WO2025169465A1 - Method and device for drawing out tobacco sheet from tobacco sheet bobbin - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a method for drawing out a sheet, the method including a step A for preparing a tobacco sheet bobbin, a step B for drawing out the sheet from the bobbin, and a step C for applying force in a contactless manner between the bobbin and the drawn-out free sheet.

Description

Method and apparatus for drawing tobacco sheet from tobacco sheet bobbin

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for unwinding tobacco sheets from a tobacco sheet bobbin.

Tobacco sheets are used by being pulled out from a tobacco sheet bobbin. Because tobacco sheets are sticky, a certain amount of force is applied when they are pulled out. This can cause problems such as damage to the tobacco sheet. In response to this, Patent Document 1, for example, proposes a method in which a blade is placed at the boundary between the bobbin and the tobacco sheet pulled out from the bobbin.

Patent No. 6850798

The inventors came up with the idea that if force could be applied to the boundary portion without contacting the sheet with any member, deformation of the sheet could be avoided and the tobacco sheet could be pulled out in better condition. In light of this situation, the objective of the present invention is to provide a method for pulling out a tobacco sheet from a tobacco sheet bobbin in better condition.

The inventors have found that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by applying a force between the bobbin and the drawn-out loose sheet in a non-contact manner.
Aspect 1
Step A of preparing a tobacco sheet bobbin;
A step B of unwinding the sheet from the bobbin; and a step C of applying a force between the bobbin and the unwound free sheet in a non-contact manner.
The sheet extracting method comprises:
Aspect 2
The step C of applying a force in a non-contact manner includes one or more of the following steps:
Step C1 of supplying a fluid between the free sheet and the bobbin
a step C2 of guiding the free sheet so that it comes into contact with a roller disposed at a position away from the bobbin and applying a force to the free sheet in a direction in which the free sheet is peeled off;
2. The method of aspect 1, comprising:
Aspect 3
Aspect 3. The method of aspect 1 or 2, wherein step C comprises step C3 of using a plate having a nozzle to supply fluid from the nozzle and bringing the plate into contact with the sheet.
Aspect 4
Aspect 4. The method according to aspect 2 or 3, wherein the cross section of the fluid in step C1 or C3 is substantially rectangular, and the longitudinal direction of the cross section is substantially parallel to the width direction of the sheet or substantially perpendicular to the width direction of the sheet.
Aspect 5
Aspect 4. The method of aspect 2 or 3, wherein the fluid in step C1 or C3 is supplied from a fluid supply unit having a plurality of nozzles.
Aspect 6
A method according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, further comprising the step of adjusting an angle between a major surface of the free sheet and a flow direction of the fluid.
Aspect 7
Aspect 7. The method of any of aspects 2 to 6, wherein the fluid is a gas.
Aspect 8
one or more of the following steps:
a step D of heating the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet from the outer periphery;
a step E of applying a force to the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet from the outer circumferential side in a direction to press the free sheet against the bobbin;
a step F of applying a force to the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet in a direction in which the free sheet peels off;
Aspect 8. The method of any of aspects 1-7, further comprising:
Aspect 9
The step D includes one or more of the following steps:
A step D1 of bringing a leaf spring equipped with a heating device into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step D2: bringing a roller equipped with a heating device into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
A step D3 of supplying the heated fluid to the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
9. The method of aspect 8, comprising:
Aspect 10
The step E includes one or more of the following steps:
Step E1: bringing the leaf spring into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step E2: bringing a roller into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
10. The method of claim 8 or 9, comprising:
Aspect 11
11. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the roller is vibrated.
Aspect 12
12. The method according to any one of aspects 9 to 11, wherein the surface of the roller has an uneven surface.
Aspect 13
Aspect 13. The method according to any one of aspects 8 to 12, wherein step F is carried out by using a roller having suction holes on its surface and sucking air into the roller through the suction holes.
Aspect 14
Aspect 14. The method of any one of aspects 8 to 13, further comprising, after step D, cooling the sheet.
Aspect 15
Aspect 15. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 14, further comprising heating the shaft of the bobbin.
Aspect 16
a holding portion for holding a tobacco sheet bobbin;
a fluid supply unit disposed at a position where a fluid can be supplied between the free sheet drawn out from the bobbin and the bobbin;
A drawing device comprising:
Aspect 17
a heating fluid supply device, a leaf spring equipped with a heating device, a roller equipped with a heating device, or a roller having a suction port on its surface, on the outer periphery of the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet;
17. The apparatus of aspect 16, further comprising:

The present invention provides a method for unwinding tobacco sheets from tobacco sheet bobbins in better condition.

A diagram showing an overview of the method A diagram illustrating an overview of step C1 A diagram illustrating an overview of step C2 A diagram showing step C3 A diagram showing an overview of step D1 A diagram showing an overview of process D2 A diagram showing an overview of process D3

In this disclosure, "X to Y" includes the extreme values X and Y. Unless otherwise specified, weights are dry weights.

1. Tobacco Sheet Pulling Method The tobacco sheet pulling method according to this embodiment comprises the steps of: step A of preparing a tobacco sheet bobbin; step B of pulling the sheet from the bobbin; and step C of applying a force between the bobbin and the pulled-out free sheet in a non-contact manner. Figure 1 shows an overview of this method. In the figure, 1 is the tobacco sheet bobbin, 3 is the free sheet, 5 is the space between the bobbin and the pulled-out free sheet, 7 is the boundary, and 9 is the bobbin shaft.

