to heat respectively each of the respective electric resistance heater blades, which in turn heat the cigarette (23 ) introduced. 10. heater (39) used in a cigarette lighter (25) for a smoking system (21) having a power source for heating a cigarette (23), characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of heating blades by electrical resistance (121) which defines a receptacle that receives the cigarette (23) inserted therein and extends along the inserted cigarette, each blade containing a first foot of the heater blade (116A) having a first and a second end , a second blade foot (116B) having a first and a second end (122), and a connecting section (118) connecting the second end of the first foot of the heater blade (116A) and the first end of the second leg of the heater blade (116B), wherein said first and second leg of the heater blade of each heater blade (116A, 116B) are separated respectively by an underside Jun (125), wherein the second end (122) and the second leg of the heater blade (116B) are connected together, and wherein the first end of said first leg of the heater blade (116A) ) is adapted to be in electrical contact with the source of electricity, in which the respective trajectories of heating by resistance are composed of the first leg of the heater blade (116A), of the connection section (118) and of the second leg of said heater blade (116B), in order to heat each of the respective electric resistance heater blades, which instead heat the inserted cigarette (23). Heater according to claim 10, characterized in that the second end (122) of the second leg of the heater blade (116B) is grounded. 12. heater according to claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said connecting section (118) further comprises a free end (118B) to compensate for the thermal expansion, when the heating element is heated. 13. heater according to claim 12, characterized in that it further comprises a support structure (83) stationary within the smoking system (21) and defines channels (210) for receiving the free ends (118B) of said connection sections ( 118) of said blades (121), the channels being arranged to allow expansion and thermal contraction of translation of said blades (121) of the heater (39). 14. heater according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises a pivot point (204) placed in each of said channels (210), said pivot point being so placed that the associated free end (118B) of the connecting section (118) ) pivots around the respective pivot point (204) to polarize the first and second legs of the heater blades (116A, B) inwardly towards the cigarette inserted after heating the associated blade of the heater. Heater according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that at least one of the first or second legs of the heater blade (116A, B) is serpentine. 16. heater according to claims 9 or 10, characterized in that both the first and second legs of the heater blade (116A, B) are coils and are mutually parallel, so that the space between the legs is serpentine in shape. RO 120750 Β1 17. heater according to any one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that 1, said first and second legs of the heater blade (116A, B) are polarized inwardly towards the inserted cigarette. 3 18. heater according to any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that said first and second legs, of the heater blade (116A, B) and said connector edges 5 are capable of reaching temperatures of about 200'C at about 1000 ° C, in about 0.2s to about 2, Os, with a pulse of about 10 to about 7 joules 50 Joules. Heater according to any one of claims 10 to 18, characterized in that 9, the first and second leg of the blade (116A, B) and the section of said connector edge contain an electrical resistance material selected from the group consisting of aluminum 11. iron and nickel aluminum. 20. Tobacco fabric (66) adapted to be rolled in the form of a tubular rod (60) 13 of a cigarette (23) operating in conjunction with an electric cigarette lighter (23) in an electric smoking system (21) , characterized in that said 15 tobacco fabric (66) contains a basic fabric (68) and a tobacco material (70) disposed along a first side of said basic fabric (68), said basic fabric ( 68) comprising 17 a combination of tobacco fibers and cellulose fibers, the respective tobacco and cellulose fibers being combined in a ratio in the range of about 2: 1 to 4: 1, said basic fabric 19 (68) having a weight of base in the range of about 35 to 45 g / m ² , said tobacco material (70) having twice the basic weight of said basic fabric (68), tobacco material (70) containing finely ground tobacco and solid extracts from tobacco, in a report t in the range of about 3: 1 to about 9: 1, and a humectant at a level of about 5% 23 to 20% by weight of said material. 21. The tobacco fabric according to claim 20, characterized in that said tobacco material (70) has a base weight of about three or four times the weight of said base fabric (68). 27 22. The tobacco fabric according to claims 20 or 21, characterized in that said tobacco material (70) also contains pectin at a level of up to about 29 2% by weight of the tobacco material (70). The tobacco fabric according to claim 22, characterized in that said basic fabric 31 (68) contains about 28 g / m ² tobacco fiber and about 12 g / m ² cellulose fiber from wood pulp, or hemp pulp or tobacco stalk pulp. 33 24. The tobacco fabric according to claim 23, characterized in that the tobacco material (70), respectively, contains about 66 to 71% by weight of tobacco particles, 35 about 16 to 20% by weight of solid tobacco extract, about 10 to 14% by weight glycerin and about 1-2% pectin. 37 25. Tobacco fabric, adapted to be rolled in the form of a tubular tobacco rod (60) of a cigarette (23) operable with an electric cigarette lighter (25), used 39 in an electric smoking system (21) , characterized in that, in a constructive embodiment, said tobacco fabric contains a basic fabric (68) and a tobacco material (70) 41 disposed along a first side of said basic fabric (68), in wherein said base fabric (68) contains a combination of tobacco fiber in a base weight component 43 of about 20 to 30 g / m ² at a base component weight of about RO 120750 Β1 1 2-9 g / m ² , and pectin at a basic component weight of about 1 g / m ² , wherein the tobacco material has a basic weight of three to four times the weight of the basic fabric, 3 the respective tobacco material containing finely ground tobacco and solids extracted from tobacco in a ratio in the range of about 3: 1 to 9: 1, and a humectant at a level in the range of approximately 5 to 20% by weight of the tobacco material concerned. 26. Cigarette (23) used in an electric smoking system (21), operable with an ignition 7 electric cigarette holder (25), characterized in that said cigarette contains a tubular tobacco rod (60) made of a tobacco fabric, according to any of 9 claims 20 to 25.