AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE INCLUDING TOBACCO SHEET AND AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM USING THE SAME

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating article including a first portion including an aerosol-generating material; a second portion including a tobacco material in a form of a tobacco sheet; a third portion configured to cool airflow which has passed through the first portion and the second portion; and a fourth portion including a filter material, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged in a length direction of the aerosol-generating article.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating article including a tobacco sheet, and an aerosol-generating system using the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, the demand for alternatives to general aerosol generating article has increased. For example, there is increasing demand for an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in aerosol generating article, rather than by combusting an aerosol generating article. Accordingly, studies on a heating-type aerosol generating article or a heating-type aerosol generating device have been actively conducted.

Reconstituted tobacco including tobacco leaves, fine tobacco powder, leaf veins, stems, etc. may be used for a heated aerosol-generating article. Conventionally, the reconstituted tobacco in the form of strands or cut tobacco undergoes a cutting process, so fiber bonds inside the reconstituted tobacco are broken. Thus, heat is discontinuously transferred between the cut tobacco pieces, resulting in heat loss.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Solution

The aerosol-generating article according to an embodiment may solve the problems of the prior art described above.

However, the technical problem is not limited to the above, and other technical problems may be inferred from the following examples

Advantageous Effects

In the aerosol-generating article according to an embodiment, since a second portion includes a tobacco sheet whose length is continuously extended, heat transfer may be effectively performed within the tobacco sheet. Accordingly, a user can feel an excellent smoking feeling with respect to the aerosol-generating article according to the present disclosure.

In addition, in the aerosol-generating article according to the embodiment, since the second portion includes a tobacco material in the form of a rolled sheet instead of cut tobacco pieces, an airflow passage may be stably secured. As a result, the aerosol-generating article may have a relatively low inhalation resistance.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those described above, and may include all effects that may be inferred from the configuration described later.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view in which an aerosol-generating article is inserted into an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view in which an aerosol-generating article is inserted into an aerosol-generating device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view in which an aerosol-generating article is inserted into an aerosol-generating device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing the configuration of an aerosol-generating article according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of a first portion and a second portion of an aerosol-generating article according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cross-section of a second portion of an aerosol-generating article according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating how heat is transferred when a second portion of an aerosol-generating article includes cut tobacco, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating how heat is transferred when a second portion of an aerosol-generating article includes one continuous tobacco sheet, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating air flow in an aerosol-generating article including cut tobacco, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating air flow in an aerosol-generating article including one continuous sheet of tobacco, according to an embodiment.

BEST MODE

A first aspect of the present disclosure may provide an aerosol-generating article including: a first portion including an aerosol-generating material; a second portion including a tobacco material in a form of a tobacco sheet; a third portion configured to cool airflow which has passed through the first portion and the second portion; and a fourth portion including a filter material, wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged in a length direction of the aerosol-generating article.

In embodiments, the tobacco sheet may have a rectangular shape, and a ratio of a vertical length to a horizontal length of the tobacco sheet may be 10:1 to 30:1.

In embodiments, the tobacco sheet may have a corrugated from or may be folded one or more times.

In embodiments, the tobacco sheet may have a length of 180 mm or more in one direction.

In embodiments, the second portion may include a plurality of tobacco sheets.

In embodiments, the tobacco sheet may include 75 to 85 parts by weight of tobacco leaves, 5 to 20 parts by weight of a moisturizer, 3 to 10 parts by weight of pulp, and 3 to 10 parts by weight of a viscosity agent, based on a total of 100 parts by weight.

In embodiments, the aerosol-generating article may have an inhalation resistance of 20 to 60 mm H₂O.

In embodiments, the cross section taken perpendicular to a length direction of the second portion may have at least one closed curve formed by the tobacco sheet,

A second aspect of the present disclosure may provide an aerosol generating system including: the aerosol-generating article according to the first aspect; and an aerosol-generating device configured to heat at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the aerosol-generating article.

In embodiments, the second portion may include one tobacco sheet in a folded form, and the aerosol-generating device generates an aerosol by heating at least part of the first portion and part of the second portion.

The means for solving the problem is not limited to the above, and may include all matters that may be inferred by a person skilled in the art throughout the present specification.

MODE FOR INVENTION

With respect to the terms in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like. In addition, in certain cases, a term which is not commonly used can be selected. In such a case, the meaning of the term will be described in detail at the corresponding portion in the description of the present disclosure. Therefore, the terms used in the various embodiments of the present disclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the descriptions provided herein.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and/or operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the art may easily implement the embodiments. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Throughout the specification, “A and/or B” means at least one of A and B.

