WO2025052622A1 - Flavor generation article, flavor inhalation system, and flavor inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a flavor generation article. This flavor generation article is at least partially accommodated in a flavor inhaler, and is provided with a flavor source that generates a flavor upon being heated. The flavor source has a first portion that overlaps a heater in the flavor inhaler and a second portion that does not overlap the heater in the flavor inhaler in the longitudinal direction of the flavor generation article when the flavor generation article is accommodated in a desired position of the flavor inhaler. The length of the first portion in the longitudinal direction is 40-60% of the length in the longitudinal direction of the flavor source, and is 10 mm or less.

Description

Flavor generating article, flavor inhalation system, and flavor inhaler

The present invention relates to a flavor generating article, a flavor inhalation system, and a flavor inhaler.

　Conventionally, there are known flavor inhalers that inhale steam or aerosol (vapor) containing a flavor by heating a flavor-generating article having a flavor source without burning any material. Some such flavor inhalers include a heater that is arranged to surround the flavor source of the flavor-generating article contained in the flavor inhaler (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

International Publication No. 2022/073687

In flavor inhalers, from the perspective of miniaturization and reduced power consumption, it is conceivable to make the length of the heater shorter than the length of the flavor source. In this case, even if the length of the heater is made shorter than the length of the flavor source, it is necessary to optimize the structure of the flavor generating item to ensure the desired amount of vapor.

The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the problems described above, and aims to provide a flavor generating article, a flavor inhalation system, and a flavor inhaler that can ensure a desired amount of vapor even when the length of the heater is made shorter than the length of the flavor source.

In a first aspect of the present invention, a flavor generating article is provided. The flavor generating article is at least partially contained in a flavor inhaler, and includes a flavor source that generates a flavor when heated, and the flavor source has a first portion that overlaps with a heater of the flavor inhaler and a second portion that does not overlap with the heater of the flavor inhaler in the longitudinal direction of the flavor generating article when the flavor generating article is contained in a desired position of the flavor inhaler, and the longitudinal length of the first portion is 40% or more and 61% or less of the longitudinal length of the flavor source, and is 10 mm or less.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first portion, whose longitudinal length is 40% to 61% of the longitudinal length of the flavor source and 10 mm or less, is directly heated by the heater to generate steam or aerosol, and the second portion is heated by heat transfer from the heater to generate steam or aerosol. Specifically, the second portion is heated by heat transfer from the first portion, which was heated earlier, or by heat transfer from a member of the flavor inhaler, such as the chamber, which is warmed by the heater. Therefore, since steam or aerosol can be generated from the second portion as well, the desired vapor amount can be ensured even if the length of the heater is made shorter than the length of the flavor source. In addition, since the second portion is heated later than the first portion and steam or aerosol is generated even during the latter puffing operation, stable delivery can be maintained during use of the flavor inhaler.

In a second aspect of the present invention, the first aspect further includes a hollow tube disposed downstream of the flavor source.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, by arranging a hollow tube downstream of the flavor source, the vapor or aerosol generated by the flavor source can be cooled.

In the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the hollow tube has a through hole formed through the hollow tube at a position 2 mm to 12 mm from the downstream end in the longitudinal direction.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by forming a through hole at a position 2 mm to 12 mm from the downstream end of the hollow tube, it is possible to prevent the vapor or aerosol components generated by the flavor source from adhering to the inner wall of the hollow tube due to the flow of air taken in from the outside through the through hole.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the through hole is formed in a position that is not exposed from the flavor inhaler when the flavor-generating article is stored in the desired position of the flavor inhaler.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by forming the through-hole at a position that is not exposed from the flavor inhaler, it is possible to prevent cold air from being taken in from the outside and to prevent the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source from condensing near the through-hole.

In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, a plug portion is further provided that is disposed upstream of the flavor source.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by arranging a plug portion upstream of the flavor source, it is possible to prevent the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source from leaking from the upstream side of the flavor generating article.

In the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the longitudinal length of the plug portion is 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, by making the length of the plug portion 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less, it is possible to configure the flavor-generating article compactly and to suppress a decrease in productivity due to the plug portion being too short.

In a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect, the plug portion has an airflow resistance per unit length of 0.3 mmH ₂ O/mm or more and 2.5 mmH ₂ O/mm or less.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by setting the airflow resistance per unit length of the plug portion to be 0.3 _mmH2O /mm or more and 2.5 _mmH2O /mm or less, it is possible to prevent the steam or aerosol generated in the flavor source from leaking from the upstream side of the flavor generating article and to make it easier for the user to inhale.

