Smoking system
The smoking system addresses the limitation of single-flavor sources by enabling independent aerosol production from dual flavor sources with a symmetrical container and timed heating, enhancing flavor variety and efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-02
AI Technical Summary
Existing aerosol generating devices for smoking materials lack the ability to efficiently switch between different flavor sources without increasing the puff count, leading to limited flavor variety and potential flavor contamination during smoking.
A smoking system with a flavor generating article containing two separate flavor sources and an aerosol generating device that allows independent heating and aerosol production from each source, featuring a container with symmetrical design and airflow channels to prevent flavor mixing and contamination, along with a heating unit that can heat each source at different timings.
The system enables increased puff count and variety by allowing switching between flavors without mixing, while preventing flavor contamination and optimizing heating efficiency.
Smart Images

Figure JP2024034090_02042026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Smoking system
[0001] The present invention relates to a smoking system.
[0002] Conventionally, an aerosol generating device for sucking flavors and the like without burning materials is known. As such an aerosol generating device, for example, a smoking material heating device that forms an aerosol by heating a smoking material composed of tobacco containing a volatile component is known. As such a smoking material, a consumable having a slab-shaped tobacco, a spacer, and a filter is known (see Patent Document 1). Further, in a smoking material heating device, it is also known that an aerosol forming base material and a susceptor are accommodated in a capsule, and the susceptor is inductively heated by an induction coil disposed around the side of the capsule (see Patent Document 2).
[0003] International Publication No. 2019 / 162497 International Publication No. 201 / 068095
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a smoking system having a new structure.
[0005] According to a first aspect, a smoking system including a flavor generating article and an aerosol generating device is provided. The flavor generating article includes a first flavor source, a second flavor source, and a container that houses the first flavor source and the second flavor source. The aerosol generating device has an aerosol generation region for generating an aerosol from the first flavor source and the second flavor source. When one of the first flavor source and the second flavor source is located in the aerosol generation region, the other of the first flavor source and the second flavor source is located outside the aerosol generation region.
[0006] According to the first aspect, the aerosol generating device can generate an aerosol from only one of the first flavor source or the second flavor source of the flavor generating article. Therefore, after smoking an aerosol generated from either the first flavor source or the second flavor source, an aerosol can be generated from the other of the first flavor source or the second flavor source and smoked. Thus, without increasing the heating unit in the aerosol generating device, the puff count in one flavor generating article can be increased compared to the prior art.
[0007] The container may have a shape that is twice symmetrical with respect to an axis passing through a point located in the center of each of the following directions: a first direction in which the first and second flavor sources are aligned, a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.
[0008] In this case, since the part of the container that houses the first flavor source and the part that houses the second flavor source have symmetrical shapes, the first flavor source and the second flavor source can be appropriately positioned in the aerosol generation area, respectively.
[0009] The first flavor source and the second flavor source may include an aerosol source.
[0010] In this case, aerosols can be generated from the first and second flavor sources.
[0011] The aerosol generating apparatus may have a single aerosol generating region.
[0012] In this case, when either the first or second flavor source is located in a single aerosol-generating region and generating an aerosol, it is possible to prevent aerosol generation from the other flavor source.
[0013] The first flavor source and the second flavor source may be placed in the container spaced apart from each other.
[0014] In this case, the transfer of heat from one of the heated flavor sources, the first or the second, to the other can be suppressed, allowing only one of the flavor sources to be properly heated. Furthermore, mixing of the first and second flavor sources can be prevented.
[0015] The flavor generating article may have an airflow channel component that forms an airflow channel between the first flavor source and the second flavor source, which are spaced apart from each other.
[0016] In this case, an air passage can be configured between the first flavor source and the second flavor source, allowing the flavor or aerosol generated by the first or second flavor source to be delivered downstream. Preferably, the air passage component does not substantially filter the flavor or aerosol generated by the first or second flavor source.
[0017] The flavor-generating article may have a breathable member that separates the first flavor source from the second flavor source.
[0018] In this case, it is possible to reliably separate the first and second flavor sources while maintaining airflow between them.
[0019] The first flavor source and the second flavor source may differ from each other in at least one of their flavor component and aerosol source content.
[0020] If the flavors are different, the first and second flavor sources can generate different flavors. Therefore, the user can enjoy multiple flavors from a single flavor-generating item. If the aerosol source content is different, a flavor source with a relatively low aerosol source content will experience a faster temperature rise, allowing for efficient delivery of the initial flavor or aerosol. In contrast, a flavor source with a relatively high aerosol source content will experience a slower temperature rise, allowing the flavor or aerosol to persist until the later stages of smoking. Therefore, the user can choose which flavor source to smoke according to their preference.
[0021] When the first flavor source is located in the aerosol generation region, the second flavor source may be located upstream of the first flavor source.
[0022] In this case, when the user smokes, the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source does not pass through the second flavor source, thus preventing the flavor of the second flavor source from being imparted to the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source. Specifically, for example, if the second flavor source has already been used, it is possible to prevent the undesirable flavor of the used second flavor source from being imparted to the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source.
[0023] When the first flavor source is located in the aerosol generation region, the second flavor source may be located downstream of the first flavor source.
[0024] In this case, when the user smokes, the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source passes through the second flavor source, so the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source can be cooled by the second flavor source or the flavor of the second flavor source can be imparted to it.
[0025] The aerosol generating apparatus may have a heating unit for heating the first flavor source and the second flavor source, and the heating unit may be configured to heat the first flavor source and the second flavor source at different timings.
[0026] In this case, when either the first or second flavor source of the flavor-generating article is heated, the other flavor source is not heated. Therefore, after inhaling the aerosol generated from either the first or second flavor source, it is possible to generate an aerosol from the other flavor source and inhale it, thus increasing the number of puffs per flavor-generating article compared to conventional methods.
[0027] The width and length of the container may be twice or more the maximum thickness of the container.
[0028] In this case, since the width and length of the container are more than twice the maximum thickness of the container, the flavor-generating article may have a shape that is close to flat overall.
[0029] The container may have a bottom wall and cylindrical side walls.
[0030] In this case, the flavor-generating article may have a shape similar to a cylindrical capsule.
[0031] The container may be made of a material that includes a heat-change material.
[0032] In this case, the container may change color when heated. Therefore, when either or both of the first and second flavor sources are heated, the portion of the container corresponding to the heated first or second flavor source will change color, visually indicating to the user that it has been heated (used). This prevents the user from accidentally using the first or second flavor source multiple times. As the heat-changeable material, for example, a heat-changeable paint or calcium carbonate, or any other material with heat-change properties, can be used.
[0033] The first flavor source and the second flavor source may contain different additives.
[0034] In this case, the first flavor source and the second flavor source may have different properties. The additive may include, for example, at least one from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate (Rochelle salt), L-tartaric acid, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate.
[0035] The aerosol generating apparatus has a capacitance sensor configured to detect the first flavor source or the second flavor source located in the aerosol generating region, and either the first flavor source or the second flavor source may contain a high dielectric material as an additive.
[0036] In this case, a difference in dielectric constant can be created between the first and second flavor sources. This allows the capacitance sensor to detect only one of the flavor sources containing the high dielectric material, making it possible to determine whether the flavor source located in the aerosol generation region is the first or second flavor source.
[0037] This is a schematic side view of an aerosol generating device for heating a flavor-generating article according to the first embodiment. This is a schematic diagram of an example of an aerosol generating device. This is a perspective view of a flavor source. This is a side view of a flavor source. This is a schematic plan view of a flavor-generating article according to the first embodiment. This is a schematic side view of a flavor-generating article according to the first embodiment. This is a schematic perspective view of a flavor-generating article according to another embodiment. This is a schematic plan view of a flavor-generating article according to another embodiment. This is a schematic plan view of a flavor-generating article according to another embodiment. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor-generating article according to the second embodiment. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a smoking system according to the second embodiment. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor-generating article according to another exploded perspective view of a spiral-shaped flow path body, which is another example of a curved flow path section. This is a schematic exploded perspective view of another example of a spiral-shaped flow path body 32. This is a schematic exploded perspective view of a helical flow path body, which is another example of a curved flow path section. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor-generating article according to another embodiment. This is a plan view showing another example of a check valve used in a flavor-generating article. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor-generating article according to another embodiment. This is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor-generating article according to another embodiment. This is a schematic side view of an aerosol generating device for heating a flavor-generating article according to the third embodiment. This is a schematic diagram of an example of an aerosol generating device. This is a schematic plan view of a flavor-generating article according to the third embodiment. This is a schematic side view of a flavor-generating article according to the third embodiment.
[0038] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings described below, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In this specification, "longitudinal direction" refers to the direction in which air passes through the flavor source of the flavor generating article or the longitudinal axis direction of the flavor generating article. In this specification, "short direction" or "width direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
[0039] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an aerosol generating device for heating a flavor-generating article according to the first embodiment. The aerosol generating device 1100 according to the first embodiment is configured to generate vapor or aerosol by heating a flavor source contained in the flavor-generating article. As shown in the figure, the aerosol generating device 1100 has a first housing 1110, a second housing 1120, and a nozzle 1130. The first housing 1110 and the second housing 1120 may be configured to be detachable from each other. The nozzle 1130 may be detachably connected to one end of the second housing 1120, or may be formed integrally with the second housing 1120.
[0040] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of an aerosol generator 1100. As shown in the figure, the aerosol generator 1100 includes a battery 1140, a heating unit 1150, a control circuit 1170, and a cooling unit 1160, which are located inside a first housing 1110. The first housing 1110 and the second housing 1120 are rotatably connected to each other, for example, by a hinge. The first housing 1110 and the second housing 1120 may also be connected to each other in a way that allows for complete separation, such as by a snap fit or screw fastening. By completely separating the first housing 1110 and the second housing 1120 in this way, the cooling unit 1160, the suction port 1130, and the heating unit 1150 can be easily cleaned.
[0041] The battery 1140 is configured to supply power to the heating unit 1150 and the control circuit 1170, etc. For example, the battery 1140 is a lithium-ion battery. The battery 1140 may be rechargeable by an external power source. The cooling unit 1160 is configured to cool the aerosol generated from the flavor generating article 1010. The cooling unit 1160 may be, for example, a space through which the passing aerosol is naturally cooled. Alternatively, the cooling unit 1160 may be arranged or filled with one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, and aluminum foil. By arranging or filling the cooling unit 1160 with these materials, the aerosol can be cooled more efficiently.
[0042] In the illustrated example, the heating unit 1150 includes a housing for housing the flavor generating article 1010 and an induction coil 1150b for inductively heating the susceptor contained in the flavor generating article 1010 housed in the housing. Note that the aerosol generating device 1100 shown in Figure 2 may also have an electromagnetic shield (not shown) between the heating unit 1150 and the control circuit 1170 to suppress electromagnetic waves generated by the induction coil 1150b from reaching the control circuit 1170. The heating unit 1150 is configured to heat the flavor generating article 1010 to, for example, 200°C to 350°C. However, the heating unit 1150 may also have a resistance heating element that heats the flavor generating article 1010 from the outside. In this case, the flavor generating article 1010 does not need to have a susceptor.
[0043] The control circuit 1170 is composed of a CPU, a memory, etc., and controls the operation of the aerosol generating device 1100. For example, the control circuit 1170 starts heating the flavor generating article 1010 according to a user operation on an input device such as a push button or a slide switch (not shown), and ends the heating of the flavor generating article 1010 when a certain period of time has elapsed. The control circuit 1170 may end the heating of the flavor generating article 1010 even before a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of heating of the flavor generating article 1010 when the number of puff operations by the user exceeds a certain value. For example, the puff operation is detected by a sensor (not shown).
[0044] Alternatively, the control circuit 1170 may start heating the flavor generating article 1010 in response to the start of a puff operation and end the heating of the flavor generating article 1010 in response to the end of the puff operation. The control circuit 1170 may end the heating of the flavor generating article 1010 even before the end of the puff operation when a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of the puff operation. In the illustrated example, the control circuit 1170 is disposed between the battery 1140 and the heating unit 1150 to suppress heat transfer from the heating unit 1150 to the battery 1140.
[0045] The flavor generating article 1010 generates vapor or aerosol of the flavor source by being heated by the heating unit 1150. The vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor generating article 1010 is cooled by passing through the cooling unit 1160 and reaches the user's mouth through the suction port 1130. In the present embodiment, the flavor generating article 1010 is in a sheet shape, a plate shape, or a card shape.
[0046] In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the suction port 1130 and the cooling unit 1160 are provided in the aerosol generating device 1100, but at least one of the suction port and the cooling unit may be provided in the flavor generating article 1010. In that case, in the aerosol generating device 1100, the suction port 1130 or the cooling unit 1160 may be omitted.
[0047] Next, the flavor source contained in the flavor generating article 1010 will be described in detail. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the flavor source 1050. Figure 4 is a side view of the flavor source 1050. As shown in Figure 3, the flavor source 1050 can be formed as a flat sheet overall. The flavor source 1050 has a main surface 1054, which is the flat surface with the largest area. The flavor generating article 1010 may have a susceptor housed in a container 1020 (see Figures 5A and 5B, etc.) which will be described later. In this case, the flavor source 1050 can be heated by induction heating of the susceptor of the flavor generating article 1010 using an induction coil provided in the aerosol generating device 1100. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, for example, the flavor source 1050 includes a corrugated first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 containing susceptor material, and flat first sheet 1051 and second sheet 1052 arranged to sandwich the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053. At least one of the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053, the first sheet 1051, and the second sheet 1052 contains tobacco and generates vapor or aerosol upon heating. In this embodiment, the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 has a sinusoidal cross-section. However, it is not limited to this, and the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 may have a corrugated cross-section of any shape, such as rectangular, triangular, or sawtooth.
[0048] Specific tobacco products include shredded dried tobacco leaves, ground tobacco leaves, or tobacco extracts (extracts with water, organic solvents, or mixed solutions thereof). The ground tobacco leaves are particles obtained by grinding tobacco leaves. The average particle size of the ground tobacco leaves can be, for example, 30 to 120 μm. The grinding can be performed using a known grinder, and either dry grinding or wet grinding may be used. Therefore, the ground tobacco leaves are also referred to as tobacco particles. In the present embodiment, the average particle size is determined by the laser diffraction / scattering method, specifically measured using a laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring device (e.g., Horiba, Ltd. LA-950). Also, the type of tobacco is not limited, and yellow tobacco, Burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, native tobacco, and other Nicotiana tabacum varieties or Nicotiana rustica varieties can be used. The amount of tobacco contained in the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053, the first sheet 1051, or the second sheet 1052 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 80% by weight, more preferably 10 to 50% by weight.
[0049] When at least one of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 contains tobacco, for example, the above-mentioned tobacco may be supported on a sheet composed of non-tobacco fibers such as pulp fibers or non-woven fabric. Alternatively, at least one of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 may be formed of a tobacco sheet. As the tobacco sheet, a hand-made sheet of tobacco leaves, a cast sheet of tobacco leaves, a rolled sheet of tobacco leaves, etc. can be used. The tobacco sheet may further contain an aerosol source. The type of the aerosol source is not particularly limited, and various extract substances from natural products and / or their constituent components can be selected according to the use. The aerosol source is preferably a polyhydric alcohol, and can be, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.
[0050] According to the flavor source 1050 shown in Figures 3 and 4, gaps S1 and S2 can be formed between the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 and the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052, respectively, through which vapor or aerosol generated from tobacco can pass. This allows for efficient delivery of vapor or aerosol generated from tobacco downstream. Furthermore, since the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 contains susceptor material, the tobacco can be heated without contacting the flavor generating article 1010 containing the flavor source 1050 with a heating source. Therefore, gaps S1 and S2 will not be crushed by contact with the flavor generating article 1010 by a heater or the like, allowing for stable delivery of vapor or aerosol. In addition, at least one of the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053, the first sheet 1051, and the second sheet 1052 may contain an aerosol source. In this case, the amount of aerosol delivered to the user can be increased.
[0051] As shown in Figure 3, the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 has convex and concave sections extending along its longitudinal direction d1, giving it a corrugated cross-section. The first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 can also be described as a ridged sheet overall.
[0052] At least one of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 may be a non-tobacco sheet formed from a non-tobacco material. In this case, specifically, for example, it is preferable that at least one of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 includes paper or pulp mold. This allows the flavor source 1050 to be formed to be lightweight, inexpensive, and robust. At least one of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 may contain tobacco. In this case, when the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 is induction heated, the tobacco contained in at least one of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 is heated, and vapor or aerosol may be generated.
[0053] The first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 may contain tobacco. As a result, when the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 is induction-heated, the tobacco contained in the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 is heated, and vapor or aerosol may be generated, thereby increasing the amount of flavor or aerosol. In this case, the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 may differ from each other in at least one of the following: flavor, thickness, aerosol source content, and surface shape.
[0054] Furthermore, in this case, the thickness of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 is preferably between 0.25 mm and 4.0 mm. If the thickness of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 is less than 0.25 mm, the amount of vapor or aerosol generated per unit area of the sheet may be reduced. If the thickness of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 is greater than 4.0 mm, the size of the flavor source 1050 becomes too large. In this case, heating the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 takes time, which may result in a longer time until initial puffing or insufficient delivery of the initial puff. Therefore, if the thickness of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 is within the above range, sufficient vapor or aerosol can be generated, and the size of the flavor source 1050 can be suppressed.
