Flavor stick and heat-not-burn flavor inhalation system

Abstract

A flavor stick that, at the time of use, is inserted into a heating chamber of a flavor inhalation device and is heated from the outside by a heater, said flavor stick comprising: a flavor rod segment that includes an aerosol base material and a flavor source; a mouthpiece segment that is connected to a rear end of the flavor rod segment and has a suction opening end; a first wrapping sheet that wraps around the outermost layer of the flavor rod segment; and a second wrapping sheet that wraps around the outermost layer of the mouthpiece segment in at least one section of the mouthpiece segment, wherein the second wrapping sheet is relatively greater in basis weight and / or in thickness than the first wrapping sheet.

Description

Flavor sticks and non-combustion heat-type flavor inhalation products

[0001] The present invention relates to a flavor stick and a non-combustion heat-type flavor inhalation product.

[0002] Conventionally, a flavor stick used in a non-combustion type flavor inhaler for inhaling a flavor derived from a flavor source without combustion has been known. One type of flavor stick is known, which includes a flavor rod segment containing a flavor source and an aerosol base, and a mouthpiece segment connected to the flavor rod segment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] This type of flavor stick is used in conjunction with a flavor inhalation device when inhaled. Typically, the flavor stick is inserted into a heating chamber of the flavor inhalation device and heated by a heater.

[0004] Patent No. 7021079

[0005] However, in the past, there was a problem that when inserting a flavor stick into a heating chamber of a flavor inhalation device, the stick was easily broken during insertion. For example, solving this problem is particularly desired for so-called slim-type flavor sticks with small diameters. The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a technology that makes it difficult for a flavor stick to break when inserted into a heating chamber of a flavor inhalation device.

[0006] [Aspect 1] A flavor stick according to the present disclosure for solving the above problems is a flavor stick that is inserted into a heating chamber of a flavor inhalation device during use and heated from the outer periphery by a heater, and includes: a flavor rod segment including an aerosol base material and a flavor source; a mouthpiece segment connected to the rear end of the flavor rod segment and having a mouthpiece end; a first winding sheet that winds up the outermost layer of the flavor rod segment; and a second winding sheet that winds up the outermost layer of the mouthpiece segment in at least a portion of the mouthpiece segment, wherein at least one of the basis weight and the thickness of the second winding sheet is relatively larger than that of the first winding sheet.

[0007] [Aspect 2] In the aspect 1, when the basis weight of the first wound sheet is ρ1 and the basis weight of the second wound sheet is ρ2, the following formula (1) may be satisfied: 0.3≦ρ1 / ρ2<1 (Formula 1)

[0008] [Aspect 3] In the above aspect 1 or 2, when the thickness of the first wound sheet is t1 and the thickness of the second wound sheet is t2, the following formula (2) may be satisfied: 0.3≦t1 / t2<1 (Formula 2)

[0009] [Aspect 4] In any of Aspects 1 to 3, the second rolled sheet may have a basis weight ρ2 of 50 gsm or more and 80 gsm or less, and a thickness t2 of 50 μm or more and 80 μm or less.

[0010] [Aspect 5] In any of Aspects 1 to 4, the mouthpiece segment may include a hollow element disposed adjacent to the rear end of the flavor rod segment, and the hollow element may include a paper tube. In this case, when the thickness of the paper tube is t3 and the diameter of the flavor stick is D1, the following formula (3) may be satisfied: 0.015≦t3 / D1≦0.06 ... Formula (3)

[0011] [Aspect 6] In any of Aspects 1 to 5 above, the flavor source may include a reconstituted tobacco sheet, and the reconstituted tobacco sheet may be a sheet that has been subjected to a crimping process. Furthermore, when the crimp width of the reconstituted tobacco sheet is W and the diameter of the flavor stick is D1, the following formula (4) may be satisfied: 0.01≦W / D1≦0.08 (Formula (4))

[0012] [Aspect 7] In any of Aspects 1 to 5 above, the flavor source may include a reconstituted tobacco sheet, and the reconstituted tobacco sheet may be a crimped sheet. Furthermore, when the crimp width of the reconstituted tobacco sheet is W and the diameter of the flavor stick is D1, the following formula (5) may be satisfied: 0.1≦W / D1≦0.4 (5)

[0013] [Embodiment 8] In any of the above-mentioned embodiments 1 to 7, the total length of the flavor stick may be 60 mm or more and 85 mm or less, and the length of the flavor rod segment may be 20 mm or more and 30 mm or less.

[0014] [Aspect 9] In any of Aspects 1 to 8, the device may further include a front segment connected to the front end side of the flavor rod segment. The airflow resistance of the front segment may be greater than the airflow resistance of the mouthpiece segment.

[0015] [Aspect 10] In the aspect 9, when the length of the front segment is L1 and the diameter of the flavor stick is D1, the following formula (6) may be satisfied: 0.8≦L1 / D1≦2.0 (Formula 6)

[0016] [Aspect 11] In the aspect 10, the length of the front segment may be 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

[0017] [Aspect 12] In any of Aspects 1 to 11, the flavor stick may have an air vent for taking air from the outside into the mouthpiece segment. In addition, a distance L2 from the rear end of the flavor rod segment to the air vent in the longitudinal direction of the flavor stick may be shorter than a distance L3 from the mouthpiece end to the air vent.

[0018] [Aspect 13] In Aspect 12, the relationship between the distance L2 and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick may satisfy the formula (7): 0.5≦L2 / D1≦2.0 (7)

[0019] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation product according to the present disclosure may include a flavor stick according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13 above and a flavor inhalation device. The flavor inhalation device may have a housing having an insertion opening for the flavor stick, a heating chamber formed within the housing and into which the flavor stick can be inserted through the insertion opening, and a heater that heats the flavor stick inserted into the heating chamber from the outer periphery.

[0020] [Aspect 15] In Aspect 14 above, the housing may have an insertion opening formed in the top wall and a cleaning opening formed in the bottom wall, the insertion opening, the heating chamber, and the cleaning opening arranged coaxially, and may further include an elastic sheet partially covering the cleaning opening so as to form an air intake opening for introducing air from the outside into the heating chamber, the elastic sheet being arranged to bulge from the cleaning opening towards the heating chamber in its original shape, and when the flavor stick is inserted into the heating chamber, the front end of the flavor stick may abut against the elastic sheet to position it.

[0021] [Aspect 16] In the housing according to aspect 15, a heat insulating member may be disposed in a region located between the bottom wall of the housing and the heater.

[0022] [Aspect 17] In any of Aspects 14 to 16, the housing may include an upper housing and a lower housing that are detachable from each other.

[0023] [Aspect 18] In Aspect 17, the insertion opening may be formed in the upper housing, and the power supply unit may be housed in the lower housing such that the power supply unit is exposed to the outside from an upper opening end of the lower housing when the upper housing is detached from the lower housing.

[0024] [Aspect 19] In the aspect 17 or 18, the heater may be disposed at a position retreated downward from the upper opening end of the lower housing.

[0025] In any of Aspects 17 to 19, the housing may have a groove formed on the outer surface thereof, the groove extending along the lower and upper opening ends of the upper and lower housings, and a second air intake port formed at the bottom of the groove for introducing air from outside into the heating chamber.

[0026] According to the present disclosure, a technology can be provided that makes it difficult for a flavor stick to break when inserted into a heating chamber of a flavor inhalation device.

