JP7791616B2 - Smoking cartridges - Google Patents

Description

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

In recent years, tobacco products that use a flameless system in which a tobacco cartridge containing tobacco ingredients is heated and the vaporized tobacco ingredients are inhaled have become widely known. Furthermore, as preferences diversify, cartridge products that allow users to enjoy the aroma and flavor of plants that do not contain tobacco ingredients, without using a flame, like cigarettes, are also becoming popular.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes an electronic cigarette cartridge configured as follows: "Long strips of tobacco filler are accumulated in a bundle and the outer periphery is wrapped in a sheet-like wrapping; the tobacco filler is formed so that, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the long side dimension is longer than the short side dimension; the tobacco filler at the outermost periphery in contact with the wrapping has its long sides oriented either substantially along the circumferential direction or in a direction other than substantially along the circumferential direction; and the number of tobacco fillers with their long sides oriented substantially along the circumferential direction is greater than the number of tobacco fillers with their long sides oriented in a direction other than substantially along the circumferential direction" (see abstract).

Patent No. 6516907

Smokers' preferences are becoming increasingly diverse, and the pursuit of new aromas and flavors is a perpetual challenge in this technical field. The electronic cigarette cartridge described in Patent Document 1 is also said to be able to ensure the amount of tobacco filler while improving the fluidity of airflow within the tobacco filler accumulation and preventing the tobacco filler from falling out, but there is still room for improvement in terms of aroma and flavor.

The present invention was made in light of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a cartridge for a smoking device that can enhance the aroma and flavor while preventing the filler from falling out.

To achieve the above-mentioned objective, one aspect of the present invention is a cartridge for a smoking device comprising a heated body filled with a filler made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, and a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the heated body, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of first smoking materials formed in strips or rods, and at least one second smoking material formed in a powder or granule form and arranged in first gaps formed between the plurality of first smoking materials, and wherein the content of the first smoking material in the filler is 50 to 95% by mass.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, another aspect of the present invention is a cartridge for a smoking device comprising a heated body filled with a filler made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, and a mouthpiece arranged coaxially with the heated body, wherein the filler comprises a plurality of strips of smoking material and at least one rod-shaped smoking material arranged in a third gap formed between the plurality of strips of smoking material, and the content of the strips of smoking material in the filler is 50 to 95% by mass.

The present invention provides a cartridge for a smoking article that can enhance the aroma and flavor while preventing the filler from falling out. Other issues, configurations, and advantages will become clear from the description of the following embodiments.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the outline of the first smoking material. FIG. 2 shows the external shape of the second smoking material. IV-IV cross-sectional view of FIG. 5A to 5C are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of a heated body. 5A to 5C are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of a heated body. 5A to 5C are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of a heated body. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the smoking article cartridge shown in FIG. 1 inserted into the smoking article. A diagram showing the external shape of a strip of smoking material. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the external shape of a rod-shaped smoking material. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge for a smoking article according to a second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a heated body 20, a support member 30, a transfer member 39, and a mouthpiece 40. The heated body 20, support member 30, transfer member 39, and mouthpiece 40 are arranged side by side on a central axis C1. The heated body 20, support member 30, transfer member 39, and mouthpiece 40 are integrated by being wrapped in a sheet-like exterior member 10. The exterior member 10 is made of, for example, paper.

The smoking article cartridge 1 shown in Figure 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 smoking article cartridge 1 may be formed with other dimensions.

The heated object 20 is formed into a cylindrical shape by wrapping the filler 23 in a sheet-like packaging material 25, with the filler 23 exposed at both ends. In other words, both ends of the heated object 20 are not covered by a lid member (e.g., paper). The packaging material 25 is made of, for example, paper, but any material can be used as long as it is a sheet-like material.

The filler 23 is composed of a number of components made from tobacco plants or non-tobacco plants, as described in more detail below, and includes a plurality of first smoking materials 21 and a plurality of second smoking materials 22. It is sufficient that the filler 23 contains at least one second smoking material 22.

