Aerosol generation product and aerosol generation system

Abstract

An aerosol generation product and an aerosol generation system provided by the embodiments of the present application. The aerosol generation product comprises a medium section, a first functional section and a second functional section which are successively arranged in a first direction, one of the first functional section and the second functional section being a cooling section, the medium section being of an integrated structure, the medium section being internally provided with at least one aerosol passage hole, and the aerosol passage hole passing through at least one end of the medium section in the first direction. The medium section of the aerosol generation product provided by the embodiments of the present application generates aerosol when being heated, and the aerosol gathers in the aerosol passage hole and is conveyed to a vaping end under the action of vaping negative pressure. The aerosol passage hole can reduce the vaping resistance for users and achieves a relatively large amount of vapor, thus improving the stability of aerosol release and vaping. Moreover, the medium section is of an integrated structure so as to improve the density uniformity of the medium section, thereby further improving the stability of aerosol release and vaping.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is filed based on and claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202310927503.2 filed on July 26, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The application relate to the technical field of smoke-generating articles, and in particular to an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system.BACKGROUND

[0003] Smoke-generating articles include a smoke-generating article forming aerosols by ignition and a smoke-generating article forming aerosols by Heated Not Burn (HNB), here in a typical HNB smoke-generating article, the smoking article contains an aerosol generating substrate which may evaporate when it is heated to generate aerosols, the aerosol generating substrate is heated by an external heat source to an extent where the aerosol generating substrate is heated just enough to emit fragrance, the aerosol generating substrate does not burn, instead carries an atomizing agent, and the atomizing agent is released by heating at a high temperature during usage, to form smoke.

[0004] In the related art, when the smoke-generating article is smoked, there is a large Resistance To Draw (RTD) upon smoking the article, and there are unstable release and smoking of the aerosols, which reduces a user's experience upon using the article.SUMMARY

[0005] In view of this, the application is desired to provide an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating system, which may improve stability of release and smoking of the aerosols.

[0006] In order to achieve the above purpose, an embodiment of the application provides an aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating article includes a substrate segment, a first functional segment and a second functional segment sequentially arranged in a first direction.

[0007] One of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is a cooling segment.

[0008] The substrate segment is provided in an integral structure, the substrate segment is provided with at least one air channel hole at interior thereof, and the air channel hole passes through at least one end of the substrate segment in the first direction.

[0009] In an implementation, the substrate segment, the first functional segment and the second functional segment may be in a separable structure, the first functional segment is the cooling segment, and the second functional segment is a filter segment.

[0010] In an implementation, the first functional segment may be a filter segment, and the second functional segment is the cooling segment.

[0011] In an implementation, the cooling segment may be in a hollow tubular structure.

[0012] In an implementation, the filter segment may be in a solid cellulose acetate structure.

[0013] In an implementation, one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment may be in a solid structure, and another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is in a hollow structure.

[0014] In an implementation, the aerosol generating article may include a wrapping layer, the wrapping layer wraps around circumferential surfaces of the substrate segment, the first functional segment and the second functional segment.

[0015] In an implementation, the substrate segment and the first functional segment may be arranged at an interval there-between, and define a first cavity together with the wrapping layer.

[0016] In an implementation, the first functional segment and the second functional segment may be arranged at an interval there-between, and define a second cavity together with the wrapping layer.

[0017] In an implementation, the wrapping layer may be protruded out of an end surface of the substrate segment at a side facing away from the first functional segment, and defines a third cavity together with the end surface of the substrate segment.

[0018] In an implementation, the wrapping layer may be protruded out of an end surface of the second functional segment at a side facing away from the first functional segment, and defines a fourth cavity together with an end surface of the substrate segment.

[0019] In an implementation, the aerosol generating article may include a coating layer, the coating layer is coated on the circumferential surface of the substrate segment and is sandwiched between the wrapping layer and the substrate segment.

[0020] In an implementation, two ends of the first functional segment in the first direction may be in contact with the substrate segment and the second functional segment respectively.

[0021] In an implementation, at least one end surface of the substrate segment, the first functional segment or the second functional segment in the first direction may be a first curved surface with a non-zero curvature.

[0022] In an implementation, an end surface adjacent to the first curved surface of the substrate segment, the first functional segment or the second functional segment may be a second curved surface adapted to the first curved surface, or the end surface adjacent to the first curved surface of the substrate segment, the first functional segment or the second functional segment is the first curved surface.

[0023] In an implementation, the substrate segment, the first functional segment and the second functional segment may be cylinders with the same outer diameter and arranged coaxially, and the first direction is an axial direction of the substrate segment, the first functional segment and the second functional segment.

[0024] An embodiment of the application further provides an aerosol generating system, the aerosol generating system includes an aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating article as described above, the aerosol generating device includes a heating element, and the heating element is configured to heat the substrate segment to generate aerosols.

[0025] An embodiment of the application provides an aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating article includes a substrate segment, a first functional segment and a second functional segment sequentially arranged in a first direction, the substrate segment generates aerosols when it is heated, one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is a cooling segment configured to cool the aerosols to avoid a problem of "scalding mouth", and another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment may achieve supporting and / or filtering and / or cooling functions to improve the user's experience upon using the article.

