EP3962302A1 - Apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas - Google Patents
Apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gasInfo
- Publication number
- EP3962302A1 EP3962302A1 EP20723820.5A EP20723820A EP3962302A1 EP 3962302 A1 EP3962302 A1 EP 3962302A1 EP 20723820 A EP20723820 A EP 20723820A EP 3962302 A1 EP3962302 A1 EP 3962302A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- generating material
- aerosol generating
- self
- supporting sheet
- aerosol
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 280
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 255
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 152
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 claims description 34
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 claims description 33
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000000979 retarding effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010923 batch production Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003490 calendering Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 description 32
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 24
- 235000019505 tobacco product Nutrition 0.000 description 18
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N (-)-Nicotine Chemical compound CN1CCC[C@H]1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N 0.000 description 12
- 229960002715 nicotine Drugs 0.000 description 12
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N nicotine Natural products CN1CCCC1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 description 12
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 9
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 8
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- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 239000012159 carrier gas Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 5
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- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
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- 229920002134 Carboxymethyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 4
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- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 4
- BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N platinum Chemical compound [Pt] BASFCYQUMIYNBI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
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- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 3
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- PUPZLCDOIYMWBV-UHFFFAOYSA-N (+/-)-1,3-Butanediol Chemical compound CC(O)CCO PUPZLCDOIYMWBV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
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- 229920002785 Croscarmellose sodium Polymers 0.000 description 2
- DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propylene glycol Chemical compound CC(O)CO DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- CYQFCXCEBYINGO-UHFFFAOYSA-N THC Natural products C1=C(C)CCC2C(C)(C)OC3=CC(CCCCC)=CC(O)=C3C21 CYQFCXCEBYINGO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
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- QHMBSVQNZZTUGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Trans-Cannabidiol Natural products OC1=CC(CCCCC)=CC(O)=C1C1C(C(C)=C)CCC(C)=C1 QHMBSVQNZZTUGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- QHMBSVQNZZTUGM-ZWKOTPCHSA-N cannabidiol Chemical compound OC1=CC(CCCCC)=CC(O)=C1[C@H]1[C@H](C(C)=C)CCC(C)=C1 QHMBSVQNZZTUGM-ZWKOTPCHSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229950011318 cannabidiol Drugs 0.000 description 2
- ZTGXAWYVTLUPDT-UHFFFAOYSA-N cannabidiol Natural products OC1=CC(CCCCC)=CC(O)=C1C1C(C(C)=C)CC=C(C)C1 ZTGXAWYVTLUPDT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000012876 carrier material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 2
- CYQFCXCEBYINGO-IAGOWNOFSA-N delta1-THC Chemical compound C1=C(C)CC[C@H]2C(C)(C)OC3=CC(CCCCC)=CC(O)=C3[C@@H]21 CYQFCXCEBYINGO-IAGOWNOFSA-N 0.000 description 2
- ZDJFDFNNEAPGOP-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethyl tetradecanedioate Chemical compound COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC ZDJFDFNNEAPGOP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229960004242 dronabinol Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000008216 herbs Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229910001092 metal group alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910001120 nichrome Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052697 platinum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000005846 sugar alcohols Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010937 tungsten Substances 0.000 description 2
- NOOLISFMXDJSKH-UTLUCORTSA-N (+)-Neomenthol Chemical compound CC(C)[C@@H]1CC[C@@H](C)C[C@@H]1O NOOLISFMXDJSKH-UTLUCORTSA-N 0.000 description 1
- LNAZSHAWQACDHT-XIYTZBAFSA-N (2r,3r,4s,5r,6s)-4,5-dimethoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)-3-[(2s,3r,4s,5r,6r)-3,4,5-trimethoxy-6-(methoxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-6-[(2r,3r,4s,5r,6r)-4,5,6-trimethoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)oxan-3-yl]oxyoxane Chemical compound CO[C@@H]1[C@@H](OC)[C@H](OC)[C@@H](COC)O[C@H]1O[C@H]1[C@H](OC)[C@@H](OC)[C@H](O[C@H]2[C@@H]([C@@H](OC)[C@H](OC)O[C@@H]2COC)OC)O[C@@H]1COC LNAZSHAWQACDHT-XIYTZBAFSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FHVDTGUDJYJELY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 6-{[2-carboxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(phosphanyloxy)oxan-3-yl]oxy}-4,5-dihydroxy-3-phosphanyloxane-2-carboxylic acid Chemical compound O1C(C(O)=O)C(P)C(O)C(O)C1OC1C(C(O)=O)OC(OP)C(O)C1O FHVDTGUDJYJELY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- NOOLISFMXDJSKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N DL-menthol Natural products CC(C)C1CCC(C)CC1O NOOLISFMXDJSKH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000196324 Embryophyta Species 0.000 description 1
- 229920000896 Ethulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000001856 Ethyl cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- ZZSNKZQZMQGXPY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethyl cellulose Chemical compound CCOCC1OC(OC)C(OCC)C(OCC)C1OC1C(O)C(O)C(OC)C(CO)O1 ZZSNKZQZMQGXPY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000001859 Ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004354 Hydroxyethyl cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000663 Hydroxyethyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002153 Hydroxypropyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 244000061176 Nicotiana tabacum Species 0.000 description 1
- 229910019142 PO4 Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 244000223014 Syzygium aromaticum Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000016639 Syzygium aromaticum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- YPFDHNVEDLHUCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Trimethylene glycol Natural products OCCCO YPFDHNVEDLHUCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229940072056 alginate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000010443 alginic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920000615 alginic acid Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 125000001931 aliphatic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 235000019568 aromas Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000003542 behavioural effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009529 body temperature measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000019437 butane-1,3-diol Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- OJIJEKBXJYRIBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium nickel Chemical compound [Ni].[Cd] OJIJEKBXJYRIBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000004649 carbonic acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 231100000357 carcinogen Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 239000003183 carcinogenic agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001768 cations Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000003841 chloride salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001427 coherent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- PCXRACLQFPRCBB-ZWKOTPCHSA-N dihydrocannabidiol Natural products OC1=CC(CCCCC)=CC(O)=C1[C@H]1[C@H](C(C)C)CCC(C)=C1 PCXRACLQFPRCBB-ZWKOTPCHSA-N 0.000 description 1
- IZMOTZDBVPMOFE-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethyl dodecanedioate Chemical compound COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC IZMOTZDBVPMOFE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000002148 esters Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000019326 ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000010944 ethyl methyl cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000227 grinding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000004679 hydroxides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000019447 hydroxyethyl cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000001863 hydroxypropyl cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010977 hydroxypropyl cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000001866 hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010979 hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920003088 hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- UFVKGYZPFZQRLF-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose Chemical compound OC1C(O)C(OC)OC(CO)C1OC1C(O)C(O)C(OC2C(C(O)C(OC3C(C(O)C(O)C(CO)O3)O)C(CO)O2)O)C(CO)O1 UFVKGYZPFZQRLF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000006193 liquid solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229940041616 menthol Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000609 methyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000001923 methylcellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 229920003087 methylethyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000003595 mist Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000021317 phosphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000003013 phosphoric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013772 propylene glycol Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000003467 sulfuric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 1
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- 231100000765 toxin Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 108700012359 toxins Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 238000012384 transportation and delivery Methods 0.000 description 1
- ILJSQTXMGCGYMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N triacetic acid Chemical compound CC(=O)CC(=O)CC(O)=O ILJSQTXMGCGYMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZIBGPFATKBEMQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N triethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCOCCOCCO ZIBGPFATKBEMQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000005418 vegetable material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010792 warming Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
- the present invention also relates to a method for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
- An electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette is a device that simulates the act of tobacco smoking by producing an inhaled vapor which can bear the appearance, flavor, and feel of inhaled tobacco smoke.
- e-cigarettes provide a“smoking” experience by reducing the combustion process that occurs when tobacco is burned, resulting in fewer toxins and carcinogens. This is accomplished through the use of heat to vaporize a liquid solution into an inhalable mist.
- a typical e- cigarette includes a wad of fibers which are soaked with a vaporizable fluid. When the user inhales through the e-cigarette, a heating element is used to heat the fluid soaked fibers, vaporize the fluid, and deliver the vapor.