[0055] The height h1 of the wave portion of the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 is preferably 0.2 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less. If the height h1 of this wave portion (see Figure 4) is less than 0.2 mm, the gaps S1 and S2 between the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 and the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 become too small, which may prevent the efficient delivery of flavor or aerosol generated from tobacco downstream. In this case, the heat insulation provided by the gaps S1 and S2 between the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 and the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 may also decrease. If the height h1 of this wave portion exceeds 2.0 mm, the size of the flavor source 1050 becomes too large. Therefore, if the height h1 of the wave portion is within the above range, the flavor or aerosol can be efficiently delivered and the size of the flavor source 1050 can be suppressed.
[0056] The width of the wave portion of the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 (i.e., the length between wave peaks) is preferably 0.2 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less. If this width is less than 0.2 mm, there is a risk that the suction resistance will increase undesirably when an aerosol is passed through the waves and inhaled. If this width exceeds 2.0 mm, there is a risk that the strength of the flavor-generating article 1010 will weaken. Therefore, if this width is within the above range, the strength of the flavor-generating article 1010 can be maintained while suppressing an undesirable increase in suction resistance.
[0057] At least one of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052 may contain a fragrance. In this case, the fragrance can be supplied to the user in addition to the flavor or aerosol. The type of fragrance is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of imparting a good fragrance, acetanisole, acetophenone, acetylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, alfalfa extract, amyl alcohol, amyl butyrate, trans-anethole, star anise oil, apple juice, Peruvian balsam oil, beeswax absolute, benzaldehyde, benzoin resinoid, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, benzyl propionate, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanol, butyl butyrate, butyric acid, caramel, cardamom oil, carob absolute, β-carotene, carrot juice, L-carvone, β-caryophyllene, cassia bark oil, cedarwood oil, celery seed oil, chamomile oil, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, citronella oil, DL-citronella Ronellol, Clary Sage Extract, Cocoa, Coffee, Cognac Oil, Coriander Oil, Cumin Aldehyde, Davana Oil, δ-Decalactone, γ-Decalactone, Decanoic Acid, Dill Herb Oil, 3,4-Dimethyl-1,2-Cyclopentanedione, 4,5-Dimethyl-3-Hydroxy-2,5-Dihydrofuran-2-one, 3,7-Dimethyl-6-Octenic Acid, 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-Dimethylpyrazine, Ethyl 2-Methyl Butyrate, Ethyl Ethyl Butyrate, Ethyl Hexanoate, Ethyl Isovalerate, Ethyl Lactate, Ethyl Laurate, Ethyl Levulinate, Ethyl Maltol, Ethyl Octanoate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Palmitate, Ethyl Phenyl Ethyl, Ethyl Propionate, Ethyl Stearate, Ethyl Valerate, Ethyl Vanillin, Ethyl Vanillin Glucoside, 2-Ethyl-3(5 or 6)-dimethylpyrazine, 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine, eucalyptol, fenugreek absolute, genus absolute, gentian root infusion, geraniol, geranyl acetate, grape juice, guaiacol, guava extract, γ-heptalactone, γ-hexalactone, hexanoic acid, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, hexyl acetate, hexyl alcohol, hexyl phenylacetate, honey, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid Chloride, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, sodium 4-hydroxyundecanoate, inmortel absolute, β-ionone, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, isoamyl phenylacetate, isobutyl acetate, isobutyl phenylacetate, jasmine absolute, cola nut tincture, labdanum oil, lemon terpene oil, licorice extract, linalool, linalyl acetate, robe Dioscorea root oil, maltol, maple syrup, menthol, menthone, L-menthyl acetate, paramethoxybenzaldehyde, methyl-2-pyrrolyl ketone, methyl anthranilate, methyl phenylacetate, methyl salicylate, 4'-methylacetophenone, methylcyclopentenolone, 3-methylvaleric acid, mimosa absolute, honey, myristic acid, nerol, nerolidol, gamma-nonalactone, nutmeg oil, delta-octaractone, octanal, octanoic acid, orange flower oil, orange oil, orris root oil, palmitic acid, ω-pentadyl Calactone, peppermint oil, petitgrain Paraguay oil, phenethyl alcohol, phenethyl phenylacetate, phenylacetic acid, piperonal, plum extract, propenyl guaetol, propyl acetate, 3-propyridenephthalide, prune juice, pyruvic acid, raisin extract, rose oil, rum, sage oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil, styrax absolute, marigold oil, tea distillate, α-terpineol, terpinyl acetate, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,59-Tetramethyl-13-oxacyclo(8.3.0.0(4.9))tridecane, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, thyme oil, tomato extract, 2-tridecanone, triethyl citrate, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadienyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, γ-undecalactone, γ-valerolactone, vanilla extract, vanillin, veratrol At least one of the following may be selected: aldehydes, violet leaf absolute, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboamide (WS-3), ethyl-2-(p-menthane-3-carboxamide) acetate (WS-5), sugars (sucrose, fructose, etc.), cocoa powder, carob powder, coriander powder, licorice powder, orange peel powder, rosehip powder, chamomile flower powder, lemon verbena powder, peppermint powder, leaf powder, spearmint powder, black tea powder, natural plant-derived fragrances (e.g., jasmine oil, lemon oil, vetiver oil, lovage oil), and esters.
[0058] Furthermore, the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 may extend only to a portion of the flavor source 1050 in the longitudinal direction d1 or the width direction d2. In this case, the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 has a shorter length or width than the overall length or width of the flavor source 1050. Therefore, the flavor source 1050 does not need to have a first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 that has the same size as its overall size, and the amount of susceptor material can be reduced by providing the necessary amount of first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 relative to the flavor source 1050.
[0059] The flavor source 1050 shown in Figures 3 and 4 may omit at least one of the first sheet 1051 and the second sheet 1052. For example, the flavor source 1050 may consist only of the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053. Also, the flavor source 1050 shown in Figures 3 and 4 is in the form of a sheet as a whole. However, it is not limited to this, and the flavor source 1050 may have any form such as a block, sheet, granules, or paste. In this case, the flavor source 1050 may be a porous material.
[0060] Figure 5A is a schematic plan view of the flavor generating article 1010 according to the first embodiment. Figure 5B is a schematic side view of the flavor generating article 1010 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the flavor generating article 1010 includes a flavor source 1050 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, and a container 1020 that houses the flavor source 1050. The container 1020 has an air inlet 1021 and an air outlet 1022. The air inlet 1021 communicates with the vent of the aerosol generating device 1100 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and is configured to take in air from this vent. The air outlet 1022 communicates with the suction port 1130 of the aerosol generating device 1100, and releases the vapor or aerosol generated by the flavor source 1050 to the suction port 1130. The container 1020 has a flavor source storage section 1025, and the flavor source 1050 is stored in the flavor source storage section 1025.
[0061] In this embodiment, the width W1 and length L1 of the container 1020 are at least twice the maximum thickness T1 of the container 1020. The container 1020 of this embodiment, shown in Figures 5A and 5B, has a generally flattened shape. Here, length L1 refers to the length along the longitudinal direction of the container 1020. The length L1 of the container 1020 may be greater than or equal to the width W1 of the container 1020. In this case, the flavor-generating article 1010 can have a shape different from the conventional cylindrical tobacco stick.
[0062] The container 1020 for the flavor generating article 1010 may be flexible. The width W1 of the container 1020 for the flavor generating article 1010 may be greater than the width of the housing section of the aerosol generating device 1100. In this case, when the flavor generating article 1010 is housed in the housing section of the aerosol generating device 1100, the flavor generating article 1010 may be compressed in the width direction by the housing section. The air inlet 1021 and air outlet 1022 of the flavor generating article 1010 may be closed in advance, and the air inlet 1021 and air outlet 1022 may be opened when the flavor generating article 1010 is housed in the housing section and compressed in the width direction.
[0063] As shown in the figure, the flavor generating article 1010 has a first air passage 1024 extending between the air outlet 1022 and the flavor source 1050, and a second air passage 1023 extending between the air inlet 1021 and the flavor source 1050. In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the first air passage 1024 between the air outlet 1022 and the flavor source 1050 is greater than or equal to the length of the second air passage 1023 between the air inlet 1021 and the flavor source 1050, and the length of the second air passage 1023 is greater than 0. In this case, compared to the case where the length of the first air passage 1024 is shorter than the length of the second air passage 1023, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 1050 from the first air passage 1024 when the flavor source 1050 is heated while the user is not smoking can be suppressed. Furthermore, compared to the case where the length of the first air passage 1024 is shorter than the length of the second air passage 1023, the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 1050 can be cooled more effectively in the first air passage 1024. The flavor source 1050 has an air inlet 1050a communicating with the second air passage 1023 and an air outlet 1050b communicating with the first air passage 1024. The first air passage 1024 and the air outlet 1022 may also function as a cooling section and an air intake for the flavor generating article 1010, respectively. In that case, the cooling section 1160 or the air intake 1130 in the aerosol generating device 1100 shown in Figure 2 can be omitted.
[0064] As shown in Figure 5A, it is preferable that the flow area of the flavor source 1050 is larger than the flow area of the first airflow channel 1024. In this case, since the flow area of the first airflow channel 1024 is relatively small, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 1050 from the first airflow channel 1024 during heating of the flavor source 1050 when the user is not smoking can be suppressed. In addition, it can be prevented that the flavor source 1050 will fall off the flavor-generating article through the first airflow channel. Note that the flow area of the flavor source 1050 refers to, for example, the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the straight line connecting the shortest distance between the air inlet and air outlet of the flavor source 1050. In the example shown in Figure 5A, the flow area of the flavor source 1050 refers to the cross-sectional area of the flavor source 1050 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The flow area of the first airflow channel 1024 refers to the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the airflow direction of the first airflow channel 1024. Furthermore, the length of the flavor source 1050 along its longitudinal direction (length L1 direction) may be greater than or less than its length along its width direction (width W1 direction).
[0065] As shown in Figure 5A, it is preferable that the flow area of the flavor source 1050 is larger than the flow area of the second airflow channel 1023. In this case, since the flow area of the second airflow channel 1023 is relatively small, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 1050 from the second airflow channel 1023 can be suppressed when the flavor source 1050 is heated while the user is not smoking. In addition, it can be prevented that the flavor source 1050 will fall off the flavor generating article 1010 through the second airflow channel 1023.
[0066] As shown in Figure 5A, it is preferable that the first air passage 1024 has a first passage section 1024a having a substantially constant width, and a second passage section 1024b connecting the flavor source 1050 to the first passage section 1024a, with the width narrowing as it moves downstream. In this case, since the second passage section 1024b, which narrows as it moves downstream, is provided between the flavor source 1050 and the first passage section 1024a, vapor or aerosol from the flavor source 1050 can be smoothly delivered to the first passage section 1024a. Furthermore, since the width of the passage can be narrowed downstream by providing the second passage section 1024b, the width of the first air passage 1024 can be reduced even if the width of the flavor source 1050 is relatively large. As a result, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 1050 from the first air passage 1024 can be suppressed.
[0067] The first air passage 1024 may contain a known filter, such as a paper filter or an acetate filter, or it may be a hollow passage. The first air passage 1024 may also be in communication with an opening for taking in air from the outside. To promote cooling, the first air passage 1024 may be filled with or placed with one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, and aluminum foil.
[0068] The width of the upstream end of the second flow channel 1024b may be substantially equal to or less than the width of the flavor source 1050. The width of the downstream end of the second flow channel 1024b may also be substantially equal to the width of the first flow channel 1024a. In this case, since there is no substantial difference in width between the second flow channel 1024b and the first flow channel 1024a, pressure loss at the boundary between the second flow channel 1024b and the first flow channel 1024a can be suppressed. Furthermore, if the width of the upstream end of the second flow channel 1024b is substantially equal to the width of the flavor source 1050, pressure loss at the boundary between the flavor source 1050 and the second flow channel 1024b can also be suppressed.
[0069] As shown in Figure 5A, it is preferable that the second air passage 1023 widens as it moves downstream. In this case, the air from the air inlet 1021 passes through the second air passage 1023, allowing the air to diffuse in the width direction, thus supplying air to a wider area of the flavor source 1050.
[0070] The width of the upstream end of the second air passage 1023 may be substantially equal to the width of the air inlet 1021. The width of the downstream end of the second air passage 1023 may be substantially equal to or smaller than the width of the flavor source 1050. In this case, since there is no substantial difference in width between the air inlet 1021 and the second air passage 1023, pressure loss at the boundary between the air inlet 1021 and the second air passage 1023 can be suppressed. Furthermore, if the width of the downstream end of the second air passage 1023 is substantially equal to the width of the flavor source 1050, pressure loss at the boundary between the second air passage 1023 and the flavor source 1050 can be suppressed.
[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5A, it is preferable that the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 are located on substantially the same axis. In other words, it is preferable that the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 do not deviate from substantially the same axis over their entire length. In this case, curvature of the air passage including the second air passage 1023 and the first air passage 1024 is suppressed, and thus an increase in suction resistance or pressure loss can be suppressed.
[0072] As shown in Figure 5B, the container 1020 may have a first member 1020a and a second member 1020b. The second member 1020b is joined directly or indirectly to the first member 1020a. In this case, the flavor source 1050 can be easily housed in the container by sandwiching it between the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b. Specifically, the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b face each other so that the flavor source 1050 is positioned between them. The container 1020 has a joint portion 1027a (shaded portion in the figure) where the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b are joined, and a non-joined portion 1027b where the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b are not joined. The first member 1020a and the second member 1020b can be joined to each other by known methods such as adhesive, heat sealing, or welding. The joint portion 1027a is configured so that air and the like cannot pass through. The non-joint portion 1027b forms a space between the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b. Therefore, the second air passage 1023, the first air passage 1024, and the flavor source storage portion 1025 are each part of the space between the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b formed by the non-joint portion 1027b.
[0073] As shown in Figure 5B, the thicknesses T1 and T2 of the container 1020 in the portion where the flavor source 1050, the first air passage 1024, or the second air passage 1023 are located may be greater than the thickness T3 of the container 1020 in the portion where the flavor source 1050, the first air passage 1024, and the second air passage 1023 are not located. In this case, the thickness T3 of the container 1020 in the portion where the flavor source 1050, the first air passage 1024, and the second air passage 1023 are not located can be made relatively smaller, thereby making the overall size of the container 1020 more compact.
[0074] As shown in Figure 5B, the container 1020 has a joint surface 1027c between the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b. The portion of the first member 1020a or the second member 1020b where the flavor source 1050, the first air passage 1024, or the second air passage 1023 is located (i.e., the non-jointed portion 1027b) may protrude further than the joint surface 1027c toward the first member 1020a or the second member 1020b. In this case, the first member 1020a or the second member 1020b has a recess relative to the joint surface 1027c, and this recess can function as a space for the flavor source 1050 to be placed (flavor source housing portion 1025) or as an air passage. In the example shown in Figure 5B, both the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b protrude from the joint surface 1027c, on the first member 1020a side and the second member 1020b side, respectively. In the illustrated example, the height of the first air passage 1024, the second air passage 1023, or the flavor source 1050 protruding from the first member 1020a side is the same as the height of the first air passage 1024, the second air passage 1023, or the flavor source 1050 protruding from the second member 1020b side. That is, the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b are symmetrical with respect to the joint surface 1027c. However, the height of the first air passage 1024, the second air passage 1023, or the flavor source 1050 protruding towards the first member 1020a may be lower or higher than the height of the first air passage 1024, the second air passage 1023, or the flavor source 1050 protruding towards the second member 1020b.
[0075] As shown in Figure 5A, the container 1020 has a first end 1030a and a second end 1030b that face each other in a first direction, and a third end 1030c and a fourth end 1030d that face each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. At least one end of the first member 1020a and at least one end of the second member 1020b are joined to each other at the first end 1030a to form the first flange portion 1031a. In this embodiment, the first direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction, and the second direction corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. However, it is not limited to this, and the first direction can be any direction.
[0076] As described above, in this embodiment, since the width W1 and length L1 of the container 1020 are more than twice the maximum thickness T1 of the container 1020, the flavor generating article 1010 may have a shape that is close to flat overall. In this way, even if the flavor generating article 1010 has a special shape, the user can grasp the first flange portion 1031a, making it easier to handle the flavor generating article 1010. In particular, when removing the flavor generating article 1010 from the aerosol generating device 1100 after use, or when the flavor generating article 1010 is partially hot, the user can handle the flavor generating article 1010 more safely. Also, when the flavor generating article 1010 is placed in the recess of the aerosol generating device 1100, the first flange portion 1031a can come into contact with the wall portion that defines the recess of the aerosol generating device 1100. At this time, the first flange portion 1031a bends, and the flavor generating article 1010 is biased from the wall portion, allowing the flavor generating article 1010 to be positioned. Note that the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b may be formed integrally at one end. That is, for example, by folding a single member, a portion corresponding to the first member 1020a and a portion corresponding to the opposing second member 1020b may be formed.
[0077] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5A, at least one end of the first member 1020a and at least one end of the second member 1020b may be joined together at the second end 1030b to form a second flange portion 1031b. In this case, the user can grasp the second flange portion 1031b, making it even easier to handle the flavor-generating article 1010.
[0078] As shown in Figure 5A, at least one end of the first member 1020a and at least one end of the second member 1020b may be joined together at the third end 1030c to form a third flange portion 1031c. In this case, the user can grasp the third flange portion 1031c, making it even easier to handle the flavor-generating article 1010.