In an eighth aspect of the present invention, a flavor inhalation system is provided. The flavor inhalation system includes a flavor generating article according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and a heater for heating the flavor generating article.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the first portion of the flavor source is heated directly by the heater to generate vapor or aerosol, and the second portion of the flavor source is heated by heat transfer from the heater to generate vapor or aerosol. Specifically, the second portion is heated by heat transfer from the first portion, which was heated earlier, or by heat transfer from a component of the flavor inhaler, such as the chamber, which is warmed by the heater. Therefore, since vapor or aerosol can be generated from the second portion as well, the desired vapor amount can be ensured even if the length of the heater is made shorter than the length of the flavor source. In addition, since the second portion is heated later than the first portion and vapor or aerosol is generated even during the latter puffing action, stable delivery can be maintained during use of the flavor inhaler.

In the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, the longitudinal length of the heater that overlaps with the first portion is 40% or more and 61% or less of the longitudinal length of the flavor source, and is 10 mm or less.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the heater is made shorter than the overall length of the flavor source, thereby reducing the power consumption of the flavor inhaler.

In a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth or ninth aspect, the first portion includes a downstream end of the flavor source.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the first portion includes the downstream end of the flavor source, i.e., the second portion does not exist downstream of the first portion, thereby making it possible to prevent the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source from condensing in the second portion that is not directly heated by the heater.

In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect, the downstream end of the heater protrudes longitudinally toward a hollow tube that is positioned downstream of the flavor source relative to the end of the flavor source.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, by projecting the downstream end of the heater toward a hollow tube located downstream of the flavor source relative to the end of the flavor source, the upstream inner wall of the hollow tube is heated, preventing the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source from being rapidly cooled and condensed upstream of the hollow tube, and preventing the components of the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source from adhering to the inner wall of the hollow tube.

In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a flavor inhaler is provided. This flavor inhaler is used with a flavor generating article having a flavor source that generates a flavor when heated, and includes a storage section that stores at least a part of the flavor generating article, and a heater that heats the flavor generating article. When the flavor generating article is inserted into the flavor inhaler and stored in the storage section, the length of the heater that overlaps with the flavor source in the insertion direction of the flavor generating article is 40% to 61% of the length of the flavor source in the insertion direction, and is 10 mm or less.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the flavor source in the portion overlapping with the heater in the insertion direction of the flavor generating article is heated directly by the heater to generate steam or aerosol, and the flavor source in the portion not overlapping with the heater is heated by heat transfer from the heater to generate steam or aerosol. Specifically, the flavor source in the portion not overlapping with the heater is heated by heat transfer from the flavor source in the portion overlapping with the heater that was heated earlier, or by heat transfer from a member such as a storage unit that is warmed by the heater. Therefore, since steam or aerosol can be generated from the flavor source in the portion not overlapping with the heater, the desired vapor amount can be ensured even if the length of the heater is made shorter than the length of the flavor source. In addition, the flavor source in the portion not overlapping with the heater is heated later than the flavor source in the portion overlapping with the heater, and steam or aerosol is generated even in the latter puffing operation, so that stable delivery can be maintained during use of the flavor inhaler.

1 is a perspective view showing a flavor inhalation system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flavor inhaler according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the flavor inhaler taken along the arrow 3-3 in FIG. 2. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a flavor generating article according to one embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an atomization section and a control section when the flavor generating article is accommodated in a desired position of the flavor inhaler. FIG. 1 is a graph showing the adhesion rate of nicotine to the inner wall of a hollow tube. 1 is a graph showing the adhesion rate of glycerin adhering to the inner wall of a hollow tube.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings described below, identical or corresponding components will be given the same reference numerals and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a flavor inhalation system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a flavor inhaler 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The flavor inhalation system 1 is configured by applying a flavor generating article 100 to a flavor inhaler 200 having a heater 40, which will be described later. At least a portion of the flavor generating article 100 is accommodated in the flavor inhaler 200 through an opening 210.

In the drawings described in this specification, an X-Y-Z Cartesian coordinate system may be used for ease of explanation. In this coordinate system, the Z axis faces vertically upward, the X-Y plane is positioned so as to cut the flavor inhaler 200 horizontally, and the Y axis is positioned so as to extend from the front to the back of the flavor inhaler 200. The Z axis direction can also be referred to as the insertion direction of the flavor generating article 100 housed in the chamber 50 described below. The X axis direction can also be referred to as the device longitudinal direction in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the flavor generating article 100. The Y axis direction can also be referred to as the device lateral direction in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the flavor generating article 100.

The flavor inhaler 200 is configured to generate an aerosol containing a flavor by, for example, heating a stick-shaped flavor generating article 100 having a flavor source containing an aerosol source. As an example, the flavor generating article 100 is configured to include a smokable article including a flavor source such as tobacco and an aerosol source at the tip side in the negative Z-axis direction, and a filter at another location.

In this embodiment, the flavor generating article 100 is described as having a stick shape, but the flavor generating article used in the flavor inhaler 200 is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to configure the flavor generating article to include a cartridge that contains a liquid aerosol source. The cartridge may also have a heater.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flavor inhaler 200 has a housing 202 composed of an upper housing 204 and a lower housing 206, and a slide cover 208. The housing 202 constitutes the outermost housing of the flavor inhaler 200 and has a size that fits in the user's hand. When using the flavor inhaler 200, the user can hold the flavor inhaler 200 in their hand and inhale the aerosol.

In this embodiment, the upper housing 204 of the housing 202 is made of a resin such as polycarbonate, and the lower housing 206 is made of a metal such as aluminum. However, the material of the housing 202 is not limited to these, and may be made of resin, and may be selected from any suitable material, such as polycarbonate (PC), ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) resin, PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), or a polymer alloy containing multiple types of polymers.

The upper housing 204 has an opening 210 for receiving the flavor generating article 100, and the slide cover 208 is slidably attached to the upper housing 204 so as to close the opening 210. Specifically, the slide cover 208 is configured to be movable along the outer surface of the upper housing 204 between a closed position in which the opening 210 of the upper housing 204 is closed, and an open position (position shown in Figures 1 and 2) in which the opening 210 is open. For example, a user can manually operate the slide cover 208 to move the slide cover 208 between the closed position and the open position. In this way, the slide cover 208 can permit or restrict access of the flavor generating article 100 to the inside of the flavor inhaler 200.

In the flavor inhalation system 1, air inhaled by the user is introduced into the flavor inhaler 200 from the opening 210, flows in the negative direction of the Z axis inside the chamber 50, and is supplied to the upstream end face of the flavor generating article 100. That is, the flavor inhalation system 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a so-called counterflow type air flow path. Note that the air flow path is not limited to the counterflow type, and may have a so-called bottom flow type air flow path in which air is supplied from the bottom of the chamber 50 to the upstream end face of the flavor generating article 100.

Here, in Figs. 1 and 2, the housing 202 of the flavor inhaler 200 is illustrated so that the joint surface between the upper housing 204 and the lower housing 206 intersects at an angle with respect to the XY plane, but the configuration of the housing 202 is not limited to this. For example, the housing 202 can also be configured from three or more members.

The flavor inhaler 200 may further have a terminal (not shown). The terminal may be an interface that connects the flavor inhaler 200 to, for example, an external power source. If the power source provided in the flavor inhaler 200 is a rechargeable battery, connecting the external power source to the terminal allows current to flow from the external power source to the power source, thereby charging the power source. In addition, connecting a data transmission cable to the terminal may allow data related to the operation of the flavor inhaler 200 to be transmitted to an external device.

Next, the internal structure of the flavor inhaler 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the flavor inhaler 200 taken along the arrow 3-3 shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 3, the power supply unit 20, the atomization unit 30, and the control unit 80 are provided in the internal space of the housing 202 of the flavor inhaler 200.

The control unit 80 includes a substrate 81. The substrate 81 includes, for example, a microprocessor, and can control the supply of power from the power supply unit 20 to the atomization unit 30. This allows the control unit 80 to control the heating of the flavor generating article 100 by the atomization unit 30. The control unit 80 also includes a Bluetooth (registered trademark) interface 82. The control unit 80 can communicate with external devices via the Bluetooth interface 82.

The power supply unit 20 has a power supply 21 electrically connected to a substrate 81 of the control unit 80. The power supply 21 can be, for example, a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. The power supply 21 is electrically connected to the atomization unit 30 via the substrate 81. This allows the power supply 21 to supply power to the atomization unit 30 so as to appropriately heat the flavor generating article 100.

