JP7111804B2 - Aerosol-generating material rod segment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for manufacturing aerosol-generating material rod segments.

In a known process of producing cigarettes, tobacco leaves are shredded into short strips, also called cut rag tobacco. The shredded tobacco is then sprinkled onto a continuous web of cigarette paper. A machine, also known as a cigarette maker, winds the shredded tobacco with paper to form a continuous rod. The rod is cut into segments of desired length. A filter is added to each tobacco rod to produce a cigarette.

Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide an alternative to these articles by producing products that release compounds from tobacco or other materials without combustion. Examples of such products are so-called "heat not burn" products, or tobacco heating devices or products, or aerosol generating devices or products, which burn materials such as tobacco. It releases the compound by heating rather than by heating.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a sheet of aerosol-generating material is longitudinally cut to produce a plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material; forming a rod of aerosol-generating material, each rod being substantially unwound; and cutting the rod of aerosol-generating material into segments to produce said rod segments of aerosol-generating material. A method of manufacturing a segment is provided.

Collecting can include collecting the strands to form an aerosol-generating material rod in which the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands are substantially parallel to each other.

Collecting can include collecting the strands to form an aerosol-generating material rod, wherein each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands is substantially straight.

The sheet of aerosol-generating material may be a tobacco sheet.

The tobacco sheet can be a reconstituted tobacco sheet.

The sheet of aerosol-generating material may contain glycerol.

A sheet of aerosol-generating material may have a substantially constant mass per unit length.

The method may include obtaining a sheet of aerosol-generating material from a bobbin of sheets of aerosol-generating material.

The method may include providing a mother reel of sheets of aerosol-generating material and slitting the mother reel to produce bobbins.

The method comprises selecting a mass per unit length of the aerosol-generating material rod segment, based on the mass per unit area of the sheet of aerosol-generating material and the selected mass per unit length of the aerosol-generating material rod segment. and cutting the mother reel to produce bobbins having the determined bobbin width.

The method comprises selecting the number of strands and/or strand width of the aerosol-generating material rod segment and determining the number of cuts and/or cut spacing based on the selected number of strands and/or strand width. and cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material may include cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material according to the determined number of cuts and/or cut intervals.

The method includes feeding the sheet of aerosol-generating material in a sheet feeding direction, and cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material includes cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction. obtain.

Collecting may include collecting each of the strands toward an axis lying in a plane, the plane including the feed direction and defined by the plurality of strands before being collected Perpendicular to the plane.

Collecting may include collecting each of the strands toward an axis that is central to the plurality of strands.

Collecting may include collecting each of the strands substantially laterally to form a rod.

Collecting may include feeding the strands through a funnel to collect the strands.

The method may include feeding the sheet of aerosol-generating material through a funnel to form a rod of non-cut tobacco sheet aerosol-generating material prior to said cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material.

The width of each of the plurality of strands is substantially within the range of 0.25-3 mm, or substantially within the range of 0.5-1.5 mm.

The method may include coating a rod of aerosol-generating material with a coating.

The covering may be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil.

Each aerosol-generating material rod segment may have an outer diameter substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm.

The aerosol-generating material rod segment can be a consumable part of the aerosol-generating device.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for producing aerosol-generating material rod segments, the apparatus longitudinally cutting a sheet of aerosol-generating material to produce a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands. and a collector arranged to collect the strands to form an aerosol-generating material rod in which each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands is substantially unwound. and a second cutter arranged to cut the aerosol-generating material rod into segments to produce said aerosol-generating material rod segments.

The collector can be configured to collect the strands to form an aerosol-generating material rod in which the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands are substantially parallel to each other.

The collector can be configured to collect the strands to form an aerosol-generating material rod in which each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands is substantially straight.

The apparatus may be arranged to obtain a sheet of aerosol-generating material from a bobbin of sheets of aerosol-generating material.

The first cutter may be adjustable to adjust the number and/or width of the strands.

The first cutter may be adjustable to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material to produce the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands, or not to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material.

The apparatus may be arranged to feed the sheet of aerosol-generating material in a sheet feeding direction, and the first cutter is arranged to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction. can do.

The collector may be arranged to collect each of the strands toward an axis lying in a first plane, the first plane including the infeed direction, the plurality of strands before being collected. perpendicular to the second plane defined by

The collector can be arranged to collect each of the strands toward an axis that is central to the plurality of strands.

The collector can be arranged to collect each of the strands substantially laterally to form a rod.

A collector may comprise a funnel.

The first cutter longitudinally cuts the sheet of aerosol-generating material, each substantially in the range of 0.25 to 3 mm in width, or substantially in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm in width. It can be arranged to produce multiple strands of aerosol-generating material.

The apparatus may comprise a coating device arranged to coat the rod of aerosol-generating material with a coating.

The covering may be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil.

The apparatus is configured to produce an aerosol-generating material rod segment having an outer diameter substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm. can be done.

The aerosol-generating material rod segment can be a consumable part of the aerosol-generating device.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an article of manufacture comprising a rod of aerosol-generating material, the rod of aerosol-generating material being formed from a plurality of longitudinal strands of aerosol-generating material, wherein the plurality of longitudinal strands of aerosol-generating material Each of the longitudinal strands is substantially unwound.

The multiple strands can be substantially parallel to each other.

Each of the multiple strands may be substantially straight.

Each of the plurality of strands may have a width substantially within the range of 0.25-3 mm, or substantially within the range of 0.5-1.5 mm.

One or more of the strands may be or contain tobacco.

One or more of the strands may be reconstituted tobacco or contain tobacco.

One or more of the strands may contain glycerol.

The product may comprise a dressing wrapped around a rod of aerosol-generating material.

The covering may be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil.

The product may have an outer diameter substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm.