(1) Step A: Preparing a Tobacco Sheet Bobbin
Tobacco sheets are obtained by forming a mixture containing tobacco material into a sheet. Details of tobacco sheets are described below. Tobacco sheets include paper-formed sheets, cast sheets, and rolled sheets, and any of these may be used. The tobacco sheet's components may also be as known. However, this method is more suitable when the tobacco sheet contains a high content of aerosol source. This is because tobacco sheets with a high content of aerosol source tend to have a hard surface at room temperature, making them prone to deformation when drawn out from the bobbin. The reason for the hardening of the surface is not limited, but it is presumed to be because high-viscosity components of the tobacco components are likely to dissolve into the aerosol source. Therefore, in one embodiment, the tobacco sheet contains 2 to 20% by weight of aerosol source.

The tobacco sheet bobbin 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as "bobbin") is manufactured by winding a tobacco sheet around a bobbin shaft 9. There are no limitations on the size of the bobbin 1, but in one embodiment, the diameter is 15 to 50 cm and the width is 1 to 70 cm.

(2) Step B of pulling out the sheet
In this step, the tobacco sheet is pulled out from the bobbin 1. At this time, a free sheet 3 is formed which is released from the bobbin 1. The part where the free sheet 3 is released from the bobbin 1 is the boundary portion 7. The sheet pulling speed is not limited, but can be, for example, 50 to 5000 cm/min.

(3) Process C of applying force in a non-contact manner
In this step, a force is applied between the bobbin and the drawn-out free sheet 5 in a non-contact manner. Non-contact refers to a mode in which a non-fluid solid, such as a blade, is not brought into physical contact with the sheet or the like. For example, a force can be applied in a non-contact manner by supplying a fluid between the bobbin and the drawn-out free sheet 5 (step C1). Alternatively, the free sheet 3 can be guided to contact a roller positioned away from the bobbin 1, and a force can be applied to the free sheet 3 in a direction that causes it to peel off from the bobbin 1 (step C2). Furthermore, a plate with a nozzle can be used to supply a fluid from the nozzle and bring the plate into contact with the sheet (step C3). Each step will be described below.

1) Process C1
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of step C1. FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right side of the paper. In the figure, 20 is a fluid supply device. The arrow indicates the direction of fluid flow. Examples of fluids include gas, mist, or a solid-gas mixed flow. The temperature of the fluid is preferably 30°C or less. Examples of gases include air, inert gases such as nitrogen, and the like. The use of gas has the advantage of simplifying the device and being economical. The relative humidity of the gas is preferably 50% or less.

Examples of mist include misted liquids such as water. Using mist can prevent the sheet from drying out. Examples of solid-gas mixed flows include a mixed flow of organic powders (such as tobacco powder or cellulose powder) and the gas, or a mixed flow of inorganic powders (such as calcium carbonate) and the gas. Tobacco sheets can be sticky, but supplying a fluid at the appropriate temperature can reduce this stickiness. As described below, heating the boundary portion 7 from the outer periphery is preferable because it softens the sheet and makes it easier to release. However, this can increase the sheet temperature and increase stickiness. Supplying a fluid at the appropriate temperature in this embodiment can reduce stickiness. From this perspective, the upper limit of the temperature is preferably 25°C or less. The lower limit of the temperature is preferably 15°C or more. As shown in the lower diagram of Figure 2, the fluid supply device 20 may be a plate with a nozzle. Multiple nozzles may be present. This process may also include a step of adjusting the angle between the main surface of the release sheet 3 and the flow direction of the fluid.

The cross section of the fluid in step C1 is preferably approximately rectangular. The cross section of the fluid is a cross section obtained by cutting the fluid along a plane perpendicular to the flow direction. The longitudinal direction of the cross section of the fluid is preferably approximately parallel to the width direction of the sheet, or approximately perpendicular to the width direction of the sheet. The longitudinal direction of the cross section of the fluid can also be continuously changed from approximately parallel to the width direction of the sheet to approximately perpendicular. Changing from this approximately parallel state to an approximately perpendicular state constitutes one cycle, and this cycle can also be repeated.

2) Process C2
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an overview of step C2. FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 1 as viewed from the right side of the paper. In the figure, 22 denotes a roller positioned away from the bobbin 1. By introducing the free sheet 3 into the roller 22 in this manner, a force can be applied to the sheet at the boundary portion 7 in a direction that causes it to peel off from the bobbin 1, thereby promoting liberation. Known rollers can be used. For example, rollers made of metal, polymer, ceramic, etc. can be used.

