A method of drying an aerosol-generating substrate and an aerosol-generating article
By combining microwave drying and plate drying, a fluffy aerosol generation matrix was prepared, which solved the problems of insufficient smoke volume and poor taste of heated non-combustible cigarettes, and improved the smoke generation effect and user experience.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411814217.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing heated tobacco products have insufficient smoke volume and poor taste, especially those made from disordered filled reconstituted tobacco flakes. Bulk tobacco pellets suffer from low production efficiency and high defect rate. Furthermore, the tobacco extracts or pastes in existing cigarette blanks have a significant difference in aroma from real tobacco.
A two-stage microwave drying method was employed, combining a first low-temperature microwave drying with a second high-temperature microwave drying, along with plate drying, to prepare an aerosol-generating matrix. By controlling the drying temperature, vacuum level, and time, a fluffy first sheet was formed, improving heat conduction efficiency and smoke generation effect.
It improves the amount of smoke generated by aerosol products and enhances the smoking experience, solving the problems of insufficient smoke volume and poor taste, and improving the smoke generation effect and user experience.
Smart Images
Figure CN122181749A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of aerosol generation technology, and in particular to a drying method for aerosol generation articles and aerosol generation matrices. Background Technology
[0002] Aerosol-generating products include a mouthpiece, a connecting section, and a tobacco section. The tobacco section of the aerosol-generating product may contain an aerosol-generating matrix.
[0003] Currently, the smoke-generating sections of commercially available heated tobacco cigarettes are either randomly filled reconstituted tobacco flakes or loose smoke-generating particles. Among them, the former, the randomly filled reconstituted tobacco flakes, has a certain problem of insufficient smoke volume during smoking. The insufficient smoke volume is mainly due to: (1) the reconstituted tobacco flakes used as the smoke-generating section require a certain processing strength during the filling process, which also leads to a small amount of added flavorings and smoke-generating agents; (2) the reconstituted tobacco flakes after adding flavorings and smoke-generating agents still need to undergo multiple high-temperature treatment processes, resulting in serious volatilization of the added flavorings and smoke-generating agents; (3) since the reconstituted tobacco flakes are closely arranged in the smoke-generating section, the smoke generated at the front end of the smoke-generating section, which is far from the filter section, will be largely intercepted at the rear end. The latter, a smoke-generating section in the form of bulk smoke-generating particles, has some improvement in smoke volume compared to the former, but there are new problems: since the bulk smoke-generating particles cannot be fixed, they must be filled into the outer tube by filling, and the particles need to be fixed on both sides of the smoke-generating particle section by sealing paper and sealing parts, resulting in low production efficiency and high defect rate.
[0004] In addition, existing cigarette blanks usually contain tobacco extracts or tobacco pastes, which can supplement the tobacco aroma to some extent, but still differ from the true aroma of tobacco.
[0005] Application content
[0006] To address the issue of unpleasant taste during inhalation of existing aerosol products containing added tobacco extracts or tobacco pastes.
[0007] This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, comprising:
[0008] Microwave drying yields the first thin film;
[0009] The microwave drying includes a first microwave drying and a second microwave drying. The temperature of the first microwave drying is a first temperature; the temperature of the second microwave drying is a second temperature, and the first temperature is lower than the second temperature.
[0010] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the first temperature is 25℃-55℃; or the second temperature is 60℃-90℃.
[0011] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol-generated matrix, wherein the vacuum degree of the first microwave drying is 25-55 kPa.
[0012] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the vacuum degree of the second microwave drying is 60-90 kPa.
[0013] This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the first microwave drying time is 5 min to 60 min.
[0014] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol-generated matrix, wherein the second microwave drying time is 0.5 min to 10 min.
[0015] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the interval between the first microwave drying and the second microwave drying is 1 min to 5 min.
[0016] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the thickness of the first sheet is 1mm-10mm.
[0017] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol-generating matrix, which further includes plate drying to obtain a second sheet before microwave drying to obtain a first sheet.