As will be described in more detail below, the first smoking material 21 is composed of a strip- or rod-shaped member, and the second smoking material 22 is composed of a powder or granular member (see Figures 2 and 3). The multiple first smoking materials 21 are arranged in a bundle with their respective longitudinal directions aligned with the central axis C1, and the multiple second smoking materials 22 are disposed in first gaps 51 formed between the multiple first smoking materials 21 and/or second gaps 52 formed between the first smoking materials 21 and the packaging member 25 (see Figure 4).

The mouthpiece 40 is the part that forms 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 out by the filter in the mouthpiece 40.

The support member 30 is a cylindrical member made of, for example, silicone, and has a flow path 35 formed therein that runs through it in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, one flow path 35 is provided in the center, but the number and location of the flow path 35 are not important. The flow path 35 can also extend between the outer periphery of the support member 30 and the packaging member 25. The support member 30 is disposed between the heated object 20 and the mouthpiece 40 and restricts the axial movement of the heated object 20. The support member 30 also guides the aerosol generated by the heated object 20 to the mouthpiece 40 via the flow path 35. The aerosol is cooled as it flows through the flow path 35 and is inhaled into the smoker's mouth via the mouthpiece 40. The support member 30 is not limited to a cylindrical member and can take various forms. For example, a sheet of paper or a rolled polymer, or a sponge-like porous material can be used instead.

In addition, in this embodiment, a partition member 50 is provided between the heated object 20 and the support member 30, and the heated object 20 and the support member 30 come into contact via the partition member 50. The partition member 50 can be, for example, a breathable filter or paper. Providing such a partition member 50 can prevent the heated object 20 from moving within the smoking article cartridge 1 due to logistics such as transportation. Of course, a configuration without a partition member 50 is also possible.

The transfer member 39 cools the aerosol flowing toward the mouthpiece 40. The transfer member 39 can be made of rolled paper or a crimped polymer sheet. The transfer member 39 is positioned so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the smoking device cartridge 1. The transfer member 39 can be omitted, reducing the number of components. Omitting the transfer member 39 improves breathability, making it easier for the generated aerosol to flow downstream, making it easier for the smoker to inhale the aromatic components.

In a configuration where the transfer member 39 is omitted, a mouthpiece 40 that is longer in the longitudinal direction of the smoking article cartridge 1 can be placed adjacent to the support member 30. In this case, for example, the cellulose acetate filter of the mouthpiece 40 can also serve as a cooling function.

As another example, the transfer member 39 can be omitted, and a gap can be provided between the support member 30 and the mouthpiece 40. In this case, the aerosol flow can flow through the gap, and the aerosol can convect temporally and spatially in the gap, after which the homogenized aerosol can flow to the mouthpiece 40.

Furthermore, the exterior member 10 is configured to externally cover the heated object 20, partition member 50, support member 30, transfer member 39, and mouthpiece 40, stabilizing the aerosol airflow and making it easier for the smoker to inhale the aromatic components.

Next, the shapes of the first smoking material 21 and second smoking material 22 that make up the filler 23 will be explained using Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the outer shape of the first smoking material 21, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the outer shape of the second smoking material 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first smoking material 21 is made of a strip-shaped member having a substantially rectangular (rectangular) cross section perpendicular to the central axis C2. The ratio of the long side a to the short side b is preferably, for example, in the range of 1.5:1 to 30:1. Furthermore, it is preferable that the length c is substantially the same as the length of the heated object 20. An example of the dimensions of the first smoking material 21 is that the long side a is 1.5 mm, the short side b is 0.3 mm, and the length c is 12 mm. Note that when the first smoking material 21 is formed from a rod-shaped member, the ratio of the long side a to the short side b of the cross section is preferably in the range of 1:1 to 1.5:1, for example, the long side a is 0.6 mm, the short side b is 0.4 mm, and the length c is 12 mm. Note that the first smoking material 21 has a binder or the like attached to it, as described below, making its surface adhesive.