3) Process C3
FIG. 4 shows step C3. As shown in the figure, the fluid supply device 20 may be a plate having a nozzle. There may be multiple nozzles. In this case, the fluid can be supplied from the nozzles of the nozzle-equipped plate 20, and the plate can be brought into contact with the sheet. This step may also include a step of adjusting the angle between the main surface of the free sheet 3 and the flow direction of the fluid. The cross section of the fluid in this step is preferably substantially rectangular. The cross section of the fluid is a cross section obtained by cutting the fluid along a plane perpendicular to the flow direction. The longitudinal direction of the cross section is preferably substantially parallel to the width direction of the sheet or substantially perpendicular to the width direction of the sheet. The longitudinal direction of the cross section of the fluid can also be continuously changed from substantially parallel to the width direction of the sheet to substantially perpendicular. Changing from the substantially parallel state to the substantially perpendicular state constitutes one cycle, and this cycle can be repeated.

4) Process D
The method according to this embodiment preferably includes a step D of heating the boundary 7 between the bobbin 1 and the free sheet 3 from the outer periphery. This step softens the sheet, facilitating the formation of the free sheet 3. This step preferably includes one or more of the following steps:
A step D1 of bringing a leaf spring equipped with a heating device into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step D2: bringing a roller equipped with a heating device into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step D3: supplying the heated fluid to the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
The method of this embodiment may include a step of cooling the sheet after step D. The free sheet 3 heated in step D becomes sticky, so cooling it reduces the stickiness and improves workability.

4-1) Process D1
FIG. 5 shows an overview of step D1. In the figure, 40 is a leaf spring, and other symbols are defined the same as in FIG. 1. Any known elastic material can be used for the leaf spring. For example, metal, polymer, ceramic, etc. can be used. The leaf spring 40 is equipped with a heating device. Examples of the heating device include an electric heater. The heating temperature is not limited, but is preferably 20 to 40°C.

4-2) Process D2
FIG. 6 shows an overview of step D2. In the figure, 42 is a roller, and other symbols are defined the same as in FIG. 1. Known rollers can be used. For example, rollers made of metal, polymer, ceramic, etc. can be used. Roller 42 is equipped with a heating device. Examples of heating devices include an electric heater. The heating temperature is as described in step D1. Roller 42 may be vibrated. Furthermore, the surface of roller 42 may be provided with irregularities by embossing, etc. This makes it easier to form the free sheet 3.

4-3) Process D3
Figure 7 shows an overview of step D3. In the figure, reference numeral 44 denotes a fluid supply device, and other symbols are defined the same as in Figure 1. The fluid supply device may have the same configuration as the plate 20. The fluid may be the same as that described in step C1. The heating temperature is the same as that described in step D1. One or more of steps D1 to D3 may be performed.

5) Process E
The method according to this embodiment preferably includes a step E of applying a force from the outer periphery to the boundary 7 between the bobbin 1 and the free sheet 3. This step applies a force in a direction that presses the sheet against the bobbin 1. As a result, the boundary 7 serves as a fulcrum, facilitating the formation of the free sheet 3. This step preferably includes one or more of the following steps.
Step E1: bringing the leaf spring into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step E2: Bringing a roller into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.

5-1) Process E1
This step is carried out in the same manner as step D1, except that no heating is performed.

5-2) Process E2
This step is carried out in the same manner as step D2, except that heating is not performed. One or more of steps E1 and E2 may be carried out.

6) Process F
The method according to this embodiment preferably includes a step F of applying a force to the boundary 7 between the bobbin 1 and the free sheet 3 in a direction that causes the free sheet 3 to peel off from the bobbin 1. As shown in Fig. 6, step F is performed by disposing a roller on the outer side of the boundary 7. However, the roller has a suction port on its surface, and applies a force to the boundary 7 in a direction that causes the free sheet 3 to peel off from the bobbin 1 by sucking air into the roller through the suction port.

7) Heating the Shaft The method according to this embodiment may include a step of heating the shaft 9 of the bobbin 1. This step softens the sheet and facilitates the formation of the free sheet 3. This step is particularly useful when the amount of sheet contained in the bobbin 1 is small.

2. Tobacco Sheet The tobacco sheet used in the bobbin 1 will now be described.
(1) Tobacco Leaf "Tobacco leaf" is a general term for harvested tobacco leaves that have not yet undergone the aging process described below. One form of aging includes curing, which is described below. For example, harvested tobacco leaves that have been deboned and separated to become lamina and ribs, etc., but have not yet undergone aging are still considered "tobacco leaf." In contrast, aged tobacco leaves that have not yet been processed into various forms used in tobacco products (such as tobacco shreds, tobacco sheets, and tobacco granules, which are described below) are called "aged tobacco leaves." Furthermore, aged tobacco leaves that have been processed into various forms used in tobacco products are called "processed tobacco leaves."

<Tobacco varieties used in tobacco products>
A variety of tobacco varieties can be used in tobacco products. Examples include flue-cured, burley, oriental, native, other Nicotiana tabacum, and Nicotiana rustica varieties. These varieties can be used alone, or, to achieve a desired flavor, can be blended during the process from tobacco leaf harvesting to the processing of cured tobacco leaves into various forms (i.e., processed tobacco leaves) for use in combustible or non-combustible tobacco products. Details of the tobacco varieties are disclosed in "Encyclopedia of Tobacco," Tobacco Research Center, March 31, 2009.

<Tobacco variety blend>
As noted above, tobacco variety blending can occur from the harvest of tobacco leaves through the conversion of aged tobacco leaves into various forms (i.e., processed tobacco leaves) for use in combustible or non-combustible tobacco products. While the term "blend" generally refers to a mixture of tobaccos belonging to the same or different varieties, the term "blend" may also refer to the combination of different aged or processed tobacco leaves in this specification. Blending tobaccos of the same variety but with different grades may also be specifically referred to as a "cross blend."

