Patent Application
20240196954
The present disclosure belongs to the field of devices for heating tobacco without burning it and has as its subject a method for manufacturing a consumable for a smoking device.
A large number of devices for heating tobacco without burning it have been developed in order to avoid the formation of the harmful constituents during tobacco combustion. By way of example, mention may be made of the applications published under numbers WO 2016/026810 and WO 2016/207407 which describe such devices. Tobacco-filled sticks are placed into these devices, the tobacco is then heated by the device at a temperature below the combustion temperature without being burnt, which leads to the formation of an aerosol when the user sucks in air through the device. The aerosol generated during the heating of the tobacco replaces the cigarette smoke and has advantageous organoleptic properties when it is inhaled by the user. This allows the user to inhale nicotine and the tobacco aromas while at the same time very significantly reducing said user's exposure to the harmful constituents.
In order for the user to adopt these heating devices, it is important for the experience obtained with said devices to be as close as possible to the experience obtained with a conventional cigarette, that is to say organoleptic properties of the aerosol generated for each puff, draw resistance for each puff and a number of puffs should be equivalent to the ones of conventional cigarette.
Classically, heating devices are charged with a rod-shaped consumable similar in appearance to a traditional cigarette. Such rod-shaped consumable comprises several segments such as a segment including reconstituted tobacco to generate the aerosol, a cooling segment to cool the aerosol and prevent the burn of the mouth of the user and a filter segment comprising a cellulose acetate substrate to mainly prevent the introduction of dust of reconstituted tobacco in the mouth of the user. The rod-shaped consumable is also made of several layers of different papers and of aluminum. Therefore, the production of these rod-shaped consumables can be lengthy and restricted since it requires numerous steps. Moreover, the rod-shaped consumable are not biodegradable.
Furthermore, there exist heating devices that are charged by the user directly with shredded reconstituted tobacco, like a pipe. The introduction of shredded tobacco in such devices has the disadvantage that the shredded tobacco not only ends up in the dedicated lodging of these devices, but shreds can stick to the user's hand or fall next to the device, making the charging inconvenient and complicated. This difficult use can provoke a certain amount of frustration in the user of the device. In addition, it is difficult to introduce a constant dose of reconstituted tobacco in these devices, leading to variations in the organoleptic properties and thus to vaping unsatisfaction.
Therefore, there is a need for a manufacturing method that allows to manufacture a biodegradable heat-not-burn consumable compatible with a device for heating tobacco without burning it. There is in particular a need to provide a manufacturing method that is compatible with an industrial production, allowing simple and high-speed production.
It is thus to the credit of the inventors to have found that it was possible to meet these needs by means of a manufacturing method for a pouch-shaped heat-not-burn consumable.
It is proposed a method for manufacturing a heat-not-burn consumable comprising
Advantageously, the method of the invention is easy to implement since it only requires simple production tools which are also well-known by the skilled person.
The method of the invention has also the advantage that it allows for high-speed mass production of consumables on an industrial scale. For instance, an output of more than 10 000 consumables per minute can be achieved.
Furthermore, the method allows to manufacture the consumable which is advantageously simple to use since it can be easily inserted in and extracted from a dedicated lodging of a device for heating tobacco without burning it and provides no dusting.
Moreover, the experiences provided by the heat-not-burn consumable manufactured by the method of the invention and by a commercialized rod-shaped consumable are comparable in terms of organoleptic properties of the aerosol generated, duration of the experience and comfort of the experience due to comparable draw resistance. The consumable exhibits constant and high taste intensity as well as constant and high volume.
In addition, in contrast to a classical rod-shaped consumable, the heat-not-burn consumable manufactured by the method of the invention may, by virtue of its composition, degrades very rapidly in the environment. This is particularly advantageous, since the environmental impact of the heat-not-burn consumable of the invention is smaller than the environmental impact of a classical rod-shaped consumable.
Other features, details and advantages will be shown in the following detailed description and on the figures, on which:
It is now referred to [
A first object of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable 1 comprising:
For the purposes of the present application, the term “heat-not-burn consumable” denotes a feature adapted to produce an aerosol when heated and having a shape adapted to be inserted in and extracted from a dedicated lodging of a device for heating tobacco without burning it.
According to one embodiment, the pouch 11 may comprise, between the two sealed ends 111, 112, two opposite concave faces 114, 115 and two opposite convex faces 116, 117.
The tube 2 provided in step a) of the manufacturing method according to the invention has a circular section, two open ends 21, 22 and the reconstituted plant sheet 3 inside.
