Consumables used with aerosol supply devices

Abstract

We provide novel consumables for use with aerosol supply devices. [Solution] A consumable (40) for use with an aerosol supply device (2) is provided. The consumable (40) comprises a support (48) and an aerosol generating material (42). The aerosol generating material (42) comprises one or more aerosol generating material (42) discrete parts (44, 46), the discrete parts (44, 46) being supported by the support (48). At least one discrete part (44, 46) has a detectable characteristic, the detectable characteristic representing at least one product characteristic of the discrete part (44, 46).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of non-flammable aerosol supply systems, in particular to consumables used with aerosol supply devices, methods for manufacturing consumables used with aerosol supply devices, and aerosol supply systems including consumables and aerosol supply devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Cigarettes, cigars, and other smoking products produce tobacco smoke by burning tobacco during use. Substitutes for these types of articles release inhalable aerosols or vapors by releasing compounds from a substrate material through non-combustion heating. These are sometimes referred to as non-combustible smoking products, aerosol generating assemblies, or aerosol supply devices.

[0003] An example of such a product is a heating device that releases compounds by heating an aerosolizable material, sometimes called a solid aerosol generating material, without combustion. This solid aerosol generating material may sometimes include tobacco material. Upon heating, at least one component of the material volatilizes, usually forming an inhalable aerosol. These products may also be called non-combustion heating devices, tobacco heating devices, or tobacco heating products. Various configurations are known that volatilize at least one component of the solid aerosol generating material.

[0004] Another example is a hybrid device. These hybrid devices include a liquid source (which may or may not contain nicotine) that vaporizes upon heating to produce an inhalable vapor or aerosol. The device also includes a solid aerosol-generating material (which may or may not contain tobacco material), the components of which are incorporated into the inhalable vapor or aerosol to create an inhalation medium. [Overview of the project]

[0005] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a consumable item for use with an aerosol supply device, comprising a support and an aerosol generating material, The aerosol generating material comprises two or more aerosol generating material discrete sections, The discrete part is supported by the supporting part. At least one discrete part has detectable characteristics, A consumable is provided in which the detectable characteristic exhibits at least one product characteristic of a discrete part. According to a second aspect of this disclosure, an aerosol supply device for use with a consumable described in any one of claims 1 to 21, an aerosol generator configured to heat at least one discrete part of an aerosol-generating material supported by a consumable, A detector configured to detect the detectable characteristics of at least one discrete part on a consumable, A memory containing a table that associates the detectable characteristics of a discrete part with the product characteristics of a discrete part, A controller configured to receive detected detectable characteristics of a discrete unit, search a table in memory, and control the operation of the aerosol supply device based on at least one product characteristic of the discrete unit, An aerosol supply device is provided that includes the following:

[0006] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, an aerosol supply system is provided comprising an aerosol supply device according to a second aspect of this disclosure and consumables according to a first aspect of this disclosure.

[0007] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for generating an aerosol from a consumable using an aerosol generating device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, which comprises at least one aerosol generator arranged to heat the consumable according to a first aspect of the present disclosure without burning it during use, wherein the at least one aerosol generator is a resistance heater element or a magnetic field generator and susceptor.

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present disclosure, which are shown only as examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the aerosol supply device disclosed herein. [Figure 2] This figure shows one embodiment of a consumable product of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Consumables in this specification may also be referred to as substitutes or articles.

[0011] In some embodiments, the consumables include an aerosol-generating material. The consumables may comprise an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transport component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, a wrapper, an aerosol modifier, one or more active components, one or more fragrances, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0012] The equipment used to heat aerosol-generating materials, along with consumables, is part of a non-flammable aerosol supply system. Non-flammable aerosol supply systems (such as hybrid systems that generate aerosols through a combination of e-cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and aerosol-generating materials) release compounds from aerosol-generating materials without combustion.

[0013] According to this disclosure, a “non-flammable” aerosol supply system is one in which the aerosol-generating material (or its components) that make up the aerosol supply system is not combustible in order to facilitate the delivery of the delivered substance to the user.

[0014] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol delivery system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol delivery system.

[0015] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0016] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating type system. One example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0017] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that generates aerosol by a combination of aerosol-generating materials (one of which may be configured to be heated, or a plurality of which may be configured to 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 non-tobacco products.

[0018] Typically, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol delivery device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol delivery device.

[0019] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system (such as the non-combustible aerosol delivery device) may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, an electric power source, or a heat generating power source. In some embodiments, the heat generating power source comprises a carbon substrate capable of supplying energy so as to supply power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or a heat transfer material adjacent to the heat generating power source.

[0020] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system may comprise an area for receiving a consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a consumable for use with an aerosol supply device, the consumable comprising a support portion and an aerosol generating material, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises one or more discrete portions of aerosol generating material, the discrete portions are supported by the support portion, at least one of the discrete portions has a detectable property, the detectable property is indicative of at least one product property of the discrete portion.

[0021] The detectable property is a property that is detectable by one or both of a human being and a detection apparatus.

[0022] The product property of the discrete portion is a property of the discrete portion or a property relating to one or more of the constituent substances of the discrete portion. In some embodiments, the product property is a property of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating material of the discrete portion when the aerosol generating material is heated. In some embodiments, the product property is a property of aerosol generation when the aerosol generating material of the discrete portion is heated.

[0023] In one embodiment of the above embodiments, at least two of the discrete portions each have a detectable property, and the detectable property of each discrete portion is indicative of at least one product property of that discrete portion. In some embodiments, all of the discrete portions of aerosol generating material have a detectable property.

[0024] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, at least one of the discrete parts has detectable characteristics that are different from the detectable characteristics of at least one other discrete part. In some embodiments, these characteristics may be related but different, for example, the discrete parts may have different shapes.

[0025] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the detectable characteristic of the discrete portion exhibits the product characteristic of at least one of two or more discrete portions. In such embodiments, the number of aerosol-generating material discrete portions on the consumable having the detectable characteristic is less than the number of discrete portions on the consumable whose product characteristics are known.

[0026] In some embodiments, there are two types of aerosol-generating material discrete parts: those having at least one detectable characteristic and those not having a detectable characteristic. Each discrete part not having a detectable characteristic may be positioned on a support such that its position relative to one or more discrete parts having at least one detectable characteristic indicates one or more of the respective product characteristics.

[0027] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, at least one discrete unit has at least two detectable characteristics, each detectable characteristic representing at least one product characteristic of the discrete unit.

[0028] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the product characteristics include one or both of the composition of the aerosol-generating material in the discrete portion and the volume of the aerosol-generating material in the discrete portion.

[0029] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the composition of the aerosol-generating material in the discrete portion includes one or more of the following: an active substance, a fragrance or flavoring agent, and a sensory substance.

[0030] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the detectable characteristics include one of the following: shape, dimensions, position relative to a reference, position relative to at least one other discrete part, color in the 390-700 nm wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum, absorption spectrum, optical density, transmittance, presence of one or more biomarkers, presence of one or more chemical markers, magnetic properties, pH, or mass.