[0027] Fig. 1 is a schematic external view of a flavor inhalation device. Fig. 2 is a schematic structural view of a flavor inhalation device. Fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of a flavor inhalation device. Fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of a flavor stick. Fig. 5 is a view illustrating an elastic sheet. Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a modified example of the elastic sheet. Fig. 7 is a partial schematic view illustrating a second air intake port formed in a groove portion of a housing. Fig. 8 is a view illustrating a modified example of a flavor stick. Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a state in which a flavor stick is inserted into a heating chamber of a flavor inhalation device. Fig. 10 is a view illustrating a reconstituted tobacco sheet forming a flavor source. Fig. 11 is a view illustrating a modified example of a flavor stick. Fig. 12 is a view illustrating a modified example of a flavor inhalation device.

[0028] The following describes embodiments of the flavor stick and non-combustion type flavor inhalation product according to the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described in the present embodiments are not intended to limit the technical scope of the invention unless otherwise specified.

[0029] The flavor stick according to the present disclosure is a flavor stick having a flavor rod that is inserted into a heating chamber of a flavor inhalation device and heated from the outer periphery by a heater arranged on the lateral periphery of the heating chamber.

[0030] <Embodiment 1>

[0031] Fig. 1 is a schematic external view of a flavor inhalation device 30 for heating a flavor stick without combustion according to embodiment 1. Figs. 2 and 3 are schematic structural diagrams of the flavor inhalation device 30. Figs. 2 and 3 show the internal structure of the flavor inhalation device 30. Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a flavor stick 1 according to embodiment 1. The flavor inhalation device 30 is an inhalation device used when inhaling the flavor stick 1, and the flavor stick 1 and the flavor inhalation device 30 constitute a non-combustion type flavor inhalation product.

[0032] 1 to 3, the flavor inhalation device 30 includes a housing 31 that houses various elements constituting the device, and a heating chamber 34 is formed within the housing 31. The housing 31 also houses a heater 50, a power supply unit 51, a control unit 52, etc. In Fig. 1, the up-down direction (height direction) of the flavor inhalation device 30 is shown as the X direction, the width direction as the Y direction, and the depth direction as the Z direction. However, these directions are merely examples for the convenience of explanation.

[0033] In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 31 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, but the shape of the housing 31 is not particularly limited. The housing 31 includes an upper housing 32 and a lower housing 33. The upper housing 32 and the lower housing 33 are freely engaged and disengaged by an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism may be, for example, a snap-fit ​​structure, or other known structures. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the upper housing 32 and the lower housing 33 engaged together. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the upper housing 32 detached from the lower housing 33. In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the cut surface where the upper housing 32 and the lower housing 33 are connected is located approximately in the center of the height direction (X direction) of the housing 31. However, the position of the cut surface of the housing 31 is not particularly limited. Note that the dashed dotted line L in FIG. 2 indicates the location where the upper housing 32 and the lower housing 33 are connected.

[0034] Within the housing 31, a heating chamber 34, which is a hollow cavity into which a flavor stick 1 can be inserted (received) through an insertion opening 37 (described later), extends along the vertical direction (X direction) of the flavor inhalation device 30 (housing 31). For example, the central axis extending along the extension direction of the heating chamber 34 extends parallel to the X direction. The heating chamber 34 is defined by an upper sleeve 35 installed in the upper housing 32 and a lower sleeve 36 installed in the lower housing 33. The upper end of the upper sleeve 35 is fixed to, for example, the upper wall 321 of the upper housing 32. The upper sleeve 35 includes a tapered tube portion 351 from its upper end side and a straight tube portion 352 connected to the lower end of the tapered tube portion 351. The straight tube portion 352 is a tubular (cylindrical) member with a constant inner diameter, and the tapered tube portion 351 is a tubular member formed so that the inner diameter gradually increases from the lower end to the upper end. The lower end of the lower sleeve 36 is fixed to, for example, the bottom wall 331 of the lower housing 33. The lower sleeve 36 is a tubular member with a constant inner diameter, and has an inner diameter equal to that of the straight pipe portion 352.

[0035] When the upper housing 32 and the lower housing 33 are engaged together, the upper sleeve 35 and the lower sleeve 36 are coaxially arranged, and the lower end 35A of the upper sleeve 35 and the upper end 36A of the lower sleeve 36 are configured to abut against each other. The heating chamber 34 is formed by a cavity formed inside the upper sleeve 35 and the lower sleeve 36. In FIG. 3 , reference numeral 320 denotes the lower open end of the upper housing 32, and reference numeral 330 denotes the upper open end of the lower housing 33. The lower end 35A of the upper sleeve 35 is flush with the lower open end 320 of the upper housing 32 so as to coincide with its position in the X direction. The upper end 36A of the lower sleeve 36 is flush with the upper open end 330 of the lower housing 33 so as to coincide with its position in the X direction. A protrusion 353 is provided on the inner surface of the straight pipe portion 352 of the upper sleeve 35. The protrusions 353 are intended to prevent the flavor stick 1 inserted into the heating chamber 34 from unintentionally slipping out (falling out) from the heating chamber 34. The protrusions 353 may be provided in the form of ribs that protrude from the inner surface of the straight pipe portion 352 toward the heating chamber 34. The protrusions 353 may also be arranged at multiple locations along the circumferential direction of the straight pipe portion 352.

[0036] An insertion opening 37 is formed in the top wall 321 of the upper housing 32, and the flavor stick 1 can be inserted into the heating chamber 34 through the insertion opening 37. In other words, the insertion opening 37 of the flavor inhalation device 30 communicates with the upper end of the heating chamber 34, and can also be considered an upper end opening of the heating chamber 34. In addition, a sliding shutter member 38 is provided on the top wall 321 of the upper housing 32, and the shutter member 38 can be freely closed and opened.

[0037] 2 and 3 , a cleaning opening 39, which is an opening for cleaning, is formed in the bottom wall 331 of the lower housing 33. In the flavor inhalation device 30, the insertion opening 37, the heating chamber 34, and the cleaning opening 39 are coaxially arranged in a straight line. The cleaning opening 39 can be used to insert and remove the cleaning head of a cleaning tool from the outside (below the device) into and from the heating chamber 34, and conversely, to insert and remove the cleaning head of a cleaning tool inserted into the heating chamber 34 from the insertion opening 37 to and from the outside.

[0038] Additionally, an elastic (flexible) elastic sheet 40 is attached to the bottom wall 331 of the lower housing 33 so as to partially cover the cleaning port 39. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the elastic sheet 40. (A) is a schematic diagram of a vertical cross section of the cleaning port 39 (bottom side) of the flavor inhalation device 30. Note that the vertical cross section of the flavor inhalation device 30 is a cross section cut along the vertical direction (X direction) of the flavor inhalation device 30. For example, (A) shows a cross section at a position passing through the central axis of the heating chamber 34. (B) is a plan view of the elastic sheet 40 arranged in the cleaning port 39 as viewed from the direction of arrow A shown in (A). The elastic sheet 40 is, for example, formed integrally with an attachment portion 41 and attached to the bottom wall 331 via the attachment portion 41. The attachment portion 41 has, for example, a ring shape. A recess 332 having a counterbore shape for attaching the attachment part 41 is formed on the edge of the cleaning port 39 on the outer surface 331A of the bottom wall 331, and the attachment part 41 is fixed to this recess 332. However, the shape of the attachment part 41 and the attachment manner thereof are not particularly limited.

