ROD-SHAPED AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC INFORMATION MARKER

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a rod-shaped aerosol-generating article is provided, including: arranging segments in a row along a longitudinal direction; wrapping a first sheet around at least one of the segments; and wrapping a second sheet around at least one of the segments so as to at least partially overlap the first sheet, such that upon wrapping the second sheet, an electromagnetic information marker is created, the electromagnetic information marker including a first structure provided on the first sheet and a second structure provided on the second sheet. A rod-shaped aerosol-generating article, an aerosol-generating system, and a sheet, are also provided.

Claims

1.-17. (canceled)

18. A method for manufacturing a rod-shaped aerosol-generating article, comprising: arranging segments in a row along a longitudinal direction; wrapping a first sheet around at least one of the segments; and wrapping a second sheet around at least one of the segments so as to at least partially overlap the first sheet, wherein upon wrapping the second sheet, an electromagnetic information marker is created, the electromagnetic information marker comprising a first structure provided on the first sheet and a second structure provided on the second sheet.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein upon wrapping the second sheet, the second structure is positioned to at least partially overlap the first structure.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the first structure comprises first sub-structures and the second structure comprises second sub-structures, and wherein each first sub-structure forms together with a corresponding second sub-structure a sub-marker configured to be read out by magnetic interaction with the sub-marker.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising writing information on the electromagnetic information marker after wrapping the second sheet.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the electromagnetic information marker is configured to be read out by exposing the electromagnetic information marker to an alternating magnetic field.

23. A method for producing a plurality of rod-shaped aerosol-generating articles, comprising carrying out the method according to claim 18 multiple times, wherein a positioning of the second structure relative to the first structure is different for at least some of the produced rod-shaped aerosol-generating articles.

24. A rod-shaped aerosol-generating article, comprising: an electromagnetic information marker, wherein the electromagnetic information marker stores information having an information content exceeding one bit, wherein the electromagnetic information marker comprises a first structure and a second structure at least partially overlapping the first structure, and wherein the first structure or the second structure comprises a first metallic material and the other one of the first structure and the second structure comprises a second metallic material, the first metallic material having a higher magnetic coercivity than the second metallic material.

25. The rod-shaped aerosol-generating article according to claim 24, wherein the electromagnetic information marker stores information on one or more of a manufacturing location of the aerosol-generating article, a manufacturing date of the aerosol-generating article, a manufacturing time of the aerosol-generating article, a type of the aerosol-generating article, and verification information.

26. The rod-shaped aerosol-generating article according to claim 24, wherein the first structure or the second structure exhibits magnetostriction.

27. The rod-shaped aerosol-generating article according to claim 24, wherein the first structure further comprises first sub-structures and the second structure further comprises second sub-structures, and wherein each first sub-structure forms together with a corresponding second sub-structure a sub-marker configured to be read out by magnetic interaction with the sub-marker.

28. The rod-shaped aerosol-generating article according to claim 27, wherein each of the sub-markers has a magnetic resonance frequency different from magnetic resonance frequencies of the remaining sub-markers.

29. An aerosol-generating system, comprising: a rod-shaped aerosol-generating article according to claim 24; and an electronic holder, configured to receive the rod-shaped aerosol-generating article to enable generation of aerosol, wherein the rod-shaped aerosol-generating article further comprises an electromagnetic information marker, and wherein the electronic holder comprises a data reader configured to read out data from the electromagnetic information marker.

30. A sheet, configured to combine at least two segments of a rod-shaped aerosol-generating article and as a substrate for a metallic structure of an electromagnetic information marker storing information about the aerosol-generating article, wherein an additional sheet is wrapped around at least one of the segments and is an additional substrate for an additional metallic structure of the electromagnetic information marker.

31. The sheet according to claim 30, wherein the metallic structure is printed onto the sheet, or evaporated onto the sheet, or laminated onto the sheet.

Description

[0061] Examples regarding the invention will now be further described with reference to the figures, in which:

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a manufacturing process of a rod-shaped aerosol generating article according to an embodiment;

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through the first sheet and the second sheet of the aerosol generating article according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 at the position of the electromagnetic information marker, wherein the sectional plane is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article;

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a manufacturing process of a rod-shaped aerosol generating article according to another embodiment;

[0065] FIG. 4 shows schematic representation of an aerosol generating system according to an embodiment in which the electronic holder comprises separate coils for heating the aerosol generating article and for reading out data from the electromagnetic information marker;

[0066] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an aerosol generating system according to an embodiment with an electronic holder having a common coil for heating the aerosol generating article and for reading out data from electronic information marker; and

[0067] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a manufacturing equipment for manufacturing an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment.

