Molding equipment and production line of aerosol generating matrix strip

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model discloses forming equipment and a production line for an aerosol generating matrix strip, and the forming equipment comprises a feeding device, an extrusion device and a molding mold; the extrusion device is provided with a discharge port, the feeding device is used for supplying a solid material and a liquid material to the extrusion device, the extrusion device mixes the solid material and the liquid material to obtain a mixed material, and the mixed material can be extruded through the discharge port to obtain an extruded matrix; the molding mold is provided with a plurality of molding hole channels, one end of each molding hole channel is communicated with the discharging opening, and the molding hole channels are used for molding and extruding the matrix so as to form aerosol generating matrix strips; and the sectional area of the molding hole channel is reduced along the direction far away from the discharge hole. The forming equipment provided by the embodiment of the utility model is beneficial to improving the bonding phenomenon between the aerosol production matrix strips, so that the production efficiency of the aerosol generation matrix section is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of smoking articles, and particularly to a forming device and a production line for an aerosol - generating substrate strip. Background Art

[0002] An aerosol - generating substrate can form an aerosol by being ignited or by heating without combustion. In the aerosol - generating substrate for heating without combustion, the aerosol - generating substrate is heated by an external heat source to just the extent that it is sufficient to emit an aerosol, and the aerosol - generating substrate does not burn. By loading a smoking agent, the aerosol is released by heating the aerosol - generating substrate during use.

[0003] In the related art, the aerosol - generating substrate segments are formed by cutting after packaging multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips. During the production process, adhesion is likely to occur between the multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips extruded by the forming device, resulting in low production efficiency of the aerosol - generating substrate segments. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] In view of this, embodiments of the present application are expected to provide a forming device and a production line for an aerosol - generating substrate strip, aiming to improve the adhesion phenomenon between the aerosol - producing substrate strips so as to improve the production efficiency of the aerosol - generating substrate segments.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the embodiments of the present application is realized as follows:

[0006] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a forming device for an aerosol - generating substrate strip, including:

[0007] A feeding device;

[0008] An extrusion device having a discharge port, the feeding device is used to supply solid material and liquid material to the extrusion device, the extrusion device mixes the solid material and the liquid material to obtain a mixed material, and can extrude the mixed material through the discharge port to obtain an extruded substrate;

[0009] A shaping mold having a plurality of shaping channels, one end of each shaping channel is respectively communicated with the discharge port, and the shaping channels are used to shape the extruded substrate to form the aerosol - generating substrate strip;

[0010] Wherein, the cross - sectional area of the shaping channel decreases in the direction away from the discharge port.

[0011] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a production line for an aerosol - generating substrate segment, including:

[0012] The forming device according to any one of the above embodiments, which is used to generate multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips;

[0013] A conveyor belt, provided downstream of the shaping device;

[0014] A packaging and cutting device, provided downstream of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt conveys multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips to the packaging and cutting device, and the packaging and cutting device is used to package multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips and then cut them into sections to obtain the aerosol-forming substrate segments.

[0015] In the shaping device of the embodiment of the present application, the cross-sectional area of the shaping channel decreases in the direction away from the discharge port. During the movement of the extruded substrate from one end of the shaping channel near the discharge port to the other end away from the discharge port, the extruded substrate will generate a displacement amount approaching the central axis of the shaping channel, so that the aerosol-forming substrate strip extruded through the shaping channel can move in a substantially straight line, reducing the probability of the aerosol-forming substrate strip swinging, that is, it is beneficial to improve the bonding phenomenon between multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips. In the subsequent production process, it is convenient for the aerosol-forming substrate strip to perform processes such as drying, thereby producing the aerosol-forming substrate segments. Thus, the production efficiency of the aerosol-forming substrate segments is improved. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a shaping device for an aerosol-forming substrate strip according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of an extrusion device according to an embodiment of the present application, in which the assembly schematic of it with a transition connector and a shaping die is also shown;

[0018] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of a feeding screw according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of an extrusion screw according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of an extrusion screw according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 6 It is a schematic assembly structure diagram of a transition connector and a shaping die according to an embodiment of the present application, in which the transition connector of the first embodiment is shown;

[0022] Figure 7 It is a schematic assembly structure diagram of a transition connector and a shaping die according to an embodiment of the present application, in which the transition connector of the second embodiment is shown;

[0023] Figure 8Schematic diagram of the assembly structure of a transition connector and a shaping mold according to an embodiment of the present application, where the transition connector shown is of the third embodiment;

[0024] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the structure of a transition connector according to an embodiment of the present application from a perspective;

[0025] Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the structure of a shaping mold according to an embodiment of the present application from a first perspective;

[0026] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the structure of a shaping mold according to an embodiment of the present application from a second perspective;

[0027] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the arrangement structure of the first embodiment of the shaping mold of the present application;

[0028] Figure 13 Schematic diagram of the arrangement structure of the second embodiment of the shaping mold of the present application;

[0029] Figure 14 Schematic diagram of the arrangement structure of the third embodiment of the shaping mold of the present application;

[0030] Figure 15 Schematic diagram of the arrangement structure of the fourth embodiment of the shaping mold of the present application;

[0031] Figure 16 Schematic diagram of the structure of a production line of an aerosol - generating substrate section according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Explanation of reference numerals

[0033] 100, forming equipment; 10, feeding device; 11, first feeding component; 111, first feeding bin; 111a, first feeding port; 112, feeding screw; 113, feeding housing; 113a, feeding channel; 12, second feeding component; 121, second feeding bin; 121a, second feeding port; 122, feeding pipeline; 123, metering pump; 20, extrusion device; 21, extrusion screw; 211, rod body; 212, threaded blade; 22, extrusion housing; 22a, discharge port; 22b, extrusion channel; 22c, feed port; 30, transition connector; 30a, flow channel; 30aa, constriction section; 30ab, first communication section; 30ac, second communication section; 30ad, arc - transition link section; 40, shaping mold; 40a, shaping hole channel; 200, conveyor belt; 300, packaging and cutting equipment. Detailed implementation manners

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application. The following embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application more clearly, and thus are only examples and should not be used to limit the protection scope of this application. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in this application without creative efforts belong to the protection scope of this application.

[0035] The following further describes this application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0036] In this application, the aerosol - generating substrate section is used to generate aerosol by heating. Exemplarily, the aerosol - generating substrate section can be applicable to generate aerosol by a combustion - heating method; the aerosol - generating substrate section can also be applicable to generate aerosol by a non - combustion - heating method, that is, the aerosol - generating substrate section is heated to a temperature below the ignition point to generate aerosol, and the aerosol - generating substrate section does not burn during the process of generating aerosol.

[0037] The aerosol - generating substrate section is specifically a segmented structure formed by packaging a plurality of aerosol - generating substrate strips or aerosol - generating substrate sheets. The aerosol - generating substrate section is used for an aerosol - generating article. The aerosol - generating article includes an aerosol - generating substrate section and a functional section. The functional section is arranged at one end of the aerosol - generating substrate section along the longitudinal direction, and the functional section includes a filtering section for filtering aerosol. The filtering section is used to filter the aerosol generated by the aerosol - generating substrate section. Of course, in some embodiments, the aerosol - generating article may not include a functional section.

[0038] The aerosol - generating article is used for a user to inhale the aerosol generated by the aerosol - generating substrate section. For example, the user can suck the filtered aerosol by holding the filtering section in the mouth. The aerosol generated by the aerosol - generating substrate section is transported to the filtering section under the action of a suction negative pressure. The aerosol - generating article is used in cooperation with an aerosol - generating device having a heating component. Specifically, the heating component heats and atomizes the aerosol - generating substrate section to generate aerosol.

[0039] There are various heating methods for the heating component. Exemplarily, the heating methods include central heating, peripheral heating, and / or bottom heating. The central heating method means that the heating component is inserted into the aerosol - generating article to bake and heat the aerosol - generating article from the inside to the outside. The peripheral heating method means that the heating component is arranged on the periphery of the aerosol - generating article to bake and heat the aerosol - generating article from the outside to the inside. The bottom heating method means that the heating component is located at the bottom of the aerosol - generating article, first heats the air by the heating component, and then the hot air bakes and heats the aerosol - generating article from the bottom to the top.

[0040] It should be noted that the bottom of the aerosol-generating article is the end that is longitudinally away from the functional section.

[0041] The heating methods of the heating component include, but are not limited to, resistance heating, electromagnetic heating, infrared heating, microwave heating, or laser heating, etc.

[0042] In some embodiments, the functional section may only be provided with a filtering section. In other embodiments, the functional section further includes a cooling section, which is located between the filtering section and the aerosol-generating substrate section, and the cooling section is used to cool the aerosol before the filtering section filters the aerosol. The cooling section can improve the phenomenon of "scalding the mouth" when the user inhales the aerosol.

[0043] The cooling materials used in the cooling section include, but are not limited to, one or a combination of materials such as PE (polyethylene), PLA (Polylactic Acid), PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate), PP (Polypropylene), cellulose acetate, and propylene fiber.

[0044] The filtering materials used in the filtering section include, but are not limited to, one or a combination of materials such as PE (polyethylene), PLA (Polylactic Acid), PBAT (Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate), PP (Polypropylene), cellulose acetate, and propylene fiber.

[0045] The materials of the cooling section and the filtering section can be the same or different.

[0046] Please refer to Figures 1 to 15 For the first aspect, an apparatus for forming an aerosol-generating substrate strip is disclosed in an embodiment of the present application.

[0047] The forming apparatus 100 is used to continuously extrude a mixed material to generate an aerosol-generating substrate strip. Specifically, the forming apparatus 100 can simultaneously generate multiple aerosol-generating substrate strips. The "mixed material" here is the composition component of the aerosol-generating substrate strip, and its specific components are not limited herein. Exemplarily, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate strip may include plant components, auxiliary components, fuming agent components, binder components, etc.

[0048] In some embodiments, the plant component is one or more combinations of powders formed by crushing tobacco raw materials, tobacco fragments, tobacco stems, tobacco dust, flavoring plants, etc. The plant component is the core source of the product fragrance. Endogenous substances in the plant component, such as nicotine, enter the human blood through atomization, promoting the pituitary gland to produce dopamine, thereby obtaining a physiological sense of satisfaction.