- vaping devices for vaping contain a relatively large container to hold the supply of vaping liquid. This means that the consumption can continue for a long time before the container needs to be replaced.
- vaping devices currently are available with tank sizes of around 4 ml, which may even be modified to contain 6 ml. the so-called e-liquids are available in a wide range of nicotine contents, up to 36 mg/ml, but the use of 16 mg/ml is considered “normal”. Since a regular cigarette contains around 0.8 mg of nicotine (reference Marlboro Red), a 4 ml vaping tank with a 16 mg/ml liquid, delivers a nicotine amount of around 70 cigarettes.
- a fluid vaporization device is known from US 2014/123989.
- HNB heat-not-burn tobacco products
- Such a HNB is heated to a lower temperature than when a conventional cigarette is burned.
- the resulting aerosol contains nicotine and other constituents.
- These HNB products may match some of the behavioral aspects of smoking.
- Such products, also known as heated tobacco products are on consumption only heated rather than burned as with conventional tobacco products The heating process generates a flavorful nicotine-containing vapor.
- the tobacco product does not burn, the levels of harmful smoke constituents seem to be significantly reduced compared to cigarette smoke.
- IQOS trademark
- Glo trademark
- TEEPS TEEPS
- the tobacco product is heated just enough to release a flavorful nicotine-containing vapor but without burning the tobacco.
- the tobacco in a cigarette burns at temperatures in excess of 600°C, generating smoke that contains harmful chemical components.
- HNB devices heat tobacco products to much lower temperatures, up to 350°C, without combustion, fire, ash, or smoke. Because the tobacco is heated and not burned, the levels of harmful chemicals are significantly reduced compared to cigarette smoke.
- the systems IQOS and Glo are a tobacco heating system with two main components a heated tobacco product and a heating device.
- a consumer inserts the tobacco product into the heating device, which contains an electronically controlled heater.
- the consumer pushes a button to turn on the heater, and then draws on the heated tobacco unit to product to inhale the aerosol which is released by the heating device.
- Such devices include, for example, electrically heated aerosol- generating devices in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from one or more electrical heating elements of the aerosol-generating device to the aerosol-forming substrate of a heated smoking article.
- electrical smoking systems are significantly reduce side stream smoke, while permitting a user to selectively suspend and reinitiate smoking.
- EP 1 059 854 relates to an article for delivering an aerosol to a user
- WO 201 1/101164 relates to smoking articles in which tobacco is heated rather than combusted.
- German Patentschrift DE 43 28 243 relates to a device for inhaling an inhalable substance comprising: a reservoir defining a substantially closed chamber for containing a particulate including a smoking product; a hot carrier gas generator including a heating appliance for heating a carrier gas thereby generating hot carrier gas; means for heating the particulate by convection to a temperature below a glow temperature thereof utilizing the stream of hot carrier gas such that the inhalable substance is released from the particulate; means for at least one of arranging and guiding particles of the particulate such that surfaces of the particles are directly affected by the stream of hot carrier gas; and means for warming volumes of particles of the particulates up to a temperature close to and lower than the glow temperature.
- the air outlet nozzle of the hot air generator is directed into the smoking chamber of the smoking device, the outlet being positioned closely to the smoking product in the reservoir. At this point, the heated air reaches a temperature at which the smoking product becomes pyrolytically converted to release aerosols.
- the quantity of smoking product in the reservoir of the smoking chamber is divided into several discrete quantities and distributed amongst the individual chambers of the reservoir.
- the drive unit rotates the reservoir so that the discrete quantities of smoking product are sequentially exposed to the hot air jet emerging from the outlet nozzle.
- EP 3 453 270 relates to a device for generating an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, the device comprising an aerosol generating material having an integrated electrical resistance heating element, wherein the electrical resistance heating element is at least partially embedded in, or coated by, the aerosol generating material, so that the aerosol generating material may be heated in direct contact with the electrical resistance heating element, wherein the aerosol generating material is provided as a unitary structure and/or coating which may be heated to generate multiple deliveries of an inhalable aerosol and/or gas; wherein the aerosol generating material is a cast or extruded material.
- the electrical resistance heating element is in the form of a metal mesh, such as copper, aluminum, platinum, tungsten, gold, silver, and titanium, or in the form of a metal alloy, such as nichrome and stainless steel.
- US 5,613,505 relates to a heating system for an electrical smoking article for smoking tobacco flavor medium comprising: a generator for producing an alternating magnetic field, a susceptor material which is inductively heatable by the alternating magnetic field and positioned relative to the generator so as to be heatable by the alternating magnetic field, and a tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity to the susceptor material.
- WO 2016/120344 relates to an apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a receptacle within the housing, the receptacle comprising one or more cavities, each cavity for containing an aerosol generating material; and a heating arrangement comprising one or more heater elements for heating aerosol generating material contained in the one or more cavities to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, wherein the one or more heater elements are located externally of the one or more cavities.
- a receptacle comprises a plurality of recesses formed therein, each recess for containing aerosol generating material, the recesses may be arranged in a regular matrix or array.
- vaping A disadvantage of vaping is that the taste of e-liquids is created by using chemical flavors and aromas. These e-liquids therefore do not convey the taste of aerosol generating articles produced based on organic, plant based, materials.
- One such example may be the replacement of tobacco. Heat not burn tobacco consumptions deliver both nicotine as well as a taste very close to the consumption of a traditional cigarette. E-liquids on the other hand may contain nicotine, but the taste deviates much more from traditional smoking.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, wherein the aerosol generating material is in the form of a heat-not-burn tobacco product (HNB).
- HNB heat-not-burn tobacco product
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, wherein in the apparatus the heat-not-burn tobacco product (HNB) is provided as a stock of heat-not-burn tobacco products.
- HNB heat-not-burn tobacco product
- the present invention relates thus to an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, the apparatus comprising: a) one or more air inlets for drawing air into a heating chamber, the one or more air inlets are in fluid flow communication with the heating chamber;
- an inlet arrangement comprising an inlet for a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material comprising reconstituted tobacco, wherein said aerosol generating material is homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet;
- a heating chamber comprising one or more heating elements for heating aerosol generating material, the heating chamber is in fluid flow communication with a mouth piece;
- the present inventor found that such an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas is capable to deliver an amount of smoke and nicotine equivalent to more than one regular cigarette or current heat not burn article.
- the inlet arrangement comprises an inlet for a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material comprising reconstituted tobacco, wherein said aerosol generating material is homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet, wherein the sheet is an example of a heat- not-burn tobacco product (HNB).
- HNB heat- not-burn tobacco product
- the term “aerosol generating material homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet” means that the sheet does not have discrete chambers or partitions for containing a particulate including a smoking product, e.g. an aerosol generating material.
- aerosol generating material homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet explicitly excludes embodiments wherein the aerosol generating material is located in certain regularly spaced cavities in or on a sheet.
- the aerosol generating material is homogenously distributed when expressed in mass per unit area of the sheet.
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is an item that is completely physically separated from the one or more heating elements, which is in clear contrast with the disclosure of EP 3 453 270, wherein there is an aerosol generating material having an integrated electrical resistance heating element.
- the present apparatus further comprises a transporting arrangement, comprising one or more elements for facilitating the transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material from the inlet for an aerosol generating material to the heating chamber.
- the present apparatus further comprises a manual actuator for a user to actuate the power circuitry.
- the present apparatus further comprises a sensor for causing actuation of the power circuitry in response to sensing that a user is taking a draw on the apparatus.
- the present apparatus further comprises an electrical control circuitry including a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating elements, wherein the heating elements are chosen from the group of resistive heating elements, infra-red heating elements and inductive heating elements.
- a controller such as a microprocessor arrangement
- the heating elements are chosen from the group of resistive heating elements, infra-red heating elements and inductive heating elements.
- the present apparatus further comprises attaching arrangements for attaching a cartridge to the apparatus, wherein the inlet arrangement is in connection with cartridge, the cartridge comprising an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet.
- the cartridge preferably comprises a supply holder provided with the aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet and thus the cartridge can be used for a number of consuming actions.
- the cartridge as such is to be seen as a storage for a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is an example of a heat-not-burn tobacco product (HNB).
