Filter part for flavor inhalation article, and flavor inhalation article

Abstract

A filter portion 30 for a flavor inhalation article, comprising: a paper filter; and a filler 33 which is disposed inside the paper filter and changes a flow path within the paper filter, wherein the paper filter is a filter 31 in which a sheet member 31a is crimped, and a basis weight of the sheet member 31a at a position corresponding to the filler 33 is smaller than a basis weight of the sheet member 31a at a position not corresponding to the filler 33.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, and to a flavor inhalation article.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] PTL 1 discloses a cigarette comprising a tobacco rod and a filter element connected to the tobacco rod, the filter element having an end proximal to the tobacco rod and an end distal from the tobacco rod, wherein: the filter element comprises a first section of filter material located proximal to the tobacco rod, and a second longitudinally extending section of filter material located distal from the tobacco rod and arranged in an end-to-end contacting configuration with the first section of filter material; and the first section of filter material includes one or more tubes that are inserted into the first section of filter material and extend through the first section of filter material.CITATION LISTPATENT LITERATURE

[0003] PTL 1: JP 2014-509872 ASUMMARY OF INVENTIONTECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0004] A paper filter, for example, is sometimes used as a filter for a flavor inhalation article for environmental reasons. Here, the ability of a paper filter to filter an aerosol is generally higher than that of a filter that employs fibers of cellulose acetate or the like. Less smoking taste is therefore provided from the aerosol when a paper filter is used than when a filter employing fibers of cellulose acetate or the like is used.

[0005] A filler may be arranged in the flow path inside a paper filter for the purpose of adjusting the smoking taste, etc., but this filler may cause problems of variations in the packing density of the paper filter.

[0006] The objective of the present disclosure lies in avoiding variations in the packing density of a paper filter when such a paper filter is used in the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article and a filler is disposed inside the paper filter.SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

[0007] A first feature of the present disclosure which was completed in light of this objective is a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, comprising: a paper filter; and a filler which is disposed inside the paper filter and changes a flow path within the paper filter, wherein the paper filter is a filter in which a sheet member is crimped, and a basis weight of the sheet member at a position corresponding to the filler is smaller than a basis weight of the sheet member at a position not corresponding to the filler.

[0008] A second feature is that the crimping intensity of the sheet member may be greater at the position not corresponding to the filler than at the position corresponding to the filler.

[0009] A third feature is that one or more holes may be formed in the sheet member at the position corresponding to the filler.

[0010] A fourth feature is that a packing density of the sheet member in a longitudinal direction of the filter portion may be within a range of 0.8-1.2 in relation to an average density of the filter portion overall.

[0011] A fifth feature is that a packing density of the sheet member may be 80 mg / cm 3< -380 mg / cm 3< at a location where there is no filler.

[0012] A sixth feature is that the sheet member may be paper or a nonwoven fabric.

[0013] A seventh feature is that the paper filter may be a filter packed with the sheet member.

[0014] An eighth feature is that the paper filter may be a filter packed with the sheet member in such a way that voids are formed over the longitudinal direction of the filter portion.

[0015] A ninth feature is that the paper filter may be a filter in which the sheet member is gathered.

[0016] A tenth feature is that the filter portion may have an end on a downstream side, the end being disposed at a position which is at least a predefined distance away from an end of the filler.

[0017] An eleventh feature is a flavor inhalation article comprising the abovementioned filter portion, and a substrate portion containing an aerosol source.

[0018] A twelfth feature is that the flavor inhalation article may be a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article.

[0019] A thirteenth feature is that the flavor inhalation article may be a combustion-type flavor inhalation article.ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

[0020] The first feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, in which variations in the packing density of a paper filter do not arise when such a paper filter is used in the filter portion of a flavor inhalation article and a filler is disposed inside the paper filter. The second feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, in which the sheet member flexibly wraps around the filler and there are no variations in the packing density of the paper filter.

[0021] The third feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, in which there are no variations in the packing density of the paper filter between a position corresponding to the filler and a position not corresponding to the filler.

[0022] The fourth feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, in which there are small variations in the packing density of the paper filter in the entirety of the filter portion of the flavor inhalation article.

[0023] The fifth feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, in which a suitable smoking taste is obtained and there are unlikely to be gaps as seen from a downstream end face of the filter.

[0024] The sixth feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, which has suitable aerosol filtration performance.

[0025] The seventh feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, which has suitable aerosol filtration performance and achieves a suitable smoking taste.

[0026] The eighth feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, which is suitably packed with the sheet member and achieves a suitable smoking taste.

[0027] The ninth feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, which has a high ability to filter the aerosol.

[0028] The tenth feature makes it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, in which the filler is arranged so that a hole is not visible from a downstream end of the filter portion. The eleventh to thirteenth features make it possible to provide a flavor inhalation article in which variations in the packing density of the paper filter do not arise.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a configuration example of an inhalation device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a transverse section of a filter portion of the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to the first embodiment, where (A) shows an example of a cross section of the part I-I in fig. 1, and (B) shows an example of a cross section of the part II-II in fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a transverse section of another filter portion of the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to the first embodiment, where (A) shows another example of a cross section of the part I-I in fig. 1, and (B) shows another example of a cross section of the part II-II in fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the filter portion of the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to the first embodiment. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state before the filter portion is packed with a sheet member according to the first embodiment, where (A) shows a portion of the crimped sheet member, (B) shows an example of a sheet member provided with a plurality of holes, and (C) shows another example of the sheet member provided with a plurality of holes. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for producing a filter portion according to the first embodiment, where (A) is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of the filter portion in the course of production, (B) is a diagram showing a longitudinal section after the filter portion has been cut, and (C) is a diagram showing an example of a transverse section of the part XIVC-XIVC in fig. 7(B). Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to another mode of the first embodiment, where (A) is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a flavor inhalation article provided with a filler having a pointed second side, and (B) is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a flavor inhalation article provided with a filler having a decreasing width from a first side to a second side. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to another mode of the first embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which a filler of smaller size than a filter in a centerline direction is positioned in the filter, and (B) shows a state in which a plurality of fillers are positioned inside the filter. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to a second embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which a separate filter is positioned on the upstream side of the filter, and a filler is positioned on the upstream side of the filter, (B) shows a state in which the separate filter is positioned on the downstream side of the filter, and the filler is positioned on the upstream side of the filter, and (C) shows a state in which the separate filter is positioned on the downstream side of the filter, and the filler is positioned on the downstream side of the filter. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to a third embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which the filler is positioned on the first side of an aerosol modifier constituting a second filler, and (B) shows a state in which the filler is positioned on the second side of the aerosol modifier constituting the second filler. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a combustion heating-type flavor inhalation article according to a fourth embodiment. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a combustion heating-type flavor inhalation article according to another mode of the fourth embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which the filler is centrally positioned inside the filter between the first side and the second side, and (B) shows a state in which a plurality of fillers are arranged inside the filter. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a combustion heating-type flavor inhalation article according to a fifth embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which the filler is arranged on the first side within the filter, and (B) shows a state in which the filler is arranged on the second side within the filter. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a combustion heating-type flavor inhalation article according to another mode of the fifth embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which the filler is positioned on the first side within the filter, and (B) shows a state in which the filler is positioned on the second side within the filter. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the appended drawings. In the drawings, identical parts are indicated by identical reference signs.Heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article

[0031] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article 1 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a configuration example of an inhalation device 100 according to the first embodiment.

[0032] The heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment (also referred to below as the "flavor inhalation article 1") comprises a substrate portion 10 and a filter portion 30. Furthermore, the flavor inhalation article 1 may also comprise a cooling portion 20. A mouthpiece segment 50, which can be held in a user's mouth during inhalation, includes the cooling portion 20 and the filter portion 30 in the example of fig. 1. Furthermore, the substrate portion 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The direction of a centerline CL of the substrate portion 10 may also be referred to below as the "centerline direction". The flavor inhalation article 1 further comprises a tipping paper 40 which is wrapped around the substrate portion 10, the cooling portion 20, and the filter portion 30, which are aligned in that order in the centerline direction, and thereby integrates those portions into a single element.

[0033] One end side (the left side in fig. 1) in the centerline direction may be referred to below as a first side, and the other end side (the right side in fig. 1) in the centerline direction may be referred to below as a second side. The first side is the end side that is inserted into the inhalation device 100 and is the upstream side in a flow of aerosol during inhalation. The second side is the opposite side to the first side, being the end side held in the user's mouth for inhalation, and is the downstream side in the flow of aerosol during inhalation. Additionally, a cross section along the centerline direction is referred to as a "longitudinal section," and a cross section cut along a plane orthogonal to the centerline direction is defined as a "transverse section."Mode of use of flavor inhalation article 1

[0034] The flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment is used in a heat-not-burn inhalation device 100. As shown in fig. 2, the inhalation device 100 comprises: a power source unit 111 for storing electrical power and supplying the electrical power to each component of the inhalation device 100; a sensor unit 112 for detecting various types of information relating to the inhalation device 100; and a notification unit 113 for notifying the user of information. The inhalation device 100 furthermore comprises: a memory unit 114 for storing various types of information for operation of the inhalation device 100; a communication unit 115 for sending and receiving information between the inhalation device 100 and other devices; and a control unit 116 for controlling overall operation within the inhalation device 100. Furthermore, the inhalation device 100 comprises: a heating unit 121 for heating the flavor inhalation article 1; a holding portion 140 for holding the flavor inhalation article 1; an opening 142 enabling an internal space 141 to communicate with the outside; and a heat insulating portion 144 for preventing heat transfer from the heating unit 121 to other components of the inhalation device 100. The user inhales from the inhalation device 100 while the flavor inhalation article 1 is held in the holding portion 140.

[0035] The heating unit 121 heats the substrate portion 10 of the flavor inhalation article 1. The heating unit 121 is formed by any material such as a metal or polyimide. For example, the heating unit 121 is configured in a film shape and disposed so as to cover the outer circumference of the holding portion 140. Then, when the heating unit 121 generates heat, an aerosol source 11 (omitted in fig. 2) contained in the flavor inhalation article 1 is heated from the outer circumference of the flavor inhalation article 1. The heating unit 121 generates heat when supplied with electricity from the power source unit 111. As an example, power may be supplied when predetermined user input is detected by the sensor unit 112. When the temperature of the flavor inhalation article 1 heated by means of the heating unit 121 has reached a predetermined temperature, inhalation by the user is then possible. After this, the electrical supply may be stopped when the sensor unit 112 has detected that there has been predetermined user input. As another example of the mode of use, power may be supplied to generate the aerosol during a period in which inhalation by the user, from the filter portion 30 on the downstream side, is detected by the sensor unit 112.

