JP7632932B2 - Smoking cartridges - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cartridge for a smoking article.

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

For example, Patent Document 1 describes that "a smoking article for use in an aerosol-generating device includes an aerosol-forming substrate located at the most upstream end of the smoking article and a support element located immediately downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate. The support element abuts the aerosol-forming substrate, and the aerosol-forming substrate is configured to be penetrable by a heating element of the aerosol-generating device having a diameter between about 40 percent and about 70 percent of the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate without substantially deforming the smoking article. The support element is configured to resist downstream movement of the aerosol-forming substrate during insertion of the heating element of the aerosol-generating device into the aerosol-forming substrate" (see abstract).

Special Publication No. 2015-519915

The support element (support member) described in Patent Document 1 is composed of a hollow cylindrical member in which a flow path is formed that penetrates along the axial direction, and the cross-sectional area of the flow path is relatively large. Therefore, there is a possibility that part of the aerosol-forming substrate may enter the flow path. This is particularly likely in the case of a powder-like aerosol-forming substrate. If the aerosol-forming substrate enters the flow path, it is undesirable because it will hinder the inhalation of the aerosol.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a cartridge for a smoking device that allows good inhalation of aerosol.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention is a cartridge for a smoking device, comprising an aerosol-forming substrate made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the aerosol-forming substrate, and a support member arranged between the aerosol-forming substrate and the mouthpiece and supporting the aerosol-forming substrate, the support member being arranged so that its axial direction is aligned with the central axis of the smoking device cartridge, and including a cylinder with both ends open, a partition section arranged inside the cylinder, and a gap formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder and the partition section.

The present invention provides a cartridge for a smoking article that allows good inhalation of aerosol. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the description of the embodiments below.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a first embodiment. Cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the smoking article cartridge shown in FIG. 1 inserted into the smoking article. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a support member according to Modification 1-1. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a support member according to Modification 1-2. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a support member according to Modification 1-3. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a support member according to Modification Example 1-4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a fifth embodiment. XII-XII cross-sectional view of Figure 11.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article cartridge 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment includes a heated body 20, a support member 30, and a mouthpiece 40. The heated body 20, the support member 30, and the mouthpiece 40 are arranged side by side on a central axis C1. The heated body 20, the support member 30, and the mouthpiece 40 are wrapped and integrated by a sheet-like exterior member 10. The exterior member 10 is made of, for example, paper.

The cartridge 1 for smoking articles shown in FIG. 1 is formed, for example, with a diameter of 6.5 to 7.5 mm and a length of 40 to 60 mm. The heated body 20 has a length of 10 to 25 mm. Of course, the cartridge 1 for smoking articles may be formed with other dimensions.

The heated object 20 is formed into a cylindrical shape by wrapping the aerosol-forming substrate 23, which is the filler, in a sheet-like wrapping member 25, and the aerosol-forming substrate 23 is exposed at both ends. In other words, both ends of the heated object 20 are not covered with a lid member (e.g., paper). The wrapping member 25 is made of, for example, paper, but any material can be used as long as it is a sheet-like member. Note that the wrapping member 25 may be omitted by wrapping the aerosol-forming substrate 23 directly in the exterior member 10, or the aerosol-forming substrate 23 may be covered with a lid member.

The aerosol-forming substrate 23 is composed of smoking material made from tobacco plants or non-tobacco plants, which will be described in detail later. The aerosol-forming substrate 23 is composed, for example, of a bundle of rectangular members, and is arranged so that its axial direction (longitudinal direction) is aligned with the central axis C1.

When the aerosol-forming substrate 23 is made of a strip-shaped member, the cross section perpendicular to the central axis C1 is substantially rectangular, and the ratio of the long side to the short side of the cross section is preferably in the range of, for example, 1.5:1 to 30:1. In addition, it is preferable that the length of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 is substantially the same as the length of the heated body 20. An example of the dimensions of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 is a long side of 1.5 mm, a short side of 0.3 mm, and a length of 12 mm.