[0031] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the above or each detectable characteristic may represent one or more aspects of the manufacturing process of the consumable.

[0032] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the detectable characteristics may be used for quality control during the manufacturing process.

[0033] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, at least one discrete portion has a detectable characteristic that includes a shape which, when viewed from a position perpendicular to the surface on which the discrete portion is supported, is substantially circular, polygonal, star-shaped, longitudinally extending stripe, stripe including at least one curve or angle, or mosaic-like shape.

[0034] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, at least one discrete portion has detectable characteristics including a first shape which, when viewed from a position perpendicular to the surface on which the discrete portion is supported, is substantially circular, polygonal, star-shaped, a longitudinally extending stripe, a stripe including at least one curve or angle, or a mosaic-like shape, and at least one other discrete portion has a shape different from the first shape which has detectable characteristics including a second shape which, when viewed from a position perpendicular to the surface on which the discrete portion is supported, is substantially circular, polygonal, star-shaped, a longitudinally extending stripe, a stripe including at least one curve or angle, or a mosaic-like shape.

[0035] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the detectable characteristics are selected so as to be visually identifiable by the user.

[0036] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the detectable characteristics are selected so as to be identifiable by an automatic detector. In some embodiments, the detector does not physically contact the discrete parts.

[0037] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the aerosol generating material has the form of an aerosol generating film or an aerosol generating gel.

[0038] Aerosol-generating material is a material capable of generating an aerosol when energy is supplied, for example, by heating, irradiation, or any other method. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or semi-solid (such as a gel), and may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings.

[0039] The aerosol-generating material may include one or more active substances and / or fragrances, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0040] The aerosol-generating material may contain a binder such as a gelling agent and an aerosol-forming agent. Optionally, a substance to be delivered and / or a filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent such as water may also be present, and one or more other components of the aerosol-generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free of plant matter. In particular, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free of tobacco.

[0041] The aerosol-generating material may include an aerosol-generating film, or may be in the form of an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may contain a binder such as a gelling agent and an aerosol-forming agent. Optionally, a delivered substance and / or fillers may also be present. The aerosol-generating film may not contain substantially any plant-derived material. In particular, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco-free.

[0042] The aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of approximately 0.015 mm to approximately 1 mm. For example, the thickness may be in the range of approximately 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, or 0.15 mm to approximately 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.

[0043] The aerosol-generating film may be formed by combining a binder such as a gelling agent with a solvent such as water, an aerosol-forming agent, and one or more other components (e.g., one or more delivery substances) to form a slurry, and then heating the slurry to volatilize at least a portion of the solvent.

[0044] The slurry may be configured such that at least about 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt%, or 90 wt% of the solvent is removed by heating.

[0045] The aerosol-generating material may contain an amorphous solid, or may be an amorphous solid. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material includes an aerosol-generating film which is an amorphous solid. The amorphous solid may be a monolithic solid. The amorphous solid may be substantially non-fibrous. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material capable of holding some fluid, such as a liquid, internally. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may contain, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% of an amorphous solid.

[0046] The amorphous solid does not need to contain substantially any plant-derived material. The amorphous solid does not need to contain substantially any tobacco.

[0047] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the support portion has at least two surfaces, and all discrete portions of the aerosol-generating material are supported on one surface of the support portion.

[0048] In one embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least three of the discrete parts are supported on the surface of the support part in a grid pattern.

[0049] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the support portion includes a susceptor.

[0050] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the susceptor is a sheet material.

[0051] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the support portion is a laminate, and the susceptor is a layer of the laminate.

[0052] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the susceptor is a metal foil or a metal film.

[0053] A susceptor is a material that can be heated by the intrusion of a fluctuating magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. A susceptor may be made of a conductive material so that inductive heating occurs due to resistive heating resulting from eddy currents when a fluctuating magnetic field is intruded upon. A susceptor may also be made of a magnetic material so that magnetic hysteresis heating occurs when a fluctuating magnetic field is intruded upon. A susceptor may have both conductive and magnetic properties so that it can be heated by both heating mechanisms. A device configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator.

[0054] The susceptor may contain a metal or alloy. The susceptor may contain a ferromagnetic metal (such as iron) or an iron alloy (such as steel) or an iron-nickel alloy. Some exemplary ferromagnetic metals are 400-series stainless steels, such as 410-grade stainless steel, 420-grade stainless steel, 430-grade stainless steel, or similar grades of stainless steel. Alternatively, the susceptor may contain a suitable non-magnetic, particularly paramagnetic, conductive material such as aluminum. In the case of a paramagnetic conductive material, induction heating occurs solely through resistance heating by eddy currents. Alternatively, the susceptor may contain a non-conductive ferrimagnetic material, such as a non-conductive ferrimagnetic ceramic. In this case, heat is generated solely through hysteresis loss. The susceptor may contain a commercially available alloy such as Phytherm 230 (composition containing 50 wt% Ni, 10 wt% Cr, and the rest Fe (in wt% units)) or Phytherm 260 (composition containing 50 wt% Ni, 9 wt% Cr, and the rest Fe).

[0055] In some embodiments of any of the above embodiments, the susceptor may be a metal foil or metal film, or optionally an aluminum foil or aluminum film, or an iron foil or iron film. Alternatively, in some embodiments of any of the above embodiments, the susceptor may be any conductor that can be sprayed or deposited onto the material constituting the support.

[0056] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the support portion comprises a support material, the support material including one or more of the following: paper, cardboard, paperboard, thick paper, recycled material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or alloy.

[0057] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the support portion includes a plastic material capable of withstanding temperatures typically encountered in a non-flammable aerosol supply device. In some embodiments, the support portion includes polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Such embodiments have the advantage that the support portion is reusable and, for structural purposes, the consumable is less susceptible to the effects of condensation in a non-flammable aerosol supply device compared to consumables with support portions that use adsorbent materials.

[0058] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the substrate is a laminate. In such embodiments, the laminate may be formed from several material sheets. In some embodiments, at least two sheets of the laminate are made of different materials. According to a second aspect of this disclosure, an aerosol supply device for use with consumables relating to a first aspect of this disclosure, an aerosol generator configured to heat at least one discrete part of an aerosol-generating material supported by a consumable, A detector configured to detect the detectable characteristics of at least one discrete part on a consumable, A memory containing a table that associates the detectable characteristics of a discrete part with the product characteristics of a discrete part, A controller configured to receive detected detectable characteristics of a discrete unit, search a table in memory, and control the operation of the aerosol supply device based on at least one product characteristic of the discrete unit, An aerosol supply device is provided that includes the following:

[0059] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to independently heat at least two discrete parts supported at different positions on a consumable, and the detector is configured to detect the detectable characteristics of two or more discrete parts of the aerosol-generating material being heated.

[0060] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the heating assembly is configured to releasably hold a consumable in a heated position, and the detector detects the detectable characteristics of at least one discrete part supported by the consumable when the consumable moves to the heated position.

[0061] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the aerosol supply device is configured to operate or function differently in relation to aerosol generating material discrete units having different product characteristics.

[0062] In any embodiment of the above embodiments, different functions of operation of the aerosol supply device may include, but are not limited to, operating at one or more different heating temperatures, heating different discrete parts over different heating cycles, operating with different temperature profiles of the heating assembly for different discrete parts, and enabling different numbers of puffs from different discrete parts before the aerosol supply device determines that the aerosol-generating material has been used up or depleted. The aerosol-generating material is used up or depleted when all or a predetermined proportion of the aerosol-generating material is aerosolized, when a desired minimum amount of aerosol cannot be generated in a predetermined heating time, or after heating the aerosol-generating material discrete parts for a predetermined period of time.

[0063] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the aerosol supply device is configured to function most efficiently with respect to power consumption for each aerosol-generating material discrete section to be heated. This is possible by using the aerosol supply device of the present disclosure. Depending on the composition or volume and other characteristics of the aerosol-generating material discrete section to be heated, a lower temperature may be required to achieve sufficient aerosol generation. Power requirements are reduced by using only the power necessary to achieve sufficient aerosol generation for each discrete section, rather than the power required to achieve sufficient aerosol generation from all aerosol-generating materials. This may result in a longer power supply lifespan or a longer time between power supply recharges.

[0064] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the aerosol supply device may be configured such that the user can select the aerosol generating material dispersion section that is heated for aerosol generation.

[0065] In any one embodiment of the above embodiments, the aerosol generating material includes an active substance.

[0066] The active substances used herein may be physiologically active materials (materials intended to realize or enhance physiological reactions). Active substances may be selected from, for example, nutritional supplements, psychotropic drugs, and psychoactive agents. Active substances may be naturally occurring or obtained through synthesis. Active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, terpenes of non-cannabinoid origin, theine, vitamins such as B6, B12, or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or their components, derivatives, or combinations. Active substances may also include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.

[0067] The active substance may contain one or more cannabinoids or terpenes, or one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of cannabis.

[0068] In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0069] The active substance may include, or be derived from, one or more plant-derived substances or components, derivatives thereof, or extracts thereof. In this specification, the term "botanical" may include, but is not limited to, any material derived from plants, such as extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, shells, pods, etc. Alternatively, the material may include active compounds that are naturally present in plants or obtained through synthesis. The material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, ground particles, granules, pellets, flakes, strips, sheets, etc. Examples of plants include tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazelnut, hibiscus, laurel, licorice, matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea (green or black), thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, Lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, peaflower, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damiana, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, kalbi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab, or any combination thereof.Mint varieties can be selected from the following: Mentha Arventis, Mentha cv, Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata cv, Mentha piperita cv, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata cv, and Mentha suaveolens.

[0070] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives thereof or extracts thereof, the plant being tobacco.

[0071] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives thereof or extracts thereof, the plant being selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, and hemp.

[0072] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more plant substances or components, derivatives thereof or extracts thereof, the plant being selected from rooibos and fennel.

[0073] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material includes a fragrance or flavoring agent.

[0074] In this specification, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” refer to materials that may be used to produce a desired flavor, aroma, or other sensation in products intended for adult consumers, where local regulations permit.These include naturally occurring flavorings, plant substances, extracts of plant substances, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaves, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, mint, aniseed, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berries, red berries, cranberries, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, heat 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, chaat, naswar, betel leaf, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, Lan-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, bell pepper, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, mint oil of any species of the Mentha genus, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo leaf, hazelnut, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderberry, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, peanut, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, This product contains damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, kalbi, 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 other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant-derived substances, or breath fresheners.These may be imitations, synthetic or natural ingredients, or mixtures thereof. They may also be in any preferred form, such as liquids like oil, solids like powders, or gels.

[0075] In some embodiments, the flavoring includes menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes cucumber, blueberry, citrus, and / or red berry flavorings. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavorings extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavorings extracted from cannabis.

[0076] In some embodiments, the fragrance may contain sensory substances that are typically chemically induced and intended to produce a sensation perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), as an addition or replacement for olfactory or gustatory 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. A preferred cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, eucalyptol or WS-3.

[0077] Aerosol-generating material is a material capable of generating an aerosol when energy is supplied, for example, by heating, irradiation, or any other method. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings.

[0078] The aerosol-generating material contains an aerosol-forming agent.

[0079] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating agent may contain one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating agent may contain one or more of the following: glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl sulfate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a mixture of diacetin, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyline, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. In a particular example, the aerosol-generating agent contains glycerol.

[0080] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating agent includes one or more polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerin, esters of polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol monoacetate, diacetate, or triacetate, and / or aliphatic esters of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, or polycarboxylic acids such as dimethyl dodecanediate and dimethyl tetradecanediate.

[0081] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may contain about 0.1 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt%, 7 wt%, or 10 wt% to about 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 35 wt%, 30 wt%, or 25 wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis) of an aerosol-generating agent. The aerosol-generating agent may act as a plasticizer. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 0.5 to 40 wt%, 3 to 35 wt%, or 10 to 25 wt% of an aerosol-generating agent.

[0082] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may contain about 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, 27 wt%, or 30 wt% to about 60 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, or 35 wt% of an aerosol-generating agent (DWB). For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 10 to 60 wt%, 20 to 50 wt%, 25 to 40 wt%, or 30 to 35 wt% of an aerosol-generating agent.

[0083] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may contain up to approximately 80 wt% of an aerosol-generating agent (DWB), such as approximately 40-80 wt%, 40-75 wt%, 50-70 wt%, or 55-65 wt%.

[0084] Furthermore, the aerosol-generating material may contain a gelling agent. In some embodiments, the gelling agent includes a hydrophilic colloid. In some embodiments, the gelling agent includes one or more compounds selected from the group including alginates, pectin, starch (and derivatives), cellulose (and derivatives), gums, silica or silicone compounds, clay, polyvinyl alcohol, and combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the gelling agent includes one or more of alginates, pectin, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan, xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, acacia gum, fumed silica, PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin, and polyvinyl alcohol. Optionally, the gelling agent may include alginates and / or pectin and be combined with a curing agent (such as a calcium source) during the formation of the aerosol-generating material. Optionally, the aerosol-generating material may contain calcium-crosslinked alginates and / or calcium-crosslinked pectin.

[0085] In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more compounds selected from cellulose gelling agents, non-cellulose gelling agents, guar gum, acacia gum, and mixtures thereof.

[0086] In some embodiments, the cellulose gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), and combinations thereof.

[0087] In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises (or is one or more of) hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, or acacia gum.

[0088] In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises (or is one or more noncellulose gelling agents) one or more noncellulose gelling agents, including, but not limited to, agar, xanthan gum, gum arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, carrageenan, starch, alginate, and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, the noncellulose gelling agent is alginate or agar.

