Components for a delivery system, and methods and apparatus for manufacturing components for a delivery system.

Abstract

The present invention provides components for articles intended for use in or for use as an aerosol supply system. [Solution] The component 2 for article 1 comprises a body 4 of fibrous material. The first and second tubular elements 4a, 4b extend through the body 4 of fibrous material along a substantially common axis, and each of the first and second tubular elements 4a, 4b is circumferentially surrounded by the fibrous material.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to components for use in or as an aerosol supply system. This disclosure also relates to articles for use in or as an aerosol supply system, as well as methods and apparatus for manufacturing components for aerosol supply systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Certain tobacco industry products generate aerosols during use, which are inhaled by the user. For example, tobacco heating devices form aerosols by heating an aerosol-generating substrate, such as tobacco, rather than burning the substrate. Such tobacco industry products generally include a mouthpiece through which the aerosol passes until it reaches the user's mouth. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0003] According to a first aspect of the embodiments described herein, a component is provided for use in or for use as an aerosol supply system for an article, wherein the component comprises a body of fibrous material and first and second tubular elements extending through the body along a substantially common axis and each circumferentially surrounded by the fibrous material.

[0004] A second aspect of the embodiments described herein provides a component for use in or for use as an aerosol supply system for an article, the component comprising: a body of a fibrous material; and a tubular element embedded within the body such that the tubular element is surrounded circumferentially and longitudinally by the fibrous material forming the body.

[0005] A third aspect of the embodiments described herein is provided for use in or for use as an aerosol supply system, wherein the article has a downstream end, and the article comprises a body of fibrous material and a tubular element circumferentially surrounded by the fibrous material, wherein the tubular element extends to a first longitudinal end of the body and is spaced apart from a second longitudinal end of the body, and the longitudinal end of the body to which the tubular element extends is spaced apart from the downstream end of the article.

[0006] A fourth aspect of the embodiments described herein provides a method for forming components for an article to be used in an aerosol supply system, the method comprising: crimping a sheet material such that the crimping pattern comprises a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves; providing a supply material for tubular elements; and assembling the sheet material around the tubular elements to form a body of material such that in the body of material at least one tubular element extends through the body along a substantially common axis and is circumferentially surrounded by the fibrous material.

[0007] A fifth aspect of the embodiments described herein provides an apparatus configured to manufacture components according to the fourth aspect, comprising: a crimp roller for crimping a crimp pattern onto a sheet material, wherein the crimp pattern comprises a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves; a feeding mechanism for tubular elements; and a garnish assembly for gathering the sheet material around the tubular elements to form a body of material, wherein in the body of material, at least one tubular element extends through the body along a substantially common axis and is circumferentially surrounded by the fibrous material.

[0008] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, merely as examples that are not limiting.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] [Figure 1] An article for use as a non-combustible aerosol supply device or for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device, the side cross-sectional view of the article including a mouthpiece. [Figure 1B] A side view of a sheet material forming the body of the first material of the article of FIG. 1. [Figure 2] A side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an article for use as a non-combustible aerosol supply device or for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device. [Figure 3] A side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an article for use as a non-combustible aerosol supply device or for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device. [Figure 4] A side cross-sectional view of another article for use as a non-combustible aerosol supply device or for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device. [Figure 5] A side cross-sectional view of another article for use as a non-combustible aerosol supply device or for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device. [Figure 6] A perspective view of a non-combustible aerosol supply device for generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating material of the articles of FIGS. 1 to 5. [Figure 7] Showing the device of FIG. 6 with the outer cover removed and no article present. [Figure 8] A side view of the device of FIG. 7 in partial cross-section. [Figure 9] An exploded view of the device of FIG. 7 with the outer cover omitted. [Figure 10] FIG.10A is a cross-sectional view of a part of the device of FIG. 7. FIG.10B is an enlarged view of an area of the device of FIG.10A.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] In the figures described herein, similar reference numerals are used to indicate equivalent features, articles, or components.

[0011] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of article 1 for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply system.

[0012] Article 1 comprises a mouthpiece 2 and a cylindrical rod of aerosol-generating material 3, in this case tobacco material, connected to the mouthpiece 2. The aerosol-generating material 3 supplies aerosol when heated in a non-combustible aerosol supply device, for example, a non-combustible aerosol supply device comprising a coil that forms a system, as described herein. In other embodiments, Article 1 may have a heat source of its own that forms an aerosol supply system without requiring a separate aerosol supply device.

[0013] The mouthpiece 2 of article 1 comprises an upstream end 2a adjacent to the aerosol generating material 3 and a downstream end 2b distal to the aerosol generating material 3.

[0014] The aerosol-generating material 3, also referred to herein as the aerosol-generating substrate 3, comprises at least one aerosol-forming agent material. In this example, the aerosol-forming agent material is glycerol. In alternative examples, the aerosol-forming agent material may be another material or a combination thereof as described herein. Aerosol-forming agent materials are known to improve the sensory performance of an article by helping to transfer compounds, such as flavor compounds, from the aerosol-generating material to the consumer. However, a problem associated with adding such an aerosol-forming agent material to the aerosol-generating material in an article for use in a non-combustible aerosol supply system is that when the aerosol-forming agent material is aerosolized upon heating, it may increase the mass of the aerosol delivered by the article, and this increased mass may allow the aerosol to maintain a higher temperature as it passes through the mouthpiece. As the aerosol passes through the mouthpiece, it transfers heat to the mouthpiece, which warms the outer surface of the mouthpiece, including the area that comes into contact with the consumer's lips during use. The mouthpiece temperature can be significantly higher than the temperature consumers may be accustomed to when smoking, for example, conventional cigarettes, and this could be an undesirable effect caused by the use of such aerosol-forming materials.

[0015] In this example, the mouthpiece includes a body 4 made of a first material, and first and second tubular elements 4a and 4b are embedded within the body 4 made of the first material. The first and second tubular elements are embedded within the body 4 made of the material and are circumferentially surrounded by the material that forms the body 4. The body made of the first material is encased in a first plug wrap 7.

[0016] In this embodiment, the body 4 is a filter. However, it should be noted that in other embodiments, the body 4 may be configured to act merely as a carrier or support for the first and second tubular elements 4a, 4b without substantially filtering the inhaled material of article 1.

[0017] The body 4 of the first material is formed from a fibrous material. In this example, the body 4 of the first material is formed from a sheet material 14. The sheet material 14 may be folded to form the body 4 of the material. The body 4 of the material may be formed from a continuous web of sheet material. In this example, the sheet material 14 is assembled in a manner similar to that of a "crepe filter" to form the body 4 of the material. The first and second tubular elements 4a and 4b are embedded within the assembled sheet material and surrounded circumferentially by the assembled sheet material to form the body 4 of the first material.

[0018] In this example, the first tubular element 4a is positioned at the longitudinal end of the material body 4 and extends to the longitudinal end of the body. The second tubular element 4b is positioned downstream of the first tubular element 4a, and the material body 4 extends beyond the second tubular element 4b such that the second tubular element is surrounded by the first material body 4 both circumferentially and longitudinally. Preferably, such a configuration can result in a simplified manufacturing process because it is possible to form cavities and filter sections within the same material body 4. Alternatively, further objects, such as aerosol modifier-releasing components, may be embedded within the material body 4.

[0019] In this example, the first and second tubular elements 4a and 4b are separated by a gap of approximately 1 mm to effectively form a continuous tubular portion. In embodiments where the first and second tubular elements 4a and 4b are intended to effectively form a continuous tubular portion, the tubular elements may be preferably separated by a gap of 0.5 mm to 6 mm, for example, 1 mm to 3 mm, or 2 mm to 5 mm. In this example, the tubular portion formed by the first and second tubular elements 4a and 4b defines an air gap within the intake that acts as a cooling segment. In other embodiments, one of the tubular elements 4a and 4b may form a tubular portion for aerosol cooling, and the other of the tubular elements may be positioned elsewhere within the body 4.

[0020] The air gap provides a chamber through which heated volatile components generated by the aerosol-generating material 3 flow. The tubular elements 4a and 4b are hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation, but are rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur during manufacturing and while the article 1 is in use. The tubular portion formed by the first and second tubular elements 4a and 4b provides a physical displacement between the aerosol-generating material 3 and the downstream portion of the suction port 2. The physical displacement provided by the tubular portion provides a thermal gradient over the length of the body 4 of the first material.

[0021] Preferably, the combined internal volume of the tubular elements 4a and 4b is 100 mm 3 Larger than this. It has been found that providing a cavity of at least this volume enables improved aerosol formation. Such a cavity size provides sufficient space within the mouthpiece 2 to allow heated volatile components to cool, and thus allows the aerosol-generating material 3 to be exposed to a higher temperature than otherwise, which could result in an excessively warm aerosol. In this example, the cavity is formed by adjacent tubular elements 4a, 4b, but in an alternative configuration, it may be formed by a single tubular element 4a. More preferably, the mouthpiece 2 is formed by, for example, adjacent tubular elements 4a, 4b and 120 mm 3 Larger than that, even more preferably 150mm 3 It features a cavity with a larger internal volume, allowing for further improvement of aerosols. In some examples, the internal cavity is approximately 110 mm 3 ~600mm 3 Preferably about 120 mm 3 ~approximately 500mm 3 It has a volume of approximately 250 mm. In this example, the internal cavity formed by the adjacent tubular elements 4a and 4b is approximately 250 mm. 3 It has a volume of the above. Alternatively, if one of the tubular elements is arranged to provide a cooling segment, that tubular element preferably has the internal volume as described above.

[0022] The cavity may be configured to provide a temperature difference of at least 40 degrees Celsius between the heated volatile components entering the first upstream end of the cavity and the heated volatile components exiting the second downstream end of the cavity. Preferably, the cavity may be configured to provide a temperature difference of at least 60 degrees Celsius, preferably at least 80 degrees Celsius, and more preferably at least 100 degrees Celsius between the heated volatile components entering the first upstream end of the cavity and the heated volatile components exiting the second downstream end of the cavity. This temperature difference along the length of the cavity can protect temperature-sensitive elements at the mouthpiece downstream of the cavity from the high temperature of the aerosol-generating material 3 when the aerosol-generating material 3 is heated.

[0023] Preferably, the length of the tubular portion is less than about 50 mm. More preferably, the length of the tubular portion is less than about 40 mm. Even more preferably, the length of the tubular portion is less than about 35 mm. In addition, or alternatively, the length of the tubular portion is preferably at least about 10 mm. Preferably, the length of the tubular portion is at least about 15 mm.

[0024] In some preferred embodiments, the length of the tubular portion is about 15 mm to about 35 mm, more preferably about 16 mm to about 30 mm, even more preferably about 18 mm to about 25 mm, and most preferably about 23 mm. In this example, the length of the tubular portion is 23 mm. In this example, the tubular portion comprises first and second tubular elements 4a, 4b, each having a length of 11 mm and separated by a gap of 1 mm. Alternatively, as described herein, the tubular portion may comprise a single tubular element 4a having the lengths described above.

[0025] In other embodiments, the first and second tubular elements may be located at other positions on the material body 4, or the material body 4 itself may be located at different positions on the article, as described below.

[0026] In this example, the first and second tubular elements 4a and 4b have the same specifications, i.e., the length, wall thickness, and inner diameter of each tubular element are the same. Alternatively, the first and second tubular elements may have different specifications to provide different internal cavity volumes or ventilation at different locations within the intake, for example.

[0027] In this example, the tubular elements 4a and 4b are each formed from multiple layers of paper that are butted together and wound in parallel to form a hollow tube. In this example, the first and second layers of paper are provided in a two-ply tube, but in other examples, three, four, or more layers of paper can be used to form a three-, four, or more-ply tube. Other structures can be used, such as spirally wound layers of paper, cardboard tubes, tubes formed using a papier-mâché-type process, or molded or extruded plastic tubes.

[0028] In some embodiments, each tubular element preferably has a wall thickness of at least about 50 μm to a maximum of about 1 mm, preferably 50 μm to 500 μm, and more preferably 60 μm to 130 μm. In this example, each tubular element has a wall thickness of about 130 μm. The “wall thickness” of the tubular element corresponds to the thickness of the wall of the tubular element in the radial direction, excluding the surrounding material in which the tubular element is embedded. This can be measured, for example, using a caliper.

