Aerosol-generating product containing aerosol-generating particles with coating layer and preparation method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses an aerosol generating product containing aerosol generating particles with a coating layer and a preparation method of the aerosol generating product, the aerosol generating product comprises the aerosol generating particles (2) with the coating layer, the aerosol generating particles with the coating layer are of a core-shell structure, the core of the aerosol generating particles is an aerosol generating particle body, and the coating layer is a coating layer. And the shell layer is a coating layer coated outside the aerosol generating particle body. The surfaces of the aerosol generating particles are coated, the coating layer on the surfaces of the aerosol generating particles can avoid the caking problem of the aerosol generating particles in the placing process, the fluidity of the aerosol generating particles in the filling process is improved, and the breakage rate of the particles in the filling process is reduced to a certain extent. In addition, the aerosol generated by heating the aerosol-generating particle body can still be smoothly and gradually released through the coating layer, and the fuming amount of the aerosol-generating particle body is not affected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of heat-not-burn cigarettes, and in particular to an aerosol-generating product comprising aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer and a preparation method thereof. Background Art

[0002] As consumers pay more attention to health issues and demand more personalized experience in cigarette products, the tobacco industry continues to respond to the upgrading of consumer demand and develop various smoking products with reduced tar and harm. Among them, heated cigarettes are different from traditional cigarette products in that they are heated in a way that satisfies consumers' sensory needs for cigarette products while providing a healthier smoking experience.

[0003] In the field of aerosol-generating products, particulate aerosol-generating products have attracted much attention due to their unique particulate aerosol-generating matrix. This type of product uses a specific preparation process to fill the aerosol-generating particles into an outer tube, so that the required aerosol can be generated when the user uses it. However, during the preparation and filling process, this type of product faces some problems that need to be solved urgently.

[0004] First, the smoke-generating agent contained in the aerosol-generating particles will cause the aerosol-generating particles to clump due to the external leakage of the smoke-generating agent during the preparation and storage process. In addition, if the ambient humidity is high, the aerosol-generating particles are also prone to absorb moisture in the air, causing the particles to become damp. The particles are prone to agglomeration after the smoke-generating agent has externally leaked or become damp, which not only affects the dispersion and fluidity of the particles, but may also cause the particles to be unable to be evenly filled into the outer tube during the filling process, thereby affecting the quality of the final product and user experience. In addition, the aerosol-generating particles absorb moisture from the air, which will also cause the amount of smoke from the aerosol-generating particles to decrease and increase the smoke temperature.

[0005] Secondly, the breakage rate of aerosol-generating particles during the filling process is also an issue that needs attention. Since the granular aerosol-generating matrix is ​​easily squeezed and rubbed by external forces during filling, if the strength and toughness of the particles are insufficient, they are prone to breakage during the filling process. This will not only reduce the yield of the product, but also affect the taste and smoke quality of the final product.

[0006] Finally, during the storage and transportation of aerosol-generating particles, the smoke-generating agent easily seeps onto the surface of cigarette paper, forming yellow spots. This not only affects the aesthetics of cigarettes, but may also have an adverse effect on the taste of cigarettes. In order to solve this problem, it is usually necessary to set a separate anti-seepage layer on the inside of the cigarette paper, which undoubtedly increases the production cost and process complexity. In addition, during the storage and transportation of aerosol-generating particles, the internal effective ingredients (such as smoke-generating agents, aroma components, etc.) will also be volatilized and lost, resulting in a short shelf life and a decrease in quality after being loaded into aerosol-generating products.