The product can be a consumable for an aerosol generating device.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 schematically shows a perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco rod segments according to a first example; FIG. Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco rod segments according to a second example; 1 is a schematic perspective view of a mother reel of tobacco sheets, according to one example; FIG. 1 is a flow chart that schematically illustrates a process for manufacturing tobacco rod segments, according to one example; FIG. 4 schematically illustrates insertion of a blade heater into a tobacco rod segment, according to one example; FIG. 4 schematically illustrates insertion of a blade heater into a tobacco rod segment, according to one example;

Referring generally to FIG. 1, an exemplary apparatus 100 for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 126 comprises a first cutter 106, a collector 114, and a second cutter 124. As shown in FIG. The first cutter 106 is arranged to longitudinally cut the tobacco sheet 104 to produce a plurality of tobacco strands 112 . The collector 114 is arranged to collect the strands 112 to form a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially unwound. The second cutter 124 is configured to cut the tobacco rod 120 into segments to produce tobacco rod segments 126 .

By a collector 114 arranged to collect the strands 112 so that each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 forms a substantially unwound tobacco rod 120, as described in more detail below; In use, a number of tobacco rod segments 126 can be manufactured (see, for example, FIGS. 5a and 5b) into which the blade-type heater of the aerosol-generating device can be easily inserted, which tobacco rod segments have volatile materials therein. facilitating the passage of the tobacco rod segment 126 reduces the loss of volatile materials when the tobacco rod segment 126 is heated.

Returning to FIG. 1, first cutter 106 is configured to cut tobacco sheet 104 .

Tobacco sheet 104 may be a sheet or web of reconstituted tobacco. Recycled tobacco sheets can be manufactured, for example, by a papermaking process, band casting or extrusion. For example, the recycled tobacco sheet may be paper recycled tobacco. Recycled tobacco means that the tobacco raw material is extracted with a solvent to obtain an extract of soluble matter and a residue containing fibrous material, and then (usually after concentration and optionally after further processing) , the extract is removed from the residue by depositing the extract onto the fibrous material (usually after refining the fibrous material and optionally with the addition of a portion of non-tobacco fibers). Refers to tobacco material that is formed by a process that is remixed with the material. The remixing process is similar to the process of making paper. The raw material may comprise or consist of one or more of tobacco shreds, tobacco stems, and/or whole tobacco leaves. Fragments, granules and screens may alternatively or additionally be used as raw materials. It should be appreciated that reconstituted tobacco sheets 104 formed by any process may be used.

The reconstituted tobacco sheet 104 is malleable.

The tobacco sheet 104 can be supplied from a bobbin 102 of tobacco sheet 104 . A bobbin 102 comprises a spindle 102a around which a continuous tobacco sheet 104 is wound. The bobbin 102 is arranged to rotate to feed the tobacco sheet 104 from the bobbin 102 to the first cutter 106 along the sheet feeding direction (arrow A). In some examples, apparatus 100 may be arranged to drive bobbin 102 to rotate. In other examples, the bobbin 102 is free to rotate and the tobacco sheet 104 is pulled from the bobbin 102 by downstream apparatus components, such as rollers or drive belts (not shown in FIG. 1), to rotate the bobbin. can be rotated.

Tobacco sheet 104 may include glycerol. For example, reconstituted tobacco sheet 104 can be impregnated with or otherwise formed with glycerol. When heated, glycerol can volatilize to form an aerosol, thereby enhancing the user experience of an aerosol-generating device, or any suitable "non-combustion heated" device in which tobacco rod segment 126 can be used. can do.

The tobacco sheet 104 is of known dimensions. For example, the width and thickness of the tobacco sheet 104 fed from the bobbin 102 may be constant and known. For example, the tobacco sheet 104 may be of a given and constant mass per unit length. This ensures that the tobacco rod segments 126 produced have a constant weight per unit length. Thus, using tobacco sheets 104 of known (and constant) dimensions, the resulting tobacco rod segment 126 weight is management becomes possible.

The first cutter 106 is arranged to longitudinally cut the tobacco sheet 104 to produce a plurality of tobacco strands 112 . The tobacco strands 112 produced are elongated. The first cutter 106 comprises a cutter array 106a. Cutter array 106 a comprises a plurality of circular discs 108 arranged along axis 110 . Discs 108 each have a sharpened edge. Axis 110 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the sheet feed direction (arrow A) and each disc 108 is arranged such that the cutting edge of disc 108 runs substantially parallel to the sheet feed direction (arrow A). be done. Each disk 108 is adapted to longitudinally cut the tobacco sheet 104 as it is fed through the first cutter 106, i.e. cut the tobacco sheet 104 along its length. Arranged and configured. For example, the cutter array 106a can cut the tobacco sheet 104 against a support surface (not shown) located on the opposite side of the tobacco sheet 104 with respect to the cutter array 106a. The plurality of discs 108 function to cut the tobacco sheet 104 into a plurality of substantially parallel elongated tobacco strands 112 .

The number of tobacco strands 112 produced is determined by the number of cutting discs 108 provided by cutter array 106a. For example, a cutter array 106a with eight cutting discs 108 will produce a total of nine tobacco strands. Generally, a cutter array 106 a with n cutting discs 108 will produce n+1 tobacco strands 112 .

The strand width of tobacco strand 112 is determined by the spacing between successive ones of cutting discs 108 . The discs 108 are equally spaced along the length of the shaft 110 and along the width of the tobacco sheet 104 such that each elongated tobacco strand 112 is of substantially equal width. This configuration can help ensure the consistency of the manufactured tobacco rod segments 126 . The cutter array 106a is arranged such that the width of each of the plurality of elongated tobacco strands 112 is substantially within the range of 0.25-3 mm, or substantially within the range of 0.5-1.5 mm. be able to. This configuration would correspond, for example, to cutting discs 108 spaced apart substantially by 0.25-3 mm, or substantially 0.5-1.5 mm.

The first cutter 106 is adjustable to adjust the number and/or width of the strands 112 in which the tobacco sheet 104 is cut. For example, cutting discs 108 may be adjustable on axis 110 to adjust the number of discs 108 on the axis and/or to adjust the spacing between each disc 108 along axis 110 . As another example, cutter array 106a may be replaceable with another cutter array 106a having a different number of discs 108 and/or a different spacing between discs 108 . This allows for flexibility in the number and/or width of strands 112 of tobacco rod segments 126 to be manufactured and, therefore, in the properties of these tobacco rod segments 126 .

