Smoking article for preventing nicotine transfer and aerosol-generating system comprising the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smoking article for preventing a nicotine transfer phenomenon and an aerosol-generating system including the same, the smoking article including: a pH adjusting medium portion; and a paper segment including an adsorption and release material, the smoking article achieving nicotine delivery in a non-heating method by including the pH adjusted medium portion; and including the paper segment including the adsorption and release material, thereby preventing the nicotine transfer phenomenon, whereby a blending time can be shortened and a stable shelf life corresponding thereto can be secured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a smoking article that prevents nicotine transfer and an aerosol generation system including the same. Background Technology

[0002] Recently, various smoking articles that utilize heating rather than combustion have been proposed. Unlike existing smoking articles, non-combustion smoking articles do not burn the tobacco medium; instead, they heat the tobacco medium to generate an aerosol for the user to inhale. Electrically heated smoking articles are one type of such heated smoking article.

[0003] Volatile free nicotine can be generated by adjusting the pH of the medium portion of a smoking article, thereby delivering nicotine in a non-heating manner.

[0004] Relatedly, when the medium of a smoking article has an acidic pH, nicotine is not easily delivered by non-heating methods. When it has an alkaline pH, although non-heating nicotine delivery increases, the higher volatility leads to nicotine transfer over time, occurring not only in the tobacco stick material but also in packaging materials such as the inner liner and the outer shell. Nicotine delivery in smoke is significantly affected by nicotine transferred to the tobacco stick material; therefore, nicotine transferred to packaging materials such as the outer shell may reduce the amount of nicotine delivered in the smoke.

[0005] In other words, while adjusting the pH of the medium portion of smoking articles to a slightly alkaline state, such as pH 8 to pH 9.5, can bring greater smoking satisfaction, the alkaline pH of the medium portion can cause nicotine to transfer to packaging materials such as the inner liner and the outer shell due to its volatility.

[0006] Therefore, although smoking articles including a medium with a weakly alkaline pH can deliver nicotine without heating, after manufacturing, there must be a time required for the nicotine to be transferred to the tobacco stick material such as the cellulose acetate filter. Furthermore, in order to prevent the flavor from changing after the nicotine transfer in the tobacco stick reaches equilibrium, there is an urgent need to propose a solution to prevent the nicotine from disappearing due to transfer to the packaging material.

[0007] Prior art literature

[0008] Patent documents

[0009] Korean Patent No. 2021-0121968 Summary of the Invention

[0010] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0011] To address the aforementioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a smoking article comprising a pH-adjusted medium and applying an adsorption-release material capable of preventing nicotine transfer.

[0012] The present invention aims to provide an aerosol generation system using a smoking article according to the present invention.

[0013] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from the following description other problems not mentioned.

[0014] means for solving problems

[0015] This invention provides a smoking article for preventing nicotine transfer, comprising: a pH adjustment medium for adjusting hydrogen ion concentration; and

[0016] Paper segments, including adsorbent and release materials.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article may further include a thermally conductive packaging material comprising at least one of a wrapping medium and a paper segment.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the thermally conductive packaging material may be selected from at least one of the group consisting of aluminum, gold, silver, and copper.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pH value of the pH adjustment medium can be 8 to 9.5.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pH adjusting medium may include volatile nicotine.

[0021] In another embodiment of the invention, the paper segment may be disposed on one or both sides of the medium section.

[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, the adsorption and release material may be one or more selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolite, alumina, silica gel and bentonite.

[0023] In another embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article may be a heated smoking article.

[0024] In another embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article may further include a tubular filter rod portion and a filter rod portion.

[0025] In addition, the present invention provides an aerosol generation system, comprising:

[0026] An aerosol generating apparatus, comprising a battery and a heater that uses electricity supplied from the battery to generate heat; and

[0027] According to the invention, a smoking article is contained in the aerosol generating apparatus, and an aerosol is generated by heating with the heater.

[0028] Invention Effects

[0029] In existing smoking articles, when the pH value is adjusted to enhance smoking satisfaction, free nicotine in the medium continuously transfers within the smoking article, requiring a considerable blending time to reach a homogeneous equilibrium. In contrast, the smoking article of the present invention, in addition to the pH-adjusted medium, includes paper segments using adsorption and release materials. By rapidly adsorbing volatile free nicotine in a short time, the product blending time is shortened, ensuring a stable shelf life. Furthermore, by preventing nicotine transfer to parts of the smoking article that do not affect nicotine delivery (such as the outer casing, inner liner, or packaging shell), the amount of deliverable nicotine during smoking is prevented from disappearing, and the stability of the filter rod is maintained.