For each tobacco variety, tobacco leaves are graded based on various characteristics, such as place of origin, location within the plant, color, surface condition, size, and shape. Tobacco leaves are believed to contain over 300 chemical components, and the chemical properties of different tobacco varieties vary. Even within the same tobacco variety, different grades may have different chemical properties. Therefore, the above-mentioned blending and cross-blending are carried out to obtain tobacco raw materials with desired characteristics and chemical properties.

<Tobacco leaf processing>
Examples of treatments that harvested tobacco leaves undergo in the early stages include curing, processing at a raw material factory, and aging.

1) Curing Tobacco leaves generally undergo a process called curing early after harvesting. Curing is a process for aging tobacco leaves, and typically involves processes such as drying and humidity control, as well as activating the activity of various enzymes contained in the tobacco leaves. The cured tobacco leaves are packed into cases and stored in a warehouse for a certain period of time before being transported to a raw material factory. In addition, in order to obtain tobacco leaves with low contents of benzo[a]pyrene and low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids and high contents of specific flavor components, the harvested tobacco leaves may be subjected to the process described in International Publication No. 2018/139068 instead of the above-mentioned curing.

2) Processing and Aging at Raw Material Factory After being transported to the raw material factory and subjected to curing, the tobacco leaves are unwrapped and then typically undergo processes such as humidity control, deboning, and separation to produce lamina, backbone, etc. The re-dried lamina, backbone, etc. are then packed into cases and stored for long periods in warehouses. This long-term storage process in warehouses is sometimes referred to as aging. The aging period varies depending on the tobacco variety used, the desired flavor of the tobacco product, and the aging temperature, but is generally one year or more and two years or less. Tobacco leaves that have undergone curing, which is one form of aging, or the above-mentioned alternative processes to curing, and then further aged are called "aged tobacco leaves."

The process of processing tobacco leaves into laminae and ribs, then packing them into cases and aging them, is sometimes called "ripening after boning." On the other hand, the process of packing tobacco leaves transported to a raw material factory into cases and aging them without ridding or separating them, and then ridding and separating them after aging, is sometimes called "ripening after boning."

(2) Processed Tobacco Leaf The aged tobacco leaf is processed into various forms used in tobacco products to produce processed tobacco leaf. Examples of forms used in tobacco products include "tobacco shreds," which are aged tobacco leaves shredded to a specified size. Other examples include "tobacco sheets" and "tobacco granules," which are obtained by molding a composition containing aged tobacco leaves ground to a specified particle size (hereinafter also referred to as "tobacco fine powder") into a specific shape. The "tobacco fine powder" is also a form of processed tobacco leaf. Processed tobacco leaf is not limited to the above-mentioned "tobacco shreds,""tobaccosheets,""tobaccogranules," and "tobacco fine powder," but can include various forms obtained by processing aged tobacco leaves. The average particle size of the tobacco fine powder is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, 20 μm or more and 300 μm or less, from the perspective of molding "tobacco sheets" and "tobacco granules."

1) Aerosol-Generating Substrates in Processed Tobacco Processed tobacco leaves may contain an aerosol-generating substrate that generates aerosol smoke. The type of aerosol-generating substrate is not particularly limited, and extracts from various natural products or their constituent components can be selected depending on the intended use. Specific examples of the aerosol-generating substrate include, but are not limited to, glycerin, propylene glycol, polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. When processed tobacco leaves contain an aerosol-generating substrate, the amount of the aerosol-generating substrate can be adjusted to various amounts depending on the form in which the tobacco product is used.