On the other hand, the second smoking material 22 is formed in a powder or granular form. The average particle diameter d of the multiple second smoking materials 22 is equal to or less than the long side a of the first smoking material 21, and in this embodiment is, for example, 0.5 mm.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 1, i.e., a cross-sectional view of the filler 23 cut along a plane perpendicular to the central axis C1. As shown in Figure 4, the second smoking material 22 is disposed in a first gap 51 formed between the first smoking material 21 and the first smoking material 21. The second smoking material 22 is also disposed in a second gap 52 formed between the packaging member 25 and the first smoking material 21. In other words, in this embodiment, the interior of the packaging member 25 is filled with a large number of first smoking materials 21, and the first gaps 51 and second gaps 52 are filled with a large number of second smoking materials 22.

In this embodiment, the content of the first smoking material 21 in the filler 23 is 50 to 95% by mass, and preferably 65 to 75% by mass. The density of the filler 23 is 295 to 675 mg/cm3, and preferably 500 to 675 mg/cm3. The reasons for setting the content of the first smoking material 21 and the density of the filler 23 within the above numerical ranges are explained below.

For example, if the content of the first smoking material 21 is 100% by mass and the density of the filler 23 is less than 295 mg/cm3 (in this case, since the content of the first smoking material 21 is 100% by mass, the density of the filler 23 is equal to the density of the first smoking material 21), the low density of the first smoking material 21 will result in large first gaps 51 and second gaps 52, making it more likely that the first smoking material 21 will fall out of the filler 23. Therefore, when the smoking device cartridge 1 is held with the heated body 20 facing downward, the first smoking material 21 may fall out. Furthermore, the amount of filling of the first smoking material 21 will be significantly reduced, resulting in inferior aroma and taste.

On the other hand, if the content of the first smoking material 21 is 100% by mass and the density of the filler 23 exceeds 675 mg/cm3, the high density of the first smoking material 21 will result in the first gap 51 and the second gap 52 becoming smaller, which may result in poor airflow in the heated object 20. It may also be difficult to insert the heating unit 75 (see Figure 6) into the heated object 20.

If the filler 23 contains only the first smoking material 21, the density of the filler 23 will be less than 295 mg/cm3 because the first smoking material 21 is thick or wide. When a thick, wide first smoking material 21 is filled into the heated object 20, gaps will not be large if the long sides are in contact with each other. However, if there are many pieces of material where the long and short sides are in contact with each other, large gaps will be created, making it impossible to increase the density. Therefore, in order to increase the density of the filler 23 above 295 mg/cm3, it is possible to solve this by reducing the thickness or width of the first smoking material 21, but reducing the thickness or width poses the problem of difficult manufacturing processes.

Furthermore, even if it were possible to process the first smoking material 21 to be thinner and narrower in width, when filling the first smoking material 21, there is a possibility that the first smoking material 21 will be tightly attached to each other with almost no gaps, which would result in the density of the filler 23 becoming too high.

In this embodiment, therefore, in order to achieve an appropriate packing density without changing the shape of the first smoking material 21 from conventional methods, a means is adopted to allow a second smoking material 22, which is different from the first smoking material 21, to enter the first gap 51 or the second gap 52.

When the content of the first smoking material 21 is low and the content of the second smoking material 22 is high, there is a possibility that the first smoking material 21 will fall off from the filler 23. This possibility tends to increase particularly when the content of the first smoking material 21 is less than 50% by mass.

On the other hand, if the content of the first smoking material 21 is high and the content of the second smoking material 22 is low, the second smoking material 22 may not be able to sufficiently fill the first gaps 51 and second gaps 52, and the second smoking material 22 may fall out of the filler 23. Furthermore, because the content of the second smoking material 22 is significantly reduced, the aroma and taste will be inferior. This possibility tends to increase particularly when the first smoking material 21 (filler) is greater than 95% by mass.

