JP7644751B2 - Smoking article sheet - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet for smoking articles.

As one type of non-combustion smoking device, liquid-type electronic cigarettes have been developed that evaporate (vaporize) a liquid containing a nicotine-based flavoring, providing an experience similar to that of smoking a cigarette. These liquid-type electronic cigarettes are composed of an atomizer that evaporates and atomizes the liquid by heating it, a solution tank that holds the liquid supplied to the atomizer, and a battery (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

As another form of non-combustion smoking device, a non-combustion cigarette with tobacco material and a filter, which has a similar shape to conventional combustion cigarettes, has been developed. Non-combustion cigarettes are heated by a separately prepared heating device before use (Patent Document 4). Since the aerosol-generating base materials in non-combustion cigarettes, such as glycerin and propylene glycol, are consumed during smoking, a large amount of aerosol-generating base material is required to generate the same amount of aerosol as the liquid-type electronic cigarette. For this reason, studies have been conducted on, for example, incorporating a large amount of aerosol-generating base material into or applying it to tobacco materials such as tobacco sheets and tobacco shreds (Patent Documents 5 to 7).

US Patent Publication No. 2015/0128974 US Patent Publication No. 2019/0208821 US Patent Publication No. 2017/0265517 Special Publication No. 2014-515274 Special Publication No. 2010-520764 Canadian Patent Publication No. 3006621 U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,076

However, if a sheet for smoking articles is too thick, problems arise such as reduced thermal conductivity and a smaller surface area of the sheet making it difficult to obtain a sufficient amount of smoke. On the other hand, if the sheet becomes too thin, there is a problem that the strength decreases. In view of these circumstances, the objective of the present invention is to provide a sheet for smoking articles that has a good balance between thickness and strength.

The inventors have found that the above-mentioned problems can be solved by a sheet for smoking articles that contains fibers with a specific fiber diameter and has a specific thickness. That is, the above-mentioned problems are solved by the present invention described below.
Aspect 1
Non-pulp fibers;
an aerosol-generating substrate;
A sheet for smoking articles having a thickness of 70 μm or less.
Aspect 2
The sheet for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the non-pulp fibers are derived from plants.
Aspect 3
A sheet for smoking articles according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the non-pulp fibers comprise monofilamentary cellulose.
Aspect 4
A sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 3, wherein the non-pulp fibers include dietary fibers.
Aspect 5
A sheet for smoking articles according to claim 4, wherein the dietary fiber comprises citrus fiber.
Aspect 6
A sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, wherein the non-pulp fibers have an average fiber diameter of 25 μm or less.
Aspect 7
A sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, comprising 20 to 50% by weight of the aerosol-forming substrate.
Aspect 8
A sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, further comprising a binder.
Aspect 9
A sheet for smoking articles according to claim 8, wherein the binder is amphiphilic.
Aspect 10
A sheet for smoking articles according to aspect 8 or 9, wherein the binder is a nonionic cellulose derivative.
Aspect 11
A sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 10, further comprising an emulsifier.
Aspect 12
A sheet for smoking articles according to aspect 11, comprising 0.1 to 0.3 parts by weight of an emulsifier per 100 parts by weight of the sheet for smoking articles.
Aspect 13
13. The sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 12, which has been subjected to folding, slitting, pleating, or crimping.
Aspect 14
preparing a slurry comprising at least the non-pulp fibers, an aerosol-generating substrate, and a medium;
A step of spreading the slurry on a substrate to prepare a wet sheet; and a step of drying the wet sheet.
The method for producing a sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, comprising:
Aspect 15
A rod-shaped flavor-generating material obtained by folding or rolling up the sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13.
Aspect 16
A multi-layer sheet for smoking articles comprising a plurality of sheets,
A) a first sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13;
B) a second sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13; and C) a sheet made of a material different from the sheet for smoking articles,
A multi-layer sheet for smoking articles, wherein the formulation of the first sheet for smoking articles and the formulation of the second sheet for smoking articles are different or the same.
Aspect 17
A cylindrical wrapper,
A flavor-generating segment comprising the sheet for a smoking article according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, the multilayer sheet for a smoking article according to Aspect 16, or a material derived therefrom, filled within the wrapper.
Aspect 18
A flavor-generating segment according to aspect 17, wherein the rod-shaped flavor-generating material, the cut pieces of the sheet for smoking articles, or the cut pieces of the multilayer sheet for smoking articles are filled within the wrapper.
Aspect 19
A smoking article comprising the sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, the multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to Aspect 16, or a material derived therefrom.
Aspect 20
A smoking article comprising a wrapper composed of the sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13 or the multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to Aspect 16.
Aspect 21
A combustible or non-combustible smoking article comprising the flavor-generating segment according to aspect 17 or 18.
Aspect 22
A combustible or non-combustible smoking article according to Aspect 21, wherein the wrapper is composed of the sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13 or the multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to Aspect 16.
Aspect 23
A sheet for smoking articles according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13, a multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to Aspect 16, or a material derived therefrom;
a material selected from the group consisting of tobacco sheets, tobacco shreds, and combinations thereof;
Tobacco filler including.
Aspect 24
A tobacco filler according to aspect 23, wherein the multilayer sheet for smoking articles essentially contains a metal foil as C).
Aspect 25
A tobacco filler according to Aspect 24, wherein in the multilayer sheet for smoking articles, C) and A) or B) are stuck together.
Aspect 26
A refill comprising the tobacco filling material according to any one of aspects 23 to 25.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a sheet for smoking articles that has a good balance between thickness and strength.

Schematic diagram showing an example of a flavor-generating segment using a sheet for a smoking article. Schematic diagram showing an example of a flavor-generating segment using a sheet for a smoking article. Schematic diagram showing an example of a flavor-generating segment using a sheet for a smoking article. Schematic diagram showing an example of a flavor-generating segment using a sheet for a smoking article. Schematic diagram showing an example of a flavor-generating segment using a sheet for a smoking article. Schematic diagram showing an example of a flavor generating material using a sheet for a smoking article A schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-combustion heating type smoking system before heating. A schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-combustion heating type smoking system during heating. Schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing another example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article. FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article shown in FIG.

The present invention will be described in detail below. In the present invention, "X to Y" includes the extreme values X and Y.
1. Sheet for Smoking Articles A sheet for smoking articles is a sheet used in smoking articles, and contains non-pulp fibers and an aerosol-forming substrate.

(1) Fibers The fibers used in the sheet for smoking articles are non-pulp fibers. Non-pulp fibers are fibers other than pulp fibers. Pulp fibers are an aggregate of cellulose fibers extracted from plants such as wood, and are usually used as a raw material for paper. Examples of pulp fibers include waste paper pulp, chemical pulp, and mechanical pulp. In the present invention, the non-pulp fibers are preferably derived from plants. Plant-derived fibers are biodegradable and therefore have a small environmental impact.

Conventional tobacco sheets are based on pulp fibers such as wood pulp, i.e., vegetable fiber bundles (for example, Patent Document 7: US Pat. No. 5,322,076). Generally, wood pulp is composed of a fiber bundle of multiple single fibers with a fiber diameter of 20 μm, and the fiber diameter of wood pulp is about 100 to 200 μm, and the fiber length is about 1000 to 2000 μm. When a tobacco sheet having a practical tensile strength is manufactured using wood pulp, the sheet becomes thick at 100 to 300 μm, and the thermal conductivity decreases. However, since the present invention uses non-pulp fibers, a thin sheet with excellent mechanical strength can be formed and excellent thermal conductivity can be achieved. From this viewpoint, the average fiber diameter of the non-pulp fibers is preferably 25 μm or less, more preferably 20 μm or less, and even more preferably 15 μm or less. The lower limit of the average fiber diameter is not limited, but is 2 nm or more, 10 nm or more, 100 nm or more, 1 μm or more, or 5 μm or more.

