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WO2025196655A1 - Procédé de fabrication d'une bande continue à partir d'un matériau à base de cellulose - Google Patents

Procédé de fabrication d'une bande continue à partir d'un matériau à base de cellulose

Info

Publication number
WO2025196655A1
WO2025196655A1 PCT/IB2025/052867 IB2025052867W WO2025196655A1 WO 2025196655 A1 WO2025196655 A1 WO 2025196655A1 IB 2025052867 W IB2025052867 W IB 2025052867W WO 2025196655 A1 WO2025196655 A1 WO 2025196655A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cellulose
continuous web
mixture
particles
conductive particles
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/IB2025/052867
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Fulvio Pastore
Alessandro Granzotto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Comas SpA
Original Assignee
Comas SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Comas SpA filed Critical Comas SpA
Publication of WO2025196655A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025196655A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
    • A24B3/00—Preparing tobacco in the factory
    • A24B3/14—Forming reconstituted tobacco products, e.g. wrapper materials, sheets, imitation leaves, rods, cakes; Forms of such products
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/20—Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A24F40/465—Shape or structure of electric heating means specially adapted for induction heating

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for making a continuous web from cellulose-based material and a method for making rod-shaped segments of the smoking article industry from the aforesaid continuous web.
  • the present invention further relates to an article for generating aerosols.
  • Smoking articles which can be heated without burning for the purpose of generating an aerosol are known. Such smoking articles have a consumable portion or "plug" comprising strips obtained by cutting a web of plant-based material.
  • plant-based mixture means a plant-based material (in particular non-tobacco) processed by grinding or other similar procedure to modify the particle size thereof so as to promote subsequent mixing treatments thereof.
  • the continuous web is a semifinished product obtained by mixing and processing at least one dry plant component, such as cellulose or cellulose derivatives, rapeseed, hemp, straw or other varieties, hemp, aromatic leaves or still others, with a wet component, such as water and one or more additives.
  • the plug is heated to generate the aerosol, and this is done without burning the plant-based material but by heating it above a predetermined temperature.
  • the dispersion of conductive particles within the mixture may not be homogeneous.
  • the particles of material susceptible to heat by induction (which typically have a high specific gravity with respect to the remaining components of the mixture) have the tendency to stratify, especially during the casting phase of the mixture. This compromises the uniform consistency of the mixture, negatively affecting the performance and efficiency of the inductive heating.
  • the plug of the article consists only partially of strips obtained by cutting a web containing the conductive particles, while the remaining part of the filling of the plug consists of strips of plant-based material obtained with conventional methodologies and free of inclusions of conductive material.
  • Such features make the process for making the article globally very complex and expensive.
  • the technical task of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for making a continuous web from cellulose-based material, a method for producing rod-shaped segments of the smoking article industry from the aforesaid continuous web as well as an article for generating aerosols which are free from the drawbacks present in the prior art.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a method for making a continuous web from cellulose-based material, a method for making rodshaped segments of the smoking article industry from said continuous web, as well as an article for generating aerosols which are energy- and cost-efficient.
  • a further object is to provide a method for making a continuous web from cellulose-based material, a method for making rod-shaped segments of the smoking article industry from the aforesaid continuous web, as well as an article for generating aerosols which simplify the production process of the article itself.
  • the specified technical task and the specified objects are substantially achieved by a method for making a continuous web from cellulose-based material, a method for making rod-shaped segments of the smoking article industry from the aforesaid continuous web as well as an article for generating aerosols comprising the technical features set forth in the appended claims 1 , 6 and 8, respectively, and/or in one or more of the claims dependent thereon and/or in the appended description.
  • the Applicant has found that by making a mixture considered to be of the dough type, i.e., a mixture having a pasty or viscous consistency, more in particular moldable (which has a moisture content lower than 65% and a cellulose content between 20% and 80%), the dispersion of the particles of conductive material, in particular metallic material, is optimized.
  • the consistency of such a type of mixture inhibits the stratification of the aforesaid particles, ensuring a correct homogeneity of the mixture itself, greatly improving the overall thermal conductivity.
  • the low moisture content of the mixture requires less energy during the drying process. This not only improved the overall energy efficiency, but also helped keep the desired properties of the plant-based material unchanged.
  • the dispersion of the particles in the solid phase together with the dry material, in particular powdered cellulose improves the homogenization of the material by optimizing the subsequent mixing step with the liquid.
  • FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a system for implementing the methods in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of an article comprising a segment for generating aerosols in accordance with the present invention.
  • cellulose-based means a reconstituted material obtained by mixing at least one dry component containing cellulose with at least one liquid component, for example water.
  • the material comprises a mixture of components in the dry phase, at least one of which is cellulose-based and preferably such that cellulose forms the major fraction thereof.
