AROMA CARTRIDGE
20210112855 · 2021-04-22
Inventors
Cpc classification
A24D3/17
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A24D3/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A24D1/20
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
The present invention provides an aroma cartridge that makes it possible to overcome a problem that characteristically arises in an aroma cartridge that does not use any tobacco component and that uses a non-tobacco material not including a large quantity of fibers; i.e., a decrease in aspiration quantity of an aerosol smoke and a fragrance component released from the non-tobacco material, due to blockage of gas flow passages within an aroma-generating sheet to be heated or an aroma-generating base material to be heated and between aroma-generating sheets to be heated or aroma-generating base materials to be heated, the aroma cartridge being characterized in that at least one of means for optimizing aspiration of the smoke and the fragrance component and/or a gas-generation-maintaining material for maintaining generation of the smoke and the fragrance component is provided to an aroma generator to be heated and/or a mouthpiece.
Claims
1. An aroma cartridge comprising: an aroma generator to be heated, in which is wound an aroma-generating substrate to be heated which is in contact with a heating element and which includes an aerosol former and a fragrance component; a mouthpiece comprising a filter for filtering an aerosol smoke and a fragrance component released from the aroma generator to be heated due to heating by the heating element; and a cartridge exterior body wound so as to connect the aroma generator to be heated and the mouthpiece adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction, at least one of means for optimizing aspiration of the smoke and the fragrance component and a gas-generation-maintaining material for maintaining generation of the smoke and the fragrance component is included in at least one of the aroma generator to be heated and the mouthpiece.
2. The aroma cartridge according to claim 1, the filter being obtained by molding fibers into a cylindrical shape, and the filter constituting all or a portion of the mouthpiece, and the aspiration optimization means including a cavity provided in the filter in the longitudinal direction so as not to penetrate through the filter.
3. The aroma cartridge according to claim 1, the filter constituting a portion of the mouthpiece, and a portion remaining within the mouthpiece other than the filter being a void formed by the cartridge exterior body.
4. The aroma cartridge according to claim 2, at least one of the cavity being arranged in at least either end part in the longitudinal direction of the filter.
5. The aroma cartridge according to claim 2, the cavity being arranged in rotationally symmetrical positions about a center axis of a cylinder existing in the longitudinal direction of the filter.
6. The aroma cartridge according to claim 2, shape of the cavity being columnar or conical.
7. The aroma cartridge according to claim 1, the mouthpiece having: a support member for preventing the aroma generator to be heated from moving toward the mouthpiece; and the filter, the filter being adjacent to the support member in the longitudinal direction.
8. The aroma cartridge according to claim 1, the mouthpiece having: a cooling member for cooling a component that is volatilized upon heating of the aroma generator to be heated; and the filter, the filter being adjacent to the cooling member in the longitudinal direction.
9. The aroma cartridge according to claim 1, the mouthpiece having: a support member for preventing the aroma generator to be heated from moving toward the mouthpiece, the support member being adjacent in the longitudinal direction to the aroma generator to be heated; a cooling member for cooling a component that is volatilized upon heating of the aroma generator to be heated, the cooling member being adjacent to the support member in the longitudinal direction; and the filter, the filter being adjacent to the cooling member in the longitudinal direction.
10. The aroma cartridge according to claim 1, the mouthpiece having a support member including a through hole, for preventing the aroma generator to be heated from moving toward the mouthpiece, center axes of the support member and a cylinder of the through hole substantially coinciding, and the aspiration optimization means including a shape reinforcement member fixedly or movably arranged in the through hole.
11. The aroma cartridge according to claim 10, the shape reinforcement member having the center axis in a plane thereof, and comprising one or more plate-shaped members in contact with an inner wall of the through hole.
12. The aroma cartridge according to claim 10, the shape reinforcement member comprising a concentric cylinder having substantially the same center axis as the center axis and having a radius smaller than a radius of the through hole, and a plate-shaped member arranged on an external peripheral side of the concentric cylinder so as to contact an inner wall of the through hole in a radial direction of the concentric cylinder.
13. The aroma cartridge according to claim 12, the concentric cylinder being hollow.
14. The aroma cartridge according to claim 10, the mouthpiece comprising: the support member; and a filter obtained by molding fibers into a cylindrical shape, the filter being adjacent to the support member in the longitudinal direction.
15. The aroma cartridge according to claim 10, the mouthpiece comprising: the support member; a cooling member for cooling a component that is volatilized upon heating of the aroma generator to be heated, the cooling member being adjacent to the support member in the longitudinal direction; and a filter obtained by molding fibers into a cylindrical shape, the filter being adjacent to the cooling member in the longitudinal direction.
16. The aroma cartridge according to claim 14, wherein the cavity is arranged in the filter in the longitudinal direction so as not to penetrate through the filter.
17. The aroma cartridge according to claim 1, the aspiration optimization means including a heat insulation member arranged so as to be interposed between the aroma generator to be heated and the mouthpiece.
18. The aroma cartridge according to claim 1, the aspiration optimization means including at least any of a partition wall material arranged on an end part on the mouthpiece side of the aroma generator to be heated, and a cover material arranged on an end part of the aroma generator to be heated on an opposite side to the mouthpiece.
19-118. (canceled)
119. The aroma cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the cavity is arranged in the filter in the longitudinal direction so as not to penetrate through the filter.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0136] The present invention will be described in further detail below using embodiments and the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereby, various modifications thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention, and the present invention is limited only by the technical ideas recited in the claims.
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[0138] In
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[0141] In this smoking, an advantage of an aroma cartridge constituted solely from non-tobacco materials is that substances harmful to the human body, tar, and nicotine are not generated, and it is possible to enjoy various tastes such as coffee, cola, Red Bull, and other beverages; chocolate, vanilla, cream, and other desserts; orange, lemon, melon, and other fruits; and menthol, mint, herbs, and other algefacients. However, such an aroma cartridge has problems that arise as a consequence of using a wide variety of non-tobacco materials for releasing various flavors as substitutes for a tobacco material, which includes a large quantity of fibers.
[0142] In an aerosol-forming body that includes a tobacco material, fibers of the tobacco material maintain an aggregated state thereof and hinder fusion and falling out of the tobacco material. However, in the aroma-generating base material to be heated, which includes a non-tobacco material that does not include a large quantity of fibers, a large amount of a binder or the like for performing the function of fibers must be blended therein to stably maintain an aggregated state. The density of the aroma-generating base material to be heated is therefore increased, gas flow passages are blocked, and aspiration of aspirated components becomes difficult, resulting in a reduced aspiration quantity.
[0143] Because the aerosol former is glycerin, propylene glycol, or the like, which is liquid at normal temperature, bleed-out of the aerosol former over time from the aroma-generating base material to be heated increases the larger the amount of the binder is, and aroma-generating base materials to be heated fuse together. Gas flow passages are therefore blocked, and aspiration of the fragrance component becomes difficult, resulting in a reduced aspiration quantity. When the fusion described above occurs, not only does it become difficult to insert the heating element into the aroma-generating base material to be heated, but the heating element can also be damaged.
[0144] Meanwhile, when the added amount of the binder or the like is reduced to keep gas flow passages clear, the non-tobacco material falls out or forms dust or the like, it is difficult to maintain the aroma cartridge in a rigid form, and the aroma cartridge sometimes breaks when inserted on the heating element. Pieces thereof may also be aspirated into the mouth.
[0145] An object of the present invention is to provide a means for solving the aforementioned problems. Specifically, the present invention provides a means for keeping gas flow passages clear and preventing a decrease in aspiration quantity. A solution method that significantly changes blending ratios or a composition used to form the aroma-generating base material to be heated cannot be employed, due to the need to maintain generation of a smoke-forming aerosol or generation of the fragrance component released from the non-tobacco material. Therefore, the present invention provides a means for solving the aforementioned problems by two different approaches.
[0146] The first approach is a physical means for solving the aforementioned problems that focuses on, inter alia, configuring the aroma cartridge, and on the mouthpiece structure, which has a marked effect on the aspiration quantity. Another approach is a chemical means for solving the aforementioned problems that focuses on, inter alia, the method (device) for producing the aroma-generating base material to be heated, and on a filling state thereof.
[0147] The physical means for solving the aforementioned problems is to provide an aroma cartridge comprising an aspiration optimization means for enhancing the aspiration quantity of the mouthpiece, and provides an aroma cartridge comprising an aspiration optimization means for preventing a decrease in the aspiration quantity by capturing dislodged material or dust of the non-tobacco material and other materials of the aroma generator to be heated. More specifically, the physical means provides a filter constituting the mouthpiece, a support body which constitutes the mouthpiece and prevents the aroma generator to be heated from moving toward the mouthpiece, and an aroma cartridge in which a cavity for enhancing the aspiration quantity by enlarging a gas flow passage, a shape reinforcement member for preventing a decrease in aspiration quantity due to deformation, and a heat insulation material for preventing a joined part from being damaged by heat diffusion are each provided as aspiration optimization means in the mouthpiece. The physical means also provides an aroma cartridge in which a cover material and/or a partition wall material for preventing and capturing dislodged material or dust of the non-tobacco material are provided as aspiration optimization means in the aroma generator to be heated.
[0148] The chemical means for solving the aforementioned problems is to provide an aroma cartridge comprising a gas-generation-maintaining material that does not reduce the aspiration quantity of the aroma generator to be heated. More specifically, the chemical means provides an aroma cartridge in which the aroma generator to be heated is provided with, as gas-generation-maintaining materials, an aroma-generating base material to be heated in which an internal structure thereof is improved by the method (device) used to produce the same, an aroma-generating base material to be heated in which a blended amount thereof is optimized, inorganic particles present within and/or on a surface of the aroma-generating base material to be heated, and an aroma-generating base material to be heated in which a filling ratio thereof is improved.
[0149] The aspiration optimization means and the gas-generation-maintaining materials can produce an adequate effect alone, and therefore,
[0150] The aspiration optimization means will first be described in detail using the accompanying drawings.
[0151] The longer and thicker the dimensions of the cavity are, the more the aspiration quantity can be increased, but to avoid problems related to the strength of the mouthpiece, a length c1, an inside diameter b1, and a surface area of the cavity are preferably 10-25 mm, 1-4 mm, and 34.54-326.54 mm.sup.2, respectively. In the example illustrated in
[0152] The cavity in
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[0160] Such a filter provided with a cavity is extremely effective also as an aspiration optimization means for solving the problem of reduced aspiration quantity in the conventional mouthpiece provided with a support member and/or cooling member.