[0007] Therefore, developing a preparation method that can effectively solve the problems of aerosol-generating particles' moisture absorption and agglomeration and filling and crushing rate, and effectively prevent the extravasation of smoke-generating agents, is of great significance for improving the quality and user experience of particle-type aerosol-generating products. This is also one of the technical problems that need to be solved urgently in the current field of aerosol-generating products.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the invention

[0009] In view of the above-mentioned shortcomings, the present invention proposes an aerosol-generating product comprising aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer and a preparation method thereof. The aerosol-generating product comprises an outer tube 1, and aerosol-generating particles 2 with a coating layer, a sealing member 3, an empty tube member 4 and a filter member 5 located in the outer tube 1; the aerosol-generating particles 2 with a coating layer also have a sealing member 6 upstream; the aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer are of a core-shell structure, wherein the core is the aerosol-generating particle body, and the shell layer is the coating layer coated on the outside of the aerosol-generating particle body. The present invention coats the surface of the aerosol-generating particles, and the coating layer on the surface of the aerosol-generating particles can avoid the problem of agglomeration of the aerosol-generating particles during placement, improve the fluidity of the aerosol-generating particles during canning, and reduce the particle crushing rate during filling to a certain extent. In addition, the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating particle body when heated can still be smoothly released through the coating layer, and will not affect the smoke generation of the aerosol-generating particle body itself.

[0010] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer, comprising an outer tube 1, and aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer 2, a blocking member 3 and a filter 5 located in the outer tube 1; a sealing member 6 is also provided upstream of the aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer 2;

[0011] The aerosol-generating particle 2 with a coating layer is a core-shell structure, wherein the core is the aerosol-generating particle body 21 , and the shell is the coating layer 22 coated on the outer surface of the aerosol-generating particle body.

[0012] Preferably, an empty pipe member 4 is further provided between the blocking member 3 and the filtering member 5 , and the empty pipe member 4 is provided with a vent hole penetrating through the outer tube 1 and the tube wall of the empty pipe member 4 .

[0013] Preferably, the material of the coating layer 22 includes but is not limited to ethyl cellulose, shellac, and carnauba wax.

[0014] Preferably, the mass of the coating layer 22 accounts for 5-30% of the mass of the aerosol-generating particle body 21 .

[0015] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for preparing an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating particles having a coating layer, comprising the following steps:

[0016] S1, preparing the aerosol generating particle body; in this step, the aerosol generating particle body can be prepared by any method in the prior art, and this application is not limited thereto. In the process of preparing the aerosol generating particle body, a smoke generating agent, a flavor, etc. are added, or after the aerosol generating particle body is prepared, a smoke generating agent, a flavor, etc. are adsorbed separately, and after the adsorption is completed and dried, the next step of coating is performed.

[0017] S2, preparing a coating material mixture;

[0018] S3, placing the aerosol-generating particle body obtained in step S1 into a coating device, spraying the coating material mixture obtained in step S2 so that the coating material mixture is evenly attached to the surface of the aerosol-generating particle body to form a continuous, dense and durable coating film;

[0019] S4, after the coating is completed, the aerosol-generating particle body particles with the coating material are dried to solidify the coating layer and tightly adhere to the aerosol-generating particle body to obtain aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer. This step helps to improve the stability and durability of the coating layer.

[0020] S5, the aerosol generating particles with the coating layer are canned into the outer tube 1 filled with the blocking member 3 and the filter member 5, and then the sealing member 6 is arranged to obtain an aerosol generating product containing the aerosol generating particles with the coating layer.

[0021] If an empty tube 4 is further included between the blocking member 3 and the filter 5 , step 5 is to load the aerosol generating particles having the coating layer into the outer tube 1 filled with the blocking member 3 , the empty tube 4 and the filter 5 .

[0022] Preferably, in step S2, the method for preparing the coating material is: adding the main body of the coating material into a solvent and stirring to prepare a coating material mixed solution with a mass concentration of 4-15%.

[0023] The coating material includes but is not limited to ethyl cellulose, shellac, carnauba wax, and the solvent includes alcohols, such as anhydrous ethanol.

[0024] Preferably, in step S3, the coating process is carried out while spraying and stirring for 10-20 minutes.