[0039] The elastic sheet 40 extends from the inner edge of the mounting portion 41. When in its original form, the elastic sheet 40 is configured to bulge (rise) in a dome shape from the cleaning port 39 toward the heating chamber 34 (i.e., upward). That is, the elastic sheet 40 has a convex shape from the inner edge of the mounting portion 41 toward the heating chamber 34 (i.e., upward). The original shape refers to the shape of the elastic sheet 40 when it is not deformed by an external force. In addition, by partially blocking the cleaning port 39, the elastic sheet 40 forms a first air intake port 42 for introducing (taking in) air from the outside into the bottom of the heating chamber 34.

[0040] 5B, the first air intake port 42 in the elastic sheet 40 includes slits 42A and 42B that intersect in a cross shape. A circular hole 42C is formed at the intersection of the slits 42A and 42B. Of course, the form of the first air intake port 42 in the elastic sheet 40 is not particularly limited. For example, the number of slits is not particularly limited, and the angle at which the slits intersect is also not particularly limited.

[0041] 6, the elastic sheet 40 may include a hole 42C (air intake port) and a cutout 42D. The cutout 42D is a cutout formed in the elastic sheet 40. Normally, the lips 43A and 43B located on either side of the cutout 42D of the elastic sheet 40 are in contact with each other. However, when a user uses a cleaning tool, for example, the cleaning head presses the elastic sheet 40, opening the cutout 42D, allowing for easy cleaning with the cleaning tool.

[0042] In this embodiment, the heater 50, power supply unit 51, and control unit 52 are housed in the lower housing 33, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 . The heater 50 is provided, for example, in the lower sleeve 36. The lower sleeve 36 may be a metal tube, such as stainless steel, with the planar heater 50 disposed to cover the outer surface of the metal tube. The heater 50 may be, for example, a flexible metal thin film heater or film heater. Alternatively, an electrically insulating material, such as polyimide, may be disposed on the outer periphery of the heater 50 so as to cover the heater 50. The heater 50 generates heat when power is supplied from the power supply unit 51. As described above, the flavor inhalation device 30 includes the heater 50 disposed on the lateral periphery of the heating chamber 34, and can heat the flavor stick 1 inserted into the heating chamber 34 from the outer periphery. The power supply unit 51 may include, for example, a lithium-ion battery, a nickel battery, an alkaline battery, or the like. The control unit 52 is an electronic component, such as an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), that performs various controls in the flavor inhalation device 30. The MCU is mainly composed of, for example, a processor, and may further include a memory composed of a storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) required for the operation of the processor and a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various information. The processor is, for example, an electric circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements. The control unit 52 controls the power supply from the power supply unit 51 to the heater 50 when the flavor inhalation device 30 is operating.

[0043] Furthermore, a heat insulating member 306 is disposed inside the housing 31 of the flavor inhalation device 30. The heat insulating member 306 is disposed in a region located between the bottom wall 331 of the housing 31 and the heater 50.

[0044] As described above, the housing 31 in this embodiment has the upper housing 32 and the lower housing 33 that can be detached, so that by removing the upper housing 32 from the lower housing 33, the power supply unit 51 housed in the lower housing 33 can be exposed to the outside from the upper opening end 330 of the lower housing 33. This makes it easy to replace or dispose of the battery.

[0045] 2 and 3, the heater 50 is accommodated inside the lower housing 33. The heater 50 is not disposed in the upper end section of the lower sleeve 36. This allows the heater 50 to be disposed in a position that is retracted downward from the upper open end 330 of the lower housing 33. This makes it difficult for the user's fingers to directly touch the heater 50 when the upper housing 32 is removed from the lower housing 33.

[0046] Additionally, the lower housing 33 may be provided with an operation unit that can be operated by the user and a notification unit that notifies various pieces of information. The operation unit is, for example, a push-button switch, but may also be configured with a switch other than a push-button, a touch panel, or the like. The notification unit may also be configured to include, for example, a light-emitting element. The notification unit may notify various pieces of information according to the color emitted by the light-emitting element. The notification unit may also be configured to include a vibration element.

[0047] 1, a groove 300 is formed on the outer surface of the housing 31, extending along a lower opening end 320 of the upper housing 32 and an upper opening end 330 of the lower housing 33, straddling the lower opening end 320 and the upper opening end 330. The groove 300 is formed so as to go around the housing 31 in a circumferential direction perpendicular to the height direction (X direction) of the housing 31. A second air intake port is formed at the bottom of the groove 300 to introduce air from the outside into the heating chamber 34.

[0048] 7 is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the second air intake port 301 formed in the groove portion 300 of the housing 31. Specifically, it shows the schematic configuration of the portion surrounded by the chain line B in FIG. 2. Reference numeral 302 in FIG. 7 denotes a first half groove portion formed on the outer surface side of the lower opening end 320 of the upper housing 32, and reference numeral 303 denotes a second half groove portion formed on the outer surface side of the upper opening end 330 of the lower housing 33. When the upper housing 32 and the lower housing 33 are integrally engaged, the groove portion 300 is formed by combining the first half groove portion 302 and the second half groove portion 303.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 7 , a second air intake 301 opens at the groove bottom 304 of the groove portion 300. The second air intake 301 communicates with the heating chamber 34 through an air flow path 305, and air taken in from the outside through the second air intake 301 is introduced into the heating chamber 34 via the air flow path 305. In this embodiment, the air introduced through the second air intake 301 and the air flow path 305 is introduced to an intermediate position in the height direction of the heating chamber 34, details of which will be described later. In this embodiment, because the second air intake 301 opens at the groove bottom 304 of the groove portion 300, it is possible to prevent the second air intake 301 from being unintentionally blocked by the fingers of a user holding the housing 31.

[0050] Next, the structure of the flavor stick 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the flavor stick 1 is a so-called slim-type non-combustion heating flavor inhalation article in which a plurality of rod-shaped segments are interconnected, and has a diameter of, for example, 6 mm or less. In this embodiment, each segment constituting the flavor stick 1 has a cylindrical rod shape. In this specification, a flavor stick 1 having a diameter of 6 mm or less is referred to as a slim type. Furthermore, in this specification, the diameter of the flavor stick 1 means the diameter of the flavor rod segment 11, which will be described later. The diameter of the flavor stick 1 may be 4 mm or more and 6 mm or less, or 5 mm or more and 6 mm or less.

[0051] The flavor stick 1 includes a flavor rod segment 11 and a mouthpiece segment 12 that is connected to the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11 and has a mouthpiece end. The flavor stick 1 has a cylindrical rod shape that extends in one direction, and the symbol CL in Fig. 3 indicates the central axis of the flavor stick 1. The flavor rod segment 11 and the mouthpiece segment 12 are arranged coaxially, and the central axis CL can also be referred to as the central axis of the flavor rod segment 11 and the mouthpiece segment 12. Hereinafter, the direction in which the central axis CL extends will also be referred to as the axial direction of the flavor rod segment 11 and the mouthpiece segment 12.

[0052] 3, reference symbol 1a denotes the mouth end 1a formed on the rear end (downstream end) side of the flavor stick 1, and reference symbol 1b denotes the front end (upstream end) of the flavor stick 1. When inhaling the flavor stick 1, the flavor stick 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30 from the front end 1b side. Furthermore, when inhaling the flavor stick 1, air supplied to the heating chamber 34 through the first air intake port 42 of the flavor inhalation device 30 is introduced into the flavor stick 1 from the front end 1b.