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a method for manufacturing a rod-shaped aerosol generating article 1 according to an embodiment. The aerosol generating article 1 comprises multiple segments 3, 5, 7, 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the aerosol generating article 1 comprises four segments 3, 5, 7, 9. However, a different number of segments is possible. The segments 3, 5, 7, 9 may be rod-shaped. The illustrated segments comprise a mouth piece segment 3 comprising a mouth piece for an aerosol generating article, a diffuser segment 5 comprising a diffuser, a tobacco material segment 7 comprising a tobacco material and, in some embodiments, a heat source for an aerosol generating article, and a cap segment 9 comprising a cap for an aerosol generating article. The segments 3, 5, 7, 9 are arranged in a row along a longitudinal direction 11.

[0069] As shown in the first section of FIG. 1, a first sheet 13 is wrapped around the segments 3, 5, 7, 9 to combine the segments 3, 5, 7, 9. The first sheet 13 may comprise a foil. The first sheet 13 may comprise paper. The first sheet 13 may be metallized or laminated.

[0070] After the first sheet 13 has been wrapped around the segments 3, 5, 7, 9, a second sheet 15 is wrapped around the heat source segment 7 and the cap segment 9. The second sheet 15 is wrapped over the first sheet 13. The second sheet 15 may comprise a foil. The second sheet 15 may comprise paper. The second sheet 15 may be metallized or laminated.

[0071] A first structure 17 is provided on the first sheet 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the first structure 17 comprises three sub-structures 19. The three sub-structures 19 are shaped as parallel lines or stripes that are oriented so as to form parallel circles around a center axis of the segments 3, 5, 7, 9 after wrapping of the first sheet 13. The first structure 17 may be formed on the first sheet 13 before wrapping the first sheet 13 around the segments 3, 5, 7, 9. The first structure 17 may be printed, evaporated, or laminated onto the first sheet 13. The first structure 17 is integral with the first sheet 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the first structure 17 is provided on an outer side of the first sheet 13, which is the side of the first sheet 13 facing away from the segments 3, 5, 7, 9 after the first sheet 13 has been wrapped around the segments 3, 5, 7, 9. However, the first structure 17 or one or more first sub-structures 19 might alternatively be provided on an inner side of the first sheet 13 facing the segments 3, 5, 7, 9.

[0072] A second structure 21 is provided on the second sheet 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the second structure 21 comprises three second sub-structures 23. The second structure 21 may be formed on the second sheet 15 before wrapping the second sheet 15 around the segments 7, 9. The second structure 21 may be printed, evaporated, or laminated onto the second sheet 15. The second structure 21 is integral with the second sheet 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the second structure 21 is provided on an outer side of the second sheet 15, which is the side of the second sheet 15 facing away from the segments 7, 9 after the second sheet 15 has been wrapped around the segments 7, 9. However, the second structure 21 or one or more second sub-structures 23 might alternatively be provided on an inner side of the second sheet 15 facing the segments 7, 9.

[0073] The second structure 21 is positioned on the second sheet 15 such that after wrapping the second sheet 15 around the segments 7, 9, the second structure 21 overlaps the first structure 17. In particular, each second sub-structure 23 overlaps with a corresponding first sub-structure 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the shapes and sizes of the second sub-structures 23 correspond to the shapes and sizes of the first sub-structures 19. It would, however, also be possible to have different shapes for the first sub-structures 19 and the second sub-structures 23. The first structure 17 and the second structure 21 may touch after wrapping the first and second sheets 13, 15. Alternatively, the first structure 17 and the second structure 21 may not touch after wrapping the first and second sheets 13, 15. The first structure 17 and the second structure 21 may be spaced from each other.

[0074] The first structure 17 or the second structure 21 may comprise or be formed of a first metallic material. The other one of the first structure 17 and the second structure 21 may comprise or be formed of a second metallic material. The first metallic material may comprise metallic components. The first metallic material may comprise a metallic ink or a metallic paste. The second metallic material may comprise metallic components. The second metallic material may comprise a metallic ink or a metallic paste. The first metallic material or the second metallic material or both may comprise a metal based alloy. The metal based alloy may comprise manganese. The metal based alloy may comprise manganese at 7 to 20 weight percent, or at 9 to 18 weight percent, or at 11 to 15 weight percent. The metal based alloy may comprise at least one ferromagnetic material. The metal based alloy may comprise at least one ferromagnetic material at less than 10 weight percent, or at less than 8 weight percent. The metal based alloy may comprise iron (Fe). The metal based alloy may comprise or be based on one or more of cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), and aluminum (Al).