[0049] In some embodiments, the plant component may include one or more of tobacco, tea, tea stalks, dandelion, eucalyptus, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, fungi, insulin wood, astragalus membranaceus, wild jujube seeds, lentils, kudzu root, fennel, rosemary, star anise, honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, rose, calendula, mugwort, olive, ginseng, American ginseng, mung bean, red bean, dried tangerine peel, nut shell, lily, coffee, agarwood, mint, hawthorn, licorice, cocoa, agaric, lotus seed, lotus leaf, cool ginger, ginger, tartary buckwheat, wheat bran. The mass percentage of the plant component in the aerosol matrix can be 20%-80% (including the end point values).

[0050] In some embodiments, the auxiliary component can be one or more combinations of inorganic fillers, lubricants, and emulsifiers. Among them, the inorganic fillers include one or more combinations of heavy calcium carbonate, light calcium carbonate, zeolite, attapulgite, talcum powder, and diatomaceous earth. The inorganic filler can provide a skeleton support for the plant component. At the same time, the inorganic filler also has micropores, which can increase the porosity of the wall material after the plant component is formed, thereby increasing the aerosol release rate.

[0051] The lubricants include one or more combinations of candelilla wax, carnauba wax, shellac, sunflower wax, rice bran, beeswax, stearic acid, and palmitic acid. The lubricant can increase the fluidity of the particles, reduce the friction between the particles, make the overall density of the particle distribution more uniform, and also reduce the pressure required for mold forming and the wear of the mold.

[0052] The emulsifiers include one or more combinations of polyglycerol fatty acid esters, Tween-80, and polyvinyl alcohol. To a certain extent, the emulsifier can slow down the loss of fragrance substances during storage, increase the stability of fragrance substances, and improve the sensory quality of the product. The emulsifier (also called surfactant) can reduce the interfacial tension between water-soluble and water-insoluble components in the mixed system, and form a relatively firm film on the surface of the droplets or form an electric double layer on the surface of the droplets due to the charge given by the emulsifier, preventing the droplets from aggregating with each other and maintaining a uniform emulsion. Emulsifying and homogenizing two immiscible components can improve the consistency of the product quality.

[0053] The function of the smoke agent component is to generate a large amount of steam when heated, thereby increasing the smoke volume of the smoke product. In some embodiments, the smoke agent may include, for example: monohydric alcohols (such as menthol); polyhydric alcohols (such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerol); esters of polyhydric alcohols (such as monoglyceride acetate, diglyceride acetate, or triglyceride acetate); monocarboxylic acids; polycarboxylic acids (such as lauric acid, myristic acid) or aliphatic esters of polycarboxylic acids (such as dimethyl dodecanedioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, erythritol, 1,3-butanediol, tetraethylene glycol, triethyl citrate, propylene carbonate, ethyl laurate, Triactin, meso-erythritol, diglyceride acetate mixture, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, benzoic acid benzyl ester, phenylacetic acid benzyl ester, ethyl vanillate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate) or a combination of one or more of them.

[0054] In some embodiments, the binder component is extracted from natural plants and is a non-ionized modified viscous polysaccharide, including one or more combinations of tamarind polysaccharide, pullulan, seaweed polysaccharide, locust bean gum, guar gum, and xyloglucan. The binder comes into close contact by wetting the interface of the product component materials, generating intermolecular attraction, thereby playing the role of bonding powders, liquids, etc. of the component materials. At the same time, by selecting a binder extracted from natural plants and non-ionized modification, the release of harmful substances such as methanol, formaldehyde, and acrolein caused by colloid modification can be avoided, improving the safety of the product.

[0055] It should be noted that "continuous extrusion" here refers to continuously applying an extrusion force to the mixed material so that each aerosol-generating substrate strip formed after the mixed material is extruded is in an ideal state a substantially continuous strip structure. In other words, in an ideal state, during the continuous extrusion process, the extruded aerosol-generating substrate strip is substantially free of breaks along the extrusion direction.

[0056] Please refer to

[0057] simultaneously. Second, an aerosol-generating substrate segment production line disclosed in an embodiment of the present application includes a conveyor belt 200, a packaging and cutting device 300, and a forming device 100 according to any embodiment of the present application. Figures 1 to 16 The conveyor belt 200 is arranged downstream of the forming device 100 and is used to convey aerosol-generating substrate strips. The conveyor belt 200 can synchronously convey multiple aerosol-generating substrate strips to the packaging and cutting device 300. The material of the conveyor belt 200 is not limited. For example, it can be Teflon. This material of the conveyor belt 200 is not easily adhered to the aerosol-generating substrate strips and is also high-temperature resistant. The drive of the conveyor belt 200 can adopt a servo motor and frequency conversion control, so as to be interlocked and synchronously controlled with the extrusion speed of the forming device 100.

[0058]

[0059] ​The packaging and cutting device 300 is arranged downstream of the conveyor belt 200 and is used to package a plurality of aerosol generating matrix strips and then cut them into segments to obtain aerosol generating matrix segments.

[0060] In some embodiments, the production line further comprises a bundling mechanism, which is disposed downstream of the conveyor belt 200 and upstream of the packaging and cutting device 300, and is used to bundle a plurality of aerosol generating matrix strips, thereby facilitating packaging by the packaging and cutting device 300 located downstream.

[0061] Furthermore, in actual use, the extrusion of the molding device 100, the conveying of the conveyor belt 200, the bundling of the bundling mechanism, and the packaging and cutting of the packaging and cutting device 300 are performed synchronously. In other words, during the continuous extrusion process, the conveyor belt 200 is always in a conveying state, so that the continuously extruded aerosol generating matrix strips will be continuously conveyed to the bundling mechanism, and the aerosol generating matrix strips will be bundled after passing through the bundling mechanism, and then packaged and cut into aerosol generating matrix segments by the packaging and cutting device 300.

[0062] The production line provided in the related art usually prepares the mixed material into aerosol generating matrix fragments or small aerosol generating matrix strips first, and then packages them into aerosol generating matrix segments respectively. The production line of the embodiment of the present application can form continuous aerosol generating matrix strips through the continuous extrusion of the forming device 100 and the conveying of the conveyor belt 200, and then the aerosol generating matrix strips can be bundled by the bundling mechanism, and packaged and cut by the packaging and cutting device 300 to form aerosol generating matrix segments, thereby simplifying the packaging steps, and can continue production, improving production efficiency.

[0063] The specific structure of the bunching mechanism is not limited. As an example, the bunching mechanism can be a cylindrical structure or a trough structure, which has an inlet on the side facing the conveyor belt 200 and an outlet on the side away from the conveyor belt 200. The size of the outlet is smaller than the size of the inlet, thereby achieving a bunching effect.

[0064] The specific structure of the packaging and cutting device 300 is not limited. As an example, the packaging and cutting device 300 may include a packaging mechanism, a gluing mechanism, and a cutting mechanism. The packaging mechanism is used to wrap the outer packaging around multiple aerosol generating substrates. The outer packaging can be a paper packaging, a plastic packaging, or other suitable packaging, and there is no limitation in this regard. The gluing mechanism is used to seal the edges of the outer packaging. As an example, the gluing mechanism may include a gluing member and a heating structure. After the gluing member coats the glue at the edge-sealing position, the heating structure bakes the glue, thereby improving the stability of the edge-sealing. The cutting mechanism is used to cut the aerosol generating substrate strips with the outer packaging wrapped into small segments to form aerosol generating substrate segments. The specific length of the aerosol generating substrate segments is not limited. In some embodiments, the cutting length of the cutting mechanism is adjustable to prepare aerosol generating substrate segments of different lengths.

[0065] The forming device of an embodiment of the present application will be specifically introduced below.

[0066] Please refer to Figure 1 , the forming device 100 includes a feeding device 10, an extrusion device 20, and a shaping die 40.

[0067] The feeding device 10 is used to continuously supply solid materials and liquid materials to the extrusion device 20. Both the solid materials and the liquid materials are components of the aerosol generating substrate strips.

[0068] The extrusion device 20 has a discharge port 22a. The extrusion device 20 mixes the solid materials and the liquid materials to obtain a mixed material, and can extrude the mixed material through the discharge port 22a to form an extruded substrate. That is, the extrusion device 20 can uniformly mix the solid materials and the liquid materials to obtain a mixed material. At the same time, it can also provide a certain extrusion pressure to continuously extrude the mixed material. Specifically, as described above, during actual use, the extrusion device 20 can continuously extrude the mixed material from the discharge port 22a, and the mixed material extruded from the discharge port 22a is regarded as the extruded substrate.

[0069] The feeding speed of the feeding device 10 can be controlled in a linked and synchronous manner with the extrusion speed of the extrusion device 20, that is, when the extrusion speed is fast, the feeding speed is also fast; when the extrusion speed is slow, the feeding speed is also slow.

[0070] The extrusion device 20 also has at least one feeding port 22c. Solid materials and liquid materials can be put into the extrusion device 20 through this feeding port 22c, and the unmixed solid materials and liquid materials will be squeezed in the extrusion device 20 to be mixed into a mixed material.

[0071] Since the extrusion device 20 can continuously extrude the mixed material, solid materials and liquid materials can be continuously and quantitatively fed. Herein, "continuous and quantitative feeding" means continuously feeding the solid materials and liquid materials into the extrusion device 20 at a certain speed. The advantage of continuous and quantitative feeding is that it can keep the inside of the extrusion device 20 in a state where the mixed material is relatively abundant, thereby improving the extrusion effect and reducing the risk that the extruded aerosol-forming substrate strip breaks due to insufficient mixed material.

[0072] The shaping die 40 has a shaping channel 40a. One end of the shaping channel 40a is communicated with the discharge port 22a. The shaping channel 40a is used for shaping the extruded substrate to form an aerosol-forming substrate strip. That is, the extruded substrate extruded from the discharge port 22a will enter the shaping channel 40a, and can be continuously extruded through the end of the shaping channel 40a far from the discharge port 22a to form a continuous long-strip aerosol-forming substrate strip.