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[0164] Following is a specific description of a means in the present invention for addressing deformation of the mouthpiece when a filter and a support member and/or a cooling member are arranged in the mouthpiece, as described using
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[0169] The reinforcing support members in
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[0171] The cavity 2252-5-c1 is arranged in the filter 2252-5 in a longitudinal end part of the filter 2252-5 on the aroma-generator 21 to-be-heated side thereof so that center axes of straight cylinders of the filter 2252-5 and the cavity 2252-5-c1 substantially coincide. The aspiration optimization means herein is a shape-reinforcing material having: a tubular reinforcing material 2251-5-s4 as a hollow concentric circular tube in a through hole 2251-5-h of a support member 2251-5 which is formed so that the center axis of a straight cylinder thereof is substantially the same as the center axis of the support member 2251-5, and which has substantially the same axis as the through hole 2251-5-h and has a radius smaller than a radius of the through hole 2251-5-h; and four plate-shaped reinforcing materials 2252-5-s3 provided on an external peripheral side of the tubular reinforcing material 2251-5-s4 in a shape so as to contact an inner wall of the through hole 2251-5-h in a radial direction of the tubular reinforcing material 2251-5-s4; the aspiration optimization means being fixedly or movably arranged as the reinforcing support member 2251-5. This configuration is not limiting, and various reinforcing support members and various filters in which a cavity is formed can be combined.
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[0173] The cavity 2263-c1 is disposed in a longitudinal end part of the filter 2263 on the aroma-generator 21 to-be-heated side thereof so that center axes of straight cylinders of the filter 2263 and the cavity 2263-c1 substantially coincide. The aspiration optimization means herein is a shape-reinforcing material having: a tubular reinforcing material 2261-s4 as a hollow concentric circular tube in a through hole 2261-h of a support member 2261 which is formed so that the center axis of a straight cylinder thereof is substantially the same as the center axis of the support member 2261, and which has substantially the same axis as the through hole 2261-h and has a radius smaller than a radius of the through hole 2261-h; and four plate-shaped reinforcing materials 2261-s3 provided on an external peripheral side of the tubular reinforcing material 2261-s4 in a shape so as to contact an inner wall of the through hole 2261-h in a radial direction of the tubular reinforcing material 2261-s4; the aspiration optimization means being fixedly or movably arranged as the reinforcing support member 2261. This configuration is also not limiting in this case, and various reinforcing support members and various filters in which a cavity is formed can be combined with a cooling member interposed therebetween.
[0174] As the aspiration quantity is increased by improvement of the filter and support member as described above, heat of a gas is more readily transmitted by convection from the heating element to the filter. Adhesion between members constituting the aroma cartridge therefore decreases, and gas leaks from between members, which may adversely affect the aspiration quantity. Described below is an aroma cartridge capable of solving this problem, in which the aroma cartridge is provided with a heat insulation member between the mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated.
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[0177] The heat insulation members described above do not allow a general spread of high-temperature gas, unlike the support member adjacent to the aroma generator to be heated, and are preferably constituted from a heat-insulating porous body made of plastic, such as a sponge having continuous holes with long flow passages. The heat insulation members also function to retain the high-temperature gas to some degree and cool the gas, and need not have the degree of cooling functionality of a cooling member, and are preferably applied instead of a support member for preventing the aroma generator to be heated from moving toward the mouthpiece. Consequently, a length s of the heat insulation member depends upon the material used therein, but a length of about 1-5 mm is adequate.
[0178] A cover material and/or a partition wall material, which function as an aspiration optimization means for preventing an extreme decrease in aspiration quantity due to blockage of voids in the cooling member and the filter by dislodged material or dust of the non-tobacco material, will next be described using the accompanying drawings.
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[0180] Either one or both of the cover material and the partition wall material may be provided, in accordance with the state of the aroma-generating base material to be heated aroma generator to be heated in which aroma-generating base materials to be heated are bundled. The cover material and/or the partition wall material prevent clogging of the filter and/or the cooling member by dislodged material or dust, and ensure a stable aspiration quantity. The cover material and/or the partition wall material can also prevent dislodged material, dust, or the like from being generated when the aroma cartridge is impaled on the needle-shaped heating element.
[0181] Physical solution means for structural improvement to ensure the gas aspiration quantity when smoking the aroma cartridge were described in detail above using the accompanying drawings. A gas-generation-maintaining material provided to the aroma generator to be heated, in order to solve the problem of a decrease in the aspiration quantity of gas, is described below using the accompanying drawings. The conventional aroma generator to be heated has the drawback that the released quantity of gas decreases over time, which brings about a reduction in the aspiration quantity of gas during smoking. The aroma cartridge of the present invention is provided with an aroma-generating base material to be heated which constitutes an aroma generator to be heated, to which is applied a chemical solution means, as a gas-generation-maintaining material for preventing a decrease in the aspiration quantity of gas.
[0182] First,
[0183] The aroma-generating base material to be heated is produced by various producing steps (means), but is ultimately wound as a sheet or a filler to become an aroma-generating substrate to be heated. As indicated in
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[0185] Following is a specific description, using the accompanying drawings, of a gas-generation-maintaining material having a function for preventing a decrease in the quantity of gas released by the aroma generator to be heated, which is closely related to a decrease in the aspiration quantity of gas during smoking, and ensuring the aspiration quantity of gas; i.e., a specific description of an aroma-generating base material to be heated to which a chemical solution means is applied. In the aroma cartridge of the present invention, the aroma generator to be heated is provided with an aroma-generating base material to be heated, to which the chemical solution means is applied, as a gas-generation-maintaining material.
[0186] Methods [devices] for producing the conventional aroma-generating base material to be heated include various methods [devices], but an example thereof is illustrated in
[0187] (Production Example 1) is presented as a specific example.
Production Example 1
[0188] The pulverized products below were loaded into a dry mixer as non-tobacco materials and dry-mixed for 5 minutes.
TABLE-US-00001 Black tea dry pulverized product 100 parts by mass Licorice dry pulverized product 20 parts by mass Lotus leaf dry pulverized product 10 parts by mass
[0189] The dry mixture above and the ingredients below were loaded into a wet mixer and wet-mixed for 15 minutes.
TABLE-US-00002 Polypropylene glycol 25 parts by mass Glycerin 25 parts by mass Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 5 parts by mass Menthol 3 parts by mass Ethanol 3 parts by mass Pure water 200 parts by mass
[0190] In the step (means) for molding a sheet from a slurry obtained as described above, a water-containing sheet was created by loading a specified amount of the slurry on a frame provided with an appropriate drainboard. At this time in the present Production Example, assuming the moisture content of 100 in the slurry, the moisture content in the water-containing sheet was about 95.
[0191] The water-containing sheet was then passed three times through a press roll set to a predetermined clearance to mold the water-containing sheet, an amount of pure water corresponding to 7 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass in the water-containing sheet passed three times through the press roll was then added to the water-containing sheet, and the water-containing sheet was passed five more times through the press roll.
[0192] The molded water-containing sheet obtained as described above was then dried for 300 minutes in a 35° C. environment to create an aroma-generating sheet to be heated having a moisture content of 20% by mass. The drying temperature is preferably less than 50° C. to maintain flavor. The drying temperature is more preferably less than 45° C., and even more preferably less than 40° C. The thickness of the sheet is adjusted as appropriate, but was set to 0.5 mm in the present Production Example. The sheet was cut, and a rectangular aroma-generating sheet to be heated having a length of 240 mm and a width of 75 mm, and an aroma-generating filler to be heated having a length of 240 mm and a width of 1.5 mm were obtained. The length direction of the filler and the sheet cut from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated was parallel to a rotational axis direction of the roll, and the width direction of the filler and the sheet was the rotation direction of the roll.
[0193] A single sheet of the aroma-generating sheet to be heated and 50 units of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, fabricated as described above, were wound and then cut to a length of 12 mm to produce an aroma generator to be heated, such as illustrated in
[0194] The aroma generator to be heated and the aroma cartridge fabricated as described above were evaluated in the manner indicated below.
[0195] <<Evaluation 1>>
[0196] Fabricated aroma cartridges were packed into a paper box 70 mm on a long side thereof, 14 mm on a short side thereof, and having a height of 45 mm, so that the aroma generators to be heated were facing the bottom of the box. A box containing aroma cartridges thus prepared was placed in a plastic bag and left to stand for two weeks in a 40° C. environment. The box was then retrieved and left to stand for one day in a normal-temperature and normal-humidity environment, and the evaluation described below was performed. Packing material was taken from the aroma generators to be heated, and it was confirmed whether the aroma cartridges were packed together. The aroma cartridges were also smoked by five test subjects, and sensory evaluation of the aspiration quantity and flavor was performed. [0197] Rank A: Aroma cartridge immediately comes loose when taken out with tweezers [0198] Adequate aspiration quantity and flavor perceived by four or more subjects [0199] Rank B: Aroma cartridge comes loose when pressed with tweezers [0200] Adequate aspiration quantity and flavor perceived by two or more subjects [0201] Rank C: Aroma cartridge remains in a mass even when pressed with tweezers [0202] Adequate aspiration quantity and flavor not perceived by any subject
[0203] For aroma cartridges in Rank C, difficulty of insertion on the heating element of the heating-type smoking took is made highly likely by prolonged storage and other factors.
[0204] The aroma cartridge fabricated in (Production Example 1) was evaluated as Rank C, the aroma-generating sheet to be heated and the aroma filler to be heated fused over time, the quantity of gas released during smoking, i.e., the gas aspiration quantity, was decreased and flavor also deteriorated, and the aroma-generating sheet to be heated and the aroma filler to be heated did not function as gas-generation-maintaining materials for the aroma generator to be heated.
[0205] This problem was solved by improving the production method (device). A feature of the improved production method (device) is that a second wet mixing step (means) is introduced as a producing step (means), as indicated in
[0206] (Production Example 2) is presented as a specific example.