- HNB heat-not-burn tobacco product
- the present apparatus uses an aerosol generating material in the form of a self-supporting sheet.
- a self-supporting sheet can be divided into discrete parts or can be supplied as a strip or band of aerosol generating material.
- the present apparatus is to be seen as a device for consuming a heat-not-burn product.
- the present apparatus comprises a mouthpiece through which a user can draw material that has been volatized in the device, a heating chamber comprising one or more heating elements for heating aerosol generating material wherein the heating chamber is in fluid flow communication with the mouth piece, and air inlets.
- a heat not burn device may further comprises attaching arrangements for attaching a cartridge comprising an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet to apparatus.
- the present apparatus may further comprise transporting arrangements for transporting the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material from the inlet for an aerosol generating material to the heating chamber.
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is brought into the heating chamber and by heating the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material a step of volatization of the aerosol generating material takes place in the heating chamber.
- the user can now draw material that has been volatized through the mouthpiece.
- the cartridge can be easily disconnected from the apparatus.
- it is possible to use different types of cartridges for example a cartridge with a menthol flavor, a cartridge with an herbs flavor etc.
- the cartridge can be discarded, or re-used or recycled.
- a present apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas is provided with one or more heating elements.
- the aerosol generating material is brought into contact or close proximity with the heating elements present in the apparatus. After a number of puffs, the aerosol in the material has been spent, which is mostly indicated by the apparatus. This is either based on time, or number of puffs.
- the nowadays heat-not- burn products have a shape similar to a cigarette and are inserted into the device for consuming a heat-not-burn product.
- the heat- not-burn product is a self-supporting sheet material, i.e. a flat or folded material but not in the form of a cigarette, i.e. a cylindrical tube.
- the supply holder comprises a rotatably mounted spool around which part of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is wound.
- the spool comprises a certain “length” of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the transporting arrangement of the present apparatus enables the transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus via unwounding the self-supporting sheet from the rotatably mounted spool.
- the supply holder comprises a folded strip of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- Such a folded strip of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may take the form of a zig zag construction, wherein the strip thus folded is a kind of stack of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the transporting arrangement of the present apparatus enables the transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus via taking up an end of the self-supporting sheet from the stack of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the supply holder comprises a stack of individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material.
- the stack is based on individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material, which is different from the zig zag construction wherein the self-supporting sheet of material is a kind of a continuous strip of a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the transporting arrangement of the present apparatus enables the transportation of the individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus via taking up self-supporting sheet by self-supporting sheet from the stack of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the apparatus further comprises a collecting arrangement, comprising a compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material after transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus.
- a collecting arrangement comprising a compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material after transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus.
- the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may be collected in a cartridge of spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material and that cartridge can be discarded once all the self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material have been used by the consumer.
- the compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprises a rotatably mounted spool on which the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is collected.
- the spool enables the collection of the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material in a space efficient way.
- the apparatus further comprises a discard arrangement, comprising at least one opening for discarding the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material after transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus. In such a construction the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is removed from the apparatus.
- the transport arrangement provides a batch type of transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through present apparatus.
- a construction includes the situation that each time the consumer wants to“smoke” a new self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is transported through present apparatus.
- a new self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is subsequently exposed to one or more heating elements.
- the new self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material equals to one single“smoking action”.
- the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is transported through present apparatus to the discard arrangement, for example a compartment for collecting the spent self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- a new self-supporting sheet is transported for the next“smoking action”.
- the transport arrangement provides a continuous type of transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through present apparatus.
- a construction includes the situation that when the consumer wants to“smoke” a well-defined part of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is continuously transported through present apparatus and exposed to one or more heating elements.
- the transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material enables the continuous exposure of a“fresh” part of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to the heating elements.
- the discard arrangement for example a compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the exposure of the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to one or more heating elements is in a plane parallel to the one or more heating elements.
- a plane may be flat, but may be curved as well to assure a good contact between self-supporting sheet and heating element.
- the exposure of the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is such that the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is exposed between two arrays of heating elements.
- Such a passage of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material enables a uniform heating on both sides of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the aerosol generating material. This may be accomplished via a contactless temperature sensor, for instance Infrared Temperature measurement, or a temperature sensor in contact with the aerosol generating material.
- the apparatus may further comprise a sensor for measuring the air flow through the apparatus.
- the power of the one or more heating elements is controlled via a microprocessor for controlling the temperature of the aerosol generating material. Such a control mechanism enables the provision of a certain profile of temperature versus consumption time, which influences the consumption experience.
- the temperature may also be used to determine the optimal moment and speed for transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through present apparatus.
- the power source for the power circuitry may be a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non- rechargeable battery. Examples include nickel cadmium batteries although any suitable batteries may be used.
- the battery is electrically coupled to the heater elements of the heating chamber to supply electrical power when required and under control of an electrical control circuitry to heat the aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet.
- the present invention also relates to a method for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, said method comprising:
- an amount of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is released and transported to cover the heating element.
- the heating is started, and the material is consumed according to certain regime. This regime may be based for example on time, number of puffs taken. Once the consumption has finished, the heating stops.
- the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may either be replaced by a fresh self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material either directly after finishing the consumption, or upon start of the next consumption.
- the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may be taken out by the consumer, or may be collected.
- step c) is carried out as a batch process.
- the size of the heating element of the aerosol generating device may equate to the equivalent surface of one puff.
- a traditional cigarette is smoked in on average a number of about 12 puffs.
- the size of the heating element may be approximately 1/12 th of the size of a heating element that covers the complete length of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- a portion of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material equivalent to one puff is heated.
- that part of the aerosol generating self-supporting sheet is transported further to replace again the spent the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material by a fresh part of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- step c) is carried out as a continuous process.
- the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is transported with a constant speed over the heating element for as long as the consumer draws.
- the transport speed and the size of the heating element may vary, but this will be designed in such a way that a constant flow of aerosol is generated.
- the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may be collected in the compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may be discarded from the present apparatus.
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprises preferably:
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprises at least 10 % by weight of a burn rate retarding salt.
- the burn rate retarding salt is at least one chosen from the group of chlorides, sulphates, hydroxides, carbonates and phosphates.
- the burn rate retarding salt further comprises one or more cations chosen from the group of calcium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum and potassium.
- the burn rate retarding salt comprises KCI.
- the surface tension reducing binder is at least one selected from the group of cellulosic binders consisting of hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose, and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof.
- the surface tension reducing binder comprises at least one of carboxymethyl cellulose and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose, and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts.
- the composition comprises a combination of KCI and carboxymethyl cellulose.
- the amount of KCI is in a range of about 10-40 % by weight and the amount of carboxymethyl cellulose is in a range of 2-20 % by weight.
- the present composition comprises at least one aerosol former chosen from the group of polyhydric alcohols consisting of triethylene glycol, 1 ,3- butanediol, propylene glycol and glycerine; esters of polyhydric alcohols, glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate; and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one aerosol former content is of between about 10% and about 40% by weight.
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to be used in the present invention may further contain tobacco and/or another vegetable material included but not limited to Cannabis, cloves, Tendu or various herbs.
- the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may contain for example a combination of one or more of glycerol, tobacco extract, nicotine, tobacco extract flavour, binders, thickeners such as alginate, gums and chalk.
- the heated tobacco product contains a processed tobacco material designed for heating, not for smoking.
- the tobacco material is made from tobacco plant material, e.g. leaves, which may be processed in the form of reconstituted tobacco.
- the aerosol generating material Upon heating, the aerosol generating material releases the aerosol, plus other desired volatile components such as nicotine, tobacco taste components, Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC being the most important psychoactive substance in cannabis, CBD or cannabidiol, specific aroma’s cetera.
- composition further comprises at least one flavourant in an amount of about 15% by weight less.
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to be used in the present invention preferably comprises reconstituted tobacco, wherein the self- supporting sheet is manufactured according to a process chosen from the group of paper process, cast leaf process and calendering process.
- the aerosol generating material for which the present device is meant is a self-supporting homogenized sheet.
- a self-supporting homogenized sheet is a homogenized tobacco material which may be in the form of a self-supporting homogenized sheet, or may be formed as a continuous layer on one or both sides of a carrier material, or may be a homogenized sheet with an incorporated structural reinforcement web or mesh.