[0089] In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises an alginate, which is present in the aerosol-generating material in an amount of 10-30 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis). In some embodiments, the gelling agent present in the aerosol-generating material is alginate alone. In other embodiments, the gelling agent comprises alginate and at least one other gelling agent, such as pectin.

[0090] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material contains about 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, or 25 wt% to about 60 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, or 35 wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis) of a gelling agent. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 1 to 50 wt%, 5 to 45 wt%, 10 to 40 wt%, or 20 to 35 wt% of a gelling agent.

[0091] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material contains about 20 wt%, 22 wt%, 24 wt%, or 25 wt% to about 30 wt%, 32 wt%, or 35 wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis) of a gelling agent. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 20-35 wt% or 25-30 wt% of a gelling agent.

[0092] Depending on the circumstances, the aerosol-generating material may contain approximately 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, or 20% to approximately 60 wt%, 50 wt%, 40 wt%, 30 wt%, or 25 wt% of a gelling agent (DWB). For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 10 to 40 wt%, 15 to 30 wt%, or 20 to 25 wt% of a gelling agent (DWB).

[0093] For example, the aerosol generating material contains a gelling agent and a filler together in an amount of approximately 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, 30 wt%, or 35% to approximately 60 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt%, or 45 wt% of the aerosol generating material. For example, the aerosol generating material contains a gelling agent and a filler together in an amount of approximately 20 to 60 wt%, 25 to 55 wt%, 30 to 50 wt%, or 35 to 45 wt% of the aerosol generating material.

[0094] For example, the aerosol-generating material contains a gelling agent in an amount of approximately 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, 30 wt%, or 35% to approximately 60 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt%, or 45 wt% of the aerosol-generating material (i.e., the amount of filler is not taken into consideration). For example, the aerosol-generating material contains a gelling agent in an amount of approximately 5 to 60 wt%, 20 to 60 wt%, 25 to 55 wt%, 30 to 50 wt%, or 35 to 45 wt% of the aerosol-generating material (i.e., the amount of filler is not taken into consideration).

[0095] In some cases, alginate is included in the gelling agent in an amount of approximately 5-40 wt% or 15-40 wt% of the aerosol-generating material. That is, the aerosol-generating material contains alginate in an amount of approximately 5-40 wt% or 15-40 wt% of the aerosol-generating material by dry weight. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material contains alginate in an amount of approximately 20-40 wt% or approximately 15-35 wt% of the aerosol-generating material.

[0096] In some cases, pectin is present in the gelling agent at an amount of approximately 3–15 wt% of the aerosol-generating material. That is, the aerosol-generating material contains pectin at an amount of approximately 3–15 wt% of the dry weight of the aerosol-generating material. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material contains pectin at an amount of approximately 5–10 wt% of the aerosol-generating material.

[0097] In some examples, guar gum is included in the gelling agent in an amount of approximately 3-40 wt% of the aerosol-generating material. That is, the aerosol-generating material contains guar gum in an amount of approximately 3-40 wt% of the aerosol-generating material by dry weight. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material contains guar gum in an amount of approximately 5-10 wt% of the aerosol-generating material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material contains guar gum in an amount of approximately 15-40 wt%, or approximately 20-40 wt%, or approximately 15-35 wt% of the aerosol-generating material.

[0098] For example, alginate is present in an amount of at least about 50 wt% of the gelling agent. For example, aerosol-generating materials contain alginate and pectin, with a ratio of alginate to pectin of 1:1 to 10:1. The ratio of alginate to pectin is usually greater than 1:1; that is, there is more alginate than pectin. For example, the ratio of alginate to pectin is about 2:1 to 8:1, or about 3:1 to 6:1, or about 4:1.

[0099] The aerosol generating material may be formed by (a) forming a slurry containing components of the aerosol generating material or its precursor, (b) forming a layer of slurry, (c) curing the slurry to form a gel, and (d) drying to form the aerosol generating material.

[0100] (b) Formation of slurry layers typically involves spraying, molding, or extruding the slurry. For example, slurry layers are formed by electrospraying the slurry. For example, slurry layers are formed by molding the slurry.

[0101] In some cases, (b), and / or (c), and / or (d) occur at least partially simultaneously (for example, in electrospray). In some cases, (b), (c), and (d) occur sequentially.

[0102] In some examples, the slurry is applied to the support. A layer may be formed on the support. For example, the slurry comprises a gelling agent, an aerosol-forming material, and an active substance. The slurry may contain these components in any of the proportions described herein regarding the composition of the aerosol-forming material. For example, the slurry (on a dry weight basis) A gelling agent and an optional filler (the combined amount of the gelling agent and filler is approximately 10-60 wt% of the slurry), Approximately 40-80 wt% of the slurry contains an aerosol-forming material, As an optional choice, the slurry may contain up to approximately 20 wt% of the active substance, It may include.

[0103] Gel curing (c) may include supplying a curing agent to the slurry. For example, the slurry may contain sodium alginate, potassium, or ammonium as a gel precursor, and a calcium alginate gel may be formed by adding a curing agent containing a calcium source (such as calcium chloride) to the slurry.

[0104] For example, the curing agent may include calcium acetate, calcium formate, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate, or a combination thereof, or consist of calcium acetate, calcium formate, calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the curing agent may include calcium formate and / or calcium lactate, or consist of calcium formate and / or calcium lactate. In certain examples, the curing agent may include calcium formate, or consist of calcium formate. The inventors have confirmed that when calcium formate is used as the curing agent, the tensile strength and elongation resistance of the aerosol-generating material are usually increased.

[0105] The total amount of curing agent, such as a calcium source, may be 0.5 to 5 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis). Preferably, the total amount may be about 1 wt%, 2.5 wt%, or 4 wt% to about 4.8 wt% or 4.5 wt%. The inventors have found that if the amount of curing agent added is too small, the components of the aerosol-generating material become unstable, and these components may detach from the aerosol-generating material. The inventors have also found that if the amount of curing agent added is too large, the tackiness of the aerosol-generating material becomes very high, making it difficult to handle.

[0106] If the aerosol-generating material does not contain tobacco, it may be necessary to apply a larger amount of curing agent. Therefore, depending on the case, the total amount of curing agent may be 0.5 to 12 wt% (5 to 10 wt%, etc.) calculated on a dry weight basis. Preferably, the total amount may be about 5 wt%, 6 wt%, or 7 wt% to about 12 wt% or 10 wt%. In this case, the aerosol-generating material will generally not contain any tobacco.

[0107] For example, supplying the hardener to the slurry includes spraying the hardener onto the slurry, such as onto the top surface of the slurry.

[0108] Alginates are derivatives of alginic acid and are typically high molecular weight polymers (10-600 kDa). Alginic acid is a copolymer in which β-D-mannuronic acid (M) and α-L-glucuronic acid (G) units (blocks) are integrated by (1,4)-glycosidic bonds to form a polysaccharide. When calcium cations are added, alginates crosslink to form a gel. It has been found that alginates with a high G monomer content form a gel more easily when a calcium source is added. Therefore, in some cases, the gel precursor may contain an alginate in which at least about 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, or 70% of the monomer units in the alginic acid copolymer are α-L-glucuronic acid (G) units.

[0109] For example, drying (d) removes approximately 50 wt%, 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, or 90 wt% to approximately 80 wt%, 90 wt%, or 95 wt% (WWB) of water from the slurry. For example, drying (d) reduces the thickness of the molded material by at least 80%, preferably 85% or 87%. For instance, if the slurry is molded to a thickness of 2 mm, the resulting dried aerosol-producing material will have a thickness of 0.2 mm.

[0110] In some cases, the slurry solvent consists essentially of water or comprises water. In some cases, the slurry contains approximately 50 wt%, 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, or 90 wt% of the solvent (WWB).

[0111] In the example where the solvent consists of water, the dry weight content of the slurry may correspond to the dry weight content of the aerosol-generating material. Thus, the discussion herein regarding solid components is clearly disclosed in combination with embodiments of the slurry of the present invention.

[0112] The aerosol-generating material may contain a fragrance. The aerosol-generating material may contain up to approximately 80 wt%, 70 wt%, 60 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt%, or 45 wt% of the fragrance. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may contain at least approximately 0.1 wt%, 1 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 35 wt%, or 40 wt% of the fragrance (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 1-80 wt%, 10-80 wt%, 20-70 wt%, 30-60 wt%, 35-55 wt%, or 30-45 wt% of the fragrance. In some cases, the fragrance may contain menthol, consist essentially of menthol, or consist of menthol.

[0113] The aerosol-generating material may contain fillers.

[0114] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material includes less than 60 wt% of filler, such as 1 wt% to 60 wt%, 5 wt% to 50 wt%, 5 wt% to 30 wt%, or 10 wt% to 20 wt%.

[0115] In other embodiments, the aerosol-generating material contains less than 20 wt%, preferably less than 10 wt%, or less than 5 wt% of filler. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material contains less than 1 wt% of filler, and in some cases, contains no filler at all.

[0116] In some cases, the aerosol-generating material contains at least 1 wt% of filler (e.g., at least 5 wt%, at least 10 wt%, at least 20 wt%, at least 30 wt%, at least 40 wt%, or at least 50 wt% of filler). In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material contains 5 to 25 wt% of filler.

[0117] The filler, if present, may include one or more inorganic fillers such as calcium carbonate, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic adsorbents such as molecular sieves. The filler may also include one or more organic fillers such as wood pulp, cellulose, and cellulose derivatives (e.g., methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)). In certain cases, the aerosol-generating material does not contain calcium carbonate such as chalk.

[0118] In certain embodiments including a filler, the filler is fibrous. For example, the filler may be a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, hemp fiber, cellulose, or cellulose derivatives (e.g., methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)).

[0119] Without being bound by theory, it is thought that including fibrous fillers in aerosol-generating materials can increase the tensile strength of the material. This can be particularly advantageous in cases where the aerosol-generating material is provided as a sheet, such as when the aerosol-generating material sheet defines the boundary of a rod of aerosolizable material.

[0120] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material does not contain tobacco fibers. In certain embodiments, the aerosol-generating material does not contain fibrous material.

[0121] The aerosol-generating material may include one or more active substances and / or fragrances, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0122] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material further comprises an active substance. For example, the aerosol-generating material may further comprise tobacco material and / or nicotine. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises powdered tobacco and / or nicotine and / or tobacco extract.

[0123] In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may contain 5-60 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of tobacco material and / or nicotine. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may contain approximately 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, or 25 wt% to approximately 70 wt%, 60 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 35 wt%, or 30 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of active substance. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may contain approximately 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, or 25 wt% to approximately 70 wt%, 60 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 35 wt%, or 30 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of tobacco material. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 10-50 wt%, 15-40 wt%, or 20-35 wt% of tobacco material. Depending on the case, the aerosol-generating material may contain approximately 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, or 4 wt% to approximately 20 wt%, 18 wt%, 15 wt%, or 12 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 1-20 wt%, 2-18 wt%, or 3-12 wt% of nicotine.

[0124] In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may contain an active substance such as tobacco extract. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may contain 5 to 60 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of tobacco extract. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may contain approximately 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, or 25 wt% to approximately 60 wt%, 50 wt%, 45 wt%, 40 wt%, 35 wt%, or 30 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of tobacco extract. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 10 to 50 wt%, 15 to 40 wt%, or 20 to 35 wt% of tobacco extract. The tobacco extract may contain nicotine at a concentration such that the aerosol-generating material contains 1 wt%, 1.5 wt%, 2 wt%, or 2.5 wt% to approximately 6 wt%, 5 wt%, 4.5 wt%, or 4 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. In some cases, nicotine other than that from the tobacco extract may not be present in the aerosol-generating material.

[0125] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material does not contain tobacco material but contains nicotine. Depending on the case, the aerosol-generating material may contain about 1 wt%, 2 wt%, 3 wt%, or 4 wt% to about 20 wt%, 18 wt%, 15 wt%, or 12 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain 1 to 20 wt%, 2 to 18 wt%, or 3 to 12 wt% of nicotine.

[0126] Depending on the circumstances, the total content of the active substance and / or flavoring may be at least about 0.1 wt%, 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, or 30 wt%. Depending on the circumstances, the total content of the active substance and / or flavoring may be less than about 90 wt%, 80 wt%, 70 wt%, 60 wt%, 50 wt%, or 40 wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis). Depending on the circumstances, the total content of the tobacco material, nicotine, and flavoring may be at least about 0.1 wt%, 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, or 30 wt%. Depending on the circumstances, the total content of the active ingredients and / or fragrances may be less than approximately 90 wt%, 80 wt%, 70 wt%, 60 wt%, 50 wt%, or 40 wt% (all calculated on a dry weight basis).

[0127] The aerosol-generating composition may contain one or more active substances. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material contains one or more active substances (e.g., up to about 20 wt% of the aerosol-generating material). For example, the aerosol-generating material contains active substances in amounts of about 1 wt%, 5 wt%, 10 wt%, or 15% to about 20 wt%, 15 wt%, 15 wt%, or 5 wt% of the aerosol-generating material.

[0128] The active substance may include physiological and / or olfactory active substances contained in the aerosol-generating composition in order to achieve physiological and / or olfactory responses.

[0129] Tobacco material may be present in the aerosol-generating composition in an amount of approximately 50-95 wt%, or approximately 60-90 wt%, or approximately 70-90 wt%, or approximately 75-85 wt%.

[0130] The tobacco material may exist in any form, but is usually in the form of shredded pieces (e.g., finely chopped pieces). Shredded tobacco material is convenient because, when mixed with the aerosol-generating material, it can provide an aerosol-generating composition in which the tobacco material and the aerosol-generating material are uniformly dispersed throughout.

[0131] For example, the tobacco material comprises one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fibers, shredded tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stems, reprocessed tobacco, and / or tobacco extracts. Surprisingly, the inventors have confirmed that relatively large amounts of laminated tobacco can be used in aerosol-generating compositions and can still provide an acceptable range of aerosol even when heated by a non-flammable aerosol supply system. Laminated tobacco typically provides excellent sensory properties. For example, the tobacco material comprises laminated tobacco in an amount of at least about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt%, 90 wt%, or 95 wt% of the tobacco material. In specific examples, the tobacco material comprises shredded tobacco in an amount of at least about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt%, 90 wt%, or 95 wt% of the tobacco material.

[0132] The tobacco used in the production of the tobacco material may be any suitable tobacco, such as a single grade or blend, cut rag or whole leaf, and may include Virginia and / or Burley and / or Oriental.

[0133] In some embodiments, one or more other functional materials may include one or more of the following: pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0134] Depending on the circumstances, the aerosol-generating material may additionally contain an emulsifier to emulsify the molten flavoring during manufacturing. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain about 5 wt% to about 15 wt%, preferably about 10 wt% (calculated on a dry weight basis) of emulsifier. The emulsifier may contain acacia gum.

[0135] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is a hydrogel containing less than about 20 wt% water on a wet weight basis. In some cases, the hydrogel may contain less than about 15 wt%, 12 wt%, or 10 wt% water on a wet weight basis. In some cases, the hydrogel may contain at least about 1 wt%, 2 wt%, or at least about 5 wt% water (WWB).

[0136] The aerosol-generating material may have any suitable water content, such as 1 wt% to 15 wt%. Preferably, the water content of the aerosol-generating material is about 5 wt%, 7 wt%, or 9 wt% to about 15 wt%, 13 wt%, or 11 wt% (WWB), most preferably about 10 wt%. The water content of the aerosol-generating material can be determined, for example, by Karl-Fischer titration or Gas Chromatography with Thermal Conductivity Detector (GC-TCD).

[0137] Depending on the circumstances, the aerosol-generating material may essentially consist of a gelling agent, water, an aerosol-generating agent, a fragrance, and an optional active substance, or may consist of these materials.

[0138] Depending on the circumstances, the aerosol-generating material may essentially consist of a gelling agent, water, an aerosol-generating agent, a flavoring, and optionally tobacco material and / or a nicotine source, or may consist of these materials.

[0139] For example, an aerosol-generating material may essentially consist of a gelling agent, an aerosol-generating agent, an active substance, and water, or may consist of these materials.

[0140] For example, the aerosol-generating material does not contain flavorings, and in certain cases, the aerosol-generating material does not contain active substances. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is 1-60 wt% gelling agent, 0.1-50 wt% aerosol generating agent, 0.1-80 wt% fragrance, Includes, These weights are calculated on a dry weight basis.

[0141] In some embodiments, the amorphous solid contains 1 to 80 wt% (on a dry weight basis) of fragrance. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is 1-50 wt% gelling agent, 0.1-50 wt% aerosol generating agent, 30-60 wt% fragrance, Includes, These weights are calculated on a dry weight basis. In an alternative embodiment, the aerosol-generating material is 1-60 wt% gelling agent, 5-60 wt% aerosol-generating agent, 10-60 wt% gelling agent, Includes, These weights are calculated on a dry weight basis. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is 1-60 wt% gelling agent, 20-60 wt% aerosol-generating agent, 10-60 wt% tobacco extract, Includes, These weights are calculated on a dry weight basis.

[0142] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises 20-35 wt% of a gelling agent, 10-25 wt% of an aerosol-forming material, 5-25 wt% of a fiber-containing filler, and 35-50 wt% of a flavoring agent and / or an active substance.

[0143] In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may essentially consist of a gelling agent, an aerosol-generating agent, tobacco extract, water, and a flavoring as an option, or may consist of these materials. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may essentially consist of glycerol, alginate and / or pectin, tobacco extract, and water, or may consist of these materials.

[0144] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may have the following composition (DWB): namely, a gelling agent (preferably containing alginate) in an amount of about 5 wt% to about 40 wt%, or about 10 wt% to 30 wt%, or about 15 wt% to about 25 wt%, a tobacco extract in an amount of about 30 wt% to about 60 wt%, or about 40 wt% to 55 wt%, or about 45 wt% to about 50 wt%, and an aerosol-generating agent (preferably containing glycerol) in an amount of about 10 wt% to about 50 wt%, or about 20 wt% to about 40 wt%, or about 25 wt% to about 35 wt% (DWB).

[0145] In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating material comprises about 20 wt% alginate gelling agent, about 48 wt% Virginia tobacco extract, and about 32 wt% glycerol (DWB).

[0146] The "thickness" of the aerosol-generating material represents the shortest distance between a first surface and a second surface. In embodiments where the aerosol-generating material is in the form of a sheet, the thickness of the aerosol-generating material is the shortest distance between a first plane of the sheet and a second surface of the sheet opposite to the first plane.

[0147] Depending on the circumstances, the thickness of the aerosol-generating material layer for aerosol formation is approximately 0.015 mm to approximately 1.5 mm, preferably approximately 0.05 mm to approximately 1.5 mm or 0.05 mm to approximately 1.0 mm. Preferably, the thickness may be in the range of approximately 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to approximately 1.0 mm, 0.5 mm, or 0.3 mm.

[0148] Depending on the circumstances, the aerosol-generating material may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1.0 mm. Preferably, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.

[0149] A material with a thickness of 0.2 mm is particularly preferred. The aerosol-generating material may comprise two or more layers, and the thickness described herein represents the total thickness of these layers.

[0150] It is known that if the aerosol-generating material is too thick, the heating efficiency decreases. This negatively impacts power consumption during use. Conversely, if the aerosol-generating material is too thin, it becomes difficult to manufacture and handle. If the material is extremely thin, it may become more difficult to mold and more brittle, impairing aerosol formation during use.

[0151] The thicknesses specified herein are the average thickness of the material. Depending on the circumstances, the thickness of the aerosol-generating material may vary by 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, or less than 1%.

[0152] In some cases, the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of approximately 200 N / m to 900 N / m. In some cases where the aerosol-generating material does not contain fillers, the aerosol-generating material may have a tensile strength of 200 N / m to 400 N / m, or 200 N / m to 300 N / m, or approximately 250 N / m.

[0153] Such tensile strengths are considered particularly suitable for embodiments in which the aerosol-generating material is formed as a sheet, then shredded and incorporated into an aerosol product. In some examples in which the aerosol-generating material contains a filler, the aerosol-generating material may have a tensile strength of 600 N / m to 900 N / m, or 700 N / m to 900 N / m, or around 800 N / m. Such tensile strengths are considered particularly suitable for embodiments in which the aerosol-generating material is included in an aerosol product / assembly, preferably as a roll sheet in the form of a tube.