[0073] The specific number of shaping channels 40a provided on one shaping die 40 is not limited. Exemplarily, as Figure 2 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 10 or Figure 11 shown, one shaping die 40 has a plurality of shaping channels 40a. One end of each shaping channel 40a is respectively communicated with the discharge port 22a. Thus, one shaping die 40 can simultaneously extrude multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips. The conveyor belt 200 synchronously conveys the multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips to the bundling mechanism, so as to facilitate the bundling mechanism to complete the bundling of the multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips, and further facilitate the packaging and cutting equipment 300 to package and cut the multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips to obtain aerosol-forming substrate segments, improving the production efficiency of the aerosol-forming substrate segments.

[0074] The shaping channel 40a extends along a first direction, and each shaping channel 40a is arranged along a second direction. The first direction, the second direction and the height direction of the shaping equipment 100 intersect and are not coplanar.

[0075] Exemplarily, the first direction is Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 6 or Figure 7 the direction of L 1 shown.

[0076] The first direction is generally consistent with the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 200. Thus, the length direction of the continuously extruded aerosol-forming substrate strip can be consistent with the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 200, so as to facilitate the packaging and cutting equipment 300 to package and cut the aerosol-forming substrate strip.

[0077] Exemplarily, the second direction is Figure 2 、Figure 6 , Figures 10 to 15 in the direction of L 2 shown.

[0078] The height direction of the forming device 100 is Figure 1 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figures 12 to 15 in the direction of L 3 shown.

[0079] As an example, the first direction and the second direction can be perpendicular, or can be at any other suitable angle; the first direction and the height direction can be perpendicular, or can be at any other suitable angle; the second direction and the height direction can be perpendicular, or can be at any other suitable angle.

[0080] That is to say, the first direction and the second direction form a plane, and the height direction is arranged at an angle with this plane.

[0081] The aerosol - generating substrate strips synchronously extruded from each shaping channel 40a can all be laid on the conveyor belt 200 under the action of gravity, and multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips are arranged along the second direction. The conveyor belt 200 transports this part of the aerosol - generating substrate strips to the packaging and cutting device 300, and the packaging and cutting device 300 can package and cut this part of the aerosol - generating substrate strips, so as to be able to prepare aerosol - generating substrate segments with a suitable filling rate.

[0082] It should be noted that the filling rate of the aerosol - generating substrate segment refers to the ratio of the sum of the cross - sectional areas of each aerosol - generating substrate strip to the cross - sectional area of the aerosol - generating substrate segment on the cross - section of the aerosol - generating substrate segment.

[0083] In the forming device of the embodiment of the present application, a plurality of shaping channels 40a are opened on the shaping die 40. One shaping die 40 can synchronously extrude multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips. At the same time, each shaping channel 40a is arranged along the second direction. Multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips can be orderly arranged on subsequent production equipment (such as the conveyor belt 200) under the action of gravity. Multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips are fixedly arranged along the second direction on the conveyor belt 200. By changing parameters such as the number and / or shape and cross - sectional area of the shaping channels 40a on the shaping die 40, the multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips extruded by the forming device 100 can also be arranged on the conveyor belt 200 according to the set requirements. Furthermore, they can be packaged and cut by the packaging and cutting device 300. That is, when packaging multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips, it is no longer necessary to arrange the multiple aerosol - generating substrate strips, which is beneficial to improving the production efficiency of the aerosol - generating substrate segments.

[0084] Please refer to Figure 1, in one embodiment, the feeding device 10 includes a first feeding component 11 and a second feeding component 12. The first feeding component 11 is used to supply solid materials to the extrusion device 20, and the second feeding component 12 is used to supply liquid materials to the extrusion device 20.

[0085] That is to say, the feeding device supplies solid materials and liquid materials to the extrusion device respectively. After the solid materials and liquid materials are mixed in the extrusion device to form a mixed material, the mixed material can be extruded from the discharge port relatively quickly.

[0086] In the related art, it is necessary to first mix solid materials and liquid materials to obtain a mixed material, and then supply the mixed material to the extrusion device through the feeding device to produce an aerosol generating substrate strip. There are components such as adhesives in the mixed material. On the one hand, the viscosity of the mixed material is large, which easily adheres to the feeding device and blocks the feed port of the extrusion device; on the other hand, after a certain period of time, the mixed material is prone to hardening, making it difficult to extrude. As a result, the extrusion difficulty of the aerosol generating substrate strip is relatively large and the production efficiency is low.

[0087] In the forming device of this embodiment, the feeding device 10 includes a first feeding component 11 and a second feeding component 12. The solid materials are supplied to the extrusion device 20 through the first feeding component 11, and the liquid materials are supplied to the extrusion device 20 through the second feeding component 12. The solid materials and liquid materials are mixed through the extrusion device 20 to form a mixed material, and can be extruded relatively quickly through the discharge port 22a and the shaping channel 40a to form an aerosol generating substrate strip. On the one hand, the mixed material obtained after mixing the solid materials and liquid materials will not stay in the extrusion device 20 for a long time, that is, it is beneficial to extrude the mixed material before it hardens, thereby reducing the extrusion difficulty of the aerosol generating substrate strip; on the other hand, since the solid materials and liquid materials are mixed inside the extrusion device 20 to obtain the mixed material, the viscosities of the solid materials and liquid materials are relatively low, and there is no great risk of sticking material for both the first feeding component 11 and the second feeding component 12, which is also beneficial to reducing the risk of blockage at the feed port 22c of the extrusion device 20. Thus, it is beneficial to improve the production efficiency of the aerosol generating substrate strip.

[0088] In addition, the feeding speed of the first feeding component 11 and the feeding speed of the second feeding component 12 can both be controlled in a chain synchronization manner with the extrusion speed of the extrusion device 20, that is, when the extrusion speed is fast, the feeding speed is also fast, and when the extrusion speed is slow, the feeding speed is also slow. Thus, the operation of the forming device 100 is relatively simple; at the same time, since the solid materials and liquid materials are mixed by the extrusion device 20, there is no need to invest in a dedicated mixing device. Thus, it is beneficial to simplify the production process of the aerosol generating substrate strip.

[0089] Please refer to Figure 1, in one embodiment, the first feeding component 11 includes a first feeding bin 111 having a first feeding port 111a and a first feeding conveyor component having a feeding channel 113a. The first feeding bin 111 is used to hold solid materials. The first feeding port 111a communicates with the feeding channel 113a. The first feeding conveyor component is used to quantitatively supply solid materials to the extrusion device 20.

[0090] It should be noted that the solid materials and liquid materials are supplied in a certain proportion. Herein, "quantitative" means that the solid materials are supplied according to a set proportion, and this proportion can be set according to actual requirements, that is, the specific amount of "quantitative" solid materials can be adjusted.

[0091] The first feeding bin 111 can store a certain amount of solid materials. That is, the premixed solid materials can be stored in the first feeding bin 111. The first feeding conveyor component conveys the solid materials according to a set proportion. The solid materials can enter the feeding channel 113a through the first feeding port 111a and be supplied to the extrusion device 20 through the feeding channel 113a. Thus, during the production process of the aerosol-generating substrate strip, there is no need for continuous manual feeding. Through the first feeding conveyor component, the feeding speed of the solid materials can be controlled relatively more precisely, thereby improving the yield rate of the aerosol-generating substrate strip.

[0092] There is no limitation on the specific structure of the first feeding conveyor component. Exemplarily, please refer to Figure 1 , in one embodiment, the first feeding conveyor component includes a feeding screw 112 and a feeding housing 113 having a feeding channel 113a. The feeding screw 112 is rotatably disposed in the feeding channel 113a. The feeding screw 112 rotates to quantitatively convey solid materials to the extrusion device 20.

[0093] The solid materials in the first feeding bin 111 enter the feeding channel 113a through the first feeding port 111a. The feeding screw 112 rotates to provide a force along the axial direction of the feeding channel 113a. Under the action of this force, the solid materials can be conveyed along the axial direction of the feeding channel 113a. When reaching the feeding port 22c of the extrusion device 20, the solid materials can fall into the interior of the extrusion device 20 under the action of gravity.

[0094] There is no limitation on the way to drive the feeding screw 112 to rotate. As an example, the first feeding conveyor component further includes a first driving member. The first driving member is drivingly connected to the feeding screw 112, and it is convenient to drive the feeding screw 112 to rotate through the first driving member. There is no limitation on the type of the first driving member. For example, it can be various types of driving motors.

[0095] It can be understood that by changing the rotation speed of the first driving member, the rotation speed of the feeding screw 112 can be adjusted, and thus the feeding speed of the solid materials can be adjusted.

[0096] Please refer to Figure 1and Figure 3 In one embodiment, the feeding screw 112 is a screw with a constant pitch.

[0097] During the rotation of the feeding screw 112, relative sliding occurs between the solid material and the side wall on one axial side of the thread of the feeding screw 112, thereby pushing the solid material to move axially along the feeding screw 112. Since the feeding screw 112 is a screw with a constant pitch and the pitch between adjacent two threads remains unchanged, during the sliding of the solid material between adjacent two threads, it will not be subjected to an extrusion force along the axial direction of the feeding screw 112, which is beneficial for the solid material to enter the extrusion device 20 in its original state, that is, it reduces the probability of caking of the solid material under the action of the extrusion force and is beneficial for the extrusion device 20 to achieve uniform mixing of the solid material and the liquid material.

[0098] Please refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, the second feeding assembly 12 includes a second feeding component and a second feeding bin 121. The second feeding bin 121 is used to accommodate the liquid material, and the second feeding component is used to quantitatively supply the liquid material to the extrusion device 20.

[0099] It should be noted that the solid material and the liquid material are supplied in a certain proportion. Herein, "quantitative" means that the liquid material is supplied according to a set proportion, and this proportion can be set according to actual needs, that is, the specific amount of the "quantitative" liquid material can be adjusted.

[0100] The second feeding bin 121 can store a certain amount of liquid material. That is, the mixed liquid material can be stored in the second feeding bin 121, and the second feeding component transports the liquid material according to a set proportion. Thus, during the production of the aerosol generating substrate strip, there is no need for continuous manual feeding, and the feeding speed of the liquid material can be controlled relatively more accurately through the second feeding component, thereby improving the yield rate of the aerosol generating substrate strip.

