JP7478916B2 - Cartridge for smoking article and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cartridge for a smoking device that is attached to an induction heating type smoking device.

In recent years, tobacco products that use a method of heating a tobacco cartridge containing tobacco ingredients and inhaling the vaporized tobacco ingredients without using a flame have become widely known. In addition, due to the diversification of tastes, smoking accessories that use cartridge products to enjoy the aroma and flavor of plants that do not contain tobacco ingredients, without using a flame, like tobacco, are also becoming known.

In such smoking articles, an aerosol is generated by heating the filler accumulation body in which the filler is accumulated. A known method for heating the filler accumulation body is to provide a susceptor made of a magnetic material inside the filler accumulation body and heat the filler by inductively heating the susceptor from the smoking article. An example of a smoking article cartridge in which a susceptor is provided in the filler accumulation body in this way is that shown in Patent Document 1.

JP 2017-519493 A

However, the susceptor described in Patent Document 1 is difficult to manufacture because it is made of multiple layers of multiple types of metal. Therefore, providing such a susceptor material in a smoking article cartridge increases the manufacturing cost of the smoking article cartridge, which is not desirable.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a cartridge for a smoking article that has a simple structure and is provided with a susceptor.

In order to solve the above problems, the smoking article cartridge of the present invention is a smoking article cartridge that is attached to an induction heating type smoking article and used, and has a filler that generates an aerosol when heated, and a susceptor that is placed inside the filler accumulation and generates heat within a predetermined range when induction heated from the outside, the smoking article cartridge is formed into a rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction, the susceptor includes a flat plate-shaped heating element extending in the longitudinal direction, and the flat plate-shaped heating element has a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 mm and a width of 1.0 to 6.0 mm when viewed in radial cross section of the smoking article cartridge.

The smoking article cartridge of the present invention can provide a smoking article cartridge equipped with a susceptor with a simple configuration.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article having a filler accumulation in this embodiment. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a manner in which a cartridge for a smoking article is used. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment. 1A to 1C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a manufacturing method of a packing accumulation. 1A to 1C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method for manufacturing a cartridge for a smoking article that is filled with a powder or granular filler. 1A to 1C are explanatory diagrams illustrating a manufacturing method for a cartridge for a smoking article that is filled with a filler formed into a paste-like form. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. 1 according to a second embodiment.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals,
In addition, the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

(Overall configuration of a cartridge for smoking articles)
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a smoking article cartridge 1 having a filler accumulation 10 in this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the smoking article cartridge 1 is formed by arranging a substantially cylindrical filler accumulation 10 filled with a large amount of filler 20, a support member 12 through which airflow from the filler accumulation 10 can pass, a mouthpiece 14 having a mouthpiece 14a at one end, and a seal member 18 having an inlet 18a at the other end along the longitudinal direction and wrapping them together in a sheet-like packaging member 16. The packaging member 16 can be made of paper or the like.

In this embodiment, the cartridge 1 for the smoking tool is formed with a diameter of 4.0 mm to 7.5 mm, more preferably 5.0 mm to 7.0 mm, and a length of 40 mm to 80 mm. If the outer diameter of the cartridge 1 for the smoking tool is set in the range of 6.5 to 7.5 mm, it can be fitted with a moderate force into the insertion part 51 for inserting the cartridge 1 for the smoking tool provided in the smoking tool 2, making it possible to hold the cartridge 1 for the smoking tool in a suitable manner on the smoking tool 2 while making it easy to attach and detach the cartridge 1 for the smoking tool. If the length of the cartridge 1 for the smoking tool is set in the range of 40 to 80 mm, it will be longer than the length of the insertion part 51 for receiving the cartridge 1 for the smoking tool provided in the smoking tool 2, so that even if the cartridge 1 for the smoking tool is inserted into the smoking tool 2, the mouthpiece 14a can be exposed from the smoking tool 2, and the length necessary for the smoker to smoke can be secured.

(Configuration of Support Member)
The support member 12 suppresses the movement of the packing accumulation 10 toward the support member 12 side, and allows the airflow containing the aerosol generated in the packing accumulation 10 to flow toward the mouthpiece 14 side. The support member 12 is provided, for example, in a cylindrical and solid shape, and is disposed between the packing accumulation 10 and the mouthpiece 14 so that its axial direction is along the central axis. The support member 12 is formed, for example, with an outer diameter of 4.0 mm to 7.5 mm and a length along the central axis of 50 mm or less. Note that the support member 12 may have dimensions different from those described above depending on the appropriate function and configuration.