[0154] In some examples, the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N / m to around 2600 N / m. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material may have a tensile strength of from around 600 N / m to 2000 N / m, or from 700 N / m to 1500 N / m, or around 1000 N / m. Such a tensile strength is considered to be particularly suitable for embodiments in which the aerosol-generating material is formed and incorporated as a sheet into an aerosol-generating consumable.

[0155] The aerosol-generating material may have any suitable areal density, such as 30 g / m 2 to 120 g / m 2 . In some cases, the mass per unit area of the sheet may be 80 to 120 g / m 2 , or about 70 to 110 g / m 2 , or in particular about 90 to 110 g / m 2 , or preferably about 100 g / m 2 (which provides a density similar to that of cut rag tobacco, such that a mixture of these substances will not readily separate). In some cases, the mass per unit area of the sheet may be about 30 to 70 g / m 2 , 40 to 60 g / m 2 , or 25 to 60 g / m 2 , and may be adapted to be used to wrap an aerosolizable material such as tobacco.

[0156] All weight percentages (expressed as wt%) described herein are calculated on a dry weight basis, unless explicitly stated otherwise. All weight ratios are also calculated on a dry weight basis. A weight cited on a dry weight basis refers to the whole of the extract or slurry or material, other than water, and may include components which by themselves are liquid at room temperature and pressure, such as glycerol. In contrast, a weight percentage cited on a wet weight basis refers to all components including water.

[0157] Aerosol-generating materials may contain colorants. The addition of colorants can alter the visual appearance of the aerosol-generating material. The presence of colorants in an aerosol-generating material can improve its visual appearance. By adding colorants to an aerosol-generating material, the material can be color-matched to other components of the aerosol-generating material or other components of an article containing the aerosol-generating material.

[0158] A variety of colorants may be used depending on the desired color of the aerosol-generating material. The color of the aerosol-generating material may be, for example, white, green, red, purple, blue, brown, or black. Other colors are also possible. Natural or synthetic colorants may be used, such as natural or synthetic dyes, food-grade colorants, and pharmaceutical-grade colorants. In certain embodiments, the colorant is caramel, which can give the aerosol-generating material a brown appearance. In such embodiments, the color of the aerosol-generating material may be similar to the color of other components of the aerosol-generating material (such as tobacco material). In some embodiments, when a colorant is added to the aerosol-generating material, it becomes indistinguishable from other components in the aerosol-generating material.

[0159] The colorant may be incorporated during the formation of the aerosol-generating material (for example, during the formation of a slurry containing the materials constituting the aerosol-generating material), or it may be applied after the formation of the aerosol-generating material (for example, by spraying it onto the aerosol-generating material).

[0160] In some embodiments of any of the above embodiments, talc powder, calcium carbonate powder, or other powder is applied to the exposed surface of at least one discrete portion of the aerosol-generating material. This can reduce the level of tackiness or adhesion of the aerosol-generating material.

[0161] Referring to Figure 1, the aerosol supply device 2 comprises a casing 4 in which a heating assembly 6 is housed. The heating assembly 6 consists of a heating chamber 8 and a heater 10. The heater 10 can be an electric resistance heater or a magnetic field generator used with a susceptor.

[0162] The heating chamber 8 has a mouth 12 at its first end. The opposite end of the heating chamber 8 has an opening 14. The opening 14 is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece 16 via a conduit 18.

[0163] Of the multiple walls, the wall that defines the heating chamber 8 and is adjacent to the opening 12 of the heating chamber 8 has a detector 20 mounted on it. The detector 20 communicates with the controller 22 via a suitable data transmission means. The suitable data transmission means is represented by a wire 26 in Figure 1, but may take an alternative form, such as a known data interface, but is not limited thereto.

[0164] The controller 22 communicates with the memory 24. The memory 24 includes a table that associates the detectable characteristics of the aerosol-generating material discrete part 42 supported by the consumable 40 with one or more physical properties of the discrete part indicated by the detectable characteristics of the aerosol-generating material discrete part.

[0165] The controller 22 is powered by a power supply 28 via wire 32. The power supply 28 may be a battery. The power supply 28 may also be rechargeable.

[0166] Furthermore, the controller 22 is electronically in communication with the heater 10 via a communication line 30. The communication line 30 may be a wire for transmitting electricity and transmits and receives data and / or command signals to and from the heater 10.

[0167] In other examples not shown, the heating assembly is configured to heat two or more aerosol-generating material discretes supported at different locations on a consumable, and the detector is configured to detect detectable characteristics of the aerosol-generating material discretes on the consumable.

[0168] Referring to Figure 2, the consumable 40 supports many discrete parts 44, 46 of the aerosol generating material 42. The discrete parts 44, 46 are supported by a support 48. The support 48 is a laminate material composed of a support layer 50 and a susceptor 52.

[0169] The support layer 50 is a cardboard sheet having a first surface (invisible) and a second surface 60. An edge 58 extends between the first surface and the second surface 60 of the support layer 50.

[0170] In other examples not shown, the support layer 50 comprises one or more sheets or substrates of paper, cardboard, thick paper, recycled material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or alloy.

[0171] In other examples not shown, the consumables may be circular in shape, or any other shape other than rectangular as shown in Figure 2.

[0172] The susceptor 52 is an aluminum foil sheet having a first surface 54 and a second surface (invisible). An edge 56 extends between the first surface 54 and the second surface.

[0173] The second surface of the susceptor is attached to the first surface of the support layer 50. The first surface 54 of the susceptor 52 and the second surface 60 of the support layer 50 are the first and second surfaces of the support portion 48, respectively. In this specification, the first surface 54 refers to the first surface 54 of the susceptor 52, the first surface of the support portion 48, or both, as required by the context of the reference. In this specification, the second surface 60 refers to the second surface 60 of the support layer 50, the second surface of the support portion 48, or both, as required by the context of the reference.

[0174] The discrete parts 44 and 46 are supported on the first surface 54 and arranged on the surface in a square grid pattern. The discrete part 44 is square in shape in the plane of the first surface 54, is formed of an aerosol-generating material of a first composition, and contains a first volume of the aerosol-generating material. The discrete part 46 is circular in shape in the plane of the first surface 54, is formed of an aerosol-generating material of a second composition, and contains a second volume of the aerosol-generating material. The first and second compositions differ as well as the first and second volumes. In the exemplary consumable shown in Figure 2, the discrete parts 44 are each blue and the discrete parts 46 are each yellow. As a result, the colors of the discrete parts 44 and 46 are very contrasting. They are easily distinguishable by a human or a machine viewer of the consumable 40.

[0175] Similarly, the discrete units 44 and 46 are square and circular, respectively, and these can also be easily identified by a human or a machine viewer of the consumable 40.