The average fiber diameter of non-pulp fibers can be determined by acquiring an image of the fiber, measuring the width (short axis) of multiple fibers, and averaging these values. If the fiber shape is columnar (rectangular in cross section), the width of the main surface (the longer one) is taken as the width of the fiber. The number of fibers measured is preferably 100 or more.

The non-pulp fibers are preferably monofilamented cellulose. Monofilamented cellulose is a thin fiber obtained by subjecting pulp fibers to a process such as defibration. Monofilamented cellulose may be chemically modified by oxidation or the like. The average fiber diameter of monofilamented cellulose is as described above. The average fiber length of monofilamented cellulose is not limited, but the upper limit is preferably 2000 μm or less, more preferably 1500 μm or less. The lower limit is preferably 100 μm or more, more preferably 500 μm or more.

The non-pulp fiber is preferably dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is a food component that is not digested by human digestive enzymes, and in the present invention, it is more preferable that the dietary fiber is insoluble in water. The dietary fiber may be porous, i.e., spongy. Porous fiber can increase the surface area of the sheet for smoking articles and improve the thermal conductivity of the sheet. From the viewpoint of availability, the fiber is preferably citrus fiber. Citrus fiber is a fiber whose main raw material is the albedo of citrus fruits. The average fiber diameter of citrus fiber is as described above. The dietary fiber may also be short fiber or columnar particles with a small aspect ratio.

In one embodiment, monofilamented cellulose and dietary fiber are used in combination. By using both in combination, the strength, water dispersibility, and smoke sensation of the sheet for smoking articles are improved. The upper limit of the weight of monofilamented cellulose per 1 part by weight of dietary fiber is preferably 1.5 parts by weight or less, more preferably 1.2 parts by weight or less, and the lower limit is preferably 0.1 or more, more preferably 0.3 or more.

It is preferable that all fibers in the sheet for smoking articles are non-pulp fibers, but the sheet may contain fibers other than non-pulp fibers. In this case, the amount of non-pulp fibers in the total fibers is preferably 60 to 99% by weight, more preferably 70 to 90% by weight. If the amount of non-pulp fibers is below the lower limit, it may be difficult to make the sheet for smoking articles thin.

The total amount of fibers in the sheet for smoking articles is preferably 1 to 60% by weight, more preferably 10 to 40% by weight, from the standpoint of mechanical strength, etc.

(2) Binder The sheet for smoking articles of the present invention may contain a binder. The binder is an adhesive for binding fibers together. Any binder known in the art can be used as the binder. If the binder is hydrophilic, the water dispersibility of the sheet for smoking articles is improved, but on the other hand, the affinity with the lipophilic aerosol generating substrate is reduced, making it impossible to increase the amount, and therefore the smoke volume is reduced. From the viewpoint of the balance between the two, it is preferable that the binder is amphiphilic. That is, it is preferable that the binder is soluble in water and organic solvents such as ethanol. Examples of such binders include cellulose derivatives, and the cellulose derivatives are preferably nonionic. Examples of preferred binders include hydroxyalkyl cellulose. Hydroxyalkyl cellulose is represented by the following general formula (I).

(I)

In the formula, R is a hydrogen atom or a group represented by -(A-O) _m -H. A is a divalent alkylene group. The number of carbon atoms in the alkylene group is preferably 1 to 5, more preferably 2 or 3. n is preferably 100 to 2500, and m is 1 or more. A is most preferably a 1,2-propylene group. That is, the binder is most preferably hydroxypropyl cellulose. The degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl cellulose is, for example, 0.1 to 4.5, preferably 2.0 to 4.5. The degree of substitution of hydroxypropyl cellulose is the number of hydroxypropyl groups per glucose. Hydroxypropyl cellulose may be, for example, commercially available from Nippon Soda Co., Ltd. under the trade name Celny.

The advantages of using hydroxypropyl cellulose as a binder are explained below. Cellulose is hydrophobic because the OH groups in the molecules form hydrogen bonds with each other and crystallize. On the other hand, hydroxypropyl cellulose has hydroxypropyl groups, which makes it difficult for hydrogen bonds to form between the molecules, making it both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, i.e., amphiphilic.

Hydroxypropyl cellulose is known to form a network structure complex through interaction (hydrogen bonding) between the hydroxypropyl groups of hydroxypropyl cellulose and the OH groups of glycerin in a system containing a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin as an aerosol generating base material. In addition, since hydroxypropyl cellulose is amphiphilic, it is thought that hydrophilic and hydrophobic flavors can be incorporated into the network structure. Therefore, when the sheet for smoking articles contains a flavor, the flavor is stably retained by the network structure complex without volatilization during storage of the smoking product, and can be stably released during use of the smoking product (especially when the flavor inhalation article is heated).

Furthermore, hydroxypropyl cellulose is soluble in organic solvents, particularly ethanol. Therefore, as described below, when a slurry using ethanol as a medium is used in the production of a sheet for smoking products, the viscosity of the slurry can be reduced, which is more advantageous in the transportation and coating steps during production than a slurry using water as a medium. Furthermore, since ethanol is more volatile than water, it is possible to shorten the production time and reduce the energy costs during drying in the above-mentioned production method.

The amount of binder in the sheet for smoking articles is not particularly limited, but is preferably 10 to 60% by weight, more preferably 20 to 40% by weight. If the amount of binder exceeds the upper limit, water dispersibility and the perceived amount of smoke tend to decrease, and if it is less than the lower limit, the surface condition of the sheet for smoking articles tends to deteriorate.

(3) Aerosol-generating substrate The aerosol-generating substrate is a material that vaporizes by heating and cools to generate an aerosol, or generates an aerosol by atomization. Known aerosol-generating substrates can be used, and examples thereof include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin and propylene glycol (PG), triethyl citrate (TEC), and triacetin. The amount of the aerosol-generating substrate in the sheet for smoking articles is preferably 20 to 70% by weight, more preferably 30 to 50% by weight, and even more preferably 20 to 50% by weight. If the amount of the aerosol-generating substrate exceeds the upper limit, it may be difficult to manufacture the sheet for smoking articles, and if it is less than the lower limit, the smoke sensation may be reduced.

(4) Emulsifier The sheet for smoking articles may contain an emulsifier. The emulsifier enhances the affinity between the lipophilic aerosol-generating substrate and the hydrophilic non-pulp fibers. Any known emulsifier can be used, and examples thereof include emulsifiers having an HLB value of 8 to 18. The amount of emulsifier is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 0.4 parts by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 0.3 parts by weight, and even more preferably 0.2 to 0.3 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by weight of the sheet for smoking articles.

(5) Flavor-Generating Substrate The sheet for smoking articles may contain a flavor-generating substrate. The flavor-generating substrate is a material that imparts a flavor and is preferably a tobacco material. Specific tobacco materials include shredded dried tobacco leaves, ground leaf tobacco, and tobacco extracts (extracts made from water, an organic solvent, or a mixed solution thereof). Ground leaf tobacco is a particle obtained by grinding leaf tobacco. The ground leaf tobacco can have an average particle size of, for example, 30 to 120 μm. The grinding can be performed using a known grinder, and may be dry grinding or wet grinding. Therefore, ground leaf tobacco is also called leaf tobacco particles. In the present invention, the average particle size is determined by a laser diffraction/scattering method, and specifically, is measured using a laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring device (for example, HORIBA LA-950). In addition, the type of tobacco is not limited, and flue-cured, Burley, Orient, native, and other Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica varieties can be used. The amount of the flavor-generating base material in the sheet for smoking articles is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 30% by weight, more preferably 10 to 20% by weight.

(6) Flavoring The sheet for smoking articles may contain a flavoring. A flavoring is a substance that provides a scent or flavor. The flavoring may be a natural flavoring or a synthetic flavoring. A single type of flavoring may be used as the flavoring, or a mixture of multiple types of flavorings may be used. Any flavoring that is generally used in smoking articles may be used as the flavoring, and specific examples will be described later. The flavoring may be contained in the sheet for smoking articles in an amount that allows the smoking article to provide a preferred scent or flavor, and for example, the amount is preferably 1 to 30% by weight, more preferably 10 to 20% by weight, in the sheet for smoking articles.

