Tobacco ball, method for manufacturing tobacco ball, and smoking article comprising tobacco ball

Abstract

A tobacco ball and a smoking article including a smoking material portion filled with the tobacco ball are provided. The tobacco ball includes: a tobacco ball core formed of first tobacco powder; and a tobacco ball coating layer formed by spraying a tobacco slurry, which is prepared by mixing second tobacco powder, water, and alcohol, on the tobacco ball core, wherein moisture content of the tobacco ball ranges from 3.0% to 4.2%.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention pertains to the field of tobacco products and relates to a tobacco ball, a method of manufacturing a tobacco ball, and a smoking article including the tobacco ball.Background Art

[0002] Heat-not-burn cigarettes are new tobacco products that have emerged in recent years, and a major feature of heat-not-burn cigarettes is that tobacco is heated without burning using an external heat source to release scent and flavor components of tobacco. Because tobacco products are not burned, generation of a large amount of harmful components due to high-temperature decomposition can be prevented. Accordingly, while consumers can obtain satisfaction, there is less harm to the human body, and environmental pollution is also reduced.

[0003] Meanwhile, a tobacco material used in a heat-not-burn aerosol generation device is generally manufactured by drying a mixture of a tobacco raw material, an aerosol-generating material, water, etc. Meanwhile, the tobacco material may be provided in various forms, and for example, may be provided in the form of a ball. Due to rising demand for tobacco balls that are in the form of balls including a tobacco material, a need has arisen for a stable manufacturing method through standardization and homogenization of an operating method of a manufacturing facility, which is used in a tobacco ball manufacturing process, and quality measurement of tobacco balls.Disclosure Technical Problem

[0004] One embodiment of the present invention is directed to providing a method of manufacturing a tobacco ball with low quality variance and improved quality by standardizing and stabilizing a tobacco ball manufacturing method.

[0005] The present invention is also directed to providing a tobacco ball that is manufactured through the standardized and stabilized tobacco ball manufacturing method and has improved quality and low quality variance.

[0006] The present invention is also directed to providing a smoking article including a smoking material portion including the tobacco ball that is manufactured through the standardized and stabilized tobacco ball manufacturing method and has improved quality and low quality variance.

[0007] Objectives of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned objectives should be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description.Technical Solution

[0008] A tobacco ball of the present invention for achieving one of the above objectives includes: a tobacco ball core formed of first tobacco powder; and a tobacco ball coating layer formed by spraying a tobacco slurry, which is prepared by mixing second tobacco powder, water, and alcohol, on the tobacco ball core, wherein moisture content of the tobacco ball ranges from 3.0% to 4.2%.

[0009] In some embodiments, a weight ratio of the second tobacco powder, the water, and the alcohol included in the tobacco slurry may be 2 to 4:2 to 4:3 to 6.

[0010] In some embodiments, the tobacco ball coating layer formed on the tobacco ball core may be prepared by performing primary drying for 1 hour to 2 hours with an inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and an internal temperature set to 50 °C to 70 °C after spraying the tobacco slurry onto the tobacco ball core, and after the primary drying, performing secondary drying for 1 hour to 2 hours with the inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and the internal temperature set to 80 °C to 90 °C after spraying the tobacco slurry.

[0011] In some embodiments, the moisture content of the tobacco ball may range from 3.45% to 3.75%.

[0012] In some embodiments, a size of the first tobacco powder may range from 20 µm to 40 µm, and a size of the tobacco ball may range from 600 µm to 850 µm.

[0013] In some embodiments, a hardness of the tobacco ball may be 99% or more.

[0014] A smoking article of the present invention for achieving another of the above objectives includes: a smoking material portion having at least a partial region filled with a tobacco ball; and a filter portion disposed downstream of the smoking material portion, wherein the tobacco ball includes a tobacco ball core formed of first tobacco powder and a tobacco ball coating layer formed by spraying a tobacco slurry, which is prepared by mixing second tobacco powder, water, and alcohol, on the tobacco ball core, and moisture content of the tobacco ball ranges from 3.0% to 4.2%.

[0015] In some embodiments, a weight ratio of the second tobacco powder, the water, and the alcohol included in the tobacco slurry may be 2 to 4:2 to 4:3 to 6.

[0016] In some embodiments, the tobacco ball coating layer formed on the tobacco ball core may be prepared by performing primary drying for 1 hour to 2 hours with an inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and an internal temperature set to 50 °C to 70 °C after spraying the tobacco slurry onto the tobacco ball core, and after the primary drying, performing secondary drying for 1 hour to 2 hours with the inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and the internal temperature set to 80 °C to 90 °C after spraying the tobacco slurry.Advantageous Effects

[0017] A method of manufacturing a tobacco ball of the present invention allows a tobacco ball with low quality variance and improved quality to be manufactured and provided through a standardized and stabilized manufacturing process.

[0018] In addition, it is possible to provide a smoking article including a smoking material portion including the tobacco ball that is manufactured through the standardized and stabilized tobacco ball manufacturing method and has improved quality and low quality variance. Accordingly, because the smoking article includes the tobacco ball with low quality variance, a transfer amount of nicotine during smoking can be uniform, and satisfaction with smoking can be improved.