[0036] The heat insulating portion 144 is disposed so as to cover at least the outer circumference of the heating unit 121. For example, the heat insulating portion 144 is configured by a vacuum insulating material or an aerogel insulating material, etc. It should be noted that a vacuum insulating material is a heat insulating material in which a state of high vacuum is created by wrapping glass wool and silica (silicon powder), etc. in a resin film, for example, so that heat conduction by gas is as close as possible to zero.Flavor inhalation article 1

[0037] The flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment is a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article.

[0038] The flavor inhalation article 1 has a substantially circular transverse section, and the circumference thereof may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but the circumference is normally 16 mm-27 mm, and preferably 21 mm-23 mm. It should be noted that when the transverse section is non-circular, the abovementioned circumference is assumed for a circle having the same area as the area of the relevant cross section, and the circumference of that circle is applied.

[0039] The size of the flavor inhalation article 1 in the centerline direction may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but this size is normally 40 mm-100 mm, and preferably 50 mm-70 mm.Filter portion 30

[0040] The filter portion 30, which is a feature of the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment, will be described.

[0041] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the filter portion 30 according to the first embodiment, where (A) shows an example of a cross section of the part I-I in fig. 1, and (B) shows an example of a cross section of the part II-II in fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the filter portion 30 according to the first embodiment, where (A) shows another example of a cross section of the part I-I in fig. 1, and (B) shows another example of a cross section of the part II-II in fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the filter portion of the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article according to the first embodiment.

[0042] The filter portion 30 is formed with a columnar shape with a size in the centerline direction greater than the width of the transverse section. The filter portion 30 is therefore arranged so that a longitudinal direction thereof is the centerline direction.

[0043] The filter portion 30 comprises: a filter 31 through which an aerosol passes; a filler 33 which changes a flow path within the filter 31; and a wrapping paper 35 which is present between the filter 31 and the tipping paper 40 and is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the filter 31 (see fig. 1). The filter portion 30 is connected (linked) to the cooling portion 20 by integrally wrapping the cooling portion 20 and the filter portion 30 using the tipping paper 40 (see fig. 1) Note that the wrapping paper 35 need not be provided.

[0044] There is no particular restriction on the form of the wrapping paper 35, which may include a seam comprising one or more lines of adhesive. The adhesive may comprise a hot-melt adhesive, and further, the hot-melt adhesive may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. Furthermore, if the filter portion 30 comprises two or more members, it is preferable to wrap each of the two or more members with a wrapping paper and then further wrap them together with another wrapping paper. There is no particular restriction on the material of the wrapping paper 35, and well-known materials may be used, and the wrapping paper 35 may furthermore include a filler such as calcium carbonate, etc.

[0045] There is no particular restriction on the thickness of the wrapping paper 35, and it is normally 20 µm-140 µm, preferably 30 µm-130 µm, and more preferably 30 µm-120 µm.

[0046] There is no particular restriction on the basis weight of the wrapping paper 35, and it is normally 20 gsm-100 gsm, preferably 22 gsm-95 gsm, and more preferably 23 gsm-90 gsm.

[0047] There is no particular restriction on the air permeability of the wrapping paper 35, and it is normally 0 CORESTA units-30,000 CORESTA units, and preferably greater than 0 CORESTA units and no greater than 10,000 CORESTA units.

[0048] Furthermore, the wrapping paper 35 may be coated or uncoated, but is preferably coated with a desired material from the viewpoint of allowing functions other than strength and structural rigidity to be imparted.

[0049] The filter 31 of the filter portion 30 has a substantially circular transverse section, and the circumference thereof may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but a circumference of 22 mm-25 mm may be cited. It should be noted that when the transverse section is non-circular, the abovementioned circumference is assumed for a circle having the same area as the area of the relevant cross section, and the circumference of that circle is applied.

[0050] The size of the filter portion 30 in the centerline direction may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but is normally 5.0 mm-30.0 mm, preferably 12.5 mm-27.5 mm, and more preferably 15.0 mm-25.0 mm.

[0051] There is no particular restriction on the airflow resistance per 10 mm centerline direction size of the filter portion 30, but it is normally 0 mmH 2 O-100 mmH 2 O, preferably 10 mmH 2 O-80 mmH 2 O, and more preferably 10 mmH 2 O-50 mmH 2 O.

[0052] The airflow resistance is measured by using a filter airflow resistance measurement instrument manufactured by Cerulean, for example, in accordance with the ISO standard method (ISO6565). The airflow resistance of the filter portion 30 denotes an air pressure difference between the first side and the second side when air at a predetermined air flow rate (17.5 cc / min) flows from the first side to the second side in a state in which air does not pass through the side face of the filter portion 30. The units are generally expressed in mmH 2 O.

[0053] The filter 31 is what is known as a paper filter, and is a paper filter in which voids 31b are formed as channels through which the aerosol can pass in the centerline direction inside the filter 31 when the user inhales on the flavor inhalation article 1. For example, the filter 31 is a paper filter packed with a sheet member 31a and shaped. Specifically, the filter 31 is a paper filter packed with the sheet member 31a and shaped in such a way as to ensure a pathway for passage of the aerosol extending in the centerline direction.

[0054] There is no particular restriction on the material of the sheet member 31a constituting the filter 31, provided that it is capable of achieving the general functions of a filter, but a paper such as pulp paper comprising pulp as the main component, or a nonwoven fabric, is preferred, with paper being more preferred. Alternatively, a polymer sheet or a metal sheet, etc. may also be used as the material of the sheet member 31a constituting the filter 31, for example. Note that examples of general functions of a filter which may be cited include adjusting the amount of air which is mixed when the aerosol, etc. is inhaled, lightening the flavor, and lightening nicotine and tar, etc., but not all of these functions need to be provided. Preventing the filler 33 contained inside the flavor inhalation article 1 from falling out while restricting the filtration function is also another important function in the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article 1, which generates fewer components and tends to have a lower filling rate of the aerosol source 11 than paper-wrapped tobacco products.

[0055] The density of the sheet member 31a itself is preferably 0.05 g / cm 3< or greater, and more preferably 0.5 g / cm 3< or greater from the perspective of achieving the general functions of a filter. Furthermore, the thickness of the sheet member 31a preferably has a lower limit of 0.03 mm or greater, and more preferably 0.05 mm or greater, and preferably has an upper limit of 1.20 mm or less, and more preferably 0.5 mm or less.

[0056] In this embodiment, the filter 31 is formed by means of the sheet member 31a which has been folded, or wrinkled or gathered, etc., and the filter 31 is packed in such a way as to ensure a pathway for passage of the aerosol extending in the centerline direction. Specifically, as shown in fig. 3(A), the filter 31 is a paper filter packed with the sheet member 31a in such a way that the voids 31b are formed over the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30, the sheet member 31a being gathered. Here, "gathered" means that the sheet member 31a is packed in a state of having been folded back multiple times horizontally and in the centerline direction of the filter 31.

[0057] The sheet member 31a constituting the filter 31 may be a single sheet, or comprise two or more sheets. Furthermore, the sheet member 31a need not be folded or pleated, provided that a pathway for passage of the aerosol extending in the centerline direction is ensured. Specifically, as shown in fig. 4(A) and (B), the filter 31 may be a paper filter packed with short strip-shaped sheet members 31a, or else may be a paper filter formed from a molded band-shaped sheet member 31a, or the like.

[0058] Voids can be efficiently formed in the sheet member 31a by crimping the entire sheet member 31a. The crimping is processing to provide wrinkles in the sheet member. Crimping can be implemented by, for example, passing a sheet member to be processed between a pair of rollers having a plurality of projections on the surface, thereby providing wrinkles extending orthogonal to a sheet member conveyance direction on both the front and back surfaces of the sheet member.

[0059] Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram showing a state before the filter portion 30 is packed with the sheet member 31a according to the first embodiment, where (A) shows a portion of the crimped sheet member 31a, (B) shows an example of a sheet member 31a provided with a plurality of holes, and (C) shows another example of the sheet member 31a provided with a plurality of holes.

[0060] As can be seen from the schematic depiction of a portion of the sheet member 31a in fig. 6(A), the crimped sheet member 31a comprises a plurality of wrinkles (substantially parallel ridges, a waveform shape, etc.). When the filter portion 30 is packed with the sheet member 31a in such a way that a length direction of the wrinkles therein (the direction in which the ridged parts run) is aligned or substantially aligned with the centerline direction of the filter portion 30, the voids 31b can be efficiently formed between the wrinkles of the sheet member 31a, which is desirable. It should be noted that the wrinkles formed by the crimping normally have a small height of 0.5 mm or less, so these are not depicted in drawings other than fig. 6(A).

[0061] There is no particular restriction on the packing density of the sheet member 31a constituting the filter 31, but it is normally 90 mg / cm 3< -720 mg / cm 3< , for example, from the perspective of a balance between airflow resistance and filtration rate. The packing density of the sheet member 31a varies according to whether or not the filler 33 is present. Fig. 5 schematically shows a position in the filter portion 30 corresponding to the filler 33 of the filter 31 (a region 301 in which the filler 33 is arranged), and a position not corresponding to the filler 33 of the filter 31 (a region 302 in which the filler 33 is not arranged). Fig. 3(B) is a view in transverse section of the filter portion in the region 301, and fig. 3(A) is a view in transverse section of the filter portion in the region 302. In this embodiment, a difference in packing density of the sheet member 31a in the region 301 and the region 302 is restricted by a means which will be described later.

[0062] The packing density of the sheet member 31a at the position not corresponding to the filler 33 (the region in which the filler 33 is not arranged) is preferably 80 mg / cm 3< -380 mg / cm 3< . Furthermore, the lower limit of the packing density of the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 (the region in which the filler 33 is arranged) is preferably 80 mg / cm 3< or greater, and more preferably 150 mg / cm 3< or greater. Furthermore, the upper limit is preferably 380 mg / cm 3< or less, and more preferably 240 mg / cm 3< or less. It should be noted that the packing density of the sheet member 31a at the position not corresponding to the filler 33 (the region in which the filler 33 is not arranged) indicates the density in the volume actually packed with the sheet member 31a, which excludes the volume occupied by the filler 33.

[0063] The packing density of the sheet member 31a inside the filter portion 30 varies according to whether or not the filler 33 is arranged therein, and the packing density of the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 varies in such a way as to be far greater than the packing density at the position not corresponding to the filler 33, because the space packed with the sheet member 31a excludes the filler 33. Variations in the packing density lead to an area where an excessive smoking taste is produced, and an area where there is insufficient adjustment of the smoking taste. In order to restrict this difference in packing density in the present embodiment, the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 (the region 301 in fig. 5) is set smaller than the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position not corresponding to the filler 33 (the region 302 in fig. 5).

[0064] Specific methods of limiting variations in the packing density of the sheet member 31a that may be cited include increasing the intensity of crimping (crimping intensity) of the sheet member 31a in the region 302, and forming holes in the sheet member 31a in the region 301.