In this embodiment, therefore, taking into consideration the prevention of the first smoking material 21 from falling off and the aroma and taste, the content of the first smoking material 21 in the filler 23 is set to a range of 50 to 95% by mass. More preferably, setting the content of the first smoking material 21 in the range of 65 to 75% by mass not only prevents falling off but also allows for a higher content of the second smoking material 22, significantly improving the aroma and taste.

Next, specific examples of the materials used as the filler 23 (first smoking material 21, second smoking material 22) will be described. The first smoking material 21 and second smoking material 22 are each composed of one or more combinations of any of the materials listed below. However, in this embodiment, in order to improve aroma and taste, the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 are composed of at least some of the materials that differ from each other.

The filler 23 is made from tobacco plants or non-tobacco plants. Examples of tobacco plants include tobacco leaves, tobacco stems, expanded tobacco, and homogenized tobacco. 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, bark (stem bark, bark, etc.), flowers (petals, stamens, pistils, etc.), trunks, and branches.

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

The filler 23 is made, for example, by mixing dried and crushed non-tobacco plants with an appropriate amount of an aerosol former that generates an aerosol, microcrystalline cellulose, flavor additives, preservatives, binders, or thickeners, and then crushing or classifying the mixture into powder or granules, or forming it into a sheet, which is then cut into strips or rods of a specified width and length.

For example, when the non-tobacco plant part is a leaf, tea 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 keiskei tea, sweet tea, Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea, aloe tea, ginkgo leaf tea, oolong tea, turmeric tea, Quercus salicina tea, Eleuthero tea, plantain tea, persimmon leaf tea, chamomile tea, chamomile tea, Kawara Kesseki 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 tea, perilla tea, jasmine tea, ginger tea, horsetail tea, red pepper tea, Swertia japonica tea, buckwheat tea, elm tea, dandelion tea, sweet tea, Houttuynia cordata tea, Eucommia tea, sword bean tea, elderberry tea, Licorice tea, Job's tears tea, Habu tea, loquat leaf tea, Pu'er tea, safflower tea, pine needle tea, yerba mate tea, barley tea, Megusuri tea, Mugwort tea, eucalyptus tea, Monk fruit tea, rooibos tea, and bitter melon tea. For these teas, you can also use the tea leaves after drinking. Using tea leaves allows you to reuse and make effective use of expensive tea.

In addition, extracts of non-tobacco plants, such as those listed above, or processed products, can also be used. Extracts may be in the form of liquid, syrup, powder, granules, solution, etc.

Aerosol formers used as raw materials for filler 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. Of these, glycerin and propylene glycol are preferred.

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

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

Flavor additives that add flavor are also preferably used as ingredients in the filling 23, if necessary. Flavor additives include mint, cocoa, coffee, and black tea extracts, as well as tea extract catechin powder. Preservatives that are preferably used in food products include sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, benzoic acid, and sodium benzoate.

The filler 23 (particularly the second smoking material 22) may contain menthol and a water-insoluble cross-linked polymer (preferably polyvinylpolypyrrolidone). Combining menthol with a water-insoluble cross-linked polymer effectively prevents menthol from sublimating, allowing the menthol flavor to be maintained for a long period of time. Here, menthol is not limited to that obtained from natural sources, but may also be synthetic. Peppermint, mint, peppermint oil, and other menthol-containing substances may also 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; 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, the flavor additive may be disposed between the mouthpiece 40 and the heated body 20. When the flavor additive is encapsulated in a capsule, the smoker can break the capsule by pressing it with their finger, allowing the aromatic components of the flavor additive to volatilize at the desired time.

Furthermore, if the flavor additive is, for example, encapsulated in microcapsules, the encapsulated microcapsules may be provided in the heated body 20.

Binders or thickeners that can be used as ingredients for the filling 23 include gums such as guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, and locust bean gum; cellulose binders such as hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, and ethyl cellulose; polysaccharides such as starch, organic acids such as alginic acid, sodium alginate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, caranagin, agar, and conjugate base salts of organic acids such as pectin; and combinations thereof.