- a carrier material or a structural reinforcement web or mesh is a porous fibre self-supporting sheet, such as a porous cellulose self-supporting sheet.
- the material of such a mesh should not be confused with the material of the mesh as used in EP 3 453 270, namely copper, aluminum, platinum, tungsten, gold, silver, and titanium, or a metal alloy, such as nichrome and stainless steel. These materials are explicitly excluded as materials for forming the present self-supporting homogenized sheet.
- the present self-supporting sheets may be manufactured by a cast leaf process of papermaking based manufacturing.
- the present self-supporting homogenized sheet will have a sufficient structural integrity, as a result of the used materials and/or the incorporated reinforcement sheet or mesh, which will be even maintained after the desired amount of aerosol components have been removed from the material, i.e. after the volatization step in the heating chamber.
- Such structural integrity may for example be achieved by providing an excess amount of aerosol forming components, or by designing the sheet such that the aerosol forming components are not essential to maintain the structural integrity of the sheet material.
- the present self-supporting homogenized sheet of aerosol generating material does not contain any discrete chambers or partitions for containing a particulate including a smoking product, as can be found in German Patentschrift DE 43 28 243 as discussed above.
- the present self-supporting homogenized sheet of aerosol generating material does not have an integrated electrical resistance heating element, as can be found in EP 3 453 270 as discussed above.
- the aerosol generating material is not present on specific locations or positions on the self-supporting homogenized sheet but is uniformly distributed over the self-supporting homogenized sheet.
- a carrier or a substrate layer at least one of the outer surfaces of such support material is provided with the aerosol generating material.
- the support material has a porous structure the aerosol generating material may also be present in the interior of the support material, i.e. in the pores thereof.
- the method for preparing a slurry can be carried out according to the process mentioned in EP patent 1 489 927 in the name of the present applicant, i.e. such a method comprising the steps of mixing water, fibers, tobacco and one or more binding agents, to form a slurry and subsequently dosing such a slurry on a drying conveyor for forming a base layer and subsequently subjecting the total to a drying treatment.
- the length of the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material equals to a number of about 5 to about 30 cigarettes.
- An example of such a self-supporting sheet is a self-supporting sheet having a length of about 70 cm and a width of about 30 mm.
- the present invention also relates to a cartridge comprising an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet.
- the cartridge further comprises a supply holder provided with an aerosol generating material as a self- supporting sheet.
- the supply holder comprises a rotatably mounted spool around which part of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is wound.
- the supply holder comprises a folded strip of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- the supply holder comprises a stack of individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material.
- the present invention also relates to a cartridge as discussed above to be used with the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
- Fig 1 shows a schematic top view of a device for consuming a self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- Fig 2 shows a schematic top view of a detail of a device for consuming a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- Fig 3 shows different embodiments of a cartridge to be used in the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
- Fig 4 shows different embodiments of a cartridge to be used in the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
- Fig 1 shows a schematic top view of a device 10 for consuming a self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- a device 10 is an example of the present apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
- Device 10 includes an inlet for fresh air 1 for drawing air into the heating chamber 3 via the air inlets 1 and passing aerosol and/or gas to the mouth piece 2 of a user.
- Heating chamber 3 includes one or more heating elements.
- Figure 1 also shows an alternative embodiment of such a heating chamber 5 wherein heating elements 7 are positioned between non-heating elements 6.
- the heating elements may have a flat or curved shape.
- Device 10 further comprises an inlet arrangement for an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet, the self-supporting sheet being transported via transporting means 4 and the self- supporting sheet thus transported is exposed in the heating chamber to one or more heating elements.
- Transporting means 4 may comprise sprockets or rubber rollers. Due to the exposure of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to one or more heating elements aerosol and/or gas is generated in the heating chamber. The aerosol and/or gas thus generated is passed to the mouth piece of a user.
- the device 10 further comprises a power circuitry (not shown) for powering the one or more heating elements.
- Fig 2 shows a schematic top view of a detail of a device 20 for consuming a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- a device 20 is an example of the present apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is fed into the device at arrow 21.
- Device 20 further comprises an inlet arrangement for an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet wherein a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 25 is transported via transporting means 24 and the self-supporting sheet thus transported is exposed in the heating chamber 3 to one or more heating elements.
- Transporting means 24 may comprise sprockets or rubber rollers.
- Heating chamber 3 may also include an infrared temperature sensor 23.
- the device 20 further comprises a power circuitry (not shown) for powering the one or more heating elements.
- FIG 3 shows different embodiments of a cartridge to be used in connection with a device for consuming a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- a cartridge is a part of the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material.
- FIG 3A cartridge 30 contains a fresh self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 mounted on a spool.
- a fresh self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 in the shape of a folded self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- FIG 3C cartridge 30 contains a fresh self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 in the form of individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material.
- FIG 3D cartridge 31 contains a spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 mounted on a spool.
- FIG 3E cartridge 31 contains a spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 in the form of individual spent self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material.
- Fig 4 shows different embodiments of a cartridge to be used in connection with a device for consuming a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
- a cartridge is a part of the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material.
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is mounted on a spool in cartridge 30.
- the“smoking action” self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is unwound from the spool and transported as self-supporting sheet 25 via transporting means 24 to one or more heating elements in heating chamber 3.
- the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is mounted on a spool in cartridge 30.
- self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is unwound from the spool and transported as self-supporting sheet 25 via transporting means 24 to one or more heating elements in heating chamber 3.
- the spent self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 is collected in cartridge 31.
- spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 is wound on a spool.
- a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is in the shape of a zig zag folded self-supporting sheet.
- the zig zag folded self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is present in cartridge 30.
- self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is transported as self-supporting sheet 25 via transporting means 24 to one or more heating elements in heating chamber 3.
- the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 is collected in cartridge 31.
- a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is in the shape of individual pieces of aerosol generating material 32.
- the individual pieces of aerosol generating material 32 are present in cartridge 30.
- individual pieces of aerosol generating material are transported as pieces 25 via transporting means 24 to one or more heating elements in heating chamber 3.
- the spent individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material 33 are collected in cartridge 31.
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- Manufacture Of Tobacco Products (AREA)
- Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas. The present invention also relates to a method for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, wherein the aerosol generating material is in the form of a sheet of aerosol generating material.
Description
Title: Apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas
Description
The present invention relates to an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas. The present invention also relates to a method for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
An electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, is a device that simulates the act of tobacco smoking by producing an inhaled vapor which can bear the appearance, flavor, and feel of inhaled tobacco smoke. Compared to tobacco smoking, e-cigarettes provide a“smoking” experience by reducing the combustion process that occurs when tobacco is burned, resulting in fewer toxins and carcinogens. This is accomplished through the use of heat to vaporize a liquid solution into an inhalable mist. A typical e- cigarette includes a wad of fibers which are soaked with a vaporizable fluid. When the user inhales through the e-cigarette, a heating element is used to heat the fluid soaked fibers, vaporize the fluid, and deliver the vapor.
Many devices for vaping contain a relatively large container to hold the supply of vaping liquid. This means that the consumption can continue for a long time before the container needs to be replaced. By example, vaping devices currently are available with tank sizes of around 4 ml, which may even be modified to contain 6 ml. the so-called e-liquids are available in a wide range of nicotine contents, up to 36 mg/ml, but the use of 16 mg/ml is considered “normal”. Since a regular cigarette contains around 0.8 mg of nicotine (reference Marlboro Red), a 4 ml vaping tank with a 16 mg/ml liquid, delivers a nicotine amount of around 70 cigarettes. For example, a fluid vaporization device is known from US 2014/123989.
Nowadays heat-not-burn tobacco products (HNB) are also in the market. Such a HNB is heated to a lower temperature than when a conventional cigarette is burned. The resulting aerosol contains nicotine and other constituents. These HNB products may match some of the behavioral aspects of smoking. Such products, also known as heated tobacco products, are on consumption only heated rather than burned as with conventional tobacco products The heating process generates a flavorful nicotine-containing vapor. And since the tobacco product does
not burn, the levels of harmful smoke constituents seem to be significantly reduced compared to cigarette smoke.