Of course, the aerosol-forming substrate 23 is not limited to a strip-shaped member. For example, it may be a rod-shaped member, or a powder-like or paste-like member. The aerosol-forming substrate 23 may also be configured as a combination of a strip-shaped member and a powder-like member, a strip-shaped member and a rod-shaped member, a rod-shaped member and a powder-like member, or a strip-shaped member, a rod-shaped member and a powder-like member. In these cases, it is preferable to use at least a part of the raw materials of each member that are different, as this improves the aroma and taste.

The mouthpiece 40 is a part that constitutes the mouthpiece of the smoking device cartridge 1, and is made of, for example, paper. The mouthpiece 40 may also include a cellulose acetate filter that removes fine particles. Some of the fine particles in the water vapor and aerosol generated by the heated body 20 are filtered by the filter of this mouthpiece 40.

The support member 30 includes a cylindrical body 31 and a partition 34. The cylindrical body 31 is made of a material with a high heat resistance, such as a thermoplastic resin such as PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), a thermosetting resin such as PI (polyimide), silicone rubber, ceramic (including glass), wood, or paper (compressed). The partition 34 is also made of a material with a high heat resistance, such as a thermoplastic resin such as PPS, a thermosetting resin such as PI, silicone rubber, ceramic (including glass), wood, or paper (compressed). The partition 34 is arranged in the approximate center of the axial direction (longitudinal direction) inside the cylindrical body 31 and is made of a plate-like member arranged perpendicular to the central axis C1. Here, the "approximate center" is a concept that includes not only the central position of the axial direction of the cylindrical body 31, but also a range that is shifted from the axial center by within 2 to 4 times the plate thickness of the partition 34. Of course, the partition 34 can be arranged at any position in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 31. In addition, it is preferable to dispose the partition 34 at a predetermined position between the center of the cylindrical body 31 in the axial direction and one end side of the cylindrical body facing the aerosol-forming substrate 23, since this effectively prevents the aerosol-forming substrate 23 from falling off the heated body 20. Note that the cylindrical body 31 and the partition 34 may be formed separately and integrated by adhesion or the like, or may be formed integrally using the same material.

The cylinder 31 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape with both ends open. The diameter of the cylinder 31 is approximately equal to the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 23. Here, "approximately equal" is a concept that includes the case where the diameter is equal to the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 and the dimension including the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 and the thickness of the packaging member 25, that is, the case where the diameter is equal to the diameter of the heated body 20. The diameter of the cylinder 31 may be smaller than the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 23. The cylinder 31 is disposed in a position facing the aerosol-forming substrate 23, and one end face of the cylinder 31 abuts against the end (end face) of the aerosol-forming substrate 23, and the other end face of the cylinder 31 abuts against the mouthpiece 40, thereby restricting the axial movement of the aerosol-forming substrate 23.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 taken along line II-II. As shown in Figure 2, the partition 34 is formed in a circular shape and is arranged so that its center passes through the central axis C1. A plurality of (four in this embodiment) connecting parts 33 are arranged between the partition 34 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31. The four connecting parts 33 are arranged at equal intervals (90 degree intervals) along the circumferential direction, and four gaps 32 are formed between the partition 34 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 by these connecting parts 33. These four gaps 32 are slits for flow paths through which the aerosol generated by heating the aerosol-forming substrate 23 passes, and the dimension (slit width) in the direction perpendicular to the central axis C1 is a suitable size for the aerosol to flow.

Here, the cross-sectional shapes of both the cylindrical body 31 and the partition portion 34 are circular, and these two circles are concentric about the central axis C1, so that a gap 32 with a constant slit width can be formed in the circumferential direction between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 and the partition portion 34. In addition, the slit width of the gap 32 can be set to any dimension by changing the length of the connecting portion 33 in the direction perpendicular to the central axis C1.

The connecting portion 33 is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the partition portion 34, but may be integrally formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical body 31, or may be formed separately from the cylindrical body 31 and the partition portion 34. The number of connecting portions 33 arranged between the inner periphery of the cylindrical body 31 and the partition portion 34 is not limited to four as in this embodiment, and may be a number other than four, or may be one as long as the connection strength between the cylindrical body 31 and the partition portion 34 is ensured. For example, three connecting portions 33 may be arranged at equal intervals (120 degree intervals) along the circumferential direction, and three gaps 32 may be formed by these three connecting portions 33. In addition, when multiple connecting portions 33 are formed, these connecting portions 33 do not necessarily have to be arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction.