[0019] Advantageous effects according to the technical spirit of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned advantageous effects should be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.Description of Drawings

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exemplary view illustrating a tobacco ball manufacturing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart of a tobacco ball manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a picture of a twist screen for describing a step of separating tobacco seeds and tobacco balls. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an exemplary configuration of a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an exemplary configuration of a smoking article according to some other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an exemplary configuration of a smoking article according to still some other embodiments of the present invention. Modes of the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of achieving the same should become clear with embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The present embodiments are only provided to make the disclosure of the present invention complete and completely inform those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like components throughout the specification.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0023] In addition, in the present specification, a singular expression may include a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" used herein do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more components, steps, operations, and / or elements other than those mentioned.

[0024] FIG. 1 is an exemplary view illustrating a tobacco ball manufacturing device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, a tobacco ball manufacturing device 1 according to one embodiment may include a mixer tank 100, a raw material coater 200, a control module 300, a slurry nozzle 400, an air nozzle 500, and a twist screen 600. The tobacco ball manufacturing device 1 may further include a washing device.

[0026] In one embodiment, the mixer tank 100 may be a container in which a step of forming a tobacco slurry is performed by, as will be described below, stirring first tobacco powder which is a tobacco raw material in a powder state, water, and a sub-material and slurrying the tobacco raw material in the powder state. Each of the first tobacco powder, water, and sub-material may be added to the mixer tank 100, and stirring may be performed by the control module 300 to prepare a tobacco slurry. The tobacco slurry prepared in the mixer tank 100 may move to a container of the raw material coater 200 through a lower valve 800 that is open.

[0027] In some embodiments, the mixer tank 100 may include a housing that provides a space in which the tobacco slurry is formed and a slurry filter that performs filtering to prevent a tobacco raw material added to the housing of the mixer tank 100 from leaking to the outside. The slurry filter may be mounted in the housing by a slurry fixing frame.

[0028] The raw material coater 200 may be a device that includes a container and a chamber fastened to an upper portion of the container and connected to the container and in which tobacco seeds or tobacco balls are formed by adding second tobacco powder, which is a tobacco raw material in a powder state, to the container of the raw material coater 200 and coating the second tobacco powder with the tobacco slurry formed by the mixer tank 100 by controlling the tobacco slurry using the slurry nozzle 400 and the air nozzle 500 and spraying the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder through the slurry nozzle 400.

[0029] Examples of a method of spraying the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder added to the raw material coater 200 may include a top spray method, a bottom spray method, and a tangential spray method according to the positions and methods of the nozzles. In some embodiments, when the tobacco slurry is sprayed using the top spray method, the slurry nozzle 400 may be fastened to the chamber, and the slurry nozzle 400 may be configured as one nozzle. In some other embodiments, when the tobacco slurry is sprayed using the bottom spray method, the slurry nozzle 400 may be fastened to the container, and the slurry nozzle 400 may be configured as three nozzles.

[0030] As will be described below, according to a tobacco ball manufacturing method according to the present invention, the slurry nozzle 400 may be configured as three nozzles, may be fastened to the container, and may spray using the bottom spray method.

[0031] Although not limited thereto, a process of drying the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls formed in the container of the raw material coater 200 may also be performed in the container of the raw material coater 200.

[0032] In some embodiments, the raw material coater 200 may further include a temperature sensor for sensing an internal temperature of the container.

[0033] The control module 300, which is a module for controlling a set value or an on / off mode of each piece of equipment of the tobacco ball manufacturing device 1, may include a display device that displays each piece of equipment of the tobacco ball manufacturing device 1 and the set value or on / off mode of each piece of equipment, and software. A user may set the set value or on / off mode of each piece of equipment of the tobacco ball manufacturing device 1 and may monitor each process in real time through a screen of the display device.

[0034] The twist screen 600 may be a device for separating tobacco seeds or tobacco balls by size. In some embodiments, tobacco seeds may include first tobacco seeds having a size of 30 mesh to 40 mesh and second tobacco seeds having a size of 40 mesh or smaller, and tobacco balls may have a size of 20 mesh to 30 mesh. By the twist screen 600, the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls manufactured in the container of the raw material coater 200 may be separated by size into the first tobacco seeds, the second tobacco seeds, and the tobacco balls and stored in individual storages.

[0035] Meanwhile, in the present specification, unless further explanation is given, "mesh" may refer to the number of grids included in one side of a square of which a length of one side is 1 inch (25.4 mm). For example, "2 mesh" may indicate that two grids are present in one side of a square size of which horizontal and vertical lengths are each 1 inch.

[0036] For example, when the size is 20 mesh or larger, a particle diameter size may be 850 microns (µm) or more, when the size is 20 mesh to 30 mesh, a particle diameter size may range from 600 µm to 850 µm, when the size is 30 mesh to 40 mesh, a particle diameter size may range from 425 µm to 600 µm, and when the size is 40 mesh or smaller, a particle diameter size may be 425 µm or less.