Production Example 2
[0207] Black tea leaves were dried at 70° C. to give a moisture content of 2 by mass, and then pulverized. Licorice, lotus leaves, and Korean ginseng were also dried and pulverized in the same manner. The drying temperature is preferably 60° C.-80° C. When the drying temperature is in this range, it is easy to reach the desired moisture content while avoiding dissipation of necessary flavor components. The desired moisture content is even easier to reach when the drying temperature is 65° C. or above, and dissipation of necessary flavor components can be further prevented when the drying temperature is 75° C. or below.
[0208] The moisture content after pulverization is preferably 5% by mass or less. Slurry formation in the subsequent step (means) is thereby facilitated. A moisture content after pulverization of 3% by mass or less is more preferred. A moisture content of 0.1% by mass or greater is preferred to enable good compatibility with water or the like.
[0209] The dried and pulverized materials described above, passed through an 80 mesh sieve, were used as non-tobacco materials, which the non-tobacco materials were loaded into a dry mixer in the blending quantities shown below and dry-mixed for 5 minutes.
TABLE-US-00003 Black tea dry pulverized product 100 parts by mass Licorice dry pulverized product 20 parts by mass Lotus leaf dry pulverized product 10 parts by mass Korean ginseng dry pulverized product 5 parts by mass
[0210] The dry mixture above and the ingredients below were loaded into a wet mixer, and a first wet mixing was performed for 15 minutes.
TABLE-US-00004 Polypropylene glycol 30 parts by mass Glycerin 20 parts by mass Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 5 parts by mass Menthol 3 parts by mass Ethanol 3 parts by mass Pure water 20 parts by mass
[0211] Then, 180 parts by mass of pure water and 10 parts by mass of ethanol were additionally loaded in the wet mixer including the above slurry, and a second wet mixing was performed for 10 minutes. Ethanol was added in this case because the dispersion state of the dry pulverized products with respect to polypropylene glycol and glycerin can be markedly improved thereby. The alcohol is not limited to ethanol, insofar as the alcohol is a lower monoalcohol. The added amount of such a lower monoalcohol is preferably 0.1-10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the dry pulverized products. An improved dispersion state is observed when the aforementioned added amount is 0.1 part by mass or greater, and keeping the added amount to 10 parts by mass or less makes it possible to suppress persistence of the lower monoalcohol. The effect is more pronounced when the added amount is 0.5-5 parts by mass.
[0212] The reason for loading the pure water first to form the mixture is that a slurry having better dispersion can be obtained by advancing dispersion of the mixture beforehand, and then diluting/mixing with additional water. It is also preferred to divide loading of the water into multiple additions. When the water is loaded in multiple additions, a combination of additions is preferred in which small amounts of water are loaded at first, and the amount of water loaded is subsequently increased. This is because dispersion is enhanced to a high degree during loading of water at first, and the slurry becomes uniform as the amount of water loaded is subsequently increased.
[0213] In the step (means) for molding a sheet from a slurry obtained as described above, a water-containing sheet was created by loading a specified amount of the slurry on a frame provided with an appropriate drainboard. At this time in the present Production Example, assuming the moisture content of 100 in the slurry, the moisture content in the water-containing sheet was about 95.
[0214] The water-containing sheet was then passed three times through a press roll set to a predetermined clearance to mold the water-containing sheet, an amount of pure water corresponding to 7 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass in the water-containing sheet passed three times through the press roll was then added to the water-containing sheet, and the water-containing sheet was passed five more times through the press roll. Preferably, 2 parts by mass to 15 parts by mass of water are added with respect to 100 parts by mass of the water-containing sheet. Adding water over the course of molding the water-containing sheet a plurality of times in this manner has the effect that the water included in the water-containing sheet is readily made uniform in a certain range, and has the effect that conditions in a subsequent drying step (means) can be made uniform, and that the quality of the final product can be made uniform.
[0215] The molded water-containing sheet obtained as described above was then dried for 300 minutes in a 35° C. environment to create a molded sheet for an electronic cigarette filler, having a moisture content of 20% by mass. The drying temperature is preferably less than 50° C. to maintain flavor. The drying temperature is more preferably less than 45° C., and even more preferably less than 40° C. The thickness of the sheet was set to 0.5 mm. In order to be wound as an aroma generator to be heated, the sheet was cut into an aroma-generating sheet to be heated having a length z of 240 mm and a width x of 75 mm, and an aroma-generating filler to be heated having a length z of 240 mm and a width x of 1.5 mm.
[0216] A single sheet of the aroma-generating sheet to be heated and 50 units of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, produced by the above method (device), were wound and then cut to a length z of 12 mm to produce an aroma generator to be heated, such as illustrated in
[0217] The aroma cartridge was subjected to <<Evaluation 1>> in the same manner as the aroma cartridge fabricated in (Production Example 1), and a result of Rank A was obtained. This reason for this result was considered to be that the aroma-generating base material to be heated which was produced by this method (device) had minimal fusion over time within or between the aroma-generating base materials to be heated, and little change in the amount of gas released by heating, and that the gas aspiration quantity being maintained during smoking. Specifically, the aroma-generating base material to be heated which was produced by this method (device) functions as a gas-generation-maintaining material for the aroma-generating substrate to be heated.
[0218] The production method (device) illustrated in
[0219] The dispersion state in the second wet mixing was good, and absorption of propylene glycol in this step (means) therefore proceeded rapidly. The aroma-generating base material to be heated having a thickness of 0.5 mm, which was produced by this method (device), was also cut to the same size as in (Production Example 2) to produce an aroma cartridge. When the aroma cartridge was subjected to <<Evaluation 1>>, a result of Rank A was obtained, and it was clear that the aroma-generating sheet produced by this method (device) also functions as a gas-generation-maintaining material for the aroma-generating substrate to be heated.
[0220] The improvements shared by the production methods [devices] of
[0221] Specifically, an aroma-generating base material to be heated is produced by: a wet mixing step (means) M1 for mixing, with pure water, a dried and pulverized non-tobacco material for producing a gas-generation-maintaining material, and producing a slurry of the non-tobacco material; a paper-making step (means) S1 for producing a water-containing sheet from the slurry produced by the wet mixing step (means); a sheet molding step (means) S2 for compressing or casting the water-containing sheet to obtain a sheet; a drying step (means) S3 reducing the moisture content of the sheet produced by the sheet molding step (means) to less than 50% by mass; an absorption and adsorption step (means) S4 for coating the sheet produced by the drying step (means) with, or dipping the sheet into, an alcohol and pure water mixture of a material selected from an aerosol former, a binder or thickener, crosslinked PVP, a perfume, a non-tobacco material extract, β-cyclodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, a concentrate of water discharged in the sheet molding step (means), and an antimicrobial preservative; a drying step (means) for producing an aroma-generating sheet to be heated, by drying the sheet produced by the absorption and adsorption step (means); and a sheet processing step (means) H1 for cutting or folding the aroma-generating sheet to be heated.
[0222] (Production Example 3) is presented as a specific example of this production method (device).
Production Example 3
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TABLE-US-00005 Wood fibers 50 parts by mass Dried black tea 50 parts by mass Water 5000 parts by mass
[0224] The above ingredients were mixed to obtain a slurry.
[0225] The slurry was cast to obtain a sheet having at thickness of 0.5 mm. Residual water from casting was concentrated and stored, and used for the next step (means).
[0226] The sheet was dried, the ingredients below were added per 100 parts by mass of the sheet, and the product was dried to produce a sheet.
TABLE-US-00006 Polypropylene glycol 10 parts by mass Glycerin 20 parts by mass Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 2 parts by mass Menthol (50% ethanol solution) 3 parts by mass Concentrated residual water from casting 50 parts by mass
[0227] The resultant sheet was used to fabricate an aroma generator to be heated and an aroma cartridge which uses the same, in the same manner as in (Production Example 2), and when <<Evaluation 1>> thereof was performed, a result of Rank A was obtained. It was clear that the aroma-generating sheet to be heated that was produced by this method (device) also functions as a gas-generation-maintaining material for the aroma-generating substrate to be heated.
[0228] The production methods [devices] heretofore described feature fabricating an aroma-generating sheet to be heated by producing a slurry of a non-tobacco material, etc., and making a paper thereof. However, since good results have been obtained from a method (device) in which an aerosol former, a perfume, a binder, and other components are absorbed into a water-containing sheet produced by making a paper of a slurry of only a non-tobacco material, as illustrated in
[0229] Specifically, this method is a method (device) for producing an aroma-generating base material to be heated, by: non-tobacco material preparation steps (means) Z1 and 2 for drying an pulverizing a non-tobacco material; a perfume and/or non-tobacco extract dissolving step (means) M1 for mixing at least a perfume and/or a non-tobacco material extract and crosslinked PVP and/or β-cyclodextrin in alcohol to cause the perfume and/or non-tobacco extract to reside in the crosslinked PVP and/or β-cyclodextrin; an aerosol former dissolving step (means) M2 for mixing at least an aerosol former and a binder or thickener with pure water; a wet mixing step (means) M3 for mixing the material produced by the non-tobacco material preparation step (means), the material produced by the perfume and/or non-tobacco extract dissolving step (means), and the material produced by the aerosol former dissolving step (means); a sheet molding step (means) S1 for producing an aroma-generating sheet to be heated, by compression from the material produced by the wet mixing step (means); and a sheet processing step (means) H1 for cutting or folding the aroma-generating sheet to be heated.
[0230] (Production Example 4) is presented as a specific example of this production method (device).
Production Example 4
[0231] In the non-tobacco material preparation steps (means) Z1 and 2 for drying and pulverizing a non-tobacco material, a non-tobacco material having a moisture content of 20% by mass was prepared using black tea leaves as the non-tobacco material, by drying the non-tobacco material in an oven at 70° C., then pulverizing the material using an agitation mill and passing the material through an 80 mesh sieve.
[0232] In the step (means) M1 for dissolving menthol, menthol is dissolved by weighing out and mixing menthol, a lower alcohol, and a water-insoluble crosslinked polymer. The water-insoluble crosslinked polymer is preferably added and mixed after the menthol is dissolved in the lower alcohol. An effect whereby dissipation of the menthol is suppressed is obtained when menthol, a lower alcohol, and a water-insoluble crosslinked polymer are mixed.
[0233] Here, the menthol is not limited to being obtained from a natural product, and a synthetic product can also be used. Peppermint, mint, peppermint oil, and other materials that include menthol may also be used.