[0101] There is no limitation on the specific structure of the second feeding component. Exemplarily, please refer to Figure 1 In one embodiment, the second feeding component includes a feeding pipeline 122 and a metering pump 123 provided on the feeding pipeline 122. The second feeding bin 121 has a second feeding port 121a, and the extrusion device 20 has an extrusion channel 22b. The two ends of the feeding pipeline 122 are respectively communicated with the second feeding port 121a and the extrusion channel 22b.

[0102] The metering pump 123 can control the flow rate of the liquid material in the feeding pipeline 122, thereby realizing the quantitative supply of the liquid material.

[0103] There is no limitation on the type of the feeding pipeline 122. For example, it can be a steel pipe, a PVC pipe, etc.

[0104] In some embodiments, the second feeding assembly may further include a nozzle, which is disposed at one end of the feeding pipeline 122 close to the extrusion device 20, that is, the liquid material is supplied to the extrusion device 20 through the nozzle, and the liquid material can be sprayed on the solid material relatively more uniformly, which is conducive to the complete mixing of the solid material and the liquid material.

[0105] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , in one embodiment, the extrusion device 20 includes an extrusion screw 21 and an extrusion housing 22. The extrusion housing 22 has a discharge port 22a. The extrusion screw 21 is rotatably disposed in the extrusion housing 22. By rotating, the extrusion screw 21 mixes the solid material and the liquid material to obtain a mixed material, and can extrude the mixed material through the discharge port 22a to form an extruded matrix.

[0106] Specifically, the extrusion housing 22 further has an extrusion channel 22b. The discharge port 22a is located at one end of the extrusion channel 22b and is communicated with the extrusion channel 22b. The extrusion screw 21 is rotatably disposed in the extrusion channel 22b.

[0107] The solid material and the liquid material enter the extrusion channel 22b through the feed port 22c and are accommodated in the space between two adjacent threads of the extrusion screw 21. By rotating, on the one hand, the extrusion screw 21 can provide an extrusion force for pushing the solid material and the liquid material to move along the axial direction of the extrusion screw 21. On the other hand, during the movement of the solid material and the liquid material along the axial direction of the extrusion screw 21, the extrusion screw 21 can also provide an extrusion force for squeezing the solid material and the liquid material. Under the action of this extrusion force, the solid material and the liquid material are kneaded and mixed to form a mixed material, so that the density of the mixed material reaching the discharge port 22a meets the requirements. The mixed material with the density reaching the requirements continues to move under the action of the extrusion force, and is shaped and extruded into a continuous long aerosol generating matrix strip through the shaping channel 40a.

[0108] The manner of driving the extrusion screw 21 to rotate is not limited. As an example, the extrusion device 20 of the first feeding assembly further includes a second driving member, which is drivingly connected to the extrusion screw 21. By means of the second driving member, it is convenient to drive the extrusion screw 21 to rotate. The type of the second driving member is not limited. For example, it can be various types of driving motors.

[0109] It can be understood that by changing the rotation speed of the second driving member, that is, the rotation speed of the extrusion screw 21 can be adjusted, so that the extrusion force provided by the extrusion screw 21 and the extrusion rate of the aerosol generating matrix strip can be adjusted.

[0110] In addition, in the related art, due to the presence of air bubbles in the mixed material, the extruded aerosol-generating substrate strip is prone to breakage, or is also prone to breakage after drying, thus affecting production efficiency. In this embodiment, the extrusion screw 21 can provide a certain extrusion pressure to the mixed material. Under the action of the extrusion pressure, it is beneficial to extrude the air bubbles in the mixed material. That is, the extrusion screw 21 can perform an exhaust function, thereby facilitating the improvement of the breakage phenomenon of the aerosol-generating substrate strip in the related art, and thus improving the production efficiency of the aerosol-generating substrate strip.

[0111] The number of extrusion screws 21 provided in the extrusion channel 22b is not limited. For example, it can be one, two, three, etc. Exemplarily, as Figure 2 shown, two extrusion screws 21 are provided in the extrusion channel 22b, and the two extrusion screws 21 need to be arranged staggeredly.

[0112] The specific structure of the extrusion screw 21 for providing extrusion pressure to the mixed material is not limited. Exemplarily, as Figure 1 and Figure 5 shown, in some embodiments, the extrusion screw 21 includes a rod body 211 and a threaded blade 212. The threaded blade 212 is provided on the rod body 211 and spirally extends along the axial direction of the rod body 211. Along the direction close to the discharge port 22a, the pitch of the threaded blade 212 gradually decreases.

[0113] Thus, during the process of the mixed material moving along the axial direction of the extrusion screw 21 towards the direction close to the discharge port 22a, the gap between adjacent two threads gradually decreases, thereby compressing the accommodation space of the mixed material. The mixed material is at least subjected to an extrusion pressure along the axial direction of the extrusion screw 21, thereby realizing the exhaust function. At the same time, it can also make the solid material and liquid material in the mixed material mix more evenly, and the density of the mixed material can also meet the requirements.

[0114] In other embodiments, the extrusion screw 21 includes a rod body 211 and a threaded blade 212. The threaded blade 212 is provided on the rod body 211 and spirally extends along the axial direction of the rod body 211. Along the direction close to the discharge port 22a, the radial dimension of the rod body 211 gradually increases.

[0115] In this embodiment, when the diameter of the extrusion channel 22b remains unchanged, during the process of the mixed material moving along the axial direction of the extrusion screw 21 towards the direction close to the discharge port 22a, the gap between the circumferential side wall of the rod body 211 and the side wall of the extrusion channel 22b gradually decreases, thereby being able to compress the accommodation space of the mixed material. The mixed material is at least subjected to an extrusion pressure along the radial direction of the extrusion screw 21, thereby realizing the exhaust function. At the same time, it can also make the solid material and liquid material in the mixed material mix more evenly, and the density of the mixed material can also meet the requirements.

[0116] In some other embodiments, along the direction close to the discharge port 22a, the pitch of the threaded blade 212 gradually decreases, and the radial dimension of the rod body 211 gradually increases.

[0117] In the related art, the aerosol-forming substrate segment is usually in a homogenized form. The density of the aerosol-forming substrate segment is single, and the loading is relatively single. There is a problem that the release of the active substances in the aerosol-forming substrate segment during suction is not ideal enough in terms of consistency. For example, in a high-density aerosol-forming substrate segment during heating and suction, the release of the active substances and the amount of smoke in the front section are relatively limited, but the release in the middle and rear sections is relatively sufficient and the persistence is good; in a low-density aerosol-forming substrate segment during heating and suction, the release of the active substances and the amount of smoke in the front section are relatively sufficient, but there will be a relatively obvious attenuation in the middle and rear sections. Both aerosol-forming substrate segments with different densities have their own advantages and disadvantages.

[0118] As an example, the density range of the aerosol-forming substrate strip can be 400-1500 mg / cm 3 , such as it can be 400 mg / cm 3 , 450 mg / cm 3 , 500 mg / cm 3 , 550 mg / cm 3 , 600 mg / cm 3 , 650 mg / cm 3 , 700 mg / cm 3 , 750 mg / cm 3 , 800 mg / cm 3 , 850 mg / cm 3 , 900 mg / cm 3 , 950 mg / cm 3 , 1000 mg / cm 3 , 1100 mg / cm 3 , 1200 mg / cm 3 , 1300 mg / cm 3 , 1400 mg / cm 3 , 1500 mg / cm 3 etc.

[0119] Based on the above technical problems, the forming device of the embodiments of the present application can also be used to prepare a non-homogenized aerosol-forming substrate segment, and the non-homogenized aerosol-forming substrate segment is an aerosol-forming substrate segment including aerosol-forming substrate strips with multiple densities.

[0120] In one embodiment, the number of the extrusion device 20 and the shaping die 40 is multiple, and the shaping die 40 corresponds to the extrusion device 20 one by one.

[0121] The extrusion device 20 can provide the same extrusion pressure. In this embodiment, there can also be multiple feeding devices 10, that is, one extrusion device 20 corresponds to one feeding device 10. In other words, multiple independent forming devices 100 are adopted, and the formulations of the solid materials and / or the liquid materials of each forming device 100 are different, or the ratios of the solid materials and the liquid materials of each forming device 100 are different. Under the action of the same extrusion pressure, different-density aerosol-generating substrate strips can be obtained for each forming device 100. The different-density aerosol-generating substrate strips are extruded synchronously and conveyed to the packaging and cutting device 300 through the conveyor belt 200. After packaging and cutting, a non-homogeneous aerosol production medium section is obtained.

[0122] In some other embodiments, the number of extrusion devices 20 is multiple, the number of shaping molds 40 corresponds one-to-one to the extrusion devices 20, and at least two extrusion screws 21 corresponding to the respective extrusion devices 20 are different to provide different extrusion parameters. The "extrusion parameters" can be parameters such as extrusion pressure.

[0123] It should be noted that the difference in the extrusion screw 21 can be the difference in the pitch of the threaded blade 212 and / or the difference in the change of the radial dimension of the rod body 211 mentioned above.

[0124] In this embodiment, solid materials and liquid materials with the same formulation can be used. Since the extrusion device 20 provides different extrusion pressures, the solid materials and liquid materials with the same formulation are subjected to different extrusion pressures after entering different extrusion devices 20, so that aerosol-generating substrate strips with different densities can be extruded.

[0125] It can be understood that in this embodiment, one set of feeding devices 10 can supply solid materials and liquid materials to multiple extrusion devices 20; or multiple sets of feeding devices 10 can supply solid materials and liquid materials corresponding one-to-one to multiple extrusion devices 20.

[0126] Of course, in this embodiment, solid materials and liquid materials with different formulations can also be used.

[0127] Please refer to Figure 1 , in one embodiment, the extrusion housing 22 has a feed inlet 22c communicating with the extrusion channel 22b. The feeding device 10 supplies solid materials and liquid materials into the extrusion channel 22b through the feed inlet 22c. The feed inlet 22c is located on the circumference side of the extrusion screw 21, and the discharge outlet 22a is located on the axial side of the extrusion screw 21.