Collector 114 is configured to collect a plurality of tobacco strands 112 to form tobacco rod 120 . Collector 114 is funnel 114 . Funnel 114 includes funnel portion 116 and stem portion 118 . Funnel portion 116 and stem portion 118 are circular in cross section and coaxial. Funnel 114 is symmetrical about its axis. Funnel portion 116 tapers from relatively wide mouth 116 a to relatively narrow stem portion 118 . Tobacco strands 112 pass through funnel 114 from funnel portion 116 to stem portion 118 . As the tobacco strands 112 pass through the funnel 114 , the reduced diameter funnel portion 116 collects the strands 112 to form a tobacco rod 120 .

The funnel 114 is aligned with the center of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 . Thus, funnel 114 substantially laterally collects each strand 112 to form rod 120 . Specifically, funnel 114 collects each strand 112 toward an axis that is central to multiple strands 112 . Funnel 114 aligned with tobacco strands 112 in this manner may allow strands 112 to be collected uniformly and centrally in funnel 114 .

The funnel 114 is aligned with the center of the tobacco sheet 104 . Specifically, the axis along which strands 112 are collected by funnel 114 lies in a first plane, which includes the infeed direction (arrow A) and the plurality of strands before being collected. perpendicular to the second plane defined by 112; This orientation can help ensure uniform tension between strands 112 as they are collected by funnel 114 .

Funnel 114 applies a substantial lateral force to strands 112 as they pass through funnel 114 , the lateral force being substantially directed toward the center of plurality of strands 112 . Tobacco strands 112 are unrolled when collected, ie, remain substantially unrolled as they are collected (ie, during collection), ie, as they pass through funnel 114 . For example, the tobacco strands 112 are not twisted, spiraled, wound, or entangled with each other when collected, e.g. Do not form spiral structures or shapes. The funnel 114 thus collects the strands 112 to form a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially unwound. Tobacco strands 112 remain substantially parallel to each other as they are collected, ie, as they pass through funnel 114 . The funnel 114 thus collects the strands 112 to form a tobacco rod 120 in which the plurality of tobacco strands 112 are substantially parallel to each other. Tobacco strands 112 are substantially free of bending, corrugation, pleating, deformation, etc., when collected, and when collected, i.e., as they pass through funnel 114. It remains substantially straight. The funnel 114 thus collects the strands 112 to form a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially straight.

The apparatus 100 comprises a coating device 122 arranged to coat a tobacco rod 120 with a coating 128 . The coating device 122 may be the same as or similar to the coating device 222 described below with reference to FIG. 2, for example. Briefly, the coating device 122 wraps a continuous sheet of coating 128 around the continuous tobacco rod 120 and applies an adhesive to the coating 128 to seal the coating 128 in place around the rod 120 . The covering material may, for example, be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil. For example, the covering material may be a laminate of aluminum foil and paper. This laminate can help prevent ignition of the tobacco rod segment 126, for example, as a consumable in a "non-combustion heated" device, or a tobacco heating product device, or an aerosol generating device. It can be useful if one is to use

The outer diameter of the tobacco rod 120 once rolled depends, for example, on the mass per unit length of the tobacco sheet 104 used, the thickness and width of the tobacco sheet 104 used, the level of compression of the garniture during rod formation, and/or may depend, for example, on the properties of the coating device 122 and/or coating material 128 used. The outer diameter of the coated tobacco rod 120 can remain constant during a given operating cycle of the device 100 . The outer diameter can be, for example, substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm.

Second cutter 124 is configured to cut tobacco rod 120 (eg, after it has been coated with coating 128 by coating apparatus 122 ) into segments 126 to produce tobacco rod segments 126 . A second cutter 124 transversely cuts tobacco rod 120 to produce several lengths of tobacco rod 120 (ie, tobacco rod segments 126). The second cutter 124 can, for example, comprise a blade (not shown) with a cutting surface (not shown) arranged perpendicular to the length of the tobacco rod 120 to slice the tobacco rod 120 . can be controlled as follows. Tobacco sheets 104, tobacco strands 112, and tobacco rods 120 can pass through apparatus 100 at a constant velocity. The second cutter 124 may be configured to cut the continuous tobacco rod 120 at regular time intervals to produce tobacco rod segments 126 of equal length. Tobacco rod segment 126 can have a length, for example, in the range of 12-60 mm. For example, the tobacco rod segment 126 can be 12 mm long, or 42 mm long, or 60 mm long. Other lengths can be obtained, for example, by varying the spacing of successive cuts.

In use, the first cutter 106 longitudinally cuts the tobacco sheet 104 to produce a plurality of tobacco strands 112 . A collector 114 collects the strands 112 to form a tobacco rod 120 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112 is substantially unwound, eg, substantially straight. A second cutter 124 cuts the tobacco rod 120 into segments to produce tobacco rod segments 126 .

Apparatus 100 thus includes tobacco rods 130 each formed from a plurality of longitudinal strands of tobacco (not shown), ie, strands of tobacco extending along the length of tobacco rod 130 . , producing tobacco rod segment 126, each of the plurality of longitudinal strands (not shown) being substantially unwound.

The first cutter 106 may be adjustable to cut the tobacco sheet 104 into multiple strands 112 or not cut the tobacco sheet 104 at all. In use, the first cutter 106 can be adjusted not to cut the tobacco sheet 104 into multiple strands 112 when the apparatus 100 is first used on a given tobacco sheet 104 . The uncut tobacco sheet 104 can then be fed through a funnel 114 to form a tobacco rod (not shown) of uncut tobacco sheet 104 and the resulting rod of uncut tobacco sheet 104 (not shown). can be fed through a coating device 122 and a second cutter 124 to form segments (not shown) of a rod (not shown) of uncut tobacco sheet 104 . After the formation of the rod (not shown) of uncut tobacco sheet 104 has stabilized, for example, after several segments (not shown) of the rod (not shown) of uncut tobacco sheet 104 have been manufactured, a second One cutter 106 is arranged to cut the tobacco sheet 104 into a plurality of strands 112 as described above to form tobacco rod segments 126 each comprising a tobacco rod 130 formed from a plurality of strands 112 of tobacco. and each of these plurality of strands 112 is substantially unwound. Some segments (not shown) of the rod (not shown) of uncut tobacco sheet 104 that were produced before the tobacco rod segment 126 containing the plurality of strands of tobacco 112 was produced may be discarded. . This may allow for easier and more consistent setup of the apparatus 100 when installing or replacing tobacco sheets 104 (eg, bobbins 102 of tobacco sheets 104).

