Flavor Inhalation Tip-End Wrapper for Plug Diameter Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The diameter of the tip-end plug in flavor inhalation articles increases over time, leading to splitting and manufacturability issues when joined with other components.

Innovation Solution

A flavor inhalation article with a tip-end plug comprising a first filtration material, a first aerosol source, and a first wrapper, and a filter plug with a second filtration material, where the tip end portion of the wrapper combination has a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater or a contact angle of 60° or greater, suppressing the increase in diameter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a tip-end plug is used in a flavor inhalation article, then aerosol generation is improved, but the diameter of the tip-end plug increases over time causing splitting and manufacturability issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol generationVSAvoiddiameter consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the basis weight and contact angle parameters of the wrapper material. Specifically, the tip end portion of the wrapper combination is designed with a basis weight of 80 g/m² or greater and/or a contact angle of 60° or greater. These parameter changes enable the wrapper to effectively restrain the tip-end plug, preventing diameter increase and splitting while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the tip-end plug diameter increases over time, then storage duration is extended, but splitting occurs and manufacturability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage durationVSAvoidmanufacturability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary anti-action by designing the wrapper combination with specific properties (basis weight ≥80 g/m² and/or contact angle ≥60°) that preemptively counteract the diameter increase tendency of the tip-end plug during storage. This preliminary restraint mechanism prevents splitting before it occurs, thereby maintaining both extended storage duration and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP4691278A1Flavor inhalation article
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 JAPAN TOBACCO INC
  • EP4691278A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4691278A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4691278A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A flavor inhalation article (200) having a columnar shape and comprising: a tip-end plug (210) which is positioned at one end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a first filtration material (211), a first aerosol source supported on the first filtration material, and a first wrapper (212) wrapped around the first filtration material; a filter plug (250) which is positioned at another end of the flavor inhalation article and includes a second filtration material (251); a flavor-generating portion (220) which is positioned between the tip-end plug and the filter plug and contains a flavor source (221); and a second wrapper (270, 280) which wraps and joins the tip-end plug and the flavor-generating portion, wherein a tip end portion (DP) of a wrapper combination including the first wrapper and the second wrapper, which is positioned at the very end of said one end side of the flavor inhalation article, has a basis weight of 80 g/m2 or greater, or has a contact angle of a face contacting the first filtration material of 60° or greater.