[0030] In addition, when using smoking products, heating the paper segment containing the absorbent release material removes the nicotine adsorbed in the material and delivers it, preventing the nicotine from disappearing into other materials. At the same time, by including volatile nicotine, nicotine can be delivered in a non-heating manner, thereby achieving a higher level of smoking satisfaction.

[0031] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the composition of the invention as described in the detailed description or claims of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 4a This is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 4b This is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation system according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] In the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same constituent elements, regardless of the drawing numbers, and repeated descriptions are omitted. In describing embodiments, detailed descriptions of relevant well-known technologies are omitted when it is determined that such detailed descriptions would unnecessarily obscure the embodiments.

[0040] Throughout the specification, when it is stated that a component is "on" another component, this includes not only cases where one component is in contact with another component, but also cases where another component exists between the two components.

[0041] Throughout the specification, when stating that a part "includes" a certain component, it may also include other components rather than excluding the possibility of the existence of other components.

[0042] In this invention, a "smoking article" can be any product that can be inhaled or provides a smoking experience, whether it is based on cigarettes, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or cigarette substitutes.

[0043] In addition, throughout the instruction manual, "medium section" refers to the part or part containing an inhalable substance. That is, it refers to the part that includes a substance that can generate an aerosol and deliver nicotine to the user.

[0044] Throughout the instruction manual, "paper segment" refers to a portion or location of a paper filter rod that includes paper material and comes into contact with the media section.

[0045] Throughout this instruction manual, the hydrogen ion concentration index refers to the index of hydrogen ions contained in a substance, which can be expressed as pH in this manual.

[0046] Throughout this instruction manual, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used interchangeably. "Upstream" refers to the portion of the smoking article from the outside into the inside when the user inhales outside air while using the smoking article, and "downstream" refers to the portion of the smoking article from the inside, including the flammable heat source, out to the outside. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" may be used to indicate the relative position or direction between the parts or sections that constitute the smoking article.

[0047] Throughout this specification, "adsorption-release material" refers to a material that undergoes or may undergo adsorption and release. In this invention, it generally refers to a material that readily adsorbs and can be released by physical treatment (e.g., heating).

[0048] Throughout this specification, "aerosol generating apparatus" may refer to an apparatus capable of generating aerosols. These aerosols contain volatile compounds.

[0049] The smoking article 1000 of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0050] The smoking article 1000 includes: a pH adjustment medium section 200; and

[0051] Paper segment 100 includes adsorption and release material 101. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and figures.

[0052] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention relates to a smoking article 1000, which includes: a pH adjustment medium section 200; and

[0053] Paper segment 100 includes adsorption and release material 101.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the paper segment may be disposed on one or both sides of the media section. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the paper segment can be positioned on one side of the media section, i.e., the upstream side of the media section. Alternatively, as... Figure 3 As shown, the paper segment can be positioned downstream of the media section.

[0055] Or, such as Figure 2 As shown, the paper segments can be located on both sides of the media section. (As...) Figure 2 As shown, by applying paper filter rods with adsorption and release materials to both sides of the medium section, the adsorption and release materials can adsorb free-base nicotine in a short time, thereby shortening the mixing time. This prevents nicotine loss by preventing nicotine from transferring to other materials (finished shell, liner, or packaging shell, etc.) that do not affect nicotine delivery, and allows other sections, such as the filter rod section and tubular filter rod section, included in the smoking article to function stably.

[0056] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the paper segment includes an adsorption-release material, and the adsorption-release material may be one or more selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolite, alumina, silica gel, and bentonite. The above categories are merely examples; any material capable of readily adsorbing free nicotine and releasing it through treatments such as heating is acceptable and is not limited to the above.

[0057] The average particle size of the adsorption and release material can be from 0.1 μm to 1000 μm, and is preferably a porous material such as activated carbon that easily adsorbs nicotine. "Porous" refers to the state where a solid has pores (gap) inside or on its surface. The adsorption and release material can have a particle size of 300 μm. 2 A specific surface area of ​​over / g and a porosity of 10% to 80%. Porosity refers to the volume ratio of the matrix constituting a porous material to the pores present within that matrix. When the porosity is less than 10%, it will not be able to easily adsorb nicotine due to insufficient porosity. When it exceeds 80%, there is a possibility that the heat treatment time will be prolonged due to excessive nicotine adsorption.