As the flavoring, any flavoring that is normally used, such as essential oils, natural flavorings, synthetic flavorings, etc., can be used. In addition, it may be liquid or solid, and the nature does not matter. Suitable flavors include flavorings selected from tobacco extracts and tobacco components, sugar and sugar-based flavors, licorice, cocoa, chocolate, fruit juice and fruits, spices, Western liquor, herbs, vanilla, and flower-based flavors, or combinations thereof. Specifically, flavorings selected from isothiocyanates, indoles and their derivatives, ethers, esters, ketones, fatty acids, higher aliphatic alcohols, higher aliphatic aldehydes, higher aliphatic hydrocarbons, thioethers, thiols, terpene-based hydrocarbons, phenol ethers, phenols, furfural and its derivatives, aromatic alcohols, aromatic aldehydes, lactones, etc., or combinations thereof.

For example, a wide variety of flavoring ingredients can be used, such as those described in "Collection of Well-Known and Commonly Used Technology (Fragrances)" (March 14, 2007, published by the Japan Patent Office), "The Latest Encyclopedia of Flavors (Popular Edition)" (February 25, 2012, edited by Soichi Arai, Akio Kobayashi, Izumi Yajima, and Michiaki Kawasaki, Asakura Publishing), and "Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products" (June 1972, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company).

From the viewpoint of imparting a good smoking taste, for example, acetanisole, acetophenone, acetylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, alfalfa extract, amyl alcohol, amyl butyrate, trans-anethole, star anise oil, apple juice, Peru balsam oil, beeswax absolute, benzaldehyde, benzoin resinoid, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, benzyl propionate, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanol, butyl butyrate, butyric acid, caramel, cardamom oil, carob absolute, β-carotene, carrot juice, L- Carvone, β-caryophyllene, cassia bark oil, cedarwood oil, celery seed oil, chamomile oil, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, citronella oil, DL-citronellol, clary sage extract, cocoa, coffee, konjac oil, coriander oil, cuminaldehyde, davana oil, δ-decalactone, γ-decalactone, decanoic acid, dill herb oil, 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione, 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, 2,3-dimethyl leupyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl lactate, ethyl laurate, ethyl levulinate, ethyl maltol, ethyl octanoate, ethyl oleate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl phenylacetate, ethyl propionate, ethyl stearate, ethyl valerate, ethyl vanillin, ethyl vanillin glucoside, 2-ethyl-3,(5 or 6)-dimethylpyrazine, 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine, Eucalyptol, fenugreek absolute, gene absolute, gentian root infusion, geraniol, geranyl acetate, grape juice, guaiacol, guava extract, gamma-heptalactone, gamma-hexalactone, hexanoic acid, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, hexyl acetate, hexyl alcohol, phenylhexyl acetate, honey, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, 4-hydroxy- Sodium xyundecanoate, Immortelle Absolute, β-Ionone, Isoamyl Acetate, Isoamyl Butyrate, Isoamyl Phenylacetate, Isobutyl Acetate, Isobutyl Phenylacetate, Jasmine Absolute, Cola Nut Tincture, Labdanum Oil, Lemon Terpeneless Oil, Licorice Extract, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Lovage Root Oil, Maltol, Maple Syrup, Menthol, Menthone, L-Menthyl Acetate, Paramethoxybenzaldehyde, Methyl-2-Pyrrolyl Ketone, Methyl Anthranilate, Methyl Phenylacetate, Methyl Salicylate, 4'-Methylacetoflavone phenone, methylcyclopentenolone, 3-methylvaleric acid, mimosa absolute, honey, myristic acid, nerol, nerolidol, gamma-nonalactone, nutmeg oil, delta-octalactone, octanal, octanoic acid, orange flower oil, orange oil, orris root oil, palmitic acid, omega-pentadecalactone, peppermint oil, petitgrain Paraguay oil, phenethyl alcohol, phenethyl phenylacetate, phenylacetic acid, piperonal, plum extract, propenylguaethol, propyl acetate, 3-propylidenephthalide, prune juice, pyruvic acid, raisin extract , rose oil, rum, sage oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil, styrax absolute, marigold oil, tea distillate, alpha-terpineol, terpinyl acetate, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,5,9-tetramethyl-13-oxacyclo(8.3.0.0(4.9))tridecane, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, thyme oil, tomato extract, 2-tridecanone, triethyl citrate, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1 ,4-dione, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadienyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, γ-undecalactone, γ-valerolactone, vanilla extract, vanillin, veratraldehyde, violet leaf absolute, citral, mandarin oil, 4-(acetoxymethyl)toluene, 2-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl 10-undecenoate, isoamyl hexanoate, 1-phenylethylacetic acid, lauric acid, 8-mercaptomenthone, sinensal, and hexyl butyrate, with menthol being particularly preferred. These flavorings may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The type of solid flavor is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of imparting a good smoking taste, examples include flavors selected from cocoa powder, carob powder, coriander powder, licorice powder, orange peel powder, herb powder, flower powder, spice powder, and tea powder, etc., or combinations thereof.

The sheet for smoking articles may also contain a cooling agent or flavoring. The type of the cooling agent is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of imparting a good smoking taste, examples of the cooling agent that may be used include menthol, camphor, isopulegol, cineole, peppermint oil, peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil, 2-l-menthoxyethanol (COOLACT (registered trademark) 5), 3-l-menthoxypropane-1,2-diol (COOLACT (registered trademark) 10), l-menthyl-3-hydroxybutyrate (COOLACT (registered trademark) 20), p-menthane-3,8-diol (COOLACT (registered trademark) 38D), N-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1-carboxamide (COOLACT (registered trademark) 370), N-(4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexane COOLACT® 400), N-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-2-isopropyl-5,5-dimethylcyclohexanecarboxamide, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide (WS-3), ethyl-2-(p-menthane-3-carboxamide)acetate (WS-5), N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-p-menthanecarboxamide (WS-12), 2-isopropyl-N,2,3-trimethylbutyramide (WS-23), 3-l-menthoxy-2-methylpropane-1,2-diol, 2-l-menthoxyethan-1-ol, 3-l-menthoxypropan-1-ol, 4-l-menthoxybutan-1-ol, menthyl lactate (FEMA 3748), menthone glycerin acetal (Frescolat MGA, FEMA3807, FEMA3808), 2-(2-l-menthyloxyethyl)ethanol, menthyl glyoxylate, menthyl 2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylate, menthyl succinate (FEMA3810), N-(2-(pyridin-2-yl)-ethyl)-3-p-menthanecarboxamide (FEMA4549), N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-p-menthane-3-carboxamide, N-(4-cyanomethylphenyl)-p-menthanecarboxamide, and N-(4-aminocarbonylphenyl)-p-menthane. The cooling agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The type of flavoring agent is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of imparting a good smoking taste, examples include sweeteners (sugars (glucose, fructose, isomerized sugar, caramel, etc.), acidulants (organic acids, etc.), and other flavoring agents (materials that impart umami, bitterness, saltiness, etc.). In addition, lipids (wax, wax, fatty acids (short-chain, medium-chain, long-chain fatty acids, etc.)) may be added as desired.

When flavorings, cooling agents, and flavorings are contained in the tobacco shreds, in one embodiment, the total content of these is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of imparting a good smoking taste, is usually 10,000 ppm or more, preferably 20,000 ppm or more, more preferably 25,000 ppm or more, and usually 70,000 ppm or less, preferably 50,000 ppm or more, more preferably 40,000 ppm or less, and even more preferably 33,000 ppm or less. In another embodiment, the total amount is preferably 2% by weight or more, more preferably 5% by weight or more, and preferably 20% by weight or less, more preferably 10% by weight or less.