The atomization section 30 has a chamber (container) 50 extending in the longitudinal direction of the flavor generating article 100, a heater 40 surrounding a portion of the chamber 50, a heat insulating section 32, and a generally cylindrical insertion guide member 34. The chamber 50 has a cylindrical shape that accommodates the flavor generating article 100. The chamber 50 may have a so-called elliptical shape having a major axis and a minor axis in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 200. The chamber 50 is preferably formed from a material that is heat resistant and has a small coefficient of thermal expansion, and may be formed from, for example, a metal such as stainless steel, a resin such as PEEK, glass, ceramic, etc.

The heater 40 is configured to contact the outer peripheral surface of the chamber 50 and heat the flavor generating article 100 contained in the chamber 50. The heater 40 may be a sheet-shaped heater. The heater 40 may include a heat generating portion that generates heat and an electrode portion that is essentially responsible for conducting electricity to the heat generating portion. The heater 40 may be provided so as to contact the outer peripheral surface of the chamber 50, or may be provided on the inner surface of the chamber 50. Here, the longitudinal length of the heater 40 is, for example, 10 mm. As an example, it is also possible to provide a susceptor inside or adjacent to the flavor generating article 100, and to place an induction coil for inductively heating the susceptor instead of the heater 40.

The insulating section 32 is disposed to surround the chamber 50 and the heater 40, and suppresses heat radiation to the outside of the chamber 50. The insulating section 32 may be, for example, an aerogel. The insertion guide member 34 is formed of a resin material such as PEEK, PC, or ABS, and is provided between the slide cover 208 in the closed position and the chamber 50. When the slide cover 208 is in the open position, the insertion guide member 34 communicates with the outside of the flavor inhaler 200, and guides the insertion of the flavor generating article 100 into the chamber 50 by inserting the flavor generating article 100 into the insertion guide member 34.

Next, the structure of the flavor generating article 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention and the positional relationship between the flavor generating article 100 and the flavor inhaler 200 to which the flavor generating article 100 is applied will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the flavor generating article 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the atomization section 30 and the control section 80 when the flavor generating article 100 is accommodated in a desired position in the flavor inhaler 200. Note that FIG. 5 shows the flavor generating article 100 in a simplified form.

As shown in FIG. 4, the flavor generating article 100 includes a first segment 110, a flavor generating segment 120, a cooling segment 130, and a second segment 140. The flavor generating article 100 includes a first end 101 that is inserted into the flavor inhaler 200, and a second end 102 opposite the first end 101. In the illustrated example, the flavor generating article 100 extends in the longitudinal direction along the central axis AX, and the first end 101 and the second end 102 are formed at both ends along the longitudinal direction. Hereinafter, the first end 101 side and the second end 102 side may be referred to as the upstream side and the downstream side, respectively. In addition, hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the "radial direction" and the "circumferential direction" refer to the radial direction and the circumferential direction of a rotating coordinate system with the central axis AX as an axis.

The first segment 110, the flavor generating segment 120, the cooling segment 130, and the second segment 140 are arranged in this order from the first end 101 to the second end 102. Here, the longitudinal lengths of the first segment 110, the flavor generating segment 120, the cooling segment 130, and the second segment 140 are, for example, 6 mm, 14 mm, 20 mm, and 20 mm, respectively.

When using the flavor generating article 100 to inhale flavor, the first end 101 is inserted into the chamber 50, and the flavor generating article 100 is accommodated in the chamber 50 at a desired position. Here, the desired position is a position where the flavor generating segment 120 can be heated, for example, a position where the heater 40 and a part of the flavor generating segment 120 overlap in the longitudinal direction. The flavor generating segment 120 is then heated, and the user inhales from the second end 102.

The first segment 110 is a segment disposed on the first end 101 side of the flavor generating segment 120. The first segment 110 preferably extends from the first end 101 to the end of the flavor generating segment 120 on the first end 101 side. The first segment 110 has a plug portion 111 and a tubular first wrapper 150 that covers the plug portion 111. The plug portion 111 may include at least one of cellulose acetate, paper, and nonwoven fabric.

The paper used as the plug portion 111 may be the same as the paper used as the paper filter of the flavor generating article 100. The paper used as the plug portion 111 has a thickness of, for example, 20 μm or more and 1500 μm or less, and a basis weight of, for example, 20 g/m ² or more and 50 g/m ² or less. The paper used as the plug portion 111 preferably has a rectangular shape, and in this case, one side may have a length substantially equal to the length of the plug portion 111, and the other side may have a length of 100 mm or more and 300 mm or less. Although the thickness, basis weight, and size of the paper used as the plug portion 111 have been described, these values refer to the values of the paper before it is subjected to a shaping process (for example, a pleating process, etc.).