Referring now to FIG. 2, an apparatus 200 for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 226 is shown schematically, according to another example. Components of the apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 2 that are the same or similar to components already described with reference to FIG. 1 will not be described again in detail, but these components include 100 The same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are given, except that they are enlarged by

Apparatus 200 comprises first cutter 206 , collector 214 and second cutter 224 . The first cutter 206 is configured to longitudinally cut the tobacco sheet 204 to produce a plurality of tobacco strands 212 . The collector 214 is arranged to collect the strands 212 to form a tobacco rod 220 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 212 is substantially unwound, eg, substantially straight. Second cutter 224 is configured to cut tobacco rod 220 into segments 226 to produce tobacco rod segments 226 .

Apparatus 200 comprises a bobbin 202 of tobacco sheet 204 . Tobacco sheet 204 is fed from a bobbin 202 of tobacco sheet 204 toward first cutter 226 .

Apparatus 200 comprises a tensioning device 205 comprising a plurality (four in this example) of tensioning rollers 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d. Tobacco sheet 104 is fed from bobbin 202 over tension rollers 205a, 205b, 205c, 205d and then fed to first cutter 206 in the sheet feeding direction (arrow A). Doing so can help ensure that sufficient tension (eg, longitudinal tension) is applied to the tobacco sheet 204 so that it can be efficiently cut by the first cutter 206 . Doing so may also help smooth out the tobacco sheet 104 and remove any wrinkles that may be present in the tobacco sheet 104, for example.

The first cutter 206 comprises two cutting arrays 206 a , 206 b arranged to contact opposite major surfaces of the tobacco sheet 204 . Each cutting array 206a, 206b may be the same as or similar to cutting array 106a described above with reference to FIG. The cutting arrays 206a, 206b are arranged to press together against the tobacco sheet, thereby longitudinally cutting the tobacco sheet 204 into a plurality of tobacco strands 112 (multiple tobacco strands). 112 are distributed along the plane extending into the page of FIG. 2). For example, the cutting arrays 206a, 206b can be offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the tobacco sheet (ie, offset in a direction extending into the page of FIG. 2).

Collector 214 comprises funnel 214 including funnel portion 216 and stem portion 218 . The axis of funnel 114 is in the center of plurality of tobacco strands 112 and in the plane in which the plurality of tobacco strands are distributed. Multiple tobacco strands 112 are collected to form tobacco rod 220 as they pass through funnel 214 .

Apparatus 200 comprises a coating device 222 arranged to coat tobacco rod 220 with coating 228 . The coating device 222 may be, for example, a rod maker known in the art, such as a KDF (kinetic flow media) filter rod maker for controlling the orientation and tension of the coating 228. may contain.

The coating apparatus 222 includes a drive belt 246 , a coating bobbin 252 , a garniture 240 , an adhesive section 242 and a heater section 244 .

The drive belt 246 is a continuous strip of flexible material looped around and supported by two rollers 248a, 248b. Drive belt 246 is held in tension between rollers 248a, 248b to define a generally flat drive belt upper surface 246a. The rollers 248a, 248b are arranged to rotate about their respective axes so that the drive belt surface 246a can translate between the two rollers 248a, 248b. One or both of rollers 248a, 248b are driven to rotate (clockwise in FIG. 2) about their axis to translate drive belt upper surface 246a (left to right in FIG. 2). .

A coating bobbin 252 supplies a continuous sheet or web of coating 228 to the drive belt upper surface 246a. The coating 228 may be fed onto the drive belt top surface 246a by the friction of the moving drive belt top surface 246a against the sheet of coating material 228 . In response, the sheet of dressing 228 moves on the drive belt top surface 246a (from left to right in FIG. 2). Tobacco rod 220 is fed over a sheet of coating 228 on drive belt upper surface 246a. At least in part, friction between the moving coating 228 and the tobacco rod 220 may cause the tobacco rod 220 to feed over the coating 228 and thus move with the coating 228 . Alternatively or additionally, the tobacco rod 220 can be fed over the moving coating 228 by another means such as one or more feed rollers. In either case, tobacco rod 220 is fed over dressing 228 such that tobacco rod 220 moves with dressing 228 (i.e. at the same speed) and also with drive belt upper surface 246a ( ie at the same speed).

Garniture 240 , known per se, wraps dressing 228 around tobacco rod 220 as they pass garniture 240 . Garniture 240 wraps dressing 228 around tobacco rod 220 . The garniture wraps the dressing 228 around the tobacco rod 220 over slightly more than the circumference of the tobacco rod 120 such that there is a portion of the dressing 228 that overlaps itself (not shown).

In adhesive section 242 , adhesive is applied to dressing 228 to secure dressing 228 in place about tobacco rod 220 . Specifically, adhesive section 242 applies adhesive to the portion where dressing 228 overlaps itself to secure dressing 228 to itself about tobacco rod 220 .

Heater section 244 heats tobacco rod 220 to assist in drying and/or curing the adhesive. This helps ensure that the adhesive has sufficiently dried/cured before the tobacco rod is cut into tobacco rod segments 226 .

Second cutter 224 is configured to cut tobacco rod 220 into segments to produce tobacco rod segments 226 . The second cutter 224 may be the same as or similar to the second cutter 124 described above with reference to FIG.

In use, the second cutter 206 longitudinally cuts the tobacco sheet 204 to produce a plurality of tobacco strands 212 . A collector 214 collects the strands 212 to form a tobacco rod 220 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 212 is substantially unwound. A second cutter 224 cuts the tobacco rod 220 into segments to produce tobacco rod segments 226 .

Apparatus 200 thus includes tobacco rods 230 each formed from a plurality of longitudinal strands of tobacco (not shown), ie, strands of tobacco extending along the length of tobacco rod 230 . , producing tobacco rod segment 226, each of the plurality of longitudinal strands (not shown) being substantially unwound, eg, substantially straight.

1, the first cutter 206 of the apparatus 200 of FIG. 2 cuts the tobacco sheet 104 into a plurality of longitudinal strands 112 or cuts the tobacco sheet into a plurality of longitudinal strands 112. It may be adjustable not to cut 104 at all. As noted above, this may allow for easier and more consistent setup of apparatus 200 when installing or replacing tobacco sheets 204 (eg, bobbins 202 of tobacco sheets 204).

As noted above, in some examples, the tobacco sheets 104,204 are supplied from bobbins 102,202 of the tobacco sheets 104,204.

Referring to FIG. 3, a bobbin 302a of tobacco sheet 304, which can be used, for example, as the bobbins 102, 202 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, can be obtained from a mother reel 370 of tobacco sheet 304. . The mother reel 370 can be laterally scored (see dashed line 372) to produce the bobbin 302a of the tobacco sheet 304. As shown in FIG.

The mother reel 307 can be scored to produce bobbins 302a having a particular width W. By doing so, the tobacco sheet 304 of the bobbin 302a has a specific mass per unit length, and therefore the manufactured tobacco rod segment (not shown in FIG. 3) has a specific mass per unit length. It becomes possible to have Thus, the desired mass per unit length of the tobacco rod segment (not shown in FIG. 3) can be selected at the beginning of the production process. In that case, the bobbin width W is based on the selected mass per unit length of the tobacco rod segment (not shown) and based on the known mass per unit length of the tobacco sheet 304 on the mother reel 370. , can be determined. For example, the tobacco sheet 304 may have a weight per unit area (also called basis weight) of 100 g/m ² . The mother reel 370 can then be scored to produce a bobbin 302a having the determined bobbin width W. The bobbin 302a is then used, for example, in the apparatus 100, 200 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 to produce tobacco rod segments (not shown in FIG. 3) having the desired mass per unit length. can be manufactured. The mother reel 370 can be scored several times, for example, to produce bobbins 302b, 302c, 302d, 302e with the same or different bobbin widths W, as desired. By doing so, it may be possible to conveniently and inexpensively manage the mass per unit length of the manufactured tobacco rod segments (not shown in FIG. 3).

FIG. 4 schematically shows a flowchart of a process for manufacturing tobacco rod segments, according to one example. For example, this process can be performed using the apparatus 100, 200 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Accordingly, the reference numerals used in FIGS. 1 and 2 are also used accordingly below.

At step S402, the process includes longitudinally cutting the tobacco sheet 104,204 to produce a plurality of tobacco strands 112,212.

The tobacco sheets 104, 204 can have a substantially constant mass per unit length, can be reconstituted tobacco sheets, and/or can include glycerol.

This process may include feeding tobacco sheets 104, 204 from a bobbin 102, 202 of tobacco sheets 104, 204 prior to step S402. This process may include providing a mother reel 307 of tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304 and slitting the mother reel to produce bobbins 102, 202, 302a. This process involves, in itself, selecting the mass per unit length of the tobacco rod segment 126, 226, based on the mass per unit area of the tobacco sheet 104, 204, 304, and the selected unit of tobacco rod segment. Determining the bobbin width W based on the mass per length and cutting the mother reel 307 to produce the bobbins 102, 202, 302a having the determined bobbin width W may be included.

This process may include feeding the tobacco sheets 104, 204 in the sheet feeding direction A prior to step S402. In this case, cutting the tobacco sheet 104, 204, 304 at S402 may include cutting the tobacco sheet 104, 204, 304 substantially parallel to the sheet feed direction A.

Step S402 may include cutting the tobacco sheets 104, 204 at the determined number of cuts and/or cut intervals. The number of cuts and/or cut spacing is determined by selecting the number of strands 112, 212 and/or the width of the strands 112, 212 of the tobacco rod segment 126, 226 and cutting based on the selected number of strands and/or strand width. It can be determined by determining the number and/or cutting intervals. Each of the plurality of strands may have a width substantially within the range of 0.25-3 mm, or substantially within the range of 0.5-1.5 mm.

At step S404, the process includes collecting the strands 112, 212 to form tobacco rods 112, 212 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112, 212 is substantially unwound. A step S404 collects the strands 112, 212 to form tobacco rods 120, 220 in which the plurality of tobacco strands 112, 212 are substantially parallel to each other and/or each is substantially straight. including. Step S404 may include collecting each of the elongated strands 112, 212 substantially laterally toward an axis central to the plurality of strands 112, 212 to form the rod 120. FIG. The axis along which the strands 112, 212 are collected lies in a plane that includes the infeed direction A and is perpendicular to the plane defined by the plurality of strands 112, 212 before being collected. Step S404 may include feeding the strands 112,212 through the funnels 114,214 to collect the strands 112,212.

This process involves feeding the tobacco sheets 104, 204 through a funnel 114, 214 to produce a tobacco rod (not shown) of uncut tobacco sheets 114, 214 before said cutting of the tobacco sheets 104, 204 is applied in step S402. ).

At step S406, the process includes cutting the tobacco rod 120 (of the tobacco strands 112,212) into segments to produce said tobacco rod segments 126,226.

This process may include coating the tobacco rod 120, 220 with a coating 128, 228 prior to S406. The covering 128, 228 may be or include one or both of paper and aluminum foil. For example, the covering 128, 228 may be a laminate of paper and aluminum foil. The tobacco rod segments 126, 226 (coated) may each have an outer diameter substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm. The tobacco rod segments 126, 226 can be consumables of the aerosol generating device.

Figure 5a schematically shows an example tobacco rod segment 526 resting on a blade heater 580 of an aerosol generating device (not shown). Specifically, FIG. 5a shows tobacco rod segment 526 before being mounted over blade heater 580 and FIG. 5b shows tobacco rod segment 526 after being mounted over blade heater 580. FIG.

Tobacco rod segment 526 may, for example, be the same as or similar to tobacco rod segments 126, 226 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. Tobacco rod segment 526 may be manufactured, for example, by apparatus 100, 200 described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, and/or by the process described above with respect to FIG.