[0128] It can be understood that the space for accommodating the solid material and the liquid material in the extrusion screw 21 is the space between two adjacent threads. By arranging the feed port 22c on the circumferential side of the extrusion screw 21, after the solid material and the liquid material enter the extrusion channel 22b, they can easily enter the space between two adjacent threads of the extrusion screw 21, and thus can move along the axial direction of the extrusion screw 21 under the action of the extrusion screw 21, reducing the probability that the solid material and the liquid material stay at the feed port 22c and block the feed port 22c.

[0129] In addition, the extrusion force provided by the extrusion screw 21 is also basically parallel to the axial direction of the extrusion screw 21. By arranging the discharge port 22a on one axial side of the extrusion screw 21, it is convenient for the mixed material to be extruded through the discharge port 22a.

[0130] In one embodiment, the extrusion device 20 further includes a heating member for heating the mixed material.

[0131] In the related art, it is usually selected to dry the aerosol - generating substrate strip after it is formed. In this embodiment, however, the mixed material is heated and dried in the extrusion device 20.

[0132] One advantage of heating the mixed material in the extrusion device 20 is that the drying step and drying equipment of the aerosol - generating substrate strip after extrusion can be simplified. There is no need to reserve a long space on the conveyor belt 200 to perform these steps, so that the length of the conveyor belt 200 can be reduced, and thus the cost of the production line can be reduced and the production efficiency can be improved.

[0133] Another advantage is that since the aerosol - generating substrate strip is in a state of relatively high temperature during extrusion, the solvent in the extruded aerosol - generating substrate strip will be able to volatilize quickly, facilitating the rapid effectiveness of the adhesive in the aerosol - generating substrate strip, enhancing the structural strength of the aerosol - generating substrate strip, and further reducing the risk of its breakage.

[0134] Another advantage is that most of the solvent in the aerosol - generating substrate strip has volatilized within a short time after extrusion. Therefore, during the conveying process, the shrinkage amount of the aerosol - generating substrate strip due to solvent volatilization will be reduced, further reducing the risk of its breakage.

[0135] The setting position of the heating member is not limited. In some embodiments, the heating member is sleeved on the outer side wall of the extrusion housing 22. For example, it can be a structure such as an electric heating coil or an electric heating sheet arranged on the outer side wall of the extrusion housing 22. The heating member is located outside the extrusion channel 22b, so that it will not be affected by the mixed material, which is beneficial to improving the stability of the heating member.

[0136] In some other embodiments, the heating element is disposed within the extrusion screw 21. For example, it can be an electric heating wire disposed inside the extrusion screw 21. The advantage of disposing the heating element inside the extrusion screw 21 is that the mixed material is heated more uniformly, improving the heating efficiency and effect, and facilitating precise control of the heating temperature. Specifically, in the embodiment where a heating wire is disposed inside the extrusion screw 21, the heating energy efficiency can reach more than 85%. In the related art, in the embodiment where the aerosol-forming substrate strip is dried after extrusion, the drying energy efficiency is only 20% - 35%.

[0137] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , in one embodiment, the shaping device 100 further includes a transition connector 30 having a flow channel 30a. The two ends of the transition connector 30 are respectively connected to the extrusion device 20 and the shaping die 40, and one end of the flow channel 30a is communicated with the discharge port 22a, and the other end is communicated with one end of the shaping channel 40a.

[0138] It should be noted that when there are multiple shaping channels 40a on the shaping die 40, one end of each shaping channel 40a is respectively communicated with the other end of the flow channel 30a.

[0139] It can be understood that since multiple shaping channels 40a are respectively communicated with one flow channel 30a, therefore, the cross-sectional area of the flow channel 30a is larger than the cross-sectional area of the shaping channel 40a.

[0140] In the related art, the shaping die is directly connected to the extrusion device, that is, the shaping channel is directly communicated with the discharge port. Since multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips are extruded simultaneously, but the discharge speed of the shaping die is different, and the toughness of the aerosol-forming substrate strip is not high, it will cause the strip to break, thus affecting the production efficiency.

[0141] Exemplarily, as Figure 1 shown, when the extrusion device 20 includes an extrusion screw 21 and an extrusion housing 22, the extrusion screw 21 is rotatably disposed within the extrusion housing 22, and the mixed material slides relative to the side wall of the thread clearance of the extrusion screw 21. That is, during the rotation of the extrusion screw 21, the mixed material is sequentially extruded along the circumferential direction of the discharge port 22a, so as to discharge sequentially along the circumferential direction of the discharge port 22a. That is, the discharge speeds at different positions in the circumferential direction of the discharge port 22a are different. If the shaping channel 40a is directly communicated with the discharge port 22a, then the discharge speeds at the ends of each shaping channel 40a far from the discharge port 22a will be different.

[0142] In this embodiment, by providing a transition connector 30 to connect the shaping die 40 and the extrusion device 20, an indirect connection is achieved between the shaping channel 40a and the discharge port 22a through the flow channel 30a. The mixed material is extruded through the discharge port 22a to form an extrusion matrix. The extrusion matrix gradually fills the space within the flow channel 30a. After the space within the flow channel 30a is filled, the extrusion matrix extruded through the discharge port 22a continues to enter the flow channel 30a. One end of the flow channel 30a away from the discharge port 22a can move synchronously towards the direction close to the shaping channel 40a and enter the shaping channel 40a. The movement speed of the extrusion matrix on the cross-section at the end of the flow channel 30a close to the shaping channel 40a is more balanced. That is, by providing the flow channel 30a between the discharge port 22a and the shaping channel 40a, the flow channel 30a can balance the pressure at each point on the cross-sectional plane of the aerosol-forming substrate strip, which is beneficial to improving the consistency of each point on the cross-sectional plane, thus facilitating the balancing of the discharge speed of the shaping channel 40a. The aerosol-forming substrate strip can be continuously extruded through the shaping channel 40a, which is beneficial to improving the toughness of the aerosol-forming substrate strip, reducing its breakage rate, and further improving the production efficiency of the aerosol-forming substrate strip.

[0143] The connection method between the transition connector 30 and the extrusion device 20 is not limited. Exemplarily, as Figure 2 shown, the extrusion device 20 and the transition connector 30 are tightly connected by fasteners such as bolts and screws, or are detachably connected by clamping, plugging, etc. Thus, it is convenient to detach the transition connector 30 for replacement or cleaning.

[0144] In some other embodiments, the transition connector 30 and the extrusion device 20 can also be an integrally formed structure, or an inseparable connection structure is achieved by welding or other means.

[0145] The connection method between the shaping die 40 and the transition connector 30 is not limited. Exemplarily, please refer to Figure 2 、 Figures 6 to 8 , the shaping die 40 and the transition connector 30 are detachably connected. For example, detachable connection methods such as fastening connection by fasteners, clamping, and plugging can be used to achieve the connection.

[0146] Thus, it is convenient to replace or clean the shaping die 40. The forming device 100 can select a suitable shaping die 40 based on actual needs, so as to prepare aerosol-forming substrate strips of different specifications.

[0147] Of course, the shaping die 40 and the transition connector 30 can also be connected by an integrally formed structure or an inseparable connection structure.

[0148] Please refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 7 and Figure 8, in one embodiment, one end of the flow channel 30a close to the discharge port 22a is a reduced-diameter section 30aa, and the cross-sectional area of the reduced-diameter section 30aa gradually decreases in the direction away from the discharge port 22a.

[0149] In other words, the extending direction of the side wall of the reduced-diameter section 30aa is inclined with respect to the extrusion direction of the extrusion matrix. By providing the reduced-diameter section 30aa at one end of the flow channel 30a close to the discharge port 22a, it is convenient for the extrusion matrix to enter the interior of the flow channel 30a.

[0150] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 6 , in some other embodiments, the flow channel 30a may not be provided with the reduced-diameter section 30aa.

[0151] Please refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 , in some embodiments, the flow channel 30a extends linearly.

[0152] Please refer to Figure 8 , in some other embodiments, the flow channel 30a extends in a curve.

[0153] In still some other embodiments, the flow channel 30a extends in a broken line.

[0154] That is to say, by changing the extending direction of the flow channel 30a, the extrusion direction of the aerosol-generating matrix strip can be controlled, that is, the extrusion direction of the aerosol-generating matrix strip can be controlled based on actual needs.

[0155] Please refer to Figure 8 , in one embodiment, the flow channel 30a includes a first connecting section 30ab, a second connecting section 30ac, and an arc transition section 30ad. The first connecting section 30ab and the second connecting section 30ac are connected through the arc transition section 30ad, and the second connecting section 30ac is arranged at an angle with respect to the first connecting section 30ab.

[0156] The first connecting section 30ab may extend, for example, in the horizontal direction. Thus, the second connecting section 30ac is arranged at an angle with respect to the height direction.

[0157] Specifically, when the flow channel 30a further includes the reduced-diameter section 30aa, the reduced-diameter section 30aa is provided at one end of the first connecting section 30ab away from the arc transition section 30ad.

[0158] The extrusion matrix flows from the first connecting section 30ab to the second connecting section 30ac. By providing the arc transition section 30ad, the resistance suffered by the extrusion matrix during the flowing process can be reduced.

[0159] In this embodiment, it is beneficial to improve the problem in the related art that after the aerosol generating substrate strip is extruded from the shaping channel 40a, it will sag under the action of gravity and touch the end wall of the shaping die 40.

[0160] There is no limit on the specific angle of the included angle between the first communication segment 30ab and the second communication segment 30ac. Exemplarily, please refer to Figure 8 , the included angle between the first communication segment 30ab and the second communication segment 30ac is not less than 80° and not greater than 180°. For example, it can be 80°, 85°, 90°, 95°, 100°, 105°, 110°, 115°, 120°, 125°, 130°, 135°, 140°, 145°, 150°, 155°, 160°, 165°, 170°, 175°, 180°, and so on.

[0161] Please refer to Figures 6 to 8 , Figure 10 , in one embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the shaping channel 40a decreases in the direction away from the discharge port 22a.

[0162] It should be noted that the cross-section of the shaping channel 40a refers to the cross-section intercepted on the shaping channel 40a by a plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the shaping channel 40a.

[0163] In the related art, the shaping die has a plurality of shaping channels, and the cross-sectional areas of the respective shaping channels basically do not change in the direction away from the discharge port. Multiple aerosol generating substrate strips are extruded synchronously through the respective shaping channels. After the aerosol generating substrate strips leave the shaping channels, a certain amount of swinging will occur, resulting in an adhesion phenomenon between the multiple aerosol generating substrate strips, which is not conducive to subsequent processes such as drying the aerosol generating substrate strips, thereby affecting the production efficiency.

