Smoking cartridges
The cartridge design addresses the challenge of enhancing aroma and flavor by using a combination of strip-shaped and rod-shaped materials with powder or granular fillers, achieving improved density and preventing filling loss for enhanced user experience.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2020143633
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2020-08-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-08-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing electronic cigarette cartridges struggle to enhance aroma and flavor while preventing the filling from falling off, which limits user experience.
A cartridge design featuring a heated object filled with a mixture of strip-shaped and rod-shaped first smoking materials, along with powder or granular second smoking materials, arranged in specific gaps to optimize density and prevent filling loss.
The solution effectively enhances aroma and flavor by increasing the content and density of smoking materials, while preventing the filling from falling off, thus improving user experience.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge for a smoking article. [Background technology]
[0002] In recent years, tobacco products that use a method of heating a tobacco cartridge containing tobacco ingredients and inhaling the vaporized tobacco ingredients without using a flame have become widely known. In addition, due to the diversification of tastes, cartridge products that allow users to enjoy the aroma and flavor of plants that do not contain tobacco ingredients without using a flame, just like tobacco, are becoming known.
[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes an electronic cigarette cartridge configured as follows (see abstract): "Long strips of tobacco filler are accumulated in a bundle and the outer periphery is wrapped in a sheet-like wrapping material, the tobacco filler is formed so that in a cross section perpendicular to the length, the long side dimension is longer than the short side dimension, the tobacco filler at the outermost periphery in contact with the wrapping material has its long side oriented approximately along the circumferential direction or its long side oriented in a direction other than approximately along the circumferential direction, and the number of tobacco fillers whose long sides oriented approximately along the circumferential direction is greater than the number of tobacco fillers whose long sides oriented in a direction other than approximately along the circumferential direction" (see abstract). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6516907 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0005] Smokers' tastes are becoming more diverse, and the pursuit of new aromas and flavors is a permanent challenge in this technical field. The electronic cigarette cartridge described in Patent Document 1 is also said to be able to improve the fluidity of the airflow inside the tobacco filler accumulation while ensuring the amount of tobacco filler, and also to prevent the tobacco filler from falling out, but there is room for improvement in terms of aroma and flavor.
[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a cartridge for a smoking article that can enhance the aroma and taste while preventing the filler from falling out. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention is a cartridge for a smoking device comprising a heated body filled with a filler made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, and a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the heated body, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of first smoking materials formed in strips or rods, and at least one second smoking material formed in a powder or granule form and arranged in a first gap formed between the plurality of first smoking materials, and the content of the first smoking material in the filler is 50 to 95% by mass.
[0008] In addition, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, another aspect of the present invention is a cartridge for a smoking device comprising a heated body filled with a filler made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, and a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the heated body, wherein the filler includes a plurality of strip-shaped smoking material and at least one rod-shaped smoking material arranged in a third gap formed between the plurality of strip-shaped smoking material, and the content of the strip-shaped smoking material in the filler is 50 to 95 mass%. Effect of the Invention
[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cartridge for a smoking article that can enhance the aroma and taste while preventing the filler from falling out. Note that problems, configurations and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the description of the following embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the outline of a first smoking material. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows the external shape of a second smoking material. [Figure 4] IV-IV cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. [Figure 5A] 5A to 5C are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of a heated body. [Figure 5B] 5A to 5C are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of a heated body. [Figure 5C] 5A to 5C are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of a heated body. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the smoking article cartridge shown in FIG. 1 inserted into the smoking article. [Figure 7] A diagram showing the external shape of a strip of smoking material. [Figure 8] A diagram showing the external shape of a rod-shaped smoking material. [Figure 9] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment includes a heated object 20, a support member 30, a transfer member 39, and a mouthpiece 40. The heated object 20, the support member 30, the transfer member 39, and the mouthpiece 40 are arranged side by side on a central axis C1. The heated object 20, the support member 30, the transfer member 39, and the mouthpiece 40 are wrapped and integrated by a sheet-like exterior member 10. The exterior member 10 is made of, for example, paper.
[0013] Here, the cartridge 1 for a smoking article shown in Fig. 1 is formed to have, for example, a diameter of 6.5 to 7.5 mm and a length of 40 to 60 mm. The heated body 20 has a length of 10 to 25 mm. Of course, the cartridge 1 for a smoking article may be formed to have other dimensions.