The plug portion 111 may also be made of a sheet that is shaped like a corrugated plate and folded in the direction of the waves. This sheet is preferably paper. When such a corrugated sheet is folded in the direction of the waves so as to form a cylindrical shape as a whole, the plug portion 111 is formed.

Hereinafter, when a segment is "solid," this includes the case where the space connecting the first end 101 side and the second end 102 side of the segment is filled with a filler so that air can pass through. Therefore, the filler may be composed of a fibrous or porous material. In addition, when a segment is "filled," this means that the filler is arranged to the extent that air resistance is generated in the segment.

The first segment 110 is preferably solid. In the first segment 110, a plug portion 111 is disposed in a space that connects the first end 101 side and the second end 102 side of the first segment 110. This makes it possible to prevent the steam or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 (described below) contained in the flavor generating segment 120 from leaking from the upstream side of the flavor generating article 100.

The longitudinal length of the plug portion 111 is preferably 10 mm or less, and more preferably 8 mm or less. If the plug portion 111 is short, the flavor generating article 100 can be configured compactly. On the other hand, if the plug portion 111 is too short, it becomes difficult to manufacture the first segment 110 or connect it to other segments, so the longitudinal length of the plug portion 111 is preferably 5 mm or more. In other words, the longitudinal length of the plug portion 111 is preferably 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less. By making the length of the plug portion 111 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less, the flavor generating article 100 can be configured compactly and a decrease in productivity due to the plug portion 111 being too short can be suppressed.

In addition, the airflow resistance per unit length of the plug portion 111 is preferably 0.3 mmH ₂ O/mm or more and 2.5 mmH ₂ O/mm or less. Here, the airflow resistance is measured according to the ISO standard method (ISO6565:2015) using, for example, a filter airflow resistance measuring device manufactured by Cerulean Co., Ltd. The airflow resistance refers to the air pressure difference between the first end face and the second end face when air is flowed at a predetermined air flow rate (17.5 cc/sec) from one end face (first end face) to the other end face (second end face) in a state in which air does not pass through the side face of the object. The unit is generally expressed in mmH ₂ O. The airflow resistance changes depending on the length of the object.

The airflow resistance per unit length of the plug portion 111 is preferably 2.5 mmH ₂ O/mm or less. Small airflow resistance makes it easier for the user to inhale. On the other hand, if the airflow resistance is too small, there is a risk that the steam or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 will leak from the upstream side of the flavor generating article 100, or that the delivery of flavor components will be reduced at the beginning of heating, etc., due to the introduction of air into a portion of the first segment 110 that is not directly heated. Therefore, the airflow resistance per unit length of the plug portion 111 is preferably 0.3 mmH ₂ O/mm or more.

Therefore, the airflow resistance per unit length of the plug portion 111 is preferably 0.3 _mmH2O /mm or more and 2.5 _mmH2O /mm or less. By setting the airflow resistance per unit length of the plug portion 111 to 0.3 _mmH2O /mm or more and 2.5 _mmH2O /mm or less, it is possible to suppress leakage of the steam or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 from the upstream side of the flavor generating article 100 and to realize ease of inhalation by the user.

The flavor generating segment 120 has a flavor source 121 and a cylindrical first wrapper 150 that covers the flavor source 121. The flavor source 121 is not particularly limited as long as it generates a flavor when heated, but is preferably a tobacco material. Examples of the tobacco material include a material obtained by processing dried tobacco leaves, such as tobacco shreds, or a tobacco extract (an extract made from water, an organic solvent, or a mixed solution of these). The flavor source 121 may be composed of one or more tobacco sheets. The tobacco sheet may be formed, for example, by processing dried tobacco leaves into a homogenized sheet (hereinafter referred to as a homogenized sheet) by a known method such as papermaking, slurrying, or rolling. The flavor source 121 may contain at least one of a flavoring, a cooling agent, and a flavoring agent instead of or in addition to the tobacco material.

The flavor source 121 may be manufactured by chopping a homogenizing sheet. Furthermore, the flavor source 121 may be a so-called strand type in which a homogenizing sheet having a length approximately equal to the longitudinal direction of the flavor source 121 is chopped approximately horizontally to the longitudinal direction of the flavor source 121 and filled into the first wrapper 150. In addition, the width of the homogenizing sheet is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less in order to be filled into the first wrapper 150.