[0053] The flavor rod segment 11 is a segment in which a flavor source 111 is wound in cigarette paper 112, and releases flavor components when heated from the outer periphery by the heater 50 while inserted into the heating chamber 34. The flavor source 111 is, for example, a tobacco filler containing an aerosol base material. The tobacco filler may contain, for example, one or more of tobacco shreds, tobacco granules, and reconstituted tobacco material.

[0054] The reconstituted tobacco material may be a reconstituted tobacco sheet cut into small pieces or pulverized into granular or powder form, or a reconstituted tobacco sheet folded without being cut. A reconstituted tobacco sheet is, for example, a homogenized tobacco material obtained by adding a binder, a gelling agent, a crosslinking agent, a flavoring, a viscosity modifier, etc. to the homogenized tobacco, kneading the mixture, and then forming it into a sheet using an appropriate method. Homogenized tobacco is a tobacco material obtained by crushing, grinding, and blending leaf tobacco, dried tobacco leaves, shredded tobacco, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, etc. The reconstituted tobacco sheet may be a reconstituted tobacco slurry sheet (reconstituted tobacco cast sheet), a reconstituted tobacco paper sheet, or a reconstituted tobacco rolled sheet formed using an appropriate method such as a slurry method, a papermaking method, or a rolling method. For example, a reconstituted tobacco slurry sheet is a reconstituted tobacco sheet produced by drying and dehydrating a reconstituted tobacco slurry spread on a flat plate. A reconstituted tobacco paper sheet is a reconstituted tobacco sheet produced by blending a reconstituted tobacco slurry with pulp (cellulose fiber) and then papermaking the mixture. The reconstituted tobacco rolled sheet is a reconstituted tobacco sheet produced by rolling a reconstituted tobacco slurry into a sheet using a roller or the like, and then drying the sheet.

[0055] The tobacco filler may also contain a flavoring. The type of flavoring is not particularly limited. The flavor source 111 does not necessarily have to be a tobacco filler, as long as it is a material that releases a flavoring component when heated by the heater 50. In this case, for example, the flavor source 111 may be a plant material that does not contain tobacco components. That is, the flavor source 111 may contain one or more selected from the mesophyll, leaf veins, stems, roots, flowers, seeds, and pulp of a plant that does not contain tobacco components. Herb materials can be suitably used as a flavor source as a plant material that does not contain tobacco components.

[0056] The amount of the flavor source 111 packed in the flavor rod segment 11 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 140 mg to 350 mg. The amount of the flavor source 111 packed is preferably 140 mg to 280 mg, more preferably 140 mg to 250 mg, and even more preferably 140 mg to 200 mg. The volume of the flavor source 111 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 450 mm ３ It may be more than that.

[0057] The aerosol base is a base material that generates an aerosol when the volatile substance released upon evaporation by heating with the heater 50 is cooled. The type of aerosol base is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a liquid containing one or more substances selected from glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, and 1,3-butanediol. The content of the aerosol base in the flavor source 111 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 8% by weight or more.

[0058] The cigarette paper 112 may be made of any sheet material capable of winding the flavor source 111 into a rod shape, such as paper or a polymer film. The cigarette paper 112 may be made of a single sheet material, or may be made of a laminate of multiple sheets of sheet material. The cigarette paper 112 may be coated on either the outer or inner surface. For example, the cigarette paper 112 may be a laminated sheet of paper and a polymer film, and a water-resistant coating may be applied to either or both of the inner and outer surfaces. This configuration can suppress staining caused by evaporation or leakage of the volatile flavor source or aerosol base from the flavor rod segment 11 during storage or inhalation of the flavor stick 1.

[0059] In the example shown in Fig. 4, the mouthpiece segment 12 has a cooling segment 121 and a filter segment 122. The cooling segment 121 is formed as a hollow element disposed adjacent to the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11. In this embodiment, the flavor rod segment 11 (hollow element) is formed by a paper tube formed by bonding one or more sheets of paper together into a cylindrical shape. As shown in Fig. 3, the cooling segment 121 is disposed adjacent to the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11. That is, the cooling segment 121 is disposed downstream of the flavor rod segment 11, and the filter segment 122 is disposed downstream of the cooling segment 121.

[0060] In the example shown in Fig. 3, the flavor stick 1 is formed by winding the flavor rod segment 11 and the mouthpiece segment 12 together with the tipping paper 13. The tipping paper 13 is a winding sheet material that winds the flavor rod segment 11 and the mouthpiece segment 12 together. Specifically, the tipping paper 13 winds the flavor rod segment 11, the cooling segment 121, and the filter segment 122 together and coaxially connects them. Note that the cooling segment 121 and the filter segment 122 of the mouthpiece segment 12 may be connected together by winding them with a paper wrapper, and the integrated mouthpiece segment 12 may be connected to the flavor rod segment 11 with the tipping paper 13. Note that in the example shown in Fig. 4, the entire mouthpiece segment 12 and the rear side of the flavor rod segment 11 are wound in a state where they are covered with the tipping paper 13. The length of the section of the rear side of the flavor rod segment 11 covered by the tipping paper 13 (length in the stick axial direction) is preferably short, for example, 5 mm or less, within a range that allows a firm connection between the flavor rod segment 11 and the mouthpiece segment 12. This allows heat to be easily transferred to the flavor source 111 when the flavor rod segment 11 is heated from the outer periphery by the heater 50.

[0061] The cooling segment 121 is a segment for cooling the volatile substance released from the flavor rod segment 11 (flavor source 111) when the flavor stick 1 is inhaled. The volatile substance released from the flavor rod segment 11 (flavor source 111) is cooled as it flows downstream (toward the rear stage) along the cooling segment 121, thereby facilitating the generation of aerosol. As shown in FIG. 4 , the cooling segment 121 has an air vent 14 for introducing air into the mouthpiece segment 12. The air vent 14 is formed so as to penetrate the tipping paper 13 and the cooling segment 121 (paper tube) in the thickness direction. When the flavor stick 1 is inhaled, the volatile substance introduced from the flavor rod segment 11 is mixed with air introduced into the cooling segment 121 through the air vent 14, thereby facilitating the cooling of the volatile substance and the generation of aerosol. However, the flavor stick 1 does not necessarily have to have the air vent 14. 3, the ventilation hole 14 is disposed upstream (front end side) of the cooling segment 121. In this way, by setting the position where air is taken in from the ventilation hole 14 upstream (front end side) of the cooling segment 121, it is easy to ensure a section where the volatile substance introduced from the flavor rod segment 11 to the cooling segment 121 can be cooled, and the effect of cooling the volatile substance and promoting the generation of aerosol can be enhanced.

[0062] Furthermore, the inner surface of the cardboard tube that constitutes the cooling segment 121 may be coated with a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol or a polysaccharide such as pectin. In this way, the cooling effect can be increased by utilizing the heat of dissolution that accompanies the heat absorption and phase change of the coating. As another embodiment of the cooling segment 121, a cooling sheet member may be filled inside a cylindrical cardboard tube.

[0063] The thickness of the material (paper tube) that constitutes the cooling segment 121 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 5 μm or more and 500 μm or less, or 10 μm or more and 250 μm or less.

[0064] The filter segment 122 is, for example, a segment including a filter material 1221 and a wrapping paper 1222 around which the filter material 1221 is wrapped. For example, the wrapping paper 1222 may be adhered to the outer periphery of the filter material 1221 with an adhesive. The filter material 1221 may be a filter material for general smoking articles. The filter material 1221 may be, for example, a cellulose acetate filter material formed by shaping cellulose acetate fibers into a cylindrical shape. The shape of the filter material 1221 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a center-hole filter material. A center-hole filter material is a filter material having a hollow portion in the center of its cross section along the axial direction, for example, a center hole formed along the axial direction of the cellulose acetate filter material. The filter material 1221 does not have to be wrapped in the wrapping paper 1222.