[0026] The substrate segment of the aerosol generating article according to the embodiment of the application is provided in an integral structure, the substrate segment is provided with at least one air channel hole at interior thereof, the air channel hole passes through at least one end of the substrate segment in the first direction, a hole wall of the air channel hole constitutes an inner surface of the substrate segment, the air channel hole may increase an area of the inner surface of the substrate segment, facilitate heat transfer and improve heating efficiency. The substrate segment generates aerosols after it is heated, the aerosols are collected in the air channel hole and are transported to a smoking end with an action of a negative pressure for smoking, the air channel hole may reduce the user's RTD upon smoking the article and achieve a large amount of smoke, which improves stability of release and smoking of the aerosols. Furthermore, the substrate segment is provided in an integral structure, for example, the integral structure may be molded by an extrusion, die-casting or injection molding process, to improve uniformity of density of the substrate segment and further improve stability of release and smoking of the aerosols.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of the application. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating article shown in FIG. 1, here dashed arrows indicate a flow direction of airflow in the aerosol generating article. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating article according to a second embodiment of the application. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating article according to a third embodiment of the application. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating article according to a fourth embodiment of the application. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating article according to a fifth embodiment of the application. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating article according to a sixth embodiment of the application. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating article according to a seventh embodiment of the application. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating article according to an eighth embodiment of the application. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating article according to a ninth embodiment of the application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] It should be noted that embodiments of the application and technical features in the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict, and detailed descriptions in specific implementations should be understood as explanatory descriptions of the purpose of the application, and should not be considered as undue limitation on the application.

[0029] In descriptions of the application, an orientation or position relationship of "first direction" is based on an orientation or position relationship shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and it should be understood that these orientation terms are only intended to facilitate describing the application and simplifying the descriptions, rather than indicating or implying that a referred device or element must have a specific orientation or must be configured and operated in a specific orientation, and thus cannot be understood as limitation on the application.

[0030] An embodiment of the application provides an aerosol generating article, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, the aerosol generating article includes a substrate segment 10, a first functional segment and a second functional segment sequentially arranged in a first direction.

[0031] One of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is a cooling segment 20, the cooling segment is configured to cool aerosols.

[0032] Another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment may achieve supporting and / or filtering and / or cooling functions.

[0033] The aerosol generating article 100 generates aerosols by the substrate segment 10, and the first functional segment and the second functional segment are not configured to generate aerosols.

[0034] It should be noted that the aerosol generating article 100 according to the embodiment of the application may be applicable to a scenario where it is smoked by ignition, or may be applicable to a scenario where it is smoked by Heated Not Burn (HNB). In the embodiment of the application, descriptions are made by taking an example that the aerosol generating article 100 is applicable to the scenario where it is smoked by HNB.

[0035] The aerosol generating article 100 is intended to use with an aerosol generating device.

[0036] The substrate segment 10 is configured to generate aerosols when it is heated, to allow a user to smoke the aerosols.

[0037] In the embodiment of the application, the substrate segment 10 is in a substantially columnar shape. The columnar shape may be a cylindrical shape (that is, a cross-sectional shape thereof is a circular shape), a prismatic shape (that is, a cross-sectional shape thereof is a polygonal shape), an elliptical cylindrical shape (that is, a cross-sectional shape thereof is an elliptical shape) or the like, which is not limited here.

[0038] The substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment are in a separable structure, all of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment are not connected together by mechanical or physical structures or adhesives there-between, while two of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment may be in contact with each other, that is, the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment are in a combined structure, therefore different substrate segments 10 may be reasonably matched with different first functional segments and different second functional segments to meet customer's different smoking requirements.

[0039] The substrate segment 10 is provided in an integral structure, for example, the integral structure may be molded by an extrusion, injection molding or die-casting process. "molded by extrusion" refers to a processing method by which a mixture of raw materials is fed into an extruder, the materials are pushed forward by screws with an action of a barrel of the extruder with the screws, and continuously pass through a mold of a discharge port of the extruder to form products or semi-finished products in various cross-sectional shapes. The substrate molded by extrusion is in a strip-shaped structure. In this way, the substrate segment 10 presents an integral substrate after the substrate segment 10 is heated for smoking or heating of the substrate segment 10 is stopped, and a phenomenon of disintegration and falling down does not occur easily, which solves problems occurred to the substrate segment 10 made of thin sheets, filamentous or dispersed particles in the related art, for example, the thin sheets loosen and fall off, filamentous components fall off, particle components fall off, and it is difficult to clean the substrate segment, as well as a problem of non-uniform components.

[0040] The substrate segment 10 is provided with at least one air channel hole 10a at interior thereof, and with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 10, the air channel hole 10a passes through at least one end of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction.

[0041] When it is mentioned that the substrate segment 10 is provided with at least one air channel hole 10a at interior thereof, it means that the substrate segment 10 may be provided with one air channel hole 10a at interior thereof, or the substrate segment 10 may be provided with multiple air channel hole 10a at interior thereof.