2) Flavors in Processed Tobacco Processed tobacco leaves may contain flavors to impart a flavor sensation. "Flavor sensation" refers to the ability to sense the flavor derived from the flavor when using a tobacco product. The type of flavor is not particularly limited, and from the perspective of imparting a good flavor sensation, the following may be used: acetanisole, acetophenone, acetylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, alfalfa extract, amyl alcohol, amyl butyrate, trans-anethole, star anise oil, apple juice, Peru balsam oil, beeswax absolute, benzaldehyde, benzoin resinoid, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, benzyl propionate, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanol, butyl butyrate, butyric acid, caramel, cardamom oil, carob absolute, β-carotene, carrot juice, L-carvone, β-carotene ... Lyophyllene, cassia bark oil, cedarwood oil, celery seed oil, chamomile oil, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, citronella oil, DL-citronellol, clary sage extract, cocoa, coffee, konjac oil, coriander oil, cuminaldehyde, davana oil, delta-decalactone, gamma-decalactone, decanoic acid, dill herb oil, 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione, 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine Gin, Ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, Ethyl Acetate, Ethyl Butyrate, Ethyl Hexanoate, Ethyl Isovalerate, Ethyl Lactate, Ethyl Laurate, Ethyl Levulinate, Ethyl Maltol, Ethyl Octanoate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Palmitate, Ethyl Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Propionate, Ethyl Stearate, Ethyl Valerate, Ethyl Vanillin, Ethyl Vanillin Glucoside, 2-Ethyl-3,(5 or 6)-Dimethylpyrazine, 5-Ethyl-3-Hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-Furanone, 2-Ethyl-3-Methylpyrazine, Eucalyptol, Fenugreek Absolute, Genet Absolute, Gentian Root Infusion, Gera Niol, geranyl acetate, grape juice, guaiacol, guava extract, gamma-heptalactone, gamma-hexalactone, hexanoic acid, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, hexyl acetate, hexyl alcohol, hexyl phenylacetate, honey, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, sodium 4-hydroxyundecanoate, immortelle absolute, beta-ionone, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, isoamyl phenylacetate, isobutyl acetate, phenylalanine ... Isobutylphenylacetate, jasmine absolute, cola nut tincture, labdanum oil, lemon terpeneless oil, licorice extract, linalool, linalyl acetate, lovage root oil, maltol, maple syrup, menthol, menthone, L-menthyl acetate, paramethoxybenzaldehyde, methyl-2-pyrrolyl ketone, methyl anthranilate, methyl phenylacetate, methyl salicylate, 4'-methylacetophenone, methylcyclopentenolone, 3-methylvaleric acid, mimosa absolute, honey, myristic acid, nerol, nerolidol, γ-nonalactone, nutmeg oil, δ-octalactone, octanal, Octanoic acid, orange flower oil, orange oil, orris root oil, palmitic acid, ω-pentadecalactone, peppermint oil, petitgrain Paraguay oil, phenethyl alcohol, phenethyl phenylacetate, phenylacetic acid, piperonal, plum extract, propenylguaethol, propyl acetate, 3-propylidenephthalide, prune juice, pyruvic acid, raisin extract, rose oil, rum, sage oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil, styrax absolute, marigold oil, tea distillate, α-terpineol, terpinyl acetate, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,5,9- Tetramethyl-13-oxacyclo(8.3.0.0(4.9))tridecane, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, thyme oil, tomato extract, 2-tridecanone, triethyl citrate, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1,4-dione, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadienyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, γ-undecalactone, γ-valerolactone, vanilla extract, vanillin, veratraldehyde, violet leaf absolute, N-ethyl-p- Examples of suitable flavorings include menthane-3-carboxamide (WS-3), ethyl-2-(p-menthane-3-carboxamide) acetate (WS-5), sugars (sucrose, fructose, etc.), cocoa powder, carob powder, coriander powder, licorice powder, orange peel powder, rosehip powder, chamomile flower powder, lemon verbena powder, peppermint powder, leaf powder, spearmint powder, black tea powder, natural plant flavors (e.g., jasmine oil, lemon oil, vetiver oil, lovage oil), esters (e.g., menthyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, etc.), and alcohols (e.g., phenylethyl alcohol, cis-6-nonen-1-ol, etc.). These flavorings may be used alone or in combination. When flavorings are contained in processed tobacco leaves, the content thereof can be adjusted to various amounts to obtain a desired flavor sensation.

(3) Tobacco Sheet Tobacco sheets are obtained by forming a composition containing aged tobacco leaves into a sheet shape. The aged tobacco leaves used for tobacco sheets are not particularly limited, but examples thereof include those that have been deboned and separated into lamina and midrib. In addition, in this specification, the term "sheet" refers to a shape having a pair of approximately parallel main surfaces and side surfaces.

1) Tobacco Sheet Forming Method Tobacco sheets can be formed by known methods such as papermaking, casting, and rolling. Details of various tobacco sheets formed by these methods are disclosed in "Encyclopedia of Tobacco," Tobacco Research Center, March 31, 2009. The sheet drawing method can be applied to tobacco sheets produced by any of these methods.

<Tobacco sheet molding method (papermaking method)>
Examples of methods for forming tobacco sheets by papermaking include methods including the following steps.
(1) A process for extracting water-soluble components from aged tobacco leaves by roughly crushing the aged tobacco leaves and mixing and stirring the crushed leaves with a solvent such as water.
(2) A step of separating the water-soluble components into a water extract and a residue.
(3) A step of concentrating the aqueous extract by drying under reduced pressure.
(4) A process of adding pulp to the residue and fiberizing it in a refiner to obtain a mixture (homogenization process).
(5) A step of making paper from the mixture of the fiberized residue and pulp.
(6) A step of adding a concentrated solution of the water extract to the paper-made sheet and drying it to obtain a tobacco sheet.
When forming a tobacco sheet using this method, a step of removing some of the components such as nitrosamines may be added (see JP-A No. 2004-510422).

<Tobacco sheet molding method (casting method)>
An example of a method for forming a tobacco sheet by the slurry method includes the following steps.
(1) A step of mixing water, pulp, a binder, and ground aged tobacco to obtain a mixture (homogenization step).
(2) A step of thinly spreading (casting) the mixture and drying it to form a tobacco sheet.
When forming a tobacco sheet using this method, a step may be added in which a slurry of water, pulp, a binder, and crushed tobacco leaves is irradiated with ultraviolet light or X-rays to remove some of the components such as nitrosamines.