[0065] The filter segment 122 may include multiple filter materials. For example, the filter segment 122 may have a cellulose acetate filter material disposed on the mouthpiece end 1a side, with a center-hole filter material disposed in front of the cellulose acetate filter material. Of course, the shape of the filter segment 122 is not particularly limited, and other shapes may be adopted. When the filter segment 122 includes multiple filter materials, each filter material may be individually wrapped in a first wrapping paper, and these multiple filter materials may be collectively wrapped in a second wrapping paper.

[0066] The material of the roll 1222 is not particularly limited, and known materials can be used. The thickness of the roll 1222 is not particularly limited, and is usually 20 μm or more and 140 μm or less. The basis weight of the roll 1222 is also not particularly limited, and is usually 20 gsm or more and 100 gsm or less. A water-resistant coating may be applied to either or both of the inner and outer surfaces of the roll 1222.

[0067] The material of the tipping paper 13 is not particularly limited, and can be paper made from general plant fiber (pulp), a sheet made from polymer-based chemical fiber (polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, etc.), a polymer-based sheet, metal foil, or a composite material combining these. For example, the tipping paper 13 may be made from a composite material in which a polymer-based sheet is bonded to a paper base material. The tipping paper 13 may also be coated with a water-resistant coating on either or both of its inner and outer surfaces.

[0068] In addition, various other modified examples can be adopted for the flavor stick 1. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the flavor stick 1 according to embodiment 1. Here, the differences from the structure shown in Fig. 4 will be mainly described, and common elements will be assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.

[0069] In the flavor stick 1 shown in Figure 8(A), only the configuration of the mouthpiece segment 12 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 4. The mouthpiece segment 12 shown in Figure 8(A) is formed as a segment in which a center-hole filter material 1221A is wrapped in a wrapping paper 1222. A center hole 1221B is provided axially through the center of the cross section of the center-hole filter material 1221A. This serves both as a cooling segment and a filter segment. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8(A), an air vent 14 is formed in the mouthpiece segment 12. The air vent 14 penetrates the tipping paper 13, the wrapping paper 1222, and the center-hole filter material 1221A in the thickness direction, allowing outside air to be introduced into the center hole 1221B.

[0070] In the flavor stick 1 shown in Figure 8 (B), only the configuration of the mouthpiece segment 12 differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 3. The mouthpiece segment 12 shown in Figure 8 (B) includes a support segment 123, a cooling segment 121, and a filter segment 122. The support segment 123, cooling segment 121, and filter segment 122 are arranged in this order from the front end (upstream side) of the mouthpiece segment 12. The support segment 123 is a hollow element segment arranged in contact with the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11, and supports the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11 with its front end surface. The support segment 123 is formed, for example, as a segment in which a center hole filter material 1231 is wrapped with a wrapping paper 1232. In addition, a center hole 1233 is provided axially through the center of the cross section of the center hole filter material 1231. When the flavor stick 1 is sucked, the volatile substance released from the flavor rod segment 11 (flavor molded body 22 ) flows through the center hole 1233 of the support segment 123 .

[0071] The flavor stick 1 shown in FIG. 8(C) differs from the flavor stick 1 shown in FIG. 4 in that a front segment 15 is connected to the front end of the flavor rod segment 11. In the flavor stick 1 shown in FIG. 8(C), the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1 is formed by the front end surface of the front segment 15. The front segment 15 is a member for preventing volatile substances released from the flavor rod segment 11 from leaking from the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1. The front segment 15 includes a cylindrical plug material 151 and a wrapping paper 152 around which the plug material 151 is wrapped. The plug material 151 may be, for example, a cylindrical member made of cellulose acetate fiber. The front segment 15 may also have other configurations, such as a paper filter in which sheet-like pulp paper is packed into the wrapping paper 152. A paper filter is preferable because it is less likely to deform due to the heat of the heater 50. Furthermore, when cellulose acetate fiber is used for the plug material 151, a plasticizer such as triacetin may not be included. This makes it easier to prevent the plug material 151 from being deformed (shrinked) by the heat of the heater 50. Furthermore, instead of forming the plug material 151 from a fibrous body, the plug material 151 may be formed from a porous body.

[0072] 8(C), the first tipping paper 16 is wound around the front segment 15, the flavor rod segment 11, and the cooling segment 121. The first tipping paper 16 is adhered to the outer peripheral surfaces of the front segment 15, the flavor rod segment 11, and the cooling segment 121, thereby connecting them together. The intermediate assembly, in which the front segment 15, the flavor rod segment 11, and the cooling segment 121 are integrated by the first tipping paper 16, and the filter segment 122 are connected by being wound together with the second tipping paper 17. The second tipping paper 17 is adhered to the first tipping paper 16, the cooling segment 121, and the filter segment 122.

[0073] In the example shown in Figure 8(C) , the front end of the first tipping paper 16 coincides with the front end of the front segment 15 (the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1), and the rear end of the first tipping paper 16 is located in the middle of the cooling segment 121 in the axial direction. The rear end of the second tipping paper 17 coincides with the rear end of the filter segment 122 (the mouthpiece end 1a of the flavor stick 1). The front end of the second tipping paper 17 is located upstream (on the front end side) of the cooling segment 121, and is positioned closer to the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1 (upstream) than the rear end of the first tipping paper 16. As shown in Figure 8(C) , the first tipping paper 16 and the second tipping paper 17 are bonded together with a partial overlap, so that the front end of the second tipping paper 17 covers the rear end of the first tipping paper 16 from the outside.

[0074] In the configuration example shown in Figure 8 (C) , the air vent 14 is formed on the upstream side (front end side) of the cooling segment 121. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8 (C) , only the first tipping paper 16 is wrapped around the upstream side (front end side) of the cooling segment 121, and both the first tipping paper 16 and the second tipping paper 17 are wrapped around the downstream side (rear end side) of the cooling segment 121. The air vent 14 is located in the upstream region of the cooling segment 121 where only the first tipping paper 16 is wrapped. In this way, by arranging the air vent 14 in a position where the first tipping paper 16 and the second tipping paper 17 do not overlap, the output of the laser used to form the air vent 14 during the production of the flavor stick 1 can be kept low.

[0075] As described above, variations of the flavor stick 1 have been described with reference to Figures 8(A) to 8(C), but the variations of the flavor stick 1 are not limited to these, and various other embodiments can be adopted. For example, the mouthpiece segment 12 of the flavor stick 1 shown in Figure 8(C) may be replaced with the mouthpiece segment 12 shown in Figure 8(A) or 8(B).

[0076] 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the flavor stick 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30. With the stick inserted in this state, the heater 50 is activated, whereby the flavor rod segment 11 of the flavor stick 1 is heated from the outer periphery, causing the flavor source 111 to release volatile substances including flavor components.