[0018] This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the temperature of the plate drying is 50℃-100℃.
[0019] This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the plate drying time is 5 min to 60 min.
[0020] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the thickness of the second sheet is 0.5 mm to 5 mm.
[0021] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol generating matrix, which includes, before the second sheet is obtained by drying the plate, preparing a slurry from tobacco powder, a smoke generator, a fragrance, and water, and laying the slurry on a carrier to obtain a third sheet.
[0022] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol generation matrix, wherein the thickness of the third sheet is 2mm-3.5mm.
[0023] This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the carrier includes a paper base.
[0024] This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the paper base is impermeable to water.
[0025] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol generation matrix, which, after obtaining a first sheet through microwave drying, includes: rolling the first sheet into a cylindrical shape to obtain a cigarette blank.
[0026] This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, wherein the cigarette blank is a hollow cylindrical shape.
[0027] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol generation matrix, wherein the outer diameter of the cigarette blank is 5mm-8mm and the inner diameter of the cigarette blank is 0.2mm-7.8mm.
[0028] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol generation matrix, wherein the length of the cigarette blank is 1mm-20mm.
[0029] This application provides a drying method for an aerosol generation matrix, which, after rolling the first sheet into a cylindrical shape to obtain a cigarette blank, includes: cutting the cigarette blank to obtain tobacco segments.
[0030] This application provides an aerosol generating article, characterized in that it includes a nozzle, a connecting section, and the aerosol generating matrix prepared by the above method, wherein the connecting section is located between the nozzle and the aerosol generating matrix, and the nozzle is available for user inhalation.
[0031] The aerosol generating matrix of this application is obtained by two microwave drying processes to obtain a first sheet. The temperature of the first microwave drying is lower than that of the second microwave drying. In the first microwave drying, the water evaporation rate is slower, making it less likely to scorch, and the first sheet will also expand, creating internal voids. In the second microwave drying, rapid dehydration is achieved, ultimately producing the first sheet. This makes the first sheet more fluffy, which is beneficial for improving heat conduction efficiency, resulting in good smoke generation and a better inhalation experience for users. Attached Figure Description
[0032] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.
[0033] Figure 1 This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix according to one embodiment.
[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an aerosol-generated article according to an embodiment of this application;
[0035] In the picture:
[0036] 10. Aerosol generating device;
[0037] 1. Suction nozzle;
[0038] 2. Connecting section;
[0039] 3. Aerosol generation matrix. Detailed Implementation
[0040] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0041] The terms "first," "second," and "third" used in this application are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying the quantity or order of the indicated technical features relative to their importance. All directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship or movement of the components in a specific orientation (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific orientation changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.
[0042] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.
[0043] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly attached to the other element or there may be intervening elements. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or there may be one or more intervening elements. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementations.
[0044] This application provides a method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, comprising: microwave drying to obtain a first sheet; the microwave drying includes a first microwave drying and a second microwave drying, wherein the temperature of the first microwave drying is a first temperature; and the temperature of the second microwave drying is a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is lower than the second temperature.
[0045] The aerosol generating matrix of this application is obtained by two microwave drying processes to obtain a first sheet. The temperature of the first microwave drying is lower than that of the second microwave drying. In the first microwave drying, the water evaporation rate is slower, making it less likely to scorch, and the first sheet will also expand, creating internal voids. In the second microwave drying, rapid dehydration is achieved, ultimately producing the first sheet. This makes the first sheet more fluffy, which is beneficial for improving heat conduction efficiency, resulting in good smoke generation and a better inhalation experience for users.
[0046] In one embodiment of this application, the first microwave drying is low-temperature microwave drying, and the second microwave drying is high-temperature microwave drying. It should be noted that "high temperature" and "low temperature" here refer to the relative levels of drying temperature. Low-temperature microwave drying can be performed at the first temperature, and high-temperature microwave drying can be performed at the second temperature, where the first temperature is lower than the second temperature. It is understood that the two microwave drying processes can use different temperatures to obtain a first sheet that meets the requirements.