5a and 5b, tobacco rod segment 526 is formed from a plurality of longitudinal tobacco strands 512 (i.e., a plurality of tobacco strands 512 extending along the length of tobacco rod 530). Each of the plurality of longitudinal strands 512 is substantially unwound, including tobacco rod 530 . The plurality of strands 512 are substantially parallel to each other, substantially straight, and each extend substantially along the entire length of tobacco rod segment 526 . Tobacco rod segment 526 comprises a coating 528 wrapped around tobacco rod 530 .

The blade heater 580 can take the form of an elongated rectangular parallelepiped that is fairly thin compared to how wide or long it is. The width of blade heater 580 is less than the outer diameter of tobacco rod segment 526 . The blade heater 538 comprises a resistance heater (not shown) powered by a battery (not shown) of a handheld aerosol generating device (not shown) and controllable by the user to heat. be able to. In some examples, blade heater 580 may have a point (not shown) to facilitate insertion of blade heater into tobacco rod segment 526 .

The blade heater 580 can be inserted into the tobacco rod segment 526 (arrow B in FIG. 5a) or, similarly, the tobacco rod segment 526 can be pushed over the blade heater 580 so that the blade heater 580 , extends longitudinally into tobacco rod segment 526 (as shown in FIG. 5b).

The plurality of longitudinal strands 512 of tobacco rod segment 526 are substantially unwound to facilitate insertion of blade heater 580 into tobacco rod segment 526 . This is because the unwound longitudinal strands 512 present relatively little resistance to longitudinal insertion of the blade heater 580 . This allows convenient installation or replacement of the tobacco rod segment 528 on the blade heater 580, making the tobacco rod segment 526 a consumable part of the entire aerosol generating device (not shown). be able to. This can reduce damage to the tobacco rod segment 526 when inserting the blade heater 580 and allows for more consistent and proper placement of the tobacco rod segment 526 relative to the blade heater 580 . For example, this tobacco rod segment can be contrasted with a hypothetical tobacco rod segment that includes a wound longitudinal strand, for example configured in a helical structure, where the blade heater insertion is an insertion path and the blade heater may deform and compress portions of the tobacco, making the application of the virtual tobacco rod segment relatively difficult and inconsistent; An increased risk of damaging the virtual tobacco rod segment can result.

The plurality of longitudinal strands 512 of tobacco rod segment 526 are likewise parallel and/or straight to facilitate insertion of blade heater 580 into tobacco rod segment 526 . In this case, the axis of insertion of blade heater 580 is parallel to the axis of each of longitudinal strands 512, and the tip of blade heater 580 presents only a small surface area of tobacco when it is inserted. . Similar to the above, convenient installation or replacement of tobacco rod segment 526 may be provided and/or damage to tobacco rod segment 526 may be reduced and/or tobacco rod segment to blade heater 580 may be reduced. A more consistent and proper placement of 526 is enabled. This tobacco rod segment can be contrasted with, for example, a virtual tobacco rod segment comprising randomly oriented strips of cut rag tobacco, or comprising a sheet of wrinkled or corrugated tobacco, where the blade heater can deform and compress a portion of the cut lug tobacco, or the edge of a crumpled or corrugated sheet of tobacco, making the placement of the virtual tobacco rod segment relatively difficult and inconsistent. can result in an increased risk of damaging the virtual tobacco rod segment.

After the tobacco rod segment 526 is inserted over the blade heater 580 of the overall aerosol generating device (not shown), the blade heater 580 is controlled to heat (e.g., by resistive heating inside the blade heater 580). ), the tobacco strands 512 can be heated (but not burned). By doing so, constituents (eg, volatile constituents) can be released from the tobacco strands 512 . As noted above, tobacco strands 512 may include glycerol, which may volatilize to form an aerosol when heated by blade heater 580 .

The plurality of substantially unwound longitudinal strands 512 of tobacco rod segment 526 define a corresponding plurality of substantially unwound longitudinal passages 513 through tobacco rod segment 526 . Establish between the longitudinal strands 512 of the book. These passageways 513 facilitate the transport of volatile materials (eg, volatile components of the tobacco itself or volatile glycerol, or both) released from the tobacco strands 512 upon heating through the tobacco rod segments 526 . This can reduce the loss of such materials as they pass through the tobacco rod segment 526, e.g., the relatively short continuous path 513 allows volatile materials to pass through a portion of the tobacco rod segment 526. The occurrence of condensation can be reduced. This tobacco rod segment can be contrasted with, for example, a virtual tobacco rod segment comprising randomly oriented strips of cut rag tobacco (like a standard cigarette), in which exiting the virtual tobacco rod The path length of the volatile material for is relatively long. This tobacco rod segment can also be contrasted with a virtual tobacco rod segment comprising a plurality of wound longitudinal strands in which the path length of the volatile material to exit the virtual tobacco rod is also relatively long. .

As noted above, the covering material 528 may be or include, for example, one or both of paper and aluminum foil, such as a laminate of paper and aluminum foil. A laminate of paper and aluminum foil may be useful to prevent ignition of tobacco rod segment 526 by blade heater 580 .

Each of the plurality of strands 512 may have a width substantially within the range of 0.25-3 mm, or substantially within the range of 0.5-1.5 mm. Tobacco rod segment 526 may have an outer diameter substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm. This allows a relatively large blade heater 580 to be used, thus increasing the heating surface area of the blade heater 580 and thus increasing the rate at which tobacco can be heated and/or the amount of tobacco that can be heated by the blade heater 580. can be done.

The above examples are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention.

For example, in the examples above, the tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304 are described as being sheets of reconstituted tobacco, but this need not be the case, and in other examples, the tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304, 304 may be made from other materials. Tobacco sheet 104 may or may not contain glycerol, and may contain other materials such as additives or enhancers in place of or in addition to glycerol.

Although in some of the examples above the tobacco sheets 104, 204, 304 are described as being fed from bobbins 102, 202, 302, this need not be the case, e.g. It may be supplied from a source (not shown), said device or source not necessarily forming part of the apparatus 100,200.

Although in the above example the first cutter 106, 206 is described as comprising an array of circular discs 108, this need not be the case, and in other examples the first cutter 106, 206 may be any suitable cutter or cutting means for longitudinally cutting the tobacco sheet 104 to form a plurality of tobacco strands 112,212.

Although the collectors 114, 214 in the above examples are described as funnels 114, 214 having circular cross-sections, this need not be the case, and in other examples the collectors 114, 214 may have other shapes. may be taken. For example, the collector 114, 214 may be or include a so-called stuffer jet (not shown) arranged to feed and collect the plurality of strands 112, 212 by using air pressure. Sometimes. As another example, the funnels 114, 214 need not be circular in cross-section and may have other cross-sections such as, for example, rectangular or square. Indeed, the collector may be any suitable means for collecting the strands 112, 212 to form tobacco rods 120, 220 in which each of the plurality of tobacco strands 112, 212 is substantially unwound. can do.

In the above example, the apparatus 100,200 coats the tobacco rod 120,220 before the tobacco rod is cut into segments 126,226 by the second cutter 124 to produce tobacco rod segments 126,226. Although it includes a coating apparatus 122, 222 arranged to coat with a material 128, 228, this need not be the case, and in other examples the apparatus 100, 200 does not include a coating apparatus 122, 222. Sometimes, the (uncoated) tobacco rod 120,220 may be cut into segments 126,226 by a second cutter 124,224 to produce tobacco rod segments 126,226. In this example, the manufactured tobacco rod segments 126,226 do not necessarily have a coating 128,228.

1 and 2 schematically illustrate an example apparatus for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 126, 226, according to one example, and in other examples, apparatus 100, 200 may include additional (or fewer) components. e.g., one or more feed rollers for feeding the tobacco sheet 104, 204 and/or the plurality of strands 112, 212, tensioning the tobacco sheet 104, 204 and/or the plurality of strands 112, 212 one or more tension rollers for applying and/or tobacco sheets 104, 204 and/or strands 112, 212 and/or segments of tobacco rods 120, 220 and/or tobacco rods 120, 220 It should be appreciated that one or more drive belts are provided for transport.

Although the above examples describe the tobacco strands 112, 212 as being straight and parallel to each other, this need not be the case, and in other examples, the tobacco strands 112, 212 are substantially may not be straight and/or substantially parallel to each other. For example, the tobacco strands 112, 212 may be treated to include longitudinal waves or wrinkles or zig-zags, etc., or indeed the tobacco sheet 104 is essentially longitudinal waves or wrinkles or wrinkles or zig-zags, or the like. It may include a zig-zag shape, etc., or may be processed to have such a shape or configuration. In fact, the tobacco rod segments 126, 226 may comprise any tobacco rod 130, 530 formed from multiple longitudinal strands 112, 212 of tobacco, and the multiple longitudinal strands 112, 212 are substantially unwound.

Although in the above examples tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526 are described as being manufactured by apparatus 100, 200 and/or by the process described with reference to FIG. 3, this is not necessarily the case. This is not required, and in other examples each of the plurality of longitudinal strands 112, 212, 512 is formed from the plurality of longitudinal strands 112, 212, 512 of tobacco that are substantially unwound. Any suitable method or apparatus for manufacturing tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526, including tobacco rods 130, 530, may be used.

Although in some of the above examples the tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526 are described as consumables such as "non-combustion heated" devices comprising blade heaters 580, this need not be the case. However, in other examples, tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526 may be used in other devices and/or for other purposes. For example, tobacco rod segments 126, 226, 526 may be consumables of any aerosol generating device (eg, tobacco heating products or devices that do not necessarily include blade heaters 580).

While the tobacco sheets 102, 204, 304 are described in the examples above as being or comprising tobacco (eg, reconstituted tobacco), this need not be the case, and in other examples, the sheets 104, 204, 304 , 204, 304 may be or include sheets of any aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating material can be, for example, a material that generates an aerosol when heated by blade heaters 580 throughout the aerosol-generating device. For example, the sheet of aerosol-generating material 104, 204, 304 may be or include a perfume base. The flavor base 104, 204, 304 can include flavoring agents such as tobacco flavoring or other flavoring agents, and/or can include glycerol or other additives or enhancers instead of or in addition to glycerol. . A perfume base, with or without glycerol or other additives, can be heated to form an aerosol.

In general, an aerosol is a colloid of fine solid particles or droplets in air or other gas; a colloid is a state in which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended throughout another substance. It may be noted that the substance of Vapor, on the other hand, is a substance in the gas phase below the critical temperature, which means, for example, that vapor can be condensed into a liquid by increasing its pressure without lowering its temperature. . As used herein, the term aerosol should be understood to include aerosols and/or vapors.

In some examples, the aerosol-generating material rod segments 126, 226, 526 are formed from the sheets of aerosol-generating material 102, 204, 304, as described above for the sheets of reconstituted tobacco 102, 204, 304, e.g. by longitudinally cutting a sheet 102, 204, 304 of to produce a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands 112, 212, 512; by forming a rod of aerosol-generating material 130, 530 in which 112, 212, 512 are substantially unwound; It should be understood that it can be made by fabricating material rod segments 126,226,526.

Similarly, an article can include a rod 130, 530 of aerosol-generating material, wherein the rod 130, 530 of aerosol-generating material is formed from a plurality of longitudinal strands 112, 212, 512 of aerosol-generating material. It should be appreciated that each of the plurality of longitudinal strands 112, 212, 512 of aerosol-generating material that are formed are substantially unwound.