[0058] The adsorption and release material can be from 1% to 30% by weight of the total weight of 100% paper segments. When the content of the adsorption and release material is less than 1% by weight, it may not be able to fully adsorb nicotine. When it exceeds 30% by weight, it may generate dust and other pollutants because it cannot fully bind with the paper.

[0059] The adsorbent-releasing material can be included on a crimped base paper by spraying. An adhesive can be used to more easily bond the adsorbent-releasing material to the base paper. The adhesive is a material with a viscosity above a specified level, and non-limiting examples include glycerol, propylene glycol, guar gum, starch, vinyl acetate, gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, or methylcellulose.

[0060] The adsorbent material can be included in the base paper by pre-mixing the adhesive and the adsorbent material, and then spraying, coating, or layering the mixture onto the base paper; or by pre-spraying, coating, or layering the adhesive onto the base paper, and then spraying the adsorbent material onto the adhesive-treated base paper. The base paper including the adsorbent material as described above can be wound to a predetermined thickness, thereby producing paper segments.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the amount of adhesive coated onto the surface of the base paper can be less than 4 mg / mm, less than 3 mg / mm, less than 2 mg / mm or less than 1 mg / mm, preferably from 0.5 mg / mm to 4 mg / mm, from 0.5 mg / mm to 3 mg / mm or from 0.5 mg / mm to 2 mg / mm.

[0062] The basis weight of the base paper can be 10 g / m³. 2 Up to 120g / m 2 When the basis weight of the base paper is less than 10 g / m³ 2 At this time, the reduced stiffness of the paper segments may affect the overall quality of the smoking product, especially when it exceeds 120g / m³. 2At that time, it may be difficult to roll the original paper into the shape of paper segments.

[0063] As an example, the diameter of the paper segment can be from 4 mm to 30 mm, and the circumference can be from 14 mm to 29 mm. Alternatively, the length can be from 10 mm to 70 mm, but is not limited thereto.

[0064] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article of the present invention includes a pH adjusting medium, and the pH value of the medium is 8 to 9.5. Since the medium of the present invention has a pH of 8 to 9.5, the nicotine contained in the medium can be in a volatile free-base state. Therefore, when using the smoking article of the present invention, nicotine delivery can be smoothly achieved without heating. However, when a pH adjusting medium with a pH of 8 to 9.5 is included, after manufacturing, in order to achieve uniform quality with uniform nicotine content, a mixing time is required to transfer nicotine to the tobacco stick material such as a cellulose acetate filter rod, thereby achieving nicotine transfer equilibrium within the tobacco stick. Therefore, by including an absorbent material in the paper segments on one or both sides of the medium, the mixing time for maintaining uniform quality can be shortened, and nicotine loss due to transfer to other materials used for packaging the smoking article (finished casing, liner, packaging shell, etc.) after the mixing time can be prevented.

[0065] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the pH adjusting medium of the present invention contains volatile nicotine. By containing volatile nicotine, the pH adjusting medium of the present invention facilitates non-heated delivery of nicotine during smoking. The volatile nicotine is not only contained in the pH adjusting medium but can also be transferred from the pH adjusting medium to the paper segments, such that these segments also contain nicotine.

[0066] Taking the case involving aerosol-generating substances as an example, the pH adjusting medium may include smoking substances based on tobacco raw materials, such as tobacco sheet paper, tobacco sheet pulp, tobacco particles, and shredded tobacco. Alternatively, the medium may be a structure that encapsulates the aforementioned smoking substances within cigarette paper, or it may be a filter block containing the smoking substances. Alternatively, the smoking substances may be included in the chamber section by applying a cavity filter rod.

[0067] In addition to the smoking substance, the medium portion of the present invention may also include a pH adjuster for adjusting pH.

[0068] The pH adjuster may be one or more of the group consisting of carbonates (including calcium carbonate, monocarbonates, bicarbonates, and sesquicarbonates), acetates, glycine salts, gluconates, borates, glycerophosphates, citrates of alkali metals or ammonium, phosphate systems (including monohydrogen phosphate, dihydrogen phosphate, and trihydrogen phosphate), metal hydroxides (including sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc.), and mixtures thereof.

[0069] In addition to the smoking substance, the medium portion of the present invention may also include a binder to form particulate matter. The binder may be, but is not limited to, pullulan, dextrin, cellulose, or glycerol.

[0070] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article according to the present invention can be a heated smoking article. A heated smoking article refers to an article that uses a heating unit such as a heater to apply heat instead of combustion for smoking.