The tube 2 may have a length of from 10 mm to 30 mm, in particular of from 15 mm to 25 mm.
The tube 2 may have an external diameter of from 4 mm to 10 mm, in particular of from 5 mm to 8 mm, more particularly of from 6.2 mm to 7.2 mm.
The external diameter of the tube 2 determines the length of the two sealed ends 111, 112.
In particular, the ratio between the length of the tube 2 and the external diameter of the tube 2 may be comprised of from 1 to 7.5, in particular of from 3 to 5.
A tube 2 having dimensions in the above ranges advantageously lead to the formation of the pouch 11 having a shape facilitating the insertion in and the extraction from a dedicated lodging of a device for heating tobacco without burning of the consumable 1.
The paper of the tube 2 provided in step a) may wrap the reconstituted plant sheet 3 from one open end 21 to the other open end 22. This tube 2 is referred by the skilled person as a reconstituted plant rod. Before step b), this tube 2 may be involved in a compacting step 31), as described below, to obtain a tube 2 wherein the reconstituted plant sheet 3 is compacted between two open ends 21, 22 thereof. This tube 2 is then involved in step b).
The two sealed ends 111, 112 may be easily obtained by pressing the two end regions of the tube.
During step b), the tube 2 is transformed into the pouch 11 by sealing the two open ends 21, 22 of the tube 2. For instance, step b) may be performed by gluing the two open ends 21, 22 of the tube 2, knurling the two open ends 21, 22 of the tube 2, or combinations thereof, in particular knurling the two open ends 21, 22 of the tube 2.
Step b) may comprise:
Typically, the glue may be applied to the paper using a nozzle having a specific diameter. The diameter of the nozzle determines the width of the layer of glue applied, and thus determines the width of the formed glued seal.
As an example, a nozzle having a diameter of from 0.6 mm to 1.8 mm, in particular having a diameter of from 0.8 mm to 1.6 mm, may be used.
The basis weight of the layer of glue may be comprised of from 0.6 mg·cm−2 to 1.8 mg·cm−2, in particular of from 0.66 mg·cm−2 to 1.5 mg·cm−2, more particularly of from 1 mg·cm−2 to 1.2 mg·cm−2.
Advantageously, thanks to a basis weight in these ranges, the strength of the two sealed ends 111, 112 is sufficient to guarantee the physical integrity of the pouch 11 and thus of the consumable 1. Therefore, the insertion in and the extraction from a dedicated lodging of a device for heating tobacco without burning are facilitated for the consumable 1.
Moreover, thanks to a basis weight in these range, the two sealed ends 111, 112 do not affect the organoleptic properties of the aerosol generated by the consumable 1 manufactured by the method of the present invention.
The glue applied to one open end 21 and the glue applied to the other open end 22 may be any kind of glue commonly used in the technical field of cigarette paper. The glue may typically be in the form of an aqueous solution or dispersion. The glue applied to one open end 21 and the glue applied to the other open end 22 may be the same or different, preferably the same.
For example, the glue can be a natural glue, a synthetic glue or mixtures thereof.
The natural glue may be a starch-based glue, a dextrin-based glue, a casein-based glue, a cellulose-based glue, an animal glue, a latex glue or mixtures thereof, in particular a starch-based glue, more particularly an aqueous starch-based glue.
The synthetic glue may be acryclics, a dispersion of polyurethane, an ethylene vinyl acetate-based glue, a polyvinyl acetate-based glue, a polyvinyl alcohol-based glue or mixtures thereof, in particular an ethylene vinyl acetate-based glue, a polyvinyl acetate-based glue, a polyvinyl alcohol-based glue or mixtures thereof, more particularly a polyvinyl acetate-based glue, a polyvinyl alcohol-based glue or mixtures thereof.
Swift® Tak 1138 of H. B. Fuller is an example of a polyvinyl acetate-based glue that can be used in the method of the present invention. Lesso® 5294 of Laesser Klebstoffe is an example of a polyvinyl alcohol-based glue that can be used in the method of the present invention.
Alternatively, step b) may comprise:
Knurling is a well-known process. The skilled person will know how to adapt the parameter of the knurling to perform this alternative step b).
The paper of the tube 2, and thus the paper of the pouch 11, can be any paper suitable for the manufacture of a smoking or vaping article, such as a cigarette paper, a tobacco wrapper, a porous plug wrapper or combinations thereof, in particular cigarette paper, tobacco wrapper or combinations thereof, more particularly tobacco wrapper.
