Abstract: An aerosol inhaler cartridge is provided with a liquid storage unit and a thin metal heater. The metal heater has an obverse face, a reverse face, and a side face joining the obverse face and the reverse face, and is provided, on at least a part of the side face, with a tapered protrusion that protrudes in a tapered shape in a direction different from an imaginary line extending from the obverse face to the reverse face. The tapered protrusion has: a first tapered face formed in an inwardly curving manner extending from an obverse edge part whereat the obverse face and the side face are joined to the tip of the tapered protrusion; and a second tapered face formed in an inwardly curving manner extending from a reverse edge part whereat the reverse face and the side face are joined to the tip of the tapered protrusion.

Abstract: A method for producing a vapor generation unit, which is for generating a vapor by heating a liquid and is to be used in a non-combustible flavor inhaler, includes: a support feeding step of feeding a wick support to a production line for the vapor generation unit; a wick feeding step of, after the support feeding step, feeding a wick toward the wick support and disposing the same on the wick support; a holder feeding step of, after the wick feeding step, feeding a wick holder toward the wick support and assembling the same on the wick support; and a heater feeding step of, after the holder feeding step, feeding a heater toward the wick holder and assembling the same on the wick support.

Abstract: An inspection device is an inspection device for a battery unit for a smoking article having a battery embedded therein, the battery unit including a suction detection part that detects negative pressure in the battery unit, the inspection device including: a suction path to be connected to the suction detection part through a suction port, a suction source disposed in the suction path, a control unit that inspects operation of the battery unit on the basis of the negative pressure detected by the suction detection part, by operating the suction source to suck the suction detection part through the suction path.

Abstract: A method for producing a vapor generation unit, which is for generating a vapor by heating a liquid and is to be used in a non-combustible flavor inhaler, includes: a support feeding step of feeding a wick support to a production line for the vapor generation unit; a wick feeding step of, after the support feeding step, feeding a wick toward the wick support and disposing the same on the wick support; a holder feeding step of, after the wick feeding step, feeding a wick holder toward the wick support and assembling the same on the wick support; and a heater feeding step of, after the holder feeding step, feeding a heater toward the wick holder and assembling the same on the wick support.

Abstract: An aerosol inhaler cartridge is provided with a liquid storage unit and a thin metal heater. The metal heater has an obverse face, a reverse face, and a side face joining the obverse face and the reverse face, and is provided, on at least a part of the side face, with a tapered protrusion that protrudes in a tapered shape in a direction different from an imaginary line extending from the obverse face to the reverse face. The tapered protrusion has: a first tapered face formed in an inwardly curving manner extending from an obverse edge part whereat the obverse face and the side face are joined to the tip of the tapered protrusion; and a second tapered face formed in an inwardly curving manner extending from a reverse edge part whereat the reverse face and the side face are joined to the tip of the tapered protrusion.

Abstract: An inspection device is an inspection device for a battery unit for a smoking article having a battery embedded therein, the battery unit including a suction detection part that detects negative pressure in the battery unit, the inspection device including: a suction path to be connected to the suction detection part through a suction port; a suction source disposed in the suction path; a control unit that inspects operation of the battery unit on the basis of the negative pressure detected by the suction detection part, by operating the suction source to suck the suction detection part through the suction path.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco feeding apparatus includes an optical sensor (40) for detecting stagnation of shreds in a secondary separator (20). The optical sensor (40) senses the interior of the secondary separator (20) in the width direction thereof, by transmitting and receiving detection light propagated through a stagnation-prone region of the secondary separator which is lower in level than an air locker (18). If the detection light is blocked by stagnant shreds, a controller (58) detects the stagnation based on a detection signal from the optical sensor and operates an alarm device (60). Also, the controller (58) actuates an air vibrator (62) to remove the stagnation of shreds.

Abstract: A device for inspecting the filter end face of a filter cigarette is provided with an optical sensor having an aperture ring for emitting a measuring light toward the filter end face and receiving the light reflected from the filter end face and outputting a detection signal corresponding to the luminous energy of the reflected light, a hood for covering the aperture ring of the optical sensor, a plurality of injection holes for injecting compressed air into the hood, and a processing unit for determining whether the filter end face is normal or not in accordance with the detection signal output from the optical sensor.

Abstract: A control apparatus according to the present invention comprises a hinge for rockably supporting a second upper mold, which is utilized for the final formation of a tobacco rod, right over a lower mold of a cigarette production machine, an adjusting device for adjusting the diameter of the tobacco rod by rocking the second upper mold, a pulse motor for use as a drive source for the adjusting device, a pair of sensors for measuring diametrical widths of the formed tobacco rod with respect to two directions perpendicular to each other, a central processing unit for controlling the drive of the pulse motor in accordance with output signals from the sensors so that the diameter of the tobacco rod to be formed are within an allowable range, by means of a drive controller for the pulse motor.