  • the method can include feeding a first quantity of at least one dry product, in fiber and/or in ground or powdered form, in a mixing volume "V" of a kneader 100 and feeding a second quantity of at least one liquid in the mixing volume "V" of the kneader 10O
  • the kneader 100 can be of any type as long as it is capable of mixing the solid and liquid components.
  • the kneader 100 has a batch operation.
  • the kneader is configured to operate on slurries having an overall weight comprised between 20 kg and 600 kg, more preferably comprised between 40 kg and 500 kg.
  • the kneader 100 has continuous operation.
  • the expression "at least one dry product” is intended to mean mainly cellulose (in the forms envisaged) and, possibly, at least one additional dry product, for example in fibers, ground and/or powder, preferably in smaller quantities.
  • the additional dry product can comprise tobacco, rapeseed, hemp, straw or other varieties, hemp, cocoa, aromatic leaves or still others.
  • the cellulose is cellulose in fibers and/or in ground or powdered form.
  • the cellulose comprises a powder component comprised between 10% and 100% by weight of the total cellulose.
  • "Powder” means a material with a particle size less than 200 pm.
  • the at least one dry product comprises a cellulose content comprised between 20% and 80%, preferably comprised between 35% and 60%, even more preferably comprised between 40% and 55%.
  • the at least one dry product further comprises conductive particles consisting exclusively of metallic particles.
  • the conductive particles consist solely of metallic particles (i.e., they do not comprise graphite- and/or carbon- and/or mineral- based particles).
  • the metallic particles have a particle size lower than 30 pm. More preferably, the particles having a particle size lower than or equal to 15 pm (D90). In accordance with an embodiment, the particles have a particle size equal to 10 pm.
  • the system 1 comprises a feeding line 120 for the at least one dry product, connected to the kneader 100.
  • the feeding line 120 can comprise a plurality of feeding branches 121 , 122, each dedicated to a particular dry product.
  • the feeding line 120 can further comprise an intermediate tank 123, operatively arranged upstream of the kneader 100 and connected to the kneader 100 by means of a delivery branch 124, where the dry products are pre-loaded and pre-dosed.
  • a pre-mixing of the at least one dry product inside the intermediate tank 123 can be included.
  • the expression "at least one liquid” means mainly water and, preferably, at least one additional component preferably premixed with water.
  • the additional component comprises one or more of glycerin, nicotine, lactic acid, propylene glycol, dyes, at least one binding agent.
  • the system 1 comprises a feeding line 110 for the at least one liquid, connected to the kneader 100. If one or more of the aforementioned additional dry products are included, the feeding line 110 can comprise a plurality of feeding branches 111 , 112, each one dedicated to a particular liquid component.
  • the feeding line can further comprise an intermediate tank 113, operatively arranged upstream of the kneader 100 and connected to the kneader 100 by means of a delivery branch 114. Inside the intermediate tank 113, the water and the additional components are pre-loaded and pre-dosed. Preferably, the intermediate tank 113 is provided with mixing means configured for mixing the water with the one or more additional components.
  • the feeding of the first quantity of at least one dry product into the kneader 100 is first envisaged.
  • a pre-mixing of the at least one dry product within the kneader 100 may be envisaged prior to feeding the second quantity of at least one liquid.
  • the feeding of the second quantity of the at least one liquid is operated at least partially or entirely, before feeding the first quantity of the at least one dry product.
  • the second quantity of the at least one liquid can be operated in two or more successive steps during the mixing of the mixture itself.
  • the method includes a step of mixing the first quantity of dry product with the second quantity of liquid in the kneader 100, obtaining a mixture with moisture content lower than 65% and a cellulose content comprised between 20% and 80%, preferably greater than 20%, even more preferably comprised between 35% and 60%, even more preferably comprised between 40% and 55%.
  • a mixture can be considered of the dough type, having a pasty or viscous consistency, more in particular moldable and suitable for processing in a paddle kneader, or the like.
  • such a technical feature allows optimizing the dispersion of the metallic particles, i.e., of the conductive particles.
  • the consistency of such a type of mixture inhibits the stratification of the aforesaid particles, ensuring a correct homogeneity of the mixture itself, greatly improving the overall performance, in use, of the (preferably inductive) heating, or improving the overall thermal conductivity.
  • the mixture obtained has a moisture content (by weight) comprised between 15% and 65%, preferably comprised between 20% and 40% and more preferably between 25% and 35%.
  • a moisture content by weight
  • the mixture produced by mixing can have a sandy and/or granular structure, for example with a particle size between 1 and 6 mm.
  • the mixture obtained has a cellulose content between 20% and 80%, preferably greater than 20%, even more preferably between 35% and 60%, even more preferably between 40 and 55%, even more preferably equal to about 50%.
  • the mixture obtained has a content of the aforesaid particles, by weight, comprised between 3% and 30%, preferably comprised between 5% and 20% and more preferably equal to about 8%.
  • the method includes forming the aforesaid continuous web "N" from the mixture itself, by lamination.
  • the step of forming the web “N” first includes carrying out at least one vertical lamination of the mixture by means of a vertical lamination unit 2 provided with at least one pair of rollers 201 , 202, 301 , 302, obtaining a laminated semi-finished product, which is released on a support 4, preferably a conveyor, configured to convey the laminated semi-finished product from the vertical lamination unit 2 to a horizontal lamination unit 3, where, subsequently, a horizontal lamination of the laminated semifinished product is carried out, thus obtaining a wet continuous web "N". Finally, the continuous web "N" is dried to obtain the aforesaid continuous web "N".
  • the vertical lamination unit 2 comprises at least a first vertical lamination stage 200 comprising a respective pair of lamination rollers 201 , 202.