[0042] It should be noted that "multiple" mentioned in the embodiment of the application refers to a number of two or more.

[0043] In some embodiments, each air channel hole 10a passes through the same end of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction, and another end of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction is closed.

[0044] In some other embodiments, a portion of the air channel holes 10a pass through an end of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction, and another portion of the air channel holes 10a pass through another end of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction.

[0045] In yet other embodiments, with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 10, each air channel hole 10a passes through two ends of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction, that is, the air channel hole 10a extends in the first direction of the substrate segment 10, and an airflow may flow from an end of the substrate segment 10 to another end of the substrate segment 10 through the air channel hole 10a. Preferably, the air channel hole 10a is parallel to a central axis of the substrate segment 10.

[0046] A hole wall of the air channel hole 10a constitutes an inner surface of the substrate segment 10, the air channel hole 10a may increase an area of the inner surface of the substrate segment 10, facilitate heat transfer and improve heating efficiency. Furthermore, the substrate segment 10 generates aerosols after it is heated, the aerosols are collected in the air channel hole 10 and are transported to a smoking end with an action of a negative pressure for smoking, the air channel hole 10a may reduce the user's Resistance To Draw (RTD) upon smoking the article, which improves the user's experience. It should be noted that the RTD is positively correlated to flow resistance of the aerosols, then the smaller the flow resistance of the aerosols in the substrate segment 10, the smaller the RTD experienced by the user, and the greater the flow resistance of the aerosols in the substrate segment 10, the greater the RTD experienced by the user.

[0047] It should be noted that the shape of the air channel hole 10a is not limited here. Exemplarily, on a plane perpendicular to the first direction of the substrate segment 10, a cross-sectional shape of the air channel hole 1 includes, but is not limited to a circular shape (as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8), an elliptical shape, a racetrack shape or a polygonal shape, here the polygonal shape includes a regular or irregular polygonal shape.

[0048] The racetrack shape refers to a shape similar to an athletics track, formed by connecting two semicircles and two parallel straight edges alternately.

[0049] The cross-sectional shape of the air channel hole 10a refers to a cross-sectional shape of the air channel hole 10a taken along a plane perpendicular to the first direction of the substrate segment 10.

[0050] Furthermore, cross-sectional shapes of the air channel holes 10a may be exactly the same, or cross-sectional shapes of at least two of the air channel holes 10a may be different. For example, the cross-sectional shape of at least one air channel hole 10a may be a circular shape, and the cross-sectional shape of at least one air channel hole 10a may be a polygonal shape.

[0051] Exemplarily, with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10, the aerosol generating article 100 includes a wrapping layer 40, the wrapping layer 40 wraps around circumferential surfaces of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment.

[0052] The wrapping layer 40 has a certain hardness, and may play a role of protecting the substrate segment 10 to a certain extent, reduce a surface area of the substrate segment 10 exposed to the external environment directly, thereby reducing a probability of the substrate segment 10 becoming damp and deteriorated by contacting with the air, while reducing a probability of the substrate segment 10 becoming contaminated by contacting with other components in the aerosol generating device.

[0053] It should be noted that the substrate segment 10 and the wrapping layer 40 may be provided in an integral structure. That is, the substrate segment 10 and the wrapping layer 40 are different parts of an integral structure. In this way, on one hand, relative positions of the substrate segment 10 and the wrapping layer 40 are fixed, which may reduce a probability of separation of the substrate segment 10 from the wrapping layer 40 due to temperature variation, vibration or other factors during usage of the aerosol generating article 100; on the other hand, the substrate segment 10 and the wrapping layer 40 may be prepared simultaneously, thereby reducing manufacturing steps and improving production efficiency.

[0054] For example, the integral structure of the substrate part and the wrapping layer 40 is formed by a co-extrusion process.

[0055] Of course, the substrate segment 10 and the wrapping layer 40 may also be in a split-type structure.

[0056] An embodiment of the application further provides an aerosol generating system, the aerosol generating system includes an aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating article according to the embodiment of the application, the aerosol generating device includes a heating element (not shown), and the heating element is configured to heat the substrate segment 10 to generate aerosols.

[0057] Specifically, the aerosol generating device includes a housing and a power supply assembly arranged in the housing, the housing is provided with an accommodation cavity, a power output part of the power supply assembly is arranged in the accommodation cavity or around a side wall of the accommodation cavity. When a part of the aerosol generating article 100 corresponding to a range of the first direction where the substrate segment 10 is located is inserted into the accommodation cavity, the power output part transmits power to a heating element in a contact or non-contact manner, and the heating element generates heat by receiving energy from the outside, thereby heating the substrate segment 10 to generate aerosols.

[0058] In the embodiment of the application, the first direction does not specifically refer to a direction in which the substrate segment 10 presents a longest outer contour. Specifically, a direction in which the aerosol generating article 100 is inserted into the accommodation cavity and a direction in which the aerosol generating article 100 is taken out of the accommodation cavity are both parallel to the first direction. A length of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction may be longer than, shorter than or the same as lengths of the substrate segment 10 in other directions.