<Tobacco sheet molding method (rolling method)>
An example of a method for forming a tobacco sheet by rolling includes the following steps.
(1) A step of mixing water, pulp, a binder, and ground aged tobacco to obtain a mixture (homogenization step).
(2) A step of rolling the mixture by feeding it between a plurality of rolling rollers.
(3) A process in which the rolled product on the rolling rollers is peeled off with a doctor knife, transferred to a net conveyor, and dried in a dryer.
When forming a tobacco sheet using this method, the surface of each rolling roller may be heated or cooled, and the rotation speed of each rolling roller may be adjusted, depending on the purpose. Furthermore, by adjusting the distance between each rolling roller, a tobacco sheet with a desired basis weight can be obtained.

<Method for forming tobacco sheets (nonwoven fabric)>
In addition to the above-mentioned molding method, a nonwoven tobacco sheet can be molded according to a method described in WO 2014/104078, which includes the following steps:
(1) A step of mixing ground aged tobacco with a binder to obtain a mixture (homogenization step).
(2) sandwiching the mixture between nonwoven fabrics;
(3) A step of forming the laminate into a fixed shape by heat welding to obtain a nonwoven tobacco sheet.

<Average fiber length of tobacco fibers and freeness of mixture during homogenization process>
In the homogenization process described in each of the above methods, from the viewpoint of obtaining a tobacco sheet having a certain strength, it is preferable that the average fiber length of the tobacco fibers contained in each mixture is 200 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, and that the freeness of each mixture is 20°SR or more and 50°SR or less. The average fiber length of the tobacco fibers is measured by optical automatic analysis (JIS P8226-2) using non-polarized light with a fiber count of 20,000 or more. The freeness is measured by the Schopper-Riegler method (JIS P8121).

<Tobacco sheet dimensions>
The length and width of the tobacco sheet are not particularly limited, and can be adjusted appropriately according to the manner in which it is filled into the filler, which will be described later.
The thickness of the tobacco sheet is not particularly limited, but is preferably 150 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, more preferably 200 μm or more and 600 μm or less, in view of the balance between heat transfer efficiency and strength.

<Composition of tobacco sheet>
The composition of the tobacco sheet is not particularly limited, but for example, the content of aged tobacco leaves is preferably 50% by weight or more and 95% by weight or less relative to the total weight of the tobacco sheet.
The tobacco sheet may also contain a binder, and examples of such binders include guar gum, xanthan gum, CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose), CMC-Na (sodium salt of carboxymethyl cellulose), etc. The binder content is preferably 1% by weight or more and 10% by weight or less relative to the total weight of the tobacco sheet.
The tobacco sheet may further include other additives.
Other additives include, for example, fillers such as pulp. The content of the filler is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1% by weight or more and 10% by weight or less relative to the total weight of the tobacco sheet.

<Content of aerosol-generating materials in tobacco sheets>
When the tobacco sheet contains the above-mentioned aerosol-generating base material, its content is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of obtaining a good flavor, it is usually 2% by weight or more or 5% by weight or more, preferably 10% by weight or more, more preferably 15% by weight or more, and usually 50% by weight or less, preferably 40% by weight or less, more preferably 25% by weight or less, and even more preferably 20% by weight or less, relative to the total weight of the tobacco sheet.

<Flavors in tobacco sheets>
The tobacco sheet may contain the flavorings described above.
When a flavoring is contained in the tobacco sheet, the content of the flavoring is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of imparting a good flavor, it is usually 10,000 ppm or more, preferably 20,000 ppm or more, more preferably 25,000 ppm or more, and is usually 70,000 ppm or less, preferably 50,000 ppm, more preferably 40,000 ppm or less, and even more preferably 33,000 ppm or less.

3. Extraction Device The extraction device for carrying out the method includes a holding unit for holding a tobacco sheet bobbin, and a fluid supply unit arranged at a position where a fluid can be supplied between the bobbin and a loose sheet extracted from the bobbin.

The holding portion can be, for example, a shaft 1 as shown in Figure 1. Although not shown, the shaft 1 is fixed by a known device. The fluid supply portion is as described in the previous method.

The device may be equipped with a heated fluid supply device, a leaf spring equipped with a heating device, a roller equipped with a heating device, or a roller having a suction port on its surface near the outer periphery 7 of the boundary. The heated fluid supply device, leaf spring, or roller may be as described above. They do not necessarily have to be equipped with a heating device. Furthermore, the pulling device may be equipped with a tensioning mechanism for pulling the loose sheet.

4. Uses The sheet drawn out by the above method may be processed into shreds or strands to be used as a tobacco filler, or the sheet itself may be folded to be used as a tobacco filler. The tobacco filler is wrapped in a wrapper before use. The tobacco filler will be described below.

(1) First tobacco filler (consisting of tobacco shreds)
<First Tobacco Filler>
The first tobacco filler is composed of tobacco shreds filled into a filler. The manner in which the first tobacco filler is filled into the filler is not particularly limited, but typically, tobacco shreds other than strand-type shreds are filled in a random direction in the filler, whereas strand-type shreds are filled so that their longitudinal direction is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the filler.

<Packing density (content per volume) of first tobacco filler>
The packing density of the first tobacco filler is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring the performance of the tobacco product and imparting a good flavor, it is usually 250 mg/ ^cm3 or more, preferably 300 mg/ ^cm3 or more, and usually 400 mg/ ^cm3 or less, preferably 350 mg/ ^cm3 or less.