[0079] As shown in Figure 5A, at least one end of the first member 1020a and at least one end of the second member 1020b may be joined together at the fourth end 1030d to form a fourth flange portion 1031d. In this case, the user can grasp the fourth flange portion 1031d, making it even easier to handle the flavor-generating article.
[0080] The first flange portion 1031a preferably protrudes away from the flavor source 1050. More specifically, as shown in Figure 5A, the first flange portion 1031a preferably protrudes along the longitudinal direction so as to move away from the flavor source 1050. In this case, the first flange portion 1031a protrudes outward from the flavor generating article 1010, so that the user can easily grasp the first flange portion 1031a. Similarly, at least one of the second flange portion 1031b, the third flange portion 1031c, and the fourth flange portion 1031d preferably protrudes away from the flavor source 1050.
[0081] The first flange portion 1031a preferably extends along the entire length of the container 1020 in the second direction (in this embodiment, the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction). In this case, the range of the first flange portion 1031a that the user can grasp becomes larger, making it easier to handle the flavor-generating article 1010. However, in this case, it becomes difficult to form an air outlet 1022 at the first end 1030a as in this embodiment, so it is desirable to form the air outlet 1022 at a portion other than the first end 1030a. Similarly, the second flange portion 1031b preferably extends along the entire length of the container 1020 in the second direction. In this case, it becomes difficult to form an air inlet 1021 at the second end 1030b as in this embodiment, so it is desirable to form the air inlet 1021 at a portion other than the second end 1030b. Preferably, at least one of the third flange portion 1031c and the fourth flange portion 1031d extends along the entire length of the container 1020 in the first direction (in this embodiment, the longitudinal direction).
[0082] Preferably, the ratio of the length of the joint portion 1027a between the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b in the first direction to the length of the container 1020 excluding the joint portion 1027a in the first direction is 0.1 or more and 0.3 or less. Here, "first direction" can be any direction in which the joint portion 1027a (flange portion) extends. That is, in any direction, preferably, the ratio of the length of the joint portion 1027a to the length of the container 1020 excluding the joint portion 1027a in that direction (i.e., the non-jointed portion 1027b) is 0.1 or more and 0.3 or less. If the above ratio is less than 0.1, the length of the joint portion 1027a becomes shorter relative to the total length of the container 1020, making it difficult for the user to grasp the joint portion 1027a. On the other hand, if the above ratio is greater than 0.3, the length of the joint portion 1027a becomes longer relative to the total length of the container 1020, making the overall size of the container 1020 larger. Therefore, in the above case, it is possible to make it easier for the user to grasp the joint portion 1027a while suppressing an increase in the overall size of the container 1020.
[0083] Preferably, at least one of the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b is concave. In this case, since the flavor source 1050 can be placed in the concave portion of at least one of the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b, the positioning of the flavor source 1050 relative to the container 1020 can be easily performed. As shown in Figure 5B, in this embodiment, a part of each of the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b is formed to be concave, and the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b define the flavor source housing portion 1025. For example, by forming either the first member 1020a or the second member 1020b to be concave and the other to be flat, a container 1020 consisting of a concave member and a flat member can be formed.
[0084] The first member 1020a and the second member 1020b may be made of different materials. In this case, appropriate materials can be used for the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b, which provides flexibility in the design of the container 1020 for the flavor-generating article 1010.
[0085] Furthermore, the container 1020 may be made of paper. Specifically, the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b may be made of paper. In this case, the container 1020 can be manufactured inexpensively and easily. More specifically, the container 1020 may be made of pulp mold. The container 1020 may be made of an air-impermeable material. Here, an air-impermeable material refers to a material whose air permeability is 0 CU when measured according to ISO 2965-1997. Specifically, the container 1020 may be made of air-impermeable paper. More specifically, the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b may be made of air-impermeable paper. In this case, it is possible to suppress the leakage of vapor or aerosol generated from the flavor source 1050 from unintended parts of the container 1020.
[0086] The container 1020 may have a water-resistant coating on at least one of its inner and outer surfaces. Specifically, at least one of the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b may have a water-resistant coating on at least one of its inner and outer surfaces. In this case, it is possible to suppress moisture from entering the flavor source 1050 inside the container 1020.
[0087] The air inlet 1021 and air outlet 1022 may be defined by a first member 1020a and a second member 1020b. In this case, the air inlet 1021 and air outlet 1022 can be formed by creating an unjoined portion (non-joined portion 1027b) when joining the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b. The air inlet 1021 or air outlet 1022 may also be formed by creating a through hole in the first member 1020a or the second member 1020b.
[0088] The flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 5A has a single air outlet 1022 and a single first air passage 1024. However, the flavor generating article 1010 may have multiple air outlets 1022 and multiple first air passages 1024 between the multiple air outlets 1022 and the flavor source 1050. In this case, the contact area between the vapor or aerosol generated by the flavor source 1050 and the wall surface of the container 1020 defining the multiple first air passages 1024 can be increased, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the vapor or aerosol.
[0089] In the flavor-generating article 1010 shown in Figure 5B, the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b are directly joined at the joint surface 1027c. However, the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b may be joined to each other via a spacer. In this case, the container 1020 may have a substantially uniform thickness as a whole. Specifically, by preparing a first member 1020a and a second member 1020b that are flat overall, and placing a spacer corresponding to the thickness of the flavor source containment section 1025, the second air passage 1023, and the first air passage 1024 between the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b at the joint 1027a, the container 1020 will have a substantially uniform thickness as a whole. This makes it easier to handle the flavor-generating article 1010.
[0090] The flavoring agent 1050 may be adhered to the container 1020. In this case, the flavoring agent 1050 can be easily positioned and fixed relative to the container 1020. Alternatively, if the flavoring agent 1050 is in paste form, it may be applied to the container 1020.
[0091] At least one of the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b may have a recess that defines at least one of the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 in advance before they are joined together. In this case, since the recess is formed in advance, it is not necessary to form the first air passage 1024 or the second air passage 1023 when joining the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b. Therefore, the accuracy of the first air passage 1024 or the second air passage 1023 can be improved compared to the case where the first air passage 1024 or the second air passage 1023 is formed when joining the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b.
[0092] A method for manufacturing the flavor-generating article 1010 shown in Figures 5A and 5B will be described. As described above, the flavor-generating article 1010 has a flavor source 1050, a first end 1030a and a second end 1030b facing each other in a first direction, and a third end 1030c and a fourth end 1030d facing each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a container 1020 that houses the flavor source 1050, the width and length of the container 1020 being at least twice the maximum thickness of the container 1020. This manufacturing method first includes placing the flavor source 1050 on the first member 1020a. Next, the second member is positioned so that the flavor source 1050 is located between the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b, and at least one end of the first member 1020a and at least one end of the second member 1020b are joined together at the first end 1030a. In this case, a first flange portion 1031a that can be grasped by the user can be formed at the first end 1030a of the container 1020. This makes it possible to manufacture a flavor-generating article 1010 that is easy to handle. Similarly, at least one end of the first member 1020a and at least one end of the second member 1020b may be joined together at at least one of the second end 1030b, the third end 1030c, and the fourth end 1030d.
[0093] After the first member 1020a and the second member 1020b are joined, a portion of the joint 1027a may be cut off. This allows the container 1020 to be formed into a desired shape.
[0094] Other embodiments of the flavor generating article 1010 will be described. Figure 6A is a schematic perspective view of the flavor generating article 1010 according to another embodiment. Figure 6B is a schematic plan view of the flavor generating article 1010 according to another embodiment. In the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figures 6A and 6B, a first flange portion 1031a is formed at the first end 1030a, a second end portion 1030b is formed at the second end 1030b, an air inlet 1021 is formed at the third end 1030c, and an air outlet 1022 is formed at the fourth end 1030d.
[0095] As shown in the figures, a second air passage 1023 is not substantially formed between the air inlet 1021 and the flavor source 1050. On the other hand, a first air passage 1024 is provided between the air outlet 1022 and the flavor source 1050, having a cross-sectional shape substantially identical to that of the flavor source 1050. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment, flange portions are not formed at the third end 1030c and the fourth end 1030d, and the air inlet 1021 and air outlet 1022 are formed over substantially the entire length of each end. That is, the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figures 5A and 5B has a four-sided seal, whereas the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figures 6A and 6B has a two-sided seal.
[0096] Furthermore, in the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the thickness of the portion of the container 1020 corresponding to the flavor source storage portion 1025 and the thickness of the portion corresponding to the first air passage 1024 are formed to be substantially the same. That is, the thickness of the non-joint portion 1027b is formed to be substantially uniform overall. In contrast, the thickness of the joint portion 1027a, including the first flange portion 1031a and the second flange portion 1031b, is thinner than the thickness of the non-joint portion 1027b.
[0097] Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of a flavor generating article 1010 according to another embodiment. The flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 7 differs from the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figures 5A and 5B in that the second air passage 1023 is longer. That is, in the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 7, the length of the first air passage 1024 between the air outlet 1022 and the flavor source 1050 is shorter than the length of the second air passage 1023 between the air inlet 1021 and the flavor source 1050. In this case, compared to the case where the length of the first air passage 1024 is longer than the length of the second air passage 1023, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated at the flavor source 1050 from the second air passage 1023 can be suppressed when the flavor source 1050 is heated while the user is not smoking.
[0098] In the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 7, it is preferable that the second air passage 1023 has a third passage section 1023a having a substantially constant width, and a fourth passage section 1023b that connects the air inlet 1050a of the flavor source 1050 to the third passage section 1023a and narrows in width toward the upstream direction. In this case, since the fourth passage section 1023b, which narrows in width toward the upstream direction, is provided between the flavor source 1050 and the third passage section 1023a, the width of the second air passage 1023 can be reduced even if the width of the flavor source 1050 is relatively large. As a result, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 1050 from the second air passage 1023 can be suppressed. In the illustrated example, the second air passage 1023 extends along the longitudinal direction, and the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 are located on substantially the same axis. However, the second air passage 1023 can take any shape that is longer than the first air passage 1024.
[0099] Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of the flavor generating article 1010 according to another embodiment. The flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 8 differs from the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 7 in the shape of the second air passage 1023 and the position of the air inlet 1021, etc. Specifically, in the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 8, the air outlet 1022 is provided at the first end 1030a, and the air inlet 1021 is provided on the first end 1030a side of the air inlet 1050a of the flavor source 1050. In this case, the air flowing in from the air inlet 1021 of the container 1020 flows toward the second end 1030b and into the air inlet 1050a of the flavor source 1050, and then flows to the air outlet 1022 provided at the first end 1030a. In other words, the air flowing in from the air inlet 1021 flows from the first end 1030a towards the second end 1030b, and then flows back towards the first end 1030a, so this flavor generating article 1010 has a so-called counterflow type airflow channel. Therefore, in this case, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 1050 from the second airflow channel 1023 and the air inlet 1021 can be further suppressed.
[0100] As shown in the figure, the container 1020 may have two air inlets 1021 and two second air passages 1023 between the two air inlets 1021 and the flavor source 1050. In this case, even if one of the air inlets 1021 or the second air passages 1023 is blocked, air can still be supplied to the flavor source 1050 from the other air inlet 1021 or the second air passage 1023.
[0101] Furthermore, as shown in the figure, it is preferable that the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 overlap in the first direction (the longitudinal direction in the illustrated example) connecting the first end 1030a and the second end 1030b. In other words, it is preferable that the positions of the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 overlap in the first direction. As with the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 7, if the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 do not overlap in the first direction, the length of the container 1020 in the first direction may increase. Therefore, the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 8 can shorten the length of the container 1020 in the first direction while ensuring the lengths of the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023, compared to the case where the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 do not overlap in the first direction.
[0102] Furthermore, as shown in the figure, when the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 overlap in the first direction, it is preferable that the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 do not short-circuit. For this reason, it is preferable that the container 1020 and the flavor source 1050 are configured to partition the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 so that the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 do not communicate directly. In other words, it is preferable that the container 1020 and the flavor source 1050 seal the space between the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 so that the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 do not communicate directly. In this case, it is possible to suppress the air flowing in from the air inlet 1021 and passing through the second air passage 1023 from passing through the first air passage 1024 without passing through the flavor source 1050 and reaching the air outlet 1022. As a result, the vapor or aerosol generated at the flavor source 1050 can be delivered to the air outlet 1022 more reliably.
[0103] Preferably, the flavor source 1050 is sealed by the container 1020, except for the portion communicating with the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023. Specifically, the flavor source 1050 may be sealed by the container 1020 so that air does not flow in or out from the portion of the flavor source 1050 excluding the air inlet 1050a and the air outlet 1050b. In this case, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 1050 from the portion of the flavor source 1050 other than the portion communicating with the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 can be suppressed. However, the portion of the flavor source 1050 excluding the air inlet 1050a and the air outlet 1050b may be sealed by a component other than the container 1020.
[0104] As shown in Figure 8, a portion of the second air passage 1023 may be located to the side of the flavor source 1050. In other words, a portion of the second air passage 1023 may be adjacent to the flavor source 1050 in the width direction. In this case, it is preferable that the space between the second air passage 1023 and the flavor source 1050 is sealed by the container 1020. This ensures that a portion of the second air passage 1023 passes to the side of the flavor source 1050 before flowing into the flavor source 1050, thereby ensuring the length of the second air passage 1023.
[0105] At least one of the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 may be at least partially defined by the container 1020 and the flavor source 1050. In the example shown in Figure 8, a portion of the second air passage 1023 is defined by the container 1020 and the flavor source 1050. In this case, since the flavor source 1050 is used to partially define at least one of the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023, the material required for the container 1020 can be reduced compared to the case where at least one of the first air passage 1024 and the second air passage 1023 is defined by the container 1020 alone.
[0106] Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of a flavor generating article 1010 according to another embodiment. The flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 9 differs from the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 7 in the shape of the second air passage 1023 and the position of the air inlet 1021, etc. Specifically, in the flavor generating article 1010 shown in Figure 8, the air outlet 1022 is provided at the first end 1030a, and the air inlet 1021 is provided on the first end 1030a side of the air inlet 1050a of the flavor source 1050. Furthermore, the second air passage 1023 passes over the surface of the flavor source 1050 other than the air inlet 1050a and air outlet 1050b, and communicates with the air inlet 1050a. In this case, an air layer is formed on the surface of the flavor source 1050, so that the heat of the flavor source 1050 is not transferred to the outside of the container 1020.
[0107] Specifically, it is preferable that the second air passage 1023 passes over the main surface 1054 (see Figure 3) of the flavor source 1050 and communicates with the air inlet 1050a. In this case, an air layer is formed on the main surface 1054 of the flavor source 1050, so a large area of the air layer can be secured, and the transfer of heat from the flavor source 1050 to the outside of the container 1020 can be further suppressed. In the illustrated example, the second air passage 1023 surrounds the flavor source 1050 in a substantially spiral shape and communicates with the air inlet 1050a of the flavor source 1050. However, it is not limited to this, and the second air passage 1023 may, for example, pass over only one of the main surfaces 1054 of the flavor source 1050.
[0108] Figure 10 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor-generating article according to the second embodiment. Figure 11 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a smoking system according to the second embodiment. As shown in Figure 11, the smoking system 2200 includes a flavor-generating article 2010 and an aerosol generator 2100. The aerosol generator 2100 is configured to generate flavor-containing vapor or aerosol by heating a flavor source 2020 housed in a container 2012. The aerosol generator 2100 has a heating source 2110 for heating the flavor-generating article 2010. In the example shown in Figure 11, the aerosol generator 2100 has an induction coil as the heating source 2110. However, the aerosol generator 2100 may also have a heating element that can be inserted into the flavor-generating article 2010, or a heating element that heats the flavor-generating article 2010 from the outside, as the heating source 2110. The heating source 2110 is configured to heat the flavor-generating article 2010 to, for example, 200°C to 350°C.
[0109] After use, the flavor-generating article 2010 can be removed from the aerosol generator 2100 and disposed of. A new flavor-generating article 2010 can then be used in the aerosol generator 2100. In other words, the flavor-generating article 2010 is a cartridge used in the aerosol generator 2100.
[0110] As shown in Figure 11, the aerosol generator 2100 includes a chamber 2120 for housing the flavor-generating article 2010 and a mouthpiece 2130. Furthermore, the aerosol generator 2100 may include a housing 2101, a battery 2102, and a control unit 2103. The housing 2101 houses the battery 2102, the control unit 2103, and the heating source 2110. The housing 2101 may be divisible into two or more parts.
[0111] The battery 2102 is configured to supply power to the heating source 2110 and the control unit 2103, etc. For example, the battery 2102 is a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery, such as a lithium-ion battery. The battery 2102 may be rechargeable by an external power source. The battery 2102 is electrically connected to the heating source 2110 via the control unit 2103. This allows the battery 2102 to supply power to the heating source 2110 so as to properly heat the flavor source 2020 contained in the flavor generating article 2010.
[0112] The control unit 2103 consists of a CPU and memory, and controls the operation of the aerosol generator 2100. Specifically, the control unit 2103 can control the supply of power from the battery 2102 to the heating source 2110. For example, the control unit 2103 starts heating the flavor generating article 2010 in response to user operation on an input device such as a push button or a slide switch (not shown), and stops heating the flavor generating article 2010 after a certain period of time has elapsed. The control unit 2103 may also stop heating the flavor generating article 2010 even before a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of heating if the number of puffing actions by the user exceeds a certain value. For example, the puffing action is detected by a sensor (not shown).