The support member 12 is made of a resin material. Examples of resin materials that form the support member 12 include polypropylene, polylactic acid, and silicone. However, the support member 12 may be made of other resin materials, or materials other than resin materials such as wood or metal (aluminum, etc.) that have a greater cooling effect. Note that the support member 12 is not necessarily required, and if the filler accumulation 10 is configured so that it does not easily move toward the mouthpiece 14 (e.g., the filler accumulation 10 is fixed to the packaging member 16), the support member 12 does not need to be provided.

(Mouthpiece configuration)
The mouthpiece 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, with a diameter of 4.0 mm to 7.5 mm and a length along the central axis of 50 mm or more. The mouthpiece 14 is formed, for example, using paper. The mouthpiece 14 may be formed in a cylindrical shape by rolling up a sheet-like member made of paper, or may include a cellulose acetate filter or the like for removing fine particles. The mouthpiece 14 is a white filter that has the function of filtering out part of the fine particles in the water vapor and aerosol generated in the packing accumulation 10. Note that, since the packing 20 is made of a non-tobacco plant as described later, the mouthpiece 14 is not necessarily required.

(Configuration of packing accumulation)
The filler accumulation 10 is formed by bundling elongated filler 20 along the length direction and wrapping it in a sheet-like wrapping member 25 to form a generally cylindrical shape. The filler 20 is formed from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant. The filler accumulation 10 has a length of 10 to 25 mm. Note that the filler 20 is not limited to being elongated, and may be in other forms such as granular, dusty, paste-like, or porous. The cartridge 1 for a smoking article may have dimensions different from those described above in accordance with the shape of the smoking article 2.

The outer diameter of the packing assembly 10 is equal to the outer diameter of the support member 12 and the mouthpiece 14, and is generally constant along the central axis. The size of this outer diameter is preferably in the range of 4.0 mm to 7.5 mm, for example, and more preferably in the range of 5.0 mm to 7.0 mm.

A susceptor 30 is provided inside the packing assembly 10. The susceptor 30 has a metal plate 31, which is a flat member. The arrangement of the metal plate 31 in the susceptor 30 will be described in detail later.

The metal plate 31 is made of a metal material that contains a magnetic substance. Magnetic substances are broadly classified into ferromagnetic substances, paramagnetic substances, and diamagnetic substances. Among magnetic substances, ferromagnetic substances are materials that become strongly magnetized in the same direction as the external magnetic field when an external magnetic field is applied, and retain strong magnetism even when the external magnetic field is zero. Examples of ferromagnetic substances include iron, ferrite iron, ferrite powder, ferrite particles, ferritic stainless steel, ferromagnetic steel, stainless steel, nickel, and cobalt. The relative permeability of ferromagnetic substances is significantly greater than 1, for example, about 5000 for iron, about 600 for nickel, about 250 for cobalt, and about 1000 to 1800 for ferritic stainless steel.

Among magnetic materials, paramagnetic materials are materials that become weakly magnetized in the same direction as an external magnetic field when it is applied, and lose their magnetism when the external magnetic field is reduced to zero; examples of such materials include aluminum, platinum, and manganese. The relative permeability of paramagnetic materials is slightly greater than 1; for example, aluminum is approximately 1.000021, platinum is approximately 1.000265, and manganese is approximately 1.000830.

Diamagnetic materials are magnetic materials that become magnetized in the opposite direction to the applied external magnetic field and lose their magnetism when the external magnetic field is reduced to zero. Examples of such materials include copper, graphite, bismuth, and chromium. The relative permeability of diamagnetic materials is slightly smaller than 1; for example, copper is about 0.999990, graphite is about 0.99980, and bismuth is about 0.999834.

When an AC magnetic field is generated, ferromagnetic materials not only generate Joule heat due to the flow of induced current, but also generate heat (hysteresis loss) due to friction and vibration between molecules, making them easier to inductively heat than paramagnetic or diamagnetic materials, and allowing the filler assembly 10 to be heated sufficiently.

Furthermore, ferromagnetic materials have a high Curie temperature; for example, nickel has a Curie temperature of about 358°C. Therefore, even when the smoking article cartridge 1 is heated to a high temperature of, for example, 200°C, the heating temperature does not reach the Curie temperature, and the properties of the ferromagnetic material are maintained, allowing the packing material accumulation 10 to be heated stably.

The metal plate 31 may be made of a ferromagnetic material such as the above-mentioned iron, ferritic iron, ferrite powder, ferrite particles, ferritic stainless steel, ferromagnetic steel, stainless steel, nickel, cobalt, or a combination of these metal materials. For example, a combination of ferritic stainless steel and nickel is possible, and more preferably, an alloy of iron, chromium, and aluminum (iron-chromium-aluminum alloy).