[0059] For example, when the outer contour of the substrate segment 10 is in a cylindrical shape, the first direction is an axial direction of the substrate segment 10, and it should be noted that even when a length of the substrate segment 10 in the axial direction is less than a diameter of the substrate segment 10, the first direction of the substrate segment 10 is still the axial direction. For another example, when the outer contour of the substrate segment 10 is in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, the first direction is still the direction as defined above, that is, the direction in which the aerosol generating article 100 is put into or taken out of the accommodation cavity, the first direction of the substrate segment 10 may be any one of a length direction, a width direction and a height direction of the rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0060] An embodiment of the application provides an aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating article 100 includes a substrate segment 10, a first functional segment and a second functional segment sequentially arranged in a first direction, the substrate segment 10 generates aerosols when it is heated, one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is a cooling segment 20 configured to cool the aerosols to avoid a problem of "scalding mouth", and another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment may achieve supporting and / or filtering and / or cooling functions to improve the user's experience upon using the article.

[0061] The substrate segment 10 of the aerosol generating article 100 according to the embodiment of the application is provided in an integral structure, the substrate segment 10 is provided with at least one air channel hole 10a at interior thereof, the air channel hole 10a passes through at least one end of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction, a hole wall of the air channel hole 10a constitutes an inner surface of the substrate segment 10, the air channel hole 10a may increase an area of the inner surface of the substrate segment 10a, facilitate heat transfer and improve heating efficiency. The substrate segment 10 generates aerosols after it is heated, the aerosols are collected in the air channel hole 10a and are transported to a smoking end with an action of a negative pressure for smoking, the air channel hole 10a may reduce the user's RTD upon smoking the article and achieve a large amount of smoke, which improves stability of release and smoking of the aerosols. Furthermore, the substrate segment 10 is provided in an integral structure, for example, the integral structure may be molded by an extrusion, die-casting or injection molding process, to improve uniformity of density of the substrate segment 10 and further improve stability of release and smoking of the aerosols.

[0062] For example, the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment are in a separable structure. Therefore, different substrate segments 10 may be reasonably matched with different first functional segments and different second functional segments to meet customer's requirements for different RTDs and temperatures, further improving the user's experience upon using the article.

[0063] Specific components of the substrate segment 10 are not limited here. Exemplarily, in an embodiment, the substrate segment 10 may include a plant component, an adjuvant component, a smoke-generating agent component, an adhesive component, a fragrant component, etc.

[0064] The plant component is configured to generate aerosols when it is heated. The adjuvant component is configured to provide a skeleton support for the plant component. The smoke-generating agent component is configured to generate smoke when it is heated. The adhesive component is configured to bond various raw material components. The fragrant component is configured to provide characteristic fragrance. In this way, the plant component and the smoke-generating agent component may ensure a generation amount of the aerosols, while the fragrant component may improve release of fragrance during smoking and improve the user's experience. The adjuvant component may not only improve fluidity of a mixed material, but also enable the substrate segment 10 to have a porous structure to facilitate extraction and flow of the aerosols. The adhesive component ensures that the plant component, the adjuvant component or the like constitute a stable mixture, to avoid a loose structure.

[0065] Exemplarily, the plant component may be a combination of one or more of powders formed by crushing treatment of leaf tobacco raw materials, leaf tobacco fragments, tobacco stems, tobacco fine wastes, fragrant plants, etc. The plant component is a core source of fragrance, endogenous substances in the plant component may produce a sense of physiological satisfaction for the user, the endogenous substances such as alkaloid enter human blood and promote the pituitary gland to produce dopamine, thereby obtaining the sense of physiological satisfaction.

[0066] Exemplarily, the adjuvant component may be a combination of one or more of an inorganic filler, a lubricant and an emulsifier. The inorganic filler includes a combination of one or more of ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, zeolite, attapulgite, talc powder and diatomaceous earth. The inorganic filler may play a role of providing a skeleton support for the plant component, while the inorganic filler is also provided with micropores, which may improve a porosity of the substrate segment 10, thereby improving a release rate of the aerosols. The lubricant includes a combination of one or more of candelilla wax, carnauba wax, shellac, sunflower wax, rice bran, beeswax, stearic acid and palmitic acid. The lubricant may improve fluidity of powders of the plant component, reduce a friction force between the powders of the plant component, implement a more uniform overall density of distribution of the powders of the plant component, reduce a pressure required in a process of molding by extrusion, and reduce wear of the mold. The emulsifier includes a combination of one or more of polyglycerol fatty acid ester, Tween-80 and polyvinyl alcohol. The emulsifier may slow down loss of fragrant substances during storage to a certain extent, improve stability of the fragrant substances, and improve sensory quality of the article.

[0067] Exemplarily, the smoke-generating agent component may include a combination of one or more of monohydric alcohol (such as menthol); polyhydric alcohol (such as propylene glycol, glycerol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and tetraethylene glycol); esters of polyhydric alcohol (such as glycerol triacetate, triethyl citrate, glyceryl diacetate mixture, triethyl citrate, benzyl benzoate, glyceryl tributyrate); monocarboxylic acid; dicarboxylic acid; polycarboxylic acid (such as lauric acid, myristic acid) or aliphatic esters of polycarboxylic acid (such as dimethyl dodecanedioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, erythritol, 1,3-butanediol, tetraethylene glycol, triethyl citrate, propylene carbonate, ethyl laurate, Triactin, meso-erythritol, glyceryl diacetate mixture, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, ethyl vanillate, glyceryl tributyrate, ethyl laurate).