[0037] FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart of a tobacco ball manufacturing method according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a picture of a twist screen for describing a step of separating tobacco seeds and tobacco balls.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, a tobacco ball manufacturing method according to one embodiment may include preparing a tobacco ball manufacturing device (S100), preparing a tobacco slurry using a mixer tank (S200), manufacturing tobacco seeds or tobacco balls by adding second tobacco powder to a raw material coater and spraying the tobacco slurry thereon using a nozzle (S300), drying the manufactured tobacco seeds or tobacco balls (S400), and separating the tobacco seeds and the tobacco balls (S500). The tobacco ball manufacturing method according to one embodiment may further include, after the separating of the tobacco seeds and the tobacco balls (S500), washing the raw material coater and the mixer tank and measuring a yield of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls (S600).

[0039] First, a tobacco ball manufacturing device is prepared (S100).

[0040] Specifically, preparing of the tobacco ball manufacturing device (S100) may include mounting a slurry filter of the mixer tank 100 on the housing of the mixer tank 100 after washing the housing of the mixer tank 100 (S110), fastening the container and the chamber of the raw material coater 200 (S120), fastening the slurry nozzle 400 to the raw material coater 200 (S130), and preheating the raw material coater 200 (S140).

[0041] Although not limited thereto, the preheating of the raw material coater 200 (S140) may be performed using the display device of the control module 300. For example, setting may be performed using an icon for setting an initial value of a facility of each piece of equipment of the tobacco ball manufacturing device that is displayed on the display device of the control module 300.

[0042] In some embodiments, in the preheating of the raw material coater 200, the raw material coater 200 may be preheated under preheating conditions including an inlet temperature of 30 °C to 60 °C, an air flap opening / closing rate of 40% to 80%, and blow of 30% to 60%, preferably under preheating conditions including an inlet temperature of 40 °C to 50 °C, an air flap opening / closing rate of 50% to 70%, and blow of 40% to 50%.

[0043] Although not limited thereto, a preheating time may be 10 minutes to 30 minutes. The air flap opening / closing rate may indicate injecting air into the raw material coater 200, and the blow may indicate discharging air from inside the raw material coater 200 to the outside.

[0044] Next, a tobacco slurry is prepared using a mixer tank (S200).

[0045] Specifically, first tobacco powder, water, and alcohol are added to the mixer tank 100, and stirring is performed in the mixer tank 100 to prepare a tobacco slurry. Although not limited thereto, while the first tobacco powder is added a little at a time into the mixer tank 100, whether the first tobacco powder, water, and alcohol are being stirred well in the mixer tank 100 may be monitored through the display device of the control module 300.

[0046] Meanwhile, the first tobacco powder may be leaf tobacco in a powder state that is obtained by crushing a tobacco raw material into sizes of fine particles through a crushing process. The tobacco raw material includes a tobacco material and may be any form of material that includes a component derived from tobacco leaves. The tobacco raw material may be one or more selected from the group consisting of fire-cured tobacco, sun-cured tobacco, flue-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, and Orient tobacco, but the varieties of tobacco included in the tobacco raw material are not limited thereto. The tobacco raw material may include tobacco of multiple varieties or may include tobacco of a single variety.

[0047] In some embodiments, the first tobacco powder may be powder having a size of 20 to 40 µm.

[0048] In some embodiments, alcohol, which is a sub-material that can shorten the time taken to manufacture tobacco seeds or tobacco balls, may be a liquid material whose ethanol content ranges from 90% to 95%.

[0049] In some embodiments, the raw and sub-materials added to the mixer tank 100 may be added in the order of water, alcohol, and first tobacco powder. Although not limited thereto, the water and alcohol may be added into the mixer tank 100 by valve control using the display device of the control module 300, and the first tobacco powder may be added into the mixer tank 100 directly by a worker. The current added amount of each of the raw and sub-materials added into the mixer tank 100, that is, water, alcohol, and the first tobacco powder, may be checked through an upper load cell of the mixer tank 100.

[0050] In some embodiments, a weight ratio of the first tobacco powder, water, and alcohol that are added to the mixer tank 100 to prepare the tobacco slurry may be 2 to 4:2 to 4:3 to 6.

[0051] Next, tobacco seeds or tobacco balls are manufactured by adding second tobacco powder to a raw material coater and spraying the tobacco slurry thereon using a nozzle (S300).

[0052] Specifically, the manufacturing of the tobacco seeds or the tobacco balls by adding of the second tobacco powder to the raw material coater and the spraying of the tobacco slurry thereon using the nozzle (S300) may include adding the second tobacco powder, which is a tobacco raw material in a powder state, to the preheated raw material coater 200 (S310) and spraying the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder added to the raw material coater 200 (S320).

[0053] In some embodiments, the second tobacco powder may include an exemplary material of the first tobacco powder. The first tobacco powder and the second tobacco powder may be the same leaf tobacco or may be leaf tobacco of different types. The second tobacco powder may be powder having a size of 20 to 40 µm.

[0054] First, in the adding of the second tobacco powder, which is a tobacco raw material in a powder state, to the preheated raw material coater 200 (S310), the second tobacco powder may be added to the container of the raw material coater 200 through a pneumatic conveying device (Denseveyor).

[0055] In some embodiments, the adding of the second tobacco powder to the container of the raw material coater 200 may be performed using a pneumatic conveying device while the air flap opening / closing rate of the preheating conditions is controlled to be 30% to 40% to maintain a vacuum state when the second tobacco powder is added.

[0056] In some embodiments, a weight of the second tobacco powder added to the container of the raw material coater 200 may range from 50 kg to 70 kg.