Here, we will explain the relationship between temperature and magnetic properties of iron and chromium. Iron has a Curie temperature of approximately 770°C, which is the temperature at which it changes from a ferromagnetic substance to a paramagnetic substance, and chromium has a Neel temperature of approximately 308°C, which is the temperature at which it changes from a ferromagnetic substance to a paramagnetic substance.

The metal plate 31 may also be made of a metal material containing a ferromagnetic material as a main component, and may be a ferromagnetic alloy that contains 60% or more, preferably 80% or more, of a magnetic material. Examples include nickel alloys and nickel-iron alloys. Even in this case, the ferromagnetic material is inductively heated, and the packing assembly 10 can be sufficiently heated. Note that instead of the ferromagnetic material, a metal material containing a paramagnetic material and a diamagnetic material may be used. In this case, induction heating itself is possible. However, from the viewpoint of shortening the heating time and reducing power consumption, it is preferable to use a metal material containing a ferromagnetic material.

Similarly, the susceptor 30 may be combined with a metal plate 31 made of a ferromagnetic material, a paramagnetic material, or a diamagnetic material. For example, a metal plate 31 made of nickel, which is a ferromagnetic material, and a metal plate 31 made of iron, which is a ferromagnetic material, may be physically bonded together, or a metal plate 31 made of aluminum, which is a paramagnetic material, may be physically bonded together, or the outer surface of the metal plate 31 may be covered with a metal plate 31.

(Configuration of sealing member)
The sealing member 18 is formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, with a diameter of 4.0 mm to 7.5 mm and a length along the central axis of 30 to 70 mm or less. The sealing member 18 may be formed in a cylindrical shape by rolling up a sheet-like member made of paper, for example, like the mouthpiece 14. The sealing member 18 has a function of passing air from the introduction portion 18a, i.e., the upstream side, toward the packing material accumulation 10. The sealing member 18 can also absorb residual liquid that remains in the packing material accumulation 10 and liquefies among the water vapor and aerosol generated in the packing material accumulation 10. The sealing member 18 can be made a different color (for example, black) from the mouthpiece 14, thereby making it easy to distinguish between the upstream side and the downstream side of the smoking article cartridge 1.

(Use of the cartridge for smoking articles)
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the smoking article cartridge 1 in use. The smoking article cartridge 1 is used with the seal member 18 attached to the smoking article 2. The smoking article 2 has an insertion section 51 into which the smoking article cartridge 1 is inserted. The smoking article 2 is provided with an induction heating section 52 along the insertion section 51. The induction heating section 52 includes an induction coil, and is inductively coupled with the metal plate 31 of the susceptor 30 included in the packing material accumulation body 10 inserted into the insertion section 51, thereby heating the susceptor 30. The surrounding packing material 20 is heated by heating the susceptor 30, and an aerosol can be generated. In this state, the smoker inhales from the mouthpiece 14, thereby inhaling an airflow containing the aerosol.

Furthermore, the smoking tool 2 can detect the temperature of the susceptor 30. As a specific example, the induction heating unit 52 heats the susceptor 30 by the magnetic force supplied to the metal plate 31, while periodically (for example, once every 1 ms) detecting the apparent ohmic resistance of the susceptor 30 determined from the DC power supply voltage of the DC power supply supplied to the induction heating unit 52 and the DC current drawn from the DC power supply, thereby detecting the resistance value of the susceptor 30 at the time of detection. That is, when the metal plate 31 is made of an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy, the magnetism of chromium changes from diamagnetic to paramagnetic at 308°C, and the magnetism of iron changes from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic at 770°C, so that the smoking tool 2 can detect whether the temperature of the susceptor 30 is less than 308°C, 308°C or more and less than 770°C, or 770°C or more based on the apparent ohmic resistance of the metal plate 31.

(Filling Composition)
The filler 20 is formed by mixing aerosol formers that generate aerosols, microcrystalline cellulose, additives that add flavor, preservatives, adhesives or thickeners, etc. with dried and crushed non-tobacco plants, forming the mixture into a sheet, and then cutting the mixture into a predetermined width and length. The filler 20 is not limited to a long shape, and may have various shapes. For example, the filler 20 may be formed into a paste or granules.

When the filler 20 is configured in a long shape, the cross section perpendicular to the central axis is approximately rectangular, and the ratio of the long side to the short side of the cross section is preferably, for example, in the range of 1:1 to 30:1. The length of the long side is preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 7.5 mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm. The length of the short side is preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. In addition, it is preferable that the length of the filler 20 is approximately the same as the length of the filler accumulation body 10. The length of the filler 20 is preferably in the range of 10 mm to 25 mm, and more preferably in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm. An example of the dimensions of such a filler 20 is a long side of 1.5 mm, a short side of 0.3 mm, and a length of 12 mm.