[0113] Alternatively, the control unit 2103 may start heating the flavor generating article 2010 in response to the start of the puffing operation and stop heating the flavor generating article 2010 in response to the end of the puffing operation. The control unit 2103 may also stop heating the flavor generating article 2010 even before the end of the puffing operation if a certain amount of time has elapsed since the start of the puffing operation. If the heating source 2110 is an induction coil, the aerosol generator 2100 may have an electromagnetic shield to suppress electromagnetic waves generated by the induction coil from reaching the control unit 2103.
[0114] If the heating source 2110 is an induction coil, the induction coil may be arranged to surround the flavor generating article 2010 as shown in Figure 11. An insulating material (not shown) may be placed between the induction coil and the flavor generating article 2010. In other words, the aerosol generating device may have an insulating material arranged to surround the flavor generating article 2010. The insulating material may be, for example, a vacuum insulating material, an aerogel insulating material, or an air insulating material.
[0115] The housing 2101 has a chamber 2120 at its mouthpiece end (mouthpiece 2130 side) for housing the flavor-generating article 2010. As shown in the figure, the mouthpiece 2130 is attached to one end of the housing 2101 so as to close the chamber 2120 of the housing 2101. The mouthpiece 2130 has an air passage 2130a that communicates the outside of the mouthpiece 2130 with the chamber 2120 of the housing 2101. More specifically, the air passage 2130a of the mouthpiece 2130 communicates with an air outlet 2014 of the flavor-generating article 2010 located in the chamber 2120, which will be described later.
[0116] As shown in Figure 10, the flavor generating article 2010 includes a flavor source 2020 and a container 2012 that houses the flavor source 2020. Furthermore, it is preferable that the flavor generating article 2010 has a susceptor 2023 disposed inside the flavor source 2020. In this case, the flavor source 2020 can be heated by induction heating of the susceptor 2023 of the flavor generating article 2010 by an induction coil provided in the aerosol generating device 2100. The susceptor 2023 may have any shape that can be placed inside the container. Specifically, in the example shown in Figure 10, the susceptor 2023 is plate-shaped. The thickness of the susceptor 2023 is, for example, 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and preferably 10 μm or more and 100 μm or less. The susceptor 2023 can be formed from any material that can be induction heated.
[0117] The susceptor 2023 may be configured to partition the flavor source 2020 into a first part and a second part. In other words, the susceptor 2023 may be configured to divide the space in which the flavor source 2020 is placed into two parts. In this case, different types of flavor sources 2020 may be accommodated in the first part and the second part.
[0118] The susceptor 2023 shown in Figure 10 is a flat plate-like body, but it is not limited to this, and the susceptor 2023 may be a curved plate-like body. Specifically, for example, the susceptor 2023 may be a plate-like body having an S-shaped cross-section when viewed from the longitudinal direction. By curving the susceptor 2023, the surface area of the susceptor 2023 that can be placed in the container 2012 can be increased compared to when the susceptor 2023 is flat, so that the flavor source 2020 can be heated efficiently.
[0119] The susceptor 2023 may be provided in the aerosol generating device 2100. In this case, the susceptor 2023 may be configured to be insertable into the flavor generating article 2010. However, if the heating source 2110 of the aerosol generating device 2100 is not an induction coil, but includes, for example, a microwave generating antenna or a heating blade that can be inserted into the flavor generating article 2010, or a heating element that heats the flavor generating article 2010 from the outside, then the susceptor 2023 is not required for the flavor generating article 2010.
[0120] The container 2012 may have, for example, a substantially cylindrical side wall 2012a, a bottom wall 2012b provided at the end of the side wall 2012a, and a top wall 2012c provided on the side of the side wall 2012a opposite to the bottom wall 2012b. In this embodiment, the side wall 2012a is cylindrical. The side wall 2012a may be cylindrical with other cross-sectional shapes, such as a square or rectangle. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the container 2012 is made of a dielectric material. For example, the container 2012 may be made of paper. In this case, the container 2012 can be manufactured inexpensively and easily. More specifically, the container 2012 may be made of pulp mold. The container 2012 may be made of an air-impermeable material. Here, an air-impermeable material refers to a material whose air permeability is 0 CU when measured according to ISO 2965-1997. Specifically, the container 2012 may be made of air-impermeable paper. In this case, it is possible to prevent vapors or aerosols generated from the flavor source 2020 from leaking out of unintended parts of the container 2012.
[0121] The longitudinal length of the container 2012 is, for example, 5 mm to 25 mm, preferably 8 mm to 20 mm. In this case, the longitudinal length of the container 2012 is the distance from the bottom wall 2012b to the top wall 2012c, and does not include the length of the nozzle 2028, which will be described later. The diameter of the container 2012 (i.e., the width of the side wall 2012a) is, for example, 5 mm to 15 mm, preferably 6 mm to 12 mm, and more preferably 6 mm to 10 mm. The thickness of the container 2012 (thickness of the side wall 2012a, bottom wall 2012b, or top wall 2012c) may be, for example, 0.2 mm to 1 mm. The thicknesses of the side wall 2012a, bottom wall 2012b, and top wall 2012c may be different from each other. The ratio of the length of the container 2012 in the longitudinal direction to the diameter of the container 2012 (width of the side wall 2012a) is preferably 0.5 or more and 2.5 or less.
[0122] The container 2012 may be configured to hold the susceptor 2023. Specifically, for example, the side wall 2012a of the container 2012 may have a slit that clamps and supports the end of the plate-shaped susceptor 2023. In this case, the widthwise end of the susceptor 2023 can be supported by the container 2012. The container 2012 may be formed from a material containing tobacco-derived fibers.
[0123] Flavoring source 2020 includes, for example, tobacco. Specific examples of tobacco include those similar to those used in flavoring source 1050 described in the first embodiment. The tobacco leaf pulverized material is particles obtained by pulverizing tobacco leaves. The tobacco leaf pulverized material has an average particle size of, for example, 0.2 mm to 1.2 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 0.7 mm. Pulverization can be performed using the known pulverizer described above. However, flavoring source 2020 may have any form, such as block, sheet, granular, or paste. In this case, flavoring source 2020 may be porous. When flavoring source 2020 is in sheet form, the thickness of flavoring source 2020 is, for example, 0.1 mm to 2 mm, preferably 0.2 mm to 1.5 mm, and more preferably 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm. Furthermore, if the flavor source 2020 is in sheet form, it may be wrinkled, folded, or cut into strips. When the sheet-like flavor source 2020 is cut into strips, the width of the strips may be, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 2 mm or less. If the flavor source 2020 is in particulate form, the average particle diameter of the flavor source 2020 may be, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, preferably 0.212 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less, and more preferably 0.4 mm or more and 1.18 mm or less. When the average particle diameter of the flavor source 2020 is 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, the particle size may be such that particles pass through a mesh with a mesh opening of 3 mm, or it may be such that particles do not pass through a mesh with a mesh opening of 0.1 mm. If the average particle diameter of the flavor source 2020 is too large, the amount of vapor or aerosol delivered by the flavor source 2020 may decrease, or the heating efficiency may decrease because the surface area becomes smaller. On the other hand, if the average particle size of the flavor source 2020 is too small, it will easily fall out of the air outlet 2014 or air inlet 2013 of the container 2012. Also, the flavor source 2020 particles may clog the container 2012, increasing the suction resistance and making it difficult for the user to inhale. The type of tobacco is not limited, and yellow varieties, Burley varieties, Oriental varieties, native varieties, and other Nicotiana tabacum varieties and Nicotiana rustica varieties can be used.
[0124] The packing ratio of the flavor source 2020 contained in the container 2012 is, for example, 0.15 to 0.7, preferably 0.2 to 0.6, and more preferably 0.25 to 0.5. In this case, the packing ratio of the flavor source 2020 refers to the volume ratio of the flavor source 2020 to the volume of voids inside the container 2012. The weight of the flavor source 2020 contained in the container 2012 is, for example, 100 mg to 500 mg, preferably 150 mg to 400 mg, and more preferably 200 mg to 360 mg.
[0125] Flavoring source 2020 may further contain an aerosol source. The type of aerosol source is not particularly limited, and extracts from various natural products and / or their components can be selected depending on the application. The aerosol source is preferably a polyhydric alcohol, and can be, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.
[0126] Flavoring source 2020 may contain tobacco particles and anti-adhesion particles having a smaller particle size than the tobacco particles, which are attached to the surface of the tobacco particles. This can suppress the adhesion of the tobacco particles to each other. The anti-adhesion particles may include, for example, particles of calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, magnesium oxide, or carbon black. The average particle size of the anti-adhesion particles may be, for example, 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less.
[0127] In this embodiment, the flavor generating article 2010 preferably has a filling member 2022 located at least one of the upstream and downstream sides of the flavor source 2020 and provided in the air passage within the container 2012. In this case, the filling member 2022 can suppress the movement of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 upstream or downstream. As a result, when the flavor source 2020 is heated while the user is not smoking, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 upstream or downstream can be suppressed. Furthermore, if the aerosol generating device 2100 is provided with a filling member 2022, there is a risk of vapor or aerosol condensing in the aerosol generating device 2100. According to this embodiment, since the flavor generating article 2010 is provided with a filling member 2022, condensation or aggregation in the aerosol generating device 2100 can be suppressed. Here, the filling member 2022 can be made of any material. The filling member 2022 may be a material that is permeable to air or a material that is not permeable to air. If the filling member 2022 is an air-impermeable material, the filling member 2022 is positioned upstream or downstream of the flavor source 2020 so as not to completely block the air passage. In the example shown in Figure 10, filling members 2022a and 2022b are positioned upstream and downstream of the flavor source 2020, respectively. However, the filling member 2022 may be positioned upstream or downstream of the flavor source 2020 only. For example, the filling member 2022 may be a porous material, and specifically, it may be a filter such as a paper filter or an acetate filter.
[0128] The filling material 2022 may contain a fragrance. A fragrance is a substance that provides aroma or flavor. The fragrance may be a natural fragrance or a synthetic fragrance. One type of fragrance may be used, or a mixture of multiple types of fragrances may be used. As for the fragrance, any commonly used fragrance can be used, such as essential oils, natural fragrances, or synthetic fragrances. It may also be a liquid or a solid, and its properties are not limited. Suitable flavors include fragrances selected from tobacco extract and tobacco components, sugars and sugar-based flavors, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, fruit juice and fruits, spices, liquor, herbs, vanilla, and floral flavors, or combinations thereof. Specifically, examples include fragrances selected from isothiocyanates, indoles and their derivatives, ethers, esters, ketones, fatty acids, aliphatic higher alcohols, aliphatic higher aldehydes, aliphatic higher hydrocarbons, thioethers, thiols, terpene hydrocarbons, phenol ethers, phenols, furfural and its derivatives, aromatic alcohols, aromatic aldehydes, lactones, etc., or combinations thereof.
[0129] For example, a wide range of fragrance components can be used, as described in "Collection of Known and Conventional Techniques (Fragrances)" (published March 14, 2007, by the Japan Patent Office), "The Latest Dictionary of Fragrances (Popular Edition)" (published February 25, 2012, edited by Soichi Arai, Akio Kobayashi, Izumi Yajima, and Michiaki Kawasaki, Asakura Shoten), and "Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products" (June 1972, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company).
[0130] From the viewpoint of imparting a good smoking flavor, the flavorings that may be included in the filling material 2022 are, for example, acetanisole, acetophenone, acetylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, alfalfa extract, amyl alcohol, amyl butyrate, trans-anethole, star anise oil, apple juice, Peruvian balsam oil, beeswax absolute, benzaldehyde, benzoin resinoid, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, benzyl propionate, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanol, butyl butyrate, butyric acid, caramel, cardamom oil, carob absolute, β-carotene, carrot juice, L-carvone, β-caryophyllene, cassia bark oil, cedarwood oil, celery seed oil, chamomile oil, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, citronella oil, DL - Citronellol, clary sage extract, cocoa, coffee, cognac oil, coriander oil, cumin aldehyde, davana oil, δ-decalactone, γ-decalactone, decanoic acid, dill herb oil, 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione, 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, 2-methylbutyrate ethyl ethyl ethyl ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl lactate, ethyl laurate, ethyl levulinate, ethyl maltol, ethyl octanoate, ethyl oleate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl phenyl ethyl ethyl propionate, ethyl stearate, ethyl valerate, ethyl vanillin, ethyl vanillin glucoside, 2-ethyl-3,(5 or 6)-dimethylpyrazine, 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine, eucalyptol, fenugreek absolute, genus absolute, gentian root infusion, geraniol, geranyl acetate, grape juice, guaiacol, guava extract, γ-heptalactone, γ-hexalactone, hexanoic acid, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, hexyl acetate, hexyl alcohol, hexyl phenylacetate, honey, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid Chloride, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, sodium 4-hydroxyundecanoate, inmortel absolute, β-ionone, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, isoamyl phenylacetate, isobutyl acetate, isobutyl phenylacetate, jasmine absolute, cola nut tincture, labdanum oil, lemon terpene oil, licorice extract, linalool, linalyl acetate, robe Dioscorea root oil, maltol, maple syrup, menthol, menthone, L-menthyl acetate, paramethoxybenzaldehyde, methyl-2-pyrrolyl ketone, methyl anthranilate, methyl phenylacetate, methyl salicylate, 4'-methylacetophenone, methylcyclopentenolone, 3-methylvaleric acid, mimosa absolute, honey, myristic acid, nerol, nerolidol, gamma-nonalactone, nutmeg oil, delta-octaractone, octanal, octanoic acid, orange flower oil, orange oil, orris root oil, palmitic acid, ω-pentadyl Calactone, peppermint oil, petitgrain Paraguay oil, phenethyl alcohol, phenethyl phenylacetate, phenylacetic acid, piperonal, plum extract, propenyl guaetol, propyl acetate, 3-propyridenephthalide, prune juice, pyruvic acid, raisin extract, rose oil, rum, sage oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil, styrax absolute, marigold oil, tea distillate, α-terpineol, terpinyl acetate, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,59-Tetramethyl-13-oxacyclo(8.3.0.0(4.9))tridecane, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, thyme oil, tomato extract, 2-tridecanone, triethyl citrate, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadienyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,3,5-tri Examples include methylpyrazine, γ-undecalactone, γ-valerolactone, vanilla extract, vanillin, veratrolaldehyde, violet leaf absolute, citral, mandarin oil, 4-(acetoxymethyl)toluene, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 10-ethyl undecenoate, isoamyl hexanoate, 1-phenylethylacetic acid, lauric acid, 8-mercaptomentone, sinensal, and hexyl butyrate, with menthol being particularly preferred. These fragrances may be used individually or in combination of two or more.
[0131] The type of solid flavoring is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of imparting a good smoking flavor, examples include flavorings selected from cocoa powder, carob powder, coriander powder, licorice powder, orange peel powder, herb powder, flower powder, spice powder, and tea powder, or combinations thereof.
[0132] Furthermore, the filling member 2022 may contain a cooling agent or flavoring agent. The type of cooling agent is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of providing a good smoking taste, for example, menthol, camphor, isopulegol, cineole, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, 2-l-menthoxyethanol (COOLACT® 5), 3-l-menthoxypropane-1,2-diol (COOLACT® 10), l-menthyl-3-hydroxybutyrate (COOLACT® 20), p-menthane-3,8-diol (COOLACT® 38D), N-( 2-Hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1-carboxamide (COOLACT® 370), N-(4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexanecarboxamide (COOLACT® 400), N-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexanecarboxamide, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboamide (WS-3), ethyl-2-(p-menthane N-3-carboxamide acetate (WS-5), N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-p-menthanecarboxamide (WS-12), 2-isopropyl-N,2,3-trimethylbutyramide (WS-23), 3-l-menthoxy-2-methylpropane-1,2-diol, 2-l-menthoxyethane-1-ol, 3-l-menthoxypropane-1-ol, 4-l-menthoxybutane-1-ol, menthyl lactate (FEMA 3748), menthol glycerin acetal (Frescolat MGA, FEMA 380 Examples include 7. FEMA 3808), 2-(2-l-menthyloxyethyl)ethanol, menthyl glyoxylate, menthyl 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate, menthyl succinate (FEMA 3810), N-(2-(pyridine-2-yl)-ethyl)-3-p-menthanecarboxamide (FEMA 4549), N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-p-menthane-3-carboxamide, N-(4-cyanomethylphenyl)-p-menthanecarboxamide, and N-(4-aminocarbonylphenyl)-p-menthane. The cooling agent may be used alone or in combination of two or more types.
[0133] The type of flavoring agent is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of imparting a good taste, examples include sweeteners (sugars (glucose, fructose, isomerized sugar, caramel, etc.)), acidulants (organic acids, etc.), and other flavoring agents (ingredients that exhibit umami, bitterness, saltiness, etc.). In addition, lipids (waxes, waxes, fatty acids (short-chain, medium-chain, long-chain fatty acids, etc.)) may be added as desired.
[0134] The filling member 2022 preferably includes granular filling material. In this case, the granular filling material prevents the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 from leaking upstream or downstream when the flavor source 2020 is heated while the user is not smoking, while allowing the gaps in the granular filling material to function as an air passage when the user is smoking. Furthermore, by including granular filling material in the filling member 2022, the surface area of the filling member 2022 can be increased, allowing for efficient cooling of the vapor or aerosol that comes into contact with the granular filling material.