[0071] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article may further include a thermally conductive packaging material comprising at least one of a wrapping medium and a paper segment. By including the thermally conductive packaging material, the nicotine adsorbed in the release material can be released more effectively. Generally, when the thermally conductive packaging material is not included, smoking can be performed at a temperature of approximately 200°C; when the thermally conductive packaging material is included, smoking can also be performed at temperatures below 200°C.

[0072] Examples related to the arrangement of the thermally conductive packaging material within smoking articles, such as... Figure 4a As shown, it can be configured to both wrap the media section and the paper segment. Or, as... Figure 4b As shown, the thermally conductive packaging material may only wrap the paper segment.

[0073] The thermally conductive packaging material can be paper, flax, wood pulp, or polymer materials, including thermally conductive materials. The thermally conductive material can be one or more selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, silver, copper, or carbon nanotubes, but is not limited to any of the above materials as long as it is capable of transferring heat generated in the heater to the paper section or the medium section. Preferably, the thermally conductive packaging material of the present invention can be in the form of aluminum foil bonded to paper.

[0074] The thickness of the thermally conductive packaging material can be from approximately 30 μm to 300 μm. When the thickness of the packaging material is less than 30 μm, its impact on heat transfer may be reduced; when it exceeds 300 μm, it may affect airflow.

[0075] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article may further include a tubular filter rod portion and a filter rod portion.

[0076] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the medium portion and the paper segment, the smoking article may also include a tubular filter rod portion. The tubular filter rod portion can collect the aerosol generated in the tobacco material to the center of the cigarette rod and support the tobacco material to prevent it from being pushed downstream. The tubular filter rod portion can be made of paper material, polymer material, etc., and is not limited to the aforementioned materials as long as they are materials used in heated cigarettes.

[0077] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the smoking article may include a filter rod portion. For example, the filter rod portion may be a single-shaped filter rod, a two-part filter rod, or a three-part filter rod. For example, the filter rod portion may include at least one of a porous matrix structure filter rod, a tubular structure filter rod, and a paper tube filter rod. The filter rod portion may include, but is not limited to, a fibrous, filamentous, or bundled filter rod containing at least one of a polymer, paper, cellulose acetate, activated carbon, and carbon. In some embodiments, the filter material may also include at least one filter substance known in the art, such as an adsorbent containing carbon or activated carbon.

[0078] As an example, the diameter of the smoking article can be 4mm to 10mm, and the circumference can be 14mm to 29mm. Furthermore, the length can be 45mm to 100mm, but is not limited to these dimensions.

[0079] In addition, the present invention provides an aerosol generation system 3000, which includes an aerosol generation device 2000 and the aforementioned smoking article 1000. The aerosol generation device 2000 includes a battery 500, a heater 600 that generates heat using electricity supplied from the battery 500, and a vaporizer 1100. The smoking article 1000 is housed in the aerosol generation device 2000 and generates aerosols using heating from the heater 600.

[0080] In this specification, "aerosol generating device" can refer to an aerosol generating device that uses a tobacco medium to generate aerosols that can be directly inhaled into the user's lungs through the user's mouth.

[0081] As an example, the aerosol generating device is as follows: Figure 5 As shown. However, Figure 5 Only the constituent elements related to embodiments of the present invention are shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other elements may also be included. Figure 5 Other common components besides those shown. The components of the aerosol generating apparatus 2000 will be described below.

[0082] The aerosol generating device, in addition to the heater 600, battery 700, and vaporizer 1100 that house the smoking article, may also include a control unit 800 and a housing space 900. However, this is only a preferred embodiment for achieving the purpose of the present invention, and some components may be added or omitted as needed.

[0083] Figure 5 The various components of the aerosol generating device shown represent functional elements divided in terms of function. In a real physical environment, multiple components can be implemented in an integrated form, or they can be implemented in a form where a single component is separated into multiple detailed functional elements.

[0084] Reference Figure 5 The smoking article 1000 includes a heater 600, which generates an aerosol by the heat generated in the heater. The generated aerosol is inhaled through the smoking article 1000 and through the user's mouth in contact with the filter rod.

[0085] The heater 600 generates an aerosol by heating the smoking article contained in the receiving space 900. That is, the heater 600 can be configured to surround the perimeter of the receiving space, thereby heating the smoking article 1000 contained within the receiving space. The heater can be implemented as a resistance heater.

[0086] The heater can be a single-stage heater or a multi-stage heater, such as... Figure 5 As shown, a single-stage heater can be used to simultaneously heat both the paper section and the medium section.