Next, specific examples of ingredients used as the filler 20 will be described. The filler 20 is composed of any one or a combination of the ingredients listed below.

The filler 20 is made from tobacco plants or non-tobacco plants. Examples of tobacco plants include tobacco leaves, tobacco stems, expanded tobacco, homogenized tobacco, etc. Examples of non-tobacco plants include plants other than tobacco plants. Preferred parts of non-tobacco plants include leaves, flesh, seeds, roots (scale roots, tuberous roots, etc.), stems, tubers, skin (stem skin, bark, etc.), flowers (petals, stamens, pistils, etc.), trunks, branches, etc.

In this specification, "plants" refers to a group of organisms, as opposed to animals, and includes not only organisms that have roots and live in a fixed location, such as grass and trees, but also algae such as microalgae and seaweed, and fungi such as mushrooms.

The filler 20 is made by, for example, mixing aerosol formers that generate aerosols, microcrystalline cellulose, additives that add flavor, preservatives, binders, thickeners, etc. with dried and crushed non-tobacco plants as appropriate, and then crushing or classifying the mixture into powder or granules, or forming it into a paste. The aerosol-forming substrate 23 is formed into a sheet, which is then cut to a predetermined width and length to form strips or rods.

For example, when the non-tobacco plant part is a leaf, teas can be preferably used. Not only do different plants produce different types of tea, but even the same plant can produce different types of tea depending on the processing method. Specific examples include Japanese tea, black tea, Angelica leaf tea, sweet tea, Gynostemma tea, aloe tea, ginkgo leaf tea, oolong tea, turmeric tea, Quercus salicina tea, Eleuthero tea, plantain tea, kakiodoshi tea, persimmon leaf tea, chamomile tea, Kawara Kesmei tea, quince tea, chrysanthemum tea, gymnema tea, guava tea, wolfberry tea, soft leaf tea, black bean tea, gennoshoko tea, brown rice tea, burdock tea, comfrey tea, bifu tea, cherry blossom tea, Examples include saffron tea, shiitake mushroom tea, perilla tea, jasmine tea, ginger tea, horsetail tea, sekisho tea, swertia tea, buckwheat tea, taranoki tea, dandelion tea, sweet tea, dokudami tea, eucommia tea, sword bean tea, elderberry tea, nelumbo gracilis tea, pearl barley tea, hub tea, loquat leaf tea, pu-erh tea, safflower tea, pine needle tea, mate tea, barley tea, megusurinoki tea, mugwort tea, eucalyptus tea, monk fruit tea, rooibos tea, and bitter melon tea. For these teas, tea leaves after drinking can be used. Using tea leaves allows expensive tea to be reused and put to good use.

Furthermore, extracts of non-tobacco plants such as those listed above, so-called extracts and processed products, can also be used. The extracts may be in the form of liquid, starch syrup, powder, granules, solution, etc.

Examples of aerosol formers as raw materials for the filler 20 include glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, diacetin (glycerin diacetate), triacetin (glycerin triacetate), triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedione, and dimethyl tetradecanedione. Of these, glycerin and propylene glycol are preferred.

The microcrystalline cellulose used as the raw material for the filler 20 is obtained, for example, by partially depolymerizing α-cellulose obtained from the pulp of fibrous plants with an acid, and is obtained by removing the soluble parts from the cellulose and, where appropriate, crystallizing the insoluble parts.

Microcrystalline cellulose may be in powder form or may be dispersed in a solvent such as water to form a suspension. In this case, a high-speed stirrer or high-pressure homogenizer can be used to disperse the cellulose in the solvent.

Furthermore, flavor additives that add flavor are preferably used as ingredients of the filling 20 as needed. Flavor additives include mint, cocoa, coffee, black tea extract, and tea extract catechin powder. Preservatives that are used in food are preferred, such as sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, benzoic acid, and sodium benzoate.

The filler 20 may contain menthol and a water-insoluble cross-linked polymer (preferably polyvinylpolypyrrolidone). By combining menthol with a water-insoluble cross-linked polymer, sublimation of menthol can be effectively suppressed, and the flavor of menthol can be maintained for a long period of time. Here, menthol is not limited to that obtained from natural products, but may also be a synthetic product. Also, peppermint, mint, peppermint oil, and other substances containing menthol may be used.