The space S1 between the partition 34 surrounded by the cylindrical body 31 and the mouthpiece 40 is a flow path through which the aerosol flows. The space S1 functions as an exchange section where the aerosol that has flowed through each gap 32 exchanges with another, and also functions as a cooling section that cools the aerosol. That is, the support member 30 guides the aerosol generated in the heated body 20 through the gap 32 between the cylindrical body 31 and the partition 34 to the mouthpiece 40. At that time, the aerosol is exchanged and cooled by the space S1 after passing through each gap 32, and is inhaled into the smoker's mouth through the mouthpiece 40.

As described above, the partition 34 is disposed at approximately the center of the axial direction inside the cylindrical body 31. This ensures the strength of the support member 30 while providing the effect of aerosol exchange and cooling through the space S1.

Next, specific examples of raw materials used as the aerosol-forming substrate 23 will be described. The aerosol-forming substrate 23 is composed of any one or a combination of the raw materials listed below.

The aerosol-forming substrate 23 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, pulp, 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 aerosol-forming substrate 23 is prepared, for example, by 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 also 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, 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 aerosol-forming substrate 23 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. Among these, glycerin and propylene glycol are preferred.

The microcrystalline cellulose used as the raw material for the aerosol-forming substrate 23 is obtained, for example, by partially depolymerizing α-cellulose obtained from the pulp of a fibrous plant with an acid, and is obtained by removing the soluble portion from the cellulose and, if necessary, crystallizing the insoluble portion.

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 aerosol-forming substrate 23 as needed. Examples of 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 aerosol-forming substrate 23 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 40, for example, by impregnating the wall of the mouthpiece 40. The manner in which the flavor additive is provided in the mouthpiece 40 is not limited to this manner, and for example, the flavor additive may be provided in the mouthpiece 40 by embedding a capsule containing the flavor additive in the wall of the mouthpiece 40. Alternatively, a capsule containing the flavor additive may be disposed between the mouthpiece 40 and the heated 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 heated body 20. Of course, the microcapsule may also be provided in the support member 30.

Binders or thickeners as raw materials for the aerosol-forming substrate 23 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.

(Method for producing an aerosol-forming substrate)
The manufacturing method of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 described above will be described in detail below in terms of each step. The manufacturing process of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 includes a drying/grinding step of drying/grinding a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant as a main raw material and weighing the dried product, a preparation step of pretreating other raw materials and weighing the raw materials, a mixing step of mixing the raw materials to form a composition, and a filler molding step of molding the composition.

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 loss of the necessary 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 aerosol-forming substrate 23 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 filling forming process, the composition in which various raw materials are mixed is formed into a thin sheet and then cut to form a rectangular or rod-shaped aerosol-forming substrate 23. 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 speed, 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 aerosol-forming substrate 23, it is preferable to crush or classify the composition as appropriate. The average particle diameter of the powdered or granular aerosol-forming substrate 23 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 aerosol-forming substrate 23, there are no particular limitations as long as the means is capable of imparting adhesiveness, and it is sufficient to attach the aforementioned binder to at least a portion of the substrate. By imparting adhesiveness, when a strip-shaped or rod-shaped aerosol-forming substrate 23 is combined with a powdery, granular, or pasty aerosol-forming substrate 23, the powdery, granular, or pasty aerosol-forming substrate 23 can be stably held on the surface of the strip-shaped or rod-shaped aerosol-forming substrate 23.

(How to use a smoking cartridge)
A method of using the cartridge 1 for a smoking tool will be described. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge 1 for a smoking tool inserted into the smoking tool 70. The cartridge 1 for a smoking tool is attached to the heated smoking tool 70 for use. The smoking tool 70 has an insertion section 72 for inserting the cartridge 1 for a smoking tool. The insertion section 72 is provided with a needle-shaped or blade-shaped heating section 75. When the cartridge 1 for a smoking tool is inserted into the insertion section 72, the heating section 75 generates heat, and an aerosol is generated from the aerosol-forming substrate 23. When a smoker holds the mouthpiece 40 in his/her mouth and inhales in this state, the aerosol flows through the space S1 and the mouthpiece 40 in that order, and then flows into the smoker's mouth.

The smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment configured in this manner can provide the following effects:

The support member 30 is composed of a hollow cylindrical body 31 and a partition portion 34 arranged inside the body 31 so as to be perpendicular to the central axis C1 of the smoking article cartridge 1, so that the structure of the support member 30 can be simplified compared to conventional structures, and the manufacturing cost of the support member 30 can be reduced.

In addition, since the support member 30 is interposed between the aerosol-forming substrate 23 and the mouthpiece 40 and restricts the axial movement of the aerosol-forming substrate 23, the position of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 is prevented from shifting when the cartridge 1 for smoking tools is inserted into the smoking tool 70. Therefore, the heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 by the heating unit 75 is stable, and good aerosol is generated. Furthermore, since the outer peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical tube 31 is in sufficient contact with the inner peripheral surface of the exterior member 10, when the heating unit 75 is inserted into the aerosol-forming substrate 23, the frictional force between the tube 31 and the exterior member 10 can effectively prevent the position of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 from shifting. In addition, since the tube 31 and the exterior member 10 are in sufficient contact with each other, the shape of the cartridge 1 for smoking tools is well maintained, and the appearance of the cartridge 1 for smoking tools is beautiful.

In addition, since the partition 34 is disposed at approximately the center of the axial direction (longitudinal direction) inside the cylindrical body 31, the strength of the support member 30 can be ensured. Since the outer circumferential surface of the support member 30 supports the exterior member 10, radial deformation can be prevented when the smoking tool cartridge 1 is grasped with the fingers. Even if the aerosol-forming substrate 23 falls off the heated body 20, the partition 34 prevents the aerosol-forming substrate 23 from moving, so the space S1 is not blocked by the aerosol-forming substrate 23. This ensures the exchange of aerosol, and maintains a good aroma and taste. Furthermore, since the support member 30 is provided, axial deformation can be prevented when the smoking tool cartridge 1 is inserted into the smoking tool 70.

In addition, multiple gaps 32 are formed between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 31 and the partition 34, and the aerosol that passes through each of these gaps 32 is cooled while being exchanged through the space S1, improving the aroma and taste of the aerosol. Therefore, the strength of the support member 30 can be ensured while maintaining the effect of exchanging and cooling the aerosol through the space S1.

In addition, since the cross-sectional shapes of both the cylindrical body 31 and the partition portion 34 are circular and these two circles are concentric about the central axis C1, a gap 32 with a constant slit width can be formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 and the partition portion 34 along the circumferential direction. In addition, by changing the length of the connecting portion 33 in the direction perpendicular to the central axis C1, the slit width of the gap 32 can be set to any dimension.

Next, we will explain a modified example of the smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment.

(Variation 1-1)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the support member 30 according to the modified example 1-1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at the same position as line II-II in FIG. 1. In the support member 30 shown in FIG. 4, a square-shaped partition 34-1 is disposed inside a hollow cylindrical body 31. Each vertex of the partition 34-1 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the body 31 via a connecting portion 33, and four gaps 32-1 are formed between each side of the partition 34-1 and the inner peripheral surface of the body 31. These four gaps 32-1 are disposed at 90 degree intervals in the circumferential direction, and form slits through which the aerosol passes. Even with this configuration, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be achieved. The shape of the partition 34-1 is not limited to a square, and may be any other polygonal shape. The number of connecting parts 33 and gaps 32-1 can be increased or decreased depending on the shape of partition part 34-1. For example, if partition part 34-1 is a regular hexagon, the six vertices of partition part 34-1 can be connected to the inner surface of cylindrical body 31 via connecting parts 33, and six gaps 32 can be formed at 60 degree intervals in the circumferential direction.

(Variation 1-2)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the support member 30 according to the modified example 1-2. Note that FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view cut at the same position as line II-II in FIG. 1. In the support member 30 shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional shapes of both the cylindrical body 31 and the partitioning portion 34-2 are circular, but these two circles are not concentric. That is, the center C2 of the partitioning portion 34-2 is in an eccentric position with respect to the central axis C1, and the outer periphery of the partitioning portion 34-2 is connected to the inner periphery of the cylindrical body 31 via a plurality of connecting portions 33 having different lengths. As a result, a plurality of (for example, four) gaps 32 having different slit widths can be formed in the circumferential direction between the inner periphery of the cylindrical body 31 and the partitioning portion 34. Even with this configuration, the same effect as the first embodiment described above can be achieved. Note that the number of gaps 32 may be a number other than four or one, and the outer shape of the partitioning portion 34-2 may be a polygon other than a circle (for example, a square).