(7) Characteristics and Forms of the Sheet for Smoking Articles 1) Thickness The sheet for smoking articles has a thickness of 70 μm or less. Therefore, the sheet has excellent thermal conductivity. From this viewpoint, the upper limit of the thickness is preferably 50 μm or less, and the lower limit is preferably 20 μm or more.

2) Sheet strength The sheet for smoking articles preferably has a tensile stress of 15 N/ ^mm2 . Therefore, the sheet has suitability for processing. From this viewpoint, the upper limit of the tensile stress is preferably 50 N/mm2 or ^less , more preferably 30 N/ ^mm2 or less, and the lower limit is preferably 5 N/ ^mm2 or more, more preferably 10 N/ ^mm2 or more.

3) Water-dispersibility The sheet for smoking articles has excellent water-dispersibility and is therefore highly environmentally friendly. The sheet for smoking articles preferably has a water-dispersibility of 3 to 9 minutes when measured according to the official method (JIS P4501). The upper limit of the dispersibility according to this method is preferably 30 minutes or less.

4) Form The size of the sheet for smoking articles is appropriately adjusted according to the application, the desired number of puffs, etc. For example, the length can be about 20 to 50 mm, and the width can be about 20 to 50 mm. An example of the relationship between the sheet size and the number of puffs is shown below.
30 mm×30 mm: 8 puffs 30 mm×50 mm: 16 puffs 40 mm×50 mm: 18 puffs 50 mm×50 mm: 24 puffs The sheet for smoking articles may also be subjected to folding, slitting or pleating.

(8) Flavor-generating segment, rod-shaped flavor-generating material From the sheet for smoking articles, a flavor-generating segment for use in a smoking article can be manufactured. In one embodiment, the flavor-generating segment comprises a cylindrical wrapper, and the sheet for smoking articles is filled in the wrapper in a spiral shape (see FIG. 1(A)). In the figure, 20A is the flavor-generating segment, 1 is the sheet for smoking articles, and 22 is the wrapper, which is usually paper, but may be the sheet for smoking articles 1 or a multi-layer sheet for smoking articles described below. The flavor-generating segment is preferably rod-shaped, and its length can be about 15 to 80 mm and its diameter can be about 5 to 10 mm. Furthermore, the flavor-generating segment 20A shown in FIG. 1(A) can be cut to obtain a flavor-generating segment 20A with an aspect ratio (length/diameter) of about 0.5 to 1.2 (see FIG. 1(B)). The sheet for smoking articles 1 formed by spirally winding it is also called flavor-generating material 21.

In another embodiment, the flavor generating segment 20A comprises a cylindrical wrapper 22 and a sheet for smoking articles 1 folded and packed into the wrapper. The ridges created by the folding are approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the segment (see FIG. 1(C)). The flavor generating segment 20A is preferably rod-shaped and can have a length of 15 to 80 mm and a diameter of about 5 to 10 mm. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the sheet for smoking articles 1 has been subjected to a surface wrinkling process such as pleating or crimping in advance.

In another embodiment, the flavor generating segment 20A comprises a cylindrical wrapper 22 and a cut piece 1c of a sheet for smoking articles, which is a material derived from a sheet for smoking articles, filled in the wrapper (see FIG. 1(D)). The flavor generating segment 20A is preferably rod-shaped and may have a length of about 15 to 80 mm and a diameter of about 5 to 10 mm. The size of the cut piece is not limited, but the length of the longest side may be about 2 to 4 mm, for example.

In another embodiment, the sheet for smoking articles 1 can be compressed (rolled) in two or more axial directions parallel to the main surface to form a lump of material derived from the sheet for smoking articles, which can then be stored in a container or the like to be used as the flavor-generating segment 20A (see FIG. 1(E)). The size of the lump can be adjusted appropriately depending on the smoking article to be used.

The sheet for smoking articles can also be folded or rolled up to form a rod-shaped flavor-generating material. FIG. 2 shows an example of a rod-shaped flavor-generating material 21. FIG. 2(A) shows a rectangular flavor-generating material, and FIG. 2(B) shows a cylindrical flavor-generating material. In one embodiment, these can be filled directly into a wrapper to form a flavor-generating segment, or they can be made without a wrapper. In this case, the dimensions of the rod-shaped flavor-generating material 21 are the same as those of the flavor-generating segment. In another embodiment, the cylindrical flavor-generating material can be cut off by the user as needed to form a material of a desired size. This embodiment is suitable as a smoking article that is held in the mouth to absorb flavor components from the mouth.

(9) Multilayer sheet for smoking article The sheet for smoking article of the present invention can be a multilayer sheet for smoking article. The multilayer sheet for smoking article includes two or more sheets selected from the group consisting of A) the first sheet for smoking article of the present invention, B) the second sheet for smoking article of the present invention, and C) a sheet made of a material different from the sheet for smoking article. Thus, in one embodiment, at least one of the multilayer sheets for smoking article is the first sheet for smoking article of the present invention, and at least one is the second sheet for smoking article of the present invention. The formulation of the first sheet for smoking article and the formulation of the second sheet for smoking article are different or the same. The second sheet for smoking article, the formulation of which is different from that of the first sheet for smoking article, refers to a sheet having a different type or amount of some or all of the essential components described above, or a sheet containing other components not contained in the first sheet for smoking article. Thus, examples of this embodiment include a multilayer sheet for smoking article including a plurality of first sheets for smoking article, and a multilayer sheet for smoking article including one or more first sheets for smoking article and one or more second sheets for smoking article.

In another embodiment, the multilayer sheet for smoking articles comprises the sheet for smoking articles of the present invention and a heterogeneous material sheet. Examples of heterogeneous material sheets include metal foils. The metal foils may be thin sheets made of composite metal materials or single metal materials, or may be metal foil composites made of a laminate of a metal material and another material (e.g., paper or a polymer film). Examples of thin sheets made of composite metal materials or single metal materials include aluminum foil sheets, copper foil sheets, iron foil sheets, and aluminum alloy foil sheets. Further examples of metal foil composites include laminates of aluminum foil and paper, i.e., aluminum-molded paper. Examples of aluminum-molded paper include aluminum-laminated paper obtained by bonding aluminum foil to paper with an adhesive, and aluminum-deposited paper obtained by depositing aluminum foil on paper.

When metal foil is used as a dissimilar material sheet, the high thermal conductivity of metal means that the smoking article heats up easily when in use (especially when the smoking article is heated), which can promote the release of flavor components contained in the sheet for smoking articles.

The heterogeneous material sheet may be an organic film or an inorganic film. The former may be a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. Alternatively, the heterogeneous material sheet may be paper or the like. The heterogeneous material sheet and the smoking article sheet of the present invention may or may not be bonded together.

(10) Tobacco Filler The tobacco filler is a tobacco material that functions as a tobacco flavor source in a smoking article. In one embodiment, the tobacco filler includes the sheet for smoking articles, the multilayer sheet for smoking articles, or a material derived therefrom of the present invention, and a material selected from the group consisting of tobacco sheet, tobacco shreds, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, the tobacco filler may include tobacco granules. Tobacco shreds refer to cut pieces of leaf tobacco (dried tobacco leaves) that are ready to be incorporated into a tobacco product. The tobacco sheet refers to a tobacco molded product or a cut product thereof formed into a sheet from tobacco materials such as tobacco shreds and tobacco shreds generated in raw material factories and manufacturing factories, such as leaf shreds and shreds, and is different from the sheet for smoking articles of the present invention. Moreover, the tobacco granules refer to a tobacco molded product formed into a granular form from tobacco materials such as tobacco shreds and tobacco shreds generated in raw material factories and manufacturing factories, such as leaf shreds and shreds.