[0065] There is no limitation to the means for increasing the crimping intensity, and preferred means which may be cited during crimping of the sheet member 31a include: 1) increasing the depth of the wrinkles formed by crimping, for example to 0.1 mm-1.2 mm, and more preferably 0.1 mm-1.0 mm, by using rollers with deeper grooves for crimping; 2) making the wrinkles deeper, for example by making incisions of 70% or less of the thickness of the sheet member 31a; and 3) reducing the width of the grooves on the rollers used for crimping, for example to 1.0 mm or less (reducing the width but keeping the same depth), etc.

[0066] Production methods which may be cited that implement crimping by the means according to 1), 2) and 3) above include: a method of using different rollers for crimping the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 and the position not corresponding to the filler 33; and a method of crimping the whole of the sheet member 31a and then increasing the crimping intensity by again performing crimping only at the position not corresponding to the filler 33, etc. It should be noted that the basis weight of the sheet member 31a when the basis weight has been adjusted by means of crimping is the weight per area of the sheet member 31a in a state where the wrinkles formed by crimping are not stretched out. By increasing the crimping intensity at the position not corresponding to the filler 33, the basis weight increases and the sheet member 31a also becomes more flexible, allowing the filler 33 to be enclosed when the filler 33 has been arranged, and the filler 33 can be stably arranged within the filter portion 30.

[0067] Furthermore, a preferred means is also to provide one or more holes, normally a plurality of holes, and even more preferably 10 or more holes, at the position of the sheet member 31a corresponding to the filler 33 (the region 301). Examples of the positions where holes are provided are shown in fig. 6(B) and 6(C), which are schematic diagrams of the sheet member 31a, and as shown in these drawings, an arrangement may be cited in which holes are provided so as to form both horizontal and vertical rows, for instance. Holes arranged obliquely in relation to the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30 (the transverse direction in fig. 6(C)), as in fig. 6(C), are especially preferred, because this arrangement allows the filler 33 to penetrate into the rows formed by the holes. The diameter of the holes provided is preferably 1 mm-5 mm, and more preferably 1 mm-3 mm, from the perspective of efficiently reducing the weight of the sheet member 31a while also maintaining suitable strength of the sheet member 31a.

[0068] Additionally, it is also possible to prepare sheet members 31a having different basis weights, and to use the different sheet members 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 and the position not corresponding to the filler 33.

[0069] The difference in packing density of the sheet member 31a at the position of the filter 31 corresponding to the filler 33 (the region 301 in which the filler 33 is arranged) and the position of the filter 31 not corresponding to the filler 33 (the region 302 in which the filler 33 is not arranged) is reduced by making the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 smaller than the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position not corresponding to the filler 33. The effect of reducing the difference in packing density is that variations in packing density of the sheet member 31a in the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30 (the centerline direction of the flavor inhalation article 1) can be restricted. That is to say, the packing density range of the sheet member 31a in the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30 is within a range of 0.8-1.2 in relation to the average density of the filter portion 30 overall. Note that the packing density in the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 30 may be obtained by cutting the filter portion 30 in transverse section to predetermined lengths (e.g. 5 mm) in the longitudinal direction, and determining the packing density of the sheet member 31a within the range of each predetermined length.

[0070] Furthermore, the basis weight of the sheet member 31a is adjusted so that the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 is preferably 25 g / m 2< -35 g / m 2< , and so that the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position not corresponding to the filler 33 is preferably 30 g / m 2< -45 g / m 2< . Furthermore, the difference in basis weight of the sheet member 31a between the position corresponding to the filler 33 and the position not corresponding to the filler 33 is preferably 0 g / m 2< -15 g / m 2< .

[0071] It should be noted that the position of the boundary at which crimping and hole-forming, etc. are performed in order to increase or reduce the basis weight is preferably the position of the boundary between the region 301 and the region 302 in fig. 6(B) and (C), which is to say a position corresponding to the end of the filler 33 in the centerline direction. However, the sheet member 31a and the filler member 33 may be incorrectly positioned when the filler 33 is arranged in relation to the sheet member 31a, and the boundary between the region 301 and the region 302 in fig. 6(B) and (C) may be offset from the end of the filler 33 in the centerline direction. The extent of this offset is preferably no greater than a distance corresponding to the diameter of the filler 33 from the end of the filler 33 in the centerline direction, and preferably no greater than corresponding to the radius of the filler 33.

[0072] The filler 33 is arranged within the paper filter (filter 31), as described above. The filler 33 is provided in order to adjust the smoking taste, and although in some cases the flow path within the paper filter is restricted by providing the filler 33, the flow path is at least changed.

[0073] In this embodiment, a downstream side (second side) end of the filter portion 30 is at a position which is at least a predefined distance away from a downstream side (second side) end of the filler 33. This positional relationship makes it possible to inhibit the formation of a hole in the downstream-side end of the filter portion 30, as compared with a case in which the downstream-side end of the filter portion 30 is at a position which is not the predefined distance away from the downstream-side end of the filler 33.

[0074] The predefined distance is preferably 1 / 2×A×√3 in a case in which the filler 33 has a planar surface on the downstream-side end thereof. Here, A is the diameter of the outer circumferential circle of the planar surface of the filler 33 on the downstream side. If the shape of the planar surface is not a circle, a circle having the same area as the planar surface is assumed, and A is the diameter of the outer circumferential circle of that circle. Furthermore, if the filler 33 is a hollow member, the downstream-side end of the filler 33 does not form a planar surface but is a void, and in this case the diameter of the outer circumferential circle is determined using an imaginary planar surface formed by the downstream-side end of the filler. When an equilateral triangle having the diameter of the outer circumferential circle as the length of each side is formed, 1 / 2×A×√3 corresponds to the height of the equilateral triangle.

[0075] In order to explain why 1 / 2×A×√3 is preferable, a method for producing the filter portion 30 will be described with reference to fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for producing a filter portion according to the first embodiment, where (A) is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of the filter portion 30 in the course of production, (B) is a diagram showing a longitudinal section after the filter portion 300 shown in (A) has been cut, and (C) is a diagram showing an example of a transverse section of the part XIVC-XIVC in (B).

[0076] In the production of the filter portion 30 according to this embodiment, for ease of production, four filter portions 30 are produced at the same time. A sheet member with a size corresponding to four filters 31 is first overlaid on one sheet of flat paper serving as the wrapping paper 35 and having a length corresponding to four filter portions, while subjecting the sheet member to crimping. Fillers 33 each comprising a hollow filler cylinder are placed on the crimped sheet member, and the wrapping paper 35 and the sheet member are rolled up to form a filter portion 300 comprising four continuous filter portions 30 as shown in fig. 7(A). The fillers 33 are packed in two places on the left and right inside the filter 31.

[0077] Next, the filter portion 300 is cut at three locations indicated by the dotted lines a, b, and c in fig. 7(A), to obtain four filter portions 30-1 to 30-4 as shown in fig. 7(B). The fillers 33 are each cut in half by this cutting, and ultimately the four filter portions 30-1 to 30-4 are packed with one half each. In order to prevent the hollow fillers 33 from being exposed on the downstream side (second side) of the filter portions 30, the left side, in the drawing, of the filter portions 30-1 and 30-3, among the cut filter portions 30, is used as the downstream side (second side) of said filter portions 30, and the right side, in the drawing, of the filter portions 30-2 and 30-4 is used as the downstream side (second side) thereof.

[0078] The downstream side of the filler 33 is formed in such a way that the location where there is no filter 31 is shaped like a funnel. In a view in longitudinal section of the filter portion, the extent of the location where the filter 31 is not present from the filler 33 is close to the height (1 / 2×A×√3) of an equilateral triangle the bottom side of which is the diameter of the circumferential circle of the planar surface at the downstream-side end of the filler 33, and thus the predefined distance is preferably 1 / 2×A×√3, as described above.

[0079] If the downstream-side end of the filter portion 30 were positioned closer to the filler 33 than 1 / 2×A×√3, for example if the filter portion 30 were cut in a transverse section at the part XIVC-XIVC in fig. 7(B), as shown in fig. 7(C), a hole that is not covered by the paper filter (filter 31) would be formed and the filler 33 would be visible from the outside, and, furthermore, if the filler 33 were hollow, the inside of the filler 33 would also be visible from the outside, which would be undesirable.

[0080] Since the filler 33 is disposed within the paper filter, the filler 33 preferably has an elongate shape as seen from the side, and although shapes such as those shown in fig. 8(A) and (B) are also possible, at least the part of the filler 33 disposed at the first-side end of the filter portion 30 preferably has a planar shape. Both ends may also be planar surfaces, as in fig. 1 above. The length of the filler 33 in the centerline direction of the filter 31 is preferably 3 mm-25 mm, and especially preferably 5 mm-15 mm.

[0081] The filler 33 may be either hollow or solid. However, since the filler 33 serves to change the flow path within the filter 31, if the filler 33 is a hollow member, then at least one of the first-side end and the second-side end in the centerline direction of the filler 33 preferably has a closed shape, such as a planar shape, and it is undesirable for both the first-side end and the second-side end to be open. The shape of the outer periphery of the filler 33 in a transverse section may be suitably modified according to the shape of the product, but is, for example, circular, elliptical, polygonal, or rounded polygonal.

[0082] Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the ratio of the area of the filler 33 to the area of the filter portion 30 in a transverse section, but it may be 15%-50%, and preferably 20%-40%. Moreover, if a plurality of fillers 33 are disposed within the filter 31, the ratio of the total area of the plurality of fillers 33 to the area of the filter portion 30 in one transverse section preferably lies within the above range.

[0083] When the outer peripheral shape of the filler 33 in a transverse section is substantially circular, the circumference thereof may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but is normally 6 mm-15 mm, and more preferably 9 mm-11 mm. Furthermore, the ratio of the circumference of the filler 33 to the circumference of the filter 31 is normally 0.20 or greater and less than 0.70, and is more preferably 0.35-0.50. It should be noted that when the transverse section is non-circular, the abovementioned circumference is assumed for a circle having the same area as the area of the relevant cross section, and the circumference of that circle is applied.

[0084] The transverse-sectional shape of the filler 33 may be suitably modified according to the shape of the product, but circular is a typical example, and other examples are elliptical, polygonal, and rounded polygonal. A hollow or solid cylindrical shape of the filler 33 is preferred from the viewpoint of the appearance of the filler 33, and a hollow body is especially preferred.

[0085] A specific example of the configuration of the filler 33 will be described here.

[0086] For example, the filler 33 is a tube formed by winding a sheet member comprising the same material as the sheet member constituting the filter 31, such that the transverse cross section of the cylinder or the like is hollow. Specifically, the filler 33 is a paper tube formed by winding paper. By forming the filler 33 as a paper tube, the material constituting the filler 33 can be made substantially the same as the filter 31.

[0087] The filler 33 is what is known as spiral paper tube, which is a tube formed by bonding together a plurality of sheet members containing at least paper and winding the sheet members in a spiral shape. The method for producing a spiral paper tube enables a paper tube having a circular transverse section to be formed easily. By adopting a spiral paper tube for the filler 33, the strength of the filler 33 can be improved while limiting the ratio of the area of the filler 33 to the area of the filter portion 30. Furthermore, by combining and laminating sheet members containing flavoring material components, flavor components, and ground tobacco, etc., with paper, a novel smoking taste can be imparted to the aerosol.