At this moment several heated tobacco products and devices are available in the market, for example IQOS (trademark), Glo (trademark) and TEEPS (trademark). In these systems called the tobacco product is heated just enough to release a flavorful nicotine-containing vapor but without burning the tobacco. The tobacco in a cigarette burns at temperatures in excess of 600°C, generating smoke that contains harmful chemical components. But HNB devices heat tobacco products to much lower temperatures, up to 350°C, without combustion, fire, ash, or smoke. Because the tobacco is heated and not burned, the levels of harmful chemicals are significantly reduced compared to cigarette smoke. The systems IQOS and Glo are a tobacco heating system with two main components a heated tobacco product and a heating device. To use such a system, a consumer inserts the tobacco product into the heating device, which contains an electronically controlled heater. The consumer pushes a button to turn on the heater, and then draws on the heated tobacco unit to product to inhale the aerosol which is released by the heating device.
In the currently available devices for consuming heat-not-burn tobacco products (HNB), or aerosol generating material, an article with a shape similar to a cigarette, is inserted in the device. Through this action the aerosol generating material present in the article is brought in contact with or close proximity to a heating element. After a number of puffs, the aerosol in the material has been spent, which is mostly indicated by the device. This is either based on time, or number of puffs. Once the article has been spent, it must be removed from the device, and discarded. In the currently available devices for consuming heat-not-burn tobacco products the temperature of the heating element itself is measured and controlled. However, the temperature of the smoke generating material determines the release of nicotine, and potential release of harmful constituents. Controlling the temperature of the heating element therefore is an indirect means of controlling the smoke quality.
There are a number of prior art documents disclosing aerosol generating devices for consuming or smoking heated smoking articles. Such devices include, for example, electrically heated aerosol- generating devices in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from one or more electrical heating elements of the aerosol-generating device to the aerosol-forming substrate of a heated smoking article. One advantage of such electrical smoking systems is that they
significantly reduce side stream smoke, while permitting a user to selectively suspend and reinitiate smoking. For example, EP 1 059 854 relates to an article for delivering an aerosol to a user, WO 201 1/101164 relates to smoking articles in which tobacco is heated rather than combusted.
German Patentschrift DE 43 28 243 relates to a device for inhaling an inhalable substance comprising: a reservoir defining a substantially closed chamber for containing a particulate including a smoking product; a hot carrier gas generator including a heating appliance for heating a carrier gas thereby generating hot carrier gas; means for heating the particulate by convection to a temperature below a glow temperature thereof utilizing the stream of hot carrier gas such that the inhalable substance is released from the particulate; means for at least one of arranging and guiding particles of the particulate such that surfaces of the particles are directly affected by the stream of hot carrier gas; and means for warming volumes of particles of the particulates up to a temperature close to and lower than the glow temperature. The air outlet nozzle of the hot air generator is directed into the smoking chamber of the smoking device, the outlet being positioned closely to the smoking product in the reservoir. At this point, the heated air reaches a temperature at which the smoking product becomes pyrolytically converted to release aerosols. The quantity of smoking product in the reservoir of the smoking chamber is divided into several discrete quantities and distributed amongst the individual chambers of the reservoir. The drive unit rotates the reservoir so that the discrete quantities of smoking product are sequentially exposed to the hot air jet emerging from the outlet nozzle.
EP 3 453 270 relates to a device for generating an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, the device comprising an aerosol generating material having an integrated electrical resistance heating element, wherein the electrical resistance heating element is at least partially embedded in, or coated by, the aerosol generating material, so that the aerosol generating material may be heated in direct contact with the electrical resistance heating element, wherein the aerosol generating material is provided as a unitary structure and/or coating which may be heated to generate multiple deliveries of an inhalable aerosol and/or gas; wherein the aerosol generating material is a cast or extruded material. The electrical resistance heating element is in the form of a metal mesh, such as copper, aluminum, platinum, tungsten, gold, silver, and titanium, or in the form of a metal alloy, such as nichrome and stainless steel.
US 5,613,505 relates to a heating system for an electrical smoking article for smoking tobacco flavor medium comprising: a generator for producing an alternating magnetic field, a susceptor material which is inductively heatable by the alternating magnetic field and positioned relative to the generator so as to be heatable by the alternating magnetic field, and a tobacco flavor medium in thermal proximity to the susceptor material.
WO 2016/120344 relates to an apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, the apparatus comprising: a housing; a receptacle within the housing, the receptacle comprising one or more cavities, each cavity for containing an aerosol generating material; and a heating arrangement comprising one or more heater elements for heating aerosol generating material contained in the one or more cavities to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, wherein the one or more heater elements are located externally of the one or more cavities. Such a receptacle comprises a plurality of recesses formed therein, each recess for containing aerosol generating material, the recesses may be arranged in a regular matrix or array.
A disadvantage of vaping is that the taste of e-liquids is created by using chemical flavors and aromas. These e-liquids therefore do not convey the taste of aerosol generating articles produced based on organic, plant based, materials.
One such example may be the replacement of tobacco. Heat not burn tobacco consumptions deliver both nicotine as well as a taste very close to the consumption of a traditional cigarette. E-liquids on the other hand may contain nicotine, but the taste deviates much more from traditional smoking.
An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, wherein the aerosol generating material is in the form of a heat-not-burn tobacco product (HNB).
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, wherein in the apparatus the heat-not-burn tobacco product (HNB) is provided as a stock of heat-not-burn tobacco products.
The present invention relates thus to an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, the apparatus comprising:
a) one or more air inlets for drawing air into a heating chamber, the one or more air inlets are in fluid flow communication with the heating chamber;
b) an inlet arrangement comprising an inlet for a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material comprising reconstituted tobacco, wherein said aerosol generating material is homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet;
c) a heating chamber comprising one or more heating elements for heating aerosol generating material, the heating chamber is in fluid flow communication with a mouth piece;
d) a mouthpiece through which a user can draw components that have been volatized in the device in the heating chamber;
e) power circuitry for powering the one or more heating elements.
The present inventor found that such an apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas is capable to deliver an amount of smoke and nicotine equivalent to more than one regular cigarette or current heat not burn article. The inlet arrangement comprises an inlet for a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material comprising reconstituted tobacco, wherein said aerosol generating material is homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet, wherein the sheet is an example of a heat- not-burn tobacco product (HNB). The term “aerosol generating material homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet” means that the sheet does not have discrete chambers or partitions for containing a particulate including a smoking product, e.g. an aerosol generating material. In addition the term“aerosol generating material homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet” explicitly excludes embodiments wherein the aerosol generating material is located in certain regularly spaced cavities in or on a sheet. The aerosol generating material is homogenously distributed when expressed in mass per unit area of the sheet.
In the present apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is an item that is completely physically separated from the one or more heating elements, which is in clear contrast with the disclosure of EP 3 453 270, wherein there is an aerosol generating material having an integrated electrical resistance heating element.
In an embodiment the present apparatus further comprises a transporting arrangement, comprising one or more elements for facilitating the
transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material from the inlet for an aerosol generating material to the heating chamber.
In an embodiment the present apparatus further comprises a discard arrangement, comprising at least one opening for discarding the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material after volatizing the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material in the heating chamber.
In an embodiment the present apparatus further comprises a manual actuator for a user to actuate the power circuitry.
In an embodiment the present apparatus further comprises a sensor for causing actuation of the power circuitry in response to sensing that a user is taking a draw on the apparatus.
In an embodiment the present apparatus further comprises an electrical control circuitry including a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating elements, wherein the heating elements are chosen from the group of resistive heating elements, infra-red heating elements and inductive heating elements.
In an embodiment the present apparatus further comprises attaching arrangements for attaching a cartridge to the apparatus, wherein the inlet arrangement is in connection with cartridge, the cartridge comprising an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet.
The cartridge preferably comprises a supply holder provided with the aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet and thus the cartridge can be used for a number of consuming actions. In other words, the cartridge as such is to be seen as a storage for a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. Such a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is an example of a heat-not-burn tobacco product (HNB). Thus, the present apparatus uses an aerosol generating material in the form of a self-supporting sheet. Such a self-supporting sheet can be divided into discrete parts or can be supplied as a strip or band of aerosol generating material.