In another embodiment, the tobacco filler includes a multilayer sheet for smoking articles or a material derived therefrom that essentially contains a metal foil as C) and a material selected from the group consisting of tobacco sheet, tobacco shreds, and combinations thereof. In this case, the metal foil and the sheet for smoking articles A) or B) of the present invention may or may not be bonded together. The tobacco filler may contain the aforementioned flavorings, etc.

The tobacco filler can be filled into a wrapper or container to form a flavor-generating segment. The tobacco filler can also be used as a refill for smoking articles. A refill is a tobacco filler that can be refilled. In addition to the tobacco filler, the refill may also contain the aforementioned flavorings, etc.

2. Manufacturing Method The sheet for smoking articles may be manufactured by any method, but is preferably manufactured by a method including the following steps.
preparing a slurry including at least non-pulp fibers, an aerosol-generating substrate, and a medium;
spreading the slurry on a substrate to prepare a wet sheet; and drying the wet sheet.

(1) Slurry preparation step In this step, non-pulp fibers, an aerosol-generating substrate, and a medium are mixed. If necessary, a binder, a flavor-generating substrate, an emulsifier, or a fragrance can also be added. The amount of each component is adjusted so as to achieve the above-mentioned amount. The medium is preferably composed mainly of water or a water-soluble organic solvent such as ethanol, and more preferably water or ethanol. The mixing method is not limited, and a known device such as a mixer can be used. The solid content concentration of the slurry obtained by mixing is not limited, but the upper limit is preferably 15% by weight or less, more preferably 12% by weight or less, and even more preferably 10% by weight or less, and the lower limit is preferably 3% by weight or more, more preferably 4% by weight or more.

(2) Wet Sheet Preparation Step In this step, the slurry is spread on a substrate to prepare a wet sheet. The substrate is not limited, and examples thereof include inorganic substrates such as glass plates, metal substrates such as aluminum plates, organic substrates such as PET films, and fibrous substrates such as nonwoven fabrics.

(3) Drying Step In this step, the wet sheet is dried. Drying can be carried out according to a known method. For example, the wet sheet can be air-dried at room temperature or dried by heating. The heating temperature is not limited, and can be, for example, 60 to 150°C. The dried sheet is separated from the substrate to obtain a sheet for smoking articles.

3. Smoking articles

Smoking articles include flavor inhalation articles that allow users to inhale and enjoy the flavor, and smokeless tobacco (smokeless smoking articles) that allow users to enjoy the flavor by directly holding the product in their nasal or oral cavity. Flavor inhalation articles can be broadly divided into combustible smoking articles, typified by conventional cigarettes, and non-combustible smoking articles.

A flavor inhalation article is any inhalation article that contains a flavor source and allows a user to taste a flavor derived from the flavor source by inhalation. The flavor source contained in the flavor inhalation article is preferably derived from tobacco. Specific examples of flavor inhalation articles include combustion type smoking articles that provide a user with a flavor by burning a flavor source, and heat-not-burn type flavor inhalation articles that provide a user with a flavor by heating a flavor source without burning it.

Smokeless tobacco is a product that contains a flavor source and allows the user to taste the flavor derived from the flavor source by inhaling the product directly into the nasal or oral cavity. The flavor source contained in smokeless tobacco is preferably derived from tobacco. Snuff and chewing tobacco are known examples of smokeless tobacco.

The aforementioned sheet for smoking articles, multilayer sheet for smoking articles, flavor-generating material, etc. can be incorporated into a smoking article. According to one embodiment, a smoking article can be provided that includes the aforementioned sheet for smoking articles, multilayer sheet for smoking articles, or a material derived therefrom. For example, tobacco filler can be incorporated as a material derived from the sheet for smoking articles, etc. Furthermore, since the sheet or multilayer sheet is also suitable as a wrapper, in this embodiment, a smoking article can be provided that includes a wrapper composed of the sheet or multilayer sheet. As described above, the smoking article is preferably a combustion-type flavor inhalation article or a non-combustion-heating-type flavor inhalation article.

Examples of combustion-type flavor inhalation articles include cigarettes, pipes, kiseru, cigars, or cigarillos.

The non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article may be heated by a heating device separate from the article, or may be heated by a heating device integrated with the article. In the former type of flavor inhalation article (separate type), the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article and the heating device are collectively referred to as a "non-combustion heating type smoking system."

An example of a non-combustion heating type smoking system will be described below with reference to Figures 3 to 5. Furthermore, as the latter flavor inhalation article (integrated type), an example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

Figures 3 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of a non-combustion heating type smoking system. Figure 3 shows the state before the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 is inserted into the heating device 10, and Figure 4 shows the state after the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 is inserted into the heating device 10 and heated. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20.

3 and 4, the non-combustion heating type smoking system includes a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 and a heating device 10 that heats the flavor generating segment 20A of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 from the outside. The non-combustion heating type smoking system is not limited to the configurations of FIGS. 3 and 4 as long as it includes a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 and a heating device 10 that heats the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20.

3 and 4 includes a body 11, a heater 12, a metal tube 13, a battery unit 14, and a control unit 15. The body 11 has a cylindrical recess 16, and the heater 12 and the metal tube 13 are disposed on the inner side surface of the recess 16 at a position corresponding to the flavor generating segment 20A of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 inserted into the recess 16. The body 11 further has a ventilation hole 17, which connects the outside of the body 11 with the recess 16 and can supply air to the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 inserted into the recess 16.

The heater 12 can be an electrical resistance heater, and power is supplied from the battery unit 14 in response to instructions from a control unit 15 that controls the temperature, causing the heater 12 to heat up.

The heat generated by the heater 12 is transmitted to the flavor generating segment 20A of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 through a metal tube 13 having high thermal conductivity.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration, and therefore there is a gap between the outer periphery of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 and the inner periphery of the metal tube 13; however, in reality, it is desirable that there be no gap between the outer periphery of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 and the inner periphery of the metal tube 13 in order to efficiently transfer heat.

The heating device 10 heats the flavor generating segment 20A of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 from the outside, but may also heat it from the inside.

The heating temperature by the heating device 10 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 400° C. or less, more preferably 150 to 400° C., and even more preferably 200 to 350° C. The heating temperature refers to the temperature of the heater 12 of the heating device 10.

As shown in Figure 5, the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 (hereinafter simply referred to as "flavor inhalation article 20") has a cylindrical shape. The circumferential length of the flavor inhalation article 20 is preferably 16 mm to 27 mm, more preferably 20 mm to 26 mm, and even more preferably 21 mm to 25 mm. The overall length (horizontal length) of the flavor inhalation article 20 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 40 mm to 90 mm, more preferably 50 mm to 75 mm, and even more preferably 50 mm to 60 mm.

The flavor inhalation article 20 is composed of a flavor generating segment 20A, a filter portion 20C that forms the mouthpiece, and a connecting portion 20B that connects the flavor generating segment 20A and the filter portion 20C.

The flavor generating segment 20A is cylindrical. The total length (axial length) of the flavor generating segment 20A is, for example, preferably 20 to 70 mm, more preferably 20 to 50 mm, and even more preferably 20 to 30 mm. The cross-sectional shape of the flavor generating segment 20A is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon, or the like.

The flavor-generating segment 20A has a flavor-generating material 21 and a wrapper 22 wrapped around the flavor-generating material 21. The wrapper 22 may be the sheet for smoking articles 1 of the present invention or the multilayer sheet for smoking articles of the present invention.

The filter section 20C has a cylindrical shape. The filter section 20C has a rod-shaped first segment 25 filled with cellulose acetate fiber and a rod-shaped second segment 26 similarly filled with cellulose acetate fiber. The first segment 25 is located on the flavor generating segment 20A side. The first segment 25 may have a hollow portion. The second segment 26 is located on the mouthpiece side. The second segment 26 is solid. The first segment 25 is composed of a first filling layer (cellulose acetate fiber) 25a and an inner plug wrapper 25b wound around the first filling layer 25a. The second segment 26 is composed of a second filling layer (cellulose acetate fiber) 26a and an inner plug wrapper 26b wound around the second filling layer 26a. The first segment 25 and the second segment 26 are connected by an outer plug wrapper 27. The outer plug wrapper 27 is adhered to the first segment 25 and the second segment 26 by a vinyl acetate emulsion adhesive or the like.