[0088] Alternatively, the filler 33 may be what is known as a straight paper tube, which is a paper tube formed by winding paper in multiple layers in a cylindrical shape. The method for producing a straight paper tube enables a reduction in the amount of glue used for affixing the paper as compared with the method for producing a spiral paper tube.

[0089] Furthermore, the filler 33 may equally be a paper tube formed by laminating a plurality of sheet members containing at least paper. By laminating a plurality of sheet members, the strength of the filler 33 can be maintained even if the basis weight of each sheet member is small.

[0090] It should be noted that the filler 33 is not limited to a paper tube formed by winding paper, and may equally be formed by a tube of a synthetic resin or the like that already has a hollow transverse section. There is no particular restriction on the thickness of the filler 33, and when the filler 33 is a paper tube comprising a plurality of laminated sheet members, for example, the total thickness thereof may be 50 µm-500 µm, and may also be 100 µm-250 µm. By adopting such a thickness, it is possible to inhibit deformation caused by pressure from the paper filter packed around it.

[0091] Although the filler 33 was described above as a hollow member with a hollow transverse section, there is no limitation as to the configuration thereof provided that it changes the flow path within the filter 31, for example with a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the filter 31. However, since the filler 33 serves to change the flow path within the filter 31, if the filler 33 is a hollow member, then at least one of the first-side end and the second-side end in the centerline direction of the filler 33 preferably has a closed shape, such as a planar shape. The filler 33 may be formed by a solid member having a solid transverse section, such as cellulose acetate fibers having a lower filtration rate than paper, for example.

[0092] The shape of the end of the filler 33 in the centerline direction is a planar surface in the example shown in fig. 1, but is not limited to this, and need not be a planar surface.

[0093] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing another example of a longitudinal section of the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment. (A) is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a flavor inhalation article 1 provided with a filler 33 having a pointed second side, and (B) is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of a flavor inhalation article 1 provided with a filler 33 having a decreasing width from the first side to the second side. In the example of fig. 8, the substrate portion 10 is provided with a tip end member 13 which prevents the aerosol source 11 from falling out from a first-side end face of the substrate portion 10.

[0094] For example, the shapes of the ends of the filler 33 in the centerline direction may be such that the first-side end face of the filler 33 is a planar surface, and the second-side end face of the filler 33 is pointed, as shown in fig. 8(A). Furthermore, as shown in fig. 8(B), for example, the filler 33 may have a smaller width in a second-side region than in a first-side region.

[0095] In this example also, the paper filter comprises a crimped sheet member 31a, and the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 is smaller than the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position not corresponding to the filler 33, although this is not shown in fig. 8.

[0096] Examples of other embodiments of the filter portion 30 are shown in fig. 9.

[0097] Fig. 9 shows other examples of the longitudinal section of the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment, being examples in which the substrate portion 10 is provided with a tip end member 13 which prevents the aerosol source 11 from falling out from the first-side end face of the substrate portion 10, similarly to fig. 8. Fig. 9(A) shows a state in which a filler 33 of smaller size than the filter 31 in the centerline direction is positioned inside the filter 31, and fig. 9(B) shows a state in which a plurality of fillers 33 are positioned inside the filter 31. When a plurality of fillers 33 are positioned inside the filter 31, the distance between the downstream-side end of the filter portion 30 and the filler 33 is defined using the filler 33 at the downstream-side end of the filter portion 30. By arranging a plurality of fillers 33 and increasing the ratio of the fillers 33 to the filter 31, the rate of aerosol filtration afforded by the filter portion 30 can be reduced while increasing the strength of the mouthpiece segment 50.

[0098] In this example also, the paper filter comprises a crimped sheet member 31a, and the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 is smaller than the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position not corresponding to the filler 33, although this is not shown in fig. 9.

[0099] Moreover, the filter 31 may contain, as another filler, a breakable additive release container (e.g., a capsule) comprising a breakable outer shell made of gelatin or the like. There is no particular restriction on the form of the additive release container, such as a capsule, and a well-known form may be adopted. In the case of a capsule, when the capsule is ruptured before use, during use, or after use by the user, a liquid or a substance (usually a flavorant) contained inside the capsule is released, and the liquid or substance is then carried by the aerosol while the stick is being used, and is diffused to the surrounding environment after the stick has been used.

[0100] There is no particular restriction on the form of the capsule, and it may be an easily-rupturable capsule, preferably with a spherical shape, for example. Any additives may be included as the additive contained in the capsule, but a flavorant, taste component or flavoring material is preferably included. Furthermore, one or more types of materials serving as an aid to filtering the aerosol may be added as an additive. There is no particular limitation as to the form of the additive, and it is normally a liquid or a solid. Moreover, a well-known easily-rupturable capsule and a well-known method for the production thereof may be adopted.

[0101] Examples of flavorants which may be used include: menthol, spearmint, peppermint, fenugreek, or clove, and medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides (MCT), etc., and these may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

[0102] The filter may further comprise other components such as inorganic fine powders (kaolin, talc, silica earth, quartz, calcium carbonate, barium sulfate, titanium oxide, alumina, etc.), heat stabilizers (such as salts of alkaline earth metals or alkalis), colorants, brightness enhancers, oils, yield improvers, sizing agents, biodegradation or photodegradation enhancers (such as anatase titanium oxide), natural polymers or derivatives thereof (such as cellulose powder), etc., for example. In addition to these filling materials, it is also possible to use activated carbon, sepiolite, palygorskite, zeolite, activated carbon fibers, activated alumina, sepiolite mixed paper, silica gel, activated clay, permiculite, diatomaceous earth, and other inorganic adsorbents, pulp, various fibers, ion exchange resins, and other polymer porous bodies. These other components may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.Substrate portion 10

[0103] As described above, the flavor inhalation article 1 further comprises the tipping paper 40 which is wrapped around the substrate portion 10, the cooling portion 20, and the filter portion 30, which are aligned in that order in the centerline direction, and thereby integrates those portions into a single element. The substrate portion 10 will be described here.

[0104] The substrate portion 10 comprises: an aerosol source 11 which is heated to thereby form a vapor from which an aerosol is generated; and a wrapping paper 12 covering the outer periphery of the aerosol source 11. The substrate portion 10 in fig. 1 is an example of a substrate portion comprising an aerosol source. The substrate portion 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape by wrapping the aerosol source 11 with the wrapping paper 12. The aerosol source 11 may be, for example, a tobacco-derived substance such as cut tobacco, or a processed product obtained by molding a tobacco raw material into a granular form, a sheet form, or a powder form. Furthermore, the aerosol source 11 may also contain a non-tobacco-derived substance produced from a plant other than tobacco (e.g., mint or herb, etc.). As one example, the aerosol source 11 may contain a flavoring material component such as menthol. When the inhalation device 100 is a medical inhaler, the aerosol source 11 may contain a drug to be inhaled by a patient. It should be noted that the aerosol source 11 is not limited to a solid, and may equally be a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol or propylene glycol, or a liquid such as water, for example. In a state in which the flavor inhalation article 1 is being held in the holding portion 140 shown in fig. 2, at least part of the substrate portion 10 is accommodated in the internal space 141 of the holding portion 140.

[0105] The substrate portion 10 obtained by wrapping the aerosol source 11 with the wrapping paper 12 preferably has a cylindrical shape satisfying a shape in which the aspect ratio defined by Math. 1 is 1 or greater. Aspect ratio = h / w

[0106] In Math. 1, w is the transverse-sectional width of the substrate portion 10, h is the size of the substrate portion 10 in the centerline direction, and preferably h≥w. The transverse-sectional shape is not limited, and may be polygonal, rounded polygonal, circular, or elliptical, etc., where the width w is the diameter when the transverse section is circular, is the major axis when the transverse section is elliptical, is the diameter of the circumscribing circle when the transverse section is polygonal, or is the major axis of the circumscribing ellipse when the transverse section is rounded polygonal. The width of the aerosol source 11 constituting the substrate portion 10 is preferably 4 mm-9 mm.

[0107] The size h of the substrate portion 10 in the centerline direction may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but is normally 8 mm or greater and preferably 10 mm or greater. Furthermore, the size h of the substrate portion 10 in the centerline direction is normally 70 mm or less, and preferably 30 mm or less.

[0108] Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the ratio of the size of the substrate portion 10 to the size of the flavor inhalation article 1 in the centerline direction, but, from the point of view of a balance between delivery amount and aerosol temperature, this ratio is normally 10% or greater, preferably 20% or greater, more preferably 25% or greater, and still more preferably 30% or greater. Furthermore, the ratio of the size h of the substrate portion 10 to the size of the flavor inhalation article 1 is normally 80% or less, preferably 70% or less, more preferably 60% or less, even more preferably 50% or less, particularly preferably 45% or less, and most preferably 40% or less.

[0109] There is no particular restriction on the content of the aerosol source 11 in the substrate portion 10, but a content of 200 mg-800 mg may be cited, with 250 g-600 mg being preferred. These ranges are especially suitable for a substrate portion 10 having a circumference of 22 mm and a size of 20 mm in the centerline direction.

[0110] An aerosol source 11 containing cut tobacco will be described here. There is no particular limitation as to the material of the cut tobacco contained in the aerosol source 11, and it is possible to use a well-known material such as lamina or midrib. Furthermore, ground tobacco may be formed by grinding dried tobacco leaves to an average particle size of 20 µm-200 µm, then the material which has been homogenized may be processed into a sheet (also referred to below as a "homogenized sheet") which is cut. In addition, the aerosol source 11 may be filled with a material obtained by cutting, substantially horizontally and in the centerline direction of the substrate portion 10, a homogenized sheet having a size similar to that of the substrate portion 10 in the centerline direction, to form what is known as a "strand-type" filling material.

[0111] Furthermore, the width of the cut tobacco is preferably 0.5 mm-2.0 mm in order to fill the aerosol source 11.

[0112] Various types of tobacco used can be used for the tobacco leaves used in the production of the cut tobacco and the homogenized sheet. Examples that may be cited include flue-cured, Burley, orient, or native type, and other Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica varieties, and mixtures thereof. A suitable blend of varieties may be used in a mixture to achieve the intended taste. Details on tobacco varieties are disclosed in "Encyclopedia of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009". There are several conventional methods for producing homogenized sheets, that is, methods for grinding tobacco leaves and processing them into a homogenized sheet. According to a first method, a paper sheet is produced by using a papermaking process. According to a second method, a suitable solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves and homogenized, after which the homogenized material is thinly cast on a metal plate or a metal plate belt and dried, to produce a cast sheet. According to a third method, a suitable solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves and homogenized, and the homogenized material is extruded into the form of a sheet and shaped to produce a calendered sheet. Details on types of homogenized sheets are disclosed in "Encyclopedia of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009".