[0234] The lower alcohol is a solvent for dissolving the menthol, and ethyl alcohol is especially preferred for use.
[0235] The water-insoluble crosslinked polymer is intended as a polymer which is obtained by crosslinking a polymer that is water-soluble in the non-crosslinked form thereof, which then becomes insoluble in water and swells. It is, of course, preferred that the water-insoluble crosslinked polymer swell and not dissolve in the lower alcohol, and such a polymer is selected. Such a water-insoluble crosslinked polymer has a hydrophilic component and a hydrophobic component, and it is thought that the hydrophilic component contributes to swelling, and that dissipation of the menthol is suppressed by orienting of the hydrophilic component toward the menthol. Preferred examples of the hydrophilic crosslinked polymer include crosslinked PVP, and crosslinked polysaccharides obtained by subjecting a water-soluble polysaccharide to epoxy crosslinking, ester crosslinking, and ether crosslinking. An effect in which menthol dissipation is markedly suppressed is observed particularly when ethanol and crosslinked PVP are used together with menthol.
[0236] It is sufficient to add enough menthol to achieve a target amount of a desired flavor, but the menthol content in the aroma-generating base material to be heated is preferably 0.1-10% by mass, and more preferably 0.2-5% by mass.
[0237] When forming the aroma-generating base material to be heated, the added amount of the hydrophilic crosslinked polymer is preferably 10-2000 parts by mass, more preferably 50-600 parts by mass, with respect to 100 parts by mass of menthol.
[0238] In order for the effect of inhibiting dissipation of the menthol to be obtained, the hydrophilic crosslinked polymer is preferably present in a ratio of 2% by mass or more, more preferably 4% by mass or more, in the aroma-generating base material to be heated. Including the hydrophilic crosslinked polymer in such an amount makes long-term storage possible while suppressing dissipation of the menthol, and makes it possible for the cooling sensation of menthol to be enjoyed even after long-term storage. The content of the hydrophilic crosslinked polymer in the aroma-generating base material to be heated is preferably 20% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or less. Flavors caused by non-plant-derived polyphenols and the like can be maintained when the content of the hydrophilic crosslinked polymer is 10% by mass or less.
[0239] The lower alcohol used is preferably included in the amount of 50 parts by mass or more with respect to 100 parts by mass of menthol. When the amount of the lower alcohol is 100 parts by mass or more, adequate mixing of the hydrophilic crosslinked polymer is possible while the menthol is dissolved. When the amount of the lower alcohol is 2000 parts by mass or less, persistence of the lower alcohol in subsequent steps (means) can be reduced, and an efficient production process (means) can be obtained.
[0240] Based on the above, as an example,
TABLE-US-00007 Menthol 100 parts by mass Ethyl alcohol 200 parts by mass Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone 200 parts by mass
[0241] were weighed, the menthol was dissolved in ethyl alcohol to obtain a menthol ethyl alcohol solution, crosslinked PVP was then added to the menthol ethyl alcohol solution and agitation-mixed, and a menthol/ethyl alcohol/crosslinked PVP mixture was obtained.
[0242] Then, in the step (means) M2 for dissolving an aerosol former and other materials, an aerosol former, a flavor additive, a preservative, a binder or thickener, and other ingredients are dissolved in pure water.
[0243] Here, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, diacetin (glycerin diacetal), triacetin (glycerin triacetate), triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecane dioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, or the like can be used as the aerosol former. Glycerin and propylene glycol are particularly preferred for use. These aerosol formers are preferably used in an amount of 1-80% by mass, more preferably 10-40% by mass, with respect to the aroma-generating base material to be heated.
[0244] A perfume for adding flavor is used as needed, and examples thereof include essences of peppermint, cocoa, coffee, black tea, and the like.
[0245] An antimicrobial preservative for food can also be added as needed. Sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, or the like can be used as the antimicrobial preservative.
[0246] Guar gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic, locust bean gum, and other gums; hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, and other modified cellulose polymers; a starch, alginic acid and other organic acids; sodium alginate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, agar, and pectin or another polysaccharide of a conjugate base salt or the like of an organic acid can be used as the binder or thickener or the like. The above substances may be used in combination.
[0247] A 20% aqueous solution of glycerin, propylene glycol, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, glucomannan, and xylitol from among the above substances was prepared.
[0248] Then, in the step (means) M3 for wet mixing the materials of the non-tobacco material preparation steps (means) Z1 and 2, the perfume dissolving step (means) M1, and the aerosol former dissolving step (means) M2, a non-tobacco plant composition for an aroma-generating base material to be heated was then fabricated by stirring the materials in the blending ratios below for 15 minutes while applying shear force through use of an impeller, using an ordinary wet mixer.
TABLE-US-00008 Black tea dry pulverized product 100 parts by mass Menthol/ethyl alcohol/crosslinked PVP 25 parts by mass Glycerin 30 parts by mass Propylene glycol 30 parts by mass Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 4 parts by mass Methyl cellulose 15 parts by mass Xylitol aqueous solution 8 parts by mass Glucomannan 1 part by mass
[0249] A three-roll mill was used in the step (means) for molding a sheet. A step for loading the above composition into a three-roll mill, adding 20 parts by mass of pure water while observing the state of the sheet, and collecting a sheet-shaped product by pressing a doctor blade against a roll was repeated 8 times, and a final sheet-shaped non-tobacco plant composition was obtained. When a three-roll mill is used, while kneading, dispersion, and the like are performed by a compression force from pressing between close rolls and a shear force from the roll speed difference, the desired sheet thickness can be obtained using the doctor blade, and it is possible to produce a sheet that is more uniform than a sheet fabricated by a slurry paper-making step (means). Besides a three-roll mill, a press roller or press machine can also be suitably used.
[0250] In the sheet molding step (means) S1, a non-tobacco plant, an aerosol former, a perfume, an antimicrobial preservative, a binder or thickener, water, or the like may be added as needed.
[0251] The pure water used in the present invention is preferably pure water which has been sterilized or from which microbes have been removed, but the pure water may also be obtained using a reverse osmosis membrane, ion exchange, or the like.
[0252] A sheet having a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm was molded in the sheet molding step (means) S1. The thickness of the sheet may be in the range of 0.1-1.0 mm or 0.1-0.5 mm.
[0253] This aroma-generating sheet to be heated having a thickness of 0.5 mm was then cut into an aroma-generating sheet to be heated and an aroma-generating filler to be heated, in the same manner as in (Production Example 2), and was then processed into an aroma generator to be heated, and assembled into an aroma cartridge. When <<Evaluation 1>> thereof was performed, a result of Rank A was obtained, and it was clear that the aroma-generating sheet to be heated that was produced by this method (device) also functions as a gas-generation-maintaining material for the aroma-generating substrate to be heated.
[0254] In an aroma-generating base material to be heated that uses a non-tobacco material, the component compositions and the properties thereof are diverse, and it has become clear that nonuniformity of mixing, dispersal, and solution state thereof results in changes over time such as bleed-out of the aerosol former from the aroma-generating base material to be heated, and causes the quantity of gas released from the aroma-generating base material to be heated to decrease and the gas aspiration quantity during smoking to decrease. Consequently, the problem of a change in the gas aspiration quantity over time is solved by improving the nonuniformity.
[0255] Furthermore, the binder or thickener, which is one of the constituent materials of an aroma-generating base material to be heated that uses a non-tobacco material, was discovered to be a cause of problems that are specific to an aroma cartridge that uses a non-tobacco material. The binder or thickener is added to prevent fusion within the aroma-generating base material to be heated or between aroma-generating base materials to be heated and to prevent the aggregated state thereof from being disrupted due to the inability to include a large quantity of fibers. However, it was learned that the density of the aroma-generating base material to be heated increases when the added amount of the binder or thickener is increased, and although the aggregated state thereof can be maintained, the aroma-generating base material to be heated shrinks over time, and bleed-out of the aerosol former becomes severe. As a result of investigating the added amount of the binder, the addition method (device), and the type of the binder, it was discovered that the problems described above can be solved by an aroma-generating base material to be heated that is produced by the method (device) illustrated in
[0256] Specifically, an aggregated state can be stably maintained, and there is no blockage of gas flow passages in an aroma-generating base material to be heated that is produced by: steps (means) Z1 and 2 for preparing a dried and pulverized non-tobacco material; a step (means) M1 for producing a first binder aqueous solution in which a first binder is dissolved in pure water; a first wet mixing step (means) M1 for mixing a material prepared by steps (means) Z4 and 5 for preparing a material selected from an aerosol former, crosslinked PVP, a perfume, a non-tobacco material extract, β-cyclodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, and an antimicrobial preservative; an aging step (means) Y1 for stabilizing a mixture produced by the first wet mixing step (means); a second wet mixing step (means) M2 for mixing an aged mixture produced by the aging step (means) and a second binder aqueous solution produced by a step (means) Z6 for dissolving a second binder in pure water; a sheet molding step (means) S1 for producing an aroma-generating sheet to be heated, by compression from the material produced by the second wet mixing step (means); and a sheet processing step (means) H1 for cutting or folding the aroma-generating sheet to be heated. Fusion over time between the aroma-generating base materials to be heated was also not observed.
[0257] (Production Example 5) is presented as a specific example of this production method (device).
Production Example 5
[0258] In the step (means) Z1 for drying and pulverizing the raw material non-tobacco plant, the moisture content is preferably adjusted to facilitate absorption or support of the aerosol former, pure water, and other components, and the drying temperature is preferably 60-80° C. or lower. When the drying temperature is in this range, it is easy to reach the desired moisture content while avoiding dissipation of necessary flavor components. The desired moisture content is even easier to reach when the drying temperature is 65° C. or above, and dissipation of necessary flavor components can be further prevented when the drying temperature is 75° C. or below. The moisture content after drying/pulverization is preferably 5% by mass or less, and slurry formation in the subsequent step (means) is thereby facilitated. A moisture content after drying/pulverization of 3% by mass or less is more preferred. However, compatibility with water, etc., decreases when the moisture content is 0.1% by mass or greater. By further providing a sieving step (means) for sieving the dried pulverized product, a non-tobacco plant having the desired particle size can be supplied to the first wet mixing step (means) M3, and slurry formation is facilitated.