The length of the filter portion 20C can be, for example, 10 to 30 mm, the length of the connecting portion 20B can be, for example, 10 to 30 mm, the length of the first segment 25 can be, for example, 5 to 15 mm, and the length of the second segment 26 can be, for example, 5 to 15 mm. These lengths of each segment are merely examples and can be changed as appropriate depending on manufacturing suitability, required quality, the length of the flavor generating segment 20A, etc.

For example, the first segment 25 (center hole segment) is composed of a first filling layer 25a having one or more hollow portions, and an inner plug wrapper 25b that covers the first filling layer 25a. The first segment 25 has the function of increasing the strength of the second segment 26. The first filling layer 25a of the first segment 25 is densely packed with, for example, cellulose acetate fibers. A plasticizer containing triacetin is added to the cellulose acetate fibers in an amount of, for example, 6 to 20% by mass relative to the mass of the cellulose acetate, and the fibers are hardened. The hollow portion of the first segment 25 has an inner diameter of, for example, φ1.0 to φ5.0 mm.

The first packed layer 25a of the first segment 25 may be, for example, constructed with a relatively high fiber packing density, or may be equivalent to the fiber packing density of the second packed layer 26a of the second segment 26 described later. For this reason, during inhalation, air or aerosol flows only through the hollow portion, and almost no air or aerosol flows through the first packed layer 25a. For example, if it is desired to reduce the loss of aerosol components due to filtration in the second segment 26, the length of the second segment 26 can be shortened, and the first segment 25 can be lengthened accordingly.

Replacing the shortened second segment 26 with the first segment 25 is effective in increasing the amount of aerosol components delivered. Since the first filling layer 25a of the first segment 25 is a fiber-filled layer, the feel from the outside during use does not cause discomfort to the user.

The second segment 26 is composed of a second packed layer 26a and an inner plug wrapper 26b that covers the second packed layer 26a. The second segment 26 (filter segment) is packed with cellulose acetate fibers at a typical density and has typical filtering performance for filtering aerosol components.

The filtering performance for filtering the aerosol (mainstream smoke) emitted from the flavor generating segment 20A may be different between the first segment 25 and the second segment 26. At least one of the first segment 25 and the second segment 26 may contain a flavoring. The structure of the filter section 20C is arbitrary, and may be a structure having multiple segments as described above, or may be composed of a single segment.

The connecting part 20B is cylindrical. The connecting part 20B has a cardboard tube 23 formed into a cylindrical shape, for example, from cardboard.

The lining paper 28 is wrapped around the outside of the flavor-generating segment 20A, the connecting portion 20B, and the filter portion 20C in a cylindrical shape to integrally connect them. One side (inner surface) of the lining paper 28 is coated entirely or almost entirely with a vinyl acetate emulsion adhesive, except for the vicinity of the air vent portion 24. The multiple air vent portions 24 are formed by laser processing from the outside after the flavor-generating segment 20A, the connecting portion 20B, and the filter portion 20C are integrated by the lining paper 28.

The ventilation hole section 24 has two or more through holes penetrating the connecting section 20B in the thickness direction. The two or more through holes are formed so as to be radially arranged when viewed from an extension line of the central axis of the flavor inhalation article 20. In this embodiment, the ventilation hole section 24 is provided in the connecting section 20B, but may be provided in the filter section 20C. In this embodiment, the two or more through holes of the ventilation hole section 24 are arranged in one row at a certain interval on one ring, but may be arranged in two rows at a certain interval on two rings, or one or two rows of the ventilation hole section 24 may be arranged discontinuously or irregularly. When a user holds the mouthpiece in his mouth and inhales, outside air is taken into the mainstream smoke through the ventilation hole section 24.

Below, another example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article is described with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article. Figure 7 is an exploded view showing an example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article. The non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 30 (hereinafter simply referred to as flavor inhalation article 30) is an electronic cigarette, a nebulizer, or the like, which generates an aerosol in response to the user's inhalation and provides it to the user. One continuous inhalation by the user is called a "puff." The flavor inhalation article 30 adds ingredients such as flavor to the generated aerosol and releases it into the user's mouth.

6 and 7, the flavor inhalation article 30 includes a main body 30A, an aerosol source holding section 30B, and an additive component holding section 30C. The main body 30A supplies power and controls the operation of the entire device. The aerosol source holding section 30B holds an aerosol source for atomizing and generating an aerosol. The additive component holding section 30C holds a flavor generating material 38 including the sheet for smoking articles of the present invention, the multilayer sheet for smoking articles, or a material derived therefrom. A user can hold the mouthpiece, which is the end on the additive component holding section 30C side, and inhale the aerosol to which flavors and the like have been added. However, since the sheet for smoking articles of the present invention includes an aerosol generating substrate, an aerosol generating source other than the sheet is not essential in the flavor inhalation article described above.

The flavor inhalation article 30 is formed by assembling the main body 30A, the aerosol source holding part 30B, and the additive component holding part 30C by the user or the like. The main body 30A, the aerosol source holding part 30B, and the additive component holding part 30C are each cylindrical, truncated cone, or the like, with a predetermined diameter, and can be joined in the order of the main body 30A, the aerosol source holding part 30B, and the additive component holding part 30C. The main body 30A and the aerosol source holding part 30B are joined, for example, by screwing together the male threaded part and the female threaded part provided at each end. The aerosol source holding part 30B and the additive component holding part 30C are joined, for example, by fitting the additive component holding part 30C, which has a tapered side, into a cylindrical part provided at one end of the aerosol source holding part 30B. The aerosol source holding part 30B and the additive component holding part 30C may be disposable replacement parts.

8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the inside of the flavor suction article 30. The main body 30A includes a power source 31, a control unit 32, and a suction sensor 33. The control unit 32 is electrically connected to the power source 31 and the suction sensor 33. The power source 31 is a secondary battery or the like, and supplies power to the electric circuit of the flavor suction article 30. The control unit 32 is a processor such as a microcontroller (MCU: Micro-Control Unit), and controls the operation of the electric circuit of the flavor suction article 30. The suction sensor 33 is an air pressure sensor, a flow rate sensor, or the like. When a user inhales from the mouth of the flavor suction article 30, the suction sensor 33 outputs a value corresponding to the negative pressure generated inside the flavor suction article 30 and the flow rate of the gas. That is, the control unit 32 can detect suction based on the output value of the suction sensor 33.

The aerosol source holding section 30B of the flavor inhalation article 30 includes a storage section 34, a supply section 35, a load 36, and a remaining amount sensor 37. The storage section 34 is a container that stores a liquid aerosol source that is atomized by heating. The aerosol source is, for example, a polyol-based material such as glycerin or propylene glycol. The aerosol source may also be a mixed liquid that further contains nicotine liquid, water, flavoring, etc. Such an aerosol source is stored in advance in the storage section 34. The aerosol source may also be a solid that does not require the storage section 34.

The supply unit 35 includes a wick formed by twisting a fiber material such as glass fiber. The supply unit 35 is connected to the storage unit 34. The supply unit 35 is also connected to the load 36, or at least a portion of the supply unit 35 is disposed near the load 36. The aerosol source permeates the wick by capillary action and moves to a portion where the aerosol source can be atomized by heating by the load 36. In other words, the supply unit 35 sucks up the aerosol source from the storage unit 34 and carries it to the load 36 or its vicinity. Porous ceramic may be used for the wick instead of glass fiber.