As used herein, expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. For example, the expression, “at least one of a, b, and c,” should be understood as including only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, or all of a, b, and c.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “over,” “above,” “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly over, above, on, connected or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly over,” “directly above,” “directly on,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Throughout the specification, “on” means that a member is placed on one surface of another member, and includes all cases where a member is placed in contact with or without contact with another member.

Throughout the specification, “a length direction of an aerosol-generating article” means a direction in which the aerosol generated inside the aerosol-generating article moves or a direction in which the aerosol-generating article is inserted into a device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 through 3 are diagrams showing examples in which an aerosol generating article 20000 is inserted into an aerosol generating device 10000.

Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include a battery 11000, a controller 12000, and a heater 13000. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the aerosol generating device 10000 may further include a vaporizer 14000. Also, the aerosol generating article 20000 may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device 10000.

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate some components of the aerosol generating device 10000, which are related to the embodiments. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other components may be further included in the aerosol generating device 10000, in addition to the components illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.

Also, FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate that the aerosol generating device 10000 includes the heater 13000. However, the heater 13000 may be omitted according to embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the battery 11000, the controller 12000, and the heater 130000 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 2 illustrates that the battery 11000, the controller 12000, the vaporizer 14000, and the heater 13000 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 3 illustrates that the vaporizer 14000 and the heater 13000 are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 10000 is not limited to the structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 10000, the battery 11000, the controller 12000, the heater 13000, and the vaporizer 14000 may be differently arranged.

When the aerosol generating article 20000 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, the aerosol generating device 10000 may operate the heater 13000 and/or the vaporizer 14000 to generate an aerosol from the aerosol generating article 20000 and/or the vaporizer 14000. The aerosol generated by the heater 13000 and/or the vaporizer 14000 is delivered to a user by passing through the aerosol generating article 20000.

As necessary, even when the aerosol generating article 20000 is not inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, the aerosol generating device 10000 may heat the heater 13000.

The battery 11000 may supply power to be used for the aerosol generating device 10000 to operate. For example, the battery 11000 may supply power to heat the heater 13000 or the vaporizer 14000, and may supply power for operating the controller 12000. Also, the battery 11000 may supply power for operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in the aerosol generating device 10000.

The controller 12000 may generally control operations of the aerosol generating device 10000. In detail, the controller 12000 may control not only operations of the battery 11000, the heater 13000, and the vaporizer 14000, but also operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device 10000. Also, the controller 12000 may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 10000 to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device 10000 is able to operate.

The controller 12000 may include at least one processor. A processor can be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or can be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor can be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The heater 13000 may be heated by the power supplied from the battery 11000. For example, when the aerosol generating article 20000 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, the heater 13000 may be located outside the aerosol generating article 20000. Thus, the heated heater 13000 may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the cigarette 20000.

The heater 13000 may include an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater 13000 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 13000 may be heated when currents flow through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 13000 is not limited to the example described above and may include all heaters which may be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device 10000 or may be set as a temperature desired by a user.

As another example, the heater 13000 may include an induction heater. In detail, the heater 13000 may include an electrically conductive coil for heating aerosol generating article in an induction heating method, and the aerosol generating article may include a susceptor which may be heated by the induction heater.

For example, the heater 13000 may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosol generating article 20000, according to the shape of the heating element.

Also, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include a plurality of heaters 13000. Here, the plurality of heaters 13000 may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 20000 or may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article 20000. Also, some of the plurality of heaters 13000 may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 20000 and the others may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article 20000. In addition, the shape of the heater 13000 is not limited to the shapes illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and may include various shapes.

The vaporizer 14000 may generate an aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article 20000 to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14000 may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device 10000 and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14000 passes through the cigarette 20000 to be delivered to the user.

For example, the vaporizer 14000 may include a liquid storage, a liquid delivery element, and a heating element, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the liquid storage, the liquid delivery element, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generating device 10000 as independent modules.

The liquid storage may store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material. The liquid storage may be formed to be attached/detached to/from the vaporizer 14000 or may be formed integrally with the vaporizer 14000.

For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent, ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavorings, or a vitamin mixture. The spices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit-flavored ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavorings may include ingredients capable of providing various flavors or tastes to a user. Vitamin mixtures may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto. Also, the liquid composition may include an aerosol forming substance, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid delivery element may deliver the liquid composition of the liquid storage to the heating element. For example, the liquid delivery element may be a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic, but is not limited thereto.