[0025] Preferably, in step S4, the drying conditions after coating are completed include placing in an oven for drying, or placing in dry air for air drying, the drying conditions in the oven are: placing in an oven at 45-60°C and baking for 10-15 minutes; the dry air air drying conditions are: placing in dry air at 45-60°C and air drying for 5-10 minutes.

[0026] Preferably, there is a whole particle process between step S4 and step S5, specifically: placing the smoke particles on a vibration device, starting the vibration device, and loosening the smoke particles under the action of vibration. The role of the whole particle process is: 1. It helps to disperse the smoke particles and ensure that the smoke particles have good fluidity during the filling process, so that they can be evenly and continuously filled into the cigarette. 2. Remove impurities and lumps. Whole particle is an important link in the cigarette manufacturing process, which directly affects the quality and taste of the cigarette.

[0027] Preferably, the vibration device comprises a vibration screen or a vibration table.

[0028] The sealing member 6 of the present invention can be a sealing member filled into the outer tube, or a sealing film attached to the end of the outer tube.

[0029] The blocking member 3 of the present invention can be selected from any conventional blocking member used for particulate aerosol generating products in the art, as long as it can block the aerosol generating particles and prevent the aerosol generating particles from moving into the empty tube.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0031] 1. The present invention coats the surface of aerosol-generating particles. The coating layer on the surface of aerosol-generating particles can effectively prevent the passage of moisture in the air, isolate the internal aerosol-generating particle body from the outside world, effectively reduce its hygroscopicity, and prevent the smoke-generating agent (only the smoke-generating agent is used as an example, and also includes flavors, etc.) inside the aerosol-generating particle body from infiltrating to the particle surface, thereby avoiding the problem of agglomeration of aerosol-generating particles during placement and improving the fluidity of aerosol-generating particles during canning. It has been verified that after coating by the method of the present invention, the aerosol-generating particles were placed at a temperature of 25°C and a humidity of 60% for 15 days without agglomeration, and the fluidity was still very good, while the aerosol-generating particles that were not coated had obvious agglomeration. In addition, the aerosol-generating particles are prevented from absorbing moisture in the air, and the problem of a decrease in the amount of smoke from the aerosol-generating particles and an increase in the smoke temperature is also avoided.

[0032] 2. Coating the surface of aerosol-generating particles can reduce the particle breakage rate during filling to a certain extent. The coating layer can play a certain protective role and reduce the breakage of particles due to external extrusion and friction during the filling process. In addition, the coating can also improve the fluidity and uniformity of the particles, allowing the particles to flow more smoothly during filling, and further reduce the damage caused by collision between particles.

[0033] 3. The coating layer on the surface of the aerosol-generating particles of the present invention can prevent the smoke-generating agent inside the aerosol-generating particles from seeping out to the surface of the aerosol-generating particles, and also avoids the problem of yellow spots caused by the smoke-generating agent seeping out to the cigarette paper. There is no need to set an anti-seepage layer on the cigarette paper, which reduces the requirements for cigarette paper.

[0034] 4. The coating layer on the surface of the aerosol-generating particles of the present invention can also lock the internal components of the aerosol-generating particles (such as smoke-generating agents, aroma components, etc.), thereby preventing the internal components of the aerosol-generating particles from volatilizing and dissipating during storage.

[0035] 5. The coating material of the present invention is selected from ethyl cellulose. The coating layer formed by the material can not only effectively prevent the passage of water, but also has a certain air permeability. Therefore, when the aerosol-generating particle body is heated to generate aerosol, the aerosol can still smoothly pass through the coating layer and be gradually released, which will not affect the smoke generation amount of the aerosol-generating particle body itself.

[0036] 6. The thickness of the coating layer of the present invention and the preparation conditions during the coating process ensure the uniformity of the coating layer. The thickness and uniformity of the coating layer also have a great influence on the volatility. If the coating layer is too thick or uneven, it may hinder the release of volatile substances. However, the appropriate thickness and uniformity of the coating layer can ensure that the volatile substances can pass through the coating layer smoothly when heated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating particles having a coating layer.