[0113] The moisture content of the aerosol source 11 may be 10 mass%-15 mass% with respect to the total amount of aerosol source 11, and a content of 11 mass%-13 mass% is preferred. A moisture content such as this inhibits the formation of wrapping stains and improves rolling suitability during production of the substrate portion 10.

[0114] There is no particular limitation as to the aerosol source 11, and it may contain extracts from various types of natural substances and / or components thereof, depending on the purpose of use. Extracts and / or components thereof which may be cited include glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.

[0115] There is no particular limitation as to the amount of the extracts and / or components thereof contained in the aerosol source 11, and the amount is normally 5 mass% or greater, and preferably 10 mass% or greater, with respect to the total amount of the aerosol source 11, from the point of view of generating sufficient aerosol and imparting a good flavor. Furthermore, the content of the extracts and / or components thereof in the aerosol source 11 is normally 50 mass% or less, and is preferably 15 mass% or greater and 25 mass% or less.

[0116] The aerosol source 11 may contain a flavoring material. There is no particular limitation as to the type of flavoring material, and menthol is especially preferred from the perspective of imparting a good flavor. Furthermore, one type of these flavoring materials may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in combination.

[0117] There is no particular limitation as to the packing density of the aerosol source 11, but it is normally 250 mg / cm 3< or greater, and preferably 300 mg / cm 3< , from the perspective of ensuring the performance of the flavor inhalation article 1 and imparting a good flavor. Furthermore, the packing density of the aerosol source 11 is normally 400 mg / cm 3< or less, and preferably 350 mg / cm 3< or less.

[0118] Furthermore, the aerosol source 11 may also comprise a tobacco sheet. There may be one tobacco sheet, or two or more tobacco sheets.

[0119] When the aerosol source 11 comprises one tobacco sheet, for example, there may be cited a form of filling in which a tobacco sheet having one side of comparable size with the the size of the filled object in the centerline direction is folded multiple times horizontally and in the centerline direction of the filled object (forming what is known as a "gathered sheet"). There may also be cited a form of filling in which a tobacco sheet having one side of comparable size with the size of the filled object in the centerline direction is wound in a direction orthogonal to the centerline direction of the filled object.

[0120] When the aerosol source 11 comprises two or more tobacco sheets, for example, there may be cited a form of filling in which a plurality of tobacco sheets each having one side of comparable size with the size of the filled object in the centerline direction are wound in a direction orthogonal to the centerline direction of the filled object so that the plurality of tobacco sheets are concentrically arranged.

[0121] "Concentrically arranged" means that the centers of all of the tobacco sheets are arranged at substantially the same position. Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the number of tobacco sheets, and forms with two sheets, three sheets, four sheets, five sheets, six sheets or seven sheets may be cited.

[0122] The two or more tobacco sheets may all have the same composition or physical properties, or some or all of the tobacco sheets may have different compositions or physical properties. Furthermore, the tobacco sheets may each have the same thickness or different thicknesses. There is no restriction on the thickness of each tobacco sheet, and the thickness is preferably 150 µm-1000 µm, and more preferably 200 µm-600 µm, from the point of view of a balance between heat transfer and strength.

[0123] The aerosol source 11 may be produced by preparing multiple tobacco sheets with different widths, constructing a laminate which is stacked in such a way that the width decreases from the first side toward the second side, and winding and shaping this laminate through a winding tube. By virtue of this production method, the plurality of tobacco sheets are concentrically arranged about the centerline CL while also extending in the centerline direction.

[0124] In this production method, the laminate is preferably constructed so that non-contact portions are formed between adjacent tobacco sheets after the laminate has been wound and shaped. When non-contact portions (gaps) where there is no contact between tobacco sheets are present between the plurality of tobacco sheets, this makes it possible to maintain a flavor flow path to enhance the efficiency of delivering flavor components. Meanwhile, high heat transfer efficiency can be ensured because heat from the heater can be transferred to the outer tobacco sheets through the contacting parts of the plurality of tobacco sheets.

[0125] Examples that may be cited of methods for constructing a laminate so that non-contacting portions, where the tobacco sheets are not in contact with each other, are provided between the plurality of tobacco sheets include: using embossed tobacco sheets; laminating the tobacco sheets without bonding the entire surfaces of adjacent tobacco sheets; laminating the tobacco sheets with partial bonding between adjacent tobacco sheets; or laminating the tobacco sheets with light bonding between adjacent tobacco sheets over the entire surface or a portion thereof so that the tobacco sheets peel after the winding and shaping.

[0126] When a substrate portion 10 including the wrapping paper 12 is prepared, the wrapping paper 12 may be arranged on the end face on the first side of the laminate.

[0127] Polyols or the like such as glycerol, propylene glycol, or 1,3-butanediol, etc., may be added to the tobacco sheet. The amount added to the tobacco sheet is preferably 5 to 50% by mass with respect to the dry mass of the tobacco sheet, and more preferably 15 to 25% by mass.

[0128] The tobacco sheet may be appropriately produced by well-known methods such as sheet-forming, slurry or rolling. Moreover, the homogenized sheet described above may also be used.

[0129] In the case of sheet-forming, the tobacco sheet may be produced by a method comprising the following steps. 1) Dried tobacco leaf is coarsely ground, extracted with water and then separated into water extract and residue. 2) The water extract is dried under reduced pressure and concentrated. 3) Pulp is added to the residue, the materials are fiberized using a refiner and then formed into paper. 4) The concentrated water extract is added to a sheet formed from the paper and dried to form a tobacco sheet. In this case, a step for removing some of the components such as nitrosamines may also be added (see JP 2004-510422 A).

[0130] In the case of a slurry process, the tobacco sheet may be produced by a method comprising the following steps. 1) Ground tobacco leaf is mixed with water, pulp, and a binder. 2) The mixture is thinly spread (cast) and dried. In this case, a step may be added where the slurry that has been obtained by mixing the ground tobacco leaf with water, pulp, and a binder is exposed to ultraviolet or X-ray radiation to remove some components such as nitrosamine.

[0131] In addition to the above, a nonwoven fabric tobacco sheet produced by means of a method comprising the following steps may also be used, as disclosed in WO 2014 / 104078 A1. 1) Granular tobacco leaf and a binder are mixed. 2) The mixture is interposed between nonwoven fabrics. 3) The laminate is molded into a fixed shape by means of thermal fusion bonding, and a tobacco sheet in the form of a nonwoven fabric is obtained.

[0132] The type of tobacco leaf starting material used in the methods above may be the same as that described in relation to the aerosol source 11 containing cut tobacco.

[0133] There is no particular limitation as to the composition of the tobacco sheet, but the content of tobacco raw material (tobacco leaf) is preferably 50 mass%-95 mass% with respect to the total mass of the tobacco sheet, for example. Furthermore, the tobacco sheet may comprise a binder, and examples of such binders which may be cited include: guar gum, xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose sodium salt, etc. The amount of binder is preferably 1 mass%-10 mass% with respect to the total mass of the tobacco sheet. The tobacco sheet may further comprise other additives. Examples of other additives which may be cited include fillers such as pulp.

[0134] There is no particular restriction on the constitution of the wrapping paper 12 used in the substrate portion 10, and a general form may be used, for example a form comprising pulp as the main component. A sheet of pulp may be formed using wood pulp such as softwood pulp or hardwood pulp, or produced with an admixture of non-wood pulp which is typically used for the wrapping paper 12 for tobacco products, such as flax pulp, hemp pulp, sisal pulp, or esparto.

[0135] Types of pulp that can be used include chemical pulps obtained by means of kraft pulping, acid / neutral / alkaline sulfite pulping, or soda pulping, etc., groundwood pulps, chemigroundwood pulps, or thermomechanical pulps, etc.

[0136] The wrapping paper 12 is produced using the pulp by adjusting and homogenizing the texture in a papermaking process that employs a Fourdrinier machine, a cylinder mold papermaking machine, or a round-short combined papermaking machine, etc. It should be noted that, if necessary, a wet strength agent can be added to impart water resistance to the wrapping paper 12, or a sizing agent can be added to adjust a printing condition of the wrapping paper 12. Furthermore, papermaking internal additives such as sulfuric acid bands and various types of anionic, cationic, nonionic or amphoteric yield improving agents, water filtration improving agents, and paper strength agents, and papermaking additives such as dyes, pH regulators, defoaming agents, pitch control agents, and slime control agents can be added.

[0137] The basis weight of the base paper of the wrapping paper 12 is normally 20 gsm or greater, and preferably 25 gsm or greater, for example. Meanwhile, the basis weight is normally 65 gsm or less, preferably 50 gsm or less, and even more preferably 45 gsm or less.

[0138] There is no particular limitation as to the thickness of the wrapping paper 12, and it is normally 10 µm or greater, preferably 20 µm or greater, and more preferably 30 µm or greater, from the perspective of rigidity, air permeability, and ease of making adjustments during papermaking. Furthermore, the thickness of the wrapping paper 12 is normally 100 µm or less, preferably 75 µm or less, and more preferably 50 µm or less.

[0139] The shape of the wrapping paper 12 for producing the substrate portion 10 may be square or rectangular, for example.

[0140] When used as the wrapping paper 12 for wrapping the aerosol source 11, one side of the wrapping paper 12 may have a length of around 12 mm-70 mm, and the other side may have a length of 15 mm-28 mm, preferably a length of 22 mm-24 mm, and even more preferably a length of around 23 mm. When the aerosol source 11 is wrapped in a cylindrical shape by the wrapping paper 12, one end of the wrapping paper 12 and the opposite end of the wrapping paper 12 may be overlapped by around 2 mm in the circumferential direction, for example, and glued together to form a cylindrical paper tube shape which is internally packed with the aerosol source 11. The size of a rectangular wrapping paper 12 may be determined by the size of the substrate portion 10.

[0141] In addition to the abovementioned pulp, the wrapping paper 12 may also comprise a loading material. The content of the loading material may be 10 mass%-60 mass%, and is preferably 15 mass%-45 mass%, with respect to the total mass of the wrapping paper 12.

[0142] In the wrapping paper 12, the content of the loading material is preferably 15 mass%-45 mass% within the preferred basis weight range (25 gsm-45 gsm).

[0143] In addition, if the basis weight is 25 gsm-35 gsm, then the content of the loading material is preferably 15 mass%-45 mass%, and if the basis weight is 35 gsm-45 gsm, then the content of the loading material is preferably 25 mass%-45 mass%.

[0144] Calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, or kaolin, etc. may be used as the loading material, but calcium carbonate is preferably used from the point of view of improving flavour and whiteness, etc.

[0145] Various auxiliaries other than the base paper and the loading material may also be added to the wrapping paper 12, for example water-resistance improving agents can be added to improve water resistance. Water-resistance improving agents include wet-strength agents (WS agents) and sizing agents. Examples of wet strength agents include urea formaldehyde resins, melamine formaldehyde resins, polyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE), and the like. Furthermore, examples of sizing agents include rosin soap, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), and highly saponified polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more.