  • the vertical lamination unit 2 comprises at least a first vertical lamination stage 200 and one or more subsequent vertical lamination stages 300, where each vertical lamination stage 200, 300 comprises a respective pair of lamination rollers 201 , 202, 301 , 302.
  • the laminated mixture from the first vertical lamination stage 200 is fed by gravity or by transport to the subsequent vertical lamination stages 300.
  • One or more scraping tools 400 such as blades, can also be included, operatively connected to the rollers of each vertical lamination stage 200, 300, which are configured to carry out the aforesaid scraping.
  • the laminated semi-finished product exiting the first vertical lamination stage 200 has a discontinuous shape, in particular in the form of flakes.
  • fine shape in the present description means a semi-finished product broken into a plurality of fragments of irregular shape and having a plate-like conformation (i.e., extending substantially on a plane) and adhering to the surface of the roller.
  • the second vertical lamination stage 300 has the function of collecting such flakes and re-laminating them, obtaining a continuous laminated semi-finished product. Downstream of the vertical lamination, the aforesaid horizontal lamination is then carried out so as to obtain a continuous web "N".
  • the horizontal lamination unit 3 comprises at least one horizontal lamination stage 500, provided with a respective pair of rollers 501 , 502.
  • the horizontal lamination unit 3 is a multistage lamination unit having two or more stages 500, each comprising a respective pair of rollers 501 , 502 configured to achieve a controlled reduction of the thickness of the continuous web "N" until having a calibrated thickness value.
  • the horizontal lamination unit 3 comprises a plurality of pairs of horizontal rollers 501 , 502 arranged in series, which pairs of rollers 501 , 502 delimit an increasingly narrow passage therebetween to gradually reduce the thickness of the continuous web "N".
  • the method then comprises the aforesaid drying step to obtain a dry continuous web "N".
  • the system can comprise a drying device 600.
  • the drying device 600 can be provided with one or more drying stages arranged in series so as to optimize the control of the process conditions (temperatures, humidity) of the drying step.
  • the low moisture content of the slyrry requires less energy during the drying process, improving the overall energy efficiency and also contributing to maintaining the desired organoleptic properties of the plant-based material.
  • the method includes a step of feeding the dry continuous web "N” obtained by the method described above, which has a multiple width.
  • the longitudinal cutting into strips of the continuous web “N” is included, so as to obtain a continuous web "SN" of single width.
  • the method includes a subsequent step of crimping and/or cutting the continuous web "SN” into strips and/or discrete portions according to parallel longitudinal lines and/or portions.
  • the web processed by crimping or cutting can also be the entire web "N" exiting the drying device 600.
  • the system 1 comprises a cutting or crimping unit 700 provided with cutting tools 501 , such as rotating blades or rollers provided with side-by-side circumferential ridges, configured to crimp and/or cut the continuous web "SN".
  • cutting tools 501 such as rotating blades or rollers provided with side-by-side circumferential ridges
  • the crimping or cutting is carried out by using different crimping or cutting rollers, the external profile of which is configured according to the purpose.
  • the method comprises a subsequent step of collecting the crimped or cut web and wrapping it in a wrapping strip "S", preferably of paper, to make a continuous rod "B1".
  • the system 1 comprises a forming unit 800, in particular provided with a forming beam of known type.
  • the filling of the continuous rod "B1" is entirely obtained by means of the aforesaid continuous web "N" made with the method described above.
  • the method comprises a subsequent step of cutting the continuous rod "B1" into segments "B2".
  • the consumable portions or “plugs" for the smoking article intended for generating aerosol are obtained.
  • the system 1 comprises a secondary cutting unit 900 provided with cutting tools, such as rotating blades, configured to transversely cut the continuous rod "B1" in a cadenced manner so as to obtain segments "B2" of the same length.
  • cutting tools such as rotating blades
  • the filter segment “C” comprises a support element “C1” and/or a cooling element “C2” and/or a filter tip "C3".
  • the support element "C1" can have a tubular structure.
  • the cooling element "C2" can be made by means of a sheet collected in PLA material.
  • the aerosol generating segment "B2" comprises an outer tubular wrapping at least partially filled with a plurality of strips and/or portions made of cellulose-based material, where each strip and/or portion includes the aforesaid conductive particles of metallic material. Such particles of metallic material are embedded and/or dispersed in the cellulose.
  • the filling of the outer tubular wrapping is entirely made with such strips and/or discrete portions, only cellulose- based strips and/or discrete portions including the particles of metallic material are present inside the outer tubular wrapping.
  • the outer tubular wrapping is filled exclusively with the strips and/or discrete cellulose-based portions, which have a homogeneous structure defined by the plant base (cellulose and any further plant components) in which the conductive particles of metallic material are dispersed.
  • the proportions of the content of cellulose, water and conductive particles of metallic material are defined by the execution modes of the method according to the invention, therefore in accordance with the description above.
  • conductive particles consisting exclusively of metallic material (i.e., which do not comprise particles based on graphite and/or carbon and/or minerals) allows a better controllability of the overall thermal conductivity.
  • a feature allows a homogeneous and efficient heating of the aerosol generating segment "B2".
  • a feature allows simplifying the production process of the article "A" itself.
  • the cellulose-based material can be replaced by a tobacco-based material, maintaining the same humidity features which characterize a “dough” mixture, as defined above. The other features of the method and the smoking article remain unchanged.
  • the present invention achieves the preset objects, eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art.