[0077] The flavor stick 1 is positioned in the heating chamber 34 when it is inserted to a predetermined position (the bottom of the heating chamber 34) where its front end 1b abuts against the elastic sheet 40. When the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1 inserted into the heating chamber 34 abuts against the elastic sheet 40, the elasticity of the elastic sheet 40 provides a feeling of insertion of the flavor stick 1 and allows the flavor stick 1 to be inserted into the correct position. As shown in Figure 8, when the flavor stick 1 is inserted to the bottom of the heating chamber 34, the mouthpiece segment 12 of the flavor stick 1 is held by the protrusion 353 of the heating chamber 34 (upper sleeve 35). This prevents the flavor stick 1 from unintentionally falling out of the heating chamber 34.

[0078] The flavor inhalation device 30 is configured as a bottom-flow type inhalation device in which air is introduced into the bottom of the heating chamber 34. That is, when the flavor stick 1 is inhaled using the flavor inhalation device 30, air is introduced into the bottom of the heating chamber 34 through a first air inlet 42 formed in the bottom wall 331 of the housing 31 (lower housing 33) (more specifically, the elastic sheet 40 provided in the cleaning port 39). The air introduced into the bottom of the heating chamber 34 from the first air inlet 42 is taken into the flavor stick 1 from the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1, and is mixed with volatile substances released from the flavor source 111 by heating with the heater 50 to generate an aerosol.

[0079] Furthermore, the flavor inhalation device 30 has a second air intake port 301 (see FIG. 7 ). Air taken into the housing 31 through the second air intake port 301 of the flavor inhalation device 30 is introduced into the middle of the heating chamber 34 in the height direction through the air flow path 305. The air introduced into the middle of the heating chamber 34 from the second air intake port 301 is introduced into the mouthpiece segment 12 through the air vent 14 of the flavor stick 1, and the volatile substances and aerosols that have flowed into the mouthpiece segment 12 from the flavor rod segment 11 are cooled by the air. As shown in FIG. 9 , the height of the air vent 14 of the flavor stick 1 inserted to the bottom of the heating chamber 34 may be designed to approximately match the height of the second air intake port 301 of the flavor inhalation device 30. This allows the air from the second air intake port 301 to be efficiently guided to the air vent 14 of the flavor stick 1 while shortening the flow path length of the air flow path 305.

[0080] Furthermore, when using the flavor inhalation device 30, during intervals when the user is not inhaling the flavor stick 1 (hereinafter referred to as "inhalation intervals") or during pre-heating of the heater 50, it is undesirable for aerosol (smoke) leaking from the vent hole 14 of the flavor stick 1 into the heating chamber 34 to flow back through the air flow path 305 and leak outside the housing 31 through the second air intake port 301. Therefore, it is preferable to design the flavor inhalation device 30 so that the airflow resistance of the air flow path 305 is greater than the airflow resistance of the gap formed between the heating chamber 34 and the flavor stick 1. This makes it possible to preferably prevent aerosol (smoke) from leaking outside the housing 31 through the air flow path 305 and the second air intake port 301 during inhalation intervals by the user or during pre-heating of the heater 50.

[0081] Furthermore, the elastic sheet 40 of the flavor inhalation device 30 is provided in a dome-shaped raised form from the cleaning port 39 toward the heating chamber 34 (i.e., upward). Therefore, even if condensation is formed as a result of cooling of the volatile substance released from the flavor rod segment 11 and the condensation drips from the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1, the condensation will flow along the surface of the dome-shaped raised elastic sheet 40 and accumulate on the mounting portion 41 (i.e., accumulate at the bottom of the heating chamber 34). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the droplets (the condensation) from leaking out of the housing 31 through the first air intake port 42.

[0082] Furthermore, the flavor inhalation device 30 is provided with a heat insulating member 306 in a region located between the bottom wall 331 of the housing 31 and the heater 50. This makes it difficult for heat from the heater 50 to be transmitted to the bottom wall 331 of the housing 31. As a result, when using the flavor inhalation device 30, the user's fingers holding the housing 31 are less likely to feel hot. As shown in Figure 9, when the flavor stick 1 is inserted to a specified position in the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30, the mouth end 1a of the flavor stick 1 is exposed to the outside from the insertion opening 37. The length of the portion of the flavor stick 1 that is exposed (protrudes) to the outside from the insertion opening 37 is not particularly limited, but may protrude by approximately 15 to 20 mm.

[0083] As described above, the flavor stick 1 in this embodiment is a slim-type non-combustion heating flavor inhalation article, and the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30 used for inhalation is also thin. Furthermore, the mouthpiece segment 12 of the flavor stick 1 often includes a hollow element on the inside, which tends to weaken its rigidity. This raises concerns that the mouthpiece segment 12 may be easily broken when the flavor stick 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30. Therefore, the flavor stick 1 in this embodiment employs a structure that makes the mouthpiece segment 12 less likely to break when inserted into the heating chamber 34.

[0084] Specifically, the flavor stick 1 in this embodiment comprises a first winding sheet that winds up the outermost layer of the flavor rod segment 11, and a second winding sheet that winds up the outermost layer of the mouthpiece segment 12 in at least a portion of the mouthpiece segment 12, and the second winding sheet has at least one of a basis weight and a thickness that is relatively larger than that of the first winding sheet.

[0085] In the flavor stick 1 shown in Figures 4 and 8(A) and (B), the wrapping paper 112 corresponds to the first winding sheet, and the tipping paper 13 corresponds to the second winding sheet. In this case, at least one of the basis weight and thickness of the tipping paper 13 is made relatively larger than that of the wrapping paper 112. In the flavor stick 1 shown in Figure 8(C), the first tipping paper 16 corresponds to the first winding sheet, and the second tipping paper 17 corresponds to the second winding sheet. In this case, at least one of the basis weight and thickness of the second tipping paper 17 is made relatively larger than that of the first tipping paper 16. This embodiment increases the rigidity of the mouthpiece segment 12. As a result, the mouthpiece segment 12 is less likely to break when the flavor stick 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30.

[0086] Here, when the basis weight of the first wound sheet is ρ1 and the basis weight of the second wound sheet is ρ2, it is preferable to satisfy the following formula (1): 0.3≦ρ1 / ρ2<1 (1)

[0087] Furthermore, when the thickness of the first wound sheet is t1 and the thickness of the second wound sheet is t2, it is preferable to satisfy the following equation (2): 0.3≦t1 / t2<1 (2)

[0088] Although the basis weight ρ1 and thickness t2 of the first winding sheet are not particularly limited, an embodiment in which the basis weight ρ1 is 20 gsm or more and less than 50 gsm, and the thickness t2 is 30 μm or more and less than 50 μm, is exemplified. By doing so, the thermal conductivity of the first winding sheet is increased, and the flavor rod segment 11 can be efficiently heated from the outer periphery when the heater 50 is activated.

[0089] Furthermore, it is preferable that the basis weight ρ2 of the second rolled sheet is 50 gsm or more and 80 gsm or less, and the thickness t2 is 50 μm or more and 80 μm or less, which increases the rigidity of the mouthpiece segment 12 and makes the mouthpiece segment 12 less likely to break when the flavor stick 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30.

[0090] Furthermore, when the cooling segment 121 (hollow element) adjacent to the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11 includes a paper tube, as in the flavor stick 1 shown in Figure 4 or Figure 8(C), it is preferable to satisfy the following formula (3): 0.015 ≤ t3 / D1 ≤ 0.06 (3) where t3 is the thickness of the paper tube and D1 is the diameter of the flavor stick 1.

[0091] By specifying the relationship between the thickness t3 of the paper tube constituting the cooling segment 121 (hollow element) and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1 as described above, the cooling segment 121 (hollow element) can be made less likely to break when the flavor stick 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30.