(Method for manufacturing filling)
The manufacturing method of the filler 23 described above will be explained in detail below. The manufacturing process of the filler 23 includes a drying and grinding process in which tobacco plants or non-tobacco plants, which are the main raw materials, are dried and ground and weighed, a preparation process in which other raw materials are pretreated and weighed, a mixing process in which the raw materials are mixed to form a composition, and a filler molding process in which the composition is molded.

In the drying and grinding process, the main raw material, tobacco or non-tobacco plant parts (e.g., leaves, seeds, dried fruit, stems, bark, roots, etc.), are processed into a specific ground material to create a composition. It is preferable to adjust the moisture content to an appropriate level for absorbing or supporting the aerosol former, water, and other ingredients that will be added later. The drying temperature is preferably between 60°C and 80°C. This range makes it easy to achieve the desired moisture content while avoiding the loss of necessary flavor components. Furthermore, the drying and grinding process can also include a sieving process to sieve the ground material, allowing it to be adjusted to the desired particle size before being added to the mixing process.

In the preparation process, the raw materials necessary to produce the filler 23 can be prepared. The aforementioned microcrystalline cellulose is weighed in the preparation process and then added to the mixing process.

A conventional mixer can be used in the mixing process. For example, a mixing device that applies shear force to the raw materials in a mixing tank using a stirring blade is preferably used.

In the filler forming process, a composition containing various raw materials is formed into a thin sheet and then cut to form strip- or rod-shaped filler 23 (first smoking material 21). In this embodiment, a three-roll mill is used to form thin sheets. Using a three-roll mill is preferable because it allows the material to be compressed by being forced between the narrow rolls and sheared by the difference in roll speeds, allowing for mixing and dispersion, while a doctor blade can be used to form a sheet of the desired thickness. It can also be made using a press roller or press.

To produce a powdered or granular filler 23 (second smoking material 22), it is preferable to crush or classify the composition as appropriate. The average particle diameter of the powdered or granular filler 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 corresponding to 50% of the mass obtained by accumulating the mass from the larger openings in test results using multiple sieves. Alternatively, the particle size at 50% of the accumulated value in the particle size distribution determined by laser diffraction/scattering method may be used as the average particle diameter.

In the filling molding process, other means may be used, such as forcing the composition through an orifice under pressure to form the composition. Furthermore, in the filling molding process, non-tobacco plants, aerosol formers, binders or thickeners, flavor additives, preservatives, or water may be added as needed.

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 the specified width using a cutter or a rotary cutter using a rotary blade system.

Here, when the filler 23 is a first smoking material 21 formed in a strip or rod shape and adhesiveness is to be imparted to its surface, there are no particular limitations on the means by which adhesiveness can be imparted, but it is sufficient to adhere the aforementioned binder to at least a portion of the surface. By imparting adhesiveness, the powder or granular filler 23 can be held stably and its functionality can be maintained well.

(Method for manufacturing heated body)
Next, a method for manufacturing the object to be heated 20 by wrapping the filler 23 produced by the above steps in a packaging material 25 will be described.

As shown in Figure 5A, the packaging member 25 is placed on the opening/closing portion 61 of the base 60, and a predetermined amount of filler 23 (first smoking material 21, second smoking material 22) is placed on the packaging member 25. For example, approximately 50 sticks of the first smoking material 21 are placed. At this time, the second smoking material 22 is dispersed and placed on the packaging member 25 so that it fits into the first gap 51. The pair of opening/closing portions 61 provided on the base 60 are configured to be movable in directions away from each other.

Next, as shown in Figure 5B, the pair of opening and closing sections 61 are moved away from each other to form a recess 62 into which the packaging member 25 falls, and the packaging member 25 that has fallen into the recess 62 encases the filler 23. Then, as shown in Figure 5C, both ends of the packaging member 25 are glued together to fill the filler 23 inside the packaging member 25. In this way, the heated object 20 is completed.