[0047] For example, in one embodiment of this application, the first sheet is obtained by microwave drying of the second sheet. In one embodiment of this application, the first sheet expands in volume relative to the second sheet. In one embodiment of this application, during the first microwave drying, the drying rate is moderate, and the rate of moisture removal is appropriate, preventing the second sheet from scorching due to excessively rapid dehydration. During this process, the second sheet expands, forming a porous structure, and its basic shape is achieved. In one embodiment of this application, during the second microwave drying, a higher drying temperature accelerates the dehydration rate, and the second sheet further expands, thereby obtaining the first sheet.
[0048] In one embodiment of this application, the first microwave drying temperature can be 25℃-55℃. At this temperature, the dehydration rate is moderate, and the second sheet will not scorch due to excessively rapid dehydration. During this process, the second sheet expands, and as moisture escapes, a porous structure is formed on the sheet. After the first microwave drying, the second sheet is basically shaped. In one embodiment of this application, the first microwave drying temperature is 30℃-45℃. In another embodiment of this application, the first microwave drying temperature is 25℃, 30℃, 35℃, 40℃, 45℃, 50℃, or 55℃.
[0049] In one embodiment of this application, the second microwave drying temperature is 60°C-90°C. At this temperature, the dehydration rate is accelerated, and the second sheet further expands, thereby obtaining the first sheet. In one embodiment of this application, the second microwave drying temperature is 75°C-85°C. In one embodiment of this application, the second microwave drying temperature is 60°C, 65°C, 70°C, 75°C, 80°C, 85°C, or 90°C.
[0050] In one embodiment of this application, the vacuum degree of the first microwave drying is less than that of the second microwave drying, so that the dehydration rate in the first microwave drying is less than that in the second microwave drying, which facilitates the shaping of the second sheet in the first microwave drying.
[0051] In one embodiment of this application, the vacuum degree of the first microwave drying is 25-55 kPa. In another embodiment of this application, the vacuum degree of the first microwave drying is 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or 55 kPa.
[0052] In one embodiment of this application, the vacuum degree of the second microwave drying is 60-90 kPa. In another embodiment of this application, the vacuum degree of the second microwave drying is 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90 kPa.
[0053] In one embodiment of this application, the first microwave drying time is 5 min to 60 min. In another embodiment of this application, the first microwave drying time is 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min, 25 min, 30 min, 35 min, 40 min, 45 min, 50 min, or 60 min.
[0054] In one embodiment of this application, the second microwave drying time is 0.5 min to 10 min. In another embodiment of this application, the second microwave drying time is 0.5 min, 1 min, 2 min, 3 min, 5 min, 6 min, 8 min, 9 min, or 10 min.
[0055] In one embodiment of this application, the interval between the first and second microwave drying is 1-5 minutes. In another embodiment, the interval is 1-2 minutes. In yet another embodiment, the interval is 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, or 5 minutes. In one embodiment, when the first and second microwave drying are not performed in the same microwave oven, after the first microwave drying, the vacuum level needs to be reduced to zero before the second sheet is removed from the microwave oven and placed in another microwave oven for a second microwave heating. In one embodiment, when the first and second microwave drying are performed in the same microwave oven, after the first microwave drying, the temperature or pressure parameters in the microwave oven need to be readjusted before the second microwave heating.
[0056] In one embodiment of this application, the thickness of the first sheet is 1mm-10mm. In one embodiment of this application, the thickness of the first sheet is 3mm-8mm. In one embodiment of this application, the thickness of the first sheet is 1mm, 3mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 9mm, or 10mm.