(Variation 1-3)
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the support member 30 according to the modified example 1-3. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at the same position as line II-II in FIG. 1. In the support member 30 shown in FIG. 6, the outer shape of the cylindrical body 31-2 as viewed from the axial direction is formed as a regular octagon, and a square partition section 34-3 is disposed inside the cylindrical body 31-2. Each vertex of the partition section 34-3 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 via a connecting section 33, and four first gaps 32-1 are formed between each side of the partition section 34-3 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31. Meanwhile, each vertex of the cylindrical body 31-2 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the exterior member 10, and eight second gaps 32-2 are formed between the exterior member 10 and the cylindrical body 31-2. Each first gap 32-1 on the inside of the cylindrical body 31-2 and each second gap 32-2 on the outside form a slit for a flow path through which the aerosol passes. Even with this configuration, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above can be achieved. The outer shape of the cylindrical body 31-2 may be a polygon other than a regular hexagon, and the outer shape of the partition portion 34-3 may be a polygon other than a square or a circle.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the support member 30 according to the modified example 1-4. Note that Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view cut at the same position as line II-II in Figure 1. In the support member 30 shown in Figure 7, a large number of grooves G1 are formed in a gear shape on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 31-4. The number of grooves G1 is, for example, 15 to 150. A minute gap 32-4 is formed between the groove G1 and the inner circumferential surface of the exterior member 10. This minute gap 32-4 is of a size that aerosol cannot pass through. Therefore, the aerosol does not pass between the cylindrical body 31-4 and the exterior member 10, but passes only through the gap 32. Even with this configuration, the same effect as the first embodiment described above is achieved. That is, the cylindrical body of the support member according to the present invention is preferably formed in a cylindrical shape and has a smoothly formed outer circumferential surface (see Figure 2) as shown in the first embodiment, but may have a large number of grooves formed on the outer circumferential surface as shown in the modified example 1-4.

Second Embodiment
Next, a cartridge for a smoking article according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article cartridge 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 8, the smoking article cartridge 2 according to the second embodiment is basically the same in configuration as the smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment, but differs in that the support member 30 has a cylindrical body 31 and two partitions 36, 37. Therefore, the following explanation will focus on this difference, and explanations that overlap with the first embodiment will be omitted.

If one of the partitions 36 is called the first partition and the other partition 37 is called the second partition, the first partition 36 and the second partition 37 are disposed at positions separated from each other along the central axis C1 within the cylindrical body 31. As with the partition 34 in the first embodiment, the first partition 36 and the second partition 37 are both formed in a circular shape. Although not shown, a gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 and the first partition 36, and between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 and the second partition 37.

The space S2 between the first partition 36 and the second partition 37 in the cylinder 31, and the space S3 between the second partition 37 and the mouthpiece 40 are both flow paths through which the aerosol flows. The space S2 functions as an exchange section where the aerosol that has passed through the gap (not shown) on the outside of the first partition 36 exchanges with the aerosol, and also functions as a cooling section that cools the aerosol. The space S3 functions as an exchange section where the aerosol that has passed through the gap (not shown) on the outside of the second partition 37 exchanges with the aerosol, and also functions as a cooling section that cools the aerosol. That is, the support member 30 guides the aerosol generated in the heated body 20 through the gap between the cylinder 31 and the two partitions 36, 37 to the mouthpiece 40. At that time, the aerosol is exchanged and cooled by the two spaces S2, S3, and is inhaled into the smoker's mouth through the mouthpiece 40.

The cartridge 2 for smoking articles according to the second embodiment configured in this way can achieve the following effects:

The support member 30 is composed of a hollow cylindrical body 31 and two partitions 36, 37 arranged inside the body 31 so as to be perpendicular to the central axis C1 of the smoking article cartridge 1, so that the structure of the support member 30 can be simplified compared to conventional structures, and the manufacturing cost of the support member 30 can be reduced.