[0029] In some embodiments, the wall thickness of the tubular elements 4a, 4b is at least 50 microns, preferably at least 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, or 105 microns. In some embodiments, the wall thickness of the tubular elements is at least 100 or 110 microns.

[0030] In some embodiments, the wall thickness of the tubular elements 4a and 4b is less than 1000 microns, preferably less than 500 microns.

[0031] In some examples, the tubular elements 4a and 4b are each formed from paper having a basis weight in the range of 40 gsm to 100 gsm. For example, paper having a basis weight of 60 gsm to 80 gsm.

[0032] The combined thickness of the tubular elements 4a and 4b and the surrounding material body 4 means that the tubular portion has a larger thermal mass, which has been found to help lower the temperature of the aerosol passing through the tubular portion and lower the surface temperature of the mouthpiece downstream of the tubular portion. This is thought to be because the larger the thermal mass of the tubular portion, the more heat it can absorb from the aerosol compared to a tubular portion with a thinner wall thickness. Increasing the thickness of the tubular portion guides the aerosol towards the center of the mouthpiece so that less heat from the aerosol is transferred to the outer parts of the mouthpiece, such as the outer parts of the material body.

[0033] In some embodiments, the air permeability of the wall material of the tubular elements 4a, 4b is at least 100 cholesta units, preferably at least 200, 500, or 1000 cholesta units.

[0034] The relatively high permeability of the tubular elements 4a and 4b was found to increase the amount of heat transferred from the aerosol to the tubular portion, and therefore to lower the temperature of the aerosol. The permeability of the tubular elements 4a and 4b was also found to increase the amount of moisture transferred from the aerosol to the tubular portion, thereby improving the sensation of the aerosol in the user's mouth. The high permeability of the tubular elements 4a and 4b also means that the air entering the body 4 of the material surrounding the tubular portion can pass through the walls of the tubular elements 4a and 4b and become an aerosol flow without the need to cut vents through the outer plug wrap and tip paper, the material of the body 4, and all of the tubular elements forming the tubular portion, thereby reducing the complexity of manufacturing.

[0035] In some examples, the sheet material 14 may have notches, such as punched-out areas, to reduce the density of the material body 4. In some examples, the notches may be located within portions of the sheet material that form the portion of the material body 4 surrounding the hollow tubular elements 4a, 4b. Preferably, by providing notches in the sheet material 14 forming this portion of the body, the amount of material that is perforated to provide ventilation within the tubular elements 4a, 4b can be reduced.

[0036] In some embodiments, the permeability of the material of the wall of the hollow tubular element 8 is provided by perforations formed within the material. In some examples, the material is non-porous paper, and the permeability is provided by perforations formed within the material. In other examples, the material is porous paper, and may or may not include perforations. If perforations are provided, they may be provided, for example, as a line of one or more perforations extending through the wall of the hollow tubular element. The perforations may be provided as a band or ring of perforations through the wall of the hollow tubular element. In this case, the perforations may be provided toward the upstream end of the hollow tubular element, for example, about 8 mm to about 2 mm or about 5 mm to about 2 mm from the upstream end of the hollow tubular element.

[0037] The material body 4 can be manufactured using a CU-20 filter manufacturing machine manufactured by Decouflé (trademark). However, those skilled in the art will understand that other machines may be used to manufacture the first material body 4.

[0038] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 has a width of at least 60 mm, preferably at least 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, or 120 mm.

[0039] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 has a width of at most 240 mm, preferably at most 230, 220, 210, 200, 190, 180, 170, 160, or 150 mm.

[0040] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 has a width of less than 180 mm, preferably less than 170, 160, 150, 140, or 130 mm.

[0041] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 has a width in the range of 60 to 240 mm, preferably in the range of 80 to 240 mm, 90 to 200 mm, or 100 to 170 mm.

[0042] In this example, the sheet material 14 contains cellulose. In this example, the sheet material 14 is paper. However, the sheet material 14 may additionally or alternatively contain different materials. For example, in some embodiments, the sheet material 14 contains reconstituted tobacco formed on the sheet material 14, which is arranged to form the body 4 of the material. The reconstituted tobacco contains cellulose. The reconstituted tobacco may optionally be paper reconstituted tobacco. In other embodiments, the sheet material 14 contains different materials, such as cotton, tobacco, lyocell, polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(1-4-butanediol succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), starch-based materials, aliphatic polyester materials, polysaccharide polymers, and / or woven or nonwoven materials. The sheet material 14 may be biodegradable. In one embodiment, the sheet material 14 may be non-plastic or plastic. In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 does not contain cellulose acetate.

[0043] In one embodiment, the sheet material 14 includes paper having a basis weight in the range of 15 to 80 gsm, preferably in the range of 20 to 50 gsm.

[0044] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 has a basis weight of at least 15 gsm, preferably at least 20 gsm, 25 gsm, 30 gsm, 35 gsm, 40 gsm, 45 gsm, 50 gsm, 55 gsm, or 60 gsm.

[0045] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 has a basis weight of 100 gsm or less, preferably 90 gsm or less, 80 gsm or less, 70 gsm or less, 60 gsm or less, 50 gsm or less, or 40 gsm or less, or 30 gsm or less. In some embodiments, the basis weight of the sheet material 14 is 20 gsm or less.

[0046] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 has a basis weight in the range of 20 to 100 gsm, preferably in the range of 25 to 80 gsm or 30 to 65 gsm.

[0047] In this example, the sheet material 14 is crimped before being placed within the material body 4. For example, the sheet material 14 may be passed through a pair of crimping rollers. In this example, the first material body 4 includes the crimped sheet material 14, which is formed having a crimp pattern comprising a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves. Crimping can make it easier to gather the sheet material 14 together to form the material body 4. Crimping can also increase the length of the sheet material 14 that can be used to form a material body 4 of a particular volume. By increasing the amount of sheet material 14 within the material body 4, the surface area of ​​the sheet material in contact with aerosols passing through the material body 4 can be increased, and therefore the amount of moisture absorbed from the aerosols by the sheet material 14 can be increased.

[0048] Biodegradability can be measured according to the procedure described in ISO 14855.

[0049] The tubular elements 4a, 4b, 4a', 4b', 4a'', 4b'' described herein, as well as the bodies 4, 4', 4'', 6 of the first and second materials, can achieve more than 50% biodegradation in 30 days when exposed to either fresh water or seawater.

[0050] It may be desirable to form different parts of the material body 4 from different amounts of sheet material, which can be achieved by applying different levels of crimping to the sheet material 14 on which the parts are formed. For example, it may be desirable to form the longitudinal ends of the body 4 from longer lengths of sheet material, thereby resulting in a denser arrangement of sheet material, and the longitudinal ends of the body 4, when viewed from the longitudinal ends, appear to consumers more similar to conventional filter elements and, additionally or alternatively, have higher rigidity. Therefore, it may be advantageous to apply a greater amount of crimping to the sheet material 14 forming the longitudinal ends of the body than to the longitudinal central portion of the body. Similarly, if a less dense arrangement of sheet material is desired, it may be advantageous to form parts of the body 4 from shorter lengths of sheet material. For example, if an object is embedded within the body 4, it may be desirable to apply less crimping to the sheet material 14 forming the longitudinal portion of the body on which the object is embedded, in order to lower the density of the sheet material 14 around the embedded object. Such a configuration effectively prevents the pressure drop in the longitudinal portion of the main body from becoming undesirably high.

[0051] The level of crimping applied to the sheet material can contribute to the hardness of the body formed from the sheet material. Preferably, the hardness of the body of the material can be varied along the length of the body by changing the crimp coefficient applied to the sheet material 14 on which the body of the material is formed. For example, a portion of the body of the material formed from a sheet material with a higher level of crimping may have a hardness of about 88% to 92%. A portion of the body of the material with a hardness of 88% to 92% may preferably be formed at the distal end of the body to improve the appearance of the body as seen from that end, and to provide improved stability to the longitudinal end portion of the component. Similarly, other portions of the body may be formed from a sheet material with a lower level of crimping and may have a hardness of at least 80%.

[0052] In this example, the average spacing between adjacent ridges in the sheet material 14 is greater than approximately 0.3 mm. Also, in this example, the crimp amplitude is less than approximately 0.7 mm.

[0053] The crimp amplitude (also known as the "crimping coefficient") refers to the depth of the grooves formed by crimping within the sheet material 14 that forms the main body. That is, as shown in Figure 1B, crimping the sheet material 14 creates a number of peaks and valleys within the sheet material 14 when viewed from a first side of the sheet material 14, and the crimp amplitude "A" is the depth of the valleys measured from those peaks. The crimping can form a "zigzag" shape or another shape. In some examples, adjacent grooves in the crimped sheet material 14 are spaced apart at a distance of 0.3 to 2 mm, preferably 0.4 to 1 mm, or have a pitch "P". In some embodiments, adjacent grooves in the crimped sheet material are spaced apart at a distance of 0.1 to 3 mm, preferably 0.2 to 2 mm. In some embodiments, adjacent grooves in the crimped sheet material 10 are spaced apart at a distance of at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, or 3 mm. In some embodiments, adjacent grooves in the crimped sheet material are separated by a distance of at most 3 mm, preferably at most 2.5, 2, 1, 1.5, 0.7, 0.5, 0.2, or 0.1 mm.

[0054] For example, the sheet material 14 may have crimps with a crimp amplitude of less than 500 μm and crimps with a spacing between peaks (or valleys) of at least 300 μm, at least 400 μm, or at least 500 μm.

[0055] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 is heated when crimped. For example, the sheet material 14 can be passed between crimping rollers, and one or both of the crimping rollers are heated. For example, one or both of the rollers can be heated to a temperature up to 100 degrees Celsius, for example 50 degrees Celsius or 60 degrees Celsius. The amount of pressure applied to the sheet material passing between the rollers can also be varied. Heating the roller(s) or applying a higher level of pressure to the sheet material can result in a higher level of crimping.

[0056] Preferably, it has been found that a sheet material 14, such as paper, having the above crimp pitch and / or amplitude exhibits improved performance when used as a component of an aerosol supply system. In particular, these relatively low levels of crimp pitch and amplitude surprisingly result in a body of material or a portion of the body of material having a lower pressure drop compared to a body or a portion of a body formed from a sheet material 14 having a higher level of crimping.

[0057] In any of these examples, the average density of the body of the material can be from about 0.1 to about 0.25 mg / mm 3 The density of the body of the material can be measured by separating the body from the article as well as the surrounding plug wrap and / or chip paper and removing any embedded objects, but including any additives added to the sheet material 14. The density can be calculated as the bulk density based on the weight of the sheet material 14 and any additives added to the sheet material 14, and the total volume occupied by the sheet material 14. For example, the total volume of the body of material 4 measured inside the plug wrap 7.

[0058] In this example, the density of the body of material 4 is about 0.19 mg / mm 3 In some embodiments, the body 4 is at least 0.1 mg / mm 3 , 0.12 mg / mm 3 or 0.15 mg / mm 3It has a density of . Alternatively or additionally, the main body of the material 4 is approximately 0.3 mg / mm³. 3 Less than approximately 0.25 mg / mm³ 3 Less than or approximately 0.22 mg / mm³ 3 It may have a density of less than 0.15 mg / mm³. Preferably, the density of the material body is about 0.15 mg / mm³. 3 ~about 0.25mg / mm 3 This is possible. As described above, different parts of the material body 4 may have different densities depending on the level of crimping and assembling applied to the sheet material 14 that forms the part. These values ​​include any additives contained in the material body 4. Before being crimped and formed into the material body, the sheet material 14 has a density of approximately 0.2 to 0.5 mg / mm 3 For example, approximately 0.25, 0.30, or 0.35 mg / mm³ 3 It may have a density of .

[0059] The given dimensions of the sheet material 14 refer to the size of the sheet material before crimping or gathering to form the body of the material. The dimensions of the sheet material 14 can be measured by stretching the sheet material 14 to the extent that no visible crimps remain.

[0060] In this example, the sheet material 14 that forms the main body 4 of the material in which the tubular elements 4a and 4b are embedded is subjected to a lower level of crimping, while the sheet material 14 that forms the distal end of the main body 4 is subjected to a higher level of crimping.

[0061] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 is crimped to a crimp amplitude of at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm, or 0.5 mm.

[0062] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 is crimped to a crimp amplitude of at most 1 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm, 0.6 mm, or 0.5 mm.