The flavor additive is provided in the mouthpiece 14, for example, by impregnating the wall of the mouthpiece 14. The manner in which the flavor additive is provided in the mouthpiece 14 is not limited to this manner, and for example, the flavor additive may be provided in the mouthpiece 14 by embedding a capsule containing the flavor additive in the wall of the mouthpiece 14. Alternatively, a capsule containing the flavor additive may be disposed between the mouthpiece 14 and the packing material accumulation body 20. When the flavor additive is enclosed in a capsule, the smoker can break the capsule by pressing it with his or her finger, and the aromatic components of the flavor additive can be volatilized at the desired timing.

Furthermore, if the flavor additive is, for example, encapsulated in a microcapsule, the encapsulated microcapsule may be provided in the packing assembly 10. Of course, the microcapsule may also be provided in the support member 12.

Binders or thickeners as ingredients of the filling 20 include gums such as guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic and locust bean gum, cellulose binders such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, methylcellulose and ethylcellulose, polysaccharides such as starch, organic acids such as alginic acid, sodium alginate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, caranagin, agar and conjugate base salts of organic acids such as pectin, and combinations thereof.

(Filling manufacturing process)
The manufacturing process for the filler 20 includes a drying and crushing process in which the main raw material, a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, is dried and crushed and weighed, etc.; a preparation process in which the other raw materials are pre-treated and weighed, etc.; a mixing process in which the raw materials are mixed to form a composition; and a filler molding process in which the composition is molded.

In the drying and grinding process, the parts of the tobacco plant or non-tobacco plant that are the main raw material (e.g., leaves, seeds, dried fruit, stems, bark, roots, etc.) that are used are processed into a specific ground material to make a composition. In this case, it is preferable to adjust the moisture content to a level that is convenient for absorbing or carrying the aerosol former, water, and other components that are added later. In the drying process, the temperature is preferably 60°C or higher and 80°C or lower. By setting it in this range, it is easy to reach the desired moisture content while avoiding the dissipation of the required flavor components. Furthermore, the drying and grinding process can also be provided with a sieving process to sieve the ground material, and it can be adjusted to the desired particle size before being fed into the mixing process.

In the preparation process, the raw materials required to produce the filling 20 can be prepared. The aforementioned microcrystalline cellulose is weighed in the preparation process and then fed into the mixing process.

In the mixing process, a conventional mixer can be used. For example, a mixing device that mixes the raw materials in a mixing tank while applying shear force with a stirring blade is preferably used.

In the filler forming process, a composition in which various raw materials are mixed is formed into a thin sheet, which is then cut to form a rectangular or rod-shaped filler 20. In this embodiment, multiple roll mills are prepared to make thin sheets. The use of multiple roll mills is preferable because it is possible to compress the material by forcing it between the narrow rolls, and shear the material due to the difference in roll speeds, while kneading and dispersing the material, and then form a sheet of the desired thickness using a doctor blade. It can also be made using a press roller or a press machine.

To obtain a powdered or granular filler 20, it is preferable to crush or classify the composition as appropriate. The average particle diameter of the powdered or granular filler 20 is preferably, for example, 0.1 to 3.0 mm, and more preferably 0.5 mm or less. The average particle diameter is determined, for example, by the sieving method described in JIS K 0069:1992. In other words, this average particle diameter is the diameter equivalent to 50% of the mass obtained by accumulating the mass from the larger openings in the test results using multiple sieves. The particle diameter at 50% of the accumulated value in the particle size distribution determined by the laser diffraction/scattering method may also be used as the average particle diameter.

In the filling forming step, other means may be used, such as passing the composition through an orifice under pressure to form the composition. In addition, in the filling forming step, non-tobacco plants, aerosol formers, binders or thickeners, flavor additives, preservatives, or water may be added as necessary.

The thickness of the sheet obtained in the filling molding process is preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. The obtained sheet is cut to a specified width using a cutter, a rotary cutter using a rotating blade, etc.

Here, when imparting adhesiveness to the surface of the filler 20, there are no particular limitations as long as the means for imparting adhesiveness can be used, and it is sufficient to attach the aforementioned binder to at least a portion of the surface. By imparting adhesiveness, when a strip- or rod-shaped filler 20 is combined with a powder-, granular- or paste-like filler 20, the powder-, granular- or paste-like filler 20 can be stably held on the surface of the strip- or rod-shaped filler 20.

(Shape and arrangement of susceptor)
Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of cross section II in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, metal plate 31 is formed into a long and narrow flat plate shape as a whole. This metal plate 31 is formed to have a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 mm and a width of 1.0 to 6.0 mm, preferably a thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 mm and a width of 1.0 to 4.0 mm.