The present apparatus is to be seen as a device for consuming a heat-not-burn product. As discussed above, the present apparatus comprises a mouthpiece through which a user can draw material that has been volatized in the device, a heating chamber comprising one or more heating elements for heating aerosol generating material wherein the heating chamber is in fluid flow
communication with the mouth piece, and air inlets. Such a heat not burn device may further comprises attaching arrangements for attaching a cartridge comprising an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet to apparatus. The present apparatus may further comprise transporting arrangements for transporting the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material from the inlet for an aerosol generating material to the heating chamber. By properly attaching the cartridge to the present apparatus the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is brought into the heating chamber and by heating the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material a step of volatization of the aerosol generating material takes place in the heating chamber. The user can now draw material that has been volatized through the mouthpiece. After a certain time of“smoking” the cartridge can be easily disconnected from the apparatus. In such a case it is possible to use different types of cartridges, for example a cartridge with a menthol flavor, a cartridge with an herbs flavor etc. When the completed amount of self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is spent, the cartridge can be discarded, or re-used or recycled.
A present apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas is provided with one or more heating elements. In such an apparatus for consuming a heat-not-burn product, or aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material is brought into contact or close proximity with the heating elements present in the apparatus. After a number of puffs, the aerosol in the material has been spent, which is mostly indicated by the apparatus. This is either based on time, or number of puffs. The nowadays heat-not- burn products have a shape similar to a cigarette and are inserted into the device for consuming a heat-not-burn product. In contrast with the present invention the heat- not-burn product is a self-supporting sheet material, i.e. a flat or folded material but not in the form of a cigarette, i.e. a cylindrical tube.
In an embodiment of the present invention the supply holder comprises a rotatably mounted spool around which part of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is wound. In such an embodiment the spool comprises a certain “length” of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. The transporting arrangement of the present apparatus enables the transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus via unwounding the self-supporting sheet from the rotatably mounted spool.
In another embodiment of the present invention the supply holder comprises a folded strip of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. Such a folded strip of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may take the form of a zig zag construction, wherein the strip thus folded is a kind of stack of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. The transporting arrangement of the present apparatus enables the transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus via taking up an end of the self-supporting sheet from the stack of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
In another embodiment of the present invention the supply holder comprises a stack of individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material. In such a construction the stack is based on individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material, which is different from the zig zag construction wherein the self-supporting sheet of material is a kind of a continuous strip of a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. The transporting arrangement of the present apparatus enables the transportation of the individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus via taking up self-supporting sheet by self-supporting sheet from the stack of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
In an embodiment of the present invention the apparatus further comprises a collecting arrangement, comprising a compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material after transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus. In such a construction the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may be collected in a cartridge of spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material and that cartridge can be discarded once all the self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material have been used by the consumer.
In an embodiment of the present invention the compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprises a rotatably mounted spool on which the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is collected. In such a construction the spool enables the collection of the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material in a space efficient way.
In another embodiment of the present invention the apparatus further comprises a discard arrangement, comprising at least one opening for discarding the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material after transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the present apparatus. In such a construction the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is removed from the apparatus.
According to an embodiment of the present apparatus the transport arrangement provides a batch type of transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through present apparatus. Such a construction includes the situation that each time the consumer wants to“smoke” a new self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is transported through present apparatus. Such a new self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is subsequently exposed to one or more heating elements. In fact, the new self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material equals to one single“smoking action”. After that, the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is transported through present apparatus to the discard arrangement, for example a compartment for collecting the spent self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. In such a batch type of transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through present apparatus a new self-supporting sheet is transported for the next“smoking action”.
According to another embodiment of the present apparatus the transport arrangement provides a continuous type of transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through present apparatus. Such a construction includes the situation that when the consumer wants to“smoke” a well-defined part of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is continuously transported through present apparatus and exposed to one or more heating elements. Thus, the transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material enables the continuous exposure of a“fresh” part of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to the heating elements. After a complete“smoking action” the spent self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is transported through present apparatus to the discard arrangement, for example a compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
In an embodiment of the present apparatus the exposure of the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to one or more heating elements is in a plane parallel to the one or more heating elements. Such a plane may be flat, but
may be curved as well to assure a good contact between self-supporting sheet and heating element.
In an embodiment of the present apparatus the exposure of the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is such that the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is exposed between two arrays of heating elements. Such a passage of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material enables a uniform heating on both sides of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
In an embodiment of the present apparatus the apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the aerosol generating material. This may be accomplished via a contactless temperature sensor, for instance Infrared Temperature measurement, or a temperature sensor in contact with the aerosol generating material. The apparatus may further comprise a sensor for measuring the air flow through the apparatus. In an embodiment the power of the one or more heating elements is controlled via a microprocessor for controlling the temperature of the aerosol generating material. Such a control mechanism enables the provision of a certain profile of temperature versus consumption time, which influences the consumption experience. The temperature may also be used to determine the optimal moment and speed for transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through present apparatus. The power source for the power circuitry may be a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non- rechargeable battery. Examples include nickel cadmium batteries although any suitable batteries may be used. The battery is electrically coupled to the heater elements of the heating chamber to supply electrical power when required and under control of an electrical control circuitry to heat the aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet.
The present invention also relates to a method for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, said method comprising:
a) providing an apparatus as discussed above,
b) transporting the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material comprising reconstituted tobacco, wherein said aerosol generating material is homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet, from the inlet arrangement to the heating chamber,
c) exposing the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to the heating chamber to generate aerosol and/or gas in the heating chamber,
d) drawing air into the heating chamber via the air inlets and passing aerosol and/or gas to the mouth piece of a user.
Upon start of consumption, an amount of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is released and transported to cover the heating element. The heating is started, and the material is consumed according to certain regime. This regime may be based for example on time, number of puffs taken. Once the consumption has finished, the heating stops. The spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may either be replaced by a fresh self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material either directly after finishing the consumption, or upon start of the next consumption. The spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may be taken out by the consumer, or may be collected.
As discussed above, in an embodiment of the present invention step c) is carried out as a batch process. In such an embodiment the size of the heating element of the aerosol generating device may equate to the equivalent surface of one puff. Typically, a traditional cigarette is smoked in on average a number of about 12 puffs. This means that in such an embodiment, the size of the heating element may be approximately 1/12th of the size of a heating element that covers the complete length of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. Each time the consumer takes a puff, a portion of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material equivalent to one puff is heated. After the puff has ended, that part of the aerosol generating self-supporting sheet is transported further to replace again the spent the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material by a fresh part of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
As discussed above, in another embodiment of the present invention step c) is carried out as a continuous process. In such an embodiment the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is transported with a constant speed over the heating element for as long as the consumer draws. The transport speed and the size of the heating element may vary, but this will be designed in such a way that a constant flow of aerosol is generated.
As discussed above, after step d) the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may be collected in the compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
As discussed above, after step e) the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may be discarded from the present apparatus.
The self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprises preferably:
at least 2 % by weight of a surface tension reducing binder, and at least 5 % by weight of an aerosol former,
all wt. % being based on the total weight of the aerosol generating material.
In another preferred embodiment the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprises at least 10 % by weight of a burn rate retarding salt.
In preferred embodiment the burn rate retarding salt is at least one chosen from the group of chlorides, sulphates, hydroxides, carbonates and phosphates.
In another preferred embodiment the burn rate retarding salt further comprises one or more cations chosen from the group of calcium, sodium, magnesium, aluminum and potassium.
In a preferred embodiment the burn rate retarding salt comprises KCI.
In a preferred embodiment the surface tension reducing binder is at least one selected from the group of cellulosic binders consisting of hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose, and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof.
In a preferred embodiment the surface tension reducing binder comprises at least one of carboxymethyl cellulose and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts, cross-linked carboxymethyl cellulose, and its sodium, potassium and ammonium salts.
In a preferred embodiment the composition comprises a combination of KCI and carboxymethyl cellulose.
In a preferred embodiment the amount of KCI is in a range of about 10-40 % by weight and the amount of carboxymethyl cellulose is in a range of 2-20 % by weight.