[0063] In some embodiments, the sheet material 14 includes at least one slit extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body 4. The at least one slit is positioned such that, when the sheet material 14 is assembled to the body 4, the slit forms an inner edge within the body 4 that at least partially defines the boundary of the space enclosing the embedded object, allowing the sheet material 14 on the first side (e.g., the downstream side) of the embedded object within the body, such as a second tubular element 4b, to be brought together.

[0064] The inner edge formed by the slit causes the sheet material 14 to be gathered together on one side of the embedded object, defining the boundary at least partially or completely, thereby preventing the object from moving out of the first end of the space in which it is embedded. This improves the positioning of the object embedded in the body 4. In addition, because the sheet material 14 is gathered together, it helps to conceal the embedded object when viewed from the longitudinal end of the body 4, thereby improving the aesthetics of the suction port 2. Preferably, the slit achieves these advantages without requiring the provision of a separate component, such as a cellulose acetate plug, downstream of the embedded object or downstream of the body 4.

[0065] Article 1 has a ventilation level in which approximately 75% of the aerosol is drawn through the article. In an alternative embodiment, the article may have a ventilation level in which 20% to 80%, e.g., 65% to 75%, of the aerosol is drawn through the article. Ventilation at these levels helps to slow down the flow of aerosol drawn through the suction port 2, thereby allowing the aerosol to be sufficiently cooled before it reaches the downstream end 2b of the suction port 2. The ventilation is provided directly within the suction port 2 of article 1. In this example, the ventilation is provided within the tubular portion, which has been found to be particularly beneficial in assisting the aerosol generation process. The ventilation is provided by first and second parallel rows of ventilation holes 12, formed in this case as laser-drilled holes, at positions 17.925 mm and 18.625 mm, respectively, from the downstream end 2b of the suction port 2. In this example, these ventilation holes 12 penetrate the tip paper 5, the plug wrap 7, and the second tubular element 4b. In alternative embodiments, ventilation may be provided at other locations within the intake.

[0066] Alternatively, ventilation may be provided within a portion of an article in which a tubular portion is located, by a single row of vents, for example, by laser drilling. This has been found to result in improved aerosol formation, which is thought to be due to the airflow through the vents being more uniform than that through multiple rows of vents, for a given level of ventilation.

[0067] Aerosol temperature has generally been found to increase with decreasing ventilation levels. However, the relationship between aerosol temperature and ventilation level does not appear to be linear, as variations in ventilation due to manufacturing tolerances, for example, have less effect at lower target ventilation levels. For example, with a ventilation tolerance of ±15% and a target ventilation level of 75%, the aerosol temperature may rise by approximately 6°C at the lower limit of ventilation (60% ventilation). However, at a target ventilation level of 60%, the aerosol temperature may rise by only approximately 3.5°C at the lower limit of ventilation (45% ventilation). Therefore, the target ventilation level of an article can be in the range of 40% to 70%, for example, 45% to 65%. The average ventilation level of at least 20 articles may be 40% to 70%, for example, 45% to 70%, or 51% to 59%.

[0068] In some examples, the aerosol-generating material 3 described herein is a first aerosol-generating material, and the first and / or second tubular elements 4a, 4b may comprise the second aerosol-generating material. In one example, the inner wall of the tubular element 4a comprises the second aerosol-generating material. For example, the second aerosol-generating material may be disposed on the inner surface of the tubular element 4a.

[0069] The second aerosol-generating material comprises at least one aerosol-forming agent material and may also comprise at least one aerosol modifier or other sensory material. The aerosol-forming agent material and / or aerosol modifier may be any aerosol-forming agent material or aerosol modifier described herein, or a combination thereof.

[0070] As the aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating material 3, referred to herein as the first aerosol, is drawn in through the first tubular element 4a of the mouthpiece, the heat from the first aerosol may aerosolize the aerosol-forming material of the second aerosol-generating material to form the second aerosol. The second aerosol may contain flavorings that are additional to or complementary to the flavor of the first aerosol.

[0071] By providing a second aerosol-generating material on the first or second tubular elements 4a, 4b, it may be possible to generate a second aerosol that enhances or complements the flavor or visual appearance of the first aerosol.

[0072] In other embodiments, the first and second tubular elements 4a, 4b may be embedded within a rod of aerosol-generating material. In such embodiments, the tubular elements may be formed from paper or reconstituted tobacco sheets as described above.

[0073] In this example, article 1 has a circumference of approximately 21 mm (i.e., the article is demi-slim format). Preferably, article 1 has a rod of aerosol-generating material having a circumference greater than 19 mm. This has been found to provide a circumference sufficient to generate an improved, sustained aerosol over a typical aerosol-generating session that is preferable for consumers. When the article is heated, heat is transferred through the rod of aerosol-generating material 3, causing the components of the rod to volatilize, and a circumference greater than 19 mm has been found to be particularly effective in generating an aerosol in this manner. Since the article will be heated and release an aerosol, improved heating efficiency can be achieved by using an article with a circumference of less than approximately 23 mm. A rod circumference greater than 19 mm and less than 23 mm is preferred to achieve improved aerosolization by heating while maintaining a suitable product length. In some examples, the rod circumference may be 20 mm to 22 mm, which has been found to provide a good balance between providing effective aerosol delivery and enabling efficient heating on the one hand.

[0074] The outer circumference of the mouthpiece 2 is substantially the same as the outer circumference of the rod of the aerosol-generating material 3, so that there is a smooth transition between these components. In this example, the outer circumference of the mouthpiece 2 is approximately 20.8 mm.

[0075] In some cases, tip paper 5 contains citrates such as sodium citrate or potassium citrate. In such cases, tip paper 5 may have a citrate content of 2% by weight or less, or 1% by weight or less. Reducing the citrate content of tip paper 5 is thought to help mitigate the carbonization effect that may occur during use.

[0076] In this example, the tip paper 5 extends 5 mm over the rod of the aerosol-generating material 3, but alternatively, it may extend 3 mm to 10 mm, or more preferably 4 mm to 6 mm, over the rod 3 to provide a secure attachment between the mouthpiece 2 and the rod 3. The tip paper 5 may have a higher basis weight than the plug wrap used in article 1, e.g., 40 gsm to 80 gsm, more preferably 50 gsm to 70 gsm, 58 gsm in this example. These ranges of basis weight have been found to result in a tip paper with acceptable tensile strength while having enough flexibility to wrap around article 1 and adhere along the longitudinal overlap seams of the paper. The outer circumference of the tip paper 5 is approximately 21 mm when wrapped around the mouthpiece 2.

[0077] In some embodiments, the first plug wrap 7 has a basis weight of less than 50 gsm, more preferably about 20 gsm to 40 gsm. However, it should be noted that the basis weight of the first plug wrap 7 may be higher in order to increase the hardness of the spout. For example, the basis weight of the first plug wrap 7 may be at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 gsm. In some embodiments, the basis weight of the first plug wrap 7 is in the range of 50 to 110 gsm, or in the range of 60 to 100 gsm.

[0078] In some embodiments, the first plug wrap 7 has a basis weight of at least 20 gsm or at least 30 gsm.

[0079] In some embodiments, the first plug wrap 7 has a basis weight of at most 120, 110, or 100 gsm.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first plug wrap 7 has a basis weight in the range of 20 to 120 gsm, preferably in the range of 30 to 100 gsm.

[0081] Preferably, the first plug wrap 7 has a thickness of 30 μm to 60 μm, more preferably 35 μm to 45 μm. However, it should be noted that the thickness and weight of the first plug wrap 7 may be greater in order to increase the hardness of the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, for example, the thickness of the first plug wrap 7 may be at least 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 microns. In some embodiments, the thickness of the first plug wrap 7 is in the range of 40 to 120 microns, or in the range of 50 to 100 microns.

[0082] Preferably, the first plug wrap 7 is a non-porous plug wrap having an air permeability of, for example, less than 100 cholesta units, or less than 50 cholesta units. However, in other embodiments, the first plug wrap 7 may be a porous plug wrap having an air permeability of, for example, more than 200 cholesta units.

[0083] The pressure drop or pressure difference (also called draw resistance) across the mouthpiece, for example, the portion of article 1 downstream of the aerosol-generating material 3, is preferably less than about 40 mmH2O. Such a pressure drop has been found to allow sufficient aerosol containing desirable compounds, such as flavor compounds, to pass through the mouthpiece 2 and reach the consumer. More preferably, the pressure drop across the mouthpiece 2 is less than about 20 mmH2O. In some embodiments, particularly improved aerosols have been achieved using mouthpieces 2 having a pressure drop of less than 15 mmH2O, e.g., about 6 mmH2O, about 10 mmH2O, or about 14 mmH2O. Alternatively or additionally, the pressure drop across the mouthpiece may be at least 3 mmH2O, preferably at least 4 mmH2O, and more preferably at least 5 mmH2O. In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the mouthpiece may be about 5 mmH2O to 20 mmH2O, preferably 5 mmH2O to 15 mmH2O. These values ​​allow the aerosol to slow down as it passes through the mouthpiece 2, so that it has time for the aerosol's temperature to decrease before it reaches the downstream end 2b of the mouthpiece 2.

[0084] In this example, the aerosol-generating material 3 is wrapped in packaging material 10. The packaging material 10 may be, for example, paper or paper-backed foil packaging material. In this example, the packaging material 10 is substantially impermeable to air. In alternative embodiments, the packaging material 10 has an air permeability of preferably less than 100 cholesta units, more preferably less than 60 cholesta units. For example, low-air permeability packaging material having an air permeability of less than 100 cholesta units, more preferably less than 60 cholesta units, has been found to result in improved aerosol formation in the aerosol-generating material 3. While we do not wish to be bound by theory, this is assumed to be due to reduced loss of aerosol compounds through the packaging material 10. The air permeability of the packaging material 10 can be measured according to ISO 2965:2009 for determining air permeability of materials used as cigarette paper, filter plug wraps, and filter bonding paper.

[0085] In this embodiment, the packaging material 10 includes aluminum foil. The aluminum foil has been found to be particularly effective in promoting aerosol formation within the aerosol-generating material 3. In this example, the aluminum foil has a metal layer having a thickness of about 6 μm. In this example, the aluminum foil has a paper backing. However, in alternative configurations, the aluminum foil may have other thicknesses, for example, 4 μm to 16 μm. The aluminum foil may also not have a paper backing, but may have a backing formed from another material, for example, to help provide the foil with appropriate tensile strength, or it may not have a backing at all. Metal layers or foils other than aluminum can also be used. The total thickness of the packaging material is preferably 20 μm to 60 μm, more preferably 30 μm to 50 μm, which provides a packaging material with appropriate structural integrity and heat transfer properties. The tension that can be applied to the packaging material before it breaks may exceed 3,000 grams, for example, a force of 3,000 to 10,000 grams, or a force of 3,000 to 4,500 grams.

[0086] In some examples, the packaging material 10 surrounding the aerosol-generating material 3 has a high level of air permeability, for example, more than about 1000 cholesta units, or more than about 1500 cholesta units, or more than about 2000 cholesta units. The air permeability of the packaging material 10 can be measured according to ISO 2965:2009 for determining the air permeability of materials used as cigarette paper, filter plug wraps, and filter bonding paper.

[0087] The packaging material 10 may be formed from a material having a high inherent level of permeability, an inherently porous material, or from a material having any inherent level of permeability, where the final level of permeability is achieved by providing permeable zones or areas in the packaging material 10. By providing permeable packaging material 10, a path is provided for air to enter the article. The packaging material 10 may be permeable such that the amount of air entering through the rod of aerosol-generating material is relatively greater than the amount of air entering the article through the vents 12 in the mouthpiece. An article having this configuration may generate a more flavorful aerosol, which may be more satisfying for the user.

[0088] In this example, the aerosol-forming agent material added to the aerosol-generating substrate 3 comprises 14% by weight of the aerosol-generating substrate 3. Preferably, the aerosol-forming agent material comprises at least 5% by weight, more preferably at least 10% by weight, of the aerosol-generating substrate. Preferably, the aerosol-forming agent material comprises less than 25% by weight, more preferably less than 20% by weight, for example, 10% to 20% by weight, 12% to 18% by weight, or 13% to 16% by weight of the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0089] Preferably, the aerosol generating material 3 is provided as a cylindrical rod of aerosol generating material. Regardless of the form of the aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material preferably has a length of about 10 mm to 100 mm. In some embodiments, the length of the aerosol generating material is preferably in the range of about 25 mm to 50 mm, more preferably in the range of about 30 mm to 45 mm, and even more preferably about 30 mm to 40 mm.