The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition delivered by the liquid delivery element. For example, the heating element may be a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heating element may include a conductive filament such as nichrome wire and may be positioned as being wound around the liquid delivery element. The heating element may be heated by a current supply and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, aerosol may be generated.

For example, the vaporizer 14000 may be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer, but it is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device 10000 may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery 11000, the controller 12000, the heater 13000, and the vaporizer 14000. For example, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information. Also, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include at least one sensor (e.g., a puff detecting sensor, a temperature detecting sensor, a cigarette insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosol generating device 10000 may be formed as a structure where, even when the cigarette 20000 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged.

Although not illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the aerosol generating device 10000 and an additional cradle may form together a system. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11000 of the aerosol generating device 10000. Alternatively, the heater 13000 may be heated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device 10000 are coupled to each other.

As an example, the external air may be introduced through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10000. For example, opening and closing of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10000 and/or the size of the air passage may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount and quality of smoke (e.g., aerosols) may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may be introduced into the aerosol-generating article 20000 through at least one hole formed on the surface of the aerosol-generating article 20000.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing the configuration of an aerosol-generating article 20000 according to an embodiment.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 20000 may include a first portion 21000, a second portion 22000, a third portion 23000, and a fourth portion 24000, which are serially arranged in the length direction of the aerosol-generating article 20000. As an example, the first portion 21000 may include an aerosol-generating material, and the second portion 22000 may include a tobacco material. The third portion 23000 may cool airflow that has passed through the first portion 21000 and the second portion 22000, and the fourth portion 24000 may include a filter material.

In an embodiment, the first portion 21000, the second portion 22000, the third portion 23000, and the fourth portion 24000 may be arranged sequentially in the length direction of the aerosol-generating article 20000. Accordingly, the aerosol generated in at least one of the first portion 21000 and the second portion 22000 may form airflow passing through the first portion 21000, the second portion 22000, the third portion 23000, and the fourth portion 24000 sequentially. Accordingly, the user may inhale the aerosol from the fourth portion 24000.

In an embodiment, the first portion 21000 may have a length of about 8 to about 12 mm, and the second portion 22000 may have a length of about 12 to about 14 mm. However, embodiments are not necessarily limited thereto, and the length of the first portion 21000 and the second portion 22000 may be appropriately adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by a person skilled in the art.

In detail, the first portion 21000 may include an aerosol-generating material. Here, examples of the aerosol-generating material may include, but are not limited to, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol.

The second portion 22000 may include a tobacco material. In the case of a general combustion type cigarette or a heating type cigarette, for example, cut tobacco may be used as a tobacco material. However, in the present disclosure, the second portion 22000 may include a tobacco sheet continuously extending in length. Details of the second portion 22000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 below.

The third portion 23000 may cool airflow that has passed through the first portion 21000 and the second portion 22000. The third portion 23000 may be made of a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material, and may have a cooling function. For example, the third portion 23000 may be made of polylactic acid (PLA) fibers, but is not limited thereto. Also, the third portion 23000 may be made of a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the third portion 23000 is not limited to the above-described examples, and a material for cooling the aerosol may correspond to this without limitation. For example, the third portion 23000 may be a tube filter or a paper pipe including a hollow.

The fourth portion 24000 may include a filter material. For example, the fourth portion 24000 may be a cellulose acetate filter. However, there is no limitation on the shape of the fourth part 24000. For example, the fourth portion 24000 may be a cylindrical type rod or a tube type rod including a hollow inside. Further, the fourth portion 24000 may be a recess type rod. If the fourth portion 24000 is composed of a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be manufactured in a different shape.

The fourth portion 24000 may be manufactured to generate flavor. As an example, the fragrance liquid may be sprayed on the fourth portion 24000, or a separate fiber coated with the fragrance liquid may be inserted into the fourth portion 24000.

The aerosol-generating article 20000 may include a wrapper 25000 surrounding at least a portion of the first portion 21000 to the fourth portion 24000. In addition, the aerosol-generating article 20000 may include a wrapper 25000 surrounding all of the first portion 21000 to the fourth portion 24000. The wrapper 25000 may be located at the outermost portion of the aerosol-generating article 20000, and at least one hole through which external air is introduced or internal gas is discharged may be formed in the wrapper 25000. The wrapper 25000 may be a single wrapper or a combination of a plurality of wrappers.

As an example, the first portion 21000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may include a crimped corrugated sheet containing an aerosol-generating material, the second portion 22000 may include a tobacco sheet including a tobacco material and continuously extending in length, the third portion 23000 may include a cooling unit, and the fourth portion 24000 may include a filter material. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.