[0259] Celluloses, konjac mannan (glucomannan), guar gum, pectin, carrageenan, tamarind seed gum, gum arabic, soybean polysaccharide, locust bean gum, karaya gum, xanthan gum, agar, corn starch, and the like can be cited as examples of the first binder used in the preparation step (means) Z3 for dissolving a first binder in pure water, but celluloses are preferred. Regarding viscosity, mixing with the non-tobacco plant is favorable when the solution viscosity is 300 mPa.Math.s or greater. A solution viscosity of 5000 mPa.Math.s or greater is appropriate for binding of a non-tobacco plant. The solution viscosity is a value measured using a Brookfield viscometer at 10-30 rpm in a 25° C. environment, by preparing a 1% aqueous solution, starting rotation of the rotor, and taking the measurement value when the display value stabilizes. Here, although the upper limit of measurement by the Brookfield viscometer is 100,000 mPa.Math.s, a viscosity exceeding this upper limit is within the viscosity range described above.
[0260] Celluloses that are preferred as the first binder generally include cellulose, cellulose derivatives, and metal salts thereof, but a water-soluble cellulose is particularly preferred in the present invention from the perspective of binding a non-tobacco plant. Examples of such celluloses can include methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxyethyl cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and sodium salts, potassium salts, calcium salts, and other metal salts of these celluloses. Among the above examples, metal salts of celluloses are more preferred, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is even more preferred.
[0261] Glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol, triethylene glycol, lactic acid, diacetin (glycerin diacetal), triacetin (glycerin triacetate), triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate, methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecane dioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, or the like can be used as the aerosol former used in the step (means) Z4 for preparing the aerosol former, but glycerin and propylene glycol are particularly preferred. These aerosol formers are used in a range of 1-80% by mass, particularly preferably 10-40% by mass, with respect to the composition of the aroma-generating base material to be heated.
[0262] In a step (means) Z5 for preparing a component used in addition to the above components, menthol, peppermint, cocoa, coffee, black tea essence, or another flavoring agent for adding flavor as needed, crosslinked PVP or β-cyclodextrin having a function for causing temporary residence of the flavoring agent, microcrystalline cellulose having moldability and ease of release from a die or the like, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, or another food antimicrobial preservative for storage stability, or the like can be added.
[0263] The materials prepared as described above are mixed in the first wet mixing step (means) M1. The mixer need not be specialized, and may be a mixer in which materials in a mixing tank are mixed while a shear force is applied thereto by an impeller, for example, and it is also possible to knead and further intensify mixing using a roll mill, a kneader, or an extruder. The mixing temperature in this step (means) is preferably 40° C. or lower, and more preferably 30° C. or lower, and maintaining the temperature at about 25° C. is even more preferred. The reason for this is that there is a risk of dissipation of fragrance components when excessive heat is applied during mixing. The temperature of the mixing tank must therefore be controlled.
[0264] A first mixture produced by the first wet mixing step (means) M1 preferably undergoes an aging step (means) Y1 for leaving the first mixture to stand for a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature, but this step (means) is not essential. However, addition of the binder must be divided into a first mixing step (means) and a second mixing step (means). When a non-tobacco material mixture in which the binder is dividedly added and which is not subjected to an aging step (means) Y1, and an aged mixture subjected to the aging step (means) Y1 are processed into an aroma cartridge as the aroma-generating base material to be heated, and smoking evaluation thereof is performed using the heating-type smoking appliance illustrated in
[0265] The temperature in the aging step (means) Y1 is preferably 15-30° C., and more preferably 18-24° C. The reason for this is that the flavor improvement described above is increased when the temperature is 15° C. or higher, and change in flavor and change in aspiration quantity over time are suppressed and improvement of flavor change over time is maintained when the temperature is 30° C. or below. These effects are more pronounced when the temperature is 18-24° C. The time for the aging step (means) Y1 is preferably 72-336 hours, and more preferably 96-192 hours. The reason for this is that an improvement of flavor is observed when the time is 72 hours or more, and change in flavor and change in aspiration quantity over time are suppressed and improvement of flavor change over time is maintained when the time is 336 hours or less. These effects are more pronounced when the time is 96-192 hours. Aging is preferably performed with the mixture from the first wet mixing in a sealed condition. This is to prevent dissipation of flavor.
[0266] The mixture immediately after the first wet mixing and the mixture aged after the first wet step (means) are inputted to the second wet mixing step (means) M2. The second wet mixing step (means) M2 has the feature of adding a second binder and mixing. The effect of divided addition of the first binder and the second binder is that, in addition to the effect of improving initial aspiration quantity and flavor and reducing a change in aspiration quantity and flavor over time, molding into a desired form is facilitated in the sheet molding step (means) H1. The reason for this is that mixing is easier than during addition in the first step (means), the time until the viscosity of the mixture becomes even can be shortened, and viscosity adjustment is facilitated.
[0267] As in the case of the first binder, celluloses, konjac mannan (glucomannan), guar gum, pectin, carrageenan, tamarind seed gum, gum arabic, soybean polysaccharide, locust bean gum, karaya gum, xanthan gum, agar, starch, corn starch, and the like can be used as the second binder, but polysaccharides other than cellulose are preferred. Regarding viscosity, mixing with the non-tobacco plant is favorable when the solution viscosity is 300 mPa.Math.s or greater, as in the case of the first binder. A solution viscosity of 5000 mPa-s or greater is appropriate for binding of a non-tobacco plant. This viscosity is also measured by the method (device) described above. Here, although the upper limit of measurement by the Brookfield viscometer is 100,000 mPa.Math.s, a viscosity exceeding this upper limit is within the viscosity range described above.
[0268] A polysaccharide is preferred for use as the second binder. Among polysaccharides, a polysaccharide that is water soluble or that includes water and swells or forms a gel is particularly preferred for use. Through use of such a polysaccharide, the molded aroma-generating base material to be heated maintains an aggregated state, molding workability thereof is increased, and the occurrence of sheet breakage, dislodgement of the non-tobacco material, and other problems in the sheet molding step (means) H1 is reduced. Glucomannan, guar gum, pectin, carrageenan, locust bean gum, and agar are cited as examples of such a polysaccharide. When these polysaccharides are added for use, the solution viscosity thereof is preferably increased so as to be greater than the solution viscosity of the first binder. Use of the binder in this manner further enhances the suitability thereof in the sheet molding step (means) H1. Among the above polysaccharides, glucomannan is most preferred.
[0269] It is sometimes preferred to adopt a production method (device) in which the second wet mixing step (means) M2 is also configured so that menthol, peppermint, cocoa, coffee, black tea essence, or another flavoring agent, crosslinked PVP or β-cyclodextrin having a function for causing temporary residence of the flavoring agent, microcrystalline cellulose having moldability and ease of release from a die or the like, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate, or another food antimicrobial preservative for storage stability, or the like is prepared in the same manner as in step (means) Z5 and added as needed.
[0270] An ordinary wet mixer can also be used when materials prepared as described above are mixed in the second wet mixing step (means) M2, the same as in the first wet mixing step (means) M1. For example, the mixer may be a mixer in which materials in a mixing tank are mixed while a shear force is applied thereto by an impeller, and it is also possible to knead and further intensify mixing using a roll mill, a kneader, or an extruder. The mixing temperature in this step (means) is preferably 40° C. or lower, and more preferably 30° C. or lower, and maintaining the temperature at about 25° C. is even more preferred. The reason for this is that there is a risk of dissipation of fragrance components when excessive heat is applied during mixing. The temperature of the mixing tank must therefore be controlled.
[0271] The composition for an aroma-generating base material to be heated including a non-tobacco material produced in the second wet mixing M2 is then inputted to the sheet molding step (means) H1 and molded to the desired form. In order for the composition to be used as an aroma-generating base material to be heated, roll molding, press molding, or another sheet molding process is preferably applied thereto, but these processes are not limiting. A method (device) whereby the composition is passed through an orifice and molded by compression, or a method (device) whereby the composition is dried and then pulverized into granular form may be employed.
[0272] Sheet molding that is suitable for producing the aroma-generating base material to be heated is described below. In one method (device), a sheet is molded using a three-roll mill. When a three-roll mill is used, while kneading, dispersion, and the like are performed by a compression force from pressing between close rolls and a shear force from the roll speed difference, the desired sheet thickness can be obtained using a doctor blade, and a three-roll mill is particularly preferred for molding a sheet of the composition of the present invention, in which various materials having different properties are mixed. A press roller or press machine may also be jointly used in fabricating a sheet. The three-roll mill works the composition into a sheet shape while kneading and dispersing the composition, and therefore complements the first and second wet mixing steps, and a more preferred state of mixing and dispersion can be obtained. Consequently, when a three-roll mill is used in the second wet mixing step (means) M2, this means that there is no device distinction between the second wet mixing step (means) M2 and the sheet molding step (means) H1, and mixing and molding are performed in the same process.
[0273] Mixing and dispersion can thus be performed in sheet molding which uses a three-roll mill, and it is therefore possible to configure the production method (device) so that a non-tobacco material, an aerosol former, a binder or thickener, a perfume, crosslinked PVP, β-cyclodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, an antimicrobial preservative, pure water, or the like is also added as needed.
[0274] In order to clarify the feature wherein a first binder and a second binder such as are described above are dividedly added in the method (device) for producing an aroma-generating base material to be heated, the method (device) was evaluated in comparison with the conventional production method (device) using the same materials across both methods and limiting the form of the aroma-generating base material to be heated to a filler. The evaluation is described using Production Examples and working examples of the present invention.
Production Example A
[0275] The materials below were agitation-mixed, and a xylitol/aqueous solution was obtained.
TABLE-US-00009 Xylitol 100 parts by mass Water 400 parts by mass
[0276] Black tea leaves dried at 70° C., pulverized, and passed through an 80 mesh sieve were used. The moisture content thereof was 2% by mass. A dried jiaogulan product pulverized and passed through an 80 mesh sieve was likewise used.
TABLE-US-00010 Black tea dry pulverized product 80 parts by mass Jiaogulan dry pulverized product 20 parts by mass Methyl cellulose 15 parts by mass Glycerin 30 parts by mass Propylene glycol 30 parts by mass Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 4 parts by mass Xylitol/aqueous solution 8 parts by mass
[0277] The above materials were loaded into a mixer and mixed for 15 minutes (first wet mixing step (means) M1), and a first mixture was obtained.