The cigarette paper may be made from wood pulp, tobacco fibers, hemp fibers, flax fibers, sisal fibers, cocoa bean shell fibers, cannabis fibers, rice straw, sparta fibers and mixtures thereof, in particular from wood pulp, hemp fibers, especially from wood pulp. It may have at least one among a basis weight of from 12 g/m2 to 50 g/m2, in particular of from 22 g/m2 to 35 g/m2, an air permeability of from 5 CORESTA units to 500 CORESTA units, in particular of from 15 CORESTA units to 80 CORESTA units, and a thickness of from 20 μm to 80 μm, in particular of from 25 μm to 50 μm. It may also include a filler such as calcium carbonate (CaCO3), magnesium oxide (MgO) and mixtures thereof.
The tobacco wrapper may be made from wood pulp, tobacco fibers, hemp fibers, flax fibers, sisal fibers, cocoa bean shell fibers, cannabis fibers, rice straw, sparta fibers and mixtures thereof, in particular from tobacco fibers, wood pulp and mixtures thereof, especially from a mixture of tobacco fibers and wood pulp. It may have at least one among a basis weight of from 24 g/m2 to 100 g/m2, in particular of from 32 g/m2 to 51 g/m2, an air permeability of from 0 CORESTA units to 150 CORESTA units, in particular of from 10 CORESTA units to 80 CORESTA units, and a thickness of from 20 μm to 200 μm, in particular of from 75 μm to 150 μm.
Porous plug wrapper may be made from wood pulp, hemp fibers, flax fibers, sisal fibers, lyocell fibers, viscose fibers and mixtures thereof, especially from wood pulp. It may have at least one among a basis weight of from 15 g/m2 to 140 g/m2, in particular of from 20 g/m2 to 80 g/m2, more particularly of from 20 g/m2 to 25 g/m2, an air permeability of from 200 CORESTA units to 45000 CORESTA units, in particular of from 5000 CORESTA units to 32000 CORESTA units, more particularly of from 26 000 CORESTA units to 28 000 CORESTA units, and a thickness of from 30 μm to 300 μm, in particular of from 45 μm to 215 μm.
The air permeability of the paper can be determined by the standard NF ISO 2965:2019 by determining the flow of air passing through sheet of paper of 1 cm2 at a measuring pressure of 1.00 kPa.
The standard NF EN ISO 536:2019 can be used to determine the basis weight of the paper. A sheet of 1 m2 of paper is conditioned for at least 10 minutes at 23° C. and 50% humidity before the measurement. The weight of the sheet is measured on a balance, giving the basis weight.
To measure the thickness of the paper of the pouch 11, the method described in standard NF EN ISO 534 (December 2011) may be used. it is possible to use a dead-weight micrometer comprising a 25 cm2 measuring head with two planar, parallel and circular pressure faces. During the measurement, the paper of the pouch 11 is placed between the two pressure faces for 10 seconds. The pressure exerted between the pressure faces during the measurement of the thickness is 20 kPa. The paper of the pouch 11 is conditioned for at least 10 minutes at 23° C. and 50% humidity before the measurement.
According to a specific embodiment, the cigarette paper may have a basis weight of from 20 g/m2 to 25 g/m2, a porosity of from 20 CORESTA units to 30 CORESTA units and a thickness of from μm to 45 μm.
According to a specific embodiment, the tobacco wrapper may have a basis weight of from g/m2 to 50 g/m2, a porosity of from 45 to 55 CORESTA units and a thickness of from 95 μm to 105 μm.
According to a specific embodiment, the porous plug wrapper may have a basis weight of from 20 g/m2 to 25 g/m2, a porosity of from 26 000 to 28 000 CORESTA units and a thickness of from 89 μm to 90 μm.
Advantageously, the aerosol generated by the consumable 1 manufactured by the method of the present invention from a tube 2 made of the cigarette paper of this specific embodiment, the tobacco wrapper of this specific embodiment or the porous plug-wrapper of this specific embodiment has satisfactory organoleptic properties.
According to the method of the present invention, the reconstituted plant sheet 3 comprises:
For the purposes of the present application, “fibrous support” denotes a base web made of fibers of a plant, in particular refined fibers of a plant. The base web is typically obtained by a papermaking process.
For the purposes of the present application, the term “plant extract” denotes all of the water-soluble products of the plant. Advantageously, the plant extract comprises nicotine, and the compounds conferring organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties on the aerosol.
For the purpose of the present application, the term “aerosol-generating agent” denotes a compound which allows the formation of an aerosol when it is heated, for example in contact with hot air.
For the purposes of the present application, the term “refined fibers of the plant” denotes fibers of the plant which have undergone a refining step enabling fibrillation and/or cutting of the fibers of the plant. The refining step is conventionally carried out in a papermaking process, such as the papermaking process producing reconstituted papermaking tobacco. On the other hand, the refining step is not carried out in a process producing cast leaf reconstituted tobacco such as the one disclosed in EP 0 565 360 and WO 2012/164009.
For example, the refined fibers of the plant may have a degree Schopper-Riegler (° SR) of from 15° SR to 75° SR, in particular of from 20° SR to 65° SR, more particularly of from 25° SR to 55° SR.
Typically, the fibrous support may comprise fibers of one same plant or of several plants.
Typically, the content by weight of solids of the plant fibers included in the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may be of from 15% to 70%, in particular of from 20% to 61%, more particularly of from 30% to 57%.
Typically, the fibrous support of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may also comprise cellulose-based plant fibers.
Cellulose-based plant fibers are fibers obtained by means of a chemical or mechanical or thermomechanical cooking process, such as wood pulp, hemp, or annual plants such as flax for example. A mixture of these cellulose-based plant fibers may also be used.
Advantageously, these cellulose-based plant fibers can improve the mechanical strength properties of the reconstituted plant sheet 3.
Typically, the cellulose-based plant fibers can represent of from 0.5% to 20%, in particular of from 3% to 17.5%, more particularly of from 5% to 15% by weight of solids of the reconstituted plant sheet 3.
Let SAG be the total content by weight of solids of the aerosol-generating agent included in the reconstituted plant sheet 3 of the consumable 1 manufactured by the method of the present invention. SAG may be of from 10% to 30%, in particular of from 12% to 25%, more particularly of from 15% to 24%
The aerosol generated by a reconstituted plant sheet 3 having an SAG greater than the ranges mentioned above causes unwanted burning of the mouth and/or the throat (phenomenon known as “hot puff”).
The volume of the aerosol generated by a reconstituted plant sheet 3 having an SAG lower than the ranges mentioned above is too low to be pleasant. This aerosol is also not tasteful.
Typically, the aerosol-generating agent may be a polyol, a non-polyol or a mixture thereof. Typically, an aerosol-generating agent that is a polyol may be sorbitol, glycerol, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol or a mixture thereof. Typically, an aerosol-generating agent that is a non-polyol may be lactic acid, glyceryl diacetate, glyceryl triacetate, triethyl citrate, isopropyl myristate or a mixture thereof.
The aerosol-generating agent may preferably be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol, glycerol being preferred.
An aerosol is generated during heating of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 of the consumable 1 manufactured by the method of the invention. Advantageously, the plant extract which comprises aromatic compounds confers aromas from the plant on this aerosol. By simply changing reconstituted plant sheet 3, the user can easily vary the aromas of the aerosol generated by heating said reconstituted plant sheet 3.
The organoleptic properties and the therapeutic properties of the aerosol formed by heating said reconstituted plant sheet 3 may depend on the content by weight of solids of the plant extract included in the reconstituted plant sheet 3 of the consumable 1 manufactured by the method of the present invention.
The total content by weight of solids of the plant extract depends on the plant used and, more particularly, on the content of aromatic compounds or of compounds having therapeutic properties of the plant used.
Let Sp be the total content by weight of solids of the plant extract included in the reconstituted plant sheet 3 of the consumable 1 manufactured by the method of the present invention. Sp may be of from 30% to 70%, in particular of from 35% to 69%, more particularly of from 40% to 68%.
Advantageously, an Sp within these ranges of values makes it possible to generate an aerosol having satisfactory organoleptic properties, i.e. having more taste intensity, higher volume, longer experience and comfortable pressure drop.
To determine SP, use may be made of the following method:
The sum of the total content by weight of the solids of plant extract and of the total content by weight of solids of aerosol-generating agent, SP+SAG, may be of from 40% to 80%, in particular of from 45% to 78%, more particularly of from 50% to 76%.
The ratio between the total content by weight of solids of plant extract and the total content by weight of solids of aerosol-generating agent, SP/SAG, may be of from 1.0 to 4, in particular of from 1.5 to 3.6, more particularly of from 2 to 3.4.
Advantageously, the organoleptic properties of the aerosols formed are even more satisfactory when the reconstituted plant sheet 3 comprised in the consumable manufactured according to the method of the invention has an SP/SAG ratio in the ranges mentioned above.
The plant fibers and the plant extract can be independently obtained from a plant chosen from spore-producing plants, seed-producing plants or a mixture thereof. In particular, the plant may be a plant chosen from the tobacco plant, food plants, aromatic plants, fragrant plants, medicinal plants, plants of the family Cannabaceae, or a mixture thereof.
According to one particular embodiment, the plant is the tobacco plant.
If the plant is a medicinal plant, the aerosol generated by heating the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may also have therapeutic properties so that the reconstituted plant sheet 3 can be used for a therapeutic treatment.
Advantageously, a plant extract obtained from a plant mixture makes it possible to offer a broad panel of organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties. A plant mixture also makes it possible to counteract the unpleasant organoleptic properties of a plant of the mixture, for example a medicinal plant, with the pleasant organoleptic properties of another plant of the mixture, for example the tobacco plant, an aromatic plant or a fragrant plant.
Typically, the plant fibers can be obtained from a first plant and the plant extract can be obtained from a second plant. Indeed this is because the fibers of a plant may not have mechanical properties which allow the formation of a fibrous support, but the extract of this plant may confer desired organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties on the aerosol. Conversely, the fibers of a plant may have mechanical properties which allow the formation of a fibrous support, but the extract of this plant may not confer desired organoleptic properties and/or therapeutic properties on the aerosol.
Advantageously, mixing plants to obtain the plant fibers makes it possible to adjust the mechanical properties of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 and/or the organoleptic or chemical properties of the aerosol.
When the plant is the tobacco plant, then the tobacco fibers and the tobacco extract can be obtained from any tobacco plant or tobacco type plant, for example Virginia tobacco, Burley tobacco, air-cured tobacco, dark air-cured tobacco, Orient tobacco, sun-cured tobacco, fire-cured tobacco, or a mixture thereof.
Typically, the food plants are garlic, coffee, ginger, licorice, rooibos, Stevia rebaudiana, tea, cacao tree, chamomile, mate, star anise, fennel, citronella.
Typically, the aromatic plants are basil, turmeric, clove, laurel, oregano, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme.
Typically, the fragrant plants are lavender, rose, eucalyptus.
Typically, the medicinal plants are those indicated in the document, list A of traditionally used medicinal plants (French pharmacopeia January 2016, published by the Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament (ANSM) [French National Agency for Drug and Health Product Safety] or plants known to comprise compounds which have therapeutic properties. Typically, the medicinal plants listed are ginkgo, ginseng, sour cherry, peppermint, willow and red vine.
Typically, eucalyptus is among the medicinal plants known to comprise compounds which have therapeutic properties.
Typically, the plant fibers and the plant extract of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may be derived from various plant parts, the plant parts being parts of the plant itself or the result of the processing of various plant parts. Typically, the plant parts may be whole parts of the plant or debris originating from threshing or mixing and shredding the plant parts.
Typically, the plant parts may be selected from the plant parts richest in aromatic compounds conferring on the aerosol its organoleptic properties. Typically, these parts may be the whole plant, the aerial plant parts, such as the flower bud, the branch bark, the stem bark, the leaves, the flower, the fruit and its peduncle, the seed, the petal, the flower head, or the underground parts, for example the bulb, the roots, the root bark, the rhizome, or a mixture thereof. The plant part may also be the result of the mechanical, chemical or mechanical-chemical processing of one or more plant parts, such as for example the shell protecting the cacao bean resulting from the bean dehulling process.
Typically, the tobacco plant parts may be the parts richest in aromatic compounds conferring on the aerosol its organoleptic properties. Typically, the tobacco plant parts may be the parenchyma (lamina) optionally with added stems of the tobacco plant. Typically, the tobacco plant parts may be the leaves of the tobacco plant or the debris originating from threshing or mixing and shredding the leaves and veins of the tobacco plant into cut rag tobacco.
Among the food plants, the garlic bulb, the coffee cherry, the star anise fruit, the rhizome of ginger, the licorice root and the leaves of rooibos, Stevia rebaudiana or tea may for example be selected as parts.
Among the aromatic plants, clove flower buds (the cloves), basil, laurel and sage leaves, mint, oregano, rosemary and thyme leaves and flower head, or the turmeric rhizome may for example be selected as parts.
Typically, among the fragrant plants, the lavender flower and flower head, or the rose flower bud and petals may be selected.
Among the medicinal plants listed in the French pharmacopeia, gingko leaf, the underground part of ginseng, the peduncle of the sour cherry fruit (cherry stalk), the leaves and flower head of peppermint, the stem bark and the leaves of willow, or the leaves of red vine may for example be selected.
Typically, the fibrous support of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may also comprise cellulose-based plant fibers.
Cellulose-based plant fibers are fibers obtained by means of a chemical or mechanical or thermomechanical cooking process, such as wood pulp, hemp, or annual plants such as flax for example. A mixture of these cellulose-based plant fibers may also be used.
Advantageously, these cellulose-based plant fibers can improve the mechanical strength properties of the reconstituted plant sheet 3.
Typically, the cellulose-based plant fibers can represent of from 0.5% to 20%, in particular of from 3% to 17.5%, more particularly of from 5% to 15% by weight of solids of the reconstituted plant sheet 3.
The density of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 involved in the method of the invention may be of from 1.5 g/cm3 to 0.60 g/cm3, in particular of from 1 g/cm3 to 0.65 g/cm3.
Alternatively, the density of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 involved in the method of the invention may be lower than 0.60 g/cm3, in particular of from 0.40 g/cm3 to 0.59 g/m3, more particularly of from 0.45 g/cm3 to 0.58 g/cm3.
Advantageously, a density within these ranges of values makes it possible to generate, at a comfortable draw resistance, an aerosol having satisfactory organoleptic properties, i.e. having constant high taste intensity and constant high volume.
The density of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 is calculated by dividing its basis weight by its thickness.
To determine the basis weight of the reconstituted plant sheet 3, the following method may be used:
a sample of 0.25 m2 is cut out with a template (dimensions: 57.5×43.5 cm) at approximately 15 cm from the edge of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 to be analyzed. The sample is then folded in four and placed on a hotplate so as to be dried thereon in order to remove the water without removing the aerosol-generating agent.
The dried sample is then weighed to determine the basis weight of the reconstituted plant sheet 3.
To determine the thickness of the reconstituted plant sheet 3, the method described in standard NF EN ISO 534 (December 2011) suitable for the reconstituted plant sheets 3 may be used:
Typically, the reconstituted plant sheet 3 involved in the method of the invention may have a basis weight of lower than 300 g/m2, in particular of from 60 g/m2 to 250 g/m2, very particularly of from 80 g/m2 to 200 g/m2, even more particularly of from 105 g/m2 to 130 g/m2.
Typically, the thickness of the fibrous support of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 involved in the method of the invention may be of from 100 μm to 450 μm, in particular of from 120 μm to 375 μm, very particularly of from 140 μm to 325 μm, even more particularly of from 180 μm to 250 μm.
The skilled person will know how to adapt the basis weight of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 and the thickness of the fibrous support in order to achieve the desired density. For example, to obtain these thickness and/or density values, the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may undergo a calendaring step. Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, the reconstituted plant sheet 3 of the invention may be calendared.
Inside the tube 2, and thus inside the pouch 11, the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may be in particulate form, in the form of crimped sheet, in shredded form.
Strand is an example of shredded form.
Beads, scraps and granules are an example of particulate form.
The strands, beads, scraps, granules or combinations thereof may come from the same or different reconstituted plant sheets.
The ratio of the mass of the reconstituted plant sheet 3 to the inner volume of the pouch 11 may be comprised of from 0.30 g·cm−3 to 1.5 g·cm−3, in particular of from 0.35 g·cm−3 to 1.25 g·cm−3, more particularly of from 0.39 g·cm−3 to 1 g·cm−3, even more particularly of from 0.42 g·cm−3 to 1 g·cm−3.
Advantageously, a ratio within these ranges of values makes it possible to generate, at a comfortable draw resistance, an aerosol having satisfactory organoleptic properties, i.e. having constant and high taste intensity as well as constant and high volume.
The consumable 1 may further comprises part(s) of natural plant leaf, in particular part(s) of natural tobacco leaf in the inner volume of the pouch 11.
The inner volume of the pouch 11 may be determined by determining the volume of the pouch 11 then subtracting the volume of the paper. To obtain a ratio within these ranges, the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may be compacted in the tube 2 provided in step a) of the method of the invention.
Therefore, the method according to the invention may comprise, between step a) and step b), a step a31) of compacting the reconstituted plant sheet 3 in the tube 2.
Step a31) may comprise applying a pressure p to the reconstituted plant sheet 3 through the two open ends 21, 22 of the tube 2 in the opposite direction to obtain the tube 2 comprising compacted reconstituted plant sheet 3b between the two open ends 21, 22.
The skilled person will know how to adapt the pressure p to compact the reconstituted plant sheet 3 inside the tube 2 and to form two voids at each open ends 21, 22, the volume of each void being adapted to seal the two open ends 21, 22 of the tube 2 to manufacture the consumable 1.
This compacting step a31) may also facilitate step b) of sealing. Indeed,
During step a31), the pressure p applied to the reconstituted plant sheet 3 through the two open ends 21, 22 of the tube 2 may be exerted by inserting a rod inside each open ends 21, 22 of the tube 2.
Step a) may comprise the following sub-steps:
Step a) may, alternatively, comprise the following sub-steps:
Steps a22) and a23) of this step a) may be inverted.
Step a22) may be such that the reconstituted plant sheet 3 is applied continuously or discontinuously.
When the reconstituted plant sheet 3 is applied discontinuously, then regions comprising reconstituted plant sheet 3 with regions devoid of reconstituted plant sheet 3 are alternated on the face of the unrolled bobbin of paper. Accordingly, step 25) is such that cutting is performed in the region devoid of reconstituted plant sheet 3.
When the reconstituted plant sheet 3 is applied continuously, then step a25) is such that cutting is performed though the reconstituted plant sheet 3. The paper of the tube 2 resulting from this step a25) wrap the reconstituted plant sheet 3 from one open end 21 to the other open end 22. This tube 2 is involved in the compacting step 31), before being involved in step b).
Within the meaning of the present invention, the term “bobbin of paper” is understood to mean paper as described above in relation with the tube 2, the general shape of which, once the bobbin is unrolled, is a rectangle. The width of the can be of from 30 mm to 75 mm, in particular approximately 36 mm, approximately 44 mm or approximately 53 mm. Typically, the length of the rectangle is of from several hundred to several thousand meters, for example of from 1000 m to 15 000 m, in particular of from 3000 m to 10 000 m, very particularly of from 5000 m to 8000 m. The length of the rectangle can also be one or more tens of meters; in this case, the sheet is known as roll. The length of the rectangle can also be one or more meters; in this case, the sheet is known as ream.
Sub-steps a12) and a13) and sub-steps a23) to a24) of the method results in the formation of a third seal 113 which, at the end of step b), connects the two sealed ends 111, 112 of the pouch 11.
The glue of the adhesive layer applied in sub-step a12) and sub-step a23) may be any kind of glue commonly used in the technical field of cigarette paper and may be selected from the glues as defined above in relation with the glue applied to one open end 21 and the glue applied to the other open end 22. The glue of the adhesive layer may be the same as the glue used in the sealing step b).
The basis weight of the adhesive layer applied in sub-step a12) and sub-step a23) may be comprised of from 0.6 mg·cm−2 to 1.8 mg·cm−2, in particular of from 0.66 mg·cm−2 to 1.5 mg·cm−2, more particularly be of from 1 to 1.2 mg·cm−2.
Advantageously, thanks to a basis weight in these ranges, the strength of the third seal 113 is sufficient to guarantee the physical integrity of the tube 2 during the different steps of method of the present invention, and then the physical integrity of the pouch 11 and thus the physical integrity of the consumable 1. Therefore, the insertion in and the extraction from a dedicated lodging of a device for heating tobacco without burning are facilitated for the consumable 1.
Moreover, thanks to a basis weight in these range, the third seal 113 does not affect the organoleptic properties of the aerosol generated by the consumable 1 manufactured by the method of the present invention.
Sub-steps a14) and a25) of cutting are a classical step. Therefore, it can be performed by any method known by the skilled person.
Step a15) of introducing can be performed by any method known by the skilled person.
In an embodiment, the reconstituted plant sheet 3 may be manufactured according to the following steps:
The fibrous support may be produced using a papermaking machine. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the reconstituted plant sheet 3 of the consumable 1 according to the invention may be a reconstituted plant sheet 3 obtainable by a papermaking process.
According to one embodiment, the plant fibers and the plant extract are obtained in accordance with the following steps:
The plant extract and the plant fibers are therefore typically obtained by means of a dissociation process. During step d), one or more plant parts are mixed with a solvent, for example in a digester, in order to extract the plant extract from the plant fibers. During step e), the plant extract is separated from the plant fibers, for example by passing through a screw press, in order to isolate and obtain, on the one hand, the plant fibers and, on the other hand, the plant extract.
Typically, the solvent may be an apolar solvent, an aprotic polar solvent, a protic polar solvent, or a mixture thereof, in particular the solvent may be methanol, dichloromethane, ethanol, acetone, butanol, water or a mixture thereof, more particularly the solvent is ethanol, acetone, water or a mixture thereof.