[0135] The granular filler preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, cellulose, tobacco granules, glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavor additives. If the granular filler contains, for example, tobacco granules or flavor additives, flavors can be imparted to the vapor or aerosol. Furthermore, if the granular filler contains glycerin or propylene glycol, the amount of aerosol can be increased. If the granular filler contains calcium carbonate or cellulose, since these have relatively low specific heats, some aggregation or condensation of the vapor or aerosol can occur, further suppressing leakage of the vapor or aerosol from the container. The granular filler and the flavor source 2020 may also contain tobacco granules. In this case, since common materials can be used for the flavor source 2020 and the granular filler, the flavor generating article 2010 can be manufactured efficiently.
[0136] The types of fragrance additives included in the granular filling material are not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of imparting a good fragrance, acetanisole, acetophenone, acetylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, alfalfa extract, amyl alcohol, amyl butyrate, trans-anethole, star anise oil, apple juice, Peruvian balsam oil, beeswax absolute, benzaldehyde, benzoin resinoid, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, benzyl propionate, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanol, butyl butyrate, butyric acid, caramel, cardamom oil, carob absolute, β-carotene, carrot juice, L-carvone, β-caryophyllene, cassia bark oil, cedarwood oil, celery seed oil, chamomile oil, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, citronella oil DL-Citronellol, Clary Sage Extract, Cocoa, Coffee, Cognac Oil, Coriander Oil, Cumin Aldehyde, Davana Oil, δ-Decalactone, γ-Decalactone, Decanoic Acid, Dill Herb Oil, 3,4-Dimethyl-1,2-Cyclopentanedione, 4,5-Dimethyl-3-Hydroxy-2,5-Dihydrofuran-2-one, 3,7-Dimethyl-6-Octonic Acid, 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-Dimethylpyrazine, 2-Ethyl Methyl Butyrate, Ethyl Ethyl Butyrate, Ethyl Hexanoate, Ethyl Isovalerate, Ethyl Lactate, Ethyl Laurate, Ethyl Levulinate, Ethyl Maltol, Ethyl Octanoate, Ethyl Oleate, Ethyl Palmitate, Ethyl Phenyl Ethyl, Ethyl Propionate, Ethyl Stearate, Ethyl Valerate, Ethyl Vanillin, Ethyl Vanillin Glucoside, 2-Ethyl-3,(5 or 6)-dimethylpyrazine, 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine, eucalyptol, fenugreek absolute, genus absolute, gentian root infusion, geraniol, geranyl acetate, grape juice, guaiacol, guava extract, γ-heptalactone, γ-hexalactone, hexanoic acid, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, hexyl acetate, hexyl alcohol, hexyl phenylacetate, honey, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid Chloride, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, sodium 4-hydroxyundecanoate, inmortel absolute, β-ionone, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, isoamyl phenylacetate, isobutyl acetate, isobutyl phenylacetate, jasmine absolute, cola nut tincture, labdanum oil, lemon terpene oil, licorice extract, linalool, linalyl acetate, robe Dioscorea root oil, maltol, maple syrup, menthol, menthone, L-menthyl acetate, paramethoxybenzaldehyde, methyl-2-pyrrolyl ketone, methyl anthranilate, methyl phenylacetate, methyl salicylate, 4'-methylacetophenone, methylcyclopentenolone, 3-methylvaleric acid, mimosa absolute, honey, myristic acid, nerol, nerolidol, gamma-nonalactone, nutmeg oil, delta-octaractone, octanal, octanoic acid, orange flower oil, orange oil, orris root oil, palmitic acid, ω-pentadyl Calactone, peppermint oil, petitgrain Paraguay oil, phenethyl alcohol, phenethyl phenylacetate, phenylacetic acid, piperonal, plum extract, propenyl guaetol, propyl acetate, 3-propyridenephthalide, prune juice, pyruvic acid, raisin extract, rose oil, rum, sage oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil, styrax absolute, marigold oil, tea distillate, α-terpineol, terpinyl acetate, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,59-Tetramethyl-13-oxacyclo(8.3.0.0(4.9))tridecane, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, thyme oil, tomato extract, 2-tridecanone, triethyl citrate, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadienyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, γ-undecalactone, γ-valerolactone, vanilla extract, vanillin, veratrolaldehyde It may be at least one selected from the group consisting of violet leaf absolute, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboamide (WS-3), ethyl-2-(p-menthane-3-carboxamide) acetate (WS-5), sugars (sucrose, fructose, etc.), cocoa powder, carob powder, coriander powder, licorice powder, orange peel powder, rosehip powder, chamomile flower powder, lemon verbena powder, peppermint powder, leaf powder, spearmint powder, black tea powder, natural plant-derived fragrances (e.g., jasmine oil, lemon oil, vetiver oil, lovage oil), and esters.
[0137] The granular packing member preferably includes an upstream granular packing member located upstream of the flavor source 2020 and a downstream granular packing member located downstream of the flavor source. Specifically, it is preferable that packing member 2022a includes the upstream granular packing member and packing member 2022b includes the downstream granular packing member. In this case, the movement of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 both upstream and downstream can be suppressed by the granular packing member provided in the air passage. As a result, when the flavor source 2020 is heated while the user is not smoking, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 both upstream and downstream can be suppressed.
[0138] The filling member 2022a (upstream granular filling member) may contain a different material from the filling member 2022b (downstream granular filling member). In this case, for example, the filling member 2022b (downstream granular filling member) through which the vapor or aerosol passes may contain a material that imparts flavor, and the filling member 2022a (upstream granular filling member) may contain a different material, thereby providing more flexibility in the design of the flavor-generating article 2010.
[0139] Furthermore, the average particle size of the granular filler is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. If the average particle size of the granular filler is less than 0.1 mm, the particle size is too small, the gaps between the granular filler become too small, and there is a risk that the airflow resistance will become too high. In this case, the granular filler is also more likely to spill out from gaps in the container 2012 of the flavor-generating article 2010. On the other hand, if the average particle size of the granular filler is greater than 3 mm, the particle size is too large, the gaps between the granular filler become too large, and vapor or aerosol is more likely to leak through the gaps in the granular filler. Therefore, if the average particle size is 0.1 mm or more and 3 mm or less, it is possible to suppress the leakage of vapor or aerosol through the gaps in the granular filler while suppressing high airflow resistance or spillage of the granular filler from the container 2012.
[0140] At least one of the filling members 2022a and 2022b may have multiple layers. Specifically, for example, different types of granular filling members may be laminated in the longitudinal direction to form the filling member 2022a or the filling member 2022b. The hardness of the filling member 2022 containing the granular filling member is preferably higher than the hardness of the flavor source 2020 or the container 2012. This can prevent the filling members 2022a and 2022b from being crushed (crushed) and leaking out of the container 2012. The filling member 2022 containing the granular filling member may be coated with a buffering element such as polylactic acid or a cushioning material.
[0141] The container 2012 has an air inlet 2013 located upstream of the flavor source 2020 and an air outlet 2014 located downstream of the flavor source 2020. As shown in Figure 10, when the filling member 2022b (granular filling member) is located downstream of the flavor source 2020, the air outlet 2014 is located downstream of the filling member 2022b. The flavor generating article 2010 preferably has a vent 2015 that communicates with the inside of the container 2012. In this case, air can be supplied through the vent 2015, so that the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source can be efficiently cooled by the air from the vent 2015. More specifically, the container 2012 preferably has a vent 2015 that communicates with the filling member 2022b. As a result, air can be supplied to the filling member 2022b (granular filling member) located downstream of the flavor source 2020 through the vent 2015, so that the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 can be efficiently cooled by the air from the vent 2015. In the example shown in Figure 10, the vent 2015 is provided on the side wall 2012a of the container 2012, but it is not limited to this and may also be provided on the top wall 2012c. Alternatively, the vent 2015 may be provided on both the side wall 2012a and the top wall 2012c of the container 2012.
[0142] It is preferable that the vent 2015 be located closer to the flavor source 2020 than to the upper end of the container 2012 (i.e., the outer end of the upper wall 2012c). In this case, the airflow path of the air through the vent 2015 can be made longer, so that the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 can be cooled more efficiently by the air from the vent 2015. On the other hand, the vent 2015 may be located closer to the upper end of the container 2012 than to the flavor source 2020. In this case, compared to the case where the vent 2015 is located closer to the flavor source 2020, leakage of vapor or aerosol through the vent 2015 can be suppressed. It is preferable that the vent 2015 be oriented toward the bottom wall 2012b of the container 2012. In this case as well, the airflow path through the vent 2015 can be lengthened, allowing the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 to be cooled more efficiently by the air coming from the vent 2015.
[0143] The flavor generating article 2010 preferably has a permeable partition member between the filling member 2022 and the flavor source 2020. Specifically, in the example shown in Figure 10, the flavor generating article 2010 has a partition member 2026a between the filling member 2022a and the flavor source 2020, and a partition member 2026b between the filling member 2022b and the flavor source 2020. In this case, mixing of the filling member 2022 (granular filling member) and the flavor source 2020 within the container 2012 can be suppressed.
[0144] As shown in Figure 11, the aerosol generator 2100 has an air intake port 2110a that communicates with the chamber 2120. The aerosol generator 2100 may also have an air passage F1 that communicates with the air inlet 2013 of the container 2012 of the flavor generating article 2010. Specifically, the air passage F1 connects the air intake port 2110a with the air inlet 2013 of the container 2012. That is, the air intake port 2110a communicates with the air inlet 2013 of the flavor generating article 2010. It is preferable that this air passage F1 passes outside the side wall 2012a of the container 2012 and communicates with the air inlet 2013. In this case, since an air layer (air passage F1) is formed outside the side wall 2012a of the container 2012, the transfer of heat from the container 2012 to the outside of the aerosol generator 2100 can be suppressed. Furthermore, the aerosol generating device 2100 has an exhaust port 2130b that communicates with the air outlet 2014 of the flavor generating article 2010.
[0145] Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, when the flavor generating article 2010 is housed in the chamber 2120, if the airflow resistance downstream of the susceptor 2023 is R3 and the airflow resistance upstream of the susceptor 2023 is R4, it is preferable that R3 > R4. In this case, when the flavor source 2020 is heated while the user is not smoking, the movement of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 downstream can be suppressed. Generally, since the flow path of the aerosol generator 2100 is relatively long upstream of the susceptor 2023, vapor or aerosol is less likely to leak from the aerosol generator 2100. Therefore, by making the airflow resistance downstream of the susceptor 2023 higher than upstream, the leakage of vapor or aerosol from the aerosol generator 2100 can be further suppressed.
[0146] As described above, the heating source 2110 of the aerosol generating device 2100 may have a heating element that can be inserted into the flavor generating article 2010, rather than an induction coil. That is, the heating source 2110 may be configured to be inserted into the container 2012 of the flavor generating article 2010 when the flavor generating article 2010 is housed in the chamber 2120. In this case, when the flavor generating article 2010 is housed in the chamber 2120, if R1 is the airflow resistance downstream of the flavor source 2020 and R2 is the airflow resistance upstream of the flavor source 2020, it is preferable that R1 > R2. This makes it possible to suppress the movement of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 downstream when the flavor source 2020 is heated while the user is not smoking. Generally, since the flow path of the aerosol generator 2100 is relatively long upstream of the flavor source 2020, vapor or aerosol is less likely to leak from the aerosol generator 2100. Therefore, by making the airflow resistance downstream of the flavor source 2020 higher than upstream, leakage of vapor or aerosol from the aerosol generator 2100 can be further suppressed.
[0147] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the flavor generating article 2010 may further have a nozzle 2028 that communicates with the air outlet 2014 of the container 2012. As shown in Figure 10, it is preferable that the inner diameter D1 of the nozzle 2028 is smaller than the inner diameter D2 of the container 2012. In this case, compared to the case where the flavor generating article 2010 does not have a nozzle 2028, the flow velocity of vapor or aerosol from the flavor generating article 2010 during smoking can be increased. This makes it possible to suppress the vapor or aerosol flowing out of the flavor generating article 2010 from colliding with the flow path wall of the aerosol generating device 2100 (the wall of the mouthpiece 2130 that defines the air flow path 2130a shown in Figure 11) and agglomerating or condensing. Note that the inner diameter D1 of the nozzle 2028 and the inner diameter D2 of the container 2012 refer to the maximum inner diameter in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
[0148] The length L10 of the nozzle 2028 (see Figure 11) is preferably 3 mm or more and 10 mm or less. If the length L10 of the nozzle 2028 is less than 3 mm, the nozzle 2028 is too short, and the vapor or aerosol flowing out of the nozzle 2028 may diffuse, making it difficult to effectively prevent it from colliding with the flow path wall of the aerosol generator 2100. If the length L10 of the nozzle 2028 is greater than 10 mm, the size of the aerosol generator 2100 may become too large to accommodate the flavor generating article 2010 having the nozzle 2028. Therefore, when the length L10 of the nozzle 2028 is within the above range, it is possible to suppress the diffusion of vapor or aerosol while preventing the size of the aerosol generator 2100 from becoming too large. In this embodiment, the length of the nozzle 2028 refers to the length in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle 2028. Furthermore, the length of the nozzle 2028 is preferably the same as or shorter than the length of the mouthpiece 2130. Specifically, the length of the nozzle 2028 is preferably half or less the length of the mouthpiece 2130. In this case, the air taken in from the air intake port 2110a and the vapor or aerosol produced by the flavor source 2020 mix more easily.
[0149] As shown in Figure 10, the diameter D3 of the air outlet 2014 of the container 2012 and the inner diameter D1 of the nozzle 2028 may be substantially equal. In this case, since there is no substantial difference between the diameter D3 of the air outlet and the inner diameter D1 of the nozzle, pressure loss at the boundary between the air outlet 2014 and the nozzle 2028 can be suppressed. The inner diameter D1 of the nozzle 2028 and the diameter D3 of the air outlet 2014 are preferably 1 mm or more and 4 mm or less. The inner diameter D1 of the nozzle 2028 and the diameter D3 of the air outlet 2014 may be the same or different.
[0150] The flavor generating article 2010 may have a mesh or filter covering the air outlet 2014 of the container 2012. In this case, it is possible to suppress the discharge of the flavor source 2020 from the nozzle 2028. In the examples shown in Figures 10 and 11, the container 2012 has a single air outlet 2014, but it is not limited to this, and the container 2012 may have multiple air outlets 2014. In this case, it is preferable that all of the multiple air outlets 2014 communicate with the (single) nozzle 2028. This allows the vapor or aerosol generated by the flavor source 2020 to come into contact with the wall surface of the container 2012 defining the multiple air outlets 2014, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the vapor or aerosol. Furthermore, it is preferable that the diameter D3 of each of the multiple air outlets 2014 is smaller than the inner diameter D1 of the nozzle 2028. That is, by providing multiple small-diameter air outlets 2014, it is possible to suppress the contents of the container 2012 from flowing out to the outside through the multiple air outlets 2014. In addition, multiple nozzles 2028 may be provided for each of the multiple air outlets 2014.
[0151] As shown in Figure 11, the ratio of the length L10 of the nozzle 2028 to the distance d10 from the tip of the nozzle 2028 to the opening of the mouthpiece 2130 of the aerosol generator 2100 is preferably between 10:0 and 3:7. If the nozzle length is relatively shorter than the above ratio range, the vapor or aerosol flowing out of the nozzle 2028 may diffuse, and it may not be possible to effectively suppress its collision with the flow path wall of the aerosol generator 2100. Therefore, when the above ratio is within the above range, the diffusion of vapor or aerosol can be suppressed.
[0152] As shown in Figure 11, the aerosol generator 2100 has a gap G1 between the nozzle 2028 and the mouthpiece 2130, which is radially adjacent to the nozzle 2028. Preferably, the intake port 2110a of the aerosol generator 2100 is configured to supply air to this gap G1. Vapor or aerosol flowing out from the nozzle 2028 may diffuse into the gap G1 between the mouthpiece 2130 and the nozzle 2028, forming a swirling flow and potentially causing aggregation or condensation on the mouthpiece 2130 or nozzle 2028. If the aerosol generator 2100 has an intake port 2110a, air can be supplied to the gap G1, thus suppressing vapor or aerosol flowing out from the nozzle 2028 from entering the gap G1. In the illustrated example, the inner diameter of the mouthpiece 2130 is constant, but the inner diameter of the mouthpiece 2130 may increase towards the exhaust port 2130b.
[0153] In the example shown in Figure 11, the air intake port 2110a can be formed at the boundary between the mouthpiece 2130 and the housing 2101. That is, the air intake port 2110a can be provided between the surface of the mouthpiece 2130 facing the container 2012 and the surface of the container 2012 facing the mouthpiece 2130. Here, a groove defining at least a portion of the air intake port 2110a may be formed on at least one of the surfaces of the mouthpiece 2130 facing the container 2012 and the surface of the container 2012 facing the mouthpiece 2130. In this case, since the air intake port 2110a can be provided upstream of the gap G1, it is possible to effectively suppress vapor or aerosol flowing out from the nozzle 2028 from entering the gap G1.