[0278] The resultant first mixture was inputted to the second wet mixing step (means) M2. While 100 parts by mass of the first mixture was loaded in a three-roll mill, 0.5 part by mass of glucomannan and 20 parts by mass of water were added. A step (means) for collecting a sheet-shaped product by pressing a doctor blade against a roll was repeated 8 times. In this step (means), the second wet mixing step (means) M2 and the sheet molding step (means) H1 are performed by the same device, in which the first half of mixing can be regarded as the second mixing step (means) M2, and the second half of mixing can be regarded as the sheet molding step (means) H1. A sheet having the desired thickness was produced while kneading and dispersion were accomplished at the same time in the three-roll mill.
[0279] The aroma-generating sheet to be heated which was produced by these steps (means) was molded so as to have a thickness of 0.3 mm. The sheet was cut into a rectangle 150 mm in length×240 mm in width, which was supplied to a rotary cutter and processed to a shape having a width of 1.5 mm, a length of 240 mm, and a thickness of 0.3 mm, and an aroma-generating filler to be heated was obtained. Fifty units of the filler were bundled and arranged lengthwise, and paper having a basis weight of 34 g/m.sup.2 was wound thereon and sized to produce a cylindrical aroma-generating processing object to be heated. The inside diameter of the processing object was 6.9 mm. The processing object was furthermore cut to a length of 12.0 mm to form an aroma generator to be heated. The mass of the aroma generator to be heated was 0.29 g, and the volume filling ratio of the filler with respect to the volume of the aroma generator to be heated was 0.60. The longitudinal direction of the rectangle into which the aroma-generating sheet to be heated was cut was parallel to the rotational axis of the roll, and the transverse direction thereof was the rotation direction of the roll (the same hereinbelow).
[0280] The aqueous solution viscosity of the sodium carboxymethyl cellulose used in the present Production Example was 650 mPa.Math.s (Brookfield viscometer, 1% aqueous solution, 25° C.), and the aqueous solution viscosity of the glucomannan polysaccharide was 44000 mPa-s (Brookfield viscometer, 1% aqueous solution, 25° C.).
Production Example B
[0281] Until the first wet mixing step (means) M1, a first mixture was produced in the same manner as in (Production Example A). The first mixture was sealed in a polyethylene bag and aged for 6 days (144 hours) at a temperature of 20° C. to produce an aged mixture. The apparent volume after the aging step (means) Y1 was approximately 1.5 times larger. When a second aged mixture was confirmed after the aging step (means) Y1, separation of brown pulverized material appeared to have decreased relative to before aging, and the aging was considered to have led to a stable and uniform dispersion state. The mixture produced by the aging step (means) Y1 was inputted to the second wet mixing step (means) M2, and an aroma generator to be heated was produced.
Production Example C
[0282] In the same manner as in (Production Example B), an aged mixture was inputted to the second wet mixing step (means) M2, and an aroma-generating sheet to be heated was fabricated by the sheet molding step (means) H1. However, in the present Production Example, processing conditions in the second wet mixing step (means) and the sheet molding step (means) H1 were changed, and an aroma-generating sheet to be heated was fabricated by molding so that the thickness thereof was 0.1 mm. The sheet was cut into a rectangle 150 mm in length×240 mm in width, which was supplied to a rotary cutter and processed to a shape having a width of 1.0 mm, a length of 240 mm, and a thickness of 0.1 mm, and an aroma-generating filler to be heated was obtained. Two hundred twenty five units of the filler were bundled and arranged lengthwise, and paper having a basis weight of 34 g/m.sup.2 was wound thereon and sized to produce a cylindrical aroma-generating processing object to be heated. The inside diameter of the processing object was 6.9 mm. The processing object was furthermore cut to a length of 12.0 mm to form an aroma generator to be heated. The mass of the aroma generator to be heated was 0.29 g, and the volume filling ratio of the filler with respect to the volume of the aroma generator to be heated was 0.60.
Production Example D
[0283] In the same manner as in (Production Example B), an aged mixture was inputted to the second wet mixing step (means) M2, and an aroma-generating sheet to be heated was fabricated by the sheet molding step (means) H1. However, in the present Production Example, processing conditions in the second wet mixing step (means) and the sheet molding step (means) H1 were changed, and an aroma-generating sheet to be heated was fabricated by molding so that the thickness thereof was 0.5 mm. The aroma-generating sheet to be heated was cut into a rectangle 150 mm in length×240 mm in width, which was supplied to a rotary cutter and processed to a shape having a width of 1.0 mm, a length of 240 mm, and a thickness of 0.5 mm, and an aroma-generating filler to be heated was obtained. Two hundred twenty five units of the filler were bundled and arranged lengthwise, and paper having a basis weight of 34 g/m.sup.2 was wound thereon and sized to produce a cylindrical aroma-generating processing object to be heated. The inside diameter of the processing object was 6.9 mm. The processing object was furthermore cut to a length of 12.0 mm to form an aroma generator to be heated. The mass of the aroma generator to be heated was 0.29 g, and the volume filling ratio of the filler with respect to the volume of the aroma generator to be heated was 0.60.
[0284] An aroma generator to be heated was fabricated for comparison, in which methyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose as first binders and glucomannan as a second binder were added en bloc.
Comparative Production Example
[0285] The materials below were agitation-mixed, and a xylitol/aqueous solution was obtained.
TABLE-US-00011 Xylitol 100 parts by mass Water 400 parts by mass
[0286] Black tea leaves dried at 70° C., pulverized, and passed through an 80 mesh sieve were used. The moisture content thereof was 2% by mass. A dried jiaogulan product pulverized and passed through an 80 mesh sieve was likewise used.
TABLE-US-00012 Black tea dry pulverized product 80 parts by mass Jiaogulan dry pulverized product 20 parts by mass Methyl cellulose 15 parts by mass Glycerin 30 parts by mass Propylene glycol 30 parts by mass Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 4 parts by mass Xylitol/aqueous solution 8 parts by mass Glucomannan 0.5 part by mass Water 20 parts by mass
[0287] The above materials were loaded into a mixer and mixed for 15 minutes, and a mixture including glucomannan and all the other materials above was obtained.
[0288] The mixture produced as described above was mixed in a three-roll mill, and an aroma-generating sheet to be heated having a thickness of 0.3 mm was fabricated while a step (means) for collecting a sheet-shaped product by pressing a doctor blade against a roll was repeated 8 times to accomplish kneading and dispersion of the mixture at the same time. There was difficulty in forming a sheet during molding using the three-roll mill. Although a sheet was formed, measurement thereof according to Evaluation A was not possible.
[0289] The resultant aroma-generating sheet to be heated was cut into a rectangle 150 mm in length×240 mm in width, which was supplied to a rotary cutter and processed to a shape having a width of 1.5 mm, a length of 240 mm, and a thickness of 0.3 mm, and an aroma-generating filler to be heated was obtained. Fifty units of the filler were bundled and arranged lengthwise, and paper having a basis weight of 34 g/m.sup.2 was wound thereon and sized to produce a cylindrical aroma-generating processing object to be heated. The inside diameter of the processing object was 6.9 mm. The processing object was furthermore cut to a length of 12.0 mm to form an aroma generator to be heated. The mass of the aroma generator to be heated was 0.29 g, and the volume filling ratio of the filler with respect to the volume of the aroma generator to be heated was 0.60.
Example A
[0290] Using the aroma generator to be heated that was fabricated in (Production Example A), an aroma cartridge of the type illustrated in
Example B
[0291] An aroma cartridge was fabricated in the same manner as in (Example A), except that the aroma generator to be heated that was fabricated in (Production Example B) was used.
Example C
[0292] An aroma cartridge was fabricated in the same manner as in (Example A), except that the aroma generator to be heated that was fabricated in (Production Example C) was used.
Example D
[0293] An aroma cartridge was fabricated in the same manner as in (Example A), except that the aroma generator to be heated that was fabricated in (Production Example D) was used.
Comparative Example
[0294] An aroma cartridge was fabricated in the same manner as in (Example A), except that the aroma generator to be heated that was fabricated in (Comparative Production Example) was used. However, in fabrication of the aroma cartridge, the aroma-generating filler to be heated was too soft, and fabrication was difficult.
[0295] The evaluations described below were performed for the aroma-generating sheets to be heated and the aroma cartridges fabricated as described above. <<Evaluation 1>> was also performed in addition to the evaluations below.
[0296] <<Evaluation A>>
[0297] A tensile strength of the aroma-generating sheet to be heated was tested. A commonly used tensile strength tester was used for tensile strength testing. A sample having a width of 10.0 cm and a length of 22.0 cm cut from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated was used as a sample, and tensile strength was measured at a cross head speed of 10 cm/min and a distance of 20.0 cm between clamps of the tensile tester. The testing environment was a room temperature of 20° C. and a humidity of 50%. An aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated by each production method (device) was evaluated by comparing a breaking strength thereof, and it was learned that a breaking strength of 3.9 N/mm.sup.2 or greater, preferably 5.0 N/mm.sup.2 or greater, was preferred comprehensively in terms of such characteristics as molding, aroma cartridge fabrication, initial aspiration quantity, initial flavor, and change over time in aspiration quantity and flavor.
Evaluation B
[0298] The heating-type smoking appliance used was an IQOS (registered trademark) heating-type electronic tobacco device, produced by Philip Morris, of the type illustrated in
[0301] <<Evaluation C>>
[0302] Dislodgement of smoked filler was evaluated. The evaluation method (device) comprises directing the aroma-generator-to-be-heated side of the smoked aroma cartridge vertically downward and observing whether the aroma-generating filler to be heated falls out. The evaluation criteria are as described below.
[0303] Rank A: No falling material observed.
[0304] Rank B: Part of the filler falls out.
[0305] Test results are shown in Table 1. As is clear from Table 1, divided addition of binders is recognized as having an effect on each of molding, aroma cartridge fabrication, initial aspiration quantity and flavor, change in aspiration quantity and flavor over time, and fusion over time of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and this effect can be further increased by aging. Consequently, it is obvious that the aroma-generating base material to be heated in which binders are dividedly added, as well as the aroma-generating base material to be heated in which an aging step (means) is applied in the fabrication thereof, function as gas-generation-maintaining materials in the aroma cartridge.