[0164] In this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the shaping channel 40a decreases in the direction away from the discharge port 22a. During the process of the extruded substrate moving from the end of the shaping channel 40a near the discharge port 22a to the end away from the discharge port 22a, the extruded substrate will generate a displacement amount approaching the central axis of the shaping channel 40a, so that the aerosol generating substrate strip extruded through the shaping channel 40a can move in a substantially straight line, reducing the probability of the aerosol generating substrate strip swinging, that is, it is beneficial to improve the adhesion phenomenon between the multiple aerosol generating substrate strips. In the subsequent production process, it is convenient for the aerosol generating substrate strips to undergo processes such as drying, thereby producing an aerosol generating substrate section. Thus, the production efficiency of the aerosol generating substrate section is improved.

[0165] In one embodiment, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the shaping channel 40a at one end close to the discharge port 22a to the cross-sectional area at the other end far from the discharge port 22a is not less than 2 and not greater than 3. For example, it can be 2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3, etc.

[0166] That is to say, the shaping channel 40a is generally designed in a flared shape, which is beneficial to the straight-line movement of the extruded aerosol-generating substrate strip.

[0167] In one embodiment, the extrusion pressure at the connection between the flow channel 30a and the shaping channel 40a is not less than 0.6 Mpa and not greater than 3.0 MPa. For example, it is 0.6 MPa, 0.8 MPa, 1.0 MPa, 1.2 MPa, 1.4 MPa, 1.6 MPa, 1.8 MPa, 2.0 MPa, 2.2 MPa, 2.4 MPa, 2.6 MPa, 2.8 MPa, 3.0 MPa, etc.

[0168] It should be noted that 1 MPa is equivalent to a pressure of 10 kilograms.

[0169] As an example, a pressure sensor can be provided at the connection between the flow channel 30a and the shaping channel 40a to detect the extrusion pressure at this location through the pressure sensor.

[0170] By controlling the extrusion pressure at the connection between the flow channel 30a and the shaping channel 40a within the range of 0.6 MPa to 3.0 MPa, thus, the aerosol-generating substrate strip can be continuously extruded from the shaping channel 40a, and at the same time, the density of the aerosol-generating substrate strip can be controlled within a reasonable range.

[0171] It can be understood that by detecting the extrusion pressure at the connection between the flow channel 30a and the shaping channel 40a, the control of the extrusion device 20 can be achieved. It is convenient to set a pressure sensor at the connection between the flow channel 30a and the shaping channel 40a. If the extrusion device 20 is controlled by detecting the extrusion pressure at the discharge port 22a, the pressure sensor needs to be set at the discharge port 22a, and the pressure sensor set at the discharge port 22a is easily affected by the extrusion screw 21, and the reliability is relatively low.

[0172] The extension length of the flow channel 30a and the extension length of the shaping channel 40a depend on the cumulative value of the frictional resistance between the two. The cumulative frictional resistance of the extension length of the flow channel 30a and the extension length of the shaping channel 40a cannot be greater than 2 / 3 of the extrusion pressure at the discharge port 22a.

[0173] Exemplarily, the extension length of the flow channel 30a is as Figure 6 shown in D 1 and the extension length of the shaping channel 40a is as Figure 6 shown in D 2 shown.

[0174] Please refer to Figure 6 Figure 6 , in one embodiment, the extension length of the flow channel 30a is not less than 50 mm and not more than 500 mm. For example, it can be 50 mm, 80 mm, 110 mm, 140 mm, 170 mm, 200 mm, 230 mm, 260 mm, 290 mm, 320 mm, 350 mm, 380 mm, 410 mm, 440 mm, 470 mm, 500 mm, etc.

[0175]

[0175] In this embodiment, on the one hand, the extension length of the flow channel 30a is not less than 50 mm, which is beneficial to having a balanced discharge speed on the cross-section at the end of the flow channel 30a far from the discharge port 22a. On the other hand, the extension length of the flow channel 30a is not more than 500 mm, that is, the frictional resistance of the entire flow channel 30a can be controlled within a relatively appropriate range. Thus, with the extrusion pressure at the discharge port 22a unchanged, it is beneficial to set a sufficient extension length for the shaping channel 40a, which is beneficial to ensuring the shaping effect of the shaping channel 40a. At the same time, it is also beneficial to the aerosol-forming substrate strip being extruded in a straight line, reducing the probability of the aerosol-forming substrate strip swinging. In the case where the shaping die 40 has multiple shaping channels 40a, it is beneficial to improve the bonding phenomenon between multiple simultaneously extruded aerosol-forming substrate strips; or, with the extension length of the shaping channel 40a unchanged, it is beneficial to control the extrusion pressure at the discharge port 22a from being too high.

[0176] Please refer to Figure 6 Figure 6 , in one embodiment, the extension length of the shaping channel 40a is not less than 5 mm and not more than 50 mm. For example, it can be 5 mm, 8 mm, 11 mm, 14 mm, 17 mm, 20 mm, 23 mm, 26 mm, 29 mm, 32 mm, 35 mm, 38 mm, 41 mm, 44 mm, 47 mm, 50 mm, etc.

[0177] In this embodiment, the extension length of the shaping channel 40a is not less than 5 mm, which is beneficial to ensuring the shaping effect of the shaping channel 40a. At the same time, it is also beneficial to the straight extrusion of the aerosol-forming substrate strip, reducing the probability of the aerosol-forming substrate strip swinging. When the shaping die 40 has a plurality of shaping channels 40a, it is beneficial to improve the bonding phenomenon between multiple aerosol-forming substrate strips extruded synchronously. On the other hand, the extension length of the shaping channel 40a is not greater than 50 mm, that is, the frictional resistance of the entire shaping channel 40a can be controlled within a relatively appropriate range. Thus, with the extrusion pressure at the discharge port 22a remaining unchanged, it is beneficial to set the extension length of the flow channel 30a long enough, so that the discharge speed is balanced at the cross-section of the end of the flow channel 30a far from the discharge port 22a; or, with the extension length of the flow channel 30a remaining unchanged, it is beneficial to control the extrusion pressure at the discharge port 22a from being too high.

[0178] In the related art, the filling rate of the aerosol-forming substrate section needs to be controlled within the range of 65% - 90%. For example, it can be 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, etc. The filling rate of the aerosol-forming substrate section refers to the ratio of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the respective aerosol-forming substrate strips to the cross-sectional area of the aerosol-forming substrate section on the cross-section of the aerosol-forming substrate section. The above filling rate can be achieved by reasonably setting the specific specifications or shapes of the aerosol-forming substrate strips.

[0179] In one embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the end of the shaping channel 40a far from the discharge port 22a is not less than 0.2 mm 2 , and not greater than 40 mm 2 . For example, it can be 0.2 mm 2 , 0.4 mm 2 , 0.6 mm 2 , 1 mm 2 , 2 mm 2 , 3 mm 2 , 4 mm 2 , 5 mm 2 , 10 mm 2 , 15 mm 2 , 20 mm 2 , 25 mm 2 , 30 mm 2 , 35 mm 2 , 40 mm 2 etc.

[0180] That is to say, in this embodiment, a plurality of shaping channels 40a can be provided on the shaping die 40, and the specifications of the respective shaping channels 40a can be adjusted, so that the cross-sectional areas of the aerosol-forming substrate strips extruded through the respective shaping channels 40a are within the range of 0.2 mm 2 ~40 mm2 thereby facilitating the adjustment of the filling rate of the aerosol - generating substrate section.

[0181] Alternatively, multiple shaping molds 40 are adopted, and the cross - sectional areas of the shaping channels 40a on each shaping mold 40 at the end far from the discharge port 22a are different, and aerosol - generating substrate strips with different cross - sectional areas can also be obtained.

[0182] In one embodiment, the maximum distance between two points on the cross - section of any shaping channel 40a at the end far from the discharge port 22a is not less than 0.5 mm and not greater than 7 mm. For example, it can be 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, 3 mm, 3.5 mm, 4 mm, 4.5 mm, 5 mm, 5.5 mm, 6 mm, 6.5 mm, 7 mm, etc.

[0183] Exemplarily, when the cross - section of the shaping channel 40a at the end far from the discharge port 22a is circular, the maximum distance between two points on this cross - section is the diameter of the circle; when the cross - section of the shaping channel 40a at the end far from the discharge port 22a is square, the maximum distance between two points on this cross - section is the length of the diagonal of the square. That is to say, there are countless points on the cross - section of the shaping channel 40a at the end far from the discharge port 22a, and the two points with the farthest linear distance are the "two points".

[0184] In this embodiment, multiple shaping channels 40a can be arranged on the shaping mold 40, and the specifications of each shaping channel 40a are adjusted, so that the maximum distance between two points on the cross - section of the aerosol - generating substrate strip extruded through each shaping channel 40a can be controlled between 0.2 mm 2 and 40 mm 2 thereby facilitating the adjustment of the filling rate of the aerosol - generating substrate section.

[0185] Alternatively, multiple shaping molds 40 are adopted, and the maximum distances between two points on the cross - sections of the shaping channels 40a on each shaping mold 40 at the end far from the discharge port 22a are different, and aerosol - generating substrate strips with different specifications can also be obtained.

[0186] In one embodiment, the shape of the cross - section of the shaping channel 40a at the end far from the discharge port 22a is circular, elliptical, polygonal or racetrack - shaped.

[0187] In this embodiment, multiple shaping channels 40a can be arranged on the shaping mold 40, and the shapes of the respective shaping channels 40a can be set to be different, so that the shapes of the aerosol - generating substrate strips extruded through each shaping channel 40a are also different, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the filling rate of the aerosol - generating substrate section.

[0188] Alternatively, multiple shaping molds 40 may be employed. The cross-sectional shapes of the shaping channels 40a on each shaping mold 40 at the end away from the discharge port 22a may be set to be different, and aerosol-generating substrate strips of different shapes can also be obtained.

[0189] Exemplarily, when the cross-section of the shaping channel 40a is circular, the aerosol-generating substrate strip is cylindrical.