The present composition comprises at least one aerosol former chosen from the group of polyhydric alcohols consisting of triethylene glycol, 1 ,3- butanediol, propylene glycol and glycerine; esters of polyhydric alcohols, glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate; and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one aerosol former content is of between about 10% and about 40% by weight.
The self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to be used in the present invention may further contain tobacco and/or another vegetable material included but not limited to Cannabis, cloves, Tendu or various herbs. The self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material may contain for example a combination of one or more of glycerol, tobacco extract, nicotine, tobacco extract flavour, binders, thickeners such as alginate, gums and chalk. The heated tobacco product contains a processed tobacco material designed for heating, not for smoking. The tobacco material is made from tobacco plant material, e.g. leaves, which may be processed in the form of reconstituted tobacco. Upon heating, the aerosol generating material releases the aerosol, plus other desired volatile components such as nicotine, tobacco taste components, Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC being the most important psychoactive substance in cannabis, CBD or cannabidiol, specific aroma’s cetera.
In an embodiment the composition further comprises at least one flavourant in an amount of about 15% by weight less.
The self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to be used in the present invention preferably comprises reconstituted tobacco, wherein the self- supporting sheet is manufactured according to a process chosen from the group of paper process, cast leaf process and calendering process.
The aerosol generating material for which the present device is meant, is a self-supporting homogenized sheet. An embodiment of such a self- supporting homogenized sheet is a homogenized tobacco material which may be in the form of a self-supporting homogenized sheet, or may be formed as a continuous layer on one or both sides of a carrier material, or may be a homogenized sheet with an incorporated structural reinforcement web or mesh. An example of such a carrier material or a structural reinforcement web or mesh is a porous fibre self-supporting sheet, such as a porous cellulose self-supporting sheet. It is to be noted that the material of such a mesh should not be confused with the material of the mesh as used
in EP 3 453 270, namely copper, aluminum, platinum, tungsten, gold, silver, and titanium, or a metal alloy, such as nichrome and stainless steel. These materials are explicitly excluded as materials for forming the present self-supporting homogenized sheet.
The present self-supporting sheets may be manufactured by a cast leaf process of papermaking based manufacturing. The present self-supporting homogenized sheet will have a sufficient structural integrity, as a result of the used materials and/or the incorporated reinforcement sheet or mesh, which will be even maintained after the desired amount of aerosol components have been removed from the material, i.e. after the volatization step in the heating chamber. Such structural integrity may for example be achieved by providing an excess amount of aerosol forming components, or by designing the sheet such that the aerosol forming components are not essential to maintain the structural integrity of the sheet material. The present self-supporting homogenized sheet of aerosol generating material does not contain any discrete chambers or partitions for containing a particulate including a smoking product, as can be found in German Patentschrift DE 43 28 243 as discussed above. In addition, the present self-supporting homogenized sheet of aerosol generating material does not have an integrated electrical resistance heating element, as can be found in EP 3 453 270 as discussed above. According to the present invention the aerosol generating material is not present on specific locations or positions on the self-supporting homogenized sheet but is uniformly distributed over the self-supporting homogenized sheet. In an embodiment of a carrier or a substrate layer at least one of the outer surfaces of such support material is provided with the aerosol generating material. In case the support material has a porous structure the aerosol generating material may also be present in the interior of the support material, i.e. in the pores thereof.
The method for preparing a slurry can be carried out according to the process mentioned in EP patent 1 489 927 in the name of the present applicant, i.e. such a method comprising the steps of mixing water, fibers, tobacco and one or more binding agents, to form a slurry and subsequently dosing such a slurry on a drying conveyor for forming a base layer and subsequently subjecting the total to a drying treatment. It is however possible to apply other foil making processes, such as the method for manufacturing a tobacco sheet known from the German Offenlegungsschrift 19949983, wherein a aqueous slurry of tobacco stems is obtained
by grinding uncooked stems in presence of a binder, or by using a process of manufacturing a coherent tobacco product wherein a refined pulp of cellulosic fibers is combined with comminuted tobacco and a water-insoluble cellulose derivative as known from GB 1 203 939.
In an embodiment of the present invention the length of the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material equals to a number of about 5 to about 30 cigarettes. An example of such a self-supporting sheet is a self-supporting sheet having a length of about 70 cm and a width of about 30 mm.
The present invention also relates to a cartridge comprising an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet.
In an embodiment of the present invention the cartridge further comprises a supply holder provided with an aerosol generating material as a self- supporting sheet.
In an embodiment of the present invention the supply holder comprises a rotatably mounted spool around which part of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is wound.
In another embodiment of the present invention the supply holder comprises a folded strip of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
In another embodiment of the present invention the supply holder comprises a stack of individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material.
The present invention also relates to a cartridge as discussed above to be used with the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
The present invention will be discussed in the Examples.
Fig 1 shows a schematic top view of a device for consuming a self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
Fig 2 shows a schematic top view of a detail of a device for consuming a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
Fig 3 shows different embodiments of a cartridge to be used in the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
Fig 4 shows different embodiments of a cartridge to be used in the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas.
Fig 1 shows a schematic top view of a device 10 for consuming a self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. Such a device 10 is an example of the present apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas. Device 10 includes an inlet for fresh air 1 for drawing air into the heating chamber 3 via the air inlets 1 and passing aerosol and/or gas to the mouth piece 2 of a user. Heating chamber 3 includes one or more heating elements. Figure 1 also shows an alternative embodiment of such a heating chamber 5 wherein heating elements 7 are positioned between non-heating elements 6. The heating elements may have a flat or curved shape. Device 10 further comprises an inlet arrangement for an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet, the self-supporting sheet being transported via transporting means 4 and the self- supporting sheet thus transported is exposed in the heating chamber to one or more heating elements. Transporting means 4 may comprise sprockets or rubber rollers. Due to the exposure of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to one or more heating elements aerosol and/or gas is generated in the heating chamber. The aerosol and/or gas thus generated is passed to the mouth piece of a user. The device 10 further comprises a power circuitry (not shown) for powering the one or more heating elements.
Fig 2 shows a schematic top view of a detail of a device 20 for consuming a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. Such a device 20 is an example of the present apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas. The self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is fed into the device at arrow 21. Device 20 further comprises an inlet arrangement for an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet wherein a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 25 is transported via transporting means 24 and the self-supporting sheet thus transported is exposed in the heating chamber 3 to one or more heating elements. The spent self-supporting sheet is discarded from the device at arrow 22. Transporting means 24 may comprise sprockets or rubber rollers. Heating chamber 3 may also include an infrared temperature sensor 23. The device 20 further comprises a power circuitry (not shown) for powering the one or more heating elements.
Fig 3 shows different embodiments of a cartridge to be used in connection with a device for consuming a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. Such a cartridge is a part of the present apparatus for heating an aerosol
generating material. In figure 3A cartridge 30 contains a fresh self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 mounted on a spool. In figure 3B cartridge 30 contains a fresh self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 in the shape of a folded self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. In figure 3C cartridge 30 contains a fresh self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 in the form of individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material. In figure 3D cartridge 31 contains a spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 mounted on a spool. In figure 3E cartridge 31 contains a spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 in the form of individual spent self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material.
Fig 4 shows different embodiments of a cartridge to be used in connection with a device for consuming a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material. Such a cartridge is a part of the present apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material. According to fig 4A the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is mounted on a spool in cartridge 30. During the“smoking action” self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is unwound from the spool and transported as self-supporting sheet 25 via transporting means 24 to one or more heating elements in heating chamber 3. According to fig 4B the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is mounted on a spool in cartridge 30. During the “smoking action” self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is unwound from the spool and transported as self-supporting sheet 25 via transporting means 24 to one or more heating elements in heating chamber 3. The spent self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 is collected in cartridge 31. In cartridge 31 spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 is wound on a spool. According to fig 4C a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is in the shape of a zig zag folded self-supporting sheet. The zig zag folded self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is present in cartridge 30. During the “smoking action” self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is transported as self-supporting sheet 25 via transporting means 24 to one or more heating elements in heating chamber 3. The spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 33 is collected in cartridge 31. According to fig 4D a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material 32 is in the shape of individual pieces of aerosol generating material 32. The individual pieces of aerosol generating material 32 are present in cartridge 30. During the “smoking action” individual pieces of aerosol
generating material are transported as pieces 25 via transporting means 24 to one or more heating elements in heating chamber 3. The spent individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material 33 are collected in cartridge 31.