The load 36 is, for example, a coil-shaped heater, and generates heat when a current flows through it. For example, the load 36 has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristic, and its resistance value is approximately directly proportional to the heat generation temperature. The load 36 does not necessarily have to have a positive temperature coefficient characteristic, as long as there is a correlation between its resistance value and the heat generation temperature. As an example, the load 36 may have a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) characteristic. The load 36 may be wound around the outside of the wick, or conversely, the wick may be configured to cover the load 36. The power supply to the load 36 is controlled by the control unit 32. When the aerosol source is supplied from the storage unit 34 to the load 36 by the supply unit 35, the aerosol source evaporates due to the heat of the load 36, and an aerosol is generated. In addition, when the control unit 32 detects an inhalation operation by the user based on the output value of the suction sensor 33, it supplies power to the load 36 to generate an aerosol. Furthermore, when the remaining amount of the aerosol source stored in the storage section 34 is sufficient, a sufficient amount of the aerosol source is also supplied to the load 36, and the heat generated in the load 36 is transported to the aerosol source, in other words, the heat generated in the load 36 is used to heat and vaporize the aerosol source, so that the temperature of the load 36 almost never exceeds a predetermined temperature designed in advance. On the other hand, when the aerosol source stored in the storage section 34 is depleted, the amount of the aerosol source supplied per hour to the load 36 decreases. As a result, the heat generated in the load 36 is not transported to the aerosol source, in other words, the heat generated in the load 36 is not used to heat and vaporize the aerosol source, so that the load 36 overheats, and the resistance value of the load 36 also increases accordingly.

The remaining amount sensor 37 outputs sensing data for estimating the remaining amount of the aerosol source stored in the storage section 34 based on the temperature of the load 36. For example, the remaining amount sensor 37 includes a resistor (shunt resistor) for measuring current connected in series with the load 36, and a measuring device connected in parallel with the resistor to measure the voltage value of the resistor. The resistor has a predetermined constant value whose resistance value does not change substantially with temperature. Therefore, the value of the current flowing through the resistor can be determined based on the known resistance value and the measured voltage value.

The additive component holding section 30C of the flavor inhalation article 30 holds the flavor generating material 38 inside. The flavor generating material 38 may contain a normal tobacco filler in addition to the sheet for smoking articles, the multilayer sheet for smoking articles, or materials derived therefrom of the present invention. The normal tobacco filler may be made of tobacco shreds or sheet tobacco cut to a predetermined width (cut pieces of sheet tobacco). The additive component holding section 30C also has air holes on the mouth side and at the part connected to the aerosol source holding section 30B, and when the user inhales from the mouth, negative pressure is generated inside the additive component holding section 30C, and the aerosol generated in the aerosol source holding section 30B is inhaled, and nicotine, flavors, and other ingredients are added to the aerosol inside the additive component holding section 30C and released into the user's mouth.

The following materials were used:
1) Wood pulp Pulp made from coniferous trees was used. The average fiber diameter was 33.1 μm. The method for measuring the average fiber diameter will be described later.

2) Non-pulp fiber 1 (dietary fiber)
Citrus fiber (Helvacel AQ Plus CF-D/100, manufactured by DSP Gokyo Food & Chemical Co., Ltd.), a dietary fiber made mainly from the albedo of citrus fruits, was used. The average fiber diameter was 14.2 μm. The fiber is a spongy insoluble fiber.

3) Non-pulp fiber 2 (monofibrillar cellulose)
Single fiber cellulose (Cerish (solid content 35% by weight) manufactured by Daicel FineChem Co., Ltd.) was used. The average fiber diameter was 13.3 μm.

[Example 1]
Non-pulp fiber, hydroxypropyl cellulose (Cerny H, manufactured by Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.) as a binder, glycerin as an aerosol generating base material, a glycerin fatty acid ester preparation (Poem DP-95RF, manufactured by Riken Vitamin Co., Ltd.) as an emulsifier, and water were mixed to prepare 300 g of slurries 3 to 6. The formulations were as shown in Table 1.

A washable and reusable metal plate measuring 600 mm in length and 300 mm in width was prepared as a coating substrate. The slurry was applied to the metal plate using an applicator capable of adjusting the gap. The metal plate on which the wet sheet was formed was dried for 3 hours using a hot air generator (temperature: 100°C, wind speed: 1 m/sec) to volatilize the moisture in the wet sheet. The dried sheet was peeled off from the metal plate to obtain a sheet for smoking articles. The sheet was evaluated by the method described below.

[Comparative Example 1]
Comparative slurries C1 and C2 were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that wood pulp was used instead of the fibers, and sheets were produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. The formulation was as shown in Table 1.

These results are shown in Table 1. There was no significant difference in the drying suitability of any of the slurries, and sheets could be formed in the presence of glycerin, ensuring the desired smoke volume. A sheet of a specified thickness could be formed from the slurry prepared in Example 1, and the obtained sheet was easily dispersed or disintegrated by immersing it in water after use. On the other hand, the sheet produced from the comparative slurry using wood pulp had poor water dispersibility after use, and it was difficult to form it into a thickness of 50 μm or less. In all sheets, a small amount of glycerin was released on the peeling surface, causing stickiness.

[Example 2 and Comparative Example 2] Increase in the amount of binder Except for increasing the amount of binder, sheets were produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. The results are shown in Table 1. In Example 2, the affinity between the fibers and the solvent water increased, improving the fluidity of the slurry, and as a result, the coating suitability and surface condition were improved. This improvement effect by increasing the amount of binder was more prominent in Example 2 than in Comparative Example 2. The slurry of Example 2, which uses fibers with a small fiber diameter, is likely to increase in viscosity, and the fibers and the solvent flow at the same speed, and it was presumed that the coating suitability was improved. In Example 2, stickiness and strength were also improved compared to Example 1. Water dispersibility was slightly delayed compared to Example 1 because it took time for hydroxypropyl cellulose to swell, but was within the acceptable range of easy disintegration. In a comparison between non-pulp fiber 1 and non-pulp fiber 2, the latter showed slightly higher drying suitability and strength.

[Example 3 and Comparative Example 3] Further increase in binder Except for further increasing the amount of binder, sheets were produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 2 and Comparative Example 2. In Example 3, the fluidity of the slurry was improved compared to Example 2, and the coating suitability was improved, and further improvements were observed in stickiness and strength. Water dispersibility was slightly delayed compared to Example 1 because it took time for hydroxypropyl cellulose to swell, but was within the acceptable range for easy disintegration. In a comparison between non-pulp fiber 1 and non-pulp fiber 2, the latter showed slightly higher drying suitability and strength.

[Example 4 and Comparative Example 4] Increase in the amount of aerosol-generating base material Except for increasing the amount of glycerin, which is the aerosol-generating base material, sheets were produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 3 and Comparative Example 3. In Example 4, the smoke volume was improved compared to Example 3. Taking into account the coating suitability, slurries 22 and 24 were the most excellent, and they also had good drying suitability.

[Example 5] Combined Use of Fibers A sheet was produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 4, except that non-pulp fiber 1 and non-pulp fiber 2 were combined in the amounts shown in Table 1. By mixing multiple fibers with different forms, the affinity between the fiber and the solvent was further increased, and improvements in coating suitability and sheet strength were observed. Slurry 27 was the best.

[Example 6] Addition of emulsifier The amount of emulsifier shown in Table 2 was added to slurry 27 of Example 5 to prepare slurries 30 to 32, and sheets were produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 5. Stickiness due to glycerin seepage to the sheet surface was improved, with slurry 31 showing the best results.

[Example 7] Increased Amount of Glycerin Slurries 33 to 35 were prepared by increasing the amount of glycerin as shown in Table 2, and sheets were produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 6. There was no problem with slurry 34, but slurry 35 (50% by weight of glycerin in the sheet) had poor drying suitability and became sticky. This suggests that the upper limit of the amount of glycerin added to the sheet should preferably be 45% by weight or less.

[Example 8] Addition of flavor A flavor-containing slurry was prepared by adding a flavor to the slurry 31 of Example 6, and a sheet was produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 6. When the amount of flavor added was 2 to 20% by weight, more preferably 5 to 10% by weight, a good flavor was expressed without affecting the moldability of the sheet.