Any feature described with respect to any one example may be used alone or in conjunction with other features described, nor may any other of the examples or other examples. It should be understood that any combination of any other of may also be used with one or more features. Additionally, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be used without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (46)

1. A method of manufacturing a non-combustion heated device consumable , said non-combustion heated device consumable comprising an aerosol-generating material rod segment,
longitudinally cutting a sheet of aerosol-generating material to produce a plurality of aerosol-generating material strands;
collecting the strands to form a rod of aerosol-generating material in which each of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is substantially unwound;
cutting said aerosol-generating material rod into segments to produce said aerosol-generating material rod segments. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said collecting step comprises collecting said strands to form said aerosol-generating material rods in which said plurality of aerosol-generating material strands are substantially parallel to each other. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the collecting step comprises collecting the strands to form the rod of aerosol-generating material wherein each of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is substantially straight. Method. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the sheet of aerosol-generating material is a tobacco sheet. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the tobacco sheet is reconstituted tobacco sheet. The method of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises glycerol. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the sheet of aerosol-generating material has a substantially constant mass per unit length. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising obtaining the sheet of aerosol-generating material from a bobbin of sheet of aerosol-generating material. providing a mother reel of sheets of aerosol-generating material;
and cutting the mother reel to manufacture the bobbins. selecting a mass per unit length of the aerosol-generating material rod segment;
determining a bobbin width based on the mass per unit area of the sheet of aerosol-generating material and based on the selected mass per unit length of the aerosol-generating material rod segment;
cutting the mother reel to produce bobbins having the determined bobbin width. The method is
selecting the number of strands and/or strand width of the aerosol-generating material rod segments;
determining the number of cuts and/or cut spacing based on the selected number of strands and/or strand width;
11. The step of cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material according to the determined number of cuts and/or cutting intervals. the method of. The method includes feeding the sheet of aerosol-generating material in a sheet feed direction;
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the step of cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material substantially parallel to the sheet feeding direction. . the collecting step includes collecting each of the strands toward an axis lying in a plane;
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plane contains the feed direction and is perpendicular to the plane defined by the plurality of strands before being collected. 14. The method of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the collecting step comprises collecting each of the strands toward an axis that is central to the plurality of strands. 15. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting step comprises substantially laterally collecting each of the strands to form the rod. 16. The method of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the collecting step comprises feeding the strands through a funnel to collect the strands. 17. The method of claim 16, comprising, prior to said step of cutting said sheet of aerosol-generating material, feeding said sheet of aerosol-generating material through said funnel to form a rod of non-cut tobacco sheet aerosol-generating material. described method. 18. The width of each of said plurality of strands is substantially within the range of 0.25-3 mm, or substantially within the range of 0.5-1.5 mm. The method described in . A method according to any preceding claim, comprising coating the rod of aerosol-generating material with a coating. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the covering material is or includes one or both of paper and aluminum foil. 21. The aerosol-generating material rod segment of claim 19 or 20, wherein each of said aerosol-generating material rod segments has an outer diameter substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm. the method of. 1. An apparatus for manufacturing a non-combustion heated device consumable , said non-combustion heated device consumable comprising an aerosol-generating material rod segment,
a first cutter configured to longitudinally cut a sheet of aerosol-generating material to produce a plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material;
a collector configured to collect the strands to form a rod of aerosol-generating material in which each of the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material is substantially unwound;
a second cutter arranged to cut the aerosol-generating material rod into segments to produce the aerosol-generating material rod segments. 23. The collector of claim 22 , wherein the collector is arranged to collect the strands to form the rod of aerosol-generating material in which the plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material are substantially parallel to each other. Device. 24. Claim 22 or 23 , wherein the collector is arranged to collect the strands to form the aerosol-generating material rod, wherein each of the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands is substantially straight. The apparatus described in . 25. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 24 , arranged to obtain the sheet of aerosol-generating material from a bobbin of sheet of aerosol-generating material. 26. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 25 , wherein said first cutter is adjustable to adjust the number and/or width of said strands. 4. The first cutter is adjustable to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material to produce the plurality of aerosol-generating material strands or not to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material. 27. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22-26 . The apparatus is arranged to feed the sheet of aerosol-generating material in a sheet feed direction, and the first cutter is arranged to cut the sheet of aerosol-generating material substantially parallel to the sheet feed direction. 28. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 27 , configured. The collector is arranged to collect each of the strands toward an axis lying in a first plane, the first plane containing the infeed direction and the plurality of strands before being collected. 29. The device of claim 28 , perpendicular to the second plane defined by the strands. 30. The apparatus of any one of claims 22-29 , wherein the collector is arranged to collect each of the strands toward an axis that is central to the plurality of strands. 31. The apparatus of any one of claims 22-30 , wherein the collector is arranged to collect each of the strands substantially laterally to form the rod. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 31 , wherein said collector comprises a funnel. The first cutter longitudinally cuts the sheet of aerosol-generating material, each having a width substantially in the range of 0.25 to 3 mm, or substantially in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. 33. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 32 , arranged to produce said plurality of strands of aerosol-generating material in a. 34. Apparatus according to any one of claims 22 to 33 , comprising a coating device arranged to coat the rod of aerosol-generating material with a coating. 35. The apparatus of claim 34 , wherein the covering material is or includes one or both of paper and aluminum foil. configured to produce an aerosol-generating material rod segment having an outer diameter substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm. 36. Apparatus according to Item 34 or 35 . A consumable for a non-combustion heated device comprising a rod of aerosol-generating material, said rod of aerosol-generating material being formed from a plurality of longitudinal strands of aerosol-generating material, said plurality of longitudinal strands of aerosol-generating material A non-combustion heated device consumable in which each of the strands of the non-combustion heated device is substantially unwound. 38. The non-combustion heated device consumable of claim 37 , wherein the plurality of strands are substantially parallel to each other. 39. The non-combustion heated device consumable of claim 37 or 38 , wherein each of the plurality of strands is substantially straight. 40. Each of the plurality of strands has a width substantially within the range of 0.25-3 mm, or substantially within the range of 0.5-1.5 mm, according to any one of claims 37-39 . Consumables for non-combustion heated devices described in . A non-combustion heated device consumable according to any one of claims 37 to 40 , wherein one or more of said strands is or comprises tobacco. 42. The non-combustion heated device consumable of claim 41 , wherein one or more of the strands are or comprise reconstituted tobacco. 43. The non-combustion heated device consumable of any of claims 37-42 , wherein one or more of said strands comprises glycerol. 44. A non-combustion heated device consumable according to any one of claims 37 to 43 , comprising a coating wrapped around the rod of aerosol-generating material. 45. The non-combustion heated device consumable of claim 44 , wherein the covering material is or includes one or both of paper and aluminum foil. 46. A non-combustion heated device consumable according to claim 44 or 45 , wherein the outer diameter is substantially within the range of 5.4-7.8 mm, or substantially within the range of 6.7-7.8 mm. .

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