In addition, since the first partition 36 and the second partition 37 are disposed at positions separated along the central axis C1 within the cylindrical body 31, the strength of the support member 30 can be ensured. And, since the exterior member 10 is supported by the outer peripheral surface of such a support member 30, radial deformation can be prevented when the smoking article cartridge 2 is grasped with the fingers.

In addition, spaces S2 and S3 are formed in two places inside the cylinder 31, and the aerosol that passes through the gap between the first partition 36 and the outer gap of the second partition 37 is cooled while being exchanged by these two spaces S2 and S3, improving the aroma and taste of the aerosol. Therefore, the strength of the support member 30 can be ensured while maintaining the effect of exchanging and cooling the aerosol by the two spaces S2 and S3.

Here, in the second embodiment, the number of partitions arranged inside the cylindrical body 31 is not limited to two, but may be three or more. Furthermore, the outer shape of these multiple partitions is not limited to a circular shape, but may be a polygonal shape (see FIG. 4).

Third Embodiment
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article cartridge 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 9, the smoking article cartridge 3 according to the third embodiment has basically the same configuration as the smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment, but differs in that a space S is provided between the support member 30 and the mouthpiece 40.

The support member 30 is composed of a cylindrical body 31 and a partition 34, and although not shown, a gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 and the partition 34. One end face of the cylindrical body 31 abuts against the end of the aerosol-forming substrate 23, but the other end face of the cylindrical body 31 does not abut against the mouthpiece 40, and the cylindrical body 31 and the mouthpiece 40 are separated by a space S. In other words, the support member 30 is not sandwiched between the aerosol-forming substrate 23 and the mouthpiece 40, but the inner peripheral surface of the exterior member 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 31 are in close contact with each other, thereby restricting the axial movement of the aerosol-forming substrate 23.

The space S1 between the partition 34 and the other end surface of the cylinder 31, and the space S between the other end surface of the cylinder 31 and the mouthpiece 40 are both flow paths through which the aerosol flows. The space S1 functions as an exchange section where the aerosol that has passed through the gap (not shown) on the outside of the partition 34 exchanges with each other, and also functions as a cooling section that cools the aerosol. The space S functions as an exchange section where the aerosol that has passed through the space S1 further exchanges with each other, and also functions as a cooling section that cools the aerosol.

The cartridge 3 for smoking articles according to the third embodiment configured in this manner also has the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above. The location of the partition 34 is not limited to the central portion in the axial direction inside the cylindrical body 31, but may be one end side of the cylindrical body 31 facing the aerosol-forming substrate 23, or the other end side of the cylindrical body 31 facing the mouthpiece 40. That is, the partition 34 can be disposed at any position in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 31. However, it is preferable to dispose the partition 34 at a predetermined position between the central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical body 31 and one end side of the cylindrical body facing the aerosol-forming substrate 23, since this effectively prevents the aerosol-forming substrate 23 from falling off the heated body 20. In addition, the axial length of the cylindrical body 31 can be set arbitrarily, and for example, the axial length of the cylindrical body 31 may be shorter than the diameter of the heated body 20.

Fourth Embodiment
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article cartridge 4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 10, the smoking article cartridge 4 according to the fourth embodiment has basically the same configuration as the smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment, but differs in that the partition part 38 is not plate-shaped.

That is, the support member 30 includes a hollow cylindrical body 31 and a spherical partition portion 38 disposed inside the body 31. The outer peripheral surface of the partition portion 38 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the body 31 via a plurality of connecting portions 33, and a gap (not shown) is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the body 31 and the outer peripheral surface of the partition portion 34.

The cartridge 4 for smoking articles according to the fourth embodiment configured in this manner also achieves the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above. The partition 38 may be a non-plate-shaped body other than a sphere, and the location of the partition 38 inside the cylindrical body 31 may be other than the center.

Fifth Embodiment
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge 5 for a smoking article according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII of Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 11, the cartridge 5 for a smoking article according to the fifth embodiment is basically the same in configuration as the cartridge 1 for a smoking article according to the first embodiment, but differs in that a plurality of ridges 39 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the support member 30.