According to one particular embodiment, the solvent is an aqueous solvent, most particularly the solvent is water.
The skilled person will know how to adapt the temperature of the solvent during step d) to the plant, to the plant part and to the plant parts to be treated. Typically, the temperature of the solvent during the treatment of a root or of a bark will be higher than the temperature of the solvent during the treatment of a leaf or a petal.
Typically, the temperature of the solvent during step d) may be of from 10° C. to 100° ° C., in particular of from 30° ° C. to 90° C., more particularly of from 50° C. to 80° C.
According to the embodiment wherein the solvent is water and the plant is tobacco, the temperature of the water may typically be of from 30° C. to 80° C. Typically, for the treatment of the stems of a tobacco plant, the temperature of the water may be of from 50° C. to 80° C. Typically, for the treatment of the parenchyma of a tobacco plant, the temperature of the water may be of from 30° ° C. to 70° C.
Typically, the plant fibers may be refined in a refiner and then are involved in step c1).
Typically, the plant fibers may originate from various plants.
The fibers of each plant can be obtained separately according to the dissociation process described above. They can subsequently be mixed such that this mixture of fibers from various plants passes through the papermaking machine so as to constitute the fibrous support. It is also possible to obtain fibers from various plants together by bringing together one or more parts of the various plants and then subjecting them to the dissociation process described above. The temperature of the water will then be adapted to the plants to be treated and, in particular, to the plant requiring the highest temperature of the water for extracting the extract of this plant. This alternative embodiment is very advantageous since it makes it possible to obtain the fibers of the various plants without carrying out several dissociation processes in parallel.
Typically, the plant extract may be an extract of various plants.
The extract of various plants can be obtained by mixing various plant extracts obtained separately according to the dissociation process described above. It is also possible to obtain the extract of various plants by bringing together one or more parts of the various plants and then subjecting them to the dissociation process described above. The temperature of the water will then be adapted to the plants to be treated and, in particular, to the plant requiring the highest temperature of the water for extracting the extract of this water-soluble plant. This alternative embodiment is very advantageous since it makes it possible to obtain the extract of various plants without carrying out several processes in parallel. In these two situations, the extract of various plants is brought into contact with the fibrous support during step c2).
Typically, various plant extracts, obtained according to the dissociation process described above, can also be brought into contact with the fibrous support separately during step c2).
Typically, the plant extract can be concentrated before being brought into contact with the fibrous support during step c2). A device such as a vacuum evaporation device can be used to concentrate the plant extract.
Typically, during step c2), the plant extract and the aerosol-generating agent can be brought into contact with the fibrous support one after the other, or can be mixed so as to be brought into contact with the fibrous support together.
Typically, step c2) can be carried out by impregnation or by spraying, in particular by impregnation. Typically, the impregnation can be carried out by means of a size press.
Typically, the drying step c3) can be carried out by infrared ramp, American battery drying drums, hot-air drying in a tunnel drier, a vertical drier, a fluidized-bed drier, a pneumatic drier, in particular in a tunnel drier.
The method may comprise, after step c3), a step c4) of shaping the reconstituted plant sheet 3 produced at step c3) in particulate form, in the form of crimped sheet, in the form of shredded tobacco.
This step c4) may be performed by any techniques known by the skilled person.
In this example, consumables of Samples 1 to 14 were manufactured as follows:
All examples are made with this protocol except samples 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, which were made with:
The shapes of these Samples 1 to 14 are adapted to be incorporated into the dedicated lodging of an Arkx® heating device.
The differences between the several consumables are the paper (See properties of the different papers are presented in [Table 1] below), the glue and the reconstituted tobacco. These differences are presented in [Table 2] below.
The organoleptic properties of the aerosols generated by the samples 1 to 11 of Example 1 are evaluated by an independent expert according to the following protocol.
These samples are evaluated in succession by an independent expert in the Arkx® heating device. The reconstituted tobacco sheet of the commercialized consumable Heets™ stick is also evaluated in the same heating system, but this reconstituted tobacco sheet is not wrapped.
The experience provided by all the consumables according to the invention is comparable to the experience provided by the commercialized consumable.
Nevertheless, the experience provided by some consumables according to the invention is more satisfactory,
In details:
Without wishing to be bound to any theory, the inventors are of the opinion that this difference in term of experience may result from:
Without wishing to be bound by any theory, the inventors are of the opinion that this difference in term of experience may result from:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2213397 | Dec 2022 | FR | national |