[0154] Next, a flavor-generating article 2010 according to another embodiment that can be used in the aerosol generating device 2100 shown in Figure 11 will be described. Figure 12 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of the flavor-generating article 2010 according to another embodiment. The container 2012 of the flavor-generating article 2010 shown in Figure 12 has a guide portion 2029 that extends in the direction of extension of the nozzle 2028 and is located between the mouthpiece 2130 and the nozzle. In this case, when the mouthpiece 2130 is attached to the housing 2101, the guide portion 2029 can guide the mouthpiece 2130, so the positioning of the flavor-generating article 2010 relative to the mouthpiece 2130 can be easily performed by the guide portion 2029. The guide portion 2029 can be formed in the container 2012. Specifically, in the illustrated example, the guide portion 2029 is formed on the upper wall 2012c of the container 2012. It is preferable that the guide portion 2029 is formed in an annular (continuous) shape when viewed from the longitudinal direction. The guide portion 2029 may be formed intermittently along an annular shape when viewed from the longitudinal direction.
[0155] As shown in Figure 11, an air passage F2, which communicates with the air intake port 2110a, extends between the mouthpiece 2130 and the upper wall 2012c of the container 2012. That is, a portion of the air flowing in from the air intake port 2110a flows into the gap G1 through the air passage F2. In the flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figure 12, the guide portion 2029 may be configured to guide the air supplied from the air intake port 2110a toward the opening of the mouthpiece 2130. That is, the air flowing into the gap G1 from the air intake port 2110a can be guided by the guide portion 2029 toward the opening of the mouthpiece 2130. This makes it possible to suppress the accumulation of vapor or aerosol in the gap G1.
[0156] Figure 13 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor generating article 2010 according to another embodiment. The flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figure 13 differs from the flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figures 10 to 12 in the shape of the nozzle 2028. Specifically, as shown in Figure 13, the nozzle 2028 includes a portion 2028a in which its outer diameter increases from the opening of the nozzle 2028 toward the air outlet 2014 of the container 2012. In this case, a tapered surface is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle 2028, with the outer diameter decreasing toward the opening of the nozzle 2028. Therefore, the nozzle 2028 itself can perform the function of the guide portion 2029 shown in Figure 13.
[0157] Figure 14 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor generating article 2010 according to another embodiment. The flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figure 14 differs from the flavor generating articles 2010 shown in Figures 10 to 13 in that it has a flow path curved section. Specifically, the flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figure 14 has a flow path curved section that is located downstream of the flavor source 2020 and is configured to curve the air flow path that passes through the container. This makes the air flow path downstream of the container 2012 longer compared to the case without the flow path curved section. Therefore, it is possible to suppress leakage of vapor or aerosol that has passed through the container 2012 to the outside of the container 2012 and to promote the cooling of the vapor or aerosol. Generally, since the flow path of the aerosol generator 2100 is relatively long upstream of the flavor source 2020, vapor or aerosol is less likely to leak from the aerosol generator 2100. Therefore, by arranging the channel curve downstream of the flavor source 2020, leakage of vapor or aerosol from the aerosol generator 2100 can be efficiently suppressed. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, when the channel curve is located inside the container 2012, the vapor or aerosol is cooled and condensed or agglomerated in the channel curve, thus suppressing the condensation or agglomeration of vapor or aerosol outside the container 2012 (for example, inside the aerosol generator 2100). The channel curve may also be located upstream of the flavor source 2020.
[0158] The flow path curvature may include one or more selected from the group consisting of a helical flow path, a spiral flow path, and a gas-impermeable plate-shaped member. In this case, the flow path curvature can cause the airflow path to be curved in a helical, spiral, or random manner. In the example shown in Figure 14, a gas-impermeable plate-shaped member 2031 is placed inside the container 2012 as the flow path curvature. Preferably, the plate-shaped member 2031 is positioned to extend in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the flavor generating article 2010. In this case, vapor or aerosol from the flavor source 2020 moving along the longitudinal direction can be made to collide with the plate-shaped member 2031 and move in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction. In the example shown in Figure 14, the plate-shaped member 2031 is positioned to extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The plate-shaped member 2031 may have any shape, such as a disc or a polygonal plate. Furthermore, it is preferable that the plate-shaped member 2031 is positioned so as to overlap with the air outlet 2014 when viewed from the longitudinal direction. In this case, it is possible to prevent the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 from flowing directly into the air outlet 2014 without curving. Also, the outer shape of the plate-shaped member 2031 when viewed from the longitudinal direction may be similar in shape to the outer shape of the container 2012. Specifically, for example, if the container 2012 (side wall 2012a) is cylindrical, the plate-shaped member 2031 may be disc-shaped. The length of the plate-shaped member 2031 (i.e., the length in the short direction of the container 2012 as shown in Figure 14) is preferably 90% or less of the inner diameter of the container 2012, and more preferably 80% or less. Also, the length of the plate-shaped member 2031 is, for example, 40% or more of the inner diameter of the container 2012, preferably 50% or more, and more preferably 60% or more. When the length of the plate-shaped member 2031 is within the above range, a desirable airflow resistance can be obtained while curving the airflow path.
[0159] Figure 15 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a spiral-shaped flow channel, which is another example of a curved flow channel. As shown in the figure, the spiral-shaped flow channel 2032 may have an upper member 2033, a lower member 2034, and a spiral-shaped member 2035 located between them. Air flowing in from the lower member 2034 can move along the spiral-shaped member 2035 and flow out from the upper member 2033. That is, the spiral-shaped flow channel 2032 may have a spiral flow channel 2036 defined by the upper member 2033, the lower member 2034, and the spiral-shaped member 2035. The spiral flow channel 2036 may have a flow channel starting point 2036a and a flow channel ending point 2036b. Therefore, the spiral-shaped flow channel 2032 can curve the flow channel of incoming air in a spiral shape.
[0160] The upper member 2033 is preferably, for example, substantially plate-shaped overall and made of any gas-impermeable material. Specifically, for example, the upper member 2033 is preferably made of gas-impermeable paper. The upper member 2033 may also be formed in a thicker block shape. The upper member 2033 has an air outlet 2033a that allows air that has moved along the spiral member 2035 to flow out of the spiral flow channel 2032. In the illustrated example, the air outlet 2033a is formed approximately in the center of the upper member 2033, aligned with the center of the spiral of the spiral member 2035.
[0161] The spiral member 2035 is a member having a spiral shape, that is, a shape that traces a line that moves away from the center as it rotates in a single plane. In the example shown in Figure 15, the spiral member 2035 has a curved spiral shape, but it is not limited to this, and a part of the spiral member 2035 may be straight, or the spiral member 2035 may have corners. The spiral member 2035 is preferably made of any gas-impermeable material. Specifically, for example, the spiral member 2035 is preferably made of gas-impermeable paper.
[0162] The lower member 2034 is preferably substantially plate-shaped overall and made of any gas-impermeable material. Specifically, for example, the lower member 2034 is preferably made of gas-impermeable paper. The lower member 2034 may also be formed in a thicker block shape. The lower member 2034 has an air inlet 2034a for supplying air to the spiral flow path. In the illustrated example, the air inlet 2034a is formed near the outer edge of the lower member 2034, aligned with the outside of the spiral of the spiral member 2035.
[0163] The spiral member 2035 may be formed integrally with the upper member 2033 or the lower member 2034. In this case, the formation of a gap between the spiral member 2035 and the upper member 2033 or the lower member 2034 is suppressed, so that leakage of vapor or aerosol from the gap between the spiral member 2035 and the upper member 2033 or the lower member 2034 can be suppressed. In addition, the spiral flow channel 2032 can be easily formed by simply attaching the separate upper member 2033 or the lower member 2034 to the spiral member. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 15, the upper member 2033, the lower member 2034, and the spiral member 2035 may each be formed separately and then joined together.
[0164] The spiral channel body 2032 may be positioned to cover a portion of the cross-section of the container 2012 of the flavor generating article 2010 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, as shown in Figure 14, as the plate-shaped member 2031. That is, the spiral channel body 2032 may be positioned on the flavor generating article 2010 so as to have a gap between it and the side wall 2012a of the container 2012. On the other hand, the spiral channel body 2032 may be positioned to cover the entire cross-section of the container 2012 of the flavor generating article 2010 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In other words, the spiral channel body 2032 may be positioned to be substantially in contact with the side wall 2012a of the container 2012. That is, when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the container 2012, the outer shape of the spiral channel body 2032 may substantially coincide with the inner shape of the container 2012. The spiral channel body 2032 may be positioned to close the opening of the container 2012. In this case, the spiral-shaped channel body 2032 can function as a lid (upper wall 2012c) of the container 2012. Therefore, by providing the spiral-shaped channel body 2032 in the container 2012, spillage of the flavor source 2020 from the container 2012 can be suppressed. Alternatively, the spiral-shaped channel body 2032 may be positioned on the upper part of the container 2012 and joined to the container 2012. In this case, it is preferable that the outer shape of the spiral-shaped channel body 2032, as viewed from the longitudinal direction of the container 2012, substantially matches the inner shape of the container 2012.
[0165] Preferably, the spiral channel body 2032 has a vent that communicates with the spiral channel 2036 between the channel starting point 2036a and the channel ending point 2036b. In this case, air can be supplied through the vent, so that the vapor or aerosol passing through the spiral channel 2036 can be efficiently cooled by the air from the vent. The vent 2015 can be formed in at least one of the upper member 2033, the lower member 2034, and the spiral member 2035. The channel starting point 2036a communicates with the air inlet 2034a of the lower member 2034, and the channel ending point 2036b communicates with the air outlet 2033a of the spiral channel body 2032.
[0166] Figure 16 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another example of the spiral channel body 2032. The spiral channel body 2032 shown in Figure 16 differs from the spiral channel body 2032 shown in Figure 15 in the configuration of the lower member 2034. Specifically, the lower member 2034 shown in Figure 16 has a gas permeable member 2034b and a gas impermeable member 2034c provided on the surface of the gas permeable member 2034b. In this case, vapor or aerosol can flow in from the portion of the gas permeable member 2034b where the gas impermeable member 2034c is not provided, move in a spiral along the spiral member 2035, and flow out from the upper member 2033.
[0167] The gas-permeable member 2034b is, for example, generally plate-shaped and made of any gas-permeable material. Specifically, for example, the gas-permeable member 2034b is preferably made of nonwoven fabric. The gas-impermeable member 2034c is, for example, generally plate-shaped and made of any gas-impermeable material. Specifically, for example, the gas-impermeable member 2034c is preferably made of paper. As described above, the portion of the gas-permeable member 2034b that does not have the gas-impermeable member 2034c can function as an air inlet for supplying air to the spiral channel 2036.
[0168] As shown in Figure 16, it is preferable that the gas-impermeable member 2034c is positioned on at least one surface of the gas-permeable member 2034b such that it does not overlap with the outer edge of the gas-permeable member 2034b. In this case, vapor or aerosol can flow in from the outer edge of the gas-permeable member 2034b, move in a spiral along the spiral member 2035, and flow out from the upper member 2033.
[0169] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 16, the center of the gas-impermeable member 2034c and the center of the gas-permeable member 2034b may substantially coincide. In this case, the inflow of vapor or aerosol from the center of the gas-permeable member 2034b can be suppressed. Also, if the gas-impermeable member 2034c is positioned so as not to overlap with the outer edge of the gas-permeable member 2034b, vapor or aerosol can inflow from the outer edge of the gas-permeable member 2034b, move in a spiral along the spiral member 2035, and flow out from the upper member 2033. Here, the center of the gas-impermeable member 2034c or the gas-permeable member 2034b refers to the center in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, that is, the center in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the upper member 2033, the lower member 2034, and the spiral member 2035 are adjacent.
[0170] Figure 17 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a helical channel body, which is another example of a curved channel. The helical channel body 2040 has at least one helical channel 2042 having an air inlet 2042a and an air outlet 2042b. More specifically, in this embodiment, the helical channel body 2040 has a channel body 2041 placed inside the container 2012 of the flavor generating article 2010, with a plurality of annular walls 2044 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the channel body 2041, and annular channels 2045 formed between adjacent annular walls 2044. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 17, one or more parallel channels 2043 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the flavor generating article 2010 may be formed in the annular walls 2044, connecting adjacent annular channels 2045 to each other. In other words, notches may be formed in the annular walls 2044 to define one or more parallel channels 2043. In this embodiment, a helical channel 2042 can be formed by a plurality of annular channels 2045 and one or more parallel channels 2043. When adjacent annular walls 2044 are designated as a first annular wall 2044 and a second annular wall 2044, it is preferable that the one or more parallel channels 2043 formed in the first annular wall 2044 are positioned so as not to overlap with the one or more parallel channels 2043 formed in the second annular wall 2044 when viewed from the longitudinal direction. In this case, the length of the helical channel 2042 can be increased, thereby promoting the cooling of vapor or aerosol. Specifically, it is preferable that the parallel channels formed in the first annular wall 2044 and the parallel channels provided in the second annular wall 2044 are positioned at 180-degree angles from each other.
[0171] The helical channel 2042 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the flavor-generating article 2010. In other words, the helical channel 2042 may have a channel that follows a curve that moves longitudinally while rotating. Preferably, the air inlet 2042a and the air outlet 2042b are positioned so as not to overlap when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the flavor-generating article 2010.
[0172] The spiral channel body 2040 is preferably positioned to fit into the side wall 2012a of the container 2012 of the flavor generating article 2010. In this case, the spiral channel 2042 is defined by the side wall 2012a of the container 2012 and the channel body 2041, and most of the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 can pass through the spiral channel 2042.
[0173] Figures 14 to 17 illustrate the flow path curved sections as a plate-shaped member 2031, a spiral-shaped flow path body 2032, and a helical flow path body 2040. However, the flow path curved sections are not limited to these and may include grooves or rough surfaces formed on the inner surface of the wall of the container 2012 (upper wall 2012c or side wall 2012a). In this case, the flow path of vapor or aerosol passing through the container 2012 can be curved without providing a separate flow path curved section from the container 2012. Furthermore, although Figures 14 to 17 describe the flow path curved sections as being located inside the container, the flow path curved sections may also be located outside the container 2012. In this case, it is possible to prevent the flavor source 2020 inside the container 2012 from entering the flow path curved sections.
[0174] Figure 18 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor generating article 2010 according to another embodiment. The flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figure 18 differs from the flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figures 10 to 17 in that it has a check valve. Specifically, the flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figure 18 has a check valve 2050 located downstream of the flavor source 2020 and configured to allow the movement of gas from the flavor source 2020 to the outside of the container 2012. As a result, the movement of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 downstream can be suppressed by the check valve 2050. Consequently, when the flavor source 2020 is heated while the user is not smoking, leakage of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 downstream can be suppressed. Generally, since the flow path of the aerosol generator 2100 is relatively long upstream of the flavor source 2020, vapor or aerosol is less likely to leak from the aerosol generator 2100. Therefore, by placing the check valve 2050 downstream of the flavor source 2020, leakage of steam or aerosol from the aerosol generator 2100 can be efficiently suppressed. However, the check valve 2050 may also be placed upstream of the flavor source 2020.
[0175] The check valve 2050 shown in Figure 18 is a so-called ball-type check valve. Specifically, the check valve 2050 shown in Figure 18 has a ball valve 2051 and a valve seat 2052. The valve seat 2052 is located downstream of the flavor source 2020 and is configured to partition the space housing the flavor source 2020 and the susceptor 2023 from the space 2053 housing the ball valve 2051. The ball valve 2051 is located in the space within the container 2012 between the valve seat 2052 and the upper wall 2012c, i.e., space 2053, and is configured to open and close the opening formed in the valve seat 2052. The edge forming the opening in the valve seat 2052 may be inclined to coincide with the ball valve 2051. This allows the ball valve 2051 to more reliably close the opening of the valve seat 2052. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, when the flavor-generating article 2010 is housed in the aerosol generator 2100 and the user inhales through the mouthpiece 2130, the air passing through the container 2012 causes the ball valve 2051 to separate from the valve seat 2052 and the check valve 2050 to open. When the user is not inhaling, the ball valve 2051 comes into contact with the valve seat 2052 and the check valve 2050 closes.
[0176] Figure 19 is a plan view showing another example of a check valve 2050 used in a flavor generating article 2010. The check valve 2050 shown in Figure 19 is a so-called flap-type check valve. Specifically, the check valve 2050 has a base body 2054 having an opening or notch 2054c, and a flap portion 2055 provided downstream of the base body 2054 so as to cover the opening or notch 2054c. In this case, the flap portion 2055 covering the opening or notch 2054c can suppress leakage of vapor or aerosol downstream. Similar to the check valve 2050 shown in Figure 18, the check valve 2050 shown in Figure 19 is positioned so as to be downstream of the flavor source 2020, and to partition the space housing the flavor source 2020 and the susceptor 2023 from the space housing the flap portion 2055. The diameter (maximum length) of the opening or notch 2054c may be between 1 mm and 4 mm.
[0177] The base body 2054 has a first portion 2054a and a second portion 2054b spaced apart from the first portion 2054a. The first portion 2054a and the second portion 2054b may be located in the same plane. Each end of the flap portion 2055 may be fixed to the first portion 2054a and the second portion 2054b of the base body 2054. In this case, the length between the ends of the flap portion 2055 is preferably longer than the distance between the first portion 2054a and the second portion 2054b of the base body 2054. This fixes the flap portion 2055 to the base body 2054 so that it bends or folds, so that a portion of the flap portion 2055 is spaced apart from the base body 2054, and the user can inhale vapor or aerosol through the gap between the flap portion 2055 and the base body 2054.