[0087] Alternatively, as another embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, it is also possible to have a configuration that heats only the paper segment by having a multi-stage heater. Generally speaking, the greater the adsorption energy, the greater the release energy will be. By applying minimal heat to the area where the adsorption and release material is applied, the free nicotine adsorbed in the material can be released and delivered. Thus, nicotine delivery can be performed only during use without the disappearance of free nicotine.

[0088] However, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to such examples. The smoking articles of the present invention may also include thermally conductive packaging material, and as mentioned above, various arrangements can be made for the paper segments and the medium portion, thus allowing for variations in the arrangement of the heater depending on the design and construction of the smoking article.

[0089] The vaporizer 1100 may include: a liquid composition; a liquid storage section containing the liquid composition; and an atomizing element for atomizing the liquid composition. Although not shown, the vaporizer may include channels between the receiving spaces for accommodating smoking articles, through which aerosols generated by the atomizing element can be transmitted.

[0090] The atomizing element can be a heater for heating the liquid composition or a vibrator for supplying vibrational energy to the liquid composition. An aerosol can be generated by applying heat or vibration to the liquid composition. The liquid composition may contain at least one of propylene glycol (PG) and glycerol (GLY), and may also contain at least one of ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol.

[0091] The control unit 800 can control the operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 2000 as a whole. For example, the control unit 800 can control the operation of the heater 600 and the battery 700, and can also control the operation of other components included in the aerosol generating apparatus 2000. The control unit 800 can control the power supplied by the battery 700 and the heating temperature of the heater 600, etc. The battery can be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries may include, for example, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium batteries), alkaline batteries, etc.

[0092] While this disclosure includes specific examples, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations based on the foregoing. For example, appropriate results can be obtained by performing the described techniques in a different order than the described methods, and / or by combining or integrating the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, and other constituent elements in a different form than the described methods, or by replacing or substituting them with other constituent elements or equivalents.

[0093] Therefore, other implementation examples, other embodiments, and contents equivalent to the claims are also within the scope of the appended claims.

[0094] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0095] 100: Paper segment; 200: pH adjustment medium section

[0096] 300: Tubular filter rod section; 400: Filter rod section

[0097] 500: Thermally conductive packaging material; 600: Heater

[0098] 700: Battery; 800: Control Unit

[0099] 900: Capacity space; 1000: Smoking items

[0100] 2000: Aerosol generating device; 3000: Aerosol generating system

[0101] Industrial applicability

[0102] In addition to the pH-adjusted medium, the smoking article of the present invention also includes paper segments using adsorption and release materials. By rapidly adsorbing volatile free nicotine in a short time, the product mixing time is shortened, thereby ensuring a stable shelf life. Furthermore, by preventing nicotine from migrating to other parts, the loss of nicotine can be prevented. When using the smoking article, the adsorbed volatile nicotine can be delivered by heating the paper segments, thereby achieving a higher level of smoking satisfaction. Therefore, it can be usefully applied in the smoking product industry.

Claims

1. A smoking article which prevents the phenomenon of nicotine transfer, in, include: pH adjustment medium, including volatile nicotine; and Paper segments, including adsorption and release materials that adsorb and release volatile nicotine. The adsorption and release material is selected from one or more of the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolite, alumina, silica gel, and bentonite.

2. The smoking article for preventing nicotine transfer according to claim 1, wherein, The smoking article also includes a thermally conductive packaging material comprising at least one of the wrapping medium and paper segments.

3. The smoking article for preventing nicotine transfer according to claim 2, wherein, The thermally conductive packaging material is selected from at least one of the group consisting of aluminum, gold, silver, and copper.

4. The smoking article for preventing nicotine transfer according to claim 1, wherein, The pH value of the pH adjustment medium is 8 to 9.

5.

5. The smoking article for preventing nicotine transfer according to claim 1, wherein, The paper segments are arranged on one or both sides of the media section.

6. The smoking article for preventing nicotine transfer according to claim 1, wherein, The smoking article is a heated smoking article.

7. The smoking article for preventing nicotine transfer according to claim 1, wherein, The smoking articles also include: Tubular filter rod section, and A filter rod section that is provided independently of the tubular filter rod section and is located downstream of the tubular filter rod section.

8. An aerosol-generating system, in, include: An aerosol generating apparatus, including a battery and a heater that uses electricity supplied from the battery to generate heat; as well as The smoking article according to claim 1 is contained in the aerosol generating apparatus and generates an aerosol by heating with the heater.

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