[0075] FIG. 2 shows a schematic partial sectional view through the first sheet 13 and the second sheet 15 after the first sheet 13 and the second sheet 15 have been wrapped around the segments 3, 5, 7, 9 with the sectional plane being parallel to the longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the second sub-structures 23 provided on the second sheet 15 overlaps with a corresponding one of the first sub-structures 19 provided on the first sheet 13. The first structure 17 and the second structure 21 together form an information marker 25. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the information marker 25 comprises three sub-markers 27. Each sub-marker 27 comprises a first sub-structure 19 and the corresponding second sub-structure 23. The first sub-structure 19 and the corresponding second sub-structure 23 of a particular sub-marker 27 overlap with each other.

[0076] FIG. 3 illustrated manufacturing of a rod-shaped aerosol generating article 1 according to another embodiment. Only selected differences, with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the electromagnetic information marker 25 comprises only one sub-marker 27. The first structure 17 provided on the first sheet 13 comprises only one first sub-structure 19. The second structure 21 provided on the second sheet 15 comprises only one second sub-structure 23. When the first sheet 13 and the second sheet 15 have been wrapped, the second structure 21 is positioned to overlap the first structure 17. The first structure 17 and the second structure 21 are identically sized and shaped in the embodiment of FIG. 3. However, it will be conceivable that the first structure 17 and the second structure 21 might also differ in size or shape. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the first structure 17 is provided on the side of the first sheet 13 that faces inward towards the segments 3, 5, 7, 9, after the first sheet 13 has been wrapped around the segments 3, 5, 7, 9. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the second structure 21 is provided on a side of the second sheet 15 that faces outward away from the segments 3, 5, 7, 9 after once the second sheet 15 has been wrapped around the segments 3, 5, 7, 9. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the second sheet 15 is wrapped around all four segments 3, 5, 7, 9.

[0077] FIG. 4 illustrates an aerosol generating system 31 comprising an aerosol generating article 1 and an electronic holder 33. The aerosol generating article 1 is shown in an inserted position inserted into the electronic holder 33. The aerosol generating article 1 may be the aerosol generating article 1 shown in FIG. 1 or the aerosol generating article 1 shown in FIG. 3. The electronic holder 33 has a reception opening 35 for receiving the aerosol generating article 1. The holder 33 further comprises an aerosol opening 37 for discharging aerosol generated by heating the aerosol generating article 1. Further, the electronic holder 33 comprises a heater 39 for heating the aerosol generating article 1 to generate aerosol. In the illustrated embodiment, the heater 39 is an electric heater and comprises a heating coil. A filter element 41 for filtering the aerosol is provided between the reception opening 35 and the aerosol opening 37. The electronic holder 33 comprises a control unit 43 controlling operation of the heater 39. The electronic holder 33 further comprises a data reader 45 configured to read out data from the electromagnetic information marker 25 of the aerosol generating article 1. The data reader 45 comprises a coil that is configured to generate an alternating magnetic field. The data reader 45 may be controlled by the control unit 43.

[0078] According to an embodiment, the first structure 17 has a higher magnetic coercivity than the second structure 21 and is referred to as switching structure, and the second structure 21 having the lower magnetic coercivity is referred to as switched structure. According to another embodiment, the second structure 21 has a higher magnetic coercivity than the first structure 17 and is referred to as switching structure, and the first structure 17 having the lower magnetic coercivity is referred to as switched structure.

[0079] Each sub-structure 19, 23 of the switched structure 17, 21 may be switched between an activated state and a deactivated state. In the activated state, the switched sub-structure 19, 23 of a particular sub-marker 27 emits a detectable electromagnetic response, if subjected to an alternating magnetic field generated by the data reader 45 at a resonance frequency of the sub-marker 27. The resonance frequencies of the sub-markers 27 may be different from each other to enable reading out the sub-markers 27 individually. The response by the sub-marker 27 to the alternating magnetic field generated the data reader 45 may be detected by the data reader 45. The control unit 43 may control the data reader 45 to determine for each of the sub-markers 27 whether the sub-marker 27 is in the activated state (responds to the alternating magnetic field) or in the deactivated state (does not respond to the alternating magnetic field). Based on this approach, the electromagnetic information marker 25 may store information corresponding to information content of as many bits as there are sub-markers 27.

[0080] Additional information may be coded in the resonance frequencies of the individual sub-markers 27. The sub-markers 27 may be specifically designed to respond to an alternating magnetic field at a specific resonance frequency. The resonance frequency of a particular sub-marker 27 may be determined by the data reader 45 by carrying out a frequency sweep over a range of frequencies and detecting at which frequency a response from the sub-marker 27 is received. The resonance frequency of a sub-marker 27 may depend on the exact positioning of the first sheet 13 with respect to the second sheet 15 and on the specific shape and material composition of the first structure 17 and the second structure 21.