TABLE-US-00013 TABLE 1 Effect of Production method on Gas Generation Maintenance Ability of Aroma-generating Base Material to Be Heated Aroma- Evaluation B generating Immedi- After filler to Evalu- ately after leaving Evalua- Evalua- be heated ation A fabrication to stand Tion C Tion 1 Example A Production 5.5 A:3, B:2 A:2, B:3 A B Example A N/mm.sup.2 Example B Production 5.8 A:5, B:0 A:4, B:1 A A Example B N/mm.sup.2 Example C Production 4.5 A:5, B:0 A:5, B:0 A A Example C N/mm.sup.2 Example D Production 3.9 A:5, B:0 A:4, B:1 A A Example D N/mm.sup.2 Compara- Compara- Unable A:1, B:4 A:0, B:5 B C tive tive to Example Production evaluate Example
[0306] Based on the above, it was recognized that the production method (device) has an effect on the internal structure of the aroma-generating base material to be heated, and that the aroma-generating base material to be heated fabricated by the appropriate production method (device) functions as a gas-generation-maintaining material for the aroma cartridge that is fabricated using the aroma-generating base material to be heated. In the present invention, another material that functions as a gas-generation-maintaining material was discovered. This material consists of inorganic particles.
[0307] The effect of the inorganic particles will be described in specific examples. (Production Example 1) was employed as the conventionally used production method (device), and the effect of various inorganic particles on the gas generation maintenance ability of the aroma-generating base material to be heated, which was fabricated by this production method (device), was evaluated as described below.
[0308] An aroma generator to be heated was fabricated and an aroma cartridge was assembled in accordance with (Production Example 1), but in the present example, after the aroma-generating sheet to be heated which was fabricated in (Production Example 1) was cut to a length of 12 mm and a width of 1.5 mm (and a thickness of 0.5 mm) to fabricate an aroma-generating filler to be heated, a step (means) for adding predetermined amounts of various inorganic particles and spraying and coating with the inorganic particles so as to evenly adhere the inorganic particles to the surface of the aroma-generating filler to be heated was added, as indicated by the spraying step (means) H2 in
[0309] <<Evaluation 2>>
[0310] The evaluation described below was performed after confirming the presence of fouling adhering to the heating element 113 after use of the aroma cartridge in the manner illustrated in
Example I
[0311] Calcium carbonate powder having an average particle diameter of 15 μm, in the amount of 1 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of an aroma-generating filler to be heated which was cut as described above from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated in (Production Example 1), was sprayed so as to adhere to the entire surface of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and said entire surface was coated with the calcium carbonate powder. After confirming by microscopy that calcium carbonate particles having a diameter of 10-50 μm were adhering to the aroma-generating filler to be heated, an aroma generator to be heated was fabricated using 0.29 g of the aroma-generating filler to be heated having calcium carbonate particles on the surface thereof. An aroma cartridge was assembled from a mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated. The measured filling ratio of the filler in this case was 81%.
Example II
[0312] Magnesium carbonate powder having an average particle diameter of 10 μm, in the amount of 1 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of an aroma-generating filler to be heated which was cut as described above from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated in (Production Example 1), was sprayed so as to adhere to the entire surface of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and said entire surface was coated with the calcium carbonate powder. After confirming by microscopy that magnesium carbonate particles having a diameter of 10-50 μm were adhering to the aroma-generating filler to be heated, an aroma generator to be heated was fabricated using 0.29 g of the aroma-generating filler to be heated having magnesium carbonate particles on the surface thereof. An aroma cartridge was assembled from a mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated. The measured filling ratio of the filler in this case was 80%.
Example III
[0313] Silicon oxide powder having an average particle diameter of 20 μm, in the amount of 1 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of an aroma-generating filler to be heated which was cut as described above from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated in (Production Example 1), was sprayed so as to adhere to the entire surface of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and said entire surface was coated with the silicon oxide powder. After confirming by microscopy that silicon oxide particles having a diameter of 10-50 μm were adhering to the aroma-generating filler to be heated, an aroma generator to be heated was fabricated using 0.29 g of the aroma-generating filler to be heated having silicon oxide particles on the surface thereof. An aroma cartridge was assembled from a mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated. The measured filling ratio of the filler in this case was 80%.
Example IV
[0314] Alumina particles having an average particle diameter of 5 μm, in the amount of 1 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of an aroma-generating filler to be heated which was cut as described above from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated in (Production Example 1), were sprayed so as to adhere to the entire surface of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and said entire surface was coated with the alumina particles. After confirming by microscopy that alumina particles having a diameter of 10-50 μm were adhering to the aroma-generating filler to be heated, an aroma generator to be heated was fabricated using 0.29 g of the aroma-generating filler to be heated having alumina particles on the surface thereof. An aroma cartridge was assembled from a mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated. The measured filling ratio of the filler in this case was 81%.
Example V
[0315] Alumina particles having an average particle diameter of 2 μm, in the amount of 1 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of an aroma-generating filler to be heated which was cut as described above from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated in (Production Example 1), were sprayed so as to adhere to the entire surface of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and said entire surface was coated with the alumina particles. Although it could not be confirmed by microscopy in this case that alumina particles having a diameter of 10-50 μm were adhering to the aroma-generating filler to be heated, an aroma generator to be heated was fabricated using 0.29 g of the aroma-generating filler to be heated which was coated with alumina particles. An aroma cartridge was assembled from a mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated. The measured filling ratio of the filler in this case was 81%.
Example VI
[0316] Silicon oxide particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5 μm, in the amount of 1 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of an aroma-generating filler to be heated which was cut as described above from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated in (Production Example 1), were sprayed so as to adhere to the entire surface of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and said entire surface was coated with the silicon oxide particles. Although it could also not be confirmed by microscopy in this case that silicon oxide particles having a diameter of 10-50 μm were adhering to the aroma-generating filler to be heated, an aroma generator to be heated was fabricated using 0.29 g of the aroma-generating filler to be heated which was coated with silicon oxide particles. An aroma cartridge was assembled from a mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated. The measured filling ratio of the filler in this case was 81′.
Example VII
[0317] Silicon oxide particles having an average particle diameter of 47 μm, in the amount of 1 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of an aroma-generating filler to be heated which was cut as described above from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated in (Production Example 1), were sprayed so as to adhere to the entire surface of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and said entire surface was coated with the silicon oxide particles. After confirming by microscopy that silicon oxide particles having a diameter of 10-50 μm were adhering to the aroma-generating filler to be heated, an aroma generator to be heated was fabricated using 0.29 g of the aroma-generating filler to be heated which was coated with silicon oxide particles. An aroma cartridge was assembled from a mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated. The measured filling ratio of the filler in this case was 65%.
Comparative Example I
[0318] An aroma generator to be heated was fabricated using, without modification thereof, 0.29 g of the aroma-generating filler to be heated which was cut as described above from the aroma-generating sheet to be heated fabricated in (Production Example 1). An aroma cartridge was assembled from a mouthpiece and the aroma generator to be heated. The measured filling ratio of the filler in this case was 81%.
[0319] Results of the evaluations described above are shown in Table 2. As is clear from Table 2, inorganic particles having a wide range of particle diameters function as gas-generation-maintaining materials, regardless of the material properties thereof. As is clear from the results of <<Evaluation 1>>, there was no fusion over time of the aroma-generating filler to be heated, and there was little change over time in the released quantity of gas, i.e., in both gas aspiration quantity and flavor. The reason for such a result is not known for certain, but may be as follows. It is possible that when inorganic particles are present on the surface of the filler, the inorganic particles act as spacers to reduce the contact area between fillers, and have the effect of inhibiting fusion of the fillers due to bleed-out of the aerosol former even when placed in a high-temperature state for a long time, and the inorganic particles have such effects as suppressing bleed-out of the aerosol former.
TABLE-US-00014 TABLE 2 Effect of Inorganic Particles on Gas Generation Maintenance Ability of Aroma-generating Base Material to Be Heated Aroma- Added Evalu- generating Particle quantity Filling ation 2 sheet to Inorganic diameter (parts by ratio Evalu- (Car- be heated particles (μm) mass) (%) ation 1 tridges) Example I Production Calcium 15 1 81 A 10 Example I carbonate Example II Production Magnesium 10 1 80 A 20 Example I carbonate Example III Production Silicon 20 1 80 A 15 Example I oxide Example IV Production Alumina 5 1 81 A 30 Example I Example V Production Alumina 2 1 81 B 35 Example I Example VI Production Silicon 0.5 1 81 B 40 Example I oxide Example VII Production Silicon 47 1 65 A 10 Example I oxide Compara- Production None — — 81 C — tive Example I Example
[0320] As is clear from <<Evaluation 2>>, the inorganic particles also have the effects of preventing contamination of the heating element. In particular, a good effect is obtained when the average particle diameter of an added inorganic powder is 1-50 μm, and prevention of contamination is further increased when the average particle diameter is 5 μm or greater. A good effect is obtained when the added quantity an added inorganic powder is 0.01-5 parts by mass, and prevention of contamination is further increased when the added quantity is 0.1 part by mass or greater. The reason that the inorganic particles have the effect of preventing contamination of the heating element is not known for certain, but such reasons as the following can be conjectured. An inorganic material is not readily decomposed by heating, the inorganic particles polish the surface of the heating element and remove contaminating matter when the aroma cartridge is installed on and removed from the heating element, and the inorganic particles reduce the area of contact between the heating element surface and the aroma-generating filler to be heated.
[0321] In order to obtain the above results, the inorganic particles preferably have an average particle diameter of 1-100 μm. The effect of the inorganic particles decreases when the average particle diameter thereof is less than 1 μm. An average particle diameter of 5 μm or greater is preferred, because the effect of the inorganic particles is thereby increased. For the same reason, an average particle diameter of 10 μm or greater is more preferred. The filling ratio of the filler decreases the larger the average particle diameter is, but when the average particle diameter is 50 μm or less, the inorganic particles have a large effect, and the minimum necessary filling ratio can be ensured.
[0322] The minimum necessary filling ratio herein is closely related to the aspiration quantity of gas generated by heating. When the filling ratio is less than 60%, an adequate quantity of gas is not released by heating, the quantity of gas aspirated by the smoker is inadequate, and the sensation of inhalation is unsatisfactory. Consequently, the necessary filling ratio is more preferably 65% or greater, and even more preferably 70% or greater. Conversely, when the filling ratio exceeds 90%, problems arise in that gaps between fillers are decreased, smoking is difficult, and insertion on the heating element also becomes difficult.