(How to use a smoking cartridge)
A method of using the smoking article cartridge 1 will now be described. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the smoking article cartridge 1 inserted into the smoking article 70. The smoking article cartridge 1 is attached to the heated smoking article 70 for use. The smoking article 70 has an insertion section 72 into which the smoking article cartridge 1 is inserted. The insertion section 72 is provided with a needle-shaped or blade-shaped heating section 75. When the smoking article cartridge 1 is inserted into the insertion section 72, the heating section 75 generates heat, generating an aerosol from the filler 23. When the smoker holds the mouthpiece 40 between their lips and inhales in this state, the aerosol flows through the flow path 35, the transfer member 39, and the mouthpiece 40, and then into the smoker's mouth.

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

By disposing the second smoking material 22 in the first gaps 51 formed between the first smoking materials 21 and the second gaps 52 formed between the first smoking materials 21 and the packaging member 25, the filler 23 contains both the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22, improving the aroma and taste. In other words, because the second smoking material 22 is filled into what was previously a gap, the smoking material content in the filler 23 can be increased compared to conventional methods, thereby increasing the density. As a result, the aroma and taste are improved compared to conventional methods.

Furthermore, the first smoking material 21 is formed from a strip- or rod-shaped member, and the second smoking material 22 is formed from a powder or granular member. The average particle diameter of the second smoking material 22 is equal to or less than the long side of the rectangular cross section of the first smoking material 21, so the second smoking material 22 easily enters the gaps 51, 52. As a result, no special process is required to place the second smoking material 22 in the gaps 51, 52 when wrapping the filler 23 in the packaging member 25. In other words, according to the first embodiment, by simply preparing the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 in advance, a smoking cartridge 1 can be provided that can easily improve direction and taste without changing the conventional manufacturing process.

Furthermore, by setting the content of the first smoking material 21 within the range of 50-95% by mass (preferably 65-75% by mass) and the density of the first smoking material 21 within the range of 295-675 mg/cm3 (preferably 500-675 mg/cm3), it is possible to prevent the first smoking material 21 from falling off the heated object 20. As a result, both ends of the heated object 20 can be handled with the first smoking material 21 exposed. In other words, there is no need to provide cover members to cover both ends of the heated object 20. This allows for a low-cost smoking device cartridge 1.

In addition, because the surface of the first smoking material 21 is adhesive, there is little risk of the second smoking material 22 separating from the first smoking material 21 and falling off the heated object 20.

Furthermore, because at least some of the raw materials of the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 are different from each other, the aroma and flavor are further improved. Even if the first smoking material 21 and the second smoking material 22 use the same raw materials, simply changing at least some of the raw materials of the second smoking material 22 can achieve the aroma and flavor that suits the smoker's preferences, making it easy to increase the variety of smoking device cartridges.

Second Embodiment
Next, a smoking article cartridge according to a second embodiment will be described. The smoking article cartridge according to the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the smoking article cartridge 1 according to the first embodiment, but differs in the internal configuration of the filler 23. Specifically, the shape of the smoking material is different. Therefore, the following explanation will focus on this difference, and overlapping explanations with the first embodiment will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, the filler 23 includes strips of smoking material 121 and rod-shaped smoking material 122. Figure 7 shows the outer shape of the strips of smoking material 121, and Figure 8 shows the outer shape of the rod-shaped smoking material 122.