The flavor source 121 may include an aerosol source. The aerosol source is a material that is vaporized by heating and cooled to generate an aerosol, or that generates an aerosol by atomization. Known aerosol sources may be used, examples of which include glycerin, polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol (PG), triethyl citrate (TEC), triacetin, etc. In addition, it is preferable that the flavor generating segment 120 is solid.

The content of the aerosol source contained in the flavor source 121 is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of generating sufficient aerosol and imparting a good flavor, it is usually 5% by weight or more, preferably 10% by weight or more, and usually 50% by weight or less, preferably 15% by weight or more and 25% by weight or less, based on the total amount of the flavor source 121.

4 and 5, the flavor source 121 has a first portion 122 that overlaps with the heater 40 of the flavor inhaler 200 and a second portion 123 that does not overlap with the heater 40 of the flavor inhaler 200 in the longitudinal direction of the flavor generating article 100 when the flavor generating article 100 is accommodated in a desired position of the flavor inhaler 200. Here, the first portion 122 is a portion where the heat generating portion of the heater 40 and the flavor source 121 overlap. The first portion 122 is directly heated by the heater 40 to generate steam or aerosol, and the second portion 123 is heated by heat transfer from the heater 40 to generate steam or aerosol. Specifically, the second portion 123 is heated by heat transfer from the first portion 122 that was heated earlier, or by heat transfer from members such as the chamber 50 of the flavor inhaler 200 that are warmed by the heater 40.

Furthermore, the longitudinal length of the first portion 122 is preferably 40% to 61% of the longitudinal length of the flavor source 121, and is preferably 10 mm or less. Furthermore, the longitudinal length of the first portion 122 is more preferably 8.5 mm or less. If the length of the first portion 122 is less than 40% of the length of the flavor source 121, it may be difficult to ensure a sufficient amount of vapor. Furthermore, if the length of the first portion 122 is more than 61% of the length of the flavor source 121, or if the length of the first portion 122 is longer than 10 mm, it may be difficult to achieve a compact flavor inhaler 200 and reduced power consumption.

Therefore, by setting the longitudinal length of the first portion 122 to 40% to 61% of the longitudinal length of the flavor source 121 and to 10 mm or less, vapor or aerosol can also be generated from the second portion 123, so that the desired amount of vapor can be ensured even if the length of the heater 40 is made shorter than the length of the flavor source 121. In addition, the second portion 123 is heated later than the first portion 122, and vapor or aerosol is generated even during the latter puffing action, so that stable delivery can be maintained during use of the flavor inhaler 200.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the longitudinal length of the heater 40 overlapping with the first portion 122 is the same as the longitudinal length of the first portion 122, is 40% to 61% of the longitudinal length of the flavor source 121, and is 10 mm or less. It is further preferable that the longitudinal length of the heater 40 overlapping with the first portion 122 is 8.5 mm or less. In this way, by making the heater 40 shorter than the overall length of the flavor source 121, the power consumption of the flavor inhaler 200 can be reduced.

Also, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first portion 122 includes the downstream end of the flavor source 121. In other words, the flavor source 121 is composed of the first portion 122 arranged on the upstream side and the second portion 123 arranged on the downstream side, and the second portion 123 does not exist downstream of the first portion 122. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 from condensing in the second portion 123, which is not directly heated by the heater 40.

The cooling segment 130 has a hollow tube 131 and a cylindrical second wrapper 160 that covers the hollow tube 131. The hollow tube 131 may be, for example, a paper tube. The hollow tube 131 cools the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121. In this way, by arranging the hollow tube 131 downstream of the flavor source 121, the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 can be cooled.

The hollow tube 131 and the second wrapper 160 are formed with a plurality of circular through-holes 132 that are aligned concentrically around the circumference of the hollow tube 131 and penetrate the walls of both in the radial direction. The through-holes 132 are holes for promoting the inflow of air from the outside caused by the user's inhalation, and this inflow of air can further cool the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121. The diameter (diameter) of the through-holes 132 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. The through-holes 132 may be elliptical, and in this case, the major axis of the through-holes 132 may be, for example, 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. The through-holes 132 are formed at a position, for example, 5.5 mm from the downstream end of the hollow tube 131.

In this way, by having the cooling segment 130 disposed between the flavor generating segment 120 and the second segment 140 and cooling the vapor or aerosol generated by the flavor source 121, the flavor generating article 100 can deliver flavor components to the user at an appropriate temperature.

The vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 is cooled and condensed in the hollow tube 131, and the components adhere to the inner wall of the hollow tube 131. Below, the amount of vapor or aerosol components adhering to the inner wall of the hollow tube will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figures 6 and 7 are graphs showing the proportion of vapor or aerosol components generated in the flavor source that adhere to the inner wall of the hollow tube, Figure 6 is a graph showing the adhesion rate of nicotine that adheres to the inner wall of the hollow tube, and Figure 7 is a graph showing the adhesion rate of glycerin that adheres to the inner wall of the hollow tube. In Figures 6 and 7, the adhesion rates in each of the four equal parts of a hollow tube with a length of 20 mm are shown as a, b, c, and d from the upstream side of the hollow tube.

In addition, to measure the adhesion rate, a flavor generating product without a through hole, with a flavor source of 20 mm, a hollow tube of 20 mm, a second filter of 7 mm, and a first filter of 8 mm, was aspirated using a Ploom S from Japan Tobacco Inc. at 55 ml/2 sec (55 ml of aspirating action in 2 seconds) with an aspirating interval of 30 sec. The hollow tube was then cut into 5 mm pieces, and the cut hollow tubes were shaken and extracted with methanol solvent for 40 minutes, and the amount of adhesion was quantified using GC-FID.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, nicotine tends to adhere to the downstream side of the hollow tube, while glycerin tends to adhere to the upstream side of the hollow tube. Here, as shown in Figure 4, by forming a through hole 132 in the hollow tube 131, it is possible to prevent the vapor or aerosol components generated in the flavor source 121 from adhering to the inner wall of the hollow tube 131 due to the flow of air taken in from the outside through the through hole 132.

In this case, the through hole 132 is preferably formed at a position 2 mm to 12 mm, and more preferably 4 mm to 8 mm, from the downstream end of the hollow tube 131 in the longitudinal direction. By positioning the through hole 132 at a position 2 mm to 12 mm from the downstream end of the hollow tube 131, it is possible to prevent the components of the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 from adhering to the inner wall of the hollow tube 131 while maintaining a balance between the components that tend to adhere on the upstream side of the hollow tube 131 and the components that tend to adhere on the downstream side of the hollow tube 131.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the through-hole 132 is formed at a position that is not exposed from the flavor inhaler 200 when the flavor generating article 100 is stored at a desired position in the flavor inhaler 200. This makes it possible to prevent cold air from being taken in from the outside and to prevent the vapor or aerosol generated by the flavor source 121 from condensing near the through-hole 132.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the downstream end of the heater 40 protrudes in the longitudinal direction toward the hollow tube 131, which is disposed downstream of the flavor source 121, beyond the end of the flavor source 121. This makes it possible to warm the inner wall on the upstream side of the hollow tube 131, preventing the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 from being rapidly cooled and condensed on the upstream side of the hollow tube 131, and to prevent the components of the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 from adhering to the inner wall of the hollow tube 131.

Here, it is preferable that the downstream end of the heater 40 is upstream of the through hole 132, and it is preferable that the protruding length of the heater 40 is 1 mm or more and 5 mm or less. If the protruding length of the heater 40 is less than 1 mm, there is a risk that the effect of suppressing aggregation may not be sufficiently obtained. Also, if the protruding length of the heater 40 is longer than 5 mm, there is a risk that the vapor or aerosol generated in the flavor source 121 may not be sufficiently cooled in the hollow tube 131.

The second segment 140 is a segment disposed on the second end 102 side of the cooling segment 130. The second segment 140 has a first filter 141 and a second filter 142 aligned in the longitudinal direction, and an outer plug wrapper 350 that covers the first filter 141 and the second filter 142. The second segment 140 is not particularly limited as long as it has a filter function such as adjusting the air flow during flavor inhalation or adjusting the amount of flavor or other impurities. The second segment 140 can also function as a rear plug that prevents members on the first end 101 side of the second segment 140 from falling off.

The position of the first filter 141 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 4, and for example, the positions of the first filter 141 and the second filter 142 may be interchanged. In addition, in the flavor-generating article 100, the second filter 142 may be omitted, and the second segment 140 may include three or more filters.

The first filter 141 has a filler 310 and a cylindrical first inner plug wrapper 320 that encases the filler 310. The first filter 141 is preferably solid. The filler 310 is not particularly limited as long as it is a filtering material, and can be a fibrous material or a porous material. The filler 310 can be, for example, cellulose acetate fiber, paper, nonwoven fabric, etc.

The second filter 142 is composed of a filling layer 330 having a hollow portion and a second inner plug wrapper 340 that covers the filling layer 330. The filling layer 330 can be, for example, a rod filled with cellulose acetate fibers at a high density and hardened by adding a plasticizer containing triacetin. The second inner plug wrapper 340 may be omitted.

The diameter of the hollow portion is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 1.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Because the packed fiber density of the packed layer 330 is high, air or aerosol flows only through the hollow portion during inhalation, with almost no flow within the packed layer 330.

　Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-mentioned embodiments of the invention are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and the present invention includes equivalents. Furthermore, the components described in the claims and specification can be combined or omitted to the extent that at least part of the above-mentioned problems can be solved or at least part of the effects can be achieved.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1...Flavor inhalation system 20...Power supply unit 21...Power supply 30...Atomization unit 32...Insulation unit 34...Insertion guide member 40...Heater 50...Chamber 80...Control unit 81...Substrate 82...Bluetooth interface 100...Flavor generating article 101...First end 102...Second end 110...First segment 111...Plug unit 120...Flavor generating segment 121...Flavor source 122...First part 123...Second part 130...Cooling segment 131...Hollow tube 132...Through hole 140...Second segment 141...First filter 142...Second filter 150...First wrapper 160...Second wrapper 200...Flavor inhaler 202...Housing 204...Upper housing 206...Lower housing 208...Slide cover 210...Opening 310: Filler; 320: First inner plug wrapper; 330: Filler layer; 340: Second inner plug wrapper; 350: Outer plug wrapper

Claims (12)

A flavor generating article at least a portion of which is accommodated in a flavor inhaler,
A flavor source that generates a flavor when heated,
the flavor source has a first portion that overlaps with a heater of the flavor inhaler in a longitudinal direction of the flavor generating article when the flavor generating article is accommodated at a desired position of the flavor inhaler, and a second portion that does not overlap with the heater of the flavor inhaler,
The length of the first portion in the longitudinal direction is 40% or more and 61% or less of the length of the flavor source in the longitudinal direction, and is 10 mm or less.
Flavor generating articles. The flavor generating article according to claim 1,
further comprising a hollow tube disposed downstream of the flavor source.
Flavor generating articles. The flavor generating article according to claim 2,
The hollow tube has a through hole formed through the hollow tube at a position 2 mm to 12 mm from a downstream end in the longitudinal direction.
Flavor generating articles. The flavor generating article according to claim 3,
the through-hole is formed at a position where the flavor generating article is not exposed from the flavor inhaler when the flavor generating article is accommodated at a desired position in the flavor inhaler;
Flavor generating articles. A flavor generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Further comprising a plug portion disposed upstream of the flavor source.
Flavor generating articles. The flavor generating article according to claim 5,
The length of the plug portion in the longitudinal direction is 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less.
Flavor generating articles. The flavor generating article according to claim 5 or 6,
The airflow resistance per unit length of the plug portion is 0.3 mmH ₂ O/mm or more and 2.5 mmH ₂ O/mm or less.
Flavor generating articles. 1. A flavor inhalation system, comprising:
A flavor generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
a heater for heating the flavor generating article;
A flavor suction system comprising: A flavor inhalation system according to claim 8,
a length of the heater overlapping with the first portion in the longitudinal direction is 40% or more and 61% or less of a length of the flavor source in the longitudinal direction, and is 10 mm or less;
Flavor extraction system. A flavor inhalation system according to claim 8 or claim 9,
the first portion includes a downstream end of the flavor source;
Flavor extraction system. A flavor inhalation system according to claim 10,
A downstream end of the heater protrudes toward a hollow tube disposed downstream of the flavor source in the longitudinal direction relative to an end of the flavor source.
Flavor extraction system. 1. A flavor inhaler for use with a flavor generating article having a flavor source that is heated to generate a flavor, comprising:
A storage section that stores at least a portion of the flavor generating article;
a heater for heating the flavor generating article;
When the flavor generating article is inserted into the flavor inhaler and accommodated in the accommodation section, a length of the heater that overlaps with the flavor source in an insertion direction of the flavor generating article is 40% or more and 61% or less of a length of the flavor source in the insertion direction, and is 10 mm or less.
Flavor inhaler.