[0178] In the example shown in Figure 19, the flap portion 2055 has a roughly rectangular planar shape overall, and both ends of it are fixed to the first portion 2054a and the second portion with adhesive or the like over its entire length.
[0179] The flap portion 2055 may include a first flap member 2055a and a second flap member 2055b. In this case, it is preferable that one end of each of the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b is fixed to the base 2054, and the other ends of each of the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b are fixed to each other. This allows the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b to be overlapped and fixed. The weight of this overlapping portion improves the opening and closing operation of the flap portion 2055 (it becomes difficult to open). Therefore, by using the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b, a flap portion 2055 with such good opening and closing operation can be easily formed. Note that the other ends of the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b do not necessarily have to be fixed to each other. In this case, the other ends of the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b overlap without being glued together.
[0180] Furthermore, it is preferable that the length of the first flap member 2055a and the length of the second flap member 2055b are substantially equal. In this case, the distance from each end of the flap portion 2055 to the overlapping portion of the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b is equal, so the opening and closing of the flap becomes more desirable, and specifically, the function of suppressing the pressure of the vapor or aerosol becomes easier to adjust. The length of the first flap member 2055a or the second flap member 2055b, that is, the length between one end and the other end of the first flap member 2055a or the second flap member 2055b, may be, for example, 1 mm or more and 10 mm or less.
[0181] The first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b may be fixed so as to overlap each other at their other ends. In this case, the ratio of the length of the overlapping portion of the first flap member and the second flap member to the length between one end and the other end of the first flap member 2055a or the second flap member 2055b is preferably 0 or more and 0.4 or less. This allows the weight of the central portion of the flap portion 2055 to be increased by the overlap of the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b while maintaining the overall flexibility of the flap portion 2055, thereby making the opening and closing of the flap portion 2055 more desirable. Specifically, when the flap portion 2055 is opened while suppressing the pressure of the vapor or aerosol, it will be able to operate smoothly. The length of the overlapping portion of the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b may be, for example, 0 mm or more and 2 mm or less. Furthermore, the ratio of the length of the overlapping portion of the first flap member 2055a and the second flap member 2055b to the diameter (maximum length) of the opening or notch 2054c may be 0 or more and 1 or less.
[0182] In the aerosol generating device 2100 shown in Figure 11, when using a flavor generating article 2010 having a check valve 2050 as shown in Figure 18 or Figure 19, it is preferable that the airflow resistance downstream of the flavor source 2020 is greater than the airflow resistance upstream of the flavor source 2020. In this case, when the flavor source 2020 is heated while the user is not smoking, the movement of vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 2020 downstream can be suppressed.
[0183] Figure 20 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor-generating article 2010 according to another embodiment. The flavor-generating article 2010 shown in Figure 20 includes a flavor source 2020 and a container 2012 that houses the flavor source 2020. As shown in the figure, the container 2012 has a first cylindrical body 2060 having a first bottom wall 2061 and a first side wall 2062, and a second cylindrical body 2070 having a second bottom wall 2071 and a second side wall 2072. The first cylindrical body 2060 is inserted into the second cylindrical body 2070 such that the first side wall 2062 abuts against the second bottom wall 2071. In this case, as shown in the figure, an air layer A1 can be easily provided between the first side wall 2062 and the second side wall 2072, so that the heat from the container 2012 is not transferred to the outside of the flavor-generating article 2010. The flavor-generating article 2010 may further include a susceptor 2023 (corresponding to an example of a heat source) housed within the container 2012.
[0184] As shown in the figure, the first bottom wall 2061 of the first cylindrical body 2060 is provided at one end of the first side wall 2062, and a first opening 2063 is formed at the other end of the first cylindrical body 2060. Both ends of the first cylindrical body 2060 may be closed, and the first cylindrical body 2060 may have a closed space. As shown in the figure, the second bottom wall 2071 of the second cylindrical body 2070 is provided at one end of the second side wall 2072, and a second opening 2073 is formed at the other end of the second cylindrical body 2070. Both ends of the second cylindrical body 2070 may be closed, but it is preferable to have a second opening 2073 for inserting the first cylindrical body 2060.
[0185] As shown in the figure, a filling member 2022a is positioned upstream of the flavor source 2020 and the susceptor 2023. A filling member 2022b is also positioned upstream of the flavor source 2020 and the susceptor 2023. In the illustrated example, the filling members 2022a and 2022b are made of the same material as the flavor source 2020 and may be, for example, tobacco granules. In order to hold the susceptor 2023 in an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction of the container 2012, a rib may be formed on the second bottom wall 2071 to support one end of the susceptor 2023 in the longitudinal direction.
[0186] It is preferable that an air passage is formed between the first side wall 2062 and the second side wall 2072. In this case, since an air layer A1 (air passage) is formed on the outside of the first side wall 2062 of the container 2012, the transfer of heat from the container 2012 to the outside of the flavor-generating article 2010 can be further suppressed. In the illustrated example, the second opening 2073 of the second cylindrical body 2070 functions as an air inlet 2013, so that the air layer A1 functions as an air passage.
[0187] As shown in the figure, the second side wall 2072 has at least one rib 2072a on its inner surface, and it is preferable that the rib 2072a abuts against the outer surface of the first side wall 2062. In this case, the rib 2072a can form a gap (air layer A1) of a certain width between the first side wall 2062 and the second side wall 2072. In this embodiment, the rib 2072a extends along the longitudinal direction on the inner surface of the second side wall 2072. In this embodiment, a plurality of ribs 2072a are arranged on the inner surface of the second side wall spaced apart in the circumferential direction. It is preferable that the plurality of ribs 2072a are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction on the inner surface of the second side wall.
[0188] As shown in the figure, the first side wall 2062 preferably has an opening or notch that connects the air passage (air layer A1) to the inside of the first cylindrical body 2060. In this case, the air that has passed through the air passage can be supplied into the container 2012 through the opening or notch. The opening or notch may be covered by the second side wall 2072 via the air passage (air layer A1). In this case, exposure of the opening or notch can be prevented. The number of openings or notches is not particularly limited, and one or any number of openings or notches can be formed in the first side wall 2062. When multiple openings or notches are formed in the first side wall 2062, the multiple openings or notches may be arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential or longitudinal direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the first cylindrical body 2060 has openings or notches 2062a and 2062b, but it may have only one of openings or notches 2062a and 2062b.
[0189] As shown in Figure 20, it is preferable that the opening or notch 2062a is located upstream of the susceptor 2023. In this case, the air flowing into the container 2012 from the opening or notch 2062a passes through the susceptor 2023, so that vapor or aerosol generated near the susceptor 2023 can be efficiently delivered. On the other hand, it is preferable that the opening or notch 2062b is located downstream of the susceptor 2023. In this case, air can be supplied through the opening or notch 2062b, so that vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source can be efficiently cooled by the air from the opening or notch. In this embodiment, the flavor generating article 2010 has a susceptor 2023 as a heat source, but even when the flavor generating article 2010 is heated by a heat source other than the susceptor 2023, it is preferable that the opening or notch 2062a is located upstream of the heat source. It is also preferable that the opening or notch 2062b is located downstream of the heat source.
[0190] The upstream opening or notch 2062a of the susceptor 2023 may be larger than the downstream opening or notch 2062b. In other words, the opening area of the upstream opening or notch 2062a of the susceptor 2023 may be larger than the opening area of the downstream opening or notch 2062b. In this case, leakage of vapor or aerosol from the downstream opening or notch 2062b can be suppressed. In addition, the amount of air supplied to the flavor source 2020 from the upstream opening or notch 2062a can be increased. On the other hand, the upstream opening or notch 2062a of the susceptor 2023 may be smaller than the downstream opening or notch 2062b. In other words, the opening area of the upstream opening or notch 2062a of the susceptor 2023 may be smaller than the opening area of the downstream opening or notch 2062b. In this case, the amount of air supplied from the downstream opening or notch 2062b can be increased to further promote the cooling of the vapor or aerosol.
[0191] Preferably, the first bottom wall 2061 of the first cylindrical body 2060 has a first vent 2064. In this case, the first vent 2064 can function as an air inlet or air outlet of the container 2012. In the example shown in Figure 20, since the container 2012 has an air inlet 2013, the first vent 2064 can function as an air outlet. Also, as shown in Figure 20, the second bottom wall 2071 may be configured so that air does not permeate through it. Thus, when the first bottom wall 2061 has a first vent 2064, the first side wall 2062 has an opening or notch 2062a, and an air passage (air layer A1) is formed between the first side wall 2062 and the second side wall 2072, the air that flows into the container 2012 through the air passage (air layer A1) and the opening or notch 2062a can flow out of the container 2012 through the first vent 2064. In other words, the flavor-generating article 2010 can have a so-called counterflow type flow path. Therefore, in the example shown in Figure 20, the air inlet 2013 and the first vent 2064, which functions as an air outlet, are formed on the same side of the container 2012.
[0192] Figure 21 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor generating article 2010 according to another embodiment. The flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figure 21 differs from the flavor generating article 2010 shown in Figure 20 in that the second bottom wall 2071 of the second cylindrical body 2070 has a second vent 2074. In this case, the second vent 2074 can function as an air inlet or air outlet of the container 2012. In the example shown in Figure 21, the first bottom wall 2061 has a first vent 2064 that functions as an air inlet, so the second vent 2074 can function as an air outlet. Also, in the example shown in Figure 21, the first vent 2064 that functions as an air inlet and the air inlet 2013 are formed on the same side of the container 2012. In this case, when supplying air from the bottom side of the aerosol generating device 2100, air can be easily supplied to the air inlet 2013 and the first vent 2064.
[0193] Also, the flavor generating article 2010 shown in FIG. 21 is different from the flavor generating article 2010 shown in FIG. 20 in that, upstream of the flavor source 2020 in the container 2012, as a filling member 2022b, it has non-tobacco particles 2080. In this case, while the non-tobacco particles 2080 suppress the leakage of the vapor or aerosol generated at the flavor source 2020 upstream when the flavor source 2020 is heated while the user is not smoking, when the user smokes, the gaps between the non-tobacco particles 2080 can function as an air flow path. Instead of or in addition to the non-tobacco particles 2080, tobacco particles or particles of an aerosol generating substance may be filled upstream of the flavor source 2020.
[0194] The first cylindrical body of the flavor generating article 2010 shown in FIG. 21 has a connecting portion 2065 whose diameter decreases from the first side wall 2062 toward the first bottom wall 2061 between the first bottom wall 2061 and the first side wall 2062. Since the container 2012 has the connecting portion 2065, the air from the first vent 2064 can pass through the connecting portion 2065, so that the air can be diffused in the width direction, and thus air can be supplied to a wider range of the flavor source 2020. When the container 2012 houses the susceptor 2023 as shown in FIG. 21, the susceptor 2023 may be in contact with the connecting portion 2065. In this case, the connecting portion 2065 can hold the susceptor 2023 at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction of the container 2012.
[0195] FIG. 22 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a flavor generating article 2010 according to another embodiment. The flavor generating article 2010 shown in FIG. 22 is different from the flavor generating article 2010 shown in FIG. 20 in that the container 2012 has a heating source insertion chamber 2082 isolated from the space housing the flavor source 2020. In this case, the heating source 2110 can be inserted into the heating source insertion chamber 2082 to heat the flavor source 2020 without destroying the container of the flavor source 2020. In FIG. 22, for convenience of explanation, the heating source 2110 is illustrated.
[0196] In the illustrated example, the first cylindrical body 2060 has a cylindrical portion 2066 that extends longitudinally from the first bottom wall 2061 inside the first side wall 2062. The heating source insertion chamber 2082 is defined by the cylindrical portion 2066 and the first bottom wall 2061. The cylindrical portion 2066 partitions the inside of the container 2012 so that the flavor source 2020 inside the container 2012 does not enter the heating source insertion chamber 2082. Furthermore, it is preferable that the cylindrical portion 2066 is not permeable so that vapor or aerosol generated by the flavor source 2020 does not enter the heating source insertion chamber 2082. The cylindrical portion 2066 penetrates the second bottom wall 2071 of the second cylindrical body 2070. Specifically, the second bottom wall 2071 of the second cylindrical body 2070 has an opening 2071a through which the cylindrical portion 2066 passes, and the cylindrical portion 2066 is fitted into the opening 2071a such that there is a substantial gap.
[0197] The heating source 2110 may be, for example, a microwave generating antenna. Specifically, the heating source 2110 may be configured to radiate microwaves to the flavor source 2020 when inserted into the heating source insertion chamber 2082. In this case, it is preferable that the cylindrical portion 2066 be made of a material with a low dielectric constant that does not easily absorb microwaves. The heating source 2110 may also be a resistance heating type, such as a pin-type or blade-type heating element. In this case, it is preferable that the cylindrical portion 2066 be made of a material such as a metal with good heat transfer coefficient in order to efficiently transfer the heat from the heating source 2110 to the flavor source 2020.
[0198] A method for manufacturing the flavor-generating article 2010 shown in Figures 20 to 22 will be described. The method for manufacturing these flavor-generating articles 2010 includes placing a flavor source 2020 inside a first cylindrical body 2060, and inserting the first cylindrical body 2060 into the second cylindrical body 2070 such that the first side wall 2062 of the first cylindrical body 2060, in which the flavor source 2020 is placed, abuts against the second bottom wall 2071 of the second cylindrical body 2070. This makes it possible to easily manufacture a flavor-generating article having an air layer between the first side wall 2062 and the second side wall 2072. The first cylindrical body 2060 and the second cylindrical body 2070 may be bonded to each other, for example, with an adhesive, or they may be fixed to each other by mechanical means such as a snap fit. When the susceptor 2023 is housed inside the container 2012 of the flavor generating article 2010, the susceptor 2023 may be placed inside the first cylindrical body 2060 before the flavor source 2020 is placed inside the first cylindrical body 2060.
[0199] Figure 23 is a schematic side view of an aerosol generating device for heating a flavor-generating article according to the third embodiment. The aerosol generating device 100 according to the third embodiment is configured to generate vapor or aerosol by heating a flavor source contained in the flavor-generating article. As shown in the figure, the aerosol generating device 100 has a first housing 110, a second housing 120, and a suction port 130. The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may be configured to be detachable from each other. The suction port 130 may be detachably connected to one end of the second housing 120, or may be formed integrally with the second housing 120.
[0200] Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of an example of an aerosol generator 100. As shown in the figure, the aerosol generator 100 includes a battery 140, a heating unit 150, and a control circuit 170, all located inside a first housing 110, and a cooling unit 160, all located inside a second housing 120. The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are rotatably connected to each other, for example, by a hinge. The first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may also be connected to each other in a way that allows for complete separation, such as by a snap fit or screw fastening. By completely separating the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 in this way, the cooling unit 160, the suction port 130, and the heating unit 150 can be easily cleaned.
[0201] The battery 140 is configured to supply power to the heating unit 150 and the control circuit 170, etc. For example, the battery 140 is a lithium-ion battery. The battery 140 may be rechargeable by an external power source. The cooling unit 160 is configured to cool the aerosol generated from the flavor generating article 10. The cooling unit 160 may be, for example, a space through which the passing aerosol is naturally cooled. Alternatively, the cooling unit 160 may be arranged or filled with one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid, cellulose acetate, and aluminum foil. By arranging or filling the cooling unit 160 with these materials, the aerosol can be cooled more efficiently.
[0202] In the illustrated example, the heating unit 150 includes a housing for housing the flavor generating article 10 and an induction coil 150b for inductively heating the susceptor contained in the flavor generating article 10 housed in the housing. Note that the aerosol generating device 100 shown in Figure 24 may have an electromagnetic shield (not shown) between the heating unit 150 and the control circuit 170 to suppress electromagnetic waves generated by the induction coil 150b from reaching the control circuit 170. The heating unit 150 is configured to heat the flavor generating article 10 to, for example, 200°C to 350°C. However, the heating unit 150 may also have a heating element that can be inserted into the flavor generating article 10, or a heating element that heats the flavor generating article 10 from the outside. In this case, the flavor generating article 10 does not need to have a susceptor.
[0203] In the third embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 has an aerosol generating region 180 for generating aerosols from a first flavor source and a second flavor source, which will be described later, provided in the flavor generating article 10. Specifically, in the illustrated example, the region surrounded by the induction coil 150b corresponds to the aerosol generating region 180. If the heating unit 150 has a heating element that can be inserted into the flavor generating article 10, the aerosol generating region 180 corresponds to the vicinity of the heating element. Also, if the heating unit 150 has a heating element that heats the flavor generating article 2010 from the outside, the aerosol generating region 180 corresponds to the inside of the heating element. As shown in the illustration, in this embodiment, when the flavor generating article 10 is housed in the aerosol generating device 100, a part of the flavor generating article 10 is located in the aerosol generating region 180, and a part of the flavor generating article 10 is located outside the aerosol generating region 180.
[0204] In the third embodiment, it is preferable that the aerosol generator 100 has a capacitance sensor 190. The capacitance sensor 190 is configured to detect a first flavor source or a second flavor source located in the aerosol generation region 180, as will be described later.
[0205] The control circuit 170 consists of a CPU and memory, and controls the operation of the aerosol generator 100. For example, the control circuit 170 starts heating the flavor generating article 10 in response to user operation on an input device such as a push button or a slide switch (not shown), and stops heating the flavor generating article 10 after a certain period of time has elapsed. The control circuit 170 may also stop heating the flavor generating article 10 even before a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of heating if the number of puffing actions by the user exceeds a certain value. For example, the puffing action is detected by a sensor (not shown).