[0092] 8A and 8B, when a hollow element such as a center-hole filter material 1221A, 1231 is disposed adjacent to the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11, it is preferable to satisfy the formula (3.1) where D2 is the inner diameter of the center-hole filter material and D1 is the diameter of the flavor stick 1. 0.3≦D2 / D1≦0.6 ... formula (3.1)

[0093] In this way, by specifying the relationship between the inner diameter D2 of the center hole filter material and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1, the center hole filter materials 1221A, 1231 (hollow elements) can be made less likely to break when the flavor stick 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 34 of the flavor inhalation device 30.

[0094] Furthermore, when the flavor source 111 of the flavor rod segment 11 includes a reconstituted tobacco sheet, the reconstituted tobacco sheet may be a sheet that has been subjected to a crimping process (a process of creating creases along the longitudinal grain), and such a reconstituted tobacco sheet may be folded into a gathered shape and wrapped in cigarette paper 112. Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the reconstituted tobacco sheet 113 that forms the flavor source 111. Reference numeral 114 denotes the folds of the crimped reconstituted tobacco sheet 113. A plurality of folds 114 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the reconstituted tobacco sheet 113. For example, the reconstituted tobacco sheet 113 has folds 114 formed at regular intervals in its width direction. Here, the distance between the folds 114 is referred to as the crimp width W.

[0095] The relationship between the crimp width W of the reconstituted tobacco sheet and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1 preferably satisfies the following formula (4): 0.01≦W / D1≦0.08 (4)

[0096] As described above, by specifying the relationship between the crimp width W of the reconstituted tobacco sheet and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1 and reducing the crimp width W of the reconstituted tobacco sheet 113, the reconstituted tobacco sheet 113 in a gathered state can be easily wound with the cigarette paper 112, making it suitable for a slim-type flavor stick 1. In this case, the crimp width W of the reconstituted tobacco sheet 113 may be, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 0.4 mm or less.

[0097] Furthermore, it is preferable that the relationship between the crimp width W of the reconstituted tobacco sheet and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1 satisfies the following formula (5): 0.1≦W / D≦0.4 (5)

[0098] As described above, by specifying the relationship between the crimp width W of the reconstituted tobacco sheet and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1 and increasing the crimp width W, it is possible to reduce the airflow resistance of the flavor rod segment 11. In this case, the crimp width W of the reconstituted tobacco sheet 113 may be, for example, 0.7 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less.

[0099] Furthermore, when a reconstituted tobacco sheet cut into strips is used as the flavor source 111 of the flavor rod segment 11, the width of the strips in the short side direction can be 0.1 mm or more and 0.4 mm or less. This makes it easier to wind the multiple strips of the reconstituted tobacco sheet into cigarette paper 112, making it suitable for a slim-type flavor stick 1.

[0100] 8(C), when the flavor stick 1 includes a front segment 15, the airflow resistance of the front segment 15 is preferably set to be greater than the airflow resistance of the mouthpiece segment 12. Increasing the airflow resistance of the front segment 15 in this way can prevent smoke (aerosol) from leaking from the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1. In particular, because the flavor inhalation device 30 in this embodiment is a bottom-flow type device, preventing smoke (aerosol) from leaking from the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1 can prevent smoke (aerosol) from leaking from the first air intake port 42 (cleaning port 39) of the flavor inhalation device 30.

[0101] In addition, in a slim-type flavor stick 1 such as that of this embodiment, the internal pressure tends to increase when inhaled, and smoke (aerosol) tends to leak from the front end 1b, so it is preferable to increase the axial length of the front segment 15.

[0102] Therefore, it is preferable that the relationship between the length L1 of the front segment 15 and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1 satisfies the following formula (6): 0.8≦L1 / D1≦2.0 (Formula (6))

[0103] The length of the front segment may be 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

[0104] By doing so, leakage of smoke (aerosol) from the front end 1b of the flavor stick 1 can be more effectively suppressed.

[0105] Next, the position of the vent hole 14 in the flavor stick 1 will be described. In the longitudinal direction of the flavor stick 1, the distance L2 from the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11 to the vent hole 14 is preferably set to be smaller than the distance L3 from the mouthpiece end 1a to the vent hole 14. In this way, by locating the opening position of the vent hole 14 near the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11, the aerosol can be cooled from a position immediately downstream of the flavor rod segment 11.

[0106] In particular, it is preferable that the relationship between the distance L2 from the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11 to the air hole 14 and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1 satisfies the following formula (7): 0.5≦L2 / D1≦2.0 (7)

[0107] In this way, by specifying the relationship between the distance L2 from the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11 to the ventilation hole 14 and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick 1, it is possible to enhance the cooling effect of the aerosol by the air introduced through the ventilation hole 14. Furthermore, the distance L2 from the rear end of the flavor rod segment 11 to the ventilation hole 14 may be 3 mm or more and 12 mm or less.

[0108] The total length of the flavor stick 1 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 60 mm or more and 85 mm or less for a long stick, or 40 mm or more and 50 mm or less for a short stick.

[0109] The lengths of the various segments constituting the flavor stick 1 can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the overall length of the flavor stick 1 and the type and number of segments included in the flavor stick 1. For example, if the flavor stick 1 is a long type and its overall length is 60 mm to 85 mm, the length of the flavor rod segment 11 may be 20 mm to 30 mm. The length of the cooling segment 121 may be, but is not limited to, 10 mm to 25 mm when the flavor stick 1 is a long type, or 5 mm to 15 mm when the flavor stick 1 is a short type.

[0110] In addition, the configuration of the flavor stick 1 according to this embodiment and the flavor inhalation device 30 used for inhaling the flavor stick 1 can be modified as appropriate. For example, as described in FIG. 8C , if a front segment 15 is provided at the front end of the flavor stick 1, the front segment 15 may be attached in front of the flavor rod segment 11, with a side portion 151A (hereinafter referred to as the "front end side") of the front segment 15 located at the front end of the plug material 151 exposed, as shown in FIG. 11 . FIG. 11 is a partial side view of the front end 1b side of a flavor stick 1 according to a modified example. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , the front end side portion 151A of the plug material 151 is not covered by the wrapping paper 152 and the first tipping paper 16, and is exposed to the outside. For example, at the front end of the plug material 151, the cellulose acetate fibers constituting the plug material 151 are exposed. The axial length of the region where the front end side portion 151A of the plug material 151 is exposed to the outside can be, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. In this way, by exposing the front end side portion 151A of the plug material 151 to the outside, condensate that drips onto the bottom (mounting portion 41) of the heating chamber 34 when the flavor stick 1 is inhaled can be easily absorbed through the front end side portion 151A of the plug material 151.

[0111] In addition, the flavor inhalation device 30 shown in Figures 1 to 3 has a heating chamber 34 formed over almost the entire section from the top to the bottom inside the housing 31, and a structure that is mainly suitable for long flavor sticks 1 is exemplified, but the length of the section in the housing 31 where the heating chamber 34 is formed can be changed as appropriate to suit the length of the flavor stick 1 to be used.

[0112] Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flavor inhalation device 30A suitable for use with short-type flavor sticks 1. Fig. 12 shows the internal structure of the flavor inhalation device 30A. Similar to Fig. 3, Fig. 12 also schematically illustrates a state in which the upper housing 32 is removed from the lower housing 33. The flavor inhalation device 30A differs from the flavor inhalation device 30 described above in the internal structure of the lower housing 33. Specifically, in the flavor inhalation device 30A, the lower sleeve 36 installed in the lower housing 33 has a bottom wall 361 that forms the bottom surface of the heating chamber 34, and an air intake port 362 is formed in the bottom wall 361. The air intake port 362 is formed as a through-hole that penetrates the bottom wall 361 in the thickness direction.