The longitudinal length of the susceptor 30 is 100% of the total length of the packing assembly 10. In other words, the susceptor 30 has a length that spans the entire length of the packing assembly 10.

The susceptor 30 does not have to span the entire length of the packing assembly 10, and its length in the longitudinal direction can be 25% or more and 100% or less of the total length of the packing assembly 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the susceptor 30 is disposed approximately in the center of the packing assembly 10 in the radial direction. This allows the packing assembly 10 to generate aerosols efficiently by heating the entire packing 20 uniformly and evenly from the radial center of the packing assembly 10.

(Method for manufacturing a packing body)
4, there is shown an explanatory diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of the packing stack 10. The manufacturing method of the packing stack 10 is roughly divided into the above-mentioned packing material forming step (not shown), the converging step S1, the enveloping step S2, and the cutting step S3.

In the converging step S1, the extending filler 20A after the above-mentioned filling material forming step is converged to match the diameter of the filler accumulation body 10. In this converging step S1, the extending metal plate 31A is positioned so as to be disposed at a predetermined position, and the extending filler 20A is disposed so as to follow the metal plate 31A, while the filler 20A covers the metal plate 31A and converges.

In the wrapping step S2, the packing 20B converged in the converging step S1 is wrapped in an extending wrapping member 25B to form an extending packing accumulation 10C.
Then, in the cutting process S3, the extended packed material accumulation body 10C created in the enveloping process S2 is cut to a predetermined length (10 to 25 mm) using, for example, a roller cutter not shown, to form the packed material accumulation body 10.

Therefore, by making the thickness of the metal plate 31 0.1 to 1.0 mm and the width 1.0 to 6.0 mm, preferably 0.1 to 0.3 mm and 1.0 to 4.0 mm, it is possible to increase the heat storage capacity and the heating capacity due to the induced magnetic field while reducing the force required to cut the extended filler accumulation 10C in the cutting step S3 and reducing wear on the roller cutter.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an explanatory diagram explaining a manufacturing method of a smoking article cartridge 101 filled with a powdered or granular filler. Below, a manufacturing method of a smoking article cartridge 101 filled with a powdered or granular filler (hereinafter, referred to as filler 120 to distinguish it from the filler 20 formed in a sheet shape) (hereinafter, referred to as smoking article cartridge 101 to distinguish it from a smoking article cartridge 1 filled with filler 20) will be explained.

The manufacturing method of the cartridge 101 for smoking articles includes a partition member disposing step (not shown), a filler filling step S11, a susceptor filling step S12, a lid attachment step S13, and a filter attachment step and a packaging step (not shown). First, in the partition member disposing step, the partition member 112 is placed inside the skeleton member 116, which is made by forming cardboard (e.g., about 0.3 to 0.7 mm) into a cylindrical shape. Next, in the filler filling step S11, the filler 120 is filled from the upstream end of the skeleton member 116.

Next, in the susceptor filling step S12, the metal plate 31 is inserted into the filler 120 filled in the skeletal member 116 in the filler filling step S11. At this time, a predetermined space C is formed between the upstream end of the skeletal member 116 and the filler 120. This space C is, for example, a space with a diameter of 4.0 mm to 7.5 mm and a length along the central axis of 30 to 70 mm, similar to the external shape of the seal member 18 of the smoking article cartridge 1.

Next, in the lid attachment process S13, a breathable lid member 118 made of, for example, paper is attached to the inside of the skeleton member 116 so as to cover the upstream side of the filling 120. Then, in the filter attachment process, the filter 14 is inserted into the downstream end of the skeleton member 116 and attached, and in the packaging process, the radial periphery of the skeleton member 116 is wrapped in label paper (not shown). Note that before inserting the filter 14, a capsule sealed with an aromatic ingredient may be inserted as desired, and the order of each process may be changed as appropriate.

The cartridge 101 for smoking articles manufactured by this manufacturing method can have the powdered or granular filler 120 disposed on the upstream side of the cartridge 101 for smoking articles, while the filler 120 and the metal plate 31 are positioned downstream by the length of the space C.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an explanatory diagram explaining a manufacturing method of a smoking article cartridge 201 filled with a paste-like filler. Below, a manufacturing method of a smoking article cartridge 201 (hereinafter, referred to as a smoking article cartridge 201 to distinguish it from a smoking article cartridge 1 filled with a filler 20) filled with a paste-like filler (hereinafter, referred to as a filler 220 to distinguish it from a filling material 20 formed in a sheet shape) will be explained.

The manufacturing method of the cartridge 201 for smoking articles includes a susceptor attachment step S21, a framework member attachment step S22, a filler filling step S23, a drying step (not shown), and a filter attachment step and a packaging step (not shown). Note that the filter attachment step and packaging step are the same as those in the manufacturing method of the cartridge 101 for smoking articles, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted here.