[0057] In one embodiment of this application, before obtaining the first sheet through microwave drying, a second sheet is obtained through plate drying. In another embodiment, during plate drying, effective components such as fragrances are retained, the drying rate is moderate, the rate of moisture removal is appropriate, and the second sheet changes from a wet to a dry state, reducing the fluidity of the slurry and resulting in better shaping. In another embodiment, the second sheet is obtained from a third sheet through plate drying. In yet another embodiment, the second sheet shrinks in volume relative to the third sheet.
[0058] In one embodiment of this application, the plate drying temperature is 50℃-100℃. In another embodiment of this application, the plate drying temperature is 60℃-80℃. In yet another embodiment of this application, the plate drying temperature can be 50℃, 60℃, 70℃, 80℃, 90℃, or 100℃.
[0059] In one embodiment of this application, the plate drying time is 5 min-60 min. In one embodiment of this application, the plate drying time is 15 min-45 min. In one embodiment of this application, the plate drying time is 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min, 30 min, 40 min, 45 min, 50 min, or 60 min.
[0060] In one embodiment of this application, the thickness of the second sheet is 0.5mm-5mm. In one embodiment of this application, the thickness of the second sheet is 1mm-4mm. In one embodiment of this application, the thickness of the second sheet is 0.5mm, 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, or 5mm.
[0061] In one embodiment of this application, before the second sheet is obtained by flat drying, the process includes: preparing a slurry from tobacco powder, a smoke generator, a fragrance, and water, and then laying the slurry on a carrier to obtain a third sheet.
[0062] In one embodiment of this application, the thickness of the third sheet is 2mm-3.5mm. In another embodiment of this application, the thickness of the third sheet is 2mm-3mm. In yet another embodiment of this application, the thickness of the third sheet is 2mm, 2.5mm, 2.8mm, 3mm, 3.2mm, or 3.5mm.
[0063] In one embodiment of this application, the carrier may be a paper base, which provides support for the pulp before it is set.
[0064] In one embodiment of this application, the carrier can be a non-permeable paper base, so that water in the pulp will not leak through the carrier. In another embodiment of this application, the carrier can be aramid paper, which has one hydrophilic side and one hydrophobic side, so that when the pulp is placed on the hydrophobic side of the aramid paper, water in the pulp will not permeate from the hydrophobic side of the aramid paper to the hydrophilic side.
[0065] In one embodiment of this application, after obtaining the first sheet through microwave drying, the method may further include: winding the first sheet into a cylindrical shape to obtain a cigarette blank. In one embodiment of this application, the outer diameter of the cigarette blank is 5mm-8mm. In another embodiment of this application, the outer diameter of the cigarette blank is 5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, 7.5mm, or 8mm.
[0066] In one embodiment of this application, the cigarette blank is a hollow cylinder. In another embodiment, a smoking substance may be filled into the hollow cylinder. In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the cigarette blank is 5mm-8mm. In another embodiment, the outer diameter of the cigarette blank is 5mm, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, 7.5mm, or 8mm. In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the cigarette blank is 0.2mm-7.8mm. In another embodiment, the inner diameter of the cigarette blank is 2mm-6mm. In another embodiment, the inner diameter of the cigarette blank is 0.2mm, 0.5mm, 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, or 7.8mm.
[0067] In one embodiment of this application, the length of the cigarette blank can be 1mm-20mm.
[0068] In one embodiment of this application, after the first sheet is wound into a cylindrical shape to obtain a cigarette blank, the method may further include: cutting the cigarette blank to obtain tobacco segments.
[0069] In one embodiment of this application, the length of the tobacco segment is 10mm-20mm, and the cigarette blank is cut into 10mm-20mm pieces. In another embodiment of this application, the length of the tobacco segment is 10mm-20mm, and the cigarette blank is cut into small segments of 1mm-10mm, with multiple small segments stacked to form a tobacco segment.
[0070] This application also provides an aerosol generating article 10, including a nozzle 1, a connecting section 2, and an aerosol generating matrix 3 prepared by the above method. The connecting section 2 is located between the nozzle 1 and the aerosol generating matrix 3, and the nozzle 1 can be used by a user for inhalation.