<Content of first tobacco filler (per rod or cartridge)>
The content of the first tobacco filler per filler is not particularly limited, but for example, in the case of a tobacco rod having a circumference of 22 mm and a length of 20 mm, it can be 200 mg or more and 800 mg or less per rod, with a preferred example being 250 mg or more and 600 mg or less per rod. Also, for example, in the case of a tobacco cartridge having a volume of 1.106 ^cm3 , it can be 200 mg or more and 800 mg or less per cartridge, with a preferred example being 250 mg or more and 600 mg or less per cartridge.

(2) Second tobacco filler (consisting of a tobacco sheet)
<Second Tobacco Filler>
The second tobacco filler is composed of a tobacco sheet filled into the filler. The number of tobacco sheets may be one, or two or more.

<Second tobacco filler composed of one tobacco sheet>
When the second tobacco filler is composed of a single tobacco sheet, for example, the tobacco sheet may be folded multiple times horizontally along the longitudinal direction of the filler (so-called gathered sheet), or may be wound in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the filler, with one side of the tobacco sheet having a length approximately the same as the longitudinal direction of the filler.

<Second tobacco filler composed of two tobacco sheets>
In a case where the second tobacco filler is composed of two or more tobacco sheets, for example, a plurality of tobacco sheets, each having a length of one side approximately the same as the longitudinal direction of the filler, are wound in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the filler so as to be concentrically arranged and packed. "Concentrically arranged" means that the centers of all the tobacco sheets are arranged at approximately the same position. The number of tobacco sheets is not particularly limited, but examples include two, three, four, five, six, or seven. The two or more tobacco sheets may all have the same composition or physical properties, or some or all of the tobacco sheets may have different compositions or physical properties. The thickness of each tobacco sheet may be the same or different.

<Rolling multiple tobacco sheets>
The second tobacco filler can be produced by preparing a plurality of tobacco sheets of different widths, stacking them so that the width decreases from the bottom to the top, and then passing the stack through a rolling tube to roll and form it. According to this production method, the plurality of tobacco sheets extend in the longitudinal direction and are arranged concentrically about the longitudinal axis. A longitudinally extending fitting portion may be formed between the longitudinal axis and the innermost tobacco sheet.

<Wrapping multiple tobacco sheets (forming non-contact portions)>
In this manufacturing method, the laminate is preferably prepared so that non-contact portions are formed between adjacent tobacco sheets after rolling. The presence of non-contact portions (gaps) between multiple tobacco sheets where the tobacco sheets do not come into contact ensures flavor flow paths and improves the delivery efficiency of flavor components. On the other hand, heat from the heater can be transferred to the outer tobacco sheets via the contact portions between the multiple tobacco sheets, ensuring high heat transfer efficiency.

In order to provide a non-contact portion between multiple tobacco sheets, methods that allow the tobacco sheets to not come into contact include, for example, using an embossed tobacco sheet, stacking adjacent tobacco sheets without bonding the entire surfaces of the sheets together, stacking adjacent tobacco sheets with only a portion of the sheets bonded together, or stacking adjacent tobacco sheets with only a light bonding of the entire surfaces or a portion of the sheets so that they can be peeled off after rolling and molding, thereby preparing a laminate. When preparing a tobacco rod including cigarette paper, the cigarette paper may be placed at the bottom of the laminate. Alternatively, a cylindrical dummy such as a mandrel may be placed at the top of the laminate to form a second tobacco filler, and then the dummy may be removed to form a fitting portion.

<Packing density of second tobacco filler (content per volume)>
The packing density of the second tobacco filler is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring the performance of the tobacco product and imparting a good flavor, it is usually 250 mg/ ^cm3 or more, preferably 300 mg/ ^cm3 or more, and usually 400 mg/ ^cm3 or less, preferably 350 mg/ ^cm3 or less.

<Content of second tobacco filler (per rod or cartridge)>
The content of the second tobacco filler per filler is not particularly limited, but for example, in the case of a tobacco rod having a circumference of 22 mm and a length of 20 mm, it can be 200 mg/rod or more and 800 mg/rod or less, with a preferred example being 250 mg/rod or more and 600 mg/rod or less. Also, for example, in the case of a tobacco cartridge having a volume of 1.106 ^cm3 , it can be 200 mg/cartridge or more and 800 mg/cartridge or less, with a preferred example being 250 mg/cartridge or more and 600 mg/cartridge or less.