[Example 9] Addition of tobacco powder Tobacco powder was added to the slurry 31 of Example 6 to prepare a flavor-containing slurry, and a sheet was produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 6. When the amount of tobacco powder added was 2 to 20% by weight, more preferably 5 to 10% by weight, a good flavor was expressed without affecting the moldability of the sheet.

[Evaluation method]
<Average fiber diameter>
1. Ethanol was added to each fiber, and the fibers were loosened using tweezers.
2. The mixture was dried at room temperature and the ethanol was removed by evaporation.
3. The diameters of 100 fibers were measured using a microscope (Keyence Corporation: shape analysis laser microscope VK-X1000).
4. The fiber diameter was defined as the length of the short axis of the measured object, and further, when the fiber had a flat shape, the width of the plane (principal surface) was defined as the fiber diameter.
5. The average value of the measured fiber diameters was taken as the average fiber diameter.

<Coating suitability>
The coating properties (presence or absence of coating unevenness) when the slurry was applied with an applicator were evaluated according to the following four-level scale.
d: Coating defects occur in places, making uniform coating impossible. c: No coating defects occur, but there are inconsistencies in film thickness, making uniform coating difficult. b: Uniform coating is possible. a: Very uniform coating is possible.

<Drying suitability>
The drying property (presence or absence of drying unevenness) when drying the coating film was evaluated according to the following four levels.
d: Undried areas remain in places, making uniform drying impossible. c: No undried areas remain, but there are uneven drying areas, making uniform drying difficult. b: Uniform drying is possible. a: Very uniform drying is possible.

<Sheet thickness>
The thickness of the obtained sheet was measured using a film thickness meter (Portable Film Thickness Tester, AS ONE Corporation) and rated on the following three-level scale.
c: 150 μm or more b: 50 μm or more but less than 150 μm a: less than 50 μm

<Surface condition (stickiness)>
The obtained sheet was cut into a piece of 50 mm length and 50 mm width, and five of the cut pieces were stacked together and left to stand in a thermo-hygrostat (temperature: 22°C, relative humidity: 60%) for 24 hours. The peelability was evaluated on the following four-level scale.
d: Several cut pieces stick together and cannot be peeled off easily. c: Some cut pieces stick together and cannot be peeled off easily. b: Some cut pieces stick together but can be peeled off easily. a: No sticking of cut pieces occurs and they can be peeled off very easily.

<Sheet strength>
The strength of the obtained sheet was subjected to a manual tear test and evaluated according to the following four levels.
d: Brittle, tore very easily c: Tore easily b: Easy to tear, difficult a: Difficult to tear

The obtained sheet was cut to a width of 15 mm and a length of 180 mm, and measured using a tensile strength tester (Strograph E-S, Toyo Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) under conditions of ROADRANGE: 25 and SPEEDRANGE: 50, and the tensile strength was evaluated as tensile stress.

＜Smoke volume＞
The obtained sheet was cut into a length of approximately 50 mm and a width of 50 mm, and used as a flavor-generating segment of a peripheral heating type RRP, which is a non-combustion heating type smoking article. Using the article, seven well-trained panelists evaluated the smoke volume and the amount of smoke emitted. Prior to the test, each panelist was asked to fill the obtained cut pieces into a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 shown in Figure 5 and smoke it, and the sensation was adjusted to be recognized as b (standard), and the result was expressed as the mode value.
d: The amount of smoke and the amount of smoke emitted were very small. c: The amount of smoke and the amount of smoke emitted were small. b: The amount of smoke and the amount of smoke emitted were large. a: The amount of smoke and the amount of smoke emitted were very large.

<Easy water dispersibility>
The sheet for smoking articles was collected from the non-combustion heating smoking article used in the smoke volume test, placed in a beaker containing 50 ml of water, and stirred for 30 minutes at 120 rpm using a 20 mm stirrer. The dispersibility in water was evaluated on the following four-point scale, and the results were expressed as the most frequent value.
d: Not dispersed c: Not easily dispersed b: Dispersed a: Easily dispersed Furthermore, the obtained sheets were subjected to a water dispersibility test according to an official method (JIS P4501), and the dispersibility in water was evaluated in terms of dispersion time.

1 Sheet for smoking articles 1c Cut pieces of sheet for smoking articles

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 heating device 11 body 12 heater 13 metal tube 14 battery unit 15 control unit 16 recess 17 ventilation hole

20 Non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20A Flavor generating segment 20B Connection part 20C Filter part

21 Rod-shaped flavor generating material 22 Wrapper 23 Paper tube 24 Ventilation hole portion 25 First segment 25a First packed layer 25b Inner plug wrapper 26 Second segment 26a Second packed layer 26b Inner plug wrapper 27 Outer plug wrapper 28 Lining paper

30 Non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 30A Main body 30B Aerosol source holding section 30C Additive component holding section 31 Power source 32 Control section 33 Inhalation sensor 34 Storage section 35 Supply section 36 Load 37 Remaining amount sensor 38 Flavor generating material

Claims (22)

Non- pulp fibers;
an aerosol-generating substrate;
The non-pulp fiber is a dietary fiber including citrus fiber,
The non-pulp fiber contains 10 to 40% by weight of the non-pulp fiber.
A sheet for smoking articles having a thickness of 70 μm or less. 2. The sheet for smoking articles according to claim 1 , wherein the non-pulp fibers have an average fiber diameter of 25 μm or less. The sheet for smoking articles according to claim 1 or 2 , comprising 20 to 50% by weight of the aerosol-forming substrate. The sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a binder. The sheet for smoking articles according to claim 4 , wherein the binder is amphiphilic. The sheet for smoking articles according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the binder is a nonionic cellulose derivative. The sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , further comprising an emulsifier. The sheet for smoking articles according to claim 7 , comprising 0.1 to 0.3 parts by weight of an emulsifier per 100 parts by weight of the sheet for smoking articles. The sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , which has been subjected to folding, cutting, pleating or crimping. preparing a slurry comprising at least the non-pulp fibers, an aerosol-generating substrate, and a medium;
A step of spreading the slurry on a substrate to prepare a wet sheet; and a step of drying the wet sheet.
The method for producing a sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , comprising: A rod-shaped flavor-generating material obtained by folding or rolling up the sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 . A multi-layer sheet for smoking articles comprising a plurality of sheets,
A) a first sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ;
B) a second sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 ; and C) a sheet made of a material different from the sheet for smoking articles,
A multi-layer sheet for smoking articles, wherein the formulation of the first sheet for smoking articles and the formulation of the second sheet for smoking articles are different or the same. A cylindrical wrapper,
The sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , the multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to claim 12 , or a material derived therefrom, is filled in the wrapper.
Flavor generating segment. A cylindrical wrapper,
The present invention comprises a rod-shaped flavor-generating material according to claim 11 , a cut piece of a sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , or a cut piece of a multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to claim 12 , which are filled in the wrapper.
Flavor generating segment. A smoking article comprising the sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , the multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to claim 12 , or a material derived therefrom. A smoking article comprising a wrapper made of the sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or the multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to claim 12 . A combustible or non-combustible smoking article comprising a flavour generating segment according to claim 13 or 14 . The combustible or non-combustible smoking article according to claim 17 , wherein the wrapper is composed of the sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or the multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to claim 12 . A sheet for smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , a multilayer sheet for smoking articles according to claim 12 , or a material derived therefrom;
a material selected from the group consisting of tobacco sheets, tobacco shreds, and combinations thereof;
Tobacco filler including. The tobacco filler according to claim 19 , wherein the multilayer sheet for smoking articles essentially contains a metal foil as C). 21. The tobacco filler according to claim 20 , wherein in the multilayer sheet for smoking articles, C) and A) or B) are stuck together. A refill comprising the tobacco filling material according to any one of claims 19 to 21 .