[0014] The heated object 20 is formed into a cylindrical shape by wrapping the filler 23 in a sheet-like packaging material 25, and the filler 23 is exposed at both ends. That is, both ends of the heated object 20 are not covered with a lid member (e.g., paper). The packaging material 25 is made of, for example, paper, but any material can be used as long as it is a sheet-like member.
[0015] The filler 23 is configured by being filled with a number of components made from tobacco plants or non-tobacco plants, which will be described in detail later, and includes a plurality of first smoking materials 21 and a plurality of second smoking materials 22. It is sufficient that the filler 23 includes at least one second smoking material 22.
[0016] As will be described in detail later, the first smoking material 21 is composed of a strip-like or rod-like member, and the second smoking material 22 is composed of a powdered or granular member (see Figs. 2 and 3). The multiple first smoking materials 21 are arranged in a bundle with their respective longitudinal directions aligned with the central axis C1, and the multiple second smoking materials 22 are disposed in first gaps 51 formed between the multiple first smoking materials 21 and / or second gaps 52 formed between the first smoking materials 21 and the packaging material 25 (see Fig. 4).
[0017] The mouthpiece 40 is a part that constitutes the mouthpiece of the cartridge 1 for a smoking device, and is made of, for example, paper. The mouthpiece 40 may also include a cellulose acetate filter that removes fine particles. Some of the fine particles in the water vapor and aerosol generated by the heated body 20 are filtered by the filter of the mouthpiece 40.
[0018] The support member 30 is a cylindrical member formed using, for example, silicone, and a flow path 35 is formed inside the support member 30, penetrating the support member 30 along the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, one flow path 35 is provided in the center, but the number of flow paths 35 and the location where the flow paths 35 are formed are not important, and the flow path 35 can be formed between the outer periphery of the support member 30 and the packaging member 25. The support member 30 is disposed between the heated body 20 and the mouthpiece 40, and regulates the axial movement of the heated body 20. The support member 30 also guides the aerosol generated in the heated body 20 to the mouthpiece 40 through the flow path 35. The aerosol is cooled in the process of flowing through the flow path 35, and is inhaled into the mouth of the smoker through the mouthpiece 40. The support member 30 is not limited to a cylindrical member, and can be in various forms. For example, a sheet of paper or a polymer or the like rolled up, or a material made of a sponge-like porous body can be used instead.
[0019] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a partition member 50 is provided between the object to be heated 20 and the support member 30, and the object to be heated 20 and the support member 30 are in contact with each other via the partition member 50. Examples of the partition member 50 include a filter or paper that has good breathability. By providing such a partition member 50, it is possible to prevent the object to be heated 20 from moving inside the cartridge 1 for a smoking article due to the influence of logistics such as during transportation. Of course, a configuration without providing the partition member 50 is also possible.
[0020] The transfer member 39 cools the aerosol flowing toward the mouthpiece 40. The transfer member 39 may be a rolled up paper or a crimped polymer sheet. The transfer member 39 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 1 for a smoking article. The transfer member 39 may be omitted to reduce the number of components. When the transfer member 39 is omitted, the air permeability is improved and the generated aerosol is more likely to flow downstream, making it easier for the smoker to inhale the aromatic components.
[0021] In a configuration in which the transport member 39 is omitted, the mouthpiece 40, which is longer in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge 1 for a smoking article, may be arranged adjacent to the support member 30. In that case, for example, the cellulose acetate filter of the mouthpiece 40 may also serve as a cooling function.
[0022] As another example, the transport member 39 may be omitted, and a gap may be provided between the support member 30 and the mouthpiece 40. In this case, the aerosol passing flow can be exchanged in the gap, and the aerosol can be convected temporally and spatially in the gap, and then the homogenized aerosol can be passed to the mouthpiece 40.
[0023] Furthermore, since the exterior member 10 is configured to cover the heated body 20, the partition member 50, the support member 30, the transfer member 39, and the mouthpiece 40 from the outside, the airflow of the aerosol is stabilized, making it easier for the smoker to inhale the aromatic components.
[0024] Next, the shapes of the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 constituting the filler 23 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the outer shape of the first smoking material 21, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the outer shape of the second smoking material 22.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2, the first smoking material 21 is made of a strip-like member having a cross section perpendicular to the central axis C2 formed into a substantially rectangular shape (rectangular shape). The ratio of the long side a to the short side b is preferably in the range of, for example, 1.5:1 to 30:1. The length c is preferably substantially the same as the length of the heated object 20. An example of the dimensions of the first smoking material 21 is a long side a of 1.5 mm, a short side b of 0.3 mm, and a length c of 12 mm. When the first smoking material 21 is formed of a rod-shaped member, the ratio of the long side a to the short side b of the cross section is preferably in the range of 1:1 to 1.5:1, for example, the long side a is 0.6 mm, the short side b is 0.4 mm, and the length c is 12 mm. The first smoking material 21 has a binder or the like attached thereto as described below, and the surface thereof is adhesive.
[0026] On the other hand, the second smoking material 22 is formed in a powder or granular form. The average particle diameter d of the plurality of second smoking materials 22 is equal to or less than the long side a of the first smoking material 21, and in this embodiment, is, for example, 0.5 mm.
[0027] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along line IV-IV, i.e., a cross-sectional view of the filler 23 cut at a plane perpendicular to the central axis C1. As shown in Fig. 4, the second smoking material 22 is disposed in a first gap 51 formed between the first smoking material 21 and the first smoking material 21. The second smoking material 22 is also disposed in a second gap 52 formed between the packaging member 25 and the first smoking material 21. That is, in this embodiment, a large number of first smoking materials 21 are filled inside the packaging member 25, and a large number of second smoking materials 22 are filled in the first gap 51 and the second gap 52.
[0028] In this embodiment, the content of the first smoking material 21 in the filler 23 is 50 to 95% by mass, and preferably 65 to 75% by mass. The density of the filler 23 is 295 to 675 mg / cm 3 and preferably 500 to 675 mg / cm 3 The reasons why the content of the first smoking material 21 and the density of the filler 23 are set within the above numerical ranges will be explained below.
[0029] For example, if the content of the first smoking material 21 is 100 mass % and the density of the filler 23 is 295 mg / cm 3 If it is less than this (in this case, the content of the first smoking material 21 is 100% by mass, so the density of the filler 23 is equal to the density of the first smoking material 21), the density of the first smoking material 21 is low, so the first gaps 51 and second gaps 52 are large, and the first smoking material 21 is likely to fall out of the filler 23, and when the cartridge 1 for a smoking device is held with the heated body 20 facing downward, the first smoking material 21 may fall out. Furthermore, the amount of filling of the first smoking material 21 is significantly reduced, resulting in inferior aroma and taste.
[0030] On the other hand, when the content of the first smoking material 21 is 100 mass % and the density of the filler 23 is 675 mg / cm 3 If it exceeds this value, the first gap 51 and the second gap 52 will be small due to the high density of the first smoking material 21, and the air flow in the heated object 20 may not be good. In addition, it may become difficult to insert the heating part 75 (see FIG. 6) into the heated object 20.
[0031] If the filler 23 contains only the first smoking material 21, the density of the filler 23 is 295 mg / cm 3 The reason why the density is less than 295 mg / cm3 is that the first smoking material 21 is thick or wide. When a thick and wide first smoking material 21 is filled into the heated object 20, if the long sides are in contact with each other, the gaps will not be large, but if there are many pieces whose long sides and short sides are in contact with each other, large gaps will be created and the density cannot be increased. Therefore, in order to increase the density of the filling 23 to more than 295 mg / cm3, this can be solved by reducing the thickness or narrowing the width of the first smoking material 21, but reducing the thickness or narrowing the width has a problem in that it is not easy to process in manufacturing.
[0032] Furthermore, even if it were possible to process the first smoking material 21 to be thinner and narrower in width, when the first smoking material 21 is filled, there is a possibility that the first smoking material 21 will be in close contact with each other with almost no gaps, in which case a problem will arise in which the density of the filling 23 will become too high.
[0033] Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to set the filling density to an appropriate value without changing the shape of the first smoking material 21 from the conventional one, a means is adopted for allowing a second smoking material 22 different from the first smoking material 21 to enter the first gap 51 or the second gap 52.
[0034] When the content of the first smoking material 21 is small and the content of the second smoking material 22 is large, there is a possibility that the first smoking material 21 will fall off from the filler 23. In particular, this possibility tends to increase when the content of the first smoking material 21 is less than 50 mass %.
[0035] On the other hand, when the content of the first smoking material 21 is high and the content of the second smoking material 22 is low, the second smoking material 22 cannot sufficiently fill the first gaps 51 and the second gaps 52, and the second smoking material 22 may fall off from the filler 23. In addition, the content of the second smoking material 22 is significantly reduced, resulting in poor aroma and taste. This possibility tends to increase particularly when the content of the first smoking material 21 (filler) is greater than 95 mass%.
[0036] Therefore, in this embodiment, from the viewpoint of preventing the first smoking material 21 from falling off and from the viewpoint of aroma and taste, the content of the first smoking material 21 in the filler 23 is set to a range of 50 to 95% by mass. More preferably, when the content of the first smoking material 21 is set to a range of 65 to 75% by mass, it is possible to prevent the first smoking material 21 from falling off and to increase the content of the second smoking material 22, thereby significantly improving the aroma and taste.
[0037] Next, specific examples of raw materials used as the filler 23 (first smoking material 21, second smoking material 22) will be described. The first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 are each composed of one or a combination of any of the raw materials shown below. However, in this embodiment, in order to improve the aroma and taste, the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 are composed of at least a part of different raw materials.
[0038] The filler 23 is made from tobacco plants or non-tobacco plants. Examples of tobacco plants include tobacco leaves, tobacco stems, expanded tobacco, homogenized tobacco, etc. Examples of non-tobacco plants include plants other than tobacco plants. Preferred parts of non-tobacco plants include leaves, pulp, seeds, roots (scale roots, tuberous roots, etc.), stems, tubers, skin (stem skin, bark, etc.), flowers (petals, stamens, pistils, etc.), trunks, branches, etc.
[0039] In this specification, "plants" refers to a group of animals, and includes not only living organisms that have roots and live in a fixed location, such as grass and trees, but also algae such as microalgae and seaweed, and fungi such as mushrooms.
[0040] The filler 23 is prepared, for example, by mixing dried and ground non-tobacco plants with an appropriate amount of an aerosol former that generates an aerosol, microcrystalline cellulose, additives that add flavor, preservatives, binders or thickeners, etc., and then grinding or classifying the mixture into powder or granules, or forming the mixture into a sheet, which is then cut into strips or rods of a specified width and length.
[0041] For example, when the part of the non-tobacco plant is a leaf, teas can be preferably used. Not only do different plants produce different teas, but even the same plant can produce different teas depending on the processing method. Specific examples include Japanese tea, black tea, Angelica keiskei tea, sweet tea, Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea, aloe tea, ginkgo leaf tea, oolong tea, turmeric tea, Quercus salicina tea, Eleuthero tea, plantain tea, kakiodoshi tea, persimmon leaf tea, chamomile tea, chamomile tea, Kawara Kesmei tea, quince tea, chrysanthemum tea, gymnema tea, guava tea, wolfberry tea, soft leaf tea, black bean tea, gennoshoko tea, brown rice tea, burdock tea, comfrey tea, bifu tea, cherry blossom tea, Examples include saffron tea, shiitake mushroom tea, perilla tea, jasmine tea, ginger tea, horsetail tea, Japanese laurel tea, swertia tea, buckwheat tea, taranoki tea, dandelion tea, sweet tea, Houttuynia tea, Eucommia tea, sword bean tea, elderberry tea, ratwort tea, Job's tears tea, Habu tea, loquat leaf tea, Pu-erh tea, safflower tea, pine needle tea, mate tea, barley tea, megusurinoki tea, mugwort tea, eucalyptus tea, monk fruit tea, rooibos tea, and bitter melon tea. For these teas, tea leaves after drinking may be used. Using tea leaves allows expensive tea to be reused and put to good use.
[0042] Furthermore, extracts of the above-mentioned non-tobacco plants, so-called extracts and processed products, can also be used. The extracts may be in the form of liquid, starch syrup, powder, granules, solution, etc.
[0043] Examples of the aerosol formers as the raw material of the filling 23 include glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, diacetin (glycerin diacetate), triacetin (glycerin triacetate), triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedione, dimethyl tetradecanedione, etc. Among these, glycerin and propylene glycol are preferred.
[0044] The microcrystalline cellulose used as the raw material for the filler 23 is obtained, for example, by partially depolymerizing α-cellulose obtained from the pulp of a fibrous plant with an acid, and is obtained by removing the soluble portion from the cellulose and, if necessary, crystallizing the insoluble portion.
[0045] The microcrystalline cellulose may be in the form of a powder or may be dispersed in a solvent such as water to form a suspension. In this case, dispersion in the solvent can be performed using a high-speed stirrer or a high-pressure homogenizer.
[0046] Furthermore, if necessary, a flavor additive that adds flavor is preferably used as a raw material for the filling 23. Examples of flavor additives include mint, cocoa, coffee, and black tea extracts, and powder of catechins from tea extracts. Preservatives that are used in foods are preferred, and examples of such preservatives include sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, benzoic acid, and sodium benzoate.
[0047] The filler 23 (particularly the second smoking material 22) may contain menthol and a water-insoluble cross-linked polymer (preferably polyvinyl polypyrrolidone). By combining menthol with a water-insoluble cross-linked polymer, sublimation of menthol can be effectively suppressed, and the flavor of menthol can be maintained for a long period of time. Here, menthol is not limited to that obtained from natural products, and may be a synthetic product. Also, peppermint, mint, peppermint oil, and other substances containing menthol may be used.
[0048] The flavor additive is provided in the mouthpiece 40, for example, by impregnating the wall of the mouthpiece 40. The manner in which the flavor additive is provided in the mouthpiece 40 is not limited to this manner, and for example, the flavor additive may be provided in the mouthpiece 40 by embedding a capsule in which the flavor additive is encapsulated in the wall of the mouthpiece 40. Alternatively, the flavor additive may be disposed between the mouthpiece 40 and the heated body 20. When the flavor additive is encapsulated in a capsule, the smoker can break the capsule by pressing it with his or her finger, and the aromatic component of the flavor additive can be volatilized at a desired timing.
[0049] Furthermore, when the flavor additive is, for example, encapsulated in a microcapsule, the encapsulated microcapsule may be provided in the heated body 20.
[0050] Binders or thickeners as ingredients of the filling 23 include gums such as guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic and locust bean gum; cellulose binders such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, methylcellulose and ethylcellulose; polysaccharides such as starch, organic acids such as alginic acid, sodium alginate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, caranagin, conjugate base salts of organic acids such as agar and pectin, and combinations thereof.
[0051] (Manufacturing method of filling) Each step of the manufacturing method of the filler 23 will be described below. The manufacturing process of the filler 23 includes a drying / grinding step of drying / grinding the main raw material, a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, and weighing it, a preparation step of pretreating other raw materials and weighing them, a mixing step of mixing the raw materials to form a composition, and a filler molding step of molding the composition.
[0052] In the drying and grinding process, the parts of the tobacco plant or non-tobacco plant that are the main raw material (e.g., leaves, seeds, dried fruits, stems, bark, roots, etc.) that are used are processed into a specific ground material to make a composition. At that time, it is preferable to adjust the moisture content to a level that is convenient for absorbing or carrying the aerosol former, water, and other components that are added later. In drying, the temperature is preferably 60°C or higher and 80°C or lower. By setting it in this range, it is easy to reach the desired moisture content while avoiding the dissipation of the required flavor components. Furthermore, the drying and grinding process can also be provided with a sieving process to sieve the ground material, and it can be adjusted to the desired particle size before being fed into the mixing process.
[0053] In the preparation step, it is possible to prepare the raw materials necessary for producing the filling 23. The above-mentioned microcrystalline cellulose is weighed in the preparation step and is then put into the mixing step.
[0054] In the mixing step, a conventional mixer can be used. For example, a mixing device in which the raw materials in a mixing vessel are mixed while applying a shear force with an agitating blade is preferably used.
[0055] In the filler forming step, a composition in which various raw materials are mixed is formed into a thin sheet, which is then cut to form a strip- or rod-shaped filler 23 (first smoking material 21). In this embodiment, a three-roll mill is prepared to form a thin sheet. The use of a three-roll mill is preferable because it is possible to compress the material by forcing it between the narrow rolls, and shear the material by the difference in roll speed to knead and disperse it, while forming a sheet of the desired thickness with a doctor blade. It can also be produced using a press roller or a press machine.
[0056] To obtain a powdered or granular filler 23 (second smoking material 22), it is preferable to crush or classify the composition as appropriate. The average particle size of the powdered or granular filler 23 is preferably, for example, 0.1 to 3.0 mm, and more preferably 0.5 mm or less. The average particle size is determined, for example, by the sieving method described in JIS K 0069:1992. That is, the average particle size is the diameter equivalent to 50% of the mass obtained by integrating the mass from the larger openings in the test results using multiple sieves. Alternatively, the particle size at 50% of the integrated value in the particle size distribution determined by the laser diffraction / scattering method may be used as the average particle size.