[0090] In some examples, article 1 may be configured to have a separation (i.e., minimum distance) between the heater of the non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 and the first tubular element 4a. This prevents the material forming the first tubular element 4a from being damaged by heat from the heater.

[0091] The minimum distance between the heater and the first tubular element 4a of the non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 may be 3 mm or more. In some examples, the minimum distance between the heater and the first tubular element 4a of the non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 may be in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm, for example, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, or 10 mm.

[0092] Separation between the heater and the first tubular element 4a of the non-combustion aerosol supply device 100 can be achieved, for example, by adjusting the length of the rod of the aerosol generating material 3.

[0093] The volume of the aerosol-generating material 3 provided is approximately 200 mm³. 3 ~Approximately 4300mm 3 Preferably about 500 mm 3 ~1500mm 3 , more comfortably approximately 1000mm 3 ~approximately 1300mm 3 It can vary. For example, about 1000mm 3 ~approximately 1300mm 3 The provision of aerosol-generating materials in these volumes is preferably shown to achieve superior aerosols with excellent visibility and sensory performance compared to those achieved with volumes selected from the lower end of the range.

[0094] The mass of the aerosol-generating material 3 provided may be greater than 200 mg, for example, about 200 mg to 400 mg, preferably about 230 mg to 360 mg, and more preferably about 250 mg to 360 mg. It has been preferably found that providing an aerosol-generating material with a higher mass results in improved sensory performance compared to aerosols generated from tobacco material with a lower mass.

[0095] Preferably, the aerosol-generating material or substrate is formed from a tobacco material described herein that contains tobacco components.

[0096] In the tobacco materials described herein, the tobacco component preferably contains paper-reconstructed tobacco. The tobacco component may also contain loose leaf tobacco, extruded tobacco, and / or band-cast tobacco.

[0097] Aerosol-generating material 3 may include reconstituted tobacco material having a density of less than approximately 700 milligrams per cubic centimeter (mg / cc). Such tobacco material has been found to be particularly effective in providing an aerosol-generating material that can be heated rapidly to release aerosols compared to denser materials. For example, the inventors tested the properties of various aerosol-generating materials, such as band-cast reconstituted tobacco material and paper reconstituted tobacco material, when heated. For each given aerosol-generating material, there is a specific zero heat flow temperature, and while heat is being applied to the material, if the temperature is below this temperature, the net heat flow is endothermic, in other words, more heat enters the material than leaves it, and if the temperature is above this temperature, the net heat flow is exothermic, in other words, more heat leaves the material than enters it. Materials with a density of less than 700 mg / cc had a lower zero heat flow temperature. Since the majority of the heat flow from the material is through aerosol formation, having a lower zero heat flow temperature has a beneficial effect on the time it takes for the aerosol to be first released from the aerosol-generating material. For example, it was found that aerosol-generating materials with a density of less than 700 mg / cc have a zero heat flow temperature of less than 164°C compared to materials with a density of more than 700 mg / cc that have a zero heat flow temperature of more than 164°C.

[0098] The density of the aerosol-generating material also affects the rate at which heat is conducted through the material; lower densities, such as those below 700 mg / cc, allow heat to be conducted more slowly through the material, thus enabling more sustained aerosol release.

[0099] Preferably, the aerosol-generating material 3 comprises a reconstituted tobacco material having a density of less than about 700 mg / cc, such as a paper reconstituted tobacco material. More preferably, the aerosol-generating material 3 comprises a reconstituted tobacco material having a density of less than about 600 mg / cc. Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol-generating material 3 preferably comprises a reconstituted tobacco material having a density of at least 350 mg / cc, which is considered to allow a sufficient amount of heat conduction through the material.

[0100] The tobacco material may be provided in the form of cut rag tobacco. The cut rag tobacco may have a cut width of at least 15 cuts / inch (approximately 5.9 cuts / cm, corresponding to a cut width of approximately 1.7 mm). Preferably, the cut rag tobacco has a cut width of at least 18 cuts / inch (approximately 7.1 cuts / cm, corresponding to a cut width of approximately 1.4 mm), and more preferably at least 20 cuts / inch (approximately 7.9 cuts / cm, corresponding to a cut width of approximately 1.27 mm). In one example, the cut rag tobacco has a cut width of 22 cuts / inch (approximately 8.7 cuts / cm, corresponding to a cut width of approximately 1.15 mm). Preferably, the cut rag tobacco has a cut width of 40 cuts / inch (approximately 15.7 cuts / cm, corresponding to a cut width of approximately 0.64 mm) or less. Cut widths of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, for example, 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm, or 0.6 mm to 1.7 mm, have been found to be preferable tobacco materials, particularly in terms of the surface area-to-volume ratio when heated, as well as the overall density and pressure drop of the base material 3. Cut rag tobacco can be formed from a mixture of forms of tobacco material, such as a mixture of one or more of paper-reconstructed tobacco, leaf tobacco, extruded tobacco, and band-cast tobacco. Preferably, the tobacco material includes paper-reconstructed tobacco, or a mixture of paper-reconstructed tobacco and leaf tobacco.

[0101] In the tobacco materials described herein, the tobacco material may contain filler components. Filler components are generally non-tobacco components, i.e., components that do not contain raw materials derived from tobacco. Filler components may be non-tobacco fibers such as wood fibers or pulp or wheat fibers. Filler components may also be inorganic materials such as chalk, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, or magnesium carbonate. Filler components may also be non-tobacco cast materials or non-tobacco extruded materials. Filler components may be present in an amount of 0 to 20% by weight of the tobacco material, or in an amount of 1 to 10% by weight of the composition. In some embodiments, filler components are absent.

[0102] In the tobacco materials described herein, the tobacco material contains an aerosol-forming agent material. In this context, “aerosol-forming agent material” is an agent that promotes aerosol formation. Aerosol-forming agent materials can promote aerosol formation by promoting the initial vaporization and / or condensation of gas into inhalable solid and / or liquid aerosols. In some embodiments, aerosol-forming agent materials can improve the delivery of flavor from the aerosol-forming material. In general, any suitable aerosol-forming agent material, including those described herein, may be included in the aerosol-forming material of the present invention. Other suitable aerosol-forming agent materials include, but are not limited to, sorbitol, glycerol, polyols such as glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol, non-polyols such as monohydric alcohols, high-boiling hydrocarbons, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as diacetin, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, or myristic acid including ethyl myristate and isopropyl myristate, and aliphatic carboxylic acid esters such as methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanediate, and dimethyl tetradecanediate. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent material may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. Glycerol may be present in an amount of 10-20% by weight of the tobacco material, for example, 13-16% by weight of the composition, or about 14% or 15% by weight of the composition. Propylene glycol, if present, may be present in an amount of 0.1-0.3% by weight of the composition.

[0103] Aerosol-forming materials may be included in any component of the tobacco material, for example, in any tobacco component and / or in the filler component, if present. Alternatively or additionally, aerosol-forming materials may be added separately to the tobacco material. In any case, the total amount of aerosol-forming materials in the tobacco material may be as defined herein.

[0104] The tobacco material may contain 10% to 90% by weight of tobacco leaves, and the aerosol-forming agent material is provided in an amount of up to approximately 10% by weight of tobacco leaves. To achieve an overall level of 10% to 20% by weight of the aerosol-forming agent material in the tobacco material, it has been preferably found that it can be added in a higher weight percentage relative to other components of the tobacco material, such as the reconstituted tobacco material.

[0105] The tobacco materials described herein contain nicotine. The nicotine content is 0.5 to 1.75% by weight relative to the tobacco material, and may be, for example, 0.8 to 1.5% by weight relative to the tobacco material. Additionally or alternatively, the tobacco material contains 10% to 90% by weight of tobacco leaves with a nicotine content of more than 1.5% by weight of tobacco leaves. It has been preferably found that using tobacco leaves with a nicotine content of more than 1.5% in combination with a lower nicotine base material such as paper reconstituted cigarettes provides a tobacco material with a more appropriate nicotine level but with superior sensory performance than using paper reconstituted cigarettes alone. Tobacco leaves, for example, cut rag cigarettes, may have a nicotine content of, for example, 1.5% to 5% by weight of tobacco leaves.

[0106] The tobacco materials described herein may contain aerosol modifiers such as any of the flavors described herein. In one embodiment, the tobacco material contains menthol to form a menthol-containing article. The tobacco material may contain 3 mg to 20 mg of menthol, preferably 5 mg to 18 mg, more preferably 8 mg to 16 mg of menthol. In this example, the tobacco material contains 16 mg of menthol. The tobacco material may contain 2% to 8% by weight of menthol, preferably 3% to 7% by weight of menthol, more preferably 4% to 5.5% by weight of menthol. In one embodiment, the tobacco material contains 4.7% by weight of menthol. Such high levels of menthol filling can be achieved, for example, by using a high percentage of reconstituted tobacco material exceeding 50% by weight of the tobacco material. Alternatively or additionally, the level of menthol filling can be increased by using a large amount of aerosol-generating material, such as tobacco material, which can be, for example, about 500 mm 3 For over or preferably about 1000 mm 3 This can be achieved when aerosol-generating materials such as ultra-high-performance tobacco materials are used.

[0107] In the compositions described herein, where amounts are given in weight percent, to avoid misunderstanding, this refers to a dry weight basis unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, any water that may be present in the tobacco material or any of its components is completely disregarded for the purpose of determining the weight percent. The water content of the tobacco materials described herein can vary, for example, from 5 to 15% by weight. The water content of the tobacco materials described herein can vary, for example, depending on the temperature, pressure, and humidity conditions under which the composition is maintained. The water content can be determined by Karl Fischer analysis, as is known to those skilled in the art. On the other hand, to avoid misunderstanding, any components other than water are included in the weight of the tobacco material, even if the aerosol-forming agent material is a liquid-phase component such as glycerol or propylene glycol. However, if the aerosol-forming agent material is provided in the tobacco component of the tobacco material or in addition to the filler component of the tobacco material (if present), instead of being added separately to the tobacco material, the aerosol-forming agent material is not included in the weight of the tobacco component or filler component, but is included in the weight of the "aerosol-forming agent material" in weight percent as defined herein. All other components present in tobacco are included in the weight of the tobacco component, even if they are of non-tobacco origin (for example, non-tobacco fibers in the case of reconstituted cigarettes).

[0108] In one embodiment, the tobacco material comprises tobacco components as defined herein and aerosol-forming agent materials as defined herein. In one embodiment, the tobacco material essentially consists of tobacco components as defined herein and aerosol-forming agent materials as defined herein. In one embodiment, the tobacco material consists of tobacco components as defined herein and aerosol-forming agent materials as defined herein.

[0109] Paper-reconstructed tobacco is present in the tobacco components of the tobacco material described herein in an amount of 10% to 100% by weight of the tobacco components. In embodiments, paper-reconstructed tobacco is present in an amount of 10% to 80% by weight, or 20% to 70% by weight, of the tobacco components. In further embodiments, the tobacco components consist essentially of or comprise paper-reconstructed tobacco. In preferred embodiments, leaf tobacco is present in the tobacco components of the tobacco material in an amount of at least 10% by weight of the tobacco components. For example, leaf tobacco may be present in an amount of at least 10% by weight of the tobacco components, while the remainder of the tobacco components includes paper-reconstructed tobacco, band-cast reconstructed tobacco, or a combination of band-cast reconstructed tobacco and another form of tobacco such as tobacco granules.

[0110] Paper-reconstructed tobacco refers to tobacco material formed by a process in which tobacco raw materials are extracted with a solvent to obtain an extract of soluble substances and a residue containing fibrous material, and then the extract (usually after concentration and optionally after further processing) is recombined with fibrous material from the residue (usually after purification of the fibrous material and optionally with the addition of some non-tobacco fibers) by depositing the extract onto the fibrous material. The recombination process is similar to the process of making paper.

[0111] Paper-reconstructed cigarettes can be any type of paper-reconstructed cigarette known in the art. In certain embodiments, paper-reconstructed cigarettes are made from raw materials comprising one or more of tobacco strips, tobacco stalks, and whole tobacco leaves. In further embodiments, paper-reconstructed cigarettes are made from raw materials comprising tobacco strips and / or whole tobacco leaves, as well as tobacco stalks. However, in other embodiments, scraps, fine powder, and wineing may be used as alternative or additional raw materials.