[0113] The bottom wall 331 of the lower housing 33 has an air vent 334 penetrating the bottom wall 331 in the thickness direction. The air vent 334 formed in the bottom wall 331 and the air intake 362 formed in the bottom wall 361 are connected via an air passage 333. As a result, the flavor inhalation device 30A is able to introduce air from outside the housing into the bottom of the heating chamber 34 through the air vent 334, the air passage 333, and the air intake 362. In the flavor inhalation device 30A shown in FIG. 12, the insertion opening 37, the heating chamber 34, and the air vent 334 are coaxially arranged in a straight line. The flavor inhalation device 30A does not have a cleaning opening 39 or an elastic sheet 40. In the flavor inhalation device 30A shown in FIG. 12, by adjusting the lengths of the lower sleeve 36 and the air passage 333, an inhalation device compatible with flavor sticks 1 of various lengths, including short flavor sticks 1, can be provided.

[0114] The flavor stick 1 as a product form may be contained in a package. Furthermore, when multiple flavor sticks 1 are contained in a package, each flavor stick 1 may be individually wrapped. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments and variations, a so-called slim-type flavor stick has been used as an example, and specific forms for solving the problem of the flavor stick easily breaking during insertion into the heating chamber of the flavor inhalation device have been described. However, the present invention may also be applied to flavor sticks other than the so-called slim type. For example, the flavor stick may have a diameter greater than 6 mm and less than or equal to 7.5 mm.

[0115] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the flavor stick and non-combustion type flavor inhalation product of the present invention are not limited to these. Furthermore, each aspect disclosed in the above-described embodiments and variations can be combined with any other aspect disclosed in this specification.

[0116] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1: flavor stick 11: flavor rod segment 12: mouthpiece segment 13: tipping paper 30: flavor suction device 31: housing 34: heating chamber 40: elastic sheet 50: heater

Claims

1. A flavor stick that is inserted into a heating chamber of a flavor inhalation device during use and heated from the outer periphery by a heater, a flavor rod segment comprising an aerosol base and a flavor source; a mouthpiece segment connected to a rear end of the flavor rod segment and having a mouth end; a first winding sheet for winding the outermost layer of the flavor rod segment; a second winding sheet that winds up the outermost layer of at least a portion of the mouthpiece segment; Equipped with The second rolled sheet has at least one of a basis weight and a thickness that is relatively larger than that of the first rolled sheet. Flavoring sticks.

2. 2. The flavor stick according to claim 1, wherein when the basis weight of the first wound sheet is ρ1 and the basis weight of the second wound sheet is ρ2, the following formula (1) is satisfied: 0.3≦ρ1 / ρ2<1...Equation (1)

3. 2. The flavor stick according to claim 1, wherein when the thickness of the first wound sheet is t1 and the thickness of the second wound sheet is t2, the following formula (2) is satisfied: 0.3≦t1 / t2<1...Equation (2)

4. The flavor stick according to claim 1, wherein the second wound sheet has a basis weight ρ2 of 50 gsm or more and 80 gsm or less and a thickness t2 of 50 μm or more and 80 μm or less.

5. the mouthpiece segment includes a hollow element disposed adjacent to the rear end of the flavor rod segment; 2. A flavor stick according to claim 1, wherein the hollow element comprises a paper tube, and when the thickness of the paper tube is t3 and the diameter of the flavor stick is D1, the following equation (3) is satisfied: 0.015≦t3 / D1≦0.06...Equation (3)

6. the flavor source comprises a reconstituted tobacco sheet; the reconstituted tobacco sheet is a crimped sheet, The flavor stick according to claim 1 , wherein the following formula (4) is satisfied, where W is the crimp width of the reconstituted tobacco sheet and D1 is the diameter of the flavor stick. 0.01≦W / D1≦0.08...Equation (4)

7. the flavor source comprises a reconstituted tobacco sheet; the reconstituted tobacco sheet is a crimped sheet, The flavor stick according to claim 1 , wherein the formula (5) is satisfied when the crimp width of the reconstituted tobacco sheet is W and the diameter of the flavor stick is D1. 0.1≦W / D1≦0.4...Equation (5)

8. The total length of the flavor stick is 60 mm or more and 85 mm or less, and the length of the flavor rod segment is 20 mm or more and 30 mm or less. The flavor stick of claim 1 .

9. Further provided is a front segment connected to the front end side of the flavor rod segment, The airflow resistance of the front segment is greater than the airflow resistance of the mouthpiece segment. The flavor stick of claim 1 .

10. 10. The flavor stick according to claim 9, wherein the formula (6) is satisfied when the length of the front segment is L1 and the diameter of the flavor stick is D1. 0.8≦L1 / D1≦2.0...Equation (6)

11. 10. The flavor stick according to claim 9, wherein the length of the front segment is between 5 mm and 10 mm.

12. a vent hole for taking air from the outside into the mouthpiece segment; In the longitudinal direction of the flavor stick, a distance L2 from the rear end of the flavor rod segment to the air hole is smaller than a distance L3 from the mouth end to the air hole. The flavor stick of claim 1 .

13. The flavor stick according to claim 12, wherein the relationship between the distance L2 and the diameter D1 of the flavor stick satisfies formula (7). 0.5≦L2 / D1≦2.0...Equation (7)

14. A flavor stick according to any one of claims 1 to 13; a flavor suction device; Equipped with The flavor inhalation device comprises: a housing having an insertion opening for the flavor stick; a heating chamber formed within the housing, the heating chamber allowing the flavor stick to be inserted through the insertion opening; a heater that heats the flavor stick inserted into the heating chamber from the outer periphery; having A non-combustion, heated flavor inhalation product.

15. the insertion opening is formed in an upper wall of the housing, and a cleaning opening is formed in a bottom wall of the housing; the insertion port, the heating chamber, and the cleaning port are coaxially arranged; an elastic sheet partially covering the cleaning opening to form an air intake for introducing air from the outside into the heating chamber; the elastic sheet is provided so as to bulge from the cleaning opening toward the heating chamber when in its original shape, When the flavor stick is inserted into the heating chamber, the front end of the flavor stick is positioned by abutting against the elastic sheet. The non-combustion heating flavor inhalation product according to claim 14.

16. a heat insulating member is disposed inside the housing in a region located between the bottom wall of the housing and the heater; The non-combustion heating flavor inhalation product according to claim 15.

17. The housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing that are detachable from each other. The non-combustion heating flavor inhalation product according to claim 14.

18. The insertion opening is formed in the upper housing, the power supply unit is accommodated in the lower housing such that, when the upper housing is detached from the lower housing, the power supply unit is exposed to the outside from an upper opening end of the lower housing; The non-combustion heating flavor inhalation product according to claim 17.

19. the heater is disposed at a position retracted downward from the upper opening end of the lower housing. The non-combustion heating flavor inhalation product according to claim 17.

20. a groove portion is formed on an outer surface of the housing, the groove portion extending along the lower opening end and the upper opening end of the lower housing, straddling the lower opening end and the upper opening end of the lower housing; a second air intake port for introducing air from the outside into the heating chamber is formed at the bottom of the groove portion; The non-combustion heating flavor inhalation product according to claim 17.