[0057] Next, the tobacco slurry is sprayed onto the second tobacco powder added to the raw material coater 200 (S320).

[0058] Specifically, when the adding of the second tobacco powder into the raw material coater 200 is complete, the air flap opening / closing rate is controlled to be increased to be 40% to 80%, and the tobacco slurry may be sprayed onto the second tobacco powder when a temperature inside the raw material coater 200 reaches a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature may range from 30 °C to 60 °C.

[0059] In some embodiments, the spraying of the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder (S320) may include: a) fluidizing the second tobacco powder in the raw material coater 200 under conditions including an inlet temperature of 70 °C to 100 °C, an internal temperature (internal temperature of the raw material coater 200) of 30 °C to 60 °C, an air flap opening / closing rate of 40% to 80%, and blow of 30% to 70%; and b) spraying the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder in the raw material coater 200 using the slurry nozzle 400 under spraying conditions including a spray speed of 1 kg / min to 5 kg / min and a spray pressure of 1 bar to 3 bar.

[0060] In some embodiments, in step b), spraying may be initially performed with a spray rpm ranging from 2 rpm to 8 rpm, and when stabilization of the internal temperature and a degree of flow is confirmed through monitoring, the spray rpm may be controlled to be increased to range from 5 rpm to 15 rpm.

[0061] In some embodiments, the conditions including the inlet temperature, the internal temperature, the air flap opening / closing rate, and the blow in step b) may be the same as those in step a).

[0062] Meanwhile, examples of a method of spraying the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder added to the container of the raw material coater 200 using a nozzle may include a top spray method, a bottom spray method, and a tangential spray method according to the positions and methods of the nozzle, and preferably, the spraying step may be performed using the bottom spray method.

[0063] A weight of the tobacco slurry sprayed in the spraying step may range from 200 kg to 400 kg, and the amount of the second tobacco powder and the amount of the sprayed tobacco slurry may be controlled according to the amount of manufactured tobacco balls. Although not limited thereto, based on the weights of the second tobacco powder and the tobacco slurry, the tobacco slurry may be sprayed for 2 to 4 hours in step b).

[0064] As the tobacco slurry is sprayed onto the second tobacco powder using a nozzle, and the tobacco slurry flows along with hot air, the tobacco slurry is condensed, rolled, and coated on the second tobacco powder, and in this way, the size of the second tobacco powder may increase, and tobacco seeds may be manufactured.

[0065] Although not limited thereto, the spraying of the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder using the nozzle may be repeatedly performed. Specifically, in the spraying of the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder using the nozzle, for the tobacco slurry to be layered on the second tobacco powder and form tobacco seeds or tobacco balls having a predetermined size or more, the tobacco slurry may be repeatedly sprayed onto the second tobacco powder multiple times. In this way, as a process of layering or coating the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder is repeated, the tobacco ball according to one embodiment can be manufactured to have a predetermined size and hardness.

[0066] Next, the manufactured tobacco seeds or tobacco balls are dried (S400).

[0067] The drying of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls may be performed to control moisture content. The drying of the manufactured tobacco seeds or tobacco balls (S400) may include, after the spraying operation ends, performing primary drying under first drying conditions including an inlet temperature of 70 °C to 100 °C and an internal temperature of 50 °C to 70 °C and performing secondary drying under second drying conditions including an inlet temperature of 70 °C to 100 °C and an internal temperature of 80 °C to 90 °C. That is, in the drying of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls, a drying process may be repeated two times. The primary drying and the secondary drying may each be performed for 1 hour to 2 hours.

[0068] Specifically, after the spraying of the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder using the nozzle is repeatedly performed, a primary drying process may be performed, spraying the tobacco slurry onto the tobacco seeds that have undergone the primary drying process using the nozzle may be additionally performed, and then a secondary drying process may be performed. By performing the drying process two times, moisture content in the tobacco balls may range from 3.0% to 4.2%, from 3.1% to 4.1%, from 3.2% to 4.0%, from 3.3% to 3.7%, from 3.4% to 3.8%, and preferably, from 3.45% to 3.75%. In the tobacco ball manufacturing method according to the present invention, because the drying step is performed two times, the moisture content in the tobacco balls can be adjusted to be within the above range.

[0069] Next, the tobacco seeds and the tobacco balls are separated (S500).

[0070] Specifically, the tobacco seeds and tobacco balls manufactured in the container of the raw material coater 200 may be separated by size using the twist screen 600 of FIG. 3. As described above, in some embodiments, the tobacco seeds may include the first tobacco seeds having the size of 30 mesh to 40 mesh and the second tobacco seeds having the size of 40 mesh or smaller, and the tobacco balls may have the size of 20 mesh to 30 mesh. Accordingly, the tobacco seeds and tobacco balls manufactured in the container of the raw material coater 200 may be moved to the twist screen 600, may be separated by size into the first tobacco seeds, the second tobacco seeds, and the tobacco balls using the twist screen 600, and may be stored in individual storages. Although not limited thereto, the separating step may be performed for 20 minutes to 40 minutes.

[0071] Meanwhile, the tobacco ball manufacturing method may further include washing the raw material coater and the mixer tank and measuring a yield of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls (S600).

[0072] Specifically, the washing of the raw material coater and the mixer tank and the measuring of the yield of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls (S600) may include shutting down the software (S610) and removing hardware (S620).

[0073] In some embodiments, the shutting down of the software (S610) may include deactivating each piece of equipment of the tobacco ball manufacturing device, and the removing of the hardware (S620) may include a step of separating the temperature sensor in the container of the raw material coater 200 and separating the slurry nozzle and the air nozzle, a step of washing the inside of the mixer tank 100 and the slurry nozzle, a step of measuring the yield of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls located inside the container of the raw material coater 200, a step of measuring an amount of fine particles remaining in the container of the raw material coater 200 from which the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls have been removed, and a step of washing the inside of the container of the raw material coater 200.

[0074] In some embodiments, the measuring of the yield of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls located inside the container of the raw material coater 200 may include moving the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls located inside the container of the raw material coater 200 to a temporary storage and measuring a weight of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls in the temporary storage to measure the yield. Meanwhile, after the yield is measured by measuring the weight of the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls in the temporary storage, the tobacco seeds and tobacco balls in the temporary storage may be moved to the twist screen 600.

[0075] In some embodiments, the measuring of the amount of fine particles remaining in the container of the raw material coater 200 from which the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls have been removed may include mounting the container of the raw material coater 200 from which the tobacco seeds or tobacco balls have been removed on a manufacturing facility, performing a system operation, a filter sealing operation, and a container sealing operation, turning on filter shaking, shaking off the fine particles remaining in the filter, and then measuring the amount of fine particles.

[0076] In one embodiment, a tobacco ball core may be formed of the second tobacco powder, and tobacco seeds may be formed by spraying a tobacco slurry, which is in the form of a slurry prepared by mixing the first tobacco powder, water, and alcohol, onto the second tobacco powder. Tobacco seeds in the form of formulated particles can be manufactured by the tobacco slurry being sprayed onto and coating the second tobacco powder or the second tobacco powder and the tobacco slurry being condensed with each other.

[0077] Meanwhile, the spraying of the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder may be repeated multiple times. Accordingly, the tobacco slurry may be layered in multiple layers on the second tobacco powder, and particles having a larger particle diameter than the second tobacco powder can be manufactured. Although not limited thereto, the spraying of the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder may be performed 7 times before the drying step is performed.

[0078] In some embodiments, a weight ratio of the first tobacco powder, water, and alcohol in the tobacco slurry may be 2 to 4:2 to 4:3 to 6. The tobacco slurry in which the weight ratio of the first tobacco powder, water, and alcohol is 2 to 4:2 to 4:3 to 6 may be sprayed onto the second tobacco powder multiple times.

[0079] Although not limited thereto, in the spraying of the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder multiple times, the total weight of the second tobacco powder may range from 50 kg to 70 kg, and the total weight of the tobacco slurry sprayed in each spraying step may range from 200 kg to 400 kg.

[0080] In some embodiments, the spraying of the tobacco slurry onto the second tobacco powder may be performed according to at least one of a top spray method, a bottom spray method, and a tangential spray method according to the positions and methods of the nozzles, and preferably, may be performed using the bottom spray method.

[0081] Meanwhile, the size of the second tobacco powder added in the spraying step may range from 20 to 40 µm, and the size of the first tobacco powder included in the tobacco slurry may range from 20 to 40 µm.

[0082] Next, the manufactured tobacco seeds are primarily dried and then secondarily dried. The primary drying step may be performed for 1 hour to 2 hours with an inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and an internal temperature set to 30 °C to 60 °C, and the secondary drying step may be performed for 1 hour to 2 hours with the inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and the internal temperature set to 50 °C to 70 °C.

[0083] In some embodiments, the moisture content in the tobacco balls manufactured according to the manufacturing method may range from 3.0% to 4.2%, from 3.1% to 4.1%, from 3.2% to 4.0%, from 3.3% to 3.7%, from 3.4% to 3.8%, and preferably, from 3.45% to 3.75%.

[0084] In some embodiments, a hardness of the tobacco balls may be 99% or more.

[0085] Hereinafter, the configurations of the present invention and the advantageous effects according thereto will be described in more detail using examples and comparative examples. However, the examples are merely for describing the present invention in more detail, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.Example 1

[0086] A plurality of tobacco balls were manufactured for testing in this example. Specifically, in order to manufacture tobacco balls, spraying a tobacco slurry, prepared by mixing 90 kg of first tobacco powder, 120 kg of alcohol, and 90 kg of water, onto 60 kg of second tobacco powder using a nozzle was repeated 7 times, primary drying was performed for 2 hours with an inlet temperature set to 80 °C and an internal temperature sent to 70 °C, the tobacco slurry prepared by mixing 90 kg of first tobacco powder, 120 kg of alcohol, and 90 kg of water was re-sprayed using the nozzle, secondary drying was performed for 1 hour and 40 minutes with the inlet temperature set to 90 °C and the internal temperature set to 80 °C, and then tobacco balls having a size of 20 mesh to 30 mesh, that is, a particle diameter size of 600 µm to 850 µm, were sorted out.Comparative Example 1

[0087] Tobacco balls were manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that, after the primary drying, the tobacco slurry re-spraying step and the secondary drying step were omitted, and then tobacco balls having a size of 20 mesh to 30 mesh, that is, a particle diameter size of 600 µm to 850 µm, were sorted out.

[0088] Experimental Example 1: Evaluation of hardness and moisture content in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1

[0089] A yield of tobacco balls satisfying an average particle size, a hardness, moisture content, and a size of the tobacco balls of Comparative Example 1 in which the tobacco slurry re-spraying step and the secondary drying step were omitted and a yield of tobacco balls satisfying an average particle size, a hardness, moisture content, and a size of the tobacco balls of Example 1 were measured and are shown in Table 1 below. [Table 1]Classification Average particle size (µm) Hardness (%) Moisture content (%) Packing density (g / mL) Yield (%) Example 1 75499.83.740.5587Comparative Example 1 71098.64.30.5477.2

[0090] Referring to Table 1, compared to Comparative Example 1, tobacco balls having a hardness of 99% or more and moisture content of lower than 4%, which are excellent moisture content and hardness that satisfy quality standards of tobacco balls, can be manufactured in Example 1, and the yield of the tobacco balls manufactured in Example 1 may be higher than the yield of the tobacco balls manufactured in Comparative Example 1. Meanwhile, in the present specification, the yield of tobacco balls may be defined as a percentage of distribution of tobacco balls (having a size of 20 mesh to 30 mesh, that is, a particle diameter size of 600 µm to 850 µm) relative to the total distribution of tobacco balls and tobacco seeds manufactured by each manufacturing method. In addition, in the present specification, "hardness of tobacco balls" is a physical property related to elasticity and restorability and may refer to the degree of resistance to pressure applied to surfaces of tobacco balls in the vertical direction, and the tobacco balls of Example 1 can secure a stable hardness at a level required for commercialization, compared to the hardness of the tobacco balls of Comparative Example 1. That is, a manufacturing yield of tobacco balls that satisfy the quality standards of tobacco balls can be improved in Example 1 compared to Comparative Example 1, and stable tobacco balls can be provided.

[0091] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an exemplary configuration of a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 4, a smoking article 100K may include a smoking material portion 110K around which a smoking material wrapper 110Ka is wrapped, a filter portion 120K around which a filter wrapper 120Ka is wrapped, and tipping paper 130K combining the smoking material portion 110K and the filter portion 120K. In some embodiments, the smoking article 100K may be a burning type cigarette in which the smoking material portion 110K burns, and an aerosol is generated and delivered to the user.

[0093] The smoking material portion 110K of the present invention may have an entire region filled with the above-described tobacco balls. Alternatively, the smoking material portion 110K may be filled with a mixture of at least two or more of the above-described tobacco balls and a leaf tobacco raw material and reconstituted tobacco leaves in the form of a sheet or the form of shredded tobacco. The smoking material portion 110K may have the form of a longitudinally extending rod whose length, circumference, and diameter may vary.

[0094] In some embodiments, the tobacco balls with which the smoking material portion 110K is filled may be tobacco balls manufactured using the method described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. That is, the tobacco balls may include a tobacco ball core and a tobacco ball coating layer coated and formed on the tobacco ball core.

[0095] In some embodiments, the tobacco ball core may be second tobacco powder, the second tobacco powder may be leaf tobacco in a powder state that is obtained by crushing a tobacco raw material into sizes of fine particles through a crushing process and may be in the form of powder having a size of 20 µm to 40 µm, and the tobacco balls including the tobacco ball core may have a size of 20 mesh to 30 mesh, that is, a particle diameter size of 600 µm to 850 µm.

[0096] In some embodiments, the tobacco ball coating layer coated on the tobacco ball core may be a coating layer formed by spraying a tobacco slurry, which is in the form of a slurry prepared by stirring first tobacco powder, water, and alcohol, onto the tobacco ball core which is the second tobacco powder and performing drying.

[0097] In some embodiments, the tobacco ball coating layer may include the first tobacco powder, and the first tobacco powder may be leaf tobacco in a powder state that is obtained by crushing a tobacco raw material into sizes of fine particles through a crushing process. In some embodiments, the second tobacco powder constituting the tobacco ball core and the first tobacco powder constituting the tobacco ball coating layer may be the same leaf tobacco or may be leaf tobacco of different types.

[0098] In some embodiments, a weight ratio of the first tobacco powder, water, and alcohol included in the tobacco slurry may be 2 to 4:2 to 4:3 to 6.

[0099] The smoking material wrapper 110Ka may be wrapped around the smoking material portion 110K. Meanwhile, because the tobacco balls manufactured according to the above-described embodiments of the present invention have a hardness and moisture content at an appropriate level, and variation in average particle sizes of the tobacco balls is low, filling with the tobacco balls is easy, and damage to the tobacco balls filled in the smoking material portion 110K can be minimized.

[0100] The filter portion 120K may be disposed downstream of the smoking material portion 110K and may be a region through which an aerosol material generated in the smoking material portion 110K passes right before being inhaled by the user.

[0101] The filter portion 120K may be formed of various materials, and for example, the filter portion 120K may be a cellulose acetate filter.

[0102] In some embodiments, the filter portion 120K may be a cellulose acetate filter to which a flavoring material is not added, but the filter portion 120K is not limited thereto and may be a transfer jet nozzle system (TJNS) filter to which a flavoring material is added.

[0103] In some embodiments, the filter portion 120K may be a tubular structure including a hollow therein. In addition, the filter portion 120K may be manufactured by inserting structures such as films or tubes made of the same or different materials into the filter portion 120K (for example, the hollow).

[0104] Meanwhile, a hardness of the filter portion 120K may be adjusted by controlling the content of plasticizer at the time of manufacturing the filter portion 120K. Triacetin may be applied as the plasticizer, but the type and content of plasticizer are not limited thereto and may be appropriately controlled as necessary.

[0105] The filter portion 120K of the present embodiment is illustrated as a mono filter made of a single filter, but is not limited thereto. For example, of course, the filter portion 120K may be provided as a dual filter having two acetate filters, a triple filter, etc., to increase filter efficiency.

[0106] The above-described filter portion 120K is disposed downstream of the smoking material portion 110K and serves as a filter through which an aerosol material generated in the smoking material portion 110K passes right before being inhaled by the user.

[0107] The filter wrapper 120Ka may be wrapped around the filter portion 120K. In some embodiments, the filter wrapper 120Ka may be manufactured as wrapping paper having grease resistance. The filter wrapper 120Ka may be manufactured using grease-resistant wrapping paper to, when a smoker breaks a capsule that may be included in the filter portion 120K, prevent a liquid filled in the capsule that is released from the capsule from passing through the filter wrapper 120Ka. In some embodiments, an aluminum foil may be further included on an inner surface of the filter wrapper 120Ka.

[0108] The filter portion 120K around which the filter wrapper 120Ka is wrapped and the smoking material portion 110K around which the smoking material wrapper 110Ka is wrapped may be combined and wrapped with the tipping paper 130K. That is, the tipping paper 130K may wrap around at least a portion (for example, a partial downstream region) of the smoking material wrapper 110Ka and an outer periphery of the filter wrapper 120Ka. Meanwhile, the tipping paper 130K may also include an incombustible material to prevent a phenomenon in which the filter portion 120K burns according to burning of the smoking material portion 110K.

[0109] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an exemplary configuration of a smoking article according to some other embodiments of the present invention.

[0110] Referring to FIG. 5, a smoking article 200K may include a smoking material portion 210K, a support structure 220K, a cooling structure 230K, a mouthpiece portion 240K, and a wrapper 260K. In some embodiments, the smoking article 200K may be a non-burning-type (or a heating-type) cigarette that is used together with an aerosol generation device (not illustrated) such as an electronic cigarette device.

[0111] The smoking material portion 210K of the present invention may have a partial region or an entire region filled with the tobacco balls described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The smoking material portion 210K may have a configuration substantially similar to that of the smoking material portion 110K described above with reference to FIG. 4, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0112] The support structure 220K may be a tubular structure including a hollow 220KH therein. The support structure 220K may be manufactured using cellulose acetate, and accordingly, a phenomenon in which a material inside the smoking material portion 210K is pushed backward (that is, downstream) in a situation in which a heater (not illustrated) of an aerosol generation device is being inserted can be prevented, and an aerosol cooling effect can also be generated.

[0113] In some embodiments, a hardness of the support structure 220K may be adjusted by controlling the content of plasticizer at the time of manufacturing the support structure 220K. In addition, the support structure 220K may be manufactured by inserting structures such as films or tubes made of the same or different materials into the support structure 220K (for example, the hollow 220KH).

[0114] The cooling structure 230K may be contiguous to the support structure 220K and may be disposed downstream of the support structure 220K. The cooling structure 230K may serve as a cooling member that cools an aerosol generated by the heater (not illustrated) of the aerosol generation device heating the smoking material portion 210K. Accordingly, the user is able to inhale an aerosol cooled to a suitable temperature.

[0115] The cooling structure 230K may be produced by one or more processes, and a process of wrapping a wrapper made of paper or a polymer material around an outer portion of the cooling structure 230K may be added. Here, examples of the polymer material include gelatin, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyurethane (PU), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), and a combination thereof, but the polymer material is not limited thereto.

[0116] Meanwhile, the cooling structure 230K may be a tubular structure including a hollow 230KH therein as illustrated in FIG. 5. A cross-sectional shape of the hollow may be polygonal or circular, but at this time, an inner diameter of the cooling structure 230K may be larger than an inner diameter of the support structure 220K. For example, an inner diameter of the support structure 220K may be about 2.5 mm, and an inner diameter of the cooling structure 230K may be about 4.2 mm, but the size and shape of the hollow are not limited thereto.

[0117] The mouthpiece portion 240K is disposed at a downstream end of the smoking article 200K and may serve as a mouthpiece that finally delivers the aerosol delivered from an upstream side to the user. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece portion 240K may be a cellulose acetate filter. Although not illustrated, the mouthpiece portion 240K may also be manufactured as a recess filter.

[0118] The wrapper 260K may be porous wrapping paper or nonporous wrapping paper. Meanwhile, at least one of the smoking material portion 210K, the support structure 220K, the cooling structure 230K, and the mouthpiece portion 240K may be wrapped with a separate wrapper before being wrapped with the wrapper 260K. For example, the smoking material portion 210K may be wrapped with a smoking material wrapper (not illustrated), and the support structure 220K, the cooling structure 230K, and the mouthpiece portion 240K may be wrapped with a first filter wrapper (not illustrated), a second filter wrapper (not illustrated), and a third filter wrapper (not illustrated), respectively, but the smoking article 200K and the way in which the portions constituting the smoking article 200K are wrapped with wrappers are not limited thereto.

[0119] The wrapper 260K may prevent a phenomenon in which the smoking article 200K burns. For example, when the smoking material portion 210K is heated by the heater (not illustrated) of the aerosol generation device, there is a possibility that the smoking article 200K may burn. More specifically, the smoking article 200K may burn when a temperature increases to a temperature equal to or higher than an ignition point of any one of the materials included in the smoking material portion 210K. Even in this case, because the wrapper 260K includes an incombustible material, the phenomenon in which the smoking article 200K burns can be prevented.

[0120] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an exemplary configuration of a smoking article according to still some other embodiments of the present invention.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 6, a smoking article 300K may include a front end filter segment 350K (or a front plug), a smoking material portion 310K, a support structure 320K, a mouthpiece portion 340K, and a wrapper 360K. The smoking article 300K may be a non-burning-type (or a heating-type) cigarette that is used together with an aerosol generation device (not illustrated) such as an electronic cigarette device.

[0122] The smoking material portion 310K, the support structure 320K, the mouthpiece portion 340K, and the wrapper 360K may have configurations substantially similar to those of the smoking material portion 210K, the support structure 220K, the mouthpiece portion 240K, and the wrapper 260K described above with reference to FIG. 5, and hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity of description, differences from the smoking article 200K described above with reference to FIG. 5 will be mainly described.

[0123] Unlike the smoking articles 100K and 200K described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the smoking article 300K may further include the front end filter segment 350K that is contiguous to the smoking material portion 310K while upstream of the smoking material portion 310K.

[0124] The front end filter segment 350K may be made of cellulose acetate. The front end filter segment 350K may physically block the smoking material portion 310K from falling out of the smoking article 300K and may also prevent a liquefied aerosol from flowing from the smoking material portion 310K into the aerosol generation device (not illustrated) during smoking.

[0125] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the front end filter segment 350K may include a hollow or a channel 350KH that extends from an upstream end toward a downstream end. The channel 350KH may be disposed at the center of the front end filter segment 350K. For example, the center of the channel 350KH may coincide with the center of the front end filter segment 350K.

[0126] When the channel 350KH is provided in the front end filter segment 350K, because an aerosol introduced through the upstream end of the front end filter segment 350K can more easily exit through the downstream end of the front end filter segment 350K, the user is able to easily inhale the aerosol.

[0127] Although the channel 350KH of the present embodiment is illustrated as having a circular cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape of the channel 350KH is not limited thereto. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the channel 350KH may be a trefoil shape.

[0128] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and should be construed based on the claims. Here, it should be considered that numerous modifications and changes can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tobacco ball comprising: a tobacco ball core formed of first tobacco powder; and a tobacco ball coating layer formed by spraying a tobacco slurry, which is prepared by mixing second tobacco powder, water, and alcohol, on the tobacco ball core, wherein moisture content of the tobacco ball ranges from 3.0% to 4.2%.

2. The tobacco ball of claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of the second tobacco powder, the water, and the alcohol included in the tobacco slurry is 2 to 4:2 to 4:3 to 6.

3. The tobacco ball of claim 1, wherein the tobacco ball coating layer formed on the tobacco ball core is prepared by: performing primary drying for 1 hour to 2 hours with an inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and an internal temperature set to 50 °C to 70 °C after spraying the tobacco slurry onto the tobacco ball core; and after the primary drying, performing secondary drying for 1 hour to 2 hours with the inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and the internal temperature set to 80 °C to 90 °C after spraying the tobacco slurry.

4. The tobacco ball of claim 1, wherein the moisture content of the tobacco ball ranges from 3.45% to 3.75%.

5. The tobacco ball of claim 1, wherein a size of the first tobacco powder ranges from 20 µm to 40 µm; and a size of the tobacco ball ranges from 600 µm to 850 µm.

6. The tobacco ball of claim 1, wherein a hardness of the tobacco ball is 99% or more.

7. A smoking article comprising: a smoking material portion having at least a partial region filled with a tobacco ball; and a filter portion disposed downstream of the smoking material portion, wherein the tobacco ball includes a tobacco ball core formed of first tobacco powder and a tobacco ball coating layer formed by spraying a tobacco slurry, which is prepared by mixing second tobacco powder, water, and alcohol, on the tobacco ball core, and moisture content of the tobacco ball ranges from 3.0% to 4.2%.

8. The smoking article of claim 7, wherein a weight ratio of the second tobacco powder, the water, and the alcohol included in the tobacco slurry is 2 to 4:2 to 4:3 to 6.

9. The smoking article of claim 8, wherein the tobacco ball coating layer formed on the tobacco ball core is prepared by: performing primary drying for 1 hour to 2 hours with an inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and an internal temperature set to 50 °C to 70 °C after spraying the tobacco slurry onto the tobacco ball core; and after the primary drying, performing secondary drying for 1 hour to 2 hours with the inlet temperature set to 70 °C to 100 °C and the internal temperature set to 80 °C to 90 °C after spraying the tobacco slurry.

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