[0146] A paper strength agent may be added as an auxiliary, for example polyacrylamide, cationic starch, oxidized starch, CMC, polyamide epichlorohydrin resin, or polyvinyl alcohol. Using a minute amount of oxidized starch in particular is known to improve air permeability (JP 2017-218699 A).

[0147] A coating agent may be added to at least one of the two surfaces of the wrapping paper 12, namely the front surface and the rear surface. There is no particular restriction on the coating agent, but a coating agent that can form a film on the surface of the paper and reduce the permeability of liquids is preferred. Examples include polysaccharides such as alginic acid and salts thereof (e.g., sodium salt), and pectin; cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and nitrocellulose; and starch and derivatives thereof (e.g., ether derivatives such as carboxymethyl starch, hydroxyalkyl starch, and cationic starch, and ester derivatives such as acetate starch, phosphate starch, and octenyl succinate starch).Cooling portion 20

[0148] The cooling portion 20 is a member which is disposed adjacent to the substrate portion 10 and the filter portion 30, and is shaped by winding a sheet 21 in such a way that the cylindrical (or similar) transverse section is hollow (vacant). The cooling portion 20 generates an aerosol by cooling the vapor generated by heating of the substrate portion 10.

[0149] Specifically, the cooling portion 20 is a paper tube which is shaped by winding a sheet 21 made of paper. The cooling portion 20 is what is known as a spiral paper tube, which is a paper tube shaped by bonding together a plurality of sheets 21 containing at least paper, and winding the sheets in a spiral shape. The method for producing a spiral paper tube enables a paper tube having a circular transverse section to be formed easily. By adopting the spiral paper tube for the cooling portion 20, it is possible to enhance the strength of the cooling portion 20 while limiting the area of the cooling portion 20. Furthermore, by combining and laminating a sheet member containing flavoring material components, flavor components, and ground tobacco, etc., with paper, a novel smoking taste can be imparted to the aerosol.

[0150] Alternatively, the cooling portion 20 may be what is known as a straight paper tube, which is a paper tube formed by winding paper in multiple layers in a cylindrical shape. The method for producing a straight paper tube enables a reduction in the amount of glue used for affixing the paper as compared with the method for producing a spiral paper tube.

[0151] Furthermore, the cooling portion 20 may equally be a paper tube formed by laminating a plurality of sheets 21 containing at least paper. By laminating a plurality of sheets 21, it is possible to maintain the strength of the cooling portion 20 even if each of the sheets 21 has a small basis weight.

[0152] The cooling portion 20 has a substantially circular transverse section, and the circumference thereof may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but the circumference is preferably roughly the same as the circumference of the filter 31 which will be described later. It should be noted that when the transverse section is non-circular, the abovementioned circumference is assumed for a circle having the same area as the area of the relevant cross section, and the circumference of that circle is applied.

[0153] The size of the cooling portion 20 in the centerline direction may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but is normally 5 mm or greater, preferably 10 mm or greater, and more preferably 15 mm or greater. Furthermore, the size of the cooling portion 20 in the centerline direction is normally 35 mm or less, preferably 30 mm or less, and more preferably 25 mm or less. By setting the size of the cooling portion 20 in the centerline direction at or above the abovementioned lower limit, it is possible to ensure a sufficient cooling effect and to obtain a pleasant flavor, and by setting the size at or below the abovementioned upper limit, it is possible to inhibit loss caused by adhesion of the generated vapor and aerosol to the sheet 21.

[0154] There is no particular restriction on the thickness of the sheet 21, and it may be 50 µm-500 µm, or may be 100 µm-250 µm, for example. Moreover, there is no particular restriction on the material of the sheet 21, and it may, for example, be a material having pulp as the main component, a material having polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, or aluminum foil as the main component, or any combination thereof.

[0155] The cooling portion 20 was assumed to be a part formed by winding the sheet 21, but this is one example of a cylindrical member formed into a cylindrical shape, and the cooling portion 20 is not limited to this configuration provided that the transverse section is hollow. The cooling portion 20 may equally be formed by a tube made of a synthetic resin or the like, which already has a hollow transverse section.

[0156] The cooling portion 20 is provided with through-holes 60 (also referred to as a "ventilation filter (Vf)" in this technical field) which are concentrically provided in the circumferential direction. The through-holes 60 are perforations penetrating the sheet 21. Examples of shapes of the perforations include polygonal, rounded polygonal, circular, elliptical, etc. The through-holes 60 are present in a region where air can flow in from outside the flavor inhalation article 1, in other words, in a region protruding from the opening 142 when the flavor inhalation article 1 is held in the holding portion 140 of the inhalation device 100.

[0157] The through-holes 60 being present makes it possible to adjust the concentration of flavor components and aerosol being inhaled. Furthermore, the presence of the plurality of through-holes 60 enables air to flow into the cooling portion 20 from the outside during inhalation, and enables a reduction in the temperature of the vapor and air flowing in from the substrate portion 10. In addition, setting the positions where the through-holes 60 are provided in the cooling portion 20 to lie within a region at least 4 mm away from the boundary between the cooling portion 20 and the filter portion 30 in the direction of the cooling portion 20 side not only enhances the cooling capability, but also makes it possible to inhibit substances (products) generated by heating from stagnating within the cooling portion 20, thereby increasing the amount of product that is delivered. Moreover, the vapor generated by heating the substrate portion 10, with the aerosol acting as the condensation nuclei, liquefies as a result of a reduction in temperature upon coming into contact with air from the outside, and this can promote aerosol generation.

[0158] If a plurality of the through-holes 60 which are present in the cooling portion 20 in a concentric form are treated as a single group of through-holes, there may be one group of through-holes, or there may be two or more groups of through-holes. When there are two or more groups of through-holes, the groups of through-holes are preferably not provided in a region lying less than 4 mm away from the boundary between the cooling portion 20 and the filter portion 30 in the direction of the cooling portion 20 side, from the perspective of increasing the amount of delivery of components generated by means of heating.

[0159] Furthermore, when the flavor inhalation article 1 is in a form where the substrate portion 10, the cooling portion 20, and the filter portion 30 are wrapped with the tipping paper 40, vent holes are preferably provided in the tipping paper 40 directly above the through-holes 60 provided in the cooling portion 20. When a flavor inhalation article 1 such as this is produced, it is possible to prepare a tipping paper 40 in which vent holes have been provided in such a way as to lie over the through-holes 60, and then to wrap this tipping paper 40 around, but from the perspective of ease of production, a flavor inhalation article 1 without the through-holes 60 is preferably produced, after which perforations simultaneously penetrating the cooling portion 20 and the tipping paper 40 are preferably formed.

[0160] There is no particular restriction on the region where the through-holes 60 are present, provided that this region is at least 4 mm away from the boundary between the cooling portion 20 and the filter portion 30 in the direction of the cooling portion 20 side, from the perspective of increasing delivery of products formed by heating, but it is preferably a region at least 4.5 mm away, more preferably a region at least 5 mm away, and even more preferably a region at least 5.5 mm away, from the perspective of further increasing product delivery. Furthermore, the region in which the through-holes 60 are present is preferably a region no greater than 15 mm away from the boundary between the cooling portion 20 and the filter portion 30, more preferably a region no greater than 10 mm away, and even more preferably a region no greater than 7 mm away, from the perspective of ensuring a cooling function.

[0161] Furthermore, taking the boundary between the cooling portion 20 and the substrate portion 10 as a reference, if the size of the cooling portion 20 in the centerline direction is 20 mm or more, then the region in which the through-holes 60 are present is preferably a region at least 5 mm away from the boundary between the cooling portion 20 and the substrate portion 10 in the direction of the cooling portion 20 side, more preferably a region at least 10 mm away, and even more preferably a region at least 13 mm away, from the perspective of ensuring the cooling function. Furthermore, the region in which the through-holes 60 are present is preferably a region no more than 16 mm away from the boundary between the cooling portion 20 and the substrate portion 10, more preferably a region no more than 15.5 mm away, even more preferably a region no more than 15 mm away, and particularly preferably a region no more than 14.5 mm away, from the perspective of improving delivery of products formed by heating.

[0162] The through-holes 60 are provided in such a way that an air inflow ratio from the through-holes 60 during drawing at 17.5 mL / sec on an automatic smoking machine is 10 vol%-90 vol%. The "air inflow ratio" is a volume ratio of air flowing in from the through-holes 60 when the ratio of air drawn in from the mouthpiece end is 100 vol%. The air inflow ratio is preferably 50 vol%-80 vol%, and more preferably 55 vol%-75 vol%. These air inflow ratios can be achieved for example by selecting the number of through-holes 60 per group of through-holes from a range of between 5 and 50, selecting the diameter of the through-holes 60 from a range of between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, and combining these selections.

[0163] The air inflow ratio may be measured by a method based on ISO9512, using a wrapper quality analyzer (e.g., SODIMAX D74 / SODIM, manufactured by S.A.S.).Tipping paper 40

[0164] The tipping paper 40 is wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of the substrate portion 10, the cooling portion 20, and the filter portion 30.

[0165] There is no particular restriction on the shape of the tipping paper 40, and it may have a square or rectangular shape, for example.

[0166] There is no particular restriction on the basis weight of the tipping paper 40, and it is normally 32 gsm-60 gsm, preferably 33 gsm-55 gsm, and more preferably 34 gsm-53 gsm.

[0167] There is no particular restriction on the air permeability of the tipping paper 40, and it is normally 0 CORESTA units-30,000 CORESTA units, and preferably greater than 0 CORESTA units and no greater than 10,000 CORESTA units. Here, "air permeability" is a value measured in accordance with ISO 2965:2009, and is expressed as the flow rate (cm 3< ) of a gas passing through a surface area of 1 cm 2< per minute at a differential pressure of 1 kPa on both surfaces of the paper. 1 CORESTA unit (1 C.U.) constitutes cm 3< / (min·cm 2< ) under 1 kPa.

[0168] There is no particular restriction on the constitution of the tipping paper 40, and a general form may be used, for example a form comprising pulp as the main component. A sheet of pulp may be formed using wood pulp such as softwood pulp or hardwood pulp, or produced with an admixture of non-wood pulp which is typically used for wrapping papers for tobacco articles, such as flax pulp, hemp pulp, sisal pulp, or esparto. These pulps may be used alone, or several types of pulps may be combined in any proportions for use.

[0169] Forms of pulp that can be used include chemical pulps obtained by means of kraft pulping, acid / neutral / alkaline sulfite pulping, or soda pulping, etc., groundwood pulps, chemigroundwood pulps, or thermomechanical pulps, etc. Note that the tipping paper 40 is produced by means of a production method described above, or a commercially available product may be used.