[0068] Exemplarily, the adhesive component is in moist and close contact with interfaces of component raw materials, to generate an intermolecular attraction force, thereby playing a role of bonding the component raw materials, such as powders, liquids, etc. The adhesive component may be extracted from a natural plant, and a non-ionized modified viscous polysaccharide, including a combination of one or more of tamarind polysaccharide, guar gum and modified cellulose (such as carboxymethyl cellulose). The adhesive is configured to bond the particles together such that it is not easy to loosen the particles, it also improves water resistance of the substrate segment 10 and is harmless to human body.

[0069] Exemplarily, the fragrant component is configured to provide characteristic fragrance, such as hay fragrance, roasted sweet fragrance, solid or liquid substances of nicotine. The fragrant component may include a combination of one or more of tobacco or other plants, extractions from fragrant plants, extractum, essential oils and absolute oils; the fragrant component may include monomeric fragrant substances, such as a combination of one or more of megastigmatrienone, neophytadiene, geraniol and nerol, etc.

[0070] It should be noted that the substrate segment 10 is formed with micropores, and the micropores are communicated with each other and form a micro-air channel communicated with the first air channel hole 10a. That is, the micro-air channel is communicated with the first air channel hole 10a, and since the micro-air channel is formed by communication between the micropores, the micropores are communicated with the channel 10a. Furthermore, it may be understood that the communication between the micropores may be that: a portion of the micropores are communicated with each other, and another portion of the micropores are not communicated with each other; or, all the micropores may be communicated with each other. For example, in an embodiment where the substrate segment 10 is a particle-combined body, gaps between particles constitute the micropores.

[0071] It should be noted that the air channel hole 10a as described above belongs to a hole in a macroscopic sense, the micropores belong to holes in a microscopic sense, and a cross-sectional area of the air channel hole 10a is much greater than cross-sectional areas of the micropores. Exemplarily, the cross-sectional area of the air channel hole 10a is at least 20 times the cross-sectional areas of the micropores. In case that sizes of the micropores remain unchanged substantially, when the cross-sectional area of the air channel hole 10a is less than 20 times the cross-sectional areas of the micropores, it means that size of the first air channel hole 10a may become too small, the aerosols may not be easily released from an inner wall of the first air channel hole 10a into the first air channel hole 10a, which may cause the user's RTD to become large and reduce the user's experience upon smoking the article. Therefore, in the embodiment, when the cross-sectional area of the air channel hole 10a is equal to or greater than 20 times the cross-sectional areas of the micropores, a rate of releasing the aerosols from the inner wall of the air channel hole 10a may be ensured, and the RTD may also be reduced, thereby improving the user's experience upon smoking the article.

[0072] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the air channel hole 10a is 20 to 60,000 times the cross-sectional areas of the micropores. If the cross-sectional area of the air channel hole 10a is greater than 60,000 times the cross-sectional areas of the micropores, it means that the area of the air channel hole 10a may become too large, an overall quality of the generated aerosols may decrease, utilization of an aerosol generation substrate may become low, a heating rate may become large, and the aerosols may be easily released from the micropores into the environment.

[0073] Exemplarily, the cross-sectional area of the air channel hole 10a is 100 to 40,000 times the cross-sectional areas of the micropores.

[0074] In some embodiments, an aperture of the air channel hole 10a is in a range of 0.05 millimeter (mm) to 6 mm. When a diameter of the air channel hole 10a is less than 0.05 mm, processing cost of the substrate segment 10 becomes high, and problems such as a large RTD and a low substrate utilization occur easily. When the diameter of the air channel hole 10a is greater than 6 mm, the cross-sectional area of the air channel hole 10a becomes large, a flow rate of the same volume of airflow is smaller in a smoking state, and deposition of the aerosols occurs easily, resulting in a low aerosol utilization.

[0075] Specific values of the aperture of the air channel hole 10a are not limited, for example, the aperture of the air channel hole 10a is 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, etc.

[0076] It should be noted that the aperture of the air channel hole 10a refers to its equivalent diameter.

[0077] The equivalent diameter refers to a diameter of a circle with the same cross-sectional area as the measured object.

[0078] The air channel hole 10a and the micro-air channel may increase the surface area of the substrate segment 10, facilitate heat transfer and improve heating efficiency. The substrate of the substrate segment 10 releases aerosols when it is heated, the aerosols are collected to the air channel hole 10a through the micro-air channel or gaps between wall materials, aerosols released by an atomized substrate exposed to the air channel hole 10a (i.e., an atomized substrate located on an inner wall surface of the air channel hole 10a) may be directly released to the air channel hole 10a, aerosols from adjacent air channel holes 10a may also circulate between the air channel holes 10a through the micro-air channel and may be transported to the smoking end with an action of a negative pressure for smoking.