Preferred embodiments are described below.
Aspect 1
Step A of preparing a tobacco sheet bobbin;
A step B of unwinding the sheet from the bobbin; and a step C of applying a force between the bobbin and the unwound free sheet in a non-contact manner.
The sheet extracting method comprises:
Aspect 2
The step C of applying a force in a non-contact manner includes one or more of the following steps:
Step C1 of supplying a fluid between the free sheet and the bobbin
a step C2 of guiding the free sheet so that it comes into contact with a roller disposed at a position away from the bobbin and applying a force to the free sheet in a direction in which the free sheet is peeled off;
2. The method of aspect 1, comprising:
Aspect 3
Aspect 3. The method of aspect 1 or 2, wherein step C comprises step C3 of using a plate having a nozzle to supply fluid from the nozzle and bringing the plate into contact with the sheet.
Aspect 4
Aspect 4. The method according to aspect 2 or 3, wherein the cross section of the fluid in step C1 or C3 is substantially rectangular, and the longitudinal direction of the cross section is substantially parallel to the width direction of the sheet or substantially perpendicular to the width direction of the sheet.
Aspect 5
Aspect 4. The method of aspect 2 or 3, wherein the fluid in step C1 or C3 is supplied from a fluid supply unit having a plurality of nozzles.
Aspect 6
A method according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, further comprising the step of adjusting an angle between a major surface of the free sheet and a flow direction of the fluid.
Aspect 7
Aspect 7. The method of any of aspects 2 to 6, wherein the fluid is a gas.
Aspect 8
one or more of the following steps:
a step D of heating the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet from the outer periphery;
a step E of applying a force to the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet from the outer circumferential side in a direction to press the free sheet against the bobbin;
a step F of applying a force to the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet in a direction in which the free sheet peels off;
Aspect 8. The method of any of aspects 1-7, further comprising:
Aspect 9
The step D includes one or more of the following steps:
A step D1 of bringing a leaf spring equipped with a heating device into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step D2: bringing a roller equipped with a heating device into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
A step D3 of supplying the heated fluid to the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
9. The method of aspect 8, comprising:
Aspect 10
The step E includes one or more of the following steps:
Step E1: bringing the leaf spring into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step E2: bringing a roller into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
10. The method of claim 8 or 9, comprising:
Aspect 11
11. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the roller is vibrated.
Aspect 12
12. The method of any one of aspects 9 to 11, wherein the surface of the roller is uneven.
Aspect 13
Aspect 13. The method according to any one of aspects 8 to 12, wherein step F is carried out by using a roller having suction holes on its surface and sucking air into the roller through the suction holes.
Aspect 14
Aspect 14. The method of any one of aspects 8 to 13, further comprising, after step D, cooling the sheet.
Aspect 15
Aspect 15. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 14, further comprising heating the shaft of the bobbin.
Aspect 16
a holding portion for holding a tobacco sheet bobbin;
a fluid supply unit disposed at a position where a fluid can be supplied between the free sheet drawn from the bobbin and the bobbin;
A drawing device comprising:
Aspect 17
a heated fluid supply device, a leaf spring equipped with a heating device, a roller equipped with a heating device, or a roller having a suction port on its surface, on the outer periphery of the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet;
17. The apparatus of aspect 16, further comprising:

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 tobacco sheet bobbin 3 loose sheet 5 between bobbin and unwound loose sheet 7 boundary portion 9 bobbin shaft 20 fluid supply device 22 roller 40 leaf spring 42 roller

Claims (17)

Step A of preparing a tobacco sheet bobbin;
A step B of unwinding the sheet from the bobbin; and a step C of applying a force between the bobbin and the unwound free sheet in a non-contact manner.
The sheet extracting method comprises: The step C of applying a force in a non-contact manner includes one or more of the following steps:
Step C1 of supplying a fluid between the free sheet and the bobbin
Step C2: guiding the free sheet so that it comes into contact with a roller disposed at a position away from the bobbin, and applying a force to the free sheet in a direction in which the free sheet peels off.
The method of claim 1 , comprising: The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein step C includes step C3 of using a plate having a nozzle to supply fluid from the nozzle and bringing the plate into contact with the sheet. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the cross section of the fluid in step C1 or C3 is approximately rectangular, and the longitudinal direction of the cross section is approximately parallel to the width direction of the sheet or approximately perpendicular to the width direction of the sheet. The method of claim 2 or 3, wherein the fluid in step C1 or C3 is supplied from a fluid supply unit having multiple nozzles. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a step of adjusting the angle between the main surface of the free sheet and the flow direction of the fluid. The method of any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the fluid is a gas. one or more of the following steps:
a step D of heating the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet from the outer periphery;
a step E of applying a force to the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet from the outer circumferential side in a direction to press the free sheet against the bobbin;
a step F of applying a force to the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet in a direction in which the free sheet peels off;
The method of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: The step D includes one or more of the following steps:
A step D1 of bringing a leaf spring equipped with a heating device into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step D2: bringing a roller equipped with a heating device into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
A step D3 of supplying the heated fluid to the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
The method of claim 8, comprising: The step E includes one or more of the following steps:
Step E1: bringing the leaf spring into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
Step E2: bringing a roller into contact with the boundary portion from the outer periphery side.
10. The method of claim 8 or 9, comprising: The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the roller is vibrated. The method of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the surface of the roller has irregularities. The method of any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein step F is carried out using a roller having suction ports on its surface, and air is sucked into the roller through the suction ports. The method of any one of claims 8 to 13, further comprising a step of cooling the sheet after step D. The method of any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising the step of heating the bobbin shaft. a holding portion for holding a tobacco sheet bobbin;
a fluid supply unit disposed at a position where a fluid can be supplied between the free sheet drawn from the bobbin and the bobbin;
A drawing device comprising: a heated fluid supply device, a leaf spring equipped with a heating device, a roller equipped with a heating device, or a roller having a suction port on its surface, on the outer periphery of the boundary between the bobbin and the free sheet;
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: