Smoking cartridges

Abstract

To provide a cartridge for smoking tools capable of enhancing aroma and taste while preventing a filler from falling off.SOLUTION: A cartridge for smoking tools comprises a heating object body filled with a filler made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, and a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the heating object body, where the filler includes a plurality of strip-shaped smoking materials 121 and at least one rod-shaped smoking material 122 disposed in a third gap 151 formed between the plurality of strip-shaped smoking materials, and a content of the strip-shaped smoking materials in the filler is 50 to 95 mass%. The plurality of strip-shaped smoking materials are formed into rectangular shapes with a first cross-sectional area in a cross section orthogonal to respective central axes thereof, the at least one rod-shaped smoking material is formed into a rectangular shape with a second cross-sectional area in a cross section orthogonal to a central axis thereof, a ratio of a long side to a short side of the rectangular shape is in a range of 1:1 to 1.5:1, and the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

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 without using a flame and inhaling the vaporized tobacco ingredients have become widely known. In addition, due to the diversification of preferences, cartridge products that allow users to enjoy the aroma and flavor of plants that do not contain tobacco ingredients, like cigarettes, without using a flame, are also 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; the tobacco filler is formed so that the dimension along the long side is longer than the dimension along the short side in a cross section perpendicular to the length; the tobacco filler at the outermost periphery in contact with the wrapping has its long sides oriented in a direction roughly parallel to the circumferential direction or in a direction other than roughly parallel to the circumferential direction; and the number of tobacco fillers with their long sides oriented in a direction roughly parallel to the circumferential direction is greater than the number of tobacco fillers with their long sides oriented in a direction other than roughly parallel to the circumferential direction." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6516907 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As smokers' preferences continue to diversify, the pursuit of new aromas and flavors is a perpetual challenge in this technical field. The electronic cigarette cartridge described in Patent Document 1 is also said to be able to ensure the amount of tobacco filler while improving the fluidity of the airflow inside the tobacco filler accumulation and preventing the tobacco filler from falling out, but there is still room for improvement in terms of aroma and flavor.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view 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 strips of smoking material and at least one rod-shaped smoking material arranged in a third gap formed between the plurality of strips of smoking material, and the content of the strips of smoking material in the filler is 50 to 95% by mass. [Effects 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 flavor while preventing the filler from falling out. Note that other problems, configurations, and effects will become clear from the description of the following embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the external shape of the first smoking material. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 shows the external shape of the second smoking material. [Figure 4] IV-IV cross section of Figure 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] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the external shape of a rod-shaped smoking material. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[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 comprises a heated object 20, a support member 30, a transfer member 39, and a mouthpiece 40. The heated object 20, support member 30, transfer member 39, and mouthpiece 40 are arranged side by side on a central axis C1. The heated object 20, support member 30, transfer member 39, and mouthpiece 40 are integrated by being wrapped around a sheet-like exterior member 10. The exterior member 10 is made of, for example, paper.

[0013] 1 is formed to have a diameter of 6.5 to 7.5 mm and a length of 40 to 60 mm, for example. 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 material.

[0015] The filler 23 is constructed 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 contains at least one second smoking material 22.

[0016] As will be described in more detail below, the first smoking material 21 is composed of a strip- or rod-shaped member, and the second smoking material 22 is composed of a powder or granular member (see Figures 2 and 3). The multiple first smoking materials 21 are arranged in a bundle with their respective longitudinal directions aligned along 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 member 25 (see Figure 4).

[0017] The mouthpiece 40 is a part that constitutes the mouthpiece of the smoking device cartridge 1, and is made of, for example, paper. The mouthpiece 40 may also include a cellulose acetate filter or the like that removes fine particles. Some of the fine particles in the water vapor and aerosol generated by the heated object 20 are filtered by the filter of the mouthpiece 40.

[0018] The support member 30 is a cylindrical member formed, for example, using silicone, and has a flow path 35 formed therein that penetrates along the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, one flow path 35 is provided in the center, but the number and location of the flow path 35 are not important. The flow path 35 can also extend between the outer periphery of the support member 30 and the packaging member 25. The support member 30 is disposed between the heated object 20 and the mouthpiece 40 and restricts the axial movement of the heated object 20. The support member 30 also guides the aerosol generated in the heated object 20 to the mouthpiece 40 via the flow path 35. The aerosol is cooled as it flows through the flow path 35 and is inhaled into the smoker's mouth 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 rolled polymer, or a sponge-like porous material can be used instead.

[0019] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a partition member 50 is provided between the heated object 20 and the support member 30, and the heated object 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 breathable filter or paper. Providing such a partition member 50 can prevent the heated object 20 from moving within the smoking article cartridge 1 due to the influence of logistics such as transportation. Of course, a configuration without the partition member 50 is also possible.

[0020] The transfer member 39 cools the aerosol flowing toward the mouthpiece 40. The transfer member 39 can be made of rolled 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 smoking article cartridge 1. The transfer member 39 can be omitted to reduce the number of components. If the transfer member 39 is omitted, breathability is improved, making it easier for the generated aerosol to flow downstream, making it easier for the smoker to inhale the aromatic components.

[0021] In a configuration in which the transfer member 39 is omitted, a mouthpiece 40 that is longer in the longitudinal direction of the smoking article cartridge 1 may be placed adjacent to the support member 30. In this case, for example, the cellulose acetate filter of the mouthpiece 40 may also serve as a cooling function.

[0022] As another example, the transfer member 39 can be omitted, and a gap can be provided between the support member 30 and the mouthpiece 40. In this case, the aerosol passing through the gap can communicate with each other, and the aerosol can convect temporally and spatially in the gap, and then the homogenized aerosol can flow into the mouthpiece 40.

[0023] Furthermore, since the outer casing 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 aerosol airflow 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 that make up the filler 23 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the outer shape of the first smoking material 21, and Figure 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-shaped member having a cross section perpendicular to the central axis C2 that is formed into a substantially rectangular shape (rectangular shape). The ratio of the long side a to the short side b is preferably, for example, in the range of 1.5:1 to 30:1. The length c is preferably substantially the same as the length of the object to be heated 20. An example of the dimensions of the first smoking material 21 is as follows: the long side a is 1.5 mm, the short side b is 0.3 mm, and the length c is 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. As will be described later, a binder or the like is attached to the first smoking material 21, making its surface 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 taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 1, 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 materials 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 gaps 51 and the second gaps 52.

[0028] In this embodiment, the content of first smoking material 21 in filler 23 is 50 to 95 mass %, and preferably 65 to 75 mass %. The density of filler 23 is 295 to 675 mg / cm3, and preferably 500 to 675 mg / cm3. The reasons for setting the content of first smoking material 21 and the density of filler 23 within the above numerical ranges are explained below.

[0029] For example, if the content of first smoking material 21 is 100% by mass and the density of filler 23 is less than 295 mg / cm3 (in this case, since the content of first smoking material 21 is 100% by mass, the density of filler 23 is equal to the density of first smoking material 21), the low density of first smoking material 21 will result in large first gap 51 and second gap 52, making it more likely that first smoking material 21 will fall out of filler 23, and when smoking device cartridge 1 is held with heated object 20 facing downward, first smoking material 21 may fall out. Furthermore, the amount of filling of first smoking material 21 will be significantly reduced, resulting in inferior aroma and taste.

[0030] On the other hand, if the content of the first smoking material 21 is 100% by mass and the density of the filler 23 exceeds 675 mg / cm3, the high density of the first smoking material 21 will reduce the first gap 51 and the second gap 52, which may result in poor airflow in the heated object 20. In addition, it may become difficult to insert the heating unit 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 will be less than 295 mg / cm3 because the first smoking material 21 is thick or wide. When the object to be heated 20 is filled with thick and wide first smoking material 21, if the long sides are in contact with each other, gaps will not be large. However, if there are many pieces of first smoking material 21 whose long sides are in contact with each other, large gaps will be created, making it impossible to increase the density. Therefore, while it is possible to increase the density of the filler 23 above 295 mg / cm3 by reducing the thickness or width of the first smoking material 21, reducing the thickness or width poses a manufacturing problem in that it is not easy to process them.

[0032] Furthermore, even if it were possible to process the first smoking material 21 to be thinner and narrower in width, when filling the first smoking material 21, 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 there will be a problem that 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 to allow 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 low and the content of the second smoking material 22 is high, there is a possibility that the first smoking material 21 will fall off from the filler 23. This possibility tends to increase particularly when the content of the first smoking material 21 is less than 50 mass %.

[0035] On the other hand, if the content of first smoking material 21 is high and the content of second smoking material 22 is low, the second smoking material 22 may not be able to sufficiently fill first gaps 51 and second gaps 52, and the second smoking material 22 may fall out of the filler 23. Furthermore, the content of second smoking material 22 will be significantly reduced, resulting in inferior aroma and taste. This possibility tends to increase particularly when the content of first smoking material 21 (filler) is greater than 95% by 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, if the content of the first smoking material 21 is set to a range of 65 to 75% by mass, it is possible to prevent falling off and also 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 any one or a combination of the following raw materials. 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 portion 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, and homogenized tobacco. 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, bark (stem bark, bark, etc.), flowers (petals, stamens, pistils, etc.), trunks, and branches.

[0039] In this specification, "plants" refers to a group of organisms, as opposed to animals, and includes not only 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 crushed 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 crushing or classifying the mixture into powder or granules, or forming it into a sheet, which is then cut into strips or rods of a specified width and length.

[0041] For example, when the non-tobacco plant part 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, persimmon leaf tea, chamomile tea, chamomile tea, Kawara Kesseki 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, red pepper tea, Swertia japonica tea, buckwheat tea, elm tea, dandelion tea, sweet tea, Houttuynia cordata tea, Eucommia tea, sword bean tea, elderberry tea, Licorice tea, Job's tears tea, Habu tea, loquat leaf tea, Pu'er tea, safflower tea, pine needle tea, yerba mate tea, barley tea, Megusuri tea, Mugwort tea, eucalyptus tea, Monk fruit tea, rooibos tea, and bitter melon tea. Used tea leaves can be used for these teas. Using used tea leaves allows for the effective reuse of expensive teas.

[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 aerosol formers as raw materials for the filler 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, and dimethyl tetradecanedione. Of 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 powder or may be dispersed in a solvent such as water to form a suspension. In this case, a high-speed stirrer or a high-pressure homogenizer can be used to disperse the microcrystalline cellulose in the solvent.

[0046] Furthermore, if necessary, a flavor additive that adds flavor is preferably used as an ingredient of the filling 23. Examples of flavor additives include mint, cocoa, coffee, black tea extract, and tea extract catechin powder. Preservatives that are used in food are preferred, such as 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). Combining menthol with a water-insoluble cross-linked polymer effectively prevents menthol from sublimating, allowing the menthol flavor to be maintained for a long period of time. Here, menthol is not limited to that obtained from natural products, but may also be a synthetic product. Peppermint, mint, peppermint oil, and other menthol-containing substances may also 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, 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, allowing the aromatic components of the flavor additive to volatilize at the desired timing.

[0049] Furthermore, when the flavor additive is encapsulated in a microcapsule, for example, the encapsulated microcapsule may be provided on 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, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and ethyl cellulose; polysaccharides such as starch, organic acids such as alginic acid, sodium alginate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, caramel, agar, and conjugate base salts of organic acids such as pectin; and combinations thereof.

[0051] (Manufacturing method of filling material) Each step of the manufacturing method for the filler 23 will be explained below. The manufacturing process for the filler 23 includes a drying and grinding step in which tobacco plants or non-tobacco plants, which are the main raw materials, are dried and ground and weighed, a preparation step in which other raw materials are pretreated and weighed, a mixing step in which the raw materials are mixed to form a composition, and a filler molding step in which the composition is molded.

[0052] In the drying and grinding process, the main raw material, tobacco or non-tobacco plant parts (e.g., leaves, seeds, dried fruit, stems, bark, roots, etc.), are ground into a specific powder to create a composition. It is preferable to adjust the moisture content to a level suitable for absorbing or supporting the aerosol former, water, and other ingredients that will be added later. The drying temperature is preferably between 60°C and 80°C. This range makes it easy to achieve the desired moisture content while avoiding the loss of essential flavor components. Furthermore, the drying and grinding process can also include a sieving process to sieve the ground material, allowing it to be adjusted to the desired particle size before being introduced into the mixing process.

[0053] In the preparation step, it is possible to prepare the raw materials necessary for producing the filler 23. The microcrystalline cellulose described above is weighed in the preparation step and then introduced into the mixing step.

[0054] In the mixing step, a conventional mixer can be used. For example, a preferred mode is to mix the raw materials in a mixing vessel while applying shear force with a stirring blade.

[0055] In the filler forming step, a composition containing various raw materials is formed into a thin sheet, which is then cut to form strip- or rod-shaped filler 23 (first smoking material 21). In this embodiment, a three-roll mill is used to form thin sheets. The use of a three-roll mill is preferable because it allows for compression by forcing the material between the narrow rolls and shearing due to the difference in roll speeds, while kneading and dispersing the material, and then forming a sheet of the desired thickness using a doctor blade. Alternatively, a press roller or a press machine can be used to form the filler.

[0056] Furthermore, to produce powdered or granular filler 23 (second smoking material 22), it is preferable to appropriately pulverize or classify the composition. The average particle diameter of 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 diameter is determined, for example, by the sieving method described in JIS K 0069:1992. In other words, this average particle diameter is the diameter corresponding to 50% of the mass obtained by integrating the masses from the larger openings in test results using multiple sieves. Alternatively, the particle diameter at 50% of the integrated value in the particle size distribution determined by laser diffraction / scattering may be used as the average particle diameter.

[0057] The filling may be formed by other means, such as forcing the composition through an orifice under pressure. Furthermore, in the filling, non-tobacco plants, aerosol formers, binders or thickeners, flavor additives, preservatives, or water may be added as needed.

[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 using a cutter, a rotary cutter using a rotary blade, or the like.

[0059] Here, when filler 23 is first smoking material 21 formed in a strip or rod shape and its surface is made sticky, any means can be used to make it sticky, but it is sufficient to attach the aforementioned binder to at least a portion of the surface. By making it sticky, powdery or granular filler 23 can be held stably and its function can be maintained well.

[0060] (Method of manufacturing the 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. Figures 5A to 5C are diagrams showing the manufacturing process of the object to be heated 20.

[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 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 adhered together to fill the filling 23 inside the packaging member 25. In this way, the object to be heated 20 is completed.

[0063] (How to use smoking cartridges) A method of using the smoking article cartridge 1 will now be described. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the smoking article cartridge 1 inserted into the smoking article 70. The smoking article cartridge 1 is attached to the heated smoking article 70 for use. The smoking article 70 has an insertion section 72 into which the smoking article cartridge 1 is inserted. The insertion section 72 is provided with a needle- or blade-shaped heating section 75. When the smoking article cartridge 1 is inserted into the insertion section 72, the heating section 75 generates heat, generating an aerosol from the filler 23. When the smoker holds the mouthpiece 40 between their lips and inhales in this state, the aerosol flows through the flow path 35, the transfer member 39, and the mouthpiece 40, and then into the smoker's mouth.

[0064] The cartridge 1 for a smoking article according to the first embodiment configured as described above can achieve 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. In other words, because the second smoking material 22 is filled into the gaps that were previously filled, the content of smoking material in the filler 23 can be increased compared to conventional methods, thereby increasing the density. As a result, the aroma and taste are improved compared to conventional methods.

[0066] Furthermore, the first smoking material 21 is formed from a strip- or rod-shaped member, the second smoking material 22 is formed from a powder or granular member, and the average particle diameter of the second smoking material 22 is equal to or less 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 in the packaging member 25. In other words, 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 direction and taste, without changing the conventional manufacturing process.

[0067] Furthermore, the content of the first smoking material 21 is set in the range of 50 to 95% by mass (preferably 65 to 75% by mass), and the density of the first smoking material 21 is set in the range of 295 to 675 mg / cm3 (preferably 500 to 675 mg / cm3), which prevents the first smoking material 21 from falling off the object to be heated 20. As a result, the object to be heated 20 can be handled even with both ends of the first smoking material 21 exposed. In other words, there is no need to provide cover members to cover both ends of the object to be heated 20. This allows for a reduction in cost of the cartridge 1 for a smoking device.

[0068] Furthermore, since the surface of the first smoking material 21 is made sticky, there is little risk 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 smoking article cartridges.

[0070] (Second embodiment) Next, a description will be given of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a second embodiment. 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 differs in the internal configuration of the filler 23. Specifically, the shape of the smoking material is different. Therefore, the following description will focus on this difference, and overlapping descriptions 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] As shown in Figure 7, the strip-shaped smoking material 121 is made of a strip-shaped member having a cross section perpendicular to the central axis C3 that is 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 object to be heated 20. An example of the dimensions of the strip-shaped smoking material 121 is that 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 that is 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 object 20. An example of the dimensions of the rod-shaped smoking material 122 is that 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] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge for a smoking article according to the second embodiment, taken along line IV-IV in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 9, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 is disposed in a third gap 151 formed between the strips of 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 strips of smoking material 121. That is, in this embodiment, the interior of the packaging member 25 is filled with a large number of strips of smoking material 121, and the third gap 151 and the fourth gap 152 are filled with a large number of rod-shaped smoking material 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. The reasons for setting this numerical range are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0076] The cartridge for a smoking article according to the second embodiment configured in this manner can achieve 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, further increasing the density of the filler 23, thereby achieving the significant effect of preventing the strip-shaped smoking material 121 and the rod-shaped smoking material 122 from falling out of the filler 23.

[0077] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. The present invention covers all technical matters included in the technical ideas described in the claims. The above-described embodiments are preferred examples, 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 appended claims.

[0078] Furthermore, in addition to the above-mentioned examples, various other materials can be used for the first smoking material 21, the second smoking material 22, the strip-shaped smoking material 121, and the stick-shaped smoking material 122. For example, the materials disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 6516907) can also be applied to the present invention.

[0079] The strip- or rod-shaped filler 23 (first smoking material 21) may be in the form of, for example, a strand, a porous material, 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 or pellets.

[0081] The powder or granular filler 23 (second smoking material 22) may be solidified into a block, or may be made into a paste 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 First Gap 52 Second Gap 121 Strips of smoking material 122 Stick-shaped smoking materials 151 The Third Gap 152 The Fourth Gap

Claims

[Claim 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 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 density of the filler is 500 to 675 mg / cm3, the content of the strip-shaped smoking material in the filler is 65 to 75% by mass, The plurality of strips of smoking material are formed into a rectangular shape with a first cross-sectional area perpendicular to the central axis, the at least one rod-shaped smoking material is formed into a rectangular shape having a second cross-sectional area in a cross section perpendicular to its central axis, and the ratio of the long side to the short side of the rectangular shape having the second cross-sectional area is in the range of 1:1 to 1.5:1; the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area; A cartridge for a smoking article.

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