[0176] In other examples not shown, each or many of the aerosol-generating material discretes may have alternative shapes in the plane of the supported surface, including, but not limited to, polygons, star shapes, longitudinally extending stripes, stripes containing at least one curve or angle, or mosaic shapes.

[0177] In the illustrated example, the aerosol-generating material discrete parts 44 and 46 are in the form of an aerosol-generating film, respectively. In other examples not shown, the aerosol-generating material discrete parts are in the form of an aerosol-generating gel, respectively.

[0178] When using the aerosol supply device 2, the user inserts the consumable 40 into the heating chamber 8 through the opening 12 of the heating chamber 8. The consumable 40 is inserted such that when it passes through the opening 12, the discrete parts 44 and 46 are between the detector 20 and the support part 48. The detector 20 uses known techniques to detect the shape and color of the discrete parts 44 and 46 as they pass through the detector 20, as well as their position relative to the edge of the consumable initially inserted into the opening 12.

[0179] The detector transmits data regarding the detected shape, color, and relative position of the discrete parts to the controller 22 via wire 26. The controller 22 then searches a table stored in memory 24 and compares the shape and color with the entries in the table. This comparison determines how the controller 22 will function or operate the heater 10 for each discrete part 44, 46 when a user smokes with the aerosol supply device 2 and a specific discrete part is heated.

[0180] In the example of the aerosol supply device 2 shown in Figure 1, the device 2 is configured such that the discrete sections 44, 46 to be heated during the next one or more puffs can be determined by the user's interaction with the device 2 (by using components not shown).

[0181] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the features of the claims. These embodiments are provided as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, nor to equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments can be used and improved upon without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably include, consist of, or essentially consist of suitable combinations of elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. of the disclosure other than those specifically described herein. Furthermore, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not claimed at present but may be claimed in the future. [Explanation of symbols]

[0182] 2...Aerosol supply device, 40...Consumables, 42...Aerosol generating material, 44, 46...Dispersion part, 48...Support part.

Claims

1. A consumable item used with an aerosol supply device, comprising a support part and an aerosol generating material having one or more aerosol generating material discrete parts, The discrete part is supported by the support part, At least one discrete part has detectable characteristics, A consumable product in which the detectable characteristic represents at least one product characteristic of the discrete part.

2. There are two or more discrete parts, and at least two of the discrete parts each have detectable characteristics. The consumable product according to claim 1, wherein the detectable characteristics of each discrete part represent at least one product characteristic of the discrete part.

3. The consumable according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the discrete parts has detectable characteristics different from the detectable characteristics of at least one other discrete part.

4. The consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the detectable characteristics of the discrete portion represent the product characteristics of at least one of two or more discrete portions.

5. A consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one discrete part has at least two detectable characteristics, and each detectable characteristic represents at least one product characteristic of the discrete part.

6. A consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the product characteristics include one or both of the composition of the aerosol-generating material in the discrete portion and the volume of the aerosol-generating material in the discrete portion.

7. The consumable product according to claim 6, wherein the composition of the aerosol-generating material in the discrete portion includes one or more of an active substance, a fragrance or flavoring agent, and a sensory substance.

8. A consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the detectable characteristics include one of shape, dimensions, position relative to a reference, position relative to at least one other discrete part, color in the 390 to 700 nm wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum, absorption spectrum, optical density, transmittance, presence of one or more biomarkers, presence of one or more chemical markers, magnetic properties, pH, or mass.

9. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least one discrete portion has a detectable characteristic that includes a shape which, when viewed from a position perpendicular to the surface on which the discrete portion is supported, is substantially circular, polygonal, star-shaped, a longitudinally extending stripe, a stripe including at least one curve or angle, or a mosaic-like shape.

10. A consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one discrete portion has detectable characteristics including a first shape which, when viewed from a position perpendicular to the surface on which the discrete portion is supported, is substantially circular, polygonal, star-shaped, a longitudinally extending stripe, a stripe including at least one curve or angle, or a mosaic-like shape, and at least one other discrete portion has detectable characteristics including a second shape which, when viewed from a position perpendicular to the surface on which the discrete portion is supported, is substantially circular, polygonal, star-shaped, a longitudinally extending stripe, a stripe including at least one curve or angle, or a mosaic-like shape.

11. A consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the detectable characteristics are selected so as to be visually identifiable by the user.

12. The consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the detectable characteristics are optionally selected so that they can be identified by an automatic detector without physical contact between the detector and the discrete part.

13. The consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the aerosol generating material has the form of an aerosol generating film or an aerosol generating gel.

14. The consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the support portion has at least two surfaces, and all of the discrete portions of the aerosol generating material are supported on one of the surfaces of the support portion.

15. The consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein at least three of the discrete parts are supported on the surface of the support part in a grid pattern.

16. The consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the support portion comprises a susceptor.

17. The consumable product according to claim 16, wherein the susceptor is a sheet material.

18. The consumable product according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the support portion is a laminate and the susceptor is a layer of the laminate.

19. The consumable product according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the susceptor is a metal foil or a metal film.

20. The consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the support portion comprises a support material, and the support material includes one or more of the following: paper, cardboard, paperboard, thick paper, recycled material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or alloy.

21. The consumable product according to claim 20, wherein the support portion is made of laminate.

22. An aerosol supply device for use with a consumable product according to any one of claims 1 to 21, an aerosol generator configured to heat at least one discrete part of the aerosol generating material supported by the aforementioned consumables, A detector configured to detect the detectable characteristics of at least one discrete portion on the consumable, A memory containing a table that associates the detectable characteristics of a discrete part with the product characteristics of a discrete part, A controller configured to receive the detected detectable characteristics of the discrete unit, search the table in the memory, and control the operation of the aerosol supply device based on at least one product characteristic of the discrete unit, An aerosol supply device comprising the above features.

23. The aerosol supply device according to claim 22, wherein the aerosol generator is configured to independently heat at least two discrete parts supported at different positions on the consumable, and the detector is configured to detect the detectable characteristics of two or more discrete parts of the aerosol generating material to be heated.

24. The aerosol supply device according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the heating assembly is configured to releasably hold a consumable in a heated position, and the detector detects the detectable characteristics of at least one discrete part supported by the consumable when the consumable moves to the heated position.

25. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to operate or function differently in relation to aerosol generating material discrete sections having different product characteristics.

26. The aerosol supply device according to claim 25, wherein the different functions of the operation of the aerosol supply device are one or more of the following: operating at one or more different heating temperatures; heating different discrete parts over different heating cycles; operating with different temperature profiles of the heating assembly for different discrete parts; and enabling different numbers of puffs from different discrete parts before the aerosol supply device determines that the aerosol generating material has been used up or depleted.

27. An aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 22 to 26 and a consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

28. A method for generating an aerosol from a consumable, using an aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 22 to 26, which comprises at least one aerosol generator arranged to heat the consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 21 without burning it during use, wherein the at least one aerosol generator is a resistance heater element or a magnetic field generator and a susceptor.

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