[0190] Exemplarily, when the cross-section of the shaping channel 40a is oval, the aerosol-generating substrate strip is elliptical cylindrical.

[0191] Exemplarily, when the cross-section of the shaping channel 40a is polygonal, the aerosol-generating substrate strip is prismatic. It should be noted that the polygon can be a convex polygon or a concave polygon; the polygon can be a regular polygon or an irregular polygon.

[0192] Exemplarily, when the cross-section of the shaping channel 40a is runway-shaped, the aerosol-generating substrate strip is flat.

[0193] Of course, the cross-sectional shape of the shaping channel 40a at the end away from the discharge port 22a is not limited to being circular, oval, polygonal or runway-shaped, and the shape can also be selected according to actual needs.

[0194] Please refer to Figure 15 , in one embodiment, the shaping mold 40 has shaping channels 40a with at least two different shapes and / or cross-sectional areas.

[0195] That is to say, the number of shaping channels 40a with different shapes on one shaping mold 40 is not less than two. Exemplarily, please refer to Figure 15 , in one of the two shaping molds 40, one shaping mold 40 includes a diamond-shaped shaping channel 40a and a hexagonal shaping channel 40a; or, the number of shaping channels 40a with different cross-sectional areas on one shaping mold 40 is not less than two. Exemplarily, please refer to Figure 15 , in one of the two shaping molds 40, one shaping mold 40 includes a shaping channel 40a with a smaller area and a shaping channel 40a with a larger area; or, the number of shaping channels 40a with different shapes and cross-sectional areas on one shaping mold 40 is not less than two.

[0196] In this embodiment, different specifications of aerosol-generating substrate strips can be extruded from one shaping mold 40, so that the shape and / or cross-sectional area of the shaping channel 40a can be changed according to actual needs. Thus, it is convenient to control the filling rate of the aerosol-generating substrate segment within the required range.

[0197] Please refer to Figure 11, in one embodiment, along the second direction, the distance between two adjacent shaping channels 40a is not less than 2 mm and not more than 5 mm. For example, it can be 2 mm, 2.2 mm, 2.4 mm, 2.6 mm, 2.8 mm, 3 mm, 3.2 mm, 3.4 mm, 3.6 mm, 3.8 mm, 4 mm, 4.2 mm, 4.4 mm, 4.6 mm, 4.8 mm, 5 mm, and so on.

[0198] The distance between two adjacent shaping channels 40a is as Figure 11 shown as D in 3 the figure.

[0199] In this embodiment, there is sufficient clearance between the aerosol-forming substrate strips extruded from two adjacent shaping channels 40a of a shaping die 40. Thus, the probability of adhesion between the aerosol-forming substrate strips is reduced; at the same time, the clearance between two adjacent shaping channels 40a is not too large, so that the size of the shaping die 40 can be effectively controlled, that is, the size of the forming device 100 can be controlled within a relatively reasonable range.

[0200] In one embodiment, the number of shaping dies 40 is multiple.

[0201] It can be understood that the number of extrusion devices 20 can correspond one-to-one with the shaping dies 40; of course, it can also be that one extrusion device 20 corresponds to multiple shaping dies 40.

[0202] Exemplarily, when multiple extrusion devices 20 correspond one-to-one with multiple shaping dies 40, aerosol-forming substrate strips with different densities can be extruded on each shaping die 40, so as to produce inhomogeneous aerosol-forming substrate segments. For the specific operation of extruding aerosol-forming substrate strips with different densities on each shaping die 40, please refer to the above description and will not be elaborated here.

[0203] In one embodiment, at least two shaping dies 40 are arranged along the second direction. Since the second direction intersects with the height direction, that is, the shaping dies 40 are not completely arranged along the height direction, thus, it is beneficial to control the overall height of the accumulated shaping dies 40, and it is beneficial to control the height difference between the shaping die 40 at the top and the conveyor belt 200, that is, the probability of fracture of the aerosol-forming substrate strips after extrusion can be effectively improved.

[0204] Please refer to Figures 12 to 15 , in other embodiments, at least two shaping dies 40 are arranged along the height direction. Thus, the space occupied by the forming device 100 in the horizontal direction can be saved.

[0205] The projections of all the shaping channels 40a on the plane perpendicular to the height direction do not overlap.

[0206] It should be noted that when the number of the shaping molds 40 is multiple, all the shaping channels 40a include the shaping channels 40a on all the shaping molds 40. That is to say, the shaping channels 40a are staggeredly distributed between rows in the height direction.

[0207] It can be understood that the aerosol generating substrate strips arranged in the height direction are finally tiled on the conveyor belt 200 along the second direction and conveyed to the packaging and cutting device 300 by the conveyor belt 200. In this embodiment, after the aerosol generating substrate strips extruded from each row in the height direction are tiled on the conveyor belt 200, there will be a certain gap between adjacent aerosol generating substrate strips, which is beneficial to reducing the probability of adhesion between the aerosol generating substrate strips.

[0208] Please refer to Figures 12 to 15 , in one embodiment, the shapes and / or areas of the shaping channels 40a corresponding to at least two shaping molds 40 at the ends away from the discharge port 22a are different.

[0209] That is to say, the shapes of the shaping channels 40a corresponding to at least two shaping molds 40 at the ends away from the discharge port 22a are different; or, the cross-sectional areas of the shaping channels 40a corresponding to at least two shaping molds 40 at the ends away from the discharge port 22a are different; or, both the shapes and cross-sectional areas of the shaping channels 40a corresponding to at least two shaping molds 40 at the ends away from the discharge port 22a are different.

[0210] In this embodiment, the specifications of the aerosol generating substrate strips synchronously extruded by the multiple shaping molds 40 are different. Thus, it is convenient to control the filling rate of the aerosol generating substrate segments within a reasonable range.

[0211] In addition, when the densities of the aerosol generating substrate strips extruded by the multiple shaping molds 40 are different, it is also possible to prepare non-homogeneous aerosol generating substrate segments while meeting the filling rate of the aerosol generating substrate segments.

[0212] Please refer to Figure 12 , in one embodiment, the number of the shaping molds 40 is two, and the shapes of the shaping channels 40a corresponding to the two shaping molds 40 at the ends away from the discharge port 22a are the same, but the areas are different.

[0213] Figure 12 The shapes of the shaping channels 40a on the two shaping molds 40 shown in are both circular, but the cross-sectional area of the circular shaping channel 40a on one of the shaping molds 40 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the circular shaping channel 40a on the other shaping mold 40.

[0214] Thus, the shapes of the aerosol generating substrate strips extruded by the two shaping molds 40 are the same, but the cross-sectional areas are different.

[0215] Please refer to Figure 13 In one embodiment, the number of shaping molds 40 is two, and the shapes of the ends of the shaping channels 40a corresponding to the two shaping molds 40, which are away from the discharge port 22a, are different.

[0216] Figure 13 As shown in Figure 13 , the shape of the shaping channel 40a on one shaping mold 40 is a rhombus, and the shape of the shaping channel 40a on the other shaping mold 40 is a circle.

[0217] Thus, the shapes of the aerosol-generating substrate strips extruded through the two shaping molds 40 are different, and the cross-sectional areas may be the same or different.

[0218] Please refer to Figure 14 In one embodiment, the number of shaping molds 40 is two, the shapes of the ends of the shaping channels 40a corresponding to the two shaping molds 40, which are away from the discharge port 22a, are different, and the areas of the ends of the shaping channels 40a of any one shaping mold 40, which are away from the discharge port 22a, are the same.

[0219] Figure 14 As shown in Figure 14 , the shape of the shaping channel 40a on one shaping mold 40 is a rhombus, and the shape of the shaping channel 40a on the other shaping mold 40 is a hexagon.

[0220] Of course, the areas of the ends of the shaping channels 40a of any one shaping mold 40, which are away from the discharge port 22a, may also be different.

[0221] Please refer to Figure 15 In one embodiment, the number of shaping molds 40 is two, the shapes of the ends of the shaping channels 40a corresponding to the two shaping molds 40, which are away from the discharge port 22a, are different, and the cross-section of the ends of the shaping channels 40a of any one shaping mold 40, which are away from the discharge port 22a, includes at least two shapes or two areas.

[0222] Figure 15 Among them, one shaping mold 40 includes shaping channels 40a with rhombus-shaped and hexagon-shaped cross-sections; the cross-sections of the shaping channels 40a on the other shaping mold 40 are all circular, but the areas between the circles can be different.

[0223] In some embodiments, during the extrusion step of the aerosol-generating substrate strip, the extrusion speeds of the aerosol-generating substrate strips at different positions may be different. For example, in some embodiments described below, aerosol-generating substrate strips of multiple different specifications may be formed, and there may be a certain difference in the extrusion speeds of the aerosol-generating substrate strips of multiple different specifications.

[0224] In some embodiments, during the aerosol-generating substrate strip extrusion step, aerosol-generating substrate strips of various specifications can be formed. Thus, the finally prepared aerosol-generating substrate segments will include aerosol-generating substrate strips of various specifications.

[0225] The specifications herein include but are not limited to the components, density, cross-sectional shape, cross-sectional size, etc. of the aerosol-generating substrate strip.

[0226] In the related art, the specifications of each aerosol-generating substrate strip in the aerosol-generating medium segment formed by packaging multiple aerosol-generating substrate strips are the same. The problem that may be caused by the same specifications of each aerosol-generating substrate strip in the aerosol-generating medium segment is that it is difficult to ensure that the aerosol release amount remains consistent in the front, middle, and back stages of suction. During suction, the difference in the amount of smoke between each puff is relatively large, and the suction experience is relatively poor. In this embodiment, the aerosol-generating substrate segment can include aerosol-generating substrate strips of various different specifications. On the one hand, this can improve the filling rate of the aerosol-generating substrate segment. On the other hand, it can integrate the advantages and smoking characteristics of various aerosol-generating substrate strips of different specifications, thereby improving the suction experience and the puff-by-puff suction uniformity.

[0227] As an example, the aerosol-generating substrate strips of different specifications can be aerosol-generating substrate strips with different cross-sectional shapes. The cross-sectional shape can specifically be circular, oval, kidney-shaped, rectangular, rhombic, polygonal, etc.