[0057] In the filling forming step, other means may be used, such as passing the composition through an orifice under pressure to form the composition. In addition, in the filling forming step, non-tobacco plants, aerosol formers, binders or thickeners, flavor additives, preservatives, water, etc. may be added as necessary.
[0058] The thickness of the sheet obtained in the filling molding step is preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, more preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. The obtained sheet is cut to a predetermined width by a cutter, a rotary cutter using a rotary blade, or the like.
[0059] Here, when the filler 23 is the first smoking material 21 formed in a strip or rod shape and the surface thereof is made sticky, any means capable of imparting sticky properties may be used, but it is sufficient to attach the above-mentioned binder to at least a portion of the surface. By imparting sticky properties, the powder or granular filler 23 can be stably held and its function can be maintained well.
[0060] (Method of manufacturing heated body) Next, a method for manufacturing the object to be heated 20 by wrapping the filler 23 produced by the above steps in a packaging material 25 will be described.
[0061] As shown in Fig. 5A, the packaging member 25 is placed on the opening / closing portion 61 of the base 60, and a predetermined amount of filler 23 (first smoking material 21, second smoking material 22) is placed on the packaging member 25. For example, about 50 pieces of the first smoking material 21 are placed. At this time, the second smoking material 22 is dispersed and placed on the packaging member 25 so that the second smoking material 22 enters the first gap 51. The pair of opening / closing portions 61 provided on the base 60 are configured to be movable in directions away from each other.
[0062] Next, as shown in Fig. 5B, the pair of opening and closing parts 61 are moved in directions away from each other to form a recess 62 into which the packaging member 25 falls, and the filling 23 is wrapped in the packaging member 25 that has fallen into the recess 62. Then, as shown in Fig. 5C, both ends of the packaging member 25 are bonded together to fill the filling 23 inside the packaging member 25. In this way, the heated object 20 is completed.
[0063] (How to use smoking cartridges) A method of using the cartridge 1 for a smoking tool will be described. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 1 for a smoking tool inserted into a smoking tool 70. The cartridge 1 for a smoking tool is attached to a heating type smoking tool 70 for use. The smoking tool 70 has an insertion section 72 for inserting the cartridge 1 for a smoking tool. The insertion section 72 is provided with a needle-shaped or blade-shaped heating section 75. When the cartridge 1 for a smoking tool is inserted into the insertion section 72, the heating section 75 generates heat, generating an aerosol from the filler 23. When a smoker holds the mouthpiece 40 in his / her mouth and inhales in this state, the aerosol flows through the flow path 35, the transfer member 39, and the mouthpiece 40, in that order, and flows into the smoker's mouth.
[0064] The cartridge 1 for a smoking article according to the first embodiment configured as above can provide the following effects.
[0065] By disposing the second smoking material 22 in the first gaps 51 formed between the first smoking materials 21 and the second gaps 52 formed between the first smoking materials 21 and the packaging member 25, the filler 23 contains the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22, improving the aroma and taste. That is, since the second smoking material 22 is filled in the portions that were previously gaps, the content of the smoking material in the filler 23 can be increased and the density can be increased compared to the conventional case. As a result, the aroma and taste are improved compared to the conventional case.
[0066] Furthermore, the first smoking material 21 is formed of a strip-like or rod-like member, the second smoking material 22 is formed of a powdered or granular member, and the average particle size of the second smoking material 22 is equal to or smaller than the long side of the rectangular cross section of the first smoking material 21, so that the second smoking material 22 easily enters the gaps 51, 52. As a result, no special process is required to place the second smoking material 22 in the gaps 51, 52 when wrapping the filler 23 with the packaging material 25. That is, according to the first embodiment, by simply preparing the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 in advance, it is possible to provide a cartridge 1 for a smoking device that can easily improve the direction and taste without changing the conventional manufacturing process.
[0067] The content of the first smoking material 21 is in the range of 50 to 95 mass % (preferably 65 to 75 mass %), and the density of the first smoking material 21 is in the range of 295 to 675 mg / cm 3 range (preferably 500 to 675 mg / cm 3 ), it is possible to prevent the first smoking material 21 from falling off the object to be heated 20. As a result, both ends of the object to be heated 20 can be handled even with the first smoking material 21 left exposed. In other words, there is no need to provide cover members for covering both ends of the object to be heated 20. This makes it possible to reduce the cost of the cartridge 1 for a smoking article.