Claims
1. An apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, the apparatus comprising:
a) one or more air inlets for drawing air into a heating chamber, the one or more air inlets are in fluid flow communication with the heating chamber;
b) an inlet arrangement comprising an inlet for a self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material comprising reconstituted tobacco, wherein said aerosol generating material is homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet;
c) a heating chamber comprising one or more heating elements for heating said aerosol generating material, the heating chamber is in fluid flow communication with a mouth piece;
d) a mouthpiece through which a user can draw components that have been volatized in the device in the heating chamber;
e) power circuitry for powering the one or more heating elements.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a transporting arrangement, comprising one or more elements for facilitating the transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material from the inlet for an aerosol generating material to the heating chamber.
3. An apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a discard arrangement, comprising at least one opening for discarding the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material after volatizing the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material in the heating chamber.
4. An apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a manual actuator for a user to actuate the power circuitry.
5. An apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensor for causing actuation of the power circuitry in response to sensing that a user is taking a draw on the apparatus.
6. An apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises an electrical control circuitry including a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating elements.
7. An apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more temperature sensors for measuring the temperature of the aerosol generating material and/or for determining the moment and speed for transportation of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the apparatus.
8. An apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the heating elements are chosen from the group of resistive heating elements, infra-red heating elements and inductive heating elements.
9. An apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises attaching arrangements for attaching a cartridge to the apparatus, wherein the inlet arrangement is in connection with cartridge, the cartridge comprising an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cartridge further comprises a supply holder provided with an aerosol generating material as a self- supporting sheet.
1 1. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the supply holder comprises a rotatably mounted spool around which part of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is wound.
12. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the supply holder comprises a folded strip of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the supply holder comprises a stack of individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material.
14. An apparatus according to claim 3, the discard arrangement comprises a collecting arrangement, comprising a compartment for collecting the spent self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material after transportation of the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material out of the apparatus.
15. An apparatus according to claim 14, the compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprising a rotatably mounted spool on which the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is collected.
16. An apparatus according to one or more of the claims 2-15, wherein the transport arrangement provides a batch type of transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the apparatus.
17. An apparatus according to any one or more of claim 2-15, wherein the transport arrangement provides a continuous type of transport of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material through the apparatus.
18. An apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the exposure of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to one or more heating elements is in a plane parallel to the one or more heating elements, wherein said plane is flat or curved.
19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the exposure of the self- supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is such that the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is exposed between two arrays of heating elements.
20. A method for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, said method comprising:
a) providing an apparatus according to any one or more of the preceding claims,
b) transporting the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material from the inlet arrangement to the heating chamber, said self-supporting sheet comprising reconstituted tobacco, wherein said aerosol generating material is homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet,
c) exposing the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material to the heating chamber to generate aerosol and/or gas in the heating chamber,
d) drawing air into the heating chamber via the air inlets and passing aerosol and/or gas to the mouth piece of a user.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein step c) is carried out as a batch process.
22. A method according to claim 20, wherein step c) is carried out as a continuous process.
23. A method according to any one or more of claims 20-22, wherein after step d) the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is discarded from the apparatus.
24. A method according to any one or more of claims 20-23, wherein after step d) the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is collected in the compartment for collecting the spent self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
25. A method according to any one or more of claims 20-24, wherein the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is manufactured according to a process chosen from the group of paper process, cast leaf process and calendering process.
26. A method according to any one or more of claims 20-25, wherein the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprises:
at least 2 % by weight of a surface tension reducing binder, and at least 5 % by weight of an aerosol former,
all wt. % being based on the total weight of the aerosol generating material.
27. A method according to any one or more of claims 20-26, wherein the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material further comprises at least 10 % by weight of a burn rate retarding salt.
28. A method according to any one or more of claims 20-27, wherein the length of the self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material equals to a number of about 5 to about 30 cigarettes.
29. A cartridge comprising an aerosol generating material as a self- supporting sheet comprising reconstituted tobacco, wherein said aerosol generating material is homogeneously distributed over said self-supporting sheet.
30. A cartridge according to claim 29, further comprising a supply holder provided with an aerosol generating material as a self-supporting sheet.
31. A cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the supply holder comprises a rotatably mounted spool around which part of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material is wound.
32. A cartridge according to any or more of claims 29-30, wherein the supply holder comprises a folded strip of said self-supporting sheet of aerosol generating material.
33. A cartridge according to any or more of claims 29-30, wherein the supply holder comprises a stack of individual self-supporting sheets of aerosol generating material.
34. A cartridge according to any or more of claims 29-33 to be used with an apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas, said apparatus comprises: a) one or more air inlets for drawing air into a heating chamber, the one or more air inlets are in fluid flow communication with the
heating chamber; b) an inlet arrangement comprising an inlet for an aerosol generating material; c) a mouthpiece through which a user can draw material that has been volatized in the device in a heating chamber; d) a heating chamber comprising one or more heating elements for heating aerosol generating material, the heating chamber is in fluid flow communication with the mouth piece; e) power circuitry for powering the one or more heating elements.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL2023032A NL2023032B1 (en) | 2019-04-30 | 2019-04-30 | Apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas |
| PCT/EP2020/061928 WO2020221815A1 (en) | 2019-04-30 | 2020-04-29 | Apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP3962302A1 true EP3962302A1 (en) | 2022-03-09 |
Family
ID=67106105
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP20723820.5A Pending EP3962302A1 (en) | 2019-04-30 | 2020-04-29 | Apparatus to be used for heating an aerosol generating material to generate an inhalable aerosol and/or gas |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP3962302A1 (en) |
| NL (1) | NL2023032B1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2020221815A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP4061158A1 (en) * | 2019-11-18 | 2022-09-28 | JT International SA | Vaporizer |
| US11910826B2 (en) | 2021-01-18 | 2024-02-27 | Altria Client Services Llc | Heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating devices and capsules |
| CN216088882U (en) * | 2021-06-04 | 2022-03-22 | 深圳市卓力能技术有限公司 | Heating body for atomizing liquid and atomizer |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3416537A (en) | 1966-12-01 | 1968-12-17 | Gen Cigar Co | Tobacco sheet manufacture of high wet strength |
| US5613505A (en) * | 1992-09-11 | 1997-03-25 | Philip Morris Incorporated | Inductive heating systems for smoking articles |
| DE4328243C1 (en) * | 1993-08-19 | 1995-03-09 | Sven Mielordt | Smoke or inhalation device |
| US5996589A (en) | 1998-03-03 | 1999-12-07 | Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation | Aerosol-delivery smoking article |
| DE19949983B4 (en) | 1999-10-16 | 2004-05-27 | Bandtabak Malchin Gmbh | Tobacco film and process for producing a tobacco film |
| NL1020285C2 (en) | 2002-03-29 | 2003-09-30 | Deli Htl Tabak Mij B V | Method for manufacturing a 'top-loaded cigarette filler'. Method for manufacturing a 'top-loaded cigarette filler'. |
| EP2361516A1 (en) | 2010-02-19 | 2011-08-31 | Philip Morris Products S.A. | Aerosol-generating substrate for smoking articles |
| US20140123989A1 (en) | 2012-11-05 | 2014-05-08 | The Safe Cig, Llc | Device and method for vaporizing a fluid |
| GB201320231D0 (en) * | 2013-11-15 | 2014-01-01 | British American Tobacco Co | Aerosol generating material and devices including the same |
| GB201501429D0 (en) | 2015-01-28 | 2015-03-11 | British American Tobacco Co | Apparatus for heating aerosol generating material |
-
2019
- 2019-04-30 NL NL2023032A patent/NL2023032B1/en active
-
2020
- 2020-04-29 EP EP20723820.5A patent/EP3962302A1/en active Pending
- 2020-04-29 WO PCT/EP2020/061928 patent/WO2020221815A1/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2020221815A1 (en) | 2020-11-05 |
| NL2023032B1 (en) | 2020-11-23 |
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