Specifically, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, four ridges 39 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the support member 30 on the side of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 from the partition 34. These four ridges 39 extend along the axial direction of the support member 30 and are spaced 90 degrees apart from each other. The length of the ridges 39 is approximately half that of the support member 30, and the height is approximately 1/4 of the inner diameter of the support member 30. Of course, the shape (length, height) of the ridges 39 does not have to be within these numerical ranges. It is sufficient to determine the shape appropriately within a range in which the aerosol cooling effect is exerted and the flow of the aerosol is not hindered. The number of ridges 39 is also arbitrary. However, considering that the aerosol cooling effect is high and the flow of the aerosol is not hindered, it is preferable to have 3 to 8 ridges.

The cartridge 5 for a smoking article according to the fifth embodiment thus configured also has the same effect as that of the first embodiment. Moreover, according to this embodiment, the ribs 39 are expected to have a cooling effect and a straightening effect on the aerosol. In particular, the ribs 39 stabilize the flow of the aerosol, making it easier for the aerosol to pass through the gap 32, further improving the comfort of the smoker. Furthermore, the ribs 39 can prevent the aerosol-forming substrate 23 from moving (falling off) in the axial direction. In FIG. 12, the mounting positions of the ribs 39 and the connecting portion 33 are shifted by 45 degrees in the circumferential direction, but they may be mounted at the same position in the circumferential direction.
When the protrusion 39 and the connecting portion 33 are provided at the same position, they may be integrated together. That is, the partition portion 34 may be provided at the end of the protrusion 39. Furthermore, the protrusion 39 may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the support member 30, closer to the mouthpiece 40 than the partition portion 34, or the protrusion 39 may be provided over the entire inner circumferential surface of the support member 30.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. All technical matters included in the technical ideas described in the claims are the subject of the present invention. The above-described embodiment shows a preferred example, but a person skilled in the art can realize various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements from the contents disclosed in this specification, and these are included in the technical scope described in the attached claims.

For example, in addition to the above examples, various raw materials can be used as the raw material for the aerosol-forming substrate 23. For example, the raw materials disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6,371,927, Japanese Patent Publication No. 6,371,928, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 6,516,907 can be applied to the present invention.

The shape of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 may be, for example, rod-like, granular, powdery, rectangular, rolled up sheet, folded sheet, fibrous, crimped sheet, crimped fiber, lump-like, flake-like, viscous clay-like, gel-like, slime-like, tablet-like, paste-like, etc. These shapes may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The aerosol-forming substrate 23 may be, for example, in the form of strands, porous, etc. Porous forms can be formed, for example, by piercing the dried sheet several times with multiple needles (other methods may also be used).

The powder or granular aerosol-forming substrate 23 may be in the form of, for example, granules, pellets, etc.

The powdered or granular aerosol-forming substrate 23 may be solidified into a block shape, or may be made into a paste by adding a small amount of water or oil.

Reference Signs List 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Smoking article cartridge 10 Exterior member 20 Heated body 23 Aerosol-forming substrate 25 Packaging member 30 Support member 31, 31-2, 31-4 Cylinder 32, 32-1, 32-2, 32-3 Gap 32-4 Minute gap 33 Connecting portion 34, 34-1, 34-2, 36, 37, 38 Partition portion 40 Mouthpiece C1 Central axis G1 Groove S, S1, S2, S3 Space

Claims (3)

A cartridge for a smoking tool comprising: an aerosol-forming substrate made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant; a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the aerosol-forming substrate; and a support member arranged between the aerosol-forming substrate and the mouthpiece, the support member supporting the aerosol-forming substrate,
the support member is disposed so that its axial direction is aligned with the central axis of the cartridge for smoking articles , and has a cylindrical body with both ends open and a plate-like partition portion disposed so that a surface perpendicular to the thickness direction is perpendicular to the central axis ,
One end surface of the cylindrical body is in contact with the aerosol-forming substrate, and the other end surface is separated from the mouthpiece via a space,
a gap formed between an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body and the partition portion,
A space is formed between the partition portion surrounded by the cylindrical body and the mouthpiece.
A smoking cartridge comprising: The space functions as an exchange portion where the aerosol exchanges with the aerosol, or a cooling portion where the aerosol is cooled.
2. A smoking cartridge according to claim 1 . The aerosol-forming substrate is covered with a lid member.
A smoking cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises: