WO2025186949A1 - Heated tobacco and electrically-heated tobacco inhalation system - Google Patents

Abstract

A heated tobacco comprising a flavor generation segment, wherein the flavor generation segment includes tobacco sheets and granules, and the granules are disposed between the tobacco sheets.

Description

Heated tobacco and electrically heated tobacco smoking systems

The present invention relates to heated tobacco products and electrically heated tobacco smoking systems.

Heated tobacco products are known that have a tobacco rod formed by filling the inside of a cigarette paper with a tobacco filler material containing tobacco raw materials (e.g., tobacco shreds, tobacco granules, molded tobacco sheets, etc.) and an aerosol-generating base material (glycerin, propylene glycol, etc.) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This type of heated tobacco product is a type of tobacco product that heats the tobacco filler material without burning it using an electric heater in a heating device, and delivers the aerosol generated in the tobacco filler material to the user.

Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes a product in which tobacco leaves, tobacco sheets, tobacco granules, etc. are filled into the flavor generating segment with the aim of improving the performance of non-combustion heating-type flavor inhalation articles.

Special Publication No. 2015-503335 International Publication No. 2022/210885

As disclosed in Patent Document 2, in heated tobacco products and electrically heated tobacco smoking systems, studies have been conducted on the filler in the flavor generating segment in order to further improve the smoking experience for users.
However, in conventional technology, if the amount of tobacco components filled in was increased to increase the delivery amount (hereinafter simply referred to as the "delivery amount") of aerosol, flavor components, tobacco components, etc. inhaled by the user, the delivery amount at the beginning of smoking (initial puff) would actually decrease, making it difficult to adjust the delivery optimally.

As a result of extensive research into solving the above problems, the inventors discovered that by placing granules between the tobacco sheets in the flavor generation segment of a heated tobacco product, it is possible to adjust the delivery amount and improve delivery efficiency.

That is, the gist of the present invention is as follows.
[1] A heated tobacco product comprising a flavor generating segment,
the flavor-generating segment comprises tobacco sheets and granules;
The granules are disposed between the sheets of the tobacco sheet.
Heated tobacco.
[2] The heated tobacco product according to [1], wherein the tobacco sheets are gathered and filled after being crimped, and the granules are sandwiched between the gathered and filled tobacco sheets.
[3] The heated tobacco product according to [1] or [2], wherein the thermal conductivity of the granules is 0.10 W/mK to 250 W/mK.
[4] The heated tobacco product according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the granules contain a flavoring.
[5] The heated tobacco product according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the granules contain a tobacco flavor component.
[6] The heated tobacco product according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the granules contain nicotine.
[7] The heat-not-burn tobacco according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the packing density of the tobacco sheet in the flavor generation segment is 0.33 g/cm ³ to 0.76 g/cm ³ .
[8] The heated tobacco product according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the packing density of the granules in the flavor generating segment is 0.04 g/cm ³ to 0.22 g/cm ³ .
[9] The heated tobacco product according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the mass ratio of the tobacco sheet to the granules in the flavor generating segment is 60/40 to 95/5.
[10] The heated tobacco product according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the average particle size of the granules is 250 μm to 1000 μm.
[11] The heated tobacco product according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein the heated tobacco product is a non-combustion heated tobacco product.
[12] An electrically heated tobacco smoking system comprising the heated tobacco product according to any one of [1] to [11] and an electrically heated device that heats the heated tobacco product.

The present invention makes it possible to adjust the delivery amount and improve delivery efficiency in heated tobacco and electrically heated tobacco smoking systems.

1 is a schematic diagram of a heated tobacco product according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a heated tobacco product according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrically heated tobacco smoking system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the periphery of a heating region in an electrically heated device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a control unit. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a flavor generation segment of a heated tobacco product according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the results of an example and a comparative example. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the results of an example and a comparative example.

The following describes in detail the embodiments of the present invention, but these descriptions are merely examples (typical examples) of the embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these contents as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the invention.
In this specification, a numerical range expressed using "to" means a range that includes the numerical values written before and after "to" as the lower and upper limits, and "A to B" means A or more and B or less.
In addition, in this specification, the expression "A or B" may be read as "at least one selected from the group consisting of A and B."
Furthermore, although a number of embodiments are described in this specification, various conditions in each embodiment may be applied to each other to the extent that they are applicable.
Furthermore, while the X, Y, and Z directions are shown in the drawings, the left-right direction of the heated tobacco product or the electrically heated device into which the heated tobacco product is inserted is shown as the X direction, the up-down direction as the Y direction, and the depth direction as the Z direction. These directions are merely examples for the sake of convenience and do not limit the elements in the drawings. For example, the elements of the electrically heated tobacco product system are not limited to being arranged in the directions shown in the drawings.

The heated tobacco product according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings, but this embodiment is not limited to this form.
Although this specification may use drawings to explain each embodiment, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in the drawings and explanations of each embodiment are merely examples.

<Heated tobacco>
A heated tobacco according to one embodiment of the present invention is a heated tobacco comprising a flavor generation segment, the flavor generation segment including a tobacco sheet and granules, the granules being disposed between the tobacco sheets. The heated tobacco may be a non-combustible heated tobacco.

An example of the heated tobacco product 100 according to this embodiment is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the heated tobacco product 100 includes a flavor generation segment 110, a cooling section 120, a filter section 130, and tipping paper 140 that connects these together. The cooling section 120 and the filter section 130 are connected coaxially to the flavor generation segment 110 by being wrapped around them by the tipping paper 140.

Reference numeral 101 denotes the mouth end of the heated tobacco product 100 (filter portion 130). Reference numeral 102 denotes the tip of the heated tobacco product 100 opposite the mouth end 101. The flavor generation segment 110 is located on the tip 102 side of the heated tobacco product 100. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the heated tobacco product 100 has a substantially constant diameter over its entire length in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter also referred to as the axial direction or Z direction) from the mouth end 101 along the tip 102.

The configuration of the heated tobacco product 100 is not particularly limited and can be any general configuration. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the flavor generation segment 110, cooling section 120, and filter section 130 are each illustrated as a single segment, but each section may be composed of a single segment or multiple segments.

<Flavor generation segment>
The flavor generating segment 110 according to one embodiment of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it includes a tobacco sheet and granules, and the granules are disposed between the tobacco sheets.
As an example, a tobacco filler 111 consisting of tobacco sheets, granules, etc. (hereinafter, the filler including tobacco sheets and granules filled in the flavor generation segment 110 may be collectively referred to simply as "tobacco filler") may be used, which is filled into the flavor generation segment 110 and wrapped in cigarette paper 112.

The flavor generation segment 110 may also have a fitting portion for fitting with a heater member or the like for heating the heated tobacco product 100 .
It is preferable that the flavor generation segment 110 has a columnar shape, and in this case, it is preferable that the aspect ratio, which is represented by the height of the flavor generation segment 110 in the long axis direction relative to the width of the base of the flavor generation segment 110, is 1 or more.
The shape of the bottom of the flavor generation segment 110 is not limited and may be polygonal, rounded polygonal, circular, elliptical, or the like, and the width is the diameter when the bottom is circular, the major axis when the bottom is elliptical, and the diameter of the circumscribed circle or the major axis of the circumscribed ellipse when the bottom is polygonal or rounded polygonal. The height of the flavor generation segment 110 is preferably about 10 to 70 mm, and the width is preferably about 4 to 9 mm.

The length of the flavor generating segment 110 in the longitudinal direction can be adjusted appropriately to suit the size of the product, but is typically 10 mm or more, preferably 12 mm or more, more preferably 15 mm or more, and even more preferably 18 mm or more. It is typically 70 mm or less, preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 30 mm or less, and even more preferably 25 mm or less. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of the balance between the amount of flavor delivered and the aerosol temperature, the ratio of the length of the flavor generating segment 110 to its longitudinal length h is typically 10% or more, preferably 20% or more, more preferably 25% or more, and even more preferably 30% or more. It is typically 60% or less, preferably 50% or less, more preferably 45% or less, and even more preferably 40% or less.

<Tobacco Sheet>
The tobacco sheet may be a reconstituted tobacco sheet, or a sheet (hereinafter simply referred to as a homogenized sheet) made by grinding dried tobacco leaves to an average particle size of 20 μm or more and 200 μm or less to obtain tobacco pulverized material, which is then homogenized and processed into a sheet. Furthermore, the homogenized sheet may be a strand type, in which a homogenized sheet having a length approximately the same as the longitudinal direction of the flavor generation segment 110 is shredded approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the flavor generation segment 110 and filled into the flavor generation segment 110. The content of dried tobacco leaves contained in the flavor generation segment 110 is not particularly limited, but may be 200 mg or more and 800 mg or less, with 250 mg or more and 600 mg or less being preferred. This range is particularly suitable for a flavor generation segment 110 having a circumference of 22 mm and a length of 20 mm.

The method for filling the flavor generation segment 110 with tobacco sheets is not particularly limited. For example, the tobacco sheets may be wrapped in cigarette paper 112, or the tobacco sheets may be filled into a cylindrical cigarette paper 112. When the flavor generation segment 110 is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped with a longitudinal direction, the flavor generation segments 110 may be filled so that their longitudinal directions are in an unspecified direction within the cigarette paper 112, or they may be filled aligned along the axial direction of the flavor generation segment 110 or perpendicular to the axial direction. Furthermore, for example, tobacco sheets cut into widths of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm (lengths, for example, 5 mm to 40 mm) may be filled in a random orientation, or tobacco sheets cut into widths of 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm (lengths, for example, 5 mm to 40 mm) may be filled aligned parallel to the air passage direction, or the tobacco sheets may be crimped (processed to create vertical grain) and then gathered. When the flavor generation segment 110 is heated, the tobacco components contained in the flavor generation segment 110 vaporize, and these are transferred to the cooling section 120 and filter section 130 by suction.

In particular, it is preferable to perform gather filling (a mode in which multiple channels for vertical air flow are provided) on the tobacco sheet after crimping. This mode makes it easier to arrange the granules described below between the tobacco sheets. Furthermore, by ensuring air flow paths in the ventilation direction, flavor components can be efficiently delivered to the user.
The tobacco sheet may also be packed in a spiral shape.

The amount of tobacco sheet filled into the flavor generation segment 110 depends on the size and shape of the flavor generation segment 110, but as an example, if the flavor generation segment 110 is rod-shaped with a major axis length of 12 mm and a diameter of 7 mm, it is typically 150 mg to 350 mg, preferably 200 mg to 250 mg.
The packing density of the tobacco sheet in the flavor generation segment 110 is preferably 0.33 g/cm ³ to 0.76 g/cm ³ , and more preferably 0.43 g/cm ³ to 0.54 g/cm ^3. When the packing density of the tobacco sheet is within the above range, sufficient delivery can be ensured while suppressing the total packing amount of tobacco components, resulting in excellent delivery efficiency.

<Granules>
The granules according to this embodiment are disposed between the tobacco sheets and filled into the flavor generating segment 110 together with the tobacco sheets. In particular, it is preferable that the granules are sandwiched between the tobacco sheets that have been gathered and filled after crimping. This is preferable because it makes it difficult for the granules to fall out from between the sheets. It also makes it easier to ensure the surface area of the tobacco filler and the air flow path in the ventilation direction.
The granules may be evenly or unevenly sandwiched between the sheets, but from the viewpoint of delivery, it is preferable that they be disposed as evenly as possible. In other words, it is preferable that the granules be distributed so that there are as many contact points between the granules and the tobacco sheet as possible. Alternatively, the granules may be filled between the tobacco sheets after the tobacco sheets have been filled into the flavor generation segment 110.
The granules may be adhered to the sheet. Alternatively, the granules may be held in place to prevent spillage when the flavor generating segment 110 is molded into a rod shape. The adhesive for adhering the sheet and the granules may be at least one adhesive selected from the group consisting of a vinyl acetate glue or components commonly used in tobacco sheets, such as binders guar gum, xanthan gum, CMC (carboxymethylcellulose), and CMC-Na (sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose). The retention agent may be an aerosol source, such as at least one retention agent selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.

In order to improve the durability of delivery, it is common to increase the amount of filler containing tobacco components, such as tobacco sheets. However, if the filler is increased too much, there is a concern that delivery efficiency will decrease and the amount of delivery at the beginning of smoking (initial puff) will decrease. When granules are placed between the sheets of tobacco sheets, as in this embodiment, the surface area of the tobacco filler increases, thereby improving delivery efficiency and initial puffs while ensuring sufficient durability. In addition, the granules can improve thermal conductivity between the sheets. Furthermore, by making it less likely for the sheets to adhere to each other, it becomes possible for sufficient air to flow between the sheets, improving delivery efficiency.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a flavor generating segment according to one embodiment of the present invention.
In Fig. 6, a flavor generating segment wrapped in cigarette paper 61 is filled with a folded tobacco sheet 62, and granules 63 are filled between the tobacco sheets 62. The granules 63 may also be filled in a manner that they are sandwiched between the tobacco sheets 62.

The base material of the granules is not particularly limited, but from the perspective of thermal conductivity, it is preferable that it contains at least one selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, activated carbon, and crystalline cellulose. These base materials can be molded into a granular shape using known methods.

The thermal conductivity of the granules is preferably 0.10 W/mK to 250 W/mK, and more preferably 1.0 W/mK to 5.0 W/mK. It is preferable for the thermal conductivity of the granules to be within the above range, as this allows for efficient heating of the entire flavor generation segment 110.

The granules can be given various functions by containing other components in addition to the base material.
Examples of the other components include at least one selected from the group consisting of flavorings, tobacco flavoring components, and nicotine.
It is preferable to fill the flavor generating segment 110 with these ingredients supported on granules from the viewpoint of ingredient retention.
As a method for incorporating other components into the granules, a method in which the base material and other components are mixed and then molded into a granular shape can be mentioned.

The type of the flavoring is not particularly limited, and from the viewpoint of imparting a good flavor, the following may be used: acetanisole, acetophenone, acetylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, alfalfa extract, amyl alcohol, amyl butyrate, trans-anethole, star anise oil, apple juice, Peru balsam oil, beeswax absolute, benzaldehyde, benzoin resinoid, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, benzyl propionate, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanol, butyl butyrate, butyric acid, caramel, cardamom oil, carob absolute, β -Carotene, carrot juice, L-carvone, β-caryophyllene, cassia bark oil, cedarwood oil, celery seed oil, chamomile oil, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, citronella oil, DL-citronellol, clary sage extract, cocoa, coffee, konjac oil, coriander oil, cuminaldehyde, davana oil, δ-decalactone, γ-decalactone, decanoic acid, dill herb oil, 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione, 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, 3,7 -dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl lactate, ethyl laurate, ethyl levulinate, ethyl maltol, ethyl octanoate, ethyl oleate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl phenylacetate, ethyl propionate, ethyl stearate, ethyl valerate, ethyl vanillin, ethyl vanillin glucoside, 2-ethyl-3,(5 or 6)-dimethylpyrazine, 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2( 5H)-Furanone, 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine, eucalyptol, fenugreek absolute, genet absolute, gentian root infusion, geraniol, geranyl acetate, grape juice, guaiacol, guava extract, gamma-heptalactone, gamma-hexalactone, hexanoic acid, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, hexyl acetate, hexyl alcohol, phenylhexyl acetate, honey, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one , 4-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, sodium 4-hydroxyundecanoate, inmortel absolute, β-ionone, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, isoamyl phenylacetate, isobutyl acetate, isobutyl phenylacetate, jasmine absolute, cola nut tincture, labdanum oil, lemon terpeneless oil, licorice extract, linalool, linalyl acetate, lovage root oil, maltol, maple syrup, menthol, menthone, L-menthyl acetate, paramethoxybenzaldehyde, methyl-2-pyrrolyl ketone, anthranil Methyl phenylacetate, Methyl salicylate, 4'-methylacetophenone, Methylcyclopentenolone, 3-methylvaleric acid, Mimosa absolute, Honey syrup, Myristic acid, Nerol, Nerolidol, γ-nonalactone, Nutmeg oil, δ-octalactone, Octanal, Octanoic acid, Orange flower oil, Orange oil, Orris root oil, Palmitic acid, ω-pentadecalactone, Peppermint oil, Petitgrain Paraguay oil, Phenethyl alcohol, Phenethyl phenylacetate, Phenylacetic acid, Piperonal, Plum extract, Propenylguaethol, Propylene acetate Pyr, 3-propylidenephthalide, prune juice, pyruvic acid, raisin extract, rose oil, rum, sage oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil, styrax absolute, marigold oil, tea distillate, α-terpineol, terpinyl acetate, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,5,9-tetramethyl-13-oxacyclo(8.3.0.0(4.9))tridecane, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, thyme oil, tomato extract, 2-tridecanone, triethyl citrate, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexenyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1,4-dione, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadienyl)2-buten-4-one, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, γ-undecalactone, γ-valerolactone, vanilla extract, vanillin, veratraldehyde, violet leaf absolute, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide (WS-3), or ethyl-2-(p-menthane-3-carboxamide)acetate (WS-5), with menthol being particularly preferred. These flavoring agents may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
By including a flavoring in the granules, the delivery of the flavoring component can be controlled.

Examples of tobacco flavor components include components derived from tobacco leaves such as tobacco shreds, etc. The material of the tobacco shreds is not particularly limited, and known materials such as lamina and ribs can be used.
By including tobacco flavor components in the granules, the delivery of the tobacco flavor components can be controlled.

Various types of tobacco can be used as the tobacco leaves used to make shredded tobacco and tobacco sheets. Examples include flue-cured tobacco, burley, oriental tobacco, native tobacco, other Nicotiana tabacum varieties, Nicotiana rustica varieties, and mixtures thereof. Mixtures can be made by blending the aforementioned varieties appropriately to achieve the desired flavor. Details of the tobacco varieties are disclosed in the "Encyclopedia of Tobacco," published by the Tobacco Research Center on March 31, 2009. There are several conventional methods for producing the homogenized sheet, i.e., grinding tobacco leaves and processing them into a homogenized sheet. The first is a method of producing a paper-making sheet using a papermaking process. The second is a method in which an appropriate solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves to homogenize them, and then a thin layer of the homogenized material is cast onto a metal plate or metal plate belt and dried to produce a cast sheet. The third is a method in which an appropriate solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves to homogenize them, and then the homogenized material is extruded into a sheet to produce a rolled sheet. Details of the types of homogenizing sheets are disclosed in "Encyclopedia of Tobacco," Tobacco Research Center, March 31, 2009.

The amount of granules filled into the flavor generating segment 110 depends on the size and shape of the flavor generating segment 110, but as an example, if the flavor generating segment 110 is rod-shaped with a major axis length of 12 mm and a diameter of 7 mm, it is typically 20 mg to 100 mg, preferably 50 mg to 80 mg.
The packing density of the granules in the flavor generating segment 110 is preferably 0.04 g/cm ³ to 0.22 g/cm ³ , more preferably 0.11 g/cm ³ to 0.17 g/cm ^3. If the packing density of the granules is within the above range, it is preferable from the viewpoint of delivery efficiency.

Furthermore, from the viewpoint of delivery efficiency, the mass ratio of the tobacco sheet to the granules filled in the flavor generation segment 110 (mass of tobacco sheet/mass of granules) is preferably 60/40 to 95/5, and more preferably 70/30 to 80/20.

The average particle size of the granules is preferably 250 μm to 1000 μm, and more preferably 500 μm to 800 μm. When the average particle size of the granules is 250 μm or more, the effect of improving delivery efficiency can be sufficiently obtained. Furthermore, when the average particle size of the granules is 1000 μm or less, the production of the granules is easy.
The average particle size of the granules can be adjusted appropriately by adjusting the amount of the base material, etc. contained in the granules. The average particle size is measured using a laser diffraction particle sizer such as Mastersizer (manufactured by Malvern).

The composition and manufacturing method of the granules are not limited to the above examples, and may be, for example, the following composition and manufacturing method.

Granule Composition The components contained in the granules include (A) 15-50% by weight of tobacco extract, (B) non-wood fiber, (C) binder, and (D) 10-60% by weight of aerosol base material, and the total of (B) and (C) may be 23-50% by weight. Unless otherwise specified, weights and weight percentages are dry weights and dry weight percentages. Dry weight is the weight excluding the weight of water.

(1) Component (A): Tobacco Extract Tobacco extract is a substance or mixture that exhibits a flavor extracted from tobacco. Tobacco extract can be prepared by known methods. Examples include the following: 1) a method in which tobacco raw material is subjected to extraction using an extraction medium to obtain a tobacco extract; 2) a method in which an extraction medium is added to the tobacco raw material and heated, and the generated vapor is collected; and 3) a method in which the extraction medium is vaporized by heating and passed through the tobacco raw material, and the vapor is collected after passing. Examples of extraction media include water or hydrophilic organic solvents such as alcohol. In method 1), water is preferably used as the extraction medium from the perspective of workability. In methods 2) and 3), alcohols such as propylene glycol, glycerin, or ethanol are preferably used as the extraction medium from the perspective of work efficiency. Acids or alkalis can also be used for extraction as needed. The liquid obtained by extraction, containing the tobacco extract and extraction medium, is called a tobacco extract.

Tobacco raw materials can be those of the Nicotiana genus, such as Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica. Nicotiana tabacum can be of varieties such as burley or flue-cured varieties. Alternatively, varieties such as the Orient or native burley varieties of the Nicotiana genus can also be used.

The tobacco raw material may be shredded or powdered tobacco material (hereinafter also referred to as "raw material pieces"). In such cases, the particle size of the raw material pieces is preferably 0.5 to 1.18 mm. Such raw material pieces can be obtained, for example, by sieving in accordance with JIS Z 8815 using a stainless steel sieve conforming to JIS Z 8801. For example, 1) using a stainless steel sieve with 1.18 mm openings, the raw material pieces are sieved by a dry mechanical shaking method for 20 minutes to obtain raw material pieces that pass through the stainless steel sieve with 1.18 mm openings. 2) Subsequently, using a stainless steel sieve with 0.50 mm openings, the raw material pieces are sieved by a dry mechanical shaking method for 20 minutes to remove the raw material pieces that pass through the stainless steel sieve with 0.50 mm openings. By doing this, raw material pieces can be prepared that pass through the stainless steel sieve (mesh opening = 1.18 mm) that defines the upper limit, but do not pass through the stainless steel sieve (mesh opening = 0.50 mm) that defines the lower limit.

In one embodiment, tobacco raw materials are treated with alkali. Flavor components are generated through this treatment, and these may be collected to prepare a tobacco extract liquid containing tobacco extract and water. In this case, it is preferable to extract the flavor components as a gas from the alkali-treated tobacco raw material, and then introduce the gas into water to convert the flavor components into a liquid.

The alkaline substance is preferably an alkaline liquid such as an aqueous potassium carbonate solution. In this case, the alkaline substance is supplied until the pH of the tobacco raw material falls within a specific range. This pH is preferably 8.0 or higher, more preferably 8.9 to 9.7. The pH of the tobacco raw material is the pH of the water when the tobacco raw material is mixed with 10 times the amount of water.

The moisture content of tobacco raw materials is not limited, but from the perspective of efficiently extracting flavor components, it is preferable that the moisture content be approximately 5 to 30% by weight. The moisture content of tobacco raw materials is measured by known methods; for example, a 1g sample is taken, heated at 105°C, and the moisture content is determined by the weight loss when heated until the weight change rate is 1mg/min or less. This measurement can be performed using, for example, a halogen heating moisture meter (such as the MB45 manufactured by Ohaus).

The tobacco extract content in the tobacco flavor component is preferably 15 to 50% by weight. This amount can be adjusted appropriately, for example, to 20 to 40% by weight.

(2) Component (B): Non-wood fiber. Non-wood fiber is a fiber not derived from wood, preferably a fiber other than tobacco fiber. Dietary fiber is preferred as a non-wood fiber. Dietary fiber is a food component that is not digested by human digestive enzymes, and is more preferably insoluble dietary fiber that does not dissolve in water. Dietary fiber may be porous, i.e., spongy. Porous fiber can increase the surface area of granules and improve thermal conductivity. From the standpoint of availability, the fiber is preferably citrus fiber. Citrus fiber is a fiber derived primarily from the albedo of citrus fruits. Dietary fiber may also be short fibers or columnar particles with a small aspect ratio. Citrus fiber is particularly preferred because it can impart strength to the sheet with a small amount. The moisture content of the non-wood fiber is measured, and the amount of non-wood fiber blended is determined to satisfy the moisture content relationship described below. The moisture content of the non-wood fiber is measured by a known method, for example, the same method as the moisture content of tobacco raw materials. In one embodiment, the content of component (B) in the granules is 10 to 30% by weight. Although wood fiber is a well-known fiber material, the use of non-wood fiber has the advantage of being superior in liquid-carrying capacity compared to wood fiber, and therefore the amount of non-wood fiber added can be reduced, allowing for more components that contribute to flavor and taste.

(3) Component (C): Binder Examples of the binder include carboxyalkyl cellulose and guar gum. The moisture content of the binder is measured by a known method, for example, the same method as that for the moisture content of the tobacco raw material.

The total amount of component (B) and component (C) in the sheet is preferably 23 to 50% by weight. When this amount is equal to or greater than the lower limit, the granules are easy to handle and tend to have sufficient strength. Furthermore, when this amount is equal to or less than the upper limit, the flavor is sufficient or unpleasant flavors are suppressed. From this perspective, the lower limit of this total amount is preferably 24% by weight or more, and the upper limit is preferably 40% by weight or less, more preferably 30% by weight or less. The respective amounts of component (B) and component (C) are determined so as to satisfy the above total amount, and in one embodiment, the amount of component (B) is 10 to 30% by weight or 13 to 25% by weight, and the amount of component (C) is 13 to 20% by weight or 10 to 25% by weight.

(4) Component (D): Aerosol Base Examples of the aerosol base include polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin or polyethylene glycol. The moisture content in the aerosol base is measured by a known method, for example, the same method as that for the moisture content in tobacco raw materials. The amount of aerosol base in the granules is 10 to 60% by weight. When this amount is equal to or greater than the lower limit, the amount of smoke produced during smoking is sufficient. When this amount is equal to or less than the upper limit, the handleability of the granules is improved. From this perspective, the amount is preferably 15 to 50% by weight, more preferably 20 to 40% by weight.

(5) Others The granules may contain wood fibers. Examples of wood fibers include softwood pulp, Vitacel FL400, and Vitacel L600/30 (all manufactured by J. Rettenmaier & Söhne GmbH). The mixture for producing the granules preferably contains water, and the weight ratio of water to components other than water in the mixture is preferably (0.2 to 1:1). It is preferable to measure the moisture content of the wood fibers and determine the amount of wood fibers to satisfy this relationship. The moisture content of the wood fibers is measured by a known method, for example, the same method as that for the moisture content of tobacco raw materials. In one embodiment, the wood fiber content in the granules is 1 to 10% by weight.

Granule Manufacturing Method The granules of this embodiment are preferably manufactured by a method comprising step 1A of preparing a mixture of tobacco extract containing component (A), component (B), component (C), and component (D), and step 2A of granulating the mixture.

(1) Process 1A
(1-1) Preparation of Tobacco Extract In this step, the tobacco raw material described above is subjected to extraction to prepare a tobacco extract containing the tobacco extract as an active ingredient and an extraction medium. Water is preferably used as the extraction medium. The extraction temperature is not limited, but is preferably 60 to 100°C, and more preferably 70 to 90°C from the perspective of smoking taste. The extraction time is preferably 20 to 40 minutes.

(1-2) Mixing Mixing can be carried out by known methods; for example, a mixture can be prepared by mixing the components in a mixer or the like. The mixture preferably contains water, and the weight ratio of water to components other than water is preferably (0.2 to 1:1). The water may be water contained in the tobacco extract, or may be water added separately. In particular, when the content of non-wood fibers is increased, it is preferable to also increase the content of water.

(2) Process 2A
In step 2A, the same method as in step 2 described above can be used. Specifically, in step 2A, the mixture obtained in step 1A is granulated (into long columns) in a wet extrusion granulator, and then sized into short columns or spheres. The extrusion pressure during extrusion granulation can be set as desired depending on the viscosity of the mixture, etc.

The granules obtained by extrusion granulation may be further dried, if necessary, to adjust the moisture content. For example, the loss on drying of the granules obtained by extrusion granulation may be measured, and if it is higher than the desired loss on drying (for example, 5% by weight or more and 17% by weight or less), the granules may be further dried to obtain the desired loss on drying. The drying conditions (temperature and time) required to obtain the desired loss on drying can be determined in advance and set based on the drying conditions (temperature and time) required to reduce the loss on drying by a predetermined value.

The moisture content of the tobacco filler can be 10% by weight or more and 15% by weight or less, and preferably 11% by weight or more and 13% by weight or less, based on the total amount of the tobacco filler. This moisture content suppresses the occurrence of stains on the roll and improves the suitability for rolling during the production of the flavor generating segment 110. There are no particular restrictions on the size of the tobacco shreds contained in the tobacco filler or their preparation method. For example, dried tobacco leaves shredded to a width of 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less may be used. Furthermore, when using a ground homogenized sheet, dried tobacco leaves may be ground to an average particle size of approximately 20 μm to 200 μm, homogenized, and then processed into a sheet, which may then be shredded to a width of 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less.

The tobacco filler may also contain an aerosol base, which is a base that generates an aerosol when heated, and examples of such a base include glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof.
The content of the aerosol base material in the tobacco filler is not particularly limited, but 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, relative to the total amount of the tobacco filler.

The tobacco filler may contain a flavoring agent in addition to that contained in the granules.
The content of the flavoring in the tobacco filler is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of imparting a good flavor, it is usually 10,000 ppm or more, preferably 20,000 ppm or more, more preferably 25,000 ppm or more, and is usually 70,000 ppm or less, preferably 50,000 ppm or less, more preferably 40,000 ppm or less, and even more preferably 33,000 ppm or less.

<Method of manufacturing heated tobacco products>
The method for producing a heated tobacco product according to this embodiment is not particularly limited, and a combination of known methods can be applied. For example, a tobacco sheet is extruded from a roller and crimped, and then granules are added to the tobacco sheet, which is then rolled up in cigarette paper to produce a rod-shaped flavor generation segment 110. At this time, an aerosol source such as glycerin may be added as needed. The flavor generation segment 110, cooling section 120, and filter section 130 are then rolled up in tipping paper 140 to produce the flavor generation segment 110.

<Electrically heated tobacco smoking system>
The above-described heated tobacco product 100 can be used together with an electric heating device that heats the heated tobacco product. That is, an electrically heated tobacco suction system according to another embodiment of the present invention is an electrically heated tobacco suction system that includes the above-described heated tobacco product and an electric heating device that heats the heated tobacco product.
The configuration of the electrically heated tobacco suction system is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the internal structure of the electrically heated tobacco suction system 200. Note that the heated tobacco article 100 in Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the heated tobacco article 100 in Figure 1.

The electrically heated tobacco suction system 200 comprises a heated tobacco product 100 and an electrically heated device 30 that heats the flavor generation segment 110 of the heated tobacco product 100. The heated tobacco product 100 is inserted into and removed from the storage cavity 313 of the storage unit 310 through the insertion port 3A of the electrically heated device 30.

When the electrically heated device 30 is used by a user, the heated tobacco product 100 is inserted into the storage cavity 313, and in this state, the heater provided in the storage section 310 is made to generate heat, which heats the flavor source within the heated tobacco product 100, thereby generating an aerosol containing components such as tobacco components, which the user can inhale.
In addition, the heater may directly heat the flavor generation segment 110, or alternatively, it may heat an aerosol generation source within the heated tobacco product 100, supply the heated aerosol to the flavor generation segment 110, and the heated aerosol may further heat tobacco components, etc. within the flavor generation segment 110, thereby allowing the user to inhale it.

The electric heating device 30 has a housing 31, which is a case for accommodating various components. The housing 31 contains a heater 32, a temperature sensor 35, a suction sensor 36, a control unit 37, a power supply 38, etc.

[Storage section]
The housing 31 has a storage section 310 that stores the heated tobacco product 100 in an insertable and removable manner from the front end to the rear end. The storage section 310 extends in the insertion/removal direction of the heated tobacco product 100 and includes a cylindrical peripheral wall 312 that defines the outer periphery of the space into which the heated tobacco product 100 is inserted, and a disk-shaped rear wall 311 that closes the rear end of the peripheral wall 312 so as to define the rear end of the space. The peripheral wall 312 and rear wall 311 of the storage section 310 may be formed integrally with the housing 31, or may be formed separately from the housing 31 and then assembled to the housing 31.

The open end of the peripheral wall 312 of the storage section 310 is open toward the outside of the housing 31, and serves as an insertion port 3A for inserting the heated tobacco product 100. The internal space of the peripheral wall 312 serves as a cylindrical storage cavity 313 into which the tip portion of the heated tobacco product 100 can be inserted and removed via the insertion port 3A. In Figure 4, the symbol CL indicates the central axis of the storage cavity 313 in the insertion and removal direction of the heated tobacco product 100. Hereinafter, the direction along this central axis CL will also be referred to as the axial direction. The outer diameter of the storage cavity 313, i.e., the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 312, may be equal to, slightly larger than, or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the heated tobacco product 100.

A heater 32 is provided around the peripheral wall 312 of the storage section 310. The peripheral wall 312 and rear wall 311 of the storage section 310 are formed from a material that can withstand the heat of the heater 32 and transfer the heat of the heater 32 to the heated tobacco product 100. Materials used for such a storage section 310 include, for example, metals such as stainless steel and heat-resistant resins. The heater 32 may be located within the peripheral wall 312.

[Heater]
The heater 32 generates heat upon receiving power from the control unit 37, and heats the heated tobacco product 100 accommodated in the accommodation unit 310. In other words, the heater 32 is one form of a heating unit that heats the heated tobacco product 100.
The type of heater 32 is not particularly limited, but examples include a steel material with a heating wire (e.g., a wire material with high electrical resistance, such as nichrome, iron chromium, or iron nickel) strung throughout, a ceramic heater, a sheathed heater, etc. A sheathed heater is a heater in which a heating wire is covered with a metal pipe together with a filler.

Figure 4 shows the heated tobacco product 100 inserted into the storage cavity 313. In this state, the heater 32 receives power from the control unit 37, as described below, and heats the flavor generation segment 110 to a predetermined temperature. The space in the storage cavity 313 that is heated to a predetermined temperature by the heat of the heater 32 is designated as the heated area A1, and the space adjacent to the insertion opening of the heated area A1 in the axial direction (insertion/removal direction) is designated as the non-heated area A2. The non-heated area A2 is formed on the insertion opening side of the storage cavity 313, and the heated area A1 is formed on the rear side of the storage cavity 313. The heater 32 is disposed around or inside the peripheral wall 312 in the heated area A1, and heats the heated area A1 from the outside. The heater 32 not only heats the area in contact with the heater 32, but also heats areas distant from the heater 32 by radiation and heat transfer. For example, the heater 32 heats at a predetermined temperature from the front end of the heater 32 to position 317 on the insertion opening side in the axial direction. Therefore, the heated region A1 is the region from position 317 to the rear wall 311 in the axial direction of the accommodating portion 310. That is, position 317 is the boundary between the heated region A1 and the non-heated region A2, and the non-heated region A2 is the region from this boundary 317 to the front end of the accommodating cavity 313 in the axial direction. Note that this boundary 317 may be determined as the boundary between the region where the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature and the region where the temperature falls below the predetermined temperature when actually heated by the heater 32, or may be determined as the estimated boundary between the region where the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature and the region where the temperature falls below the predetermined temperature when the heater 32 is operated under predetermined conditions. Note that in this embodiment, the boundary position between the region where the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature and the region where the temperature falls below the predetermined temperature of the peripheral wall 312 is estimated, and the plane that passes through this boundary position and is perpendicular to the central axis CL is determined as the boundary 317, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 . When the heated tobacco product 100 is inserted into the storage cavity 313, the flavor generation segment 110 is located in the heated region A1, and at least a portion of the cooling unit 120 is located in the non-heated region A2. Note that when the heated tobacco product 100 is in a predetermined state, for example, inserted into the storage cavity 313 until the tip 102 of the heated tobacco product 100 hits the rear wall 311 of the storage section 310, the portion of the storage cavity 313 where the flavor generation segment 110 is located may be the heated region A1, and the portion where the cooling unit 120 is located may be the non-heated region A2.

[Control unit]
5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 37. The control unit 37 controls the operating state of the electric heating device 30, such as controlling heating by the heater 32. The control unit 37 is a computer including a processor 71 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a memory 72 such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory), and an input/output unit 73. The control unit 37 also includes a drive circuit 74 for the heater 32.

Memory 72 may include a memory that functions as a main memory unit 721 and a memory that functions as an auxiliary memory unit 722. Memory 72 may be formed integrally with processor 71 (on one chip). Examples of memory 72 include storage media such as volatile memory such as RAM, non-volatile memory such as ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), SSD, or removable media.

The memory 72 can store an operating system (OS), various programs (firmware), various data tables, various databases, setting data, user data, and the like, which are used to execute the operations of the electric heating device 30.

The input/output unit 73 is a means for inputting information such as power on/off by the user (smoker) to the processor 71, or for outputting information to the user. The input/output unit 73 is, for example, an interface that operates the temperature sensor 35 and suction sensor 36 at predetermined times and acquires the detected values of each sensor 35, 36. The input/output unit 73 may also include input means such as operation buttons and a touch panel, as well as output means such as a display, vibrator, and speaker. The input/output unit 73 may also include a communications unit for communicating with an external device via a communications line. For example, the communications unit may connect to another computer via a communications cable, receive programs and data for controlling the electric heating device 30, and store them in the memory 72, thereby updating the firmware, heating profile, etc. The display is a means for displaying information, and may be, for example, an indicator such as an LED, a liquid crystal display, or an organic EL display.

The drive circuit 74 supplies power from the power supply 38 to the heater 32 in accordance with instructions from the processor 71, causing the heater 32 to operate. The drive circuit 74 is, for example, a converter that adjusts the amount of current flowing to the heater 32.

The control unit 37 functions as predetermined functional units, such as a determination unit 711, a heating control unit 712, and an output control unit 713, when the processor 71 reads and executes a program stored in the memory 72 into the working area of the main storage unit. Note that these functional units are not limited to those realized based on programs (software), and some or all of them may be configured using hardware circuits such as processors, integrated circuits, and logic circuits.

The determination unit 711 determines information such as the user's operation, the state of the heated tobacco product 100, and the heating status of the heater 32 based on the detection results of the sensors 35, 36 and input information from the input means. For example, the determination unit 711 measures the number of puffs from the detection value of the suction sensor 36 and determines whether the number of puffs has reached a predetermined number.

The heating control unit 712 controls the drive circuit 74 based on the determination result of the determination unit 711, thereby controlling the power supplied from the power source 38 to the heater 32 via the drive circuit 74. For example, the heating control unit 712 terminates heating when the determination unit 711 determines that the number of suctions has reached a predetermined number. Furthermore, when the determination unit 711 determines that the amount of moisture or flavor source in the flavor generation segment 110 has decreased to a predetermined amount, the heating control unit 712 changes the power supplied to the heater 32 to change the heating temperature. Furthermore, when the determination unit 711 determines that the amount of moisture or flavor source in the flavor generation segment 110 has decreased to the point where heating should be terminated, the heating control unit 712 stops the power supply to the heater 32 and terminates heating.

The output control unit 713 outputs notifications, warnings, etc. to the user based on the determination result of the determination unit 711. For example, the output control unit 713 outputs a signal when the remaining number of possible suctions reaches a predetermined number or less. As an output to the user, the output control unit 713 may, for example, display on a display unit, output sound from a speaker, or vibrate using a vibrator.

The length of the heater 32 in the longitudinal direction can be within the range of L ± 5.0 mm, where L mm is the length of the flavor generation segment 110 in the longitudinal direction. From the perspective of aerosol delivery, i.e., to sufficiently transfer heat to the flavor generation segment 110 and sufficiently volatilize the aerosol base material and flavor components contained in the flavor source, the length of the heater 32 in the longitudinal direction is preferably L mm or more. From the perspective of suppressing the generation of components that have an undesirable effect on the flavor, the length is preferably L + 0.5 mm or less, L + 1.0 mm or less, L + 1.5 mm or less, L + 2.0 mm or less, L + 2.5 mm or less, L + 3.0 mm or less, L + 3.5 mm or less, L + 4.0 mm or less, L + 4.5 mm or less, or L + 5.0 mm or less.

The heating intensity, such as the heating time and heating temperature of the heated tobacco product 100 by the heater 32, can be preset for each electrically heated tobacco suction system 200. For example, by preheating the heated tobacco product 100 for a certain period of time after it is inserted into the electrically heated device 30, the heated tobacco product 100 can be heated until the temperature of the outer surface of the portion of the heated tobacco product 100 that is inserted into the electrically heated device 30 reaches X (°C), and the temperature can then be set in advance to maintain a constant temperature of X (°C) or less.
From the viewpoint of the delivery amount of components generated by heating, the above X (°C) is preferably 80°C or higher and 400°C or lower. Specifically, the X (°C) may be 80°C, 90°C, 100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C, 140°C, 150°C, 160°C, 170°C, 180°C, 190°C, 200°C, 210°C, 220°C, 230°C, 240°C, 250°C, 260°C, 270°C, 280°C, 290°C, 300°C, 310°C, 320°C, 330°C, 340°C, 350°C, 360°C, 370°C, 380°C, 390°C, or 400°C.

The opening 103 that may be provided in the cooling section 120 is preferably located closer to the mouth end than the mouth end of the area of the cooling section 120 that comes into contact with the electrically heated device 30, from the standpoint of promoting the inflow of air from the outside and preventing components and air generated by heating from accumulating within the cooling section 120. Furthermore, the insertion port 3A of the electrically heated device 30 for the heated tobacco 100 may be tapered to make it easier to insert the heated tobacco 100.

4, an embodiment using a heater as a means for heating the heated tobacco product 100 has been described; specifically, an embodiment in which the heated tobacco product 100 is heated from the outside when inserted into an electrically heated device. However, the means for heating the heated tobacco product 100 is not limited to this. For example, a rod-shaped or spindle-shaped heater may be used, and when the heated tobacco product 100 is inserted into an electrically heated device, the heater may be inserted into the flavor generation segment 110 of the heated tobacco product 100, thereby heating the heated tobacco product 100 from the inside. It is also possible to adopt an embodiment in which an inductor is provided as the heater, and a susceptor for heating a flavor source, etc. is introduced into the flavor generation segment 110 of the heated tobacco product 100. In this embodiment, the flavor source, etc. can be heated by supplying power to the inductor via the output control unit 713 and heating the susceptor by induction heating. It is also possible to adopt an embodiment in which a microwave generator is provided as the heater. In this embodiment, the output control unit 713 supplies power to the microwave generator, and the flavor source and the like in the flavor generation segment 110 can be heated by microwave heating.

The present invention will be explained in more detail using examples, but the present invention is not limited to the description of the following examples as long as it does not deviate from the gist of the invention.

<Ingredients for heated tobacco>
Tobacco sheet: A composition of ground tobacco with glycerin added as an aerosol-generating base material at a ratio of 12% by mass to the total, processed into a rolled sheet with a thickness of 248 μm and a basis weight of 200 gm/ ^m². Granules: A mixture of calcium carbonate and carboxymethyl cellulose (binder) in a weight ratio of 95:5. Thermal conductivity: 2.70 W/mK. Average particle size: 500 μm.

<Evaluation method>
The heated tobacco products prepared in the Examples and Comparative Examples were inserted into a commercially available electric heating device (PloomX, manufactured by Japan Tobacco Inc.), and the device was then turned on. Once the device was ready for smoking, the smoking test was started.
The smoking test was performed using a Borgwald single-puff automatic smoking machine, with 10 puffs at 55 ml/2 seconds every 30 seconds. The mainstream smoke generated during the smoking test was collected on a Cambridge pad, and the nicotine and aerosol delivery amounts were measured by weighing the Cambridge pad and analyzing it with gas chromatography after each puff.

[Example 1]
The tobacco sheet was crimped while being extruded from the roller, and then granules were added onto the tobacco sheet, followed by gathering and wrapping the tobacco sheet together with the granules in cigarette paper to prepare a cylindrical flavor generating segment.
The flavor generating segment had a circumference of 22 mm and a length of 12 mm, the tobacco sheet had a width of 85 mm, and the filling amounts were 204 mg of tobacco sheet and 80 mg of granules.
The tip segment, flavor generation segment, cooling section, and filter section were arranged in a line in that order from farthest from the mouth end, and these were connected coaxially by wrapping with tipping paper to obtain a heated tobacco product. The tip segment was an 8 mm long paper filter, the cooling section was a 20 mm long hollow tube, and the filter section was a filter from a heated tobacco product (Mevius Deep Regular, exclusive for Ploom X) used in Ploom X (trade name, manufactured by Japan Tobacco Inc.).
The obtained heated tobacco product was subjected to the above-mentioned smoking test, and the delivery amount was evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 1]
A heat-not-burn tobacco product was produced and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the tobacco sheet had a width of 95 mm and a filling amount of 228 mg, and no granules were filled in the flavor generating segment. The results are shown in Table 1.

Figures 7 and 8 are graphs showing the results of Table 1. The results of Table 1, Figures 7 and 8 show that the heated tobacco product of Example 1 has a smaller tobacco sheet filling amount than Comparative Example 1, yet achieves the same level of delivery.
That is, a heated tobacco product containing the granules according to this embodiment has improved delivery efficiency and a more satisfying smoking experience.

100 Heated tobacco 101 Mouth end 102 Tip 103 Opening 110 Flavor generating segment 111 Tobacco filler 112 Cigarette paper 120 Cooling section 130 Filter section 140 Tipping paper 150 Filter material 160 Filter wrapper 170 Additive release container R1 Lip release material placement area 200 Electrically heated tobacco suction system 30 Electrically heated device 31 Housing 310 Storage section 311 Rear wall 312 Peripheral wall 313 Storage cavity 32 Heater 35 Temperature sensor 36 Suction sensor 37 Control section 38 Power source 71 Processor 711 Determination section 712 Heating control section 713 Output control section 72 Memory 721 Main memory section 722 Auxiliary memory section 73 Input/output section 74 Drive circuit 61 Cigarette paper 62 Tobacco sheet 63 Granules

Claims (12)

A heated tobacco product comprising a flavor generating segment,
the flavor-generating segment comprises tobacco sheets and granules;
The granules are disposed between the sheets of the tobacco sheet.
Heated tobacco. The heated tobacco product of claim 1, wherein the tobacco sheets are gathered and filled after being crimped, and the granules are sandwiched between the gathered and filled tobacco sheets. The heated tobacco product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermal conductivity of the granules is 0.10 W/mK to 250 W/mK. The heated tobacco product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the granules contain a flavoring. The heated tobacco product according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the granules contain a tobacco flavor component. The heated tobacco product according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the granules contain nicotine. The heated tobacco product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the packing density of the tobacco sheet in the flavor generating segment is 0.33 g/cm ³ to 0.76 g/cm ³ . The heated tobacco according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the packing density of the granules in the flavor generating segment is 0.04 g/cm ³ to 0.22 g/cm ³ . The heated tobacco product according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the mass ratio of the tobacco sheet to the granules in the flavor generating segment is 60/40 to 95/5. The heated tobacco product according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the average particle size of the granules is 250 μm to 1000 μm. The heated tobacco product according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the heated tobacco product is a non-combustion heated tobacco product. An electrically heated tobacco smoking system comprising the heated tobacco product according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and an electrically heated device that heats the heated tobacco product.