[0228] The aerosol-generating substrate strips of different specifications can also be aerosol-generating substrate strips with different cross-sectional sizes. The cross-sectional size can include the cross-sectional area and the maximum distance between two points on the cross-section. If either of the two is different, it can be understood that the cross-sectional size is different. The maximum distance between two points on the cross-section can specifically be between 0.5 mm and 7 mm.

[0229] The aerosol-generating substrate strips of different specifications can also be aerosol-generating substrate strips with different densities. The density of the aerosol-generating substrate strip can specifically be 400 - 1500 mg / cm 3 .

[0230] In the aerosol-generating substrate segment prepared by using the above-mentioned aerosol-generating substrate strips of various specifications, the filling rate of the aerosol-generating substrate strip can be 65% - 90%.

[0231] Next, several specific methods for realizing "forming aerosol-generating substrate strips of various different specifications during the aerosol-generating substrate strip extrusion step" will be introduced.

[0232] In some embodiments, the mixed material is synchronously extruded from a plurality of shaping dies 40, and the cross-sectional shapes and / or cross-sectional dimensions of the shaping channels 40a of the plurality of shaping dies 40 are different, so as to form aerosol generating substrate strips with various cross-sectional shapes and / or cross-sectional dimensions.

[0233] The "synchronous extrusion" herein means that when the mixed material is extruded from one of the shaping dies 40, the mixed material is also extruded from another shaping die 40.

[0234] The cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional dimension of the shaping channel 40a herein refer to the shape and dimension of the flow-through cross-section (the cross-section perpendicular to the extrusion direction) of the shaping channel 40a. If the shapes and dimensions of the flow-through cross-sections of the shaping channel 40a in the extrusion direction are different, it should be understood as the shape and dimension of the flow-through cross-section closest to the conveyor belt 200 (the end of the extrusion direction). The cross-sectional dimension includes the area of the flow-through cross-section and the maximum distance between two points on the flow-through cross-section.

[0235] The specific structure of the shaping die 40 can refer to the description in the relevant part above and will not be elaborated here.

[0236] In some other embodiments, the mixed material can also be extruded from one shaping die 40, and the shaping die 40 has shaping channels 40a with various cross-sectional shapes and / or cross-sectional dimensions, so as to form aerosol generating substrate strips with various cross-sectional shapes and / or cross-sectional dimensions.

[0237] In some other embodiments, the mixed material can also be synchronously extruded from a plurality of shaping dies 40, and each shaping die 40 has shaping channels 40a with various cross-sectional shapes and / or cross-sectional dimensions.

[0238] Those skilled in the art can select one or a combination of several of the above methods according to actual usage requirements to form aerosol generating substrate strips with various cross-sectional shapes and / or cross-sectional dimensions.

[0239] In some embodiments, with the aid of a plurality of extrusion devices 20 corresponding to the plurality of shaping dies 40 one by one, the mixed material is synchronously extruded from the plurality of shaping dies 40.

[0240] As mentioned above, the cross-sectional shapes and cross-sectional dimensions of the respective shaping channels 40a in each shaping die 40 are the same. In this embodiment, further, a plurality of extrusion devices 20 are used to extrude the mixed material from a plurality of shaping dies 40 respectively. Thus, the difference in the extrusion speeds of the aerosol-forming substrate strips at the respective shaping channels 40a in each shaping die 40 is small, and it is easy to reduce the difference in the extrusion speeds of the aerosol-forming substrate strips at the respective shaping dies 40 by separately controlling the extrusion forces of the plurality of extrusion devices 20. Thus, the possibility of the aerosol-forming substrate strip breaking during transportation is reduced.

[0241] In some embodiments, the mixed material is synchronously extruded from a plurality of extrusion devices 20 using different extrusion pressures respectively to form substrate strips with different densities.

[0242] As an example, a plurality of identical extrusion devices 20 can be controlled to work with different powers to provide different extrusion pressures to the mixed material, and / or, a plurality of different extrusion devices 20 can be used to provide different extrusion pressures to the mixed material. The different extrusion devices 20 here can be extrusion devices 20 with different pitches of the extrusion screw 21. There is no specific limitation on this, as long as each extrusion device 20 can provide different extrusion pressures.

[0243] In some embodiments, a plurality of mixed materials with different components are synchronously extruded from a plurality of extrusion devices 20 respectively to form aerosol-forming substrate strips with different components.

[0244] In some embodiments, during the step of extruding the aerosol-forming substrate strip, the mixed material can be heated.

[0245] In the related art, it is usually chosen to dry the aerosol-forming substrate strip after extrusion. In this embodiment, however, the mixed material is heated and dried in the extrusion device 20.

[0246] In some embodiments, specifically, during the step of extruding the aerosol-forming substrate strip, the moisture content of the mixed material is 6% - 13%, such as 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%. The extrusion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate strip is 60°C - 150°C. Such as 60°C, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 100%, 110%, 120%, 130%, 140%, 150%.

[0247] It can be understood that compared with drying after extrusion, heating and drying within the extrusion device 20 takes a relatively shorter heating time. Therefore, in this embodiment, the moisture content of the mixed material is adjusted to 6%-13%, and the extrusion temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate strip is adjusted to 60°C-150°C, so that the physical parameters, smoke generation performance, aroma retention, etc. of the aerosol-generating substrate strip can reach a level similar to or even better than that after extrusion and then drying. On the other hand, in the related art, the shrinkage rate of the aerosol-generating substrate strip during the baking process is usually 5%-15%. However, in the case of the moisture content and extrusion temperature provided in this embodiment, the shrinkage rate of the aerosol-generating substrate strip after extrusion can be controlled to less than 5%, and even basically no shrinkage can be achieved. Thus, the risk of the aerosol-generating substrate strip breaking can be further reduced.

[0248] In some other embodiments, it is also possible to choose to perform the aerosol-generating substrate strip baking step before the aerosol-generating substrate strips are bundled, that is, during the conveyance of the conveyor belt 200, bake multiple aerosol-generating substrate strips on the conveyor belt 200.

[0249] It should be noted that in this case, within the extrusion device 20, the mixed material may or may not be heated, and those skilled in the art can choose according to actual usage requirements.

[0250] In some embodiments, during the aerosol-generating substrate strip extrusion step, solid material and liquid material can be respectively fed into the extrusion device 20, and the solid material and the liquid material are mixed into a mixed material within the extrusion device 20.

[0251] It can be understood that compared with the pre-mixed material, the unmixed material is in a dispersed state, which can reduce the risk of clogging the feed port 22c during the material feeding process and facilitate the precise control of the material feeding amount. In addition, the material for preparing the aerosol-generating substrate strip usually contains an adhesive. After the unmixed material is mixed in the extrusion device 20, it will be extruded within a relatively short time. Therefore, the risk that the mixed material hardens due to the volatilization of the moisture in the adhesive and thus cannot be extruded can be reduced.

[0252] The specific manner of mixing the solid material and the liquid material into a mixed material within the extrusion device 20 can refer to the description of the relevant part above and will not be elaborated here.

[0253] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the solid material and the liquid material can be continuously and quantitatively fed. Here, "continuously and quantitatively feeding" means continuously feeding the material into the extrusion device 20 at a certain speed. The advantage of continuously and quantitatively feeding the material is that it can keep the inside of the extrusion device 20 in a state where the mixed material is relatively abundant all the time, thereby improving the extrusion effect and reducing the risk of the extruded aerosol-generating substrate strip breaking due to insufficient material.

[0254] Specifically, solid materials can be delivered at a first speed, and liquid materials can be delivered at a second speed. The first speed and the second speed can be determined according to the extrusion speed of the aerosol-generating substrate strip. In this way, during the continuous extrusion process, the materials in the extrusion device 20 always maintain a relatively full state.

[0255] In some other embodiments, materials can also be delivered at intervals of a period of time, or delivered all at once.

[0256] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit it; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and they should all be covered by the scope of the claims and the description of the present application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the technical features mentioned in each embodiment can be combined in any way. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the text, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating substrate strip forming device, characterized in that: include: Feeding device; An extrusion device having a discharge port, wherein the feeding device is used to supply a solid material and a liquid material to the extrusion device, the extrusion device mixes the solid material and the liquid material to obtain a mixed material, and is capable of extruding the mixed material through the discharge port to obtain an extruded matrix; A molding die having a plurality of molding channels, one end of each molding channel being connected to the discharge port, the molding channels being used to mold the extruded matrix to obtain the aerosol generating matrix strip; Wherein, the cross-sectional area of ​​the molding channel decreases as it moves away from the discharge port.

2. The molding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the molding channel at one end close to the material outlet to the cross-sectional area of ​​the end away from the material outlet is not less than 2 and not greater than 3.

3. The molding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-sectional area of ​​the molding channel away from the discharge port is not less than 0.2 mm 2 , and no more than 40mm 2 .

4. The molding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The maximum distance between two points on a cross section of any molding channel away from one end of the discharge port is not less than 0.5 mm and not more than 7 mm.

5. The molding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The molding channels extend along a first direction, and the molding channels are arranged along a second direction. The first direction, the second direction, and a height direction of the molding device intersect and are not coplanar.

6. The molding device according to claim 5, characterized in that: Along the second direction, the distance between two adjacent molding channels is not less than 2 mm and not more than 5 mm.

7. The molding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the molding channel at one end away from the discharge port is in the shape of a circle, an ellipse, a polygon or a racetrack.

8. The molding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The molding equipment also includes a transition connector with a flow channel, the two ends of the transition connector are respectively connected to the extrusion device and the molding die, and one end of the flow channel is connected to the discharge port, and the other end is connected to one end of each molding channel.

9. The molding device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The extension length of the flow channel is not less than 50 mm and not more than 500 mm; and / or, The extension length of the molding channel is not less than 5 mm and not more than 50 mm.

10. A production line for aerosol production matrix segment, characterized in that: include: The forming device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, used to generate a plurality of aerosol generating substrate strips; A conveyor belt, arranged downstream of the forming device; The packaging and cutting equipment is arranged downstream of the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt transports the plurality of aerosol generating matrix strips to the packaging and cutting equipment. The packaging and cutting equipment is used for packaging the plurality of aerosol generating matrix strips and then cutting them into segments to obtain the aerosol generating matrix segments.

Images