Landscapes

  • Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de fabrication d'une bande continue (N) à partir d'un matériau à base de cellulose, comprenant les étapes consistant à mélanger une première quantité d'au moins un produit sec avec une deuxième quantité d'au moins un liquide dans un malaxeur (100) pour obtenir un mélange, ledit mélange présentant une teneur en humidité inférieure à 65 %, dans lequel ledit produit sec contient une teneur en cellulose comprise entre 20 % et 80 % et des particules conductrices, ces dernières étant exclusivement constituées de particules de matériau métallique. Le procédé comprend une étape de formation d'une bande continue (N) à partir dudit mélange et une étape de séchage de ladite bande continue (N) pour obtenir une bande continue sèche (N).
PCT/IB2025/052867 2024-03-22 2025-03-19 Procédé de fabrication d'une bande continue à partir d'un matériau à base de cellulose Pending WO2025196655A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202400006403 2024-03-22
IT102024000006403 2024-03-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2025196655A1 true WO2025196655A1 (fr) 2025-09-25

Family

ID=91432593

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IB2025/052867 Pending WO2025196655A1 (fr) 2024-03-22 2025-03-19 Procédé de fabrication d'une bande continue à partir d'un matériau à base de cellulose

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2025196655A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170079325A1 (en) * 2014-05-21 2017-03-23 Philip Morris Products S.A. Inductively heatable tobacco product
US20200281249A1 (en) * 2019-03-06 2020-09-10 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Aerosol delivery device with nanocellulose substrate
WO2022107055A1 (fr) * 2020-11-23 2022-05-27 Hf S.R.L. Procédé de préparation d'une feuille de tabac reconstitué pour dispositifs à chauffage sans combustion
WO2023281018A1 (fr) * 2021-07-07 2023-01-12 Philip Morris Products S.A. Substrat de formation d'aérosol amélioré

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170079325A1 (en) * 2014-05-21 2017-03-23 Philip Morris Products S.A. Inductively heatable tobacco product
US20200281249A1 (en) * 2019-03-06 2020-09-10 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Aerosol delivery device with nanocellulose substrate
WO2022107055A1 (fr) * 2020-11-23 2022-05-27 Hf S.R.L. Procédé de préparation d'une feuille de tabac reconstitué pour dispositifs à chauffage sans combustion
WO2023281018A1 (fr) * 2021-07-07 2023-01-12 Philip Morris Products S.A. Substrat de formation d'aérosol amélioré

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