[0079] More specifically, descriptions are made based on FIG. 2, the substrate segment 10 is provided with micropores at interior thereof, and the micropores are at least partially communicated with each other and are communicated with the air channel hole 10a. When the substrate segment 10 is heated, an external airflow such as air may enter the substrate segment 10 through the air channel hole 10a to diffuse in the substrate segment 10, aerosols generated by the substrate of the substrate segment 10 enclosing the air channel hole 10a (i.e., a part of the substrate segment 10 exposed to the air channel hole 10a) enter the air channel hole 10a directly, and aerosols generated by other parts of the substrate segment 10 (i.e., parts of the substrate segment that are not exposed to the air channel hole 10a) may be collected in the air channel hole 10a through the micropores. In this way, during smoking, the aerosols collected in the air channel hole 10a flow to a central air channel 20a of the cooling segment 20, and finally enter the user's mouth after they are filtered by a filter segment 30.

[0080] It should be noted that one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is a cooling segment 20, and another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment may be the cooling segment 20, a support segment or the filter segment 30. The cooling segment 20 achieves a cooling function, the support segment achieves a supporting function, and the filter segment 30 achieves a filtering function. with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 10, in the embodiment of the application, descriptions are made by taking an example that one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is the cooling segment 20, and another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is the filter segment 30.

[0081] It may be understood that since the aerosols flow through the support segment or the filter segment 30, the support segment or the filter segment 30 may also achieve a function of cooling the aerosols to a certain extent.

[0082] Exemplarily, in some implementations, with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the first functional segment is the cooling segment 20, and the second functional segment is a filter segment 30. That is, the aerosols generated by heating the substrate segment 10 flow through the cooling segment 20 to cool the aerosols first, then the aerosols after cooling down flow through the filter segment 30, and the filter segment 30 may filter large particle components and undesirable impurities out of the aerosols. That is, the aerosols generated by heating the substrate segment 10 pass through the cooling segment 20 and the filter segment 30 sequentially to cool and filter the aerosols, and then are smoked by the user.

[0083] In some other implementations, with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the first functional segment is a filter segment 30, and the second functional segment is the cooling segment 20. That is, the aerosols generated by heating the substrate segment 10 flow through the filter segment 30 to filter the aerosols first, the filter segment 30 may filter large particle components and undesirable impurities out of the aerosols, then the aerosols after filtration flow through the cooling segment 20 to cool the aerosols. That is, the aerosols generated by heating the substrate segment 10 pass through the filter segment 30 and the cooling segment 20 sequentially to filter and cool the aerosols, and then are smoked by the user.

[0084] It should be noted that components of the first functional segment and the second functional segment are different from those of the substrate segment 10. Exemplarily, in some implementations, each of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is formed of a cellulose acetate material. The filter segment 30 formed of the cellulose acetate material may filter large particle components and undesirable impurities out of the aerosols, and the cooling segment 20 formed of the cellulose acetate material reduces temperature of the aerosols effectively.

[0085] Exemplarily, the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment have the same outer diameter, which facilitates molding and using them better.

[0086] Exemplarily, the cooling segment 20 may be in a hollow tubular structure. For example, the hollow tubular structure may be one of a hollow paper tube, a cellulose acetate tube or an aluminum foil tube, that is, the cooling segment 20 is provided with a central air channel 20a with a large aperture at interior thereof, the central air channel 20a passes through two ends of the cooling segment 20 in the first direction, and the aerosols generated by the substrate segment 10 may flow through the central air channel 20a to cool the aerosols, which is beneficial to gather the aerosols toward the center to smoke the aerosols, and the aerosols have good agglomeration.

[0087] Exemplarily, the filter segment 30 is in a solid cellulose acetate structure, that is, the filter segment 30 is in a solid structure formed of cellulose acetate material, the filter segment 30 is provided with filtering holes therein, and the filtering holes are micropores. That is, the filtering holes are holes in a microscopic sense, that is, "solid structure" in the application refers to a structure with only micropores at interior thereof and without holes in a macroscopic sense.

[0088] At a microscopic level, the filter segment 30 is formed by stacking multiple structures to form the micropores, to increase a surface area of the filter segment 30, therefore an effect of filtering impurities is improved, and aerosol particles with a too large diameter may be effectively adsorbed to improve the user's mouth-feel.

[0089] Exemplarily, one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is in a solid structure, and another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is in a hollow structure. For example, the solid structure is the filter segment 30, the filter segment 30 in a solid structure may improve reliability of filtering the aerosols, and may ensure that the aerosols are filtered at least once to a certain extent. For example, the hollow structure is the cooling segment 20, the cooling segment 20 in a hollow structure may increase a contact area between the aerosols and the cooling segment 20, and reduce the RTD. Therefore, one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is configured as a solid structure and another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is configured as a hollow structure, such that functions of cooling, filtering and adjusting the RTD may be taken into account.

[0090] Exemplarily, with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, two ends of the first functional segment 20 of the aerosol generating article 100 in the first direction are in contact with the substrate segment 10 and the second functional segment 30 respectively.

[0091] Exemplarily, with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 8, the aerosol generating article 100 is provided with at least one cavity 100a at interior thereof. It should be noted that the number of cavities 100a is not limited here, that is, there may be one cavity 100a or multiple cavities 100a.