[0071] As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating matrix" refers to a matrix capable of releasing volatile substances to form inhalable aerosols. An aerosol-generating matrix may include tobacco-containing materials containing volatile tobacco flavor compounds that are released from the substrate upon heating. Specifically, an aerosol-generating matrix may be a tobacco-containing aerosol-generating matrix or an aerosol-generating matrix containing solid tobacco. Alternatively, an aerosol-generating matrix may include non-tobacco materials. An aerosol-generating matrix may also include aerosol-forming agents. Examples of suitable aerosol-forming agents are glycerol and propylene glycol.
[0072] As needed, the aerosol generating matrix may contain additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile aroma compounds released when the aerosol generating matrix is heated. The aerosol generating matrix may also contain microcapsules, which may contain additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile aroma compounds, and such microcapsules may melt during heating of the solid aerosol generating matrix.
[0073] The aerosol-generating article can be generally a rod-shaped structure extending longitudinally. The mouthpiece can be positioned adjacent to the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article. The tobacco segment can be positioned adjacent to the distal end of the aerosol-generating article.
[0074] It should be noted that the preferred embodiments of this application are given in the specification and accompanying drawings, but are not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. Furthermore, those skilled in the art can make improvements or modifications based on the above description, and all such improvements and modifications should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for drying an aerosol-generating matrix, characterized in that, include: Microwave drying yields the first thin film; The microwave drying includes a first microwave drying and a second microwave drying, wherein the temperature of the first microwave drying is a first temperature. The temperature of the second microwave drying is a second temperature, and the first temperature is lower than the second temperature.
2. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first temperature is 25℃-55℃; or the second temperature is 60℃-90℃.
3. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vacuum degree of the first microwave drying is 25-55 kPa.
4. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vacuum degree of the second microwave drying is 60-90 kPa.
5. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first microwave drying time is 5-60 minutes.
6. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second microwave drying time is 0.5 min to 10 min.
7. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, The interval between the first microwave drying and the second microwave drying is 1 min to 5 min.
8. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness of the first thin sheet is 1mm-10mm.
9. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before obtaining the first sheet through microwave drying, the process also includes plate drying to obtain the second sheet.
10. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 9, characterized in that, The temperature for plate drying is 50℃-100℃.
11. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 9, characterized in that, The drying time for the plate is 5-60 minutes.
12. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 9, characterized in that, The thickness of the second sheet is 0.5mm-5mm.
13. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 9, characterized in that, Before the second sheet is obtained by drying the flat plate, the process includes: preparing a slurry from tobacco powder, a smoke generator, a fragrance, and water, and then laying the slurry on a carrier to obtain a third sheet.
14. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 13, characterized in that, The thickness of the third sheet is 2mm-3.5mm.
15. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 13, characterized in that, The carrier includes a paper base.
16. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 15, characterized in that, The paper base is waterproof.
17. The drying method for the aerosol generation matrix according to claim 1, characterized in that, After obtaining the first sheet through microwave drying, the process includes: winding the first sheet into a cylindrical shape to obtain a cigarette blank.
18. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 17, characterized in that, The cigarette blank is a hollow cylindrical shape.
19. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 18, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the cigarette blank is 5mm-8mm, and the inner diameter of the cigarette blank is 0.2mm-7.8mm.
20. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 17, characterized in that, The length of the cigarette blank is 1mm-20mm.
21. The drying method for the aerosol-generating matrix according to claim 17, characterized in that, After the first sheet is rolled into a cylindrical shape to obtain a cigarette blank, the process includes: cutting the cigarette blank to obtain tobacco segments.
22. An aerosol-generating product, characterized in that, The device includes a nozzle, a connecting section, and the aerosol generating matrix prepared by the method of claims 1-21, wherein the connecting section is located between the nozzle and the aerosol generating matrix, and the nozzle is available for user inhalation.