[0112] Paper-reconstructed tobacco for use in the tobacco materials described herein may be prepared by methods known to those skilled in the art for preparing paper-reconstructed tobacco.

[0113] Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a further article 1' including a mouthpiece 2' which includes a body 4' of material. The mouthpiece 2' is substantially the same as the mouthpiece 2 described above, except that a first tubular element 4a' is provided at the upstream end of the body 4' of material and is separated from a second tubular element 4b' by a gap filled with the material forming the body 4', and the second tubular element 4b' is provided at the downstream end of the body 4'.

[0114] In this example, the first tubular element 4a' and the second tubular element 4b' are separated by a gap of 10 mm. Alternatively, the first and second tubular elements 4a' and 4b' are separated by gaps of other distances, for example, 5 mm to 15 mm, or 6 mm to 12 mm, or approximately 6 mm, approximately 7 mm, approximately 8 mm, or approximately 9 mm. The body of the material 4' extends within the gap. In this example, the material forming the body of the material 4' extends across the entire width of the body of the material 4' within the gap between the first and second tubular elements 4a' and 4b'. In this example, the sheet material 14 forming the body 4' has two slits positioned at the downstream and upstream ends of the first and second tubular elements 4a' and 4b', respectively. The slits are positioned such that, when the sheet material 14 is assembled to the body 4', the slits release the sheet material 14 between the slits and extend into the gap between the first and second tubular elements 4a', 4b', allowing the central portion of the material body 4' to extend completely across the gap between the two tubular elements.

[0115] In this example, the first tubular element 4a' provides the aforementioned tubular portion that acts as a cavity for aerosol cooling. In this example, the first tubular element 4a' has a length of approximately 15 mm. Alternatively, the first tubular element 4a' may have the length of the tubular portion as described above.

[0116] The second tubular element 4b' is embedded within the material body 4' at the downstream end of the material body 4' and extends to the longitudinal end of the body 4'. It has been found that providing the tubular element in this position preferably significantly reduces the temperature of the outer surface of the mouthpiece 2' at the downstream end 2b of the mouthpiece that comes into contact with the consumer's mouth when the article 1' is in use. In addition, it has been found that the use of the tubular portion also significantly reduces the temperature of the outer surface of the mouthpiece 2' even upstream of the tubular portion. While we do not wish to be bound by theory, it is assumed that this is due to the tubular portion guiding the aerosol closer to the center of the mouthpiece 2', and thus reducing heat transfer from the aerosol to the outer surface of the mouthpiece 2'. In addition, it has been found that the material body 4' filling the gap between the first tubular element 4a' and the second tubular element 4b' removes moisture from the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 3 as the aerosol passes through the material body 4' of the mouthpiece 2, thereby causing the aerosol to feel cooler in the user's mouth.

[0117] By forming a mouthpiece including a body 4' of material having first and second tubular elements 4a', 4b' embedded in opposing ends of the body 4' of the material, a mouthpiece is preferably obtained having a concave mouth end surrounded by a plug wrap of a thinner thickness than typically required for such a structure, and a cavity for aerosol cooling at the upstream end of the mouthpiece, because both cavities are provided by tubular elements embedded in the same body of material, eliminating the need for separate plug wraps and bonding wraps for different components. Not only does this simplify the manufacture of the mouthpiece by reducing the number of components, but it may also be easier to form a ventilation aperture in the body 4' of material at the desired location because the thickness of the plug wrap to be perforated is less.

[0118] In this example, the second tubular element 4b' has a thicker wall than the first tubular element 4a' and is shorter than the first tubular element 4a', such that the cavity at the mouth end 2b of the mouthpiece provided by the second tubular element 4b' is smaller than the cavity formed by the tubular element 4a'. In other examples, the wall thickness of the first tubular element 4a' may be thicker than the wall thickness of the second tubular element 4b'. Preferably, by selecting different wall thicknesses, inner diameters, and / or lengths for the first and second tubular elements 4a', 4b', respectively, it becomes possible to optimize the cavities provided at both ends of the material body 4' for cooling and / or guiding the aerosol through the mouthpiece, as desired, based on the positions of the first and second tubular elements 4a', 4b' within the mouthpiece.

[0119] Preferably, the length of the second tubular element 4b' is less than about 20 mm. More preferably, the length of the second tubular element 4b' is less than about 15 mm. Even more preferably, the length of the second tubular element 4b' is less than about 10 mm. In addition, or alternatively, the length of the second tubular element 4b' is at least about 5 mm. Preferably, the length of the second tubular element 4b' is at least about 6 mm. In some preferred embodiments, the length of the second tubular element 4b' is about 5 mm to about 20 mm, more preferably about 6 mm to about 10 mm, even more preferably about 6 mm to about 8 mm, most preferably about 6 mm, 7 mm, or about 8 mm. In this example, the length of the second tubular element 4b' is 6 mm.

[0120] In this example, each of the first and second tubular elements 4a' and 4b' is surrounded by a body 4' made of the same material, having the same outer diameter and thickness.

[0121] As described above, different levels of crimping can be applied to the sheet material 14 that forms different parts of the main body 4' of the material. In this example, the sheet material forming the mouth end portion of the main body 4' in which the second tubular element 4b' is embedded is crimped to a higher level than the sheet material 14 forming the portion of the main body 4' in which the first tubular element 4a' is embedded, and the sheet material 14 filling the gap between the first and second tubular elements 4a' and 4b'. Preferably, by applying a higher level of crimping to the sheet material 14 around the second tubular element 4b', a more desirable hardness of the mouthpiece at the mouth end 2b and an improvement in the appearance of the mouthpiece when viewed from the mouth end can be obtained.

[0122] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a further article 1'' including a mouthpiece 2'' which includes a body 4'' of material. In this example, the body 4'' of material does not extend substantially beyond the second tubular element 4b. The mouthpiece 2'' in this example includes a body 6 of second material downstream of the first body 4'' of material, which in this example is adjacent to and in contact with the body 4'' of first material. The bodies 4'' and 6 of first and second material each define a substantially cylindrical overall shape and share a common longitudinal axis.

[0123] In this example, the entire sheet material 14 forming the main body 4'' of the material is crimped to the same level.

[0124] The body 6 of the second material is formed from a sheet material, as described with respect to the body 4 of the first material. The body 6 of the second material may be formed from the same sheet material 14 as the body 4 of the first material, or from a sheet material having a different composition or other properties such as a different crimping level. In some examples, the body 6 of the second material may have the same density as the body 4 of the first material.

[0125] Preferably, the length of the body 6 of the second material is less than approximately 20 mm. In this example, the length of the body 6 of the second material is 16 mm.

[0126] In some embodiments, the axial length of the body 6 of the second material is in the range of 10 to 20 mm.

[0127] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent material is applied to the body 6 of the second material. For example, the aerosol-forming agent material may be applied to the sheet material before the sheet material is folded to form the body 6 of the second material. The aerosol-forming agent material may be sprayed onto the sheet material, applied by a brush, or applied by immersing the sheet material in the aerosol-forming agent material.

[0128] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent material may include one or more of the following: glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, mesoerythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyline, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0129] In some embodiments, at least 0.02 mg of aerosol-forming agent material is applied to the body 6 of the second material per 1 mm of its axial length. Preferably, at least 0.03, 0.04, or 0.05 mg of aerosol-forming agent material is applied to the body 6 of the second material per 1 mm of its axial length.

[0130] In some embodiments, an aerosol-forming agent material of 0.5 mg or less per 1 mm of the axial length of the main body of the material is applied to the main body 6 of the second material. Preferably, an aerosol-forming agent material of 0.4 mg or less, 0.3 mg or less, 0.2 mg or less, or 0.1 mg or less per 1 mm of the axial length of the main body of the material is applied to the main body 6 of the second material.

[0131] At least a portion of the aerosol-forming agent material combines with the aerosol as it passes through the body 6 of the second material, helping to reduce the dryness of the aerosol in the user's mouth.

[0132] In some embodiments, the body 6 of the second material is at least 115 mm 3 It has an external volume of . In this example, the body 6 of the second material is substantially cylindrical and therefore has a substantially cylindrical external volume. In other embodiments, the body 6 of the second material is 115 mm 3 Please be aware that it may have a smaller external volume than [this value].

[0133] Contains cellulose and at least 115 mm 3 The body 6 of the second material, having a certain volume, was found to help remove moisture from the aerosol produced by the aerosol generating material 3 as the aerosol passes through the body 6 of the second material at the mouthpiece 2''. In other words, the cellulose-containing sheet material forming the body 6 of the second material absorbs water from the aerosol. By removing moisture from the aerosol, the aerosol feels colder in the user's mouth.

[0134] In other examples described herein, the body of the material 4, 4' extends beyond the first tubular element 4a, and a portion of the body of the material 4, 4' extends across the entire width of the body 4, 4'. In these examples, the aerosol-forming agent can be applied to the portion of the body 4, 4' as described above for the body 6 of the second material. In these examples, the portion can provide the functions of the body 6 of the material as described above without the need for a separate body of the material.

[0135] The body of the second material is surrounded by the second plug wrap 8. The second plug wrap 8 may have any specifications as described for the plug wrap 7.

[0136] In some embodiments, the body 6 of the second material is at least 19 mm per axial length mm of the body of the material 3 Preferably at least 25 mm per axial length mm 3, or at least 30 mm per mm 3 It has a volume of 19 mm per axial length of the second material body 6. 3 If the volume is 10 mm and the length is 10 mm, the volume of the material body is 190 mm 3 This could be the case.

[0137] A larger volume second material body 6 is generally more effective at removing moisture from the aerosol. In some examples, the external volume of the material body 6 is at least 200, at least 300, at least 400, at least 500, at least 600, at least 700, at least 800, at least 900, or at least 1000 mm³. 3 That is the case.

[0138] In some embodiments, the axial length of the body 6 of the second material is at least 4 mm, at least 5 mm, at least 6 mm, at least 7 mm, at least 8 mm, at least 9 mm, or at least 10 mm.

[0139] In some embodiments, the axial length of the body 6 of the second material is in the range of about 5 to 20 mm, preferably 6 to 15 mm, and preferably 6 to 10 mm.

[0140] In some embodiments, the width of the body 6 of the second material is at least 4 mm, at least 5 mm, at least 6 mm, at least 7 mm, at least 8 mm, or at least 9 mm.

[0141] In some embodiments, the circumference of the body 6 of the second material is at least 16 mm, at least 18 mm, at least 20 mm, at least 22 mm, at least 25 mm, or at least 28 mm.

[0142] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is at least 2 WG mm, preferably at least 3 mm WG, and preferably at least 4 mm WG. The pressure drop across the body of the material may be at least 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 mm WG.

[0143] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is less than 20 mmWG, possibly less than 16 mmWG, preferably less than 15, 14, 13, or 12 mmWG.

[0144] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is approximately 4.4, 8.1, or 11.9 mmWG.

[0145] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is in the range of 3 to 15 mmWG, preferably in the range of 4 to 12 mmWG.

[0146] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is at least 0.2 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body 6 of the second material, preferably at least 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, or 1.1 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body 6 of the second material.

[0147] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is less than 2 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body 6 of the second material, preferably less than 1.6, 1.5, 1.4, 1.3, or 1.2 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body 6 of the second material.

[0148] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is in the range of 0.3 to 1.5 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body 6 of the second material, preferably in the range of 0.4 to 1.2 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body 6 of the second material.

[0149] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is at least 2 mmWG, preferably at least 3 mmWG, preferably at least 4 mmWG, at least 6 mmWG, at least 8 mmWG, at least 10 mmWG, or at least 11 mmWG, or at least 12 mmWG, or at least 15 mmWG, or at least 20 mmWG, or at least 23 mmWG.

[0150] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is less than 25 mmWG, preferably less than 23 mmWG, less than 20 mmWG, less than 15 mmWG, less than 14 mmWG, preferably less than 12 mmWG or less than 10 mmWG.

[0151] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is in the range of 10 to 25 mmWG, preferably in the range of 12 to 23 mmWG or 13 to 20 mmWG.

[0152] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is at least 0.2 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body of the material, preferably at least 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, or 0.8 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body of the material, and preferably at least 1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 2, or 2.33 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body of the material.