[0206] Alternatively, the control circuit 170 may start heating the flavor-generating article 10 in response to the start of the puffing operation and stop heating the flavor-generating article 10 in response to the end of the puffing operation. The control circuit 170 may also stop heating the flavor-generating article 10 even before the end of the puffing operation if a certain amount of time has elapsed since the start of the puffing operation. In the illustrated example, the control circuit 170 is positioned between the battery 140 and the heating unit 150 to suppress heat transfer from the heating unit 150 to the battery 140.
[0207] The flavor generating article 10 generates flavor source vapor or aerosol when heated by the heating section 150. The vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor generating article 10 is cooled by passing through the cooling section 160 and reaches the user's mouth through the mouthpiece 130. In this embodiment, the flavor generating article 10 is in the form of a sheet, plate, or card. However, it is not limited to these, and the flavor generating article 10 may be in the form of a cylindrical cup as shown in Figures 10 to 22.
[0208] Figure 25A is a schematic plan view of the flavor generating article 10 according to the third embodiment. Figure 25B is a schematic side view of the flavor generating article 10 according to the third embodiment. The induction coil 150b shown in Figure 24 is added to Figure 25A. As shown in Figures 25A and 25B, the flavor generating article 10 includes a first flavor source 50a, a second flavor source 50b, and a container 20 that houses the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b. The first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b may have a structure similar to the flavor source 1050 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b include an aerosol source. The container 20 has an air inlet 21 and an air outlet 22. The air inlet 21 communicates with a vent of the aerosol generating device 100 and is configured to take in air from this vent. The air outlet 22 communicates with the intake port 130 of the aerosol generator 100 and releases the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b to the intake port 130. The container 20 has a flavor source housing section 25, in which the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b are housed.
[0209] In the third embodiment, the width W10 and length L10 of the container 20 are at least twice the maximum thickness T10 of the container 20. The container 20 of this embodiment shown in Figures 25A and 25B has a generally flattened shape. Here, length L10 refers to the length along the longitudinal direction of the container 20 (corresponding to an example of the first direction). The length L10 of the container 20 may be greater than or equal to the width W10 of the container 20. In this case, the flavor generating article 10 can have a shape different from that of a conventional cylindrical tobacco stick. Not limited to this, the flavor generating article 10 of the third embodiment may include a container having a bottom wall and cylindrical side walls, as shown in Figures 10 to 22. In this case, the flavor generating article 10 may have a shape similar to a cylindrical capsule. That is, the flavor generating article 10 according to the third embodiment only needs to have a first flavor source 50a and a second flavor source 50b, and the shape and material of the container 20 are arbitrary.
[0210] In the third embodiment, when the flavor-generating article 10 is used in an aerosol generating device 100, when one of the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b is located in the aerosol generation region 180, the other of the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b is located outside the aerosol generation region 180. This allows the aerosol generating device 100 to generate an aerosol from only one of the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b of the flavor-generating article 10. Therefore, after smoking the aerosol generated from either the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b, the user can smoke an aerosol generated from the other of the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b, thus increasing the number of puffs for a single flavor-generating article 10 compared to conventional methods without increasing the number of heating units in the aerosol generating device 100. The flavor-generating article 10 of the third embodiment preferably has a single aerosol generation region 180. This makes it possible to prevent aerosol generation from the other when either the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b is located in a single aerosol generation region 180 and generating an aerosol.
[0211] In the third embodiment, since both the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b cannot be located in the aerosol generation region 180, the aerosol generator 100 is configured such that the heating unit 150 (induction coil 150b) heats the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b at different timings. That is, when either the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b of the flavor-generating article 10 is heated, the other of the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b is not heated. Therefore, after inhaling the aerosol generated from either the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b, it is possible to generate an aerosol from the other of the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b and inhale it, thus increasing the number of puffs for a single flavor-generating article 10 compared to the conventional method. In order to properly position both the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b in the aerosol generation region 180, it is preferable that the container 20 has a similar shape in the part that houses the first flavor source 50a and the part that houses the second flavor source 50b. Specifically, it is preferable that the container 20 has a shape that is twice symmetrical with respect to an axis that passes through a point located in the center of each of the first direction (longitudinal direction) in which the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b are aligned, the second direction (width direction) perpendicular to the first direction, and the third direction (thickness direction) perpendicular to the first and second directions. In this case, since the part of the container 20 that houses the first flavor source 50a and the part that houses the second flavor source 50b have symmetrical shapes, the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b can be properly positioned in the aerosol generation region 180, respectively.
[0212] Figure 25A shows the first flavor source 50a surrounded by the induction coil 150b. That is, Figure 25A shows the first flavor source 50a located in the aerosol generation region 180, and the second flavor source 50b located outside the aerosol generation region 180. In the example shown in Figure 25A, when the first flavor source 50a is heated by the induction coil 150b and vapor or aerosol is generated, the vapor or aerosol passes through the second flavor source 50b and is supplied to the user from the air outlet 22. That is, as shown in Figure 25A, when the first flavor source 50a is located in the aerosol generation region 180, the second flavor source 50b may be located downstream of the first flavor source 50a. In this case, when the user smokes, the vapor or aerosol generated at the first flavor source 50a passes through the second flavor source 50b, allowing the vapor or aerosol generated at the first flavor source 50a to be cooled or flavored by the second flavor source 50b. When the second flavor source 50b is heated in the aerosol generating device 100 shown in Figures 23 and 24, the second flavor source 50b is located in the aerosol generation region 180, and the first flavor source 50a is located downstream of the second flavor source 50b. In this case, the air outlet 22 functions as an air inlet, and the air inlet 21 functions as an air outlet. That is, air flows in from the air outlet 22, and the vapor or aerosol generated at the second flavor source 50b passes through the first flavor source 50a and is supplied to the user from the air inlet 21.
[0213] On the other hand, when the first flavor source 50a is located in the aerosol generation region 180, the second flavor source 50b may be located upstream of the first flavor source 50a. In this case, when the user smokes, the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source 50a does not pass through the second flavor source 50b, thus preventing the flavor of the second flavor source 50b from being imparted to the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source 50a. Specifically, for example, if the second flavor source 50b has already been used, it is possible to prevent the undesirable flavor of the used second flavor source 50b from being imparted to the vapor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source 50a.
[0214] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25A, it is preferable that the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b are arranged in the container 20 spaced apart from each other. In this case, the transfer of heat from one of the heated first flavor source 50a or second flavor source 50b to the other can be suppressed, so that only one flavor source can be appropriately heated. In addition, mixing of the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b can be prevented. More specifically, as shown in Figure 25A, it is preferable that the flavor generating article 10 has a breathable member 60 that separates the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b. In this case, the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b can be reliably separated while maintaining airflow between them. The breathable member 60 can be made of any breathable material, and specifically, it may be a filter such as a paper filter or an acetate filter. In the example shown in Figure 25A, the breathable member 60 extends along the entire width of the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b, but it may also be partially positioned in the width direction between the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b.
[0215] Furthermore, instead of, or in addition to, the permeable member 60, the flavor generating article 10 may have an airflow channel component that forms an airflow channel between the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b, which are spaced apart from each other. In this case, since an airflow channel can be formed between the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b, the flavor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b can be delivered downstream. It is preferable that the airflow channel component does not substantially filter the flavor or aerosol generated by the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b. Specifically, the airflow channel component may be, for example, a sheet having a wavy cross-section when viewed from the longitudinal direction, such as the first susceptor-containing sheet 1053 shown in Figure 4. In this case, gaps such as gaps S1 and S2 shown in Figure 4 are formed between the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b in the container 20, and these gaps constitute an airflow channel. Alternatively, the airflow channel component may be an airflow resistance member such as a filter that fills a portion of the gap between the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b when viewed from the longitudinal direction. In this case, the space where there is no airflow resistance member has a relatively lower airflow resistance compared to the airflow resistance member, and this space constitutes an airflow channel.
[0216] The container 20 of the flavor-generating article 10 may have a vent hole that connects the outside air to the air passage between the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b. In this case, when the user smokes, outside air can be drawn into the air passage through the vent hole.
[0217] The first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b may have the same components, but at least one of the flavor components and aerosol source content may differ from each other. If the flavors are different, different flavors can be generated from the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b. Therefore, the user can enjoy multiple flavors from a single flavor-generating article 10. If the aerosol source content is different, the flavor source with a relatively low aerosol source content will experience a faster temperature rise, allowing for efficient delivery of the initial flavor or aerosol. In contrast, the flavor source with a relatively high aerosol source content will experience a slower temperature rise, allowing the generation of flavor or aerosol to persist until the latter half of smoking. Therefore, the user can choose which flavor source to smoke according to their preference.
[0218] The aerosol generator 100 can heat the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b according to a temperature control profile. The temperature control profile of the aerosol generator 100 may be changed depending on the number of times the same flavor generating article 10 is heated. In other words, the temperature control profile for the first heating and the temperature control profile for the second heating may be different. Specifically, for example, the temperature control profile when the first flavor source 50a of the flavor generating article 10 is first inhaled may be different from the temperature control profile when the second flavor source 50b is then inhaled. The user may appropriately select a temperature control profile from a plurality of temperature control profiles that are pre-installed in the memory included in the control circuit 170 of the aerosol generator 100. Alternatively, a detection means mounted on the aerosol generator 100 may detect the state of the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b, and the control circuit 170 of the aerosol generator 100 may select an appropriate one from the plurality of temperature control profiles according to the result.
[0219] The first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b may contain different additives. In this case, the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b may have different properties. Examples of additives include at least one from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate (Rochelle salt), L-tartaric acid, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Either the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b may contain a high dielectric material as an additive. In this case, a difference in dielectric constant can be created between the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b. This makes it possible to detect only one of the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b containing the high dielectric material using the capacitance sensor 190 shown in Figure 24, so that it is possible to detect whether the flavor source located in the aerosol generation region 180 is the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b. In this specification, a high dielectric material may include a material having a dielectric constant of 100 F / m or more. Specifically, for example, a high dielectric material may include one or more selected from the group consisting of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, aluminum, and Rochelle salt. Furthermore, a high dielectric material may also include a conductor such as a metal or charcoal.
[0220] Furthermore, the container 20 may be made of a material containing a thermochromic material. In this case, the container 20 may change color when heated. Therefore, when either or both of the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b are heated, the portion of the container 20 corresponding to the heated first flavor source 50a or second flavor source 50b will change color, visually indicating to the user that it has been heated (used). This prevents the user from accidentally using the first flavor source 50a or the second flavor source 50b multiple times. As the thermochromic material, for example, a thermochromic paint or calcium carbonate, or any other material with thermochromic properties, can be used. Also, in this embodiment, thermochromic discoloration does not include discoloration due to charring of the container.
[0221] As shown in the figure, the flavor generating article 10 has a first air passage 24 extending between the air outlet 22 and the second flavor source 50b, and a second air passage 23 extending between the air inlet 21 and the first flavor source 50a. In the illustrated embodiment, the length of the first air passage 24 is substantially the same as the length of the second air passage 23. However, the length of the first air passage 24 may be longer or shorter than the length of the second air passage 23.
[0222] As shown in Figure 25B, the container 20 may have a first member 20a and a second member 20b. The second member 20b is joined directly or indirectly to the first member 20a. In this case, the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b can be easily housed in the container 20 by sandwiching them between the first member 20a and the second member 20b. Specifically, the first member 20a and the second member 20b face each other so that the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b are positioned between them. The container 20 has a joint portion 27a (shaded portion in the figure) to which the first member 20a and the second member 20b are joined, and a non-joint portion 27b to which the first member 20a and the second member 20b are not joined. The first member 20a and the second member 20b can be joined to each other by known methods such as adhesive, heat sealing, or welding. The joint portion 27a is configured so that air or the like does not pass between the first member 20a and the second member 20b. The non-joint portion 27b forms a space between the first member 20a and the second member 20b. Therefore, the second air passage 23, the first air passage 24, and the flavor source storage portion 25 are each part of the space between the first member 20a and the second member 20b formed by the non-joint portion 27b.
[0223] The method of using the flavor generating article 10 shown in Figures 25A and 25B will now be described. The user places the flavor generating article 10 in the aerosol generator 100, for example, so that the first flavor source 50a is located in the aerosol generation area 180 of the aerosol generator 100 shown in Figure 24. The aerosol generator 100 heats only the first flavor source 50a located in the aerosol generation area 180, and the user can inhale the aerosol generated from the first flavor source 50a. Once the first flavor source 50a is used, the user places the flavor generating article 10 in the aerosol generator 100 so that the second flavor source 50b is located in the aerosol generation area 180. The aerosol generator 100 heats only the second flavor source 50b located in the aerosol generation area 180, and the user can inhale the aerosol generated from the second flavor source 50b. As a result, the user can generate aerosols from the first flavor source 50a and the second flavor source 50b and smoke, thereby increasing the number of puffs per flavor generating item 10 compared to conventional methods.
[0224] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims, specification, and drawings. Furthermore, any shape or material not directly described in the specification and drawings is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention as long as it achieves the function and effect of the present invention.
[0225] Some embodiments disclosed herein are described below. (1) A smoking system comprising a flavor generating article and an aerosol generating device, wherein the flavor generating article comprises a first flavor source, a second flavor source, and a container for housing the first flavor source and the second flavor source, the aerosol generating device having an aerosol generating region for generating aerosols from the first flavor source and the second flavor source, and when one of the first flavor source and the second flavor source is located in the aerosol generating region, the other of the first flavor source and the second flavor source is located outside the aerosol generating region. (2) The smoking system according to (1), wherein the container has a shape that is twice symmetrical with respect to an axis passing through a point located in the center of each of the first direction in which the first flavor source and the second flavor source are aligned, a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. (3) A smoking system according to (1) or (2), wherein the first flavor source and the second flavor source include an aerosol source. (4) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the aerosol generating device has a single aerosol generating region. (5) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the first flavor source and the second flavor source are arranged in the container spaced apart from each other. (6) A smoking system according to (5), wherein the flavor generating article has an airflow channel component that forms an airflow channel between the first flavor source and the second flavor source, which are spaced apart from each other. (7) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the flavor generating article has a permeable member that partitions the first flavor source and the second flavor source. (8) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the first flavor source and the second flavor source differ from each other in at least one of the flavor component content and aerosol source content.(9) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein when the first flavor source is located in the aerosol generation region, the second flavor source is located upstream of the first flavor source. (10) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein when the first flavor source is located in the aerosol generation region, the second flavor source is located downstream of the first flavor source. (11) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the aerosol generating device has a heating unit for heating the first flavor source and the second flavor source, and the heating unit is configured to heat the first flavor source and the second flavor source at different timings. (12) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein the width and length of the container are at least twice the maximum thickness of the container. (13) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein the container has a bottom wall and cylindrical side walls. (14) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (13), wherein the container is formed of a material including a heat-change material. (15) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (14), wherein the first flavor source and the second flavor source include different additives. (16) A smoking system according to any one of (1) to (15), wherein the aerosol generating device has a capacitance sensor configured to detect the first flavor source or the second flavor source located in the aerosol generating region, and either the first flavor source or the second flavor source includes a high dielectric material as an additive.
[0226] 10: Flavor-generating article 20: Container 50a: First flavor source 50b: Second flavor source 60: Permeable member 100: Aerosol generating device 150: Heating section 150b: Induction coil 180: Aerosol generation area 190: Capacitive sensor
Claims
1. A smoking system comprising a flavor-generating article and an aerosol generating device, wherein the flavor-generating article comprises a first flavor source, a second flavor source, and a container for housing the first flavor source and the second flavor source, and the aerosol generating device has an aerosol generating region for generating aerosols from the first flavor source and the second flavor source, and when one of the first flavor source and the second flavor source is located in the aerosol generating region, the other of the first flavor source and the second flavor source is located outside the aerosol generating region.
2. The smoking system according to claim 1, wherein the container has a shape that is twice symmetrical with respect to an axis passing through a point located in the center of each of the first direction in which the first flavor source and the second flavor source are aligned, a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.
3. A smoking system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first flavor source and the second flavor source include an aerosol source.
4. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the aerosol generating device has a single aerosol generating region.
5. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first flavor source and the second flavor source are arranged in the container spaced apart from each other.
6. A smoking system according to claim 5, wherein the flavor generating article has an airflow channel component that forms an airflow channel between the first flavor source and the second flavor source which are spaced apart from each other.
7. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flavor generating article has a breathable member that partitions the first flavor source and the second flavor source.
8. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first flavor source and the second flavor source differ from each other in at least one of the flavor component content and aerosol source content.
9. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when the first flavor source is located in the aerosol generation region, the second flavor source is located upstream of the first flavor source.
10. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein when the first flavor source is located in the aerosol generation region, the second flavor source is located downstream of the first flavor source.
11. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the aerosol generating device has a heating unit for heating the first flavor source and the second flavor source, and the heating unit is configured to heat the first flavor source and the second flavor source at different timings.
12. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the width and length of the container are at least twice the maximum thickness of the container.
13. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the container has a bottom wall and cylindrical side walls.
14. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the container is formed of a material including a heat-change material.
15. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the first flavor source and the second flavor source contain different additives.
16. A smoking system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the aerosol generating device has a capacitive sensor configured to detect the first flavor source or the second flavor source located in the aerosol generating region, and the first flavor source and the second flavor source each contain a high dielectric material as an additive.
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