[0092] It should be noted that specific positions and formation methods of the cavity 100a are not limited here, for example, the cavity 100a may be formed between any two of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment, or the cavity 100a may be formed at an end of the substrate segment 10 away from the first functional segment, or the cavity 100a may be formed at an end of the second functional segment away from the first functional segment. The material of the wrapping layer 40 has a certain hardness, to achieve a good supporting force for the cavity 100a structure.

[0093] Exemplarily, in some implementations, with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the substrate segment 10 and the first functional segment are arranged at an interval there-between, and define a first cavity 100a together with the wrapping layer 40. That is, the substrate segment 10 and the first functional segment are arranged at an interval there-between, and form the first cavity 100a by enclosing the first cavity 100a together with the wrapping layer 40 wrapping around circumferential sides of the substrate segment 10 and the first functional segment. It may be understood that with the first cavity 100a formed between the substrate segment 10 and the first functional segment, the aerosols generated by heating the substrate segment 10 may flow into the first cavity 100a, and with arrangement of the first cavity 100a, it may buffer the aerosols generated by the substrate segment 10, which may be beneficial to extract the aerosols and improve utilization of the substrate segment 10. Furthermore, with arrangement of the first cavity 100a, it may achieve a better cooling effect by increasing an inner surface area, and it may also avoid deposition and adsorption of the aerosols on a contact surface between the substrate segment 10 and the first functional segment due to direct contact between the substrate segment 10 and the first functional segment, to reduce loss of the aerosols during transportation.

[0094] Exemplarily, in some implementations, with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the first functional segment and the second functional segment are arranged at an interval there-between, and define a second cavity 100a together with the wrapping layer 40. That is, the first functional segment and the second functional segment are arranged at an interval there-between, and form the second cavity 100a by enclosing the second cavity 100a together with the wrapping layer 40 wrapping around circumferential sides of the first functional segment and the second functional segment. It may be understood that with the second cavity 100a formed between the first functional segment and the second functional segment, the aerosols generated by heating the substrate segment 10 may flow into the first functional segment, and then flow into the second cavity 100a to buffer the aerosols. With arrangement of the second cavity 100a, it may buffer the aerosols generated by the substrate segment 10, it may be beneficial to extract the aerosols and improve utilization of the substrate segment 10. Furthermore, with arrangement of the second cavity 100a, it may achieve a better cooling effect by increasing an inner surface area, and it may also avoid deposition and adsorption of the aerosols on a contact surface between the first functional segment and the second functional segment due to direct contact between the first functional segment and the second functional segment, to reduce loss of the aerosols during transportation.

[0095] Exemplarily, in some implementations, the wrapping layer 40 is protruded out of an end surface of the substrate segment 10 at a side facing away from the first functional segment, and defines a third cavity 100a together with the end surface of the substrate segment 10. That is, the substrate segment 10 is provided with the third cavity 100a at least at a distal lip end thereof, and with arrangement of the third cavity 100a, it is beneficial for natural diffusion of the aerosols generated by heating the substrate segment 10 and is beneficial to slitting process of the aerosol generating article 100.

[0096] The distal lip end of the substrate segment 10 refers to an end of the substrate segment 10 away from the user when the user uses the aerosol generating article 100.

[0097] Exemplarily, in some implementations, with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the wrapping layer 40 is protruded out of an end surface of the second functional segment at a side facing away from the first functional segment, and defines a fourth cavity 100a together with an end surface of the substrate segment 10. That is, the second functional segment is provided with the fourth cavity 100a at least at a near lip end thereof, an area contacting with the air at the near lip end of the second functional segment is increased to reduce a heat conduction efficiency. Therefore, the aerosols may contact with the air quickly after the aerosols flow out of the entry lip end of the second functional segment, that is, a low heat conduction efficiency of the air is used, then when the aerosols meet cold air from the environment, quick heat exchange there-between and cooling of the aerosols are achieved, a "scalding" problem of the tobacco smoke is improved, it is beneficial to extract the aerosols and achieve the cooling function, and the RTD may be reduced.

[0098] Exemplarily, with reference to FIG. 9, the aerosol generating article 100 includes a coating layer 50, the coating layer 50 is coated on the circumferential surface of the substrate segment 10, and the coating layer 50 is sandwiched between the wrapping layer 40 and the substrate segment 10. That is, in addition to the wrapping layer 40 wrapping around circumferential surfaces of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment and the second functional segment, the substrate segment 10 is also provided with a separate internal coating layer 50, and the coating layer 50 is sandwiched between the wrapping layer 40 and the substrate segment 10, which may better prevent the aerosols from leaking out, and improve the aerosol extraction efficiency and utilization.

[0099] Exemplarily, with reference to FIG. 10, at least one end surface of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment in the first direction is a first curved surface 100b with a non-zero curvature. With arrangement of the first curved surface 100b, it may increase a contact area between the substrate segment 10 and / or the aerosols and the air, or increase a contact area between the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment, thereby improving the aerosol extraction efficiency, and achieving better aerosol extraction, cooling and filtering effects.