First, in the susceptor attachment step S21, the metal plate 31 is inserted into the jig 241. Here, the jig 241 is a base on which a cylindrical protrusion 241a is formed, the diameter of which is 4.0 mm to 7.5 mm and the length along the central axis of which is 30 to 70 mm, for example, similar to the outer shape of the seal member 18 of the smoking article cartridge 1. As a result, the jig 241 can support the skeletal member 116, which is the same as that of the smoking article cartridge 101, by fitting the protrusion 241a into the upstream end of the skeletal member 116. The jig 241 is also provided with a susceptor attachment hole 241b. Specifically, the susceptor attachment hole 241b is a hole that can support the metal plate 31 so that the metal plate 31, i.e., the susceptor 30, is located in the same position as the susceptor 30 in the smoking article cartridge 1 when the protrusion 241a is fitted into the skeletal member 116.

Next, in the skeleton member attachment process S22, the upstream end of the skeleton member 116 is fitted into the protrusion 241a of the jig 241, thereby attaching and supporting the skeleton member 116 to the jig 241. Next, in the filler filling process S23, the filling nozzle filler 243 is inserted from the downstream end of the skeleton member 116, and the filler material formed into a paste form is filled.

Next, in the drying process, the filler 220 filled into the skeletal member 116 in the filler filling process S23 is heated and dried at 30 to 50°C. As a result, the moisture inside the filler material formed into a paste-like form evaporates, turning it into a porous filler 220.

The cartridge 201 for smoking articles manufactured by this manufacturing method can be arranged such that the filler 220 formed into a paste-like form is disposed on the upstream side of the cartridge 201 for smoking articles, while the filler 220 and the metal plate 31 are positioned on the downstream side by the length of the space C.

In addition, instead of the above-mentioned skeleton member attachment step S22, filler filling step S23, and filler filling step S23, a filler formed in advance to be porous may be fitted from one end of the skeleton member 116 and disposed at the downstream end of the skeleton member 116, and the metal plate 31 may be inserted while adjusting the position of the filler by pressing the downstream end of the skeleton member 116 against the protrusion 241a of the jig 241. By using such a process, it is not necessary to use the jig 241 during the drying process, and the equipment costs can be reduced.

A person skilled in the art may come up with various modifications and alterations within the scope of the concept of the present invention, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations also fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, to the above-mentioned embodiments, those in which a person skilled in the art has appropriately added or deleted components or modified the design, or added or omitted processing or changed conditions, are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they contain the gist of the present invention.

As described above, the smoking tool according to the first embodiment is a smoking tool cartridge 1 that is attached to an induction heating type smoking tool 2 for use, and includes a filler accumulation body 10 that generates an aerosol when heated, and a susceptor 30 that is disposed inside the filler accumulation body 10 and is induction heated from the outside. The smoking tool cartridge 1 is formed in a rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction, and the susceptor 30 includes a flat metal plate 31 that extends in the longitudinal direction. The flat metal plate 31 has a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 mm and a width of 1.0 to 6.0 mm when viewed in radial cross section of the smoking tool cartridge 1.

The use of the susceptor 30 including multiple metal plates 31 extending in the longitudinal direction improves the heat storage of the metal plate 31. In addition, the use of the susceptor 30 including multiple metal plates 31 allows the susceptor 30 to be cut with a relatively small force during manufacturing, compared to cutting a single susceptor containing the same amount of metal as the susceptor 30, i.e., a metal member larger than the metal plate 31, and reduces wear on, for example, a roller cutter used to cut the susceptor 30. Furthermore, compared to the use of a cylindrical susceptor material, for example, the metal plate 31 has a larger surface area than the cylindrical susceptor material, so that the friction with the filler accumulation 10 can be increased, and the position of the metal plate 31 relative to the filler accumulation 10 can be favorably maintained, which in turn prevents the metal plate 31 from falling off the filler accumulation 10 during smoking and suppresses the position of the metal plate 31 from shifting during the cutting process S3.

The flat metal plate 31 can optimize the balance between heat storage, manufacturability, and frictional properties by having a thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 mm and a width of 1.0 to 4.0 mm when viewed in radial cross section of the smoking article cartridge 1.

Second Embodiment
The second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.
Note that a description of the configuration common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described here.
7, there is shown a cross-sectional view of section II in FIG. 1 according to the second embodiment. A susceptor 330 according to the second embodiment has four metal plates 331, 331.