[0323] This filling ratio can be evaluated by a method for calculating the area ratio of the aroma-generating base material to be heated with respect to a cross section of the aroma generator to be heated. The filling ratio was determined by evaluating a filler and a gap portion including no filler, using a digital microscope. An image was projected on a display at a magnification of 100 using a digital microscope (VHX-2000, produced by KEYENCE CORPORATION). A range of the image to be analyzed was set to a region in which only the filler and the gap portion including no filler appeared. In this case, for an observation sample having a diameter of 7.0 mm, the range was set to 3.5 mm horizontally and 2.6 mm vertically. For image analysis in the range described above, an “extraction mode” was set to “luminance” in an “automatic measurement mode” using included software. In measurement, “standard” was selected, an “extraction parameter” was set to “bright,” and a “threshold value” was selected so that the observed filler and gap were separated. The filling ratio was determined as the ratio of the entire measurement region that was occupied by the filler.
[0324] The average particle diameter of the inorganic particles in the present invention was determined by a wet method using a laser diffraction/scattering-type particle diameter distribution measuring device. In the present invention, a Microtrac MT3300III produced by MICROTRACBEL CORPORATION was used. The average particle diameter in the present invention indicates the median diameter D.sub.50 at 50% of a volume-based distribution accumulated for a range of 0.02 μm to 2000 μm.
[0325] The presence of inorganic particles in the present invention was confirmed not only by microscope observation in the producing steps (means), but also by observation of the filler surface using an optical microscope or an electron microscope. The presence of inorganic particles was also confirmed by microscope or electron microscope observation of residue from thermal decomposition of the filler, from results of about 10 observations in a visual field of 100 μm×100 μm at an appropriate magnification. Confirmation that inorganic particles in a residue were the added inorganic particles was obtained using a scanning electron microscope capable of X-ray microanalysis (XMA).
[0326] The added quantity of inorganic particles must be at least 0.001 part by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the filler in order for the effect of the inorganic particles to manifest, and is more preferably 0.01 part by mass or greater, and even more preferably 0.05 part by mass or greater. Conversely, when the added quantity exceeds 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the filler, the filling ratio of the filler decreases, which affects gas aspiration quantity or flavor. From this perspective, an added quantity of 5 parts by mass or less is more preferred, and an added quantity of 2 parts by mass or less is even more preferred.
[0327] Inorganic substances that can be used as the inorganic particles of the present invention are not particularly limited, but sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and other metal chlorides, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide, alumina, and other metal oxides, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, and other metal carbonates, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and other metal sulfates, calcium phosphate and other metal phosphates, and potassium titanate, magnesium titanate, and other titanates can be used singly, or two or more of the above substances can be selected for use. Zeolite, colloidal silica, fumed silica, and other silicon oxides, and natural materials such as diatomaceous earth and vermiculite can also be used. Magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, silicon oxide, and alumina are particularly preferred.
[0328] The inorganic particles can be attached to the aroma-generating base material to be heated in the spraying step (means) H2 in
[0329] Through the present invention described above, by improving a production method (device), it is possible to provide an aroma generator to be heated in which an aroma-generating base material to be heated functions as a gas-generation-maintaining material, and an aroma generator to be heated in which inorganic particles function as a gas-generation-maintaining material. Consequently, it is also possible to provide an aroma cartridge in which there is no need to provide a gas aspiration optimization means to a mouthpiece, as illustrated in
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0330] The present invention can provide an aroma cartridge of tobacco of genus Nicotiana of the family Solanaceae and a plant of the same genus, and of a harmless aroma which is derived from a plant or the like not including a tobacco component, whereby smoking can be enjoyed with a cigarette sensation not only by an experienced flame-type smoker but also by a first-time smoker. The present invention is therefore a novel smoking appliance whereby smoking that is devoid of adverse health effects on the smoker as well as on surrounding non-smokers can be enjoyed, and which induces a waves in the brain, has a soothing effect, and helps to promote health and beauty. The aroma cartridge of the present invention is also provided with a gas aspiration optimization means and a gas-generation-maintaining material, and therefore has the feature that no change in flavor or aspiration quantity of smoke and a fragrance component occurs even when the aroma cartridge is stored for a long time. Consequently, technology relating to the aroma cartridge of the present invention has broad applicability in incense sticks, incense burning, incense powder, rubbing incense, and the like, or in aromatherapy and the like.
KEY TO SYMBOLS
[0331] 11 Electric heating-type smoking appliance (1) [0332] 111 Casing [0333] 112 Chamber [0334] 113 Electrically controlled heating element [0335] 1131 Electric control unit [0336] 114 Aroma cartridge insertion port [0337] 115 Inlet port [0338] 12 Electric heating-type smoking appliance (2) [0339] 121 Casing [0340] 122 Chamber [0341] 123 Electrically controlled heating element [0342] 1231 Electric control unit [0343] 124 Aroma cartridge insertion port [0344] 125 Inlet hole [0345] 2 Aroma cartridge [0346] 2-1 through 2-19 Aroma cartridges (1) through (19) [0347] 21 Aroma generator to be heated [0348] 21-p Interior material for aroma generator to be heated [0349] 211 Cover material [0350] 212 Partition wall material [0351] 213 Aroma-generating sheet to be heated [0352] 214 Aroma-generating filler to be heated [0353] 22 Mouthpiece [0354] 22-p Mouthpiece interior material [0355] 221 Mouthpiece having cavity [0356] 221-1 Mouthpiece (1) having cylindrical cavity [0357] 221-1-c1 Cylindrical cavity (1) [0358] 221-2 Mouthpiece (2) having cylindrical cavity [0359] 221-2-c2 Cylindrical cavity (2) [0360] 221-2-c3 Cylindrical cavity (3) [0361] 221-3 Mouthpiece (3) having cylindrical cavity [0362] 221-3-c4 Cylindrical cavity (4) [0363] 221-4 Mouthpiece (4) having cylindrical cavity [0364] 221-4-c5 Cylindrical cavity (5) [0365] 221-4-c6 Cylindrical cavity (6) [0366] 221-5 Mouthpiece (1) having circular conical cavity [0367] 221-5-d1 Circular conical cavity (1) [0368] 221-6 Mouthpiece (2) having circular conical cavity [0369] 221-6-d2 Circular conical cavity (2) [0370] 221-7 Mouthpiece (1) having void and cylindrical cavity [0371] 2211 Filter (1) having cavity [0372] 221-7-c7 Cylindrical cavity (7) [0373] 221-7-v1 Void (1) [0374] 221-8 Mouthpiece (2) having void and cylindrical cavity [0375] 2212 Filter (2) having cavity [0376] 221-8-c8 Cylindrical cavity (8) [0377] 221-8-v2 Void (2) [0378] 222 Mouthpiece having support member [0379] 222-1 Mouthpiece (1) having support member [0380] 2221 Support member [0381] 2221-h Through hole [0382] 2222 Filter (3) having cavity [0383] 2222-c1 Cavity (1) [0384] 223 Mouthpiece having support member/cooling member [0385] 2231 Support member [0386] 2231-h Through hole [0387] 2232 Cooling member [0388] 2233 Filter (4) having cavity [0389] 2233-c1 Cavity (1) [0390] 224 Mouthpiece having cooling member [0391] 2241 Cooling member [0392] 2242 Filter (5) having cavity [0393] 2242-c1 Cavity (1) [0394] 225 Mouthpiece having reinforcing support member [0395] 225-1 Mouthpiece (1) having reinforcing support member [0396] 2251-1 Reinforcing support member (1) [0397] 2251-1-s1 Plate-shaped reinforcing material [0398] 2251-1-h Through hole [0399] 2252-1 Filter (1) [0400] 225-2 Mouthpiece (2) having reinforcing support member [0401] 2251-2 Reinforcing support member (2) [0402] 2251-2-s2 Plate-shaped reinforcing material [0403] 2251-2-h Through hole [0404] 2252-2 Filter (2) [0405] 225-3 Mouthpiece (3) having reinforcing support member [0406] 2251-3 Reinforcing support member (3) [0407] 2251-3-s3 Plate-shaped reinforcing material [0408] 2251-3-s4 Tubular reinforcing material [0409] 2252-3 Filter (3) [0410] 225-4 Mouthpiece (4) having reinforcing support member [0411] 2251-4-s3 Plate-shaped reinforcing material [0412] 2251-4-s4 Columnar reinforcing material [0413] 2252-4 Filter (4) [0414] 225-5 Mouthpiece (5) having reinforcing support member [0415] 2251-5-s3 Plate-shaped reinforcing material [0416] 2251-5-s4 Tubular reinforcing material [0417] 2251-5-h Through hole [0418] 2252-5 Filter (5) [0419] 2252-5-c1 Cavity [0420] 226 Mouthpiece having reinforcing support member/cooling member [0421] 2261 Reinforcing support member [0422] 2261-s3 Plate-shaped reinforcing material [0423] 2261-s6 Tubular reinforcing material [0424] 2262 Cooling member [0425] 2263 Filter (6) having cavity [0426] 2263-c1 Cavity (1) [0427] 227 Mouthpiece having heat insulation member [0428] 2271 Heat insulation member [0429] 2272 Filter [0430] 228 Mouthpiece having heat insulation member/cooling member [0431] 2281 Heat insulation member [0432] 2282 Cooling member [0433] 2283 Filter [0434] 23 Cartridge exterior body (1) [0435] 24 Cartridge exterior body (2) [0436] W Air flow [0437] o Center axis of right circular cylinder of aroma cartridge [0438] j Outside diameter of aroma cartridge [0439] k Length of aroma cartridge [0440] a Length of aroma generator to be heated [0441] m Length of mouthpiece [0442] f Length of filter [0443] b Inside diameter of bottom surface of cavity [0444] c Height of cylindrical cavity [0445] d Height of circular conical cavity [0446] v Length of void [0447] s Length of support member [0448] r Length of cooling member [0449] x Width of aroma-generating filler to be heated [0450] y Thickness of aroma-generating base material to be heated [0451] z Length of aroma-generating base material to be heated