[0100] The first curved surface 100b with a non-zero curvature may be an arc surface protruded toward the near lip end, or may be an arc surface recessed toward the near lip end, or may be an arc surface protruded toward the distal lip end, or may be an arc surface recessed toward the distal lip end.

[0101] At least one end surface of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment in the first direction refers to at least one end surface from two end faces of the substrate segment 10 in the first direction, two end faces of the first functional segment in the first direction, and two end faces of the second functional segment in the first direction.

[0102] Exemplarily, an end surface adjacent to the first curved surface 100b of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment is a second curved surface 100c adapted to the first curved surface 100b, or the end surface adjacent to the first curved surface 100b of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment is the first curved surface 100b.

[0103] For example, when the first curved surface 100b is an arc surface protruded toward the near lip end, the second curved surface 100c may be an arc surface recessed toward the near lip end,; when the first curved surface 100b is an arc surface protruded toward the distal lip end, the second curved surface 100c may be an arc surface recessed toward the distal lip end.

[0104] It may be understood that when the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment are in direct contact there-between, an area of a contact surface between the first curved surface 100b and the second curved surface 100c may be increased by cooperating the first curved surface 100b with the second curved surface 100c, to achieve better aerosol extraction, cooling and filtering effects. Furthermore, stability of connection between the first curved surface 100b and the second curved surface 100c may also be improved through contact between the arc surfaces.

[0105] Exemplarily, the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment are cylinders with the same outer diameter and arranged coaxially, and the first direction is an axial direction of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment. The substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment are configured as cylinders and are sequentially arranged in the axial direction of the substrate segment 10, the first functional segment or the second functional segment, such that structure of the aerosol generating article 100 may be made more compact, thereby improving the user's experience upon using the article.

[0106] In the descriptions of the application, descriptions made with reference to terms "in an embodiment", "in some embodiments", "in some other embodiments", "in yet other embodiments", or "exemplary" or the like mean that specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in combination with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of the application. In the application, schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, specific features, structures, materials or characteristics as described may be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, different embodiments or examples described in the application and features of different embodiments or examples may be combined by those skilled in the art without conflict.

[0107] The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the application and are not intended to limit the application. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations may be made to the application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement or the like made within the spirit and principle of the application should fall within the scope of protection of the application.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating article, comprising a substrate segment, a first functional segment and a second functional segment sequentially arranged in a first direction, one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment being a cooling segment, the substrate segment being provided in an integral structure, the substrate segment provided with at least one air channel hole at interior thereof, and the air channel hole passing through at least one end of the substrate segment in the first direction.

2. The aerosol generating article of claim 1, wherein the substrate segment, the first functional segment and the second functional segment are in a separable structure, the first functional segment is the cooling segment, and the second functional segment is a filter segment; or, the first functional segment is a filter segment, and the second functional segment is the cooling segment.

3. The aerosol generating article of claim 2, wherein the cooling segment is in a hollow tubular structure; and / or the filter segment is in a solid cellulose acetate structure.

4. The aerosol generating article of claim 1, wherein one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is in a solid structure, and another one of the first functional segment and the second functional segment is in a hollow structure.

5. The aerosol generating article of claim 1, comprising a wrapping layer wrapping around circumferential surfaces of the substrate segment, the first functional segment and the second functional segment.

6. The aerosol generating article of claim 5, wherein the substrate segment and the first functional segment are arranged at an interval there-between, and define a first cavity together with the wrapping layer; and / or the first functional segment and the second functional segment are arranged at an interval there-between, and define a second cavity together with the wrapping layer.

7. The aerosol generating article of claim 5, wherein the wrapping layer is protruded out of an end surface of the substrate segment at a side facing away from the first functional segment, and defines a third cavity together with the end surface of the substrate segment; and / or the wrapping layer is protruded out of an end surface of the second functional segment at a side facing away from the first functional segment, and defines a fourth cavity together with an end surface of the substrate segment.

8. The aerosol generating article of claim 5, comprising a coating layer coated on the circumferential surface of the substrate segment and sandwiched between the wrapping layer and the substrate segment.

9. The aerosol generating article of claim 1, wherein two ends of the first functional segment in the first direction are in contact with the substrate segment and the second functional segment respectively.

10. The aerosol generating article of claim 1, wherein at least one end surface of the substrate segment, the first functional segment or the second functional segment in the first direction is a first curved surface with a non-zero curvature.

11. The aerosol generating article of claim 10, wherein an end surface adjacent to the first curved surface of the substrate segment, the first functional segment or the second functional segment is a second curved surface adapted to the first curved surface, or the end surface adjacent to the first curved surface of the substrate segment, the first functional segment or the second functional segment is the first curved surface.

12. The aerosol generating article of claim 1, wherein the substrate segment, the first functional segment and the second functional segment are cylinders with the same outer diameter and arranged coaxially, and the first direction is an axial direction of the substrate segment, the first functional segment and the second functional segment.

13. An aerosol generating system, comprising an aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating article of any one of claims 1 to 12, the aerosol generating device comprising a heating element configured to heat the substrate segment to generate aerosols.

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