[0081] The switched structure 17, 21 may exhibit magnetostriction. In this case, if the switched structure 17, 21 is subjected to an alternating magnetic field at the specific resonance frequency of the switched structure 17, 21 by the data reader 45, the switched structure 17, 21 will change its shape or size. In particular, the switched structure 17, 21 may change its shape or size periodically at a rate corresponding to the resonance frequency of the switched structure 17, 21. The change in size and shape of the switched structure 17, 21 leads to emission of an electromagnetic response signal. Emission of the electromagnetic response signal may continue for a short duration after the alternating magnetic field by the data reader 45 is no longer generated due to continued changing of size and shape of the switched structure 17, 21.

[0082] The electromagnetic information marker 25 may store information about the aerosol generating article 1. For example, the electromagnetic information marker 25 may store information about one or more of a manufacturing location of the aerosol generating article 1, a manufacturing date of the aerosol generating article 1, a manufacturing time of the aerosol generating article 1, a type of the aerosol generating article 1, and verification information. The information on the electromagnetic information marker 25 may be used by the control unit 43 of the electronic holder 33 to improve operation of the electronic holder 33. For example, the control unit 43 may control heating of the aerosol generating article 1 based on a type of the aerosol generating article 1 derived from the data stored on the electromagnetic information marker 25. The control unit 43 may control the electronic holder 33 to commence heating the aerosol generating article 1 only if verification information on the electronic information marker 25 is determined to be valid. The control unit 43 may commence heating of the aerosol generating article 1 only if a date, such as a manufacturing date or a best before date, stored on the information marker 25 is within a predetermined range.

[0083] The electronic holder 33 may be configured for communication with an external device or an external network. The electronic holder 33 may transmit information obtained from the electromagnetic information marker 25 to the external device or to the external network.

[0084] The electronic holder 33 may comprise an input device 48 configured to receive user input and configured to trigger reading out the data from the electromagnetic information marker 25 by the data reader 45 in response to the user input. The input device may comprise a button or a switch, for example.

[0085] Alternatively or in addition, the data reader 45 may be configured to read out the data from the electromagnetic information marker 25 upon insertion of the aerosol generating article 1 into the electronic holder 33. The electronic holder 33 may comprise a sensor 50 detecting insertion of the aerosol generating article 1 into the electronic holder 33 and triggering the data reader 45 to read out the data from the electronic information marker 25 upon insertion of the aerosol generating article 1 into the electronic holder 33.

[0086] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative electronic holder 33. The electronic holder 33 shown in FIG. 5 is largely the same as the electronic holder 33 shown in FIG. 4. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the coil of the heater 39 is controlled by the control unit 43 to also fulfill the function of the data reader 45 so that no separate coil attributed to the data reader 45 is required.

[0087] By changing the states of individual sub-markers 27 from activated to deactivated or from deactivated to activated, data may be newly written onto the electromagnetic information marker 25 or data on the electronic information marker 25 may be rewritten. The state of a sub-marker 27 can be changed by subjecting the sub-structure 19, 23 of the switching structure 17, 21 corresponding to the respective sub-marker 27 to a DC magnetic field. A field strength of the DC magnetic field may be high enough to permanently change the magnetization of the sub-structure 19, 23. In the deactivated state of a sub-marker 27, the switching sub-structure 19, 23 of the sub-marker 27 may be magnetized so as to prevent the switched sub-structure 19, 23 of the sub-marker 27 from following the alternating magnetic field from the data reader 45 and thereby from emitting a response to the alternating magnetic field. Alternatively, bringing the switching sub-structure 19, 13 of a sub-marker 27 in the deactivated state may change a resonance frequency of the switched sub-structure 19, 13 of the sub-marker 27, which may be detected by the data reader 45.

[0088] According to embodiments, information is written onto the electromagnetic information marker 25 during a manufacturing process of the aerosol generating article 1. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, one or more writing devices 49 may be provided in a manufacturing apparatus 51 for carrying out one or more manufacturing steps of the aerosol generating article 1. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a first writing device 49 comprises a coil 53 surrounding a linear path along which aerosol generating articles 1 or precursor products of aerosol generating articles 1 are conveyed. The coil 53 may generate a DC magnetic field. The aerosol generating articles 1 or the precursor products of aerosol generating articles 1 passing through the coil 53 are subjected to the DC magnetic field, whereby information may be written onto the electromagnetic information marker 25.

[0089] FIG. 6 also illustrates a second writing device 49 that is integrated in a drum device for rotatingly conveying aerosol generating articles 1 or precursor products of aerosol generating articles 1. The drum device comprises two rotating drums for conveying aerosol generating articles 1 or precursor products of aerosol generating articles 1. A first one of the rotating drums is configured to give the aerosol generating articles 1 or the precursor products of the aerosol generating articles 1 over to the second drum in a transfer region. In the transfer region, coils of the first drum and coils of the second drum match to enable writing onto the electromagnetic information marker 25.

[0090] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is in particular understood as A±10% of A.