As shown in Figure 7, the strip-shaped smoking material 121 is made of a strip-shaped member with a cross section perpendicular to the central axis C3 that is formed into a substantially rectangular (rectangular) shape. The ratio of the long side a1 to the short side b1 is, for example, in the range of 1.5:1 to 30:1, and the length c1 is substantially the same as the length of the heated object 20. An example of the dimensions of the strip-shaped smoking material 121 is that the long side a1 is 1.5 mm, the short side b1 is 0.3 mm, and the length c1 is 12 mm. A binder or the like is attached to the surface of the strip-shaped smoking material 121.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 is made of a rod-shaped member whose cross section perpendicular to the central axis C4 is formed in a substantially square (rectangular) shape. The ratio of the long side a2 to the short side b2 is, for example, in the range of 1:1 to 1.5:1, and the length c2 is substantially the same as the length of the heated object 20. An example of the dimensions of the rod-shaped smoking material 122 is that the long side a2 is 0.6 mm, the short side b2 is 0.4 mm, and the length c2 is 12 mm. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the strip-shaped smoking material 121 (first cross-sectional area) is larger than the cross-sectional area of the rod-shaped smoking material 122 (second cross-sectional area). The cross-sectional shape of the rod-shaped smoking material 122 may also be circular. That is, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 may be either a square rod-shaped member or a round rod-shaped member.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article cartridge according to the second embodiment, taken along line IV-IV in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 9, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 is disposed in a third gap 151 formed between the strips of smoking material 121. The rod-shaped smoking material 122 is also disposed in a fourth gap 152 formed between the packaging member 25 and the strips of smoking material 121. In other words, in this embodiment, the packaging member 25 is filled with a large number of strips of smoking material 121, and the third gap 151 and fourth gap 152 are filled with a large number of rod-shaped smoking material 122.

In this embodiment, the content of the strip-shaped smoking material 121 in the filler 23 is 50-95% by mass, and preferably 65-75% by mass. The density of the filler 23 is 295-675 mg/cm3, and preferably 500-675 mg/cm3. The reasons for these numerical ranges are the same as those in the first embodiment described above.

The smoking article cartridge according to the second embodiment, configured in this manner, can achieve the same effects as the first embodiment described above. Furthermore, according to the second embodiment, the rod-shaped smoking material 122 fits into the third gap 151 and the fourth gap 152, further increasing the density of the filler 23, thereby achieving the significant effect of preventing the strip-shaped smoking material 121 and the rod-shaped smoking material 122 from falling out of the filler 23.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All technical matters included in the technical concept set forth in the claims are within the scope of the present invention. The above-described embodiment shows a preferred example, but a person skilled in the art will be able to realize various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements based on the contents disclosed in this specification, and these will fall within the technical scope set forth in the accompanying claims.

In addition to the materials exemplified above, various other materials can be used for the first smoking material 21, second smoking material 22, strip-shaped smoking material 121, and stick-shaped smoking material 122. For example, the materials disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 6,516,907) can also be used in the present invention.

The strip- or rod-shaped filler 23 (first smoking material 21) may be in the form of, for example, a strand or a porous material. Porosity can be achieved, for example, by piercing a dried sheet with multiple needles (although other methods may also be used).

The powder or granular filler 23 (second smoking material 22) may be in the form of, for example, granules, pellets, etc.

The powdered or granular filler 23 (second smoking material 22) may be solidified into a block, or may be made into a paste by adding a small amount of water or oil.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Smoking article cartridge 10 Exterior member 20 Material to be heated 21 First smoking material 22 Second smoking material 23 Filler 25 Packaging member 30 Support member 35 Flow path 40 Mouthpiece 51 First gap 52 Second gap 121 Strip-shaped smoking material 122 Rod-shaped smoking material 151 Third gap 152 Fourth gap

Claims (1)

The device comprises a heated body filled with a filler made from a tobacco plant or a non-tobacco plant, a support member arranged coaxially with the heated body, and a mouthpiece adjacent to the support member,
The support member is a cylindrical member having a flow path formed therein and penetrating along the longitudinal direction,
the filler includes a plurality of first smoking materials formed in strip or rod shapes, at least one second smoking material in the form of powder, grains, granules, pellets, or a paste containing water or oil, and disposed in first gaps formed between the plurality of first smoking materials, and a binder ;
the plurality of first smoking materials and the second smoking material comprise microcrystalline cellulose;
The aerosol generated by the heated body is cooled while flowing through the flow path of the support member.
A cartridge for a smoking article.