[0153] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is less than 2.5 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body of the material, preferably less than 2.3, 2, 1.5, 1.4, 1.2, or 1 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body of the second material.

[0154] In some embodiments, the pressure drop across the body 6 of the second material is in the range of 1 to 2.5 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body of the second material, preferably in the range of 1.2 to 2.3 or 1.3 to 2 mmWG per mm of the axial length of the body of the second material.

[0155] In some embodiments having any of the pressure drop values ​​described above, the body 6 of the second material has an axial length of about 10 mm.

[0156] In some embodiments, the mass of the second material body 6 is at least 20 mg, preferably at least 30 mg, at least 40 mg, at least 50 mg, at least 55 mg, or at least 60 mg. It has been preferably found that providing a second material body 6 with a higher mass increases the amount of water absorbed from the aerosol. In this example, the mass of the second material body is about 44 mg.

[0157] In some embodiments, the mass of the body 6 of the second material is less than 150 mg, preferably less than 100 mg, less than 75 mg, less than 55 mg, less than 50 mg, or less than 45 mg.

[0158] In some embodiments, the body 6 of the second material has a weight of at least 2 mg per mm of the axial length of the body of the material, preferably at least 3 mg per mm of the axial length, or at least 4 mg per mm of the axial length.

[0159] In this example, the main body 6 of the second material has a weight of approximately 4.4 mg / mm. That is, if the main body 6 of the material has an axial length of 10 mm, as in this example, its mass will be approximately 44 mg.

[0160] In some embodiments, the body 6 of the second material is a solid cylindrical material body.

[0161] In this example, the bodies 4 and 6 of the first and second materials are joined together using a third plug wrap 9 wrapped around both sections. The tip paper 5 is wrapped over a portion of the rod of the aerosol-generating material 3 along the entire length of the mouthpiece 2 and has adhesive on the inner surface of the tip paper 5 to connect the mouthpiece 2 and the rod 3.

[0162] Preferably, the third plug wrap 9 has a basis weight of less than 50 gsm, more preferably about 20 gsm to 45 gsm. However, it should be noted that the basis weight of the third plug wrap 9 may be higher in order to increase the hardness of the spout. For example, the basis weight of the third plug wrap 9 may be at least 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 gsm. In some embodiments, the basis weight of the third plug wrap 9 is in the range of 50 to 110 gsm, or 60 to 100 gsm.

[0163] In some embodiments, the third plug wrap 9 has a basis weight of at least 10 gsm, or at least 15 gsm, or at least 20 gsm, or at least 25 gsm.

[0164] In some embodiments, the third plug wrap 9 has a basis weight of less than 40 gsm, less than 35 gsm, or less than 30 gsm.

[0165] In some embodiments, the third plug wrap 9 has a basis weight in the range of 10 to 40 gsm, preferably in the range of 15 to 35 gsm, or in the range of 20 to 30 gsm, or in the range of 25 to 30 gsm. In some embodiments, the basis weight of the third plug wrap 9 is about 27 gsm.

[0166] Preferably, the third plug wrap 9 has a thickness of 30 μm to 60 μm, more preferably 35 μm to 45 μm. However, it should be noted that the thickness of the third plug wrap 9 may be greater in order to increase the hardness of the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, for example, the thickness of the third plug wrap 9 may be at least 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 microns. In some embodiments, the thickness of the third plug wrap 9 is in the range of 40 to 120 microns, or in the range of 50 to 100 microns.

[0167] The third plug wrap 9 is preferably a non-porous plug wrap having a permeability of less than 100 cholesta units, for example, less than 50 cholesta units. However, in an alternative embodiment, the third plug wrap 9 may be a porous plug wrap having a permeability of more than 200 cholesta units, for example.

[0168] In this example, the body 6 of the second material forms the mouth end of the component. Alternatively, a further section may be provided downstream of the body 6 of the second material.

[0169] Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a further article 1'''' having a mouthpiece 2''''. The mouthpiece 2'''' has a body 4'''' of the first material at the mouth end of the mouthpiece, with first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b'' embedded within the body 4'''' of the first material. The body 4'''' of the first material and the first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b'' are substantially the same as the body 4 of the first material and the first and second tubular elements 4a, 4b, except that they are configured to be provided at the mouth end of the mouthpiece. As described above, it may be desirable to apply a higher level of crimping to the sheet material forming the body of the material or a portion of the body of the material visible from the mouth end of the mouthpiece, thereby giving the body of the material a desired appearance when viewed from the mouth end.

[0170] In this example, the material body 4''' surrounding the first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b'', is crimped to a certain degree, resulting in a dense arrangement of sheet material around the first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b'', preferably this can result in a desired hardness in a portion of the body formed from the sheet material having that level of crimping. For example, the hardness of the material body 4''' in the area circumferentially surrounding the first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b'', may be greater than approximately 82%.

[0171] In this example, the body 4'' of the material does not extend beyond the ends of the first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b''. Alternatively, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the body 4'' of the first material may extend further than the first tubular element 4a'' to form a portion of the body 4'' of the material upstream of the first tubular element 4a'', extending across the entire width of the body 4'' of the first material. In such an embodiment, the portion of the body 4'''' of the first material upstream of the first tubular element 4a'' may provide the function of the body 6 of the second material, and the body 6 of the second material may be omitted.

[0172] In this example, the first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b'', have the same specifications. The first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b'', may have any preferred specifications as described above with respect to the first and second tubular elements 4a'', 4b'',

[0173] Preferably, the length of the body 4'' of the first material is less than about 20 mm. More preferably, the length of the body 4'' of the first material is less than about 15 mm. Even more preferably, the length of the body 4'' of the first material is less than about 10 mm. In addition, or alternatively, the length of the body 4'' of the first material is at least about 5 mm. Preferably, the length of the body 4'' of the first material is at least about 6 mm. In some preferred embodiments, the length of the body 4'' of the first material is about 5 mm to about 20 mm, more preferably about 6 mm to about 10 mm, even more preferably about 6 mm to about 8 mm, most preferably about 6 mm, 7 mm, or about 8 mm. In this example, the length of the body 4'' of the first material is 6 mm. In this example, each of the first and second hollow tubular elements 4a'', 4b'' has a length of about 2.5 mm and is separated by a gap of about 1 mm. Alternatively, the first and second tubular elements may be separated by 0.5 mm to 5 mm, for example, 0.75 mm to 1.5 mm, or 1 mm to 3 mm.

[0174] Preferably, the first and second hollow tubular elements 4a'', 4b'', each have an inner diameter greater than 3.0 mm. A smaller diameter may result in the aerosol passing through the mouthpiece 2'' and reaching the consumer's mouth increasing beyond the desired rate, causing the aerosol to become excessively warm, for example, reaching a temperature above 40°C or 45°C. More preferably, the first and second hollow tubular elements 4a'', 4b'', each have an inner diameter greater than 3.1 mm, and even more preferably greater than 3.5 mm or 3.6 mm. In one embodiment, the inner diameter of each of the first and second hollow tubular elements 4a'', 4b'', is about 3.9 mm.

[0175] In this example, the tubular portion is formed from a hollow tubular element 13. The hollow tubular element 13 may have any preferred specifications as described above for the first and second tubular elements 4a and 4b.

[0176] Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a further article 1'''' having a mouthpiece 2''''. The mouthpiece 2'''' comprises a body 4'''' of the first material, in which a first tubular element 4a is embedded so as to be surrounded longitudinally and circumferentially by the material forming the body 4'''' of the first material. In this example, the first tubular element 4a is the same as the first tubular element 4a described in relation to Figure 1, but is located in a different position. In this example, the first tubular element 4a is located approximately in the center of the body 4'''' of the material, such that the body 4'''' of the material extends beyond both the upstream and downstream longitudinal ends of the tubular element 4a. As described above, the sheet material forming the body of the material may have a slit, which is positioned such that when the sheet material 14 is assembled into the body 4, the sheet material 14 on the first side (e.g., the downstream side) of the object embedded in the body is brought together such that the slit forms an inner edge within the body 4 that at least partially defines the boundary of the space enclosing the embedded object. In this example, the sheet material 14 has two slits, which are positioned so that when the sheet material is assembled to the body 4, the slits are adjacent to the upstream and downstream ends of the tubular element 4a. By providing the slits within the sheet material 14 positioned at each end of the tubular element 4a, the sheet material 14 is released and extends completely across the width of the body 4'''' without being distorted around the embedded tubular element.

[0177] Preferably, a material body 4'''' in which a tubular element 4a is embedded in a position where the tubular element is surrounded both longitudinally and circumferentially by a material body, can be provided as the sole filter component of the mouthpiece 2'''', so that the tubular element and the material body together provide the desired cooling and filtration of the aerosol. By providing the body 4'''' as the sole filter component of the mouthpiece, the manufacture of the mouthpiece 2'''' can be preferably simplified.

[0178] According to this disclosure, “aerosol supply system” includes both combustion-type aerosol supply systems and non-combustion-type aerosol supply systems.

[0179] According to this disclosure, a “combustion-type” aerosol supply system is a system in which, during use, the aerosol-generating material (or its components) that constitutes the aerosol supply system is burned or incinerated in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to the user.

[0180] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustion-type aerosol delivery system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigarillos, and cigars.

[0181] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to components for use in a combustion aerosol supply system, such as aerosol modifier release components like filters, filter rods, filter segments, tobacco rods, spills, capsules, threads, or beads, or paper such as plug wraps, tip paper, or cigarette paper.

[0182] According to this disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol supply system is a system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials (or their components) of the aerosol supply system are not burned or incinerated in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to the user.

[0183] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol supply system.

[0184] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0185] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. An example of such a system is a cigarette heating system.

[0186] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is a hybrid system configured to generate an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0187] Typically, a non-combustible aerosol supply system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-combustible aerosol supply device.

[0188] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising an aerosol-generating material and configured for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device. These consumables may be referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0189] In some embodiments, a non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as a non-combustible aerosol supply device, may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, a power source or a heat source. In some embodiments, the heat source includes a carbon substrate to which energy can be supplied to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or heat transfer material adjacent to the heat source.

[0190] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system may include an area for receiving consumables, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0191] In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, aerosol generating material storage area, aerosol generating material transfer component, aerosol generator, aerosol generating area, housing, packaging material, filter, suction nozzle, and / or aerosol modifier.

[0192] In some embodiments, the delivered substance includes an active substance.

[0193] The active substances used herein may be physiologically active materials, which are materials intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. Active substances may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, and psychotropic drugs. Active substances may be naturally occurring or obtained by synthesis. Active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or their components, derivatives, or combinations. Active substances may include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or other plant substances.

[0194] In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12. As described herein, the active substance may include or be derived from one or more plant substances or their components, derivatives, or extracts. As used herein, the term “plant substance” includes, but is not limited to, any material derived from a plant, including extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, exoskeletons, or shells. Alternatively, the material may include those obtained by synthesizing active compounds naturally present in plant substances. Examples of plant-based substances include tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay leaf, licorice, matcha, mate, orange peel, papaya, rose, sage, tea (such as green or black tea), thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, and rabbi. The herbs are mint, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, perilla, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damian, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, calvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab, or any combination thereof. The mint may be selected from the following mint varieties: peppermint, mint cv, Egyptian mint, European mint, eau de cologne mint, candy mint, curly mint, Kentucky colonel mint, horse mint, pineapple mint, pennyroyal mint, green mint, and apple mint.

[0195] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or their components, derivatives, or extracts, the plant substance being tobacco.

[0196] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or their components, derivatives, or extracts, the plant substances being selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, and hemp.

[0197] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or their components, derivatives, or extracts, the plant substances being selected from rooibos and fennel.

[0198] In some embodiments, the delivered substance includes flavorings.

[0199] As used herein, the terms “flavoring” and “flavoring agent” refer to materials that may be used to create a desired taste, aroma, or other somatosensory effect in products intended for adult consumers, where permitted by local regulations.These are naturally occurring flavorings, plant substances, plant substance extracts, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, anise, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berries, red berries, cranberries, peaches, apples, oranges, mangoes, clementines, lemons, rye). Tropical fruits, papaya, rhubarb, grapes, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, kurt, eggplant, betel nut, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, illa Ilex crenata, sage, fennel, wasabi, bell pepper, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, peppermint oil from any of the Mentha species, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay leaf, mate, orange peel, rose, tea such as green or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, shiso, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, ma It may contain other additives such as joram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, calvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), as well as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant-based substances, or breath fresheners.They may be imitations, synthetics, or natural raw materials, or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, such as liquids like oils, solids like powders, or gases.

[0200] In some embodiments, the flavor includes menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavor includes cucumber, blueberry, citrus, and / or red berry flavor components. In some embodiments, the flavor includes eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavor includes flavor components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavor includes flavor components extracted from cannabis.

[0201] In some embodiments, the flavor may include a sensory stimulant, which is intended to achieve somatosensations that are normally chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or instead of the aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents that produce heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effects. A preferred thermal agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and a preferred cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, eucalyptol or WS-3.

[0202] Aerosol-generating materials are materials that can generate aerosols when heated, irradiated, or given energy in any other way. Aerosol-generating materials can be in the form of solids, liquids, or gels, which may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings. In some embodiments, aerosol-generating materials may include “amorphous solids,” which may alternatively be referred to as “monolithic solids” (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, amorphous solids may be dry gels. Amorphous solids are solid materials that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, within the amorphous solid. In some embodiments, aerosol-generating materials may include, for example, amorphous solids ranging from about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solids.

[0203] The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and / or flavorings, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0204] The aerosol-forming agent material may contain one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent material may contain one or more of the following: glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, mesoerythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyline, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0205] One or more other functional materials may include one or more of the following: pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0206] The material may be present on or within a support to form a substrate. The support may be, for example, paper, cardboard, cardboard, reconstituted material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or metal alloy, or may comprise these. In some embodiments, the support comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or both sides of the material.

[0207] Consumables are articles comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, some or all of which are intended to be consumed during use by the user. Consumables may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, packaging material, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. Consumables may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which generates heat during use to cause the aerosol-generating material to produce an aerosol. The heater may comprise, for example, a flammable material, an electrically conductive material, or a susceptor.

[0208] A susceptor is a material that can be heated by penetration through a fluctuating magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be a conductive material, and consequently, penetration through the conductive material by the fluctuating magnetic field causes inductive heating of the heating material. The heating material may be a magnetic material, and consequently, penetration through the magnetic material by the fluctuating magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both conductive and magnetic, and consequently, the susceptor can be heated by both heating mechanisms. A device configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field is referred to herein as a magnetic field generator.

[0209] Aerosol modifiers are substances configured to modify an aerosol, for example, by altering the taste, flavor, acidity, or other properties of the aerosol. Aerosol modifiers may be provided within an aerosol modifier-releasing component that is capable of selectively releasing the aerosol modifier.

[0210] The aerosol modifier may be, for example, an additive or an adsorbent. The aerosol modifier may contain, for example, one or more of the following: flavorings, colorants, water, and carbon adsorbents. The aerosol modifier may be, for example, a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol modifier may be in the form of a powder, thread, or granules. The aerosol modifier does not necessarily contain a filter material.

[0211] An aerosol generator is a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to supply thermal energy to the aerosol-generating material so as to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to supply one or more of the aerosol-generating material to vibration, pressure increase, or electrostatic energy.

[0212] Articles, such as rod-shaped articles, are often named according to their length as follows: "Regular" (typically ranging from 68 to 75 mm, e.g., about 68 mm to 72 mm), "Short" or "Mini" (68 mm or less), "King Size" (typically ranging from 75 to 91 mm, e.g., about 79 mm to 88 mm), "Long" or "Super King" (typically ranging from 91 to 105 mm, e.g., about 94 mm to 101 mm), and "Ultra Long" (typically ranging from about 110 mm to 121 mm).

[0213] They are also named according to the circumference of the product: "Regular" (approximately 23-25mm), "Wide" (over 25mm), "Slim" (approximately 22-23mm), "Demi-Slim" (approximately 19-22mm), "Super Slim" (approximately 16-19mm), and "Micro Slim" (less than approximately 16mm).

[0214] Therefore, a king-size super-slim item would, for example, have a length of approximately 83 mm and a circumference of approximately 17 mm.

[0215] Each type can be manufactured using mouthpieces of different lengths. The mouthpiece length is approximately 30mm to 50mm. The tip paper is connected to the aerosol-generating material so that the tip paper covers the mouthpiece and overlaps the aerosol-generating material in the form of a rod of base material, for example, connecting the mouthpiece to the rod. The tip paper is usually longer than the mouthpiece, for example, 3 to 10mm longer.

[0216] The articles described herein, as well as the aerosol-generating materials and mouthpieces for the articles, may be made in any of the above forms, but are not limited thereto.

[0217] As used herein, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are relative terms defined with respect to the direction of the mainstream aerosol drawn through the article or device in use.

[0218] The filamentous tow materials described herein may include cellulose acetate fiber tow. Filamentous tow can also be formed using other materials used to form fibers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), poly(1-4-butanediol succinate) (PBS), poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), starch-based materials, cotton, aliphatic polyester materials, and polysaccharide polymers, or combinations thereof. If the material is cellulose acetate tow, the filamentous tow may be plasticized with a tow-suitable plasticizer such as triacetin, or the tow may not be plasticized. The tow may have any preferred specifications, such as having a cross-section that is "Y"-shaped or "X"-shaped, and a filament denier value of 2.5 to 15 denier per filament, for example 8.0 to 11.0 denier per filament, and a total denier value of 5,000 to 50,000, for example 10,000 to 40,000.

[0219] As used herein, the term “tobacco material” refers to any material including tobacco or its derivatives or substitutes. The term “tobacco material” may include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, extended tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. Tobacco material may include one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fibers, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stems, tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco, and / or tobacco extracts.

[0220] Figure 6 shows an example of a non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 for generating aerosols from an aerosol-generating medium / material such as an aerosol-generating material 3, one of the articles 1, 1', 1'', 1'''', 1'''' described herein. Schematically, device 100 can be used to heat a replaceable article 110 containing an aerosol-generating medium, such as articles 1, 1', 1'', 1'''', 1'''' described herein, to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium to be inhaled by a user of device 100. Together, device 100 and the replaceable article 110 form a system.

[0221] Device 100 comprises a housing 102 (in the form of an outer cover) that surrounds and accommodates various components of device 100. Device 100 has an opening 104 in one end, through which an article 110 can be inserted for heating by a heating assembly. When in use, the article 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the heating assembly, where it may be heated by one or more components of the heater assembly.

[0222] When article 110 is inserted into device 100, the minimum distance between one or more components of the heater assembly and the tubular body 4a of article 110 may be in the range of 3 mm to 10 mm, for example, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, or 10 mm.

[0223] The device 100 in this example includes a first end member 106, the first end member 106 having a lid 108 that is movable relative to the first end member 106 to close the opening 104 when the article 110 is not in place. In Figure 6, the lid 108 is shown in an open configuration, but the lid 108 can be moved to a closed configuration. For example, the user may slide the lid 108 in the direction of arrow "B".

[0224] Device 100 may also include a user-operable control element 112, such as a button or switch, which operates device 100 when pressed. For example, a user may turn on device 100 by operating the switch 112.

[0225] Device 100 may also include electrical components such as a socket / port 114 that can receive a cable for charging the device 100's battery. For example, the socket 114 could be a charging port, such as a USB charging port.

[0226] Figure 7 depicts the device 100 of Figure 6 with the outer cover 102 removed and the item 110 absent. The device 100 defines a longitudinal axis 134.

[0227] As shown in Figure 7, the first end member 106 is located at one end of the device 100, and the second end member 116 is located at the opposite end of the device 100. The first and second end members 106, 116 together define at least partially the end faces of the device 100. For example, the bottom surface of the second end member 116 defines at least partially the bottom surface of the device 100. The edge of the outer cover 102 may also define a portion of the end face. In this example, the lid 108 also defines a portion of the top surface of the device 100.

[0228] The end of the device closest to the opening 104 may be known as the proximal end (or mouth end) of the device 100, as it is closest to the user's mouth during use. During use, the user inserts an article 110 into the opening 104 and operates the user control unit 112 to begin heating the aerosol-generating material and aspirate the aerosol generated within the device. This causes the aerosol to flow through the device 100 along a channel toward the proximal end of the device 100.

[0229] The other end of the device furthest from the opening 104 may be known as the distal end of device 100, as it is the end furthest from the user's mouth during use. When the user inhales the aerosol generated within the device, the aerosol flows out from the distal end of device 100.

[0230] Device 100 further comprises a power supply 118. The power supply 118 may be a battery, such as a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries), nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and alkaline batteries. The battery is electrically coupled to the heating assembly to heat the aerosol-generating material by supplying power under the control of a controller (not shown) as needed. In this example, the battery is connected to a central support 120 that holds the battery 118 in place.

[0231] The device further comprises at least one electronic module 122. The electronic module 122 may, for example, include a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB 122 may support at least one controller, such as a processor, and memory. The PCB 122 may also have one or more electrical tracks for electrically connecting various electronic components of the device 100 together. For example, battery terminals may be electrically connected to the PCB 122 so that power can be distributed throughout the device 100. The socket 114 may also be electrically coupled to the battery via the electrical track.

[0232] In exemplary device 100, the heating assembly is an induction heating assembly comprising various components for heating the aerosol-generating material of article 110 via an induction heating process. Induction heating is the process of heating a conductive object (such as a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. The induction heating assembly may comprise an inductive element, for example, one or more inductor coils, and a device for passing a variable current, such as an alternating current, through the inductive element. The variable current in the inductive element generates a fluctuating magnetic field. The fluctuating magnetic field penetrates a susceptor suitably positioned with respect to the inductive element, generating eddy currents inside the susceptor. The susceptor has electrical resistance to eddy currents, and therefore the flow of eddy currents against this resistance heats the susceptor by Joule heating. If the susceptor contains a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, or cobalt, heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses within the susceptor, i.e., by a change in the orientation of time dipoles in the magnetic material as a result of alignment with the fluctuating magnetic field. In induction heating, compared to, for example, conduction heating, heat is generated inside the susceptor, enabling rapid heating. Furthermore, it allows for greater flexibility in structure and application, as no physical contact is required between the induction heater and the susceptor.

[0233] The induction heating assembly of exemplary device 100 comprises a susceptor structure 132 (referred to herein as the “susceptor”), a first inductor coil 124, and a second inductor coil 126. The first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are fabricated from a conductive material. In this example, the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are fabricated from Litz wire / cable, which is wound helically to provide helical inductor coils 124, 126. Litz wire consists of a plurality of individual wires that are individually insulated and twisted together to form a single wire. Litz wire is designed to reduce skin effect losses in a conductor. In exemplary device 100, the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are fabricated from copper Litz wire having a rectangular cross-section. In other examples, Litz wire may have a cross-section of other shapes, such as circular.

[0234] The first inductor coil 124 is configured to generate a first fluctuating magnetic field for heating a first section of the susceptor 132, and the second inductor coil 126 is configured to generate a second fluctuating magnetic field for heating a second section of the susceptor 132. In this example, the first inductor coil 124 is adjacent to the second inductor coil 126 in a direction along the longitudinal axis 134 of the device 100 (i.e., the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 do not overlap). The susceptor configuration 132 may consist of a single susceptor or two or more separate susceptors. The ends 130 of the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 may be connected to the PCB 122.

[0235] It will be understood that the first and second inductor coils 124 and 126 may, in some examples, have at least one characteristic that is different from each other. For example, the first inductor coil 124 may have at least one characteristic that is different from the second inductor coil 126. More specifically, in one example, the first inductor coil 124 may have a different inductance value than the second inductor coil 126. In Figure 8, the first and second inductor coils 124 and 126 are of different lengths such that the first inductor coil 124 is wound over a smaller section of the susceptor 132 than the second inductor coil 126. Thus, the first inductor coil 124 may contain a different number of turns than the second inductor coil 126 (assuming that the spacing between individual turns is substantially the same). In yet another example, the first inductor coil 124 may be made from a different material than the second inductor coil 126. In some examples, the first and second inductor coils 124 and 126 may be substantially identical.

[0236] In this example, the first inductor coil 124 and the second inductor coil 126 are wound in opposite directions. This can be useful when the inductor coils are active at different times. For example, the first inductor coil 124 may initially operate to heat a first section / part of article 110, and later the second inductor coil 126 may operate to heat a second section / part of article 110. Winding the coils in opposite directions helps reduce the current induced in the inactive coil when used with certain types of control circuits. In Figure 7, the first inductor coil 124 is a right-handed helical and the second inductor coil 126 is a left-handed helical. However, in another embodiment, the inductor coils 124, 126 may be wound in the same direction, or the first inductor coil 124 may be a left-handed helical and the second inductor coil 126 may be a right-handed helical.

[0237] In this example, the susceptor 132 is hollow and therefore defines a receptacle within which an aerosol-generating material is received. For example, article 110 can be inserted into the susceptor 132. In this example, the susceptor 120 is tubular with a circular cross-section.

[0238] The susceptor 132 may be made from one or more materials. Preferably, the susceptor 132 includes carbon steel having a nickel or cobalt coating.

[0239] In some examples, the susceptor 132 may include at least two materials that can be heated at two different frequencies for the selective aerosolization of at least two materials. For example, a first section of the susceptor 132 (heated by a first inductor coil 124) may include a first material, and a second section of the susceptor 132 (heated by a second inductor coil 126) may include a second different material. In another example, the first section may include first and second materials, and the first and second materials may be heated differently based on the operation of the first inductor coil 124. The first and second materials may be adjacent along an axis defined by the susceptor 132 and may form different layers within the susceptor 132. Similarly, the second section may include third and fourth materials, and the third and fourth materials may be heated differently based on the operation of the second inductor coil 126. The third and fourth materials may be adjacent along the axis defined by the susceptor 132, or they may form different layers within the susceptor 132. The third material may be, for example, the same as the first material, and the fourth material may be the same as the second material. Alternatively, each of the materials may be different. The susceptor may include, for example, carbon steel or aluminum.

[0240] The device 100 in Figure 7 further comprises an insulating member 128, which may generally be tubular and may at least partially surround the susceptor 132. The insulating member 128 may be constructed from any insulating material, such as plastic. In this particular example, the insulating member is constructed from polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The insulating member 128 helps to insulate the various components of the device 100 from the heat generated within the susceptor 132.

[0241] The insulating member 128 can also fully or partially support the first and second inductor coils 124, 126. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are positioned around the insulating member 128 and are in contact with the radially outer surface of the insulating member 128. In some examples, the insulating member 128 does not abut the first and second inductor coils 124, 126. For example, there may be a small gap between the outer surface of the insulating member 128 and the inner surfaces of the first and second inductor coils 124, 126.

[0242] In a specific example, the susceptor 132, the insulating member 128, and the first and second inductor coils 124 and 126 are coaxial with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the susceptor 132.

[0243] Figure 8 shows a side view of the device 100 in partial cross-section. In this example, the outer cover 102 is present. The rectangular cross-sectional shapes of the first and second inductor coils 124 and 126 are more clearly visible.

[0244] The device 100 further comprises a support 136 that engages with one end of the susceptor 132 to hold the susceptor 132 in place. The support 136 is connected to a second end member 116.

[0245] The device may also include a second printed circuit board 138 associated within the control element 112.

[0246] Device 100 further comprises a second lid / cap 140 and a spring 142 positioned toward the distal end of device 100. The spring 142 allows the second lid 140 to be opened to provide access to the susceptor 132. The user can open the second lid 140 to clean the susceptor 132 and / or support 136.

[0247] The device 100 further comprises an expansion chamber 144 extending toward the opening 104 of the device away from the proximal end of the susceptor 132. At least partially within the expansion chamber 144 are a retaining clip 146 for contacting and holding the article 110 when the article 110 is received within the device 100. The expansion chamber 144 is connected to the end member 106.

[0248] Figure 9 is an exploded view of the device 100 from Figure 8, with the outer cover 102 omitted.

[0249] Figure 10A depicts a cross-section of a portion of the device 100 in Figure 9. Figure 10B depicts a magnified view of a region of Figure 10A. Figures 10A and 10B show an article 110 received within a susceptor 132, the article 110 being sized such that its outer surface abuts against the inner surface of the susceptor 132. This ensures that heating is performed most efficiently. The article 110 in this example comprises an aerosol-generating material 110a, which is positioned within the susceptor 132. The article 110 may also comprise other components such as a filter, packaging material, and / or a cooling structure.

[0250] Figure 10B shows that the outer surface of the susceptor 132 is separated from the inner surfaces of the inductor coils 124 and 126 by a distance 150 measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 158 of the susceptor 132. In one particular example, the distance 150 is approximately 3mm–4mm, approximately 3–3.5mm, or approximately 3.25mm.

[0251] Figure 10B further shows that the outer surface of the insulating member 128 is spaced from the inner surfaces of the inductor coils 124 and 126 by a distance 152 measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 158 of the susceptor 132. In one particular example, the distance 152 is approximately 0.05 mm. In another example, the distance 152 is substantially 0 mm, so that the inductor coils 124 and 126 are in contact with the insulating member 128.

[0252] In one example, the susceptor 132 has a wall thickness 154 of approximately 0.025 mm to 1 mm, or approximately 0.05 mm.

[0253] In one example, the susceptor 132 has a length of approximately 40mm-60mm, approximately 40mm-45mm, or approximately 44.5mm.

[0254] In one example, the insulating member 128 has a wall thickness 156 of approximately 0.25 mm to 2 mm, 0.25 mm to 1 mm, or approximately 0.5 mm.

[0255] When in use, articles 1, 1', 1'', 1'''', 1'''' described herein may be inserted into a non-combustible aerosol supply device such as device 100, as described with reference to Figures 6 to 10B. At least a portion of the mouthpieces 2, 2', 2'', 2'''', 2'''' of articles 1, 1', 1'', 1'''' may protrude from the non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 and be positioned in the user's mouth. Aerosol is generated by heating the aerosol-generating material 3 using device 100. The aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material 3 reaches the user's mouth through the mouthpiece 2.

[0256] A method for forming the suction ports 2, 2', 2'', 2'''', 2'''' described herein may preferably include: a step of crimping a sheet material, wherein the crimping pattern comprises a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves; a step of providing a supply material for tubular elements; and a step of assembling sheets of the fibrous material around the tubular elements to form a body of material, wherein in the body of material, at least one tubular element extends through the body along a substantially common axis and is circumferentially surrounded by sheets of the fibrous material. In some examples, the method further includes positioning at least one tubular element so that at least one tubular element is embedded in the material such that at least one tubular element is surrounded in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions by the fibrous material forming the body.

[0257] An apparatus configured to manufacture the components described herein may preferably comprise: a crimp roller for crimping a crimp pattern onto a sheet of fibrous material, wherein the crimp pattern comprises a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves; a feeding mechanism for tubular elements; and a garnish assembly for gathering the sheet of fibrous material around the tubular elements to form a body of material, wherein in the body of material, at least one tubular element extends through the body along a substantially common axis and is circumferentially surrounded by the fibrous material.

Claims

1. Components for use in an aerosol supply system or for use as an aerosol supply system, wherein the components are The fibrous material body, First and second tubular elements extending substantially along a common axis through the main body and each surrounded circumferentially by the fibrous material, A component comprising:

2. The component according to claim 1, wherein the component forms a suction opening for a single article.

3. The component according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fibrous material is a first cellulose-based material.

4. The component according to claim 3, wherein the first cellulose-based material is paper.

5. The component according to claim 4, wherein the paper is formed from wood pulp.

6. The component according to claim 3, wherein the first cellulose-based material is a reconstituted tobacco sheet.

7. The component according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second tubular elements are separated by a gap of 0.5 mm to 5 mm, or 0.75 mm to 1.5 mm, or 1 mm to 3 mm.

8. The component according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second tubular elements are separated by a gap of 5 mm to 15 mm, 6 mm to 12 mm, or 8 mm to 11 mm.

9. The component according to claim 8, wherein the main body of the fibrous material extends within the gap.

10. The component according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first and / or second tubular element extends to the longitudinal end of the component.

11. The component according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a first crimping coefficient is applied to a first longitudinal region of the body of the fibrous material, and a second crimping coefficient is applied to a second longitudinal region of the body of the fibrous material.

12. The component according to claim 11, wherein the first and second crimping coefficients are one of depth, spacing, pressure, or temperature.

13. The component according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first and / or second tubular element is formed from a second cellulosic material.

14. The component according to claim 13, wherein the second cellulose-based material is paper.

15. The component according to claim 14, wherein the paper is formed from wood pulp.

16. The component according to claim 15, wherein the second cellulose-based material is a reconstituted tobacco sheet.

17. The component according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the main body of the fibrous material is formed from one or more sections of a sheet material.

18. Components for use in an aerosol supply system or for use as an aerosol supply system, wherein the components are The fibrous material body, A tubular element, wherein the tubular element is embedded within the main body such that it is surrounded in the circumferential and longitudinal directions by the fibrous material forming the main body, A component comprising:

19. The component according to claim 18, wherein the component forms a suction opening for a single article.

20. The component according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the fibrous material is a first cellulose-based material.

21. The component according to claim 20, wherein the first cellulose-based material is paper.

22. The component according to claim 21, wherein the paper is formed from wood pulp.

23. The component according to claim 20, wherein the first cellulose-based material is a reconstituted tobacco sheet.

24. The component according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the proximal end of the tubular element is spaced at least 5 mm, at least 8 mm, or at least 10 mm from the longitudinal end of the component.

25. The component according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the tubular element extends to the longitudinal end of the component.

26. The component according to any one of claims 18 to 25, wherein a first crimping coefficient is applied to a first longitudinal region of the body of the fibrous material, and a second crimping coefficient is applied to a second longitudinal region of the body of the fibrous material.

27. The component according to claim 26, wherein the first and second crimping coefficients are one of depth, spacing, pressure, or temperature.

28. The component according to any one of claims 18 to 27, wherein the tubular element is formed from a second cellulosic material.

29. The component according to any one of claims 18 to 28, wherein the main body of the fibrous material is formed from one or more sections of a sheet material.

30. An article for use in or for use in an aerosol supply system, wherein the article has a downstream end, The fibrous material body, The present invention comprises a tubular element surrounded circumferentially by the fibrous material, wherein the tubular element extends to a first longitudinal end of the main body and is spaced apart from a second longitudinal end of the main body, and the longitudinal end of the main body to which the tubular element extends is spaced apart from the downstream end of the article. Goods.

31. The article according to claim 30, wherein the fibrous material is a third cellulosic material.

32. The article according to claim 31, wherein the third cellulose-based material is paper.

33. The article according to claim 32, wherein the paper is formed from wood pulp.

34. The article according to claim 33, wherein the third cellulose-based material is a reconstituted tobacco sheet.

35. The article according to any one of claims 30 to 34, wherein the proximal end of the tubular element is spaced at least 5 mm, at least 8 mm, or at least 10 mm from the longitudinal end of the article.

36. The article according to any one of claims 30 to 35, wherein the tubular element extends to the longitudinal end of the article.

37. The article according to any one of claims 30 to 36, wherein a first crimping coefficient is applied to a first longitudinal region of the body of the fibrous material, and a second crimping coefficient is applied to a second longitudinal region of the body of the fibrous material.

38. The article according to claim 37, wherein the first and second crimping coefficients are one of depth, spacing, pressure, or temperature.

39. The article according to any one of claims 30 to 38, wherein the tubular element is formed from a second cellulosic material.

40. The article according to any one of claims 30 to 39, wherein the main body of the fibrous material is formed from one or more sections of a sheet material.

41. An article comprising the components described in any one of claims 1 to 29.

42. A method for forming components for articles to be used in an aerosol supply system, wherein the method is A step of applying a crimp pattern to a sheet of fibrous material, wherein the crimp pattern comprises a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves; The steps include providing a supply material for tubular elements, A step of forming a material body by gathering sheets of the fibrous material around the tubular elements, wherein in the material body, at least one tubular element extends through the body along a substantially common axis and is circumferentially surrounded by the sheets of the fibrous material; Methods that include...

43. The method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of positioning the at least one tubular element so that it is embedded in the body of the material such that the at least one tubular element is surrounded in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions by a sheet of the fibrous material forming the body of the material.

44. An apparatus configured to manufacture a component according to any one of claims 1 to 39, A crimping roller for applying a crimp pattern to a sheet of fibrous material, wherein the crimp pattern comprises a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves, A feeding mechanism for tubular elements, A garnish assembly for gathering sheets of the fibrous material around a tubular element to form a material body, wherein in the material body, at least one tubular element extends through the body along a substantially common axis and is circumferentially surrounded by the fibrous material; A device equipped with the following features.

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