[0068] In addition, since the surface of the first smoking material 21 is made sticky, there is little concern that the second smoking material 22 will separate from the first smoking material 21 and fall off the object to be heated 20.
[0069] Furthermore, since at least some of the raw materials of the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 are different from each other, the aroma and taste are further improved. Even if the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 use the same raw materials, simply changing at least some of the raw materials of the second smoking material 22 can achieve the aroma and taste that suits the smoker's preferences, making it easy to increase the variety of cartridges for smoking articles.
[0070] Second embodiment Next, a cartridge for a smoking article according to a second embodiment will be described. The cartridge for a smoking article according to the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the cartridge for a smoking article 1 according to the first embodiment, but the internal configuration of the filler 23 is different. Specifically, the shape of the smoking material is different. Therefore, the following description will focus on this difference, and descriptions that overlap with the first embodiment will be omitted.
[0071] In the second embodiment, the filler 23 includes a strip of smoking material 121 and a rod-shaped smoking material 122. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the outer shape of the strip of smoking material 121, and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the outer shape of the rod-shaped smoking material 122.
[0072] 7, the strip-shaped smoking material 121 is made of a strip-shaped member having a cross section perpendicular to the central axis C3 formed into a substantially rectangular shape (rectangular shape). The ratio of the long side a1 to the short side b1 is, for example, in the range of 1.5:1 to 30:1, and the length c1 is substantially the same as the length of the heated object 20. As an example of the dimensions of the strip-shaped smoking material 121, the long side a1 is 1.5 mm, the short side b1 is 0.3 mm, and the length c1 is 12 mm. A binder or the like is attached to the surface of the strip-shaped smoking material 121.
[0073] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 8, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 is made of a rod-shaped member having a cross section perpendicular to the central axis C4 formed into a substantially square (rectangular) shape. The ratio of the long side a2 to the short side b2 is, for example, in the range of 1:1 to 1.5:1, and the length c2 is substantially the same as the length of the heated body 20. As an example of the dimensions of the rod-shaped smoking material 122, the long side a2 is 0.6 mm, the short side b2 is 0.4 mm, and the length c2 is 12 mm. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional area (first cross-sectional area) of the strip-shaped smoking material 121 is larger than the cross-sectional area (second cross-sectional area) of the rod-shaped smoking material 122. The cross-sectional shape of the rod-shaped smoking material 122 may be circular. That is, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 may be either a square rod-shaped member or a round rod-shaped member.
[0074] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge for smoking articles according to the second embodiment taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 9, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 is disposed in a third gap 151 formed between the strip-shaped smoking material 121 and the strip-shaped smoking material 121. The rod-shaped smoking material 122 is also disposed in a fourth gap 152 formed between the packaging member 25 and the strip-shaped smoking material 121. That is, in this embodiment, the interior of the packaging member 25 is filled with a large number of strip-shaped smoking materials 121, and the third gap 151 and the fourth gap 152 are filled with a large number of rod-shaped smoking materials 122.
[0075] In this embodiment, the content of the strip-shaped smoking material 121 in the filler 23 is 50 to 95% by mass, and preferably 65 to 75% by mass. The density of the filler 23 is 295 to 675 mg / cm3, and preferably 500 to 675 mg / cm3. 3 The reason for setting this numerical range is the same as in the first embodiment described above.
[0076] The cartridge for a smoking article according to the second embodiment configured in this manner can provide the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above. Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 fits into the third gap 151 and the fourth gap 152, and the density of the filler 23 is increased, which can provide a significant effect of preventing the strip-shaped smoking material 121 and the rod-shaped smoking material 122 from falling off the filler 23.
[0077] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention, and all technical matters included in the technical ideas described in the claims are the subject of the present invention. The above-mentioned embodiment shows a preferred example, but a person skilled in the art can realize various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements from the contents disclosed in this specification, and these are included in the technical scope described in the attached claims.
[0078] In addition to the above-mentioned examples, various raw materials can be used for the first smoking material 21, the second smoking material 22, the strip-shaped smoking material 121, and the rod-shaped smoking material 122. For example, the raw materials disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 6516907) can be applied to the present invention.
[0079] The shape of the strip- or rod-shaped filler 23 (first smoking material 21) may be, for example, a strand, a porous shape, etc. Porosity can be achieved, for example, by piercing a dried sheet several times with multiple needles (or by other methods).