[0170] The tipping paper 40 may contain a loading material in addition to the above-described materials, examples of which can include metal carbonates such as calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, metal oxides such as titanium oxide, titanium dioxide and aluminum oxide, metal sulfates such as barium sulfate and calcium sulfate, metal sulfides such as zinc sulfide, quartz, kaolin, talc, diatomaceous earth, gypsum and the like, and calcium carbonate is preferably included in particular from the viewpoint of improving whiteness and opacity and increasing the heating rate. Furthermore, these loading materials may be used alone, or two or more may be used in combination.

[0171] Various auxiliaries other than the above-described materials and loading material may also be added to the tipping paper 40, for example the tipping paper 40 may comprise a water-resistance improving agent to improve water resistance. Water-resistance improving agents include wet-strength agents (WS agents) and sizing agents. Examples of wet strength agents include urea formaldehyde resins, melamine formaldehyde resins, polyamide epichlorohydrin (PAE), and the like. Furthermore, examples of sizing agents include rosin soap, alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), and highly saponified polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more.

[0172] A coating agent may be added to at least one of the two surfaces of the tipping paper 40, namely the front surface and the rear surface. There is no particular restriction on the coating agent, but a coating agent that can form a film on the surface and reduce the permeability of liquids is preferred.

[0173] A portion of an outer surface of the tipping paper 40 may be coated with a lip-release material. A lip-release material means a material configured for assisting in easy separation, substantially without adhesion, of contact between the lips and the tipping paper 40 when the user holds the filter portion 30 of the flavor inhalation article 1 in their mouth. The lip-release material may comprise ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, or nitrocellulose, etc., for example. For example, the outer surface of the tipping paper 40 may be coated with a lip-release material by applying an ethylcellulose-based or methylcellulose-based ink to the outer surface of the tipping paper 40.

[0174] Other embodiments of heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article

[0175] Fig. 10 shows a second embodiment of the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article. In fig. 10(A), a separate filter 32 is located on the upstream side of the filter 31, and the filler 33 is located on the upstream side of the filter 31; in fig. 10(B), the separate filter 32 is located on the downstream side of the filter 31, and the filler 33 is located on the upstream side of the filter 31; and in fig. 10(C), the separate filter 32 is located on the downstream side of the filter 31, and the filler 33 is located on the downstream side of the filter 31.

[0176] The examples in fig. 10 all show a flavor inhalation article 2 in which the substrate portion 10 is provided with a tip end member 13 which prevents the aerosol source 11 from falling out from the first-side end face of the substrate portion 10, and the separate filter 32 is further provided to form a filter portion 230. The flavor inhalation article 2 differs from the embodiment in fig. 9 in regard to a different filter portion 230 corresponding to the filter portion 30. The differences with the embodiment in fig. 9 will be described below. The same reference signs are used for the same components in fig. 9 and fig. 10, and these will not be described in detail.

[0177] The filter portion 230 comprises: a filter 31 which is a paper filter; a separate filter 32 which is an independent filter separate from the filter 31; a filler 33; and a wrapping paper 35 which is present between the filter 31 and a tipping paper 40 and is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the filter 31. The filter portion 230 is connected (linked) to the cooling portion 20 by integrally wrapping the cooling portion 20 and the filter portion 230 using the tipping paper 40. Moreover, it is preferable to wrap each of the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 with separate wrapping papers 35, and then to wrap them together with another separate wrapping paper 35.

[0178] The separate filter 32 of the filter portion 230 has a substantially circular transverse section, and the circumference thereof may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but a circumference of 22 mm-27 mm may be cited. It should be noted that when the transverse section is non-circular, the abovementioned circumference is assumed for a circle having the same area as the area of the relevant cross section, and the circumference of that circle is applied.

[0179] The airflow resistance and size in the centerline direction of the filter portion 230 may be illustrated as being the same as the airflow resistance and the size in the centerline direction of the filter portion 30. The shape and dimensions of the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 may be suitably adjusted so that the shape and dimensions of the filter portion 230 fall within the range above.

[0180] There is no particular restriction on the separate filter 32, provided that it comprises a filter material and has the general functions of the filter. Examples of general functions of a filter which may be cited include adjusting the amount of air which is mixed when the aerosol, etc. is inhaled, lightening the flavor, and lightening nicotine and tar, etc., but not all of these functions need to be provided. Preventing the aerosol source 11 from falling out while restricting the filtration function is also another important function in the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article 1, which generates fewer components and tends to have a lower filling rate of the aerosol source 11 than paperwrapped tobacco products. It should be noted that the separate filter 32 may have a lower filtration rate than the filter 31 and higher hardness than the filter 31.

[0181] The filter material constituting the separate filter 32 is, for example, a filling material such as cellulose acetate fibers, nonwoven fabric, or pulp paper formed into a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, a paper filter packed with sheet-like pulp paper may also be used. In addition to these filling materials, it is also possible to use activated carbon, sepiolite, palygorskite, zeolite, activated carbon fibers, activated alumina, sepiolite mixed paper, silica gel, activated clay, permiculite, diatomaceous earth, and other inorganic adsorbents, pulp, various fibers, ion exchange resins, and other polymer porous bodies. Moreover, the separate filter 32 may contain a breakable additive release container (e.g., a capsule) comprising a breakable outer shell made of gelatin or the like.

[0182] There is no particular restriction on the packing density of the filter material, but it is normally 90 mg / cm 3< -360 mg / cm 3< , and preferably 150 mg / cm 3< -240 mg / cm 3< .

[0183] In this example also, the paper filter comprises a crimped sheet member 31a, and the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position corresponding to the filler 33 is smaller than the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at the position not corresponding to the filler 33, although this is not shown in fig. 10.

[0184] Fig. 11 shows a longitudinal section of a flavor inhalation article 3 according to a third embodiment. Fig. 11(A) shows a state in which the filler 33 is positioned on the first side of an aerosol modifier 34 constituting a second filler, and (B) shows a state in which the filler 33 is positioned on the second side of the aerosol modifier 34 constituting the second filler, and the second-side (downstream-side) end of a filter portion 330 is positioned at least a predefined distance away from the end of the filler 33.

[0185] The flavor inhalation article 3 according to the third embodiment differs from the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment in regard to a different filter portion 330 corresponding to the filter portion 30. The differences with the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference signs are used for the same components in the first and third embodiments, and these will not be described in detail.

[0186] The filter portion 330 comprises: a filter 31 which is a paper filter; a filler 33 which restricts a flow path in the filter 31; an aerosol modifier 34 for modifying the aerosol; and a wrapping paper 35 which is present between the filter 31 and the tipping paper 40 and is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the filter 31. The filter portion 330 is connected (linked) to the cooling portion 20 by integrally wrapping the cooling portion 20 and the filter portion 330 using the tipping paper 40. Note that the wrapping paper 35 need not be provided.

[0187] The aerosol modifier 34 constitutes a second filler and is disposed inside the filter portion 330.

[0188] There is no particular restriction on the position of the aerosol modifier 34 in the longitudinal section of the filter portion 330, but the aerosol modifier 34 is preferably arranged in a straight line with the filler 33 in the centerline direction. In other words, the aerosol modifier 34 is preferably arranged in a straight line with the filler 33 in the longitudinal direction of the filter portion 330.

[0189] Specifically, the aerosol modifier 34 is preferably disposed at a position corresponding to the filler 33, such as a position on the second side (downstream side) through which the aerosol passes having passed through the filler 33 (see fig. 11(A)), or a position such that the aerosol which has collided with the aerosol modifier 34 passes through the filler 33 (see fig. 11(B)). The aerosol modifier 34 being disposed at a position corresponding to the filler 33 allows the modified aerosol to be delivered more efficiently. Furthermore, as shown in fig. 11(B), the aerosol modifier 34 being disposed on the first side (upstream side) of the filler 33 and in a straight line with the filler 33 in the centerline direction makes it possible to cause the modified aerosol to pass through the filler 33 during inhalation.

[0190] The aerosol modifier 34 is, for example, a breakable capsule which releases contents containing a flavoring material component when an external force is applied thereto.

[0191] The aerosol modifier 34 is preferably embedded at a position such that the contents do not leak from the end face on the first side or the end face on the second side of the filter 31. In other words, the aerosol modifier 34 is preferably disposed at a position where diffusion of the contents is contained within the filter portion 330.

[0192] The aerosol modifier 34 comprises: contents including at least either one of a taste component and a flavoring material component; and a capsule body for holding the contents. The aerosol modifier 34 is crushed by the user, causing the capsule body to break and releasing the contents therein. Crushing involves, for example, pressing the wrapping paper 35 and the tipping paper 40 between thumb and forefinger to apply pressure to the aerosol modifier 34, which is a breakable capsule.

[0193] Although not depicted in fig. 10 or 11, all of the embodiments described above make it possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, in which a paper filter comprises a crimped sheet member 31a, and the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at a position corresponding to a filler 33 is smaller than the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at a position not corresponding to the filler 33, therefore limiting variations in the packing density inside the filter 31.

[0194] Furthermore, the heat-not-burn flavor inhalation articles 1, 2 and 3 each include at least the substrate portion 10 comprising the aerosol source 11. Normally, the flavor inhalation article 1, etc., further comprises: the cooling portion 20 for cooling the vapor generated by heating the substrate portion 10, thereby producing an aerosol; the filter portion 30, etc. through which the aerosol passes; and the tipping paper 40 which is wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of the substrate portion 10, the cooling portion 20, and the filter portion 30. The filter portion 30 then comprises the filter 31, which is a paper filter packed with the sheet member, and the filler 33 which is in the filter 31 and has a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the filter 31. It should be noted that the flavor inhalation articles 1, 2 and 3 need not comprise the cooling portion 20, from the perspective of making the size more compact in the centerline direction. By virtue of these features, it is possible to provide a flavor inhalation article with limited variations in packing density within the filter.Combustion heating-type flavor inhalation article

[0195] Fig. 12 and 13 are diagrams showing a longitudinal section of a flavor inhalation article 4 according to a fourth embodiment.

[0196] The flavor inhalation article 4 according to the fourth embodiment has a different form of use from the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment. Furthermore, the flavor inhalation article 4 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the flavor inhalation article 1 according to the first embodiment in regard to a different mouthpiece portion 450 corresponding to the mouthpiece segment 50, and different communication holes 460 corresponding to the through-holes 60. The differences with the first embodiment will be described below. The same reference signs are used for the same components in the first and fourth embodiments, and these will not be described in detail.

[0197] The flavor inhalation article 4 is a combustion-type flavor inhalation article. The flavor inhalation article is used by burning the end face on the first side, being the opposite side to the second side which is the end that the user holds in their mouth in order to inhale. The aerosol source 11 contained in the substrate portion 10 produces a vapor from which the aerosol is generated, by means of heating associated with combustion.

[0198] The flavor inhalation article 4 has a substantially circular transverse section, and the circumference thereof may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but the circumference is normally 16 mm-27 mm, and preferably 22 mm-25 mm. It should be noted that when the transverse section is non-circular, the abovementioned circumference is assumed for a circle having the same area as the area of the relevant cross section, and the circumference of that circle is applied.

[0199] The size of the flavor inhalation article 4 in the centerline direction may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but this size is normally 60 mm-120 mm, and preferably 80 mm-100 mm.

[0200] The mouthpiece portion 450 is formed from the filter portion 30.

[0201] The size of the mouthpiece portion 450 in the centerline direction may be suitably modified according to the size of the product, but this size is normally 20 mm-40 mm, and preferably 25 mm-30 mm.

[0202] Furthermore, the mouthpiece portion 450 is provided with a plurality of communication holes 460 which are concentrically provided in the circumferential direction. The communication holes 460 are perforations which cause air flowing in from the vent holes provided in the tipping paper 40 to communicate with the voids inside the filter 31. By adjusting the amount of air flowing in from the communication holes 460, it is possible to adjust the concentration of the aerosol inhaled by the user.

[0203] Furthermore, when the filter portion 30 of the mouthpiece portion 450 is in a form obtained by wrapping the filter 31 with the wrapping paper 35 and the tipping paper 40, the communication holes 460 are preferably at least provided in the wrapping paper 35 at positions corresponding to the vent holes provided in the tipping paper 40. When a flavor inhalation article 4 comprising the mouthpiece portion 450 such as this is produced, it is possible to wrap the tipping paper 40 around in such a way that the communication holes 460 and the vent holes provided in the tipping paper 40 are overlapping, but from the perspective of ease of production, a flavor inhalation article 4 without the communication holes 460 is preferably produced, after which perforations simultaneously penetrating the mouthpiece portion 450 and the tipping paper 40 are preferably formed.

[0204] The region where the communication holes 460 are present is preferably a region of the filter portion 30 having a relatively low packing density of the sheet member constituting the filter 31, in other words, a region of the filter 31 where the filler 33 is not disposed, from the perspective of improving air inflow efficiency.

[0205] In the example shown in fig. 12, the filler 33 which is smaller than the size of the filter 31 in the centerline direction is positioned on the first side (substrate portion 10 side) within the filter 31, and the communication holes 460 are provided in the region of the filter 31 where the filler 33 is not disposed. Specifically, the communication holes 460 are provided in the region on the second side of the filler 33. In fig. 13(A), the filler 33 which is smaller than the size of the filter 31 in the centerline direction is centrally positioned inside the filter 31 between the first side (substrate portion 10 side) and the second side, and the communication holes 460 are provided on the first side of the filter 31; and in fig. 13(B), a plurality of fillers 33 are arranged inside the filter, specifically, the fillers 33 which are smaller than the size of the filter 31 in the centerline direction are positioned on the first side (substrate portion 10 side) and the second side within the filter 31, and the communication holes 460 are provided between the plurality of fillers 33.

[0206] The communication holes 460 are not limited to the configuration described above, as long as they are provided in a region of the filter 31 where the filler 33 is not disposed.

[0207] Fig. 14 and 15 are diagrams showing a longitudinal section of the flavor inhalation article 5 according to a fifth embodiment. Fig. 14(A) shows a state in which the filler 33 is positioned on the first side within the filter 31, and (B) shows a state in which the filler 33 is positioned on the second side within the filter 31.

[0208] The flavor inhalation article 5 according to the fifth embodiment differs from the flavor inhalation article 4 according to the fourth embodiment in regard to a different filter portion 530 corresponding to the filter portion 30. The differences with the fourth embodiment will be described below. The same reference signs are used for the same components of the flavor inhalation article 4 and the flavor inhalation article 5, and these will not be described in detail.

[0209] The filter portion 530 comprises: a filter 31 which is a paper filter; a separate filter 32 which is an independent filter separate from the filter 31; a filler 33 having a lower filtration rate than the filtration rate of the filter 31; and a wrapping paper 35 which is present between the filter 31 and a tipping paper 40 and is wrapped around the outer circumferential surface of the filter 31. The filter portion 530 is connected (linked) to the substrate portion 10 by integrally wrapping the substrate portion 10 and the filter portion 230 using the tipping paper 40. Moreover, it is preferable to wrap each of the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 with separate wrapping papers 35, and then to wrap them together with another separate wrapping paper 35.

[0210] The configuration of the separate filter 32 of the filter portion 530 may be illustrated as being the same as that of the separate filter 32 included in the filter portion 230 according to the second embodiment. The shape and dimensions of the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 may be suitably adjusted so that the shape and dimensions of the filter portion 530 fall within the range above.

[0211] The filter portion 530 comprises the separate filter 32 which is connected to the second side of the substrate portion 10, and the filter 31 which is positioned on the second side of the separate filter 32. The separate filter 32 is positioned on the first side, and the filter 31 is positioned on the second side. As shown in fig. 14(A), a filler 33 which is smaller than the size of the filter 31 in the centerline direction may be disposed on the first side (upstream side) within the filter 31, and the communication holes 460 may be provided in a region on the second side of the filler 33. Furthermore, as shown in fig. 14(B), a filler 33 which is smaller than the size of the filter 31 in the centerline direction may be disposed on the second side (downstream side) within the filter 31, and the communication holes 460 may be provided in a region on the first side of the filler 33.

[0212] The configuration of the filter portion 530 is not limited to the examples shown in fig. 14(A) and (B), and the positional relationship of the filter 31 and the separate filter 32 may be varied.

[0213] Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of another flavor inhalation article 5 according to the fifth embodiment, where (A) shows a state in which the filler 33 is positioned on the first side within the filter 31, and (B) shows a state in which the filler 33 is positioned on the second side within the filter 31.

[0214] The filter portion 530 comprises a filter 31 which is connected to the second side of the substrate portion 10, and a separate filter 32 which is positioned on the second side of the filter 31. The filter 31 is positioned on the first side, and the separate filter 32 is positioned on the second side. As shown in fig. 15(A), a filler 33 which is smaller than the size of the filter 31 in the centerline direction may be disposed on the first side (upstream side) within the filter 31, and the communication holes 460 may be provided in a region on the second side of the filler 33. Furthermore, as shown in fig. 15(B), a filler 33 which is smaller than the size of the filter 31 in the centerline direction may be disposed on the second side (downstream side) within the filter 31, and the communication holes 460 may be provided in a region on the upstream side of the filler 33.

[0215] The combustion-type flavor inhalation articles 4 and 5 described above comprise at least the substrate portion 10 including the aerosol source 11, the filter portion 30, 530 through which the aerosol passes, and the tipping paper 40 which is wrapped around the outer circumferential surfaces of the substrate portion 10 and the filter portion 30, 530. The filter portion 30, 530 then comprises the filter 31 which is a paper filter, and the filler 33 which is a member disposed in the filter 31 and changes the flow path for the aerosol passing through the filter 31. Although not depicted in fig. 12-15, in all of the embodiments, a paper filter constitutes the filter 31 in which a sheet member is crimped, and the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at a position corresponding to the filler 33 is smaller than the basis weight of the sheet member 31a at a position not corresponding to the filler, similarly to the first embodiment. By virtue of these features, it is possible to provide a filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, and a flavor inhalation article with limited variations in packing density within the filter 31.SUMMARY

[0216] It should be noted that the present disclosure includes the following features. (1) A filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, comprising: a paper filter; and a filler which is disposed inside the paper filter and changes a flow path within the paper filter, wherein the paper filter is a filter in which a sheet member is crimped, and a basis weight of the sheet member at a position corresponding to the filler is smaller than a basis weight of the sheet member at a position not corresponding to the filler. (2) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed (1), wherein the crimping intensity of the sheet member is greater at the position not corresponding to the filler than at the position corresponding to the filler. (3) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in (1) or (2), wherein one or more holes are formed in the sheet member at the position corresponding to the filler. (4) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any of (1) to (3), wherein a packing density of the sheet member in a longitudinal direction of the filter portion is within a range of 0.8-1.2 in relation to an average density of the filter portion overall. (5) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any of (1) to (4), wherein a packing density of the sheet member is 80 mg / cm 3< -380 mg / cm 3< at a location where there is no filler. (6) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any of (1) to (5), wherein the sheet member is paper or nonwoven fabric. (7) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any of (1) to (6), wherein the paper filter is a filter packed with the sheet member. (8) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any of (1) to (7), wherein the paper filter is a filter packed with the sheet member in such a way that voids are formed over the longitudinal direction of the filter portion. (9) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any of (1) to (8), wherein the paper filter is a filter in which the sheet member is gathered. (10) The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as disclosed in any of (1) to (9), wherein the filter portion has an end on a downstream side, the end being disposed at a position which is at least a predefined distance away from an end of the filler. (11) A flavor inhalation article comprising the filter portion as disclosed in any of (1) to (10), and a substrate portion containing an aerosol source. (12) The flavor inhalation article as disclosed in (11), wherein the flavor inhalation article is a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article. (13) The flavor inhalation article as disclosed in (11), wherein the flavor inhalation article is a combustion-type flavor inhalation article. REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0217] 1, 2... Heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article, 4, 5... Combustion heating-type flavor inhalation article, 10... Substrate portion, 11... Aerosol source, 20... Cooling portion, 30, 230, 330, 530... Filter portion, 31... Filter, 31a... Sheet member, 31b... Void, 32... Separate filter, 33... Filler, 35... Wrapping paper, 40... Tipping paper, 50... Mouthpiece segment, 60... Through-hole, 460... Communication hole

Claims

1. A filter portion for a flavor inhalation article, comprising: a paper filter; and a filler which is disposed inside the paper filter and changes a flow path within the paper filter, wherein the paper filter is a filter in which a sheet member is crimped, and a basis weight of the sheet member at a position corresponding to the filler is smaller than a basis weight of the sheet member at a position not corresponding to the filler.

2. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crimping intensity of the sheet member is greater at the position not corresponding to the filler than at the position corresponding to the filler.

3. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more holes are formed in the sheet member at the position corresponding to the filler.

4. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein a packing density of the sheet member in a longitudinal direction of the filter portion is within a range of 0.8-1.2 in relation to an average density of the filter portion overall.

5. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein a packing density of the sheet member is 80 mg / cm3-380 mg / cm3 at a location where there is no filler.

6. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sheet member is paper or nonwoven fabric.

7. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the paper filter is a filter packed with the sheet member.

8. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the paper filter is a filter packed with the sheet member in such a way that voids are formed over the longitudinal direction of the filter portion.

9. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the paper filter is a filter in which the sheet member is gathered.

10. The filter portion for a flavor inhalation article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the filter portion has an end on a downstream side, the end being disposed at a position which is at least a predefined distance away from an end of the filler.

11. A flavor inhalation article comprising the filter portion as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, and a substrate portion containing an aerosol source.

12. The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 11, wherein the flavor inhalation article is a heat-not-burn flavor inhalation article.

13. The flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 11, wherein the flavor inhalation article is a combustion-type flavor inhalation article.

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