The susceptor 330 has four metal plates 331, which are thinner than the metal plates 31 in the first embodiment, arranged at equal intervals, each shifted in phase by 90° around the axis of point P.

Specifically, the metal plate 331 is formed to have a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 mm and a width of 0.25 to 2 mm, preferably a thickness of 0.1 to 0.3 mm and a width of 0.5 to 1.5 mm. In addition, if the distance from the radial center of the filler 20 (corresponding to point P) to the cross-sectional center of the metal plate 31 (corresponding to point Q) is defined as distance L1, and the distance from the enclosure member 25 to the metal plate 31 is defined as distance L2, then the metal plate 331 is disposed such that distance L1:distance L2=1:3 to 1:1, preferably 1:2 to 2:3.

In this way, by making the number of metal plates 331 of the susceptor 330 four, the susceptor 330 can use metal plates 331 narrower than the metal plates 31 of the susceptor 30 in the first embodiment, while making the heating temperature by induction heating equivalent to that of the susceptor 30 using one metal plate 31. In addition, by using metal plates 331 that are narrower than the metal plates 31, the force required for cutting can be further reduced in the process of cutting the filler accumulation 10C, such as the cutting step S3 in the manufacturing method of the filler accumulation.

Here, considering the cross-sectional area of the metal plate 331, i.e., its thickness, when the metal plate 331 is cut by a roller cutter (not shown) in the cutting process S3, the thicker the metal plate 331, the higher its rigidity, and therefore bending can be suppressed. On the other hand, the thinner the metal plate 331 is, the easier it is to cut during cutting, and therefore deformation of the filler 20 caused by the metal plate 331 being pressed by the roller cutter can be suppressed. Also, the thicker the metal plate 331, the more the amount of heat generated by Joule heat can be increased, and the thinner the metal plate 331, the more the amount of heat generated by Joule heat can be reduced.

Therefore, when the metal plate 331 is formed in a flat plate shape, if the thickness is 0.1 to 1.0 mm and the width is 0.25 to 2 mm, the packed material accumulation 10C can achieve both of the above advantages when cut by a roller cutter (not shown) in the cutting step S3. Also, if the thickness is 0.1 to 0.3 mm and the width is 0.5 to 1.5 mm, the packed material accumulation 10C can maintain an appropriate amount of heat generation due to Joule heat.

In each embodiment of the present invention, the cartridge 1 for a smoking article is provided with a support member 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. The filler accumulation body 10 of the cartridge 1 for a smoking article does not need to have a support member 12, as long as it is fixed between the inner surface of the cartridge 1 for a smoking article and the filler accumulation body 10 so as to prevent the filler accumulation body 10 from moving toward the mouthpiece 14 even without the support member 12, as in the cartridge 201 for a smoking article, for example.

In addition, in this embodiment, the susceptor 30 is disposed at the center when viewed radially of the packing assembly 10, but it may be disposed outside the radial center of the packing assembly 10. In addition, in this embodiment, a cylindrical metal plate 31 is used, but it may have a complex shape such as a rectangular shape, or may be wound in a spiral shape.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1, 101, 201 Smoking article cartridge 2 Smoking article 10 Filler accumulation body 12 Support member 14 Mouthpiece 14a Mouthpiece 16 Packaging member 18 Sealing member 18a Introduction portion 20 Filler 25 Encapsulating member 30, 330 Susceptor 31 Metal plate (heating body)
51 Insertion part 52 Induction heating part

Claims (3)

A method for manufacturing a cartridge for a smoking article, comprising the steps of:
a susceptor mounting step of mounting a metal plate on a cylindrical protrusion having a susceptor mounting hole;
a skeletal member mounting step of fitting the protrusion into an upstream end of a tubular skeletal member and disposing the metal plate inside the skeletal member;
and a filler filling step of filling a filler material from a downstream end of the framework member.
A method for manufacturing a cartridge for a smoking article, comprising: A method for manufacturing a cartridge for a smoking article, comprising the steps of:
a susceptor mounting step of mounting a metal plate on a cylindrical protrusion having a susceptor mounting hole;
a step of fitting a filler into one end of a cylindrical skeleton member and disposing the filler at a downstream end of the skeleton member;
and inserting the metal plate while adjusting the position of the filler by pressing the downstream end of the framework member against the protrusion.
A method for manufacturing a cartridge for a smoking article, comprising: A cylindrically formed skeleton member;
A filler that is filled inside the framework member and generates water vapor or aerosol;
a cylindrical protrusion having a susceptor mounting hole;
a metal plate inserted into the susceptor mounting hole;
The protrusion is fitted to the upstream end of the framework member, and the metal plate is inserted into the filler.
A cartridge for a smoking article, comprising:

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