[0080] The powder or granular filler 23 (secondary smoking material 22) may be in the form of, for example, granules, pellets or the like.
[0081] The powder or granular filler 23 (second smoking material 22) may be solidified into a block shape, or may be made into a paste shape by adding a small amount of water or oil. [Explanation of symbols]
[0082] 1. Smoking cartridge 10 Exterior materials 20 Heated object 21 First Smoking Material 22 Secondary smoking materials 23 Filling 25 Packaging materials 30 Support member 35 Flow Path 40 Mouthpiece 51 The First Gap 52 The Second Gap 121 Strips of smoking material 122 Stick-shaped smoking materials 151 The Third Gap 152 The Fourth Gap
Claims
1. A cartridge for a smoking device, comprising: a heated body filled with a filler made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant; and a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the heated body, the filler includes a plurality of first smoking materials formed in a strip or rod shape, and at least one second smoking material formed in a powder or granular form and disposed in a first gap formed between the plurality of first smoking materials; The content of the first smoking material in the filling is 50 to 95% by mass, The first smoking materials each have a binder attached thereto, and the surfaces of the first smoking materials each have adhesiveness; the second smoking material is held on a surface of the plurality of first smoking materials by the adhesiveness; A cartridge for a smoking article.
2. The cartridge for a smoking article according to claim 1, The density of the filling is 295 to 675 mg / cm 3 A cartridge for a smoking article, characterized in that
3. The cartridge for a smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 2, The heated body is formed into a cylindrical shape by wrapping the filling in a sheet-like packaging material, The filling material includes a plurality of the second smoking materials, A cartridge for a smoking device, characterized in that a portion of the plurality of second smoking materials are placed in the first gap, and the remainder are placed in a second gap formed between the packaging material and the plurality of first smoking materials.
4. The cartridge for a smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Each of the first smoking materials has a rectangular cross section perpendicular to a central axis, A cartridge for a smoking device, characterized in that the average particle diameter of the at least one second smoking material is less than the length of the longest side of the four sides of the rectangular cross-section of the first smoking material formed in the strip shape.
5. The cartridge for a smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A cartridge for a smoking article, characterized in that the plurality of first smoking materials and the at least one second smoking material are made of at least a portion of different materials.
6. A cartridge for a smoking device, comprising: a heated body filled with a filler made of a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant; and a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the heated body, The filler includes a plurality of strips of smoking material, and at least one rod-shaped smoking material disposed in a third gap formed between the plurality of strips of smoking material, The content of the strip-shaped smoking material in the filling material is 50 to 95% by mass, The plurality of strip-shaped smoking materials have a binder attached thereto, and the surfaces of the strip-shaped smoking materials are sticky. The rod-shaped smoking material is held on the surface of the plurality of strip-shaped smoking materials by the adhesiveness. A cartridge for a smoking article.
7. The cartridge for a smoking article according to claim 6, The density of the filling is 295 to 675 mg / cm 3 A cartridge for a smoking article, characterized in that
8. The cartridge for a smoking article according to claim 6 or 7, The plurality of strip-shaped smoking materials are formed into a rectangular shape with a cross section perpendicular to the central axis having a first cross-sectional area, The at least one rod-shaped smoking material is formed in a rectangular or circular shape having a second cross-sectional area perpendicular to its central axis, A cartridge for a smoking article, wherein the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area.
9. The cartridge for a smoking article according to any one of claims 6 to 8, The heated body is formed into a cylindrical shape by wrapping the filling in a sheet-like packaging material, The filler contains a plurality of the rod-shaped smoking materials, A cartridge for a smoking device, characterized in that a portion of the plurality of rod-shaped smoking materials are placed in the third gap, and the remainder are placed in a fourth gap formed between the packaging material and the plurality of strip-shaped smoking materials.
10. The cartridge for a smoking article according to any one of claims 6 to 9, A cartridge for a smoking article, wherein the plurality of strip-shaped smoking materials and the at least one rod-shaped smoking material are made of at least a part of different raw materials.
11. The cartridge for a smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 10, The device further includes a support member disposed between the heated body and the mouthpiece, the support member having a flow path through which the vapor or aerosol generated by heating the filling flows; A cartridge for a smoking article, characterized in that the filler is exposed to both end faces of the heated body.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
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