[0038] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer.

[0039] The names corresponding to the figure numbers are: 1-outer tube, 2-aerosol-generating particles with coating layer, 3-sealing member, 4-empty tube member, 5-filter member, 6-sealing member, 21-aerosol-generating particle body, 22-coating layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with embodiments.

[0041] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following examples are only used to illustrate the present invention and should not be considered to limit the scope of the present invention. If no specific techniques or conditions are specified in the examples, the techniques or conditions described in the literature in the art or the product specifications are used. If the manufacturer of the materials or equipment used is not specified, they are all conventional products that can be purchased.

[0042] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, unless expressly stated otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an", "said" and "the" used herein may also include plural forms. It should be further understood that the term "comprising" used in the specification of the present invention refers to the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof. It should be understood that when we refer to an element as being "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected to the other element, or there may be intermediate elements. In addition, the "connection" used herein may include wireless connections.

[0043] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more than two. The terms "inside", "upper", "lower", etc., indicating positions or state relationships, are based on the positions or state relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific position, be constructed and operate in a specific position, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0044] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "provided with" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention will be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0045] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art in the art to which the present invention belongs. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in common dictionaries should be understood to have meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the prior art, and will not be interpreted with idealized or overly formal meanings unless defined as herein.

[0046] Example 1

[0047] like Figure 1As shown, this embodiment provides an aerosol generating product containing aerosol generating particles with a coating layer, which includes an outer tube 1, and aerosol generating particles 2 with a coating layer, a blocking member 3 and a filter 5 located in the outer tube 1; the aerosol generating particles 2 with a coating layer also have a sealing member 6 upstream;

[0048] The aerosol-generating particle 2 with a coating layer is a core-shell structure, wherein the core is the aerosol-generating particle body 21 , and the shell is the coating layer 22 coated on the outer surface of the aerosol-generating particle body.

[0049] An empty pipe member 4 is also provided between the blocking member 3 and the filtering member 5 .

[0050] The material of the coating layer 22 includes ethyl cellulose.

[0051] The mass of the coating layer 22 accounts for 5% of the mass of the aerosol-generating particle body 21 .

[0052] A method for preparing an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating particles having a coating layer, comprising the steps of:

[0053] S1, preparing aerosol-generating particle bodies;

[0054] S2, preparing a coating material mixture;

[0055] S3, placing the aerosol-generating particle body obtained in step S1 into a coating device, spraying the coating material mixture obtained in step S2 so that the coating material mixture is evenly attached to the surface of the aerosol-generating particle body to form a continuous, dense and durable coating film;

[0056] S4, after the coating is completed, the aerosol-generating particle body particles with the coating material are dried to solidify the coating layer and tightly adhere to the aerosol-generating particle body to obtain aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer. This step helps to improve the stability and durability of the coating layer.

[0057] S5, the aerosol generating particles with the coating layer are canned into the outer tube 1 filled with the sealing member 3, the empty tube member 4 and the filter member 5, and then the sealing member 6 is arranged to obtain an aerosol generating product containing the aerosol generating particles with the coating layer.

[0058] In step S2, the method for preparing the coating material is: adding the main body of the coating material into the solvent and stirring to prepare a coating material mixed solution with a mass concentration of 5%.

[0059] The coating material includes but is not limited to ethyl cellulose, shellac, carnauba wax, and the solvent includes alcohols, such as anhydrous ethanol.

[0060] In step S3, the coating process is carried out while stirring, and the duration is 10 minutes.

[0061] In step S4, after coating is completed, the drying conditions include placing it in an oven for drying, or placing it in dry air for air drying. The drying conditions in the oven are: placing it in an oven at 60°C and baking for 10 minutes; the dry air air drying conditions are: placing it in dry air at 60°C and air drying for 5 minutes.

[0062] There is also a whole particle process between step S4 and step S5, specifically: placing the smoke particles on a vibration device, starting the vibration device, and loosening the smoke particles under the action of vibration. The role of the whole particle process is: 1. It helps to disperse the smoke particles and ensure that the smoke particles have good fluidity during the filling process, so that they can be evenly and continuously filled into the cigarette. 2. Remove impurities and lumps. Whole particle is an important link in the cigarette manufacturing process, which directly affects the quality and taste of the cigarette.

[0063] Vibrating equipment includes vibrating screens.

[0064] The sealing member 6 is a sealing film attached to the end of the outer tube.

[0065] It has been verified that after being coated by the method of this embodiment, the aerosol-generating particles were placed at a temperature of 25° C. and a humidity of 60% for 15 days without agglomeration and the fluidity was still very good, while the aerosol-generating particles that were not coated showed obvious agglomeration.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating particles having a coating layer, characterized in that It comprises an outer tube (1), and aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer (2), a blocking member (3) and a filter (5) located inside the outer tube (1); a sealing member (6) is also provided upstream of the aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer (2); The aerosol-generating particle with a coating layer (2) is a core-shell structure, wherein the core is the aerosol-generating particle body (21), and the shell layer is the coating layer (22) coated on the outer surface of the aerosol-generating particle body.

2. An aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating particles having a coating layer according to claim 1, characterized in that An empty pipe member (4) is also included between the blocking member (3) and the filtering member (5), and the empty pipe member (4) is provided with a vent hole penetrating the outer pipe (1) and the pipe wall of the empty pipe member (4).

3. An aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating particles having a coating layer according to claim 1, characterized in that The materials of the coating layer (22) include ethyl cellulose, shellac and carnauba wax.

4. An aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-generating particles having a coating layer according to claim 1, characterized in that The mass of the coating layer (22) accounts for 5-30% of the mass of the aerosol-generating particle body (21).

5. A method for preparing an aerosol-generating product comprising aerosol-generating particles having a coating layer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: It includes the following steps: S1, preparing aerosol-generating particle bodies; S2, preparing a coating material mixture; S3, placing the aerosol-generating particle body obtained in step S1 into a coating device, and spraying the coating material mixture obtained in step S2 so that the coating material mixture is evenly attached to the surface of the aerosol-generating particle body; S4, after the coating is completed, drying the aerosol generating particle body particles with the coating material, so that the coating layer is solidified and tightly attached to the aerosol generating particle body, thereby obtaining aerosol generating particles with the coating layer; S5, the aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer are canned into an outer tube (1) filled with a sealing member (3) and a filter member (5), and then the sealing member (6) is arranged to obtain an aerosol-generating product containing aerosol-generating particles with a coating layer.

6. The preparation method according to claim 5, characterized in that: In step S2, the method for preparing the coating material is: adding the main body of the coating material into the solvent and stirring to prepare a coating material mixed solution with a mass concentration of 4-15%; The coating material includes but is not limited to ethyl cellulose, shellac, carnauba wax, and the solvent includes alcohols, such as anhydrous ethanol.

7. The preparation method according to claim 5, characterized in that: In step S3, the coating process is carried out while spraying and stirring, and the duration is 10-20 minutes.

8. The preparation method according to claim 5, characterized in that: In step S4, after coating is completed, the drying conditions include placing it in an oven for drying, or placing it in dry air for air drying. The drying conditions in the oven are: placing it in an oven at 45-60°C and baking for 10-15 minutes; the dry air air drying conditions are: placing it in dry air at 45-60°C and air drying for 5-10 minutes.

9. The preparation method according to claim 5, characterized in that: There is also a particle reorganization process between step S4 and step S5, which is specifically: placing the smoke particles on a vibration device, starting the vibration device, and loosening the smoke particles under the action of vibration.

10. The preparation method according to claim 9, characterized in that: Vibrating equipment includes vibrating screens or vibrating tables.

Images