The first portion 21000 and the second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may be inserted into the interior of the aerosol-generating device 10000, and the third portion 23000 and the fourth portion 24000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may be exposed to the outside of the aerosol-generating device 10000. In addition, the first portion 21000 and a part of the second portion 22000 may be inserted into the interior of the aerosol-generating device 10000. A user may inhale the aerosol while the fourth portion 24000 is put into the mouth. In this case, the aerosol may be generated when external air passes through the first and second portions, and the generated aerosol may delivered to the user's mouth through the third and fourth portions.

Hereinafter, the second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the configuration of a first portion 21000 and a second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000 according to an embodiment. The first portion 21000 may include an aerosol-generating material.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second portion 22000 may include a tobacco sheet. The tobacco sheet may have a rectangular shape in a fully unfolded state. For example, the tobacco sheet may have a rectangular or square shape. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and the shape of the tobacco sheet may be changed as necessary.

In an embodiment, the ratio of a vertical length to a horizontal length of the tobacco sheet may be about 10:1 to about 30:1. For example, the ratio of the vertical length to the horizontal length of the tobacco sheet may be about 18:1, about 19:1, about 20:1, about 21:1, about 22:1, about 23:1, or about 24:1. As such, the inhalation resistance of the aerosol-generating article 20000 according to the embodiment may be relatively low, and the thermal conductivity of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may be improved. Accordingly, the user may feel an excellent smoking feeling with respect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

In an embodiment, the tobacco sheet may have a length of about 180 mm or more in one direction. For example, the tobacco sheet may have a length of about 190 mm to about 240 mm in one direction. Here, the length of the tobacco sheet in one direction may be a horizontal length, a vertical length, or a diagonal length. Preferably, the length of the tobacco sheet in one direction may be the horizontal length of the tobacco sheet. For example, the size of the tobacco sheet may be 230 mm×12 mm. As another example, the size of the tobacco sheet may be 190 mm×8 mm, but embodiments are not limited thereto. In a case where the length of the tobacco sheet in one direction is about 180 mm or more, a thermal conductivity of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may be improved. Accordingly, a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling with respect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

In an embodiment, the second portion 22000 may include one or two tobacco sheets. For example, the second portion 22000 may include one sheet of tobacco having a size of 230 mm×12 mm or 190 mm×8 mm. As another example, the second portion 22000 may include two tobacco sheets produced by cutting a tobacco sheet having a size of 230 mm×12 mm or 190 mm×8 mm once. In an embodiment, when the second portion 22000 includes one tobacco sheet having a size of 230 mm×12 mm or 190 mm×8 mm, compared with the case of including the cut tobacco, the inhalation resistance of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may be relatively lowered, and the thermal conductivity of the aerosol-generating article 20000 may be improved. As a result, a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling with respect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

In an embodiment, the tobacco sheet may include 75 to 85 parts by weight of tobacco leaves, 5 to 20 parts by weight of a moisturizer, 3 to 10 parts by weight of pulp, and 3 to 10 parts by weight of a viscosity agent, based on a total of 100 parts by weight. In detail, the tobacco sheet may be a reconstituted tobacco containing the components of the weight ratio described above.

In an embodiment, the tobacco sheet may have a corrugated form or may be folded one or more times. Referring to FIG. 5, it may be seen that the second portion 22000 includes a tobacco sheet in a form that is wrinkled or folded one or more times. Since the length of the tobacco sheet in one direction is about 180 mm or more, it may be difficult for the tobacco sheet to be contained in the second portion 22000 in a completely unfolded form. Accordingly, the tobacco sheet may be included in the second portion 22000 in a corrugated form or a folded form with one or more folds. Hereinafter, the tobacco sheet 22000 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a cross-section of a second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000 according to an exemplary embodiment.

The outermost portion of the second portion 22000 may be a wrapper 25000. Inside the wrapper 25000, the tobacco sheet 100 described above may be included in a corrugated form or a folded form. Referring to FIG. 6, the tobacco sheet 100 may be included in a folded form with 8 or more folds. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. When the tobacco sheet 100 is placed in the second portion 22000 in this manner, airflow may pass through the second portion 22000 with relatively low resistance. Accordingly, the aerosol-generating article 20000 may have a relatively low inhalation resistance.

In an embodiment, a cross section taken perpendicular to a length direction of the second portion 22000 may have at least one closed curve formed by the tobacco sheet. Although not shown in FIG. 6, when the tobacco sheet 100 has a corrugated form or is folded one or more times, at least one closed curve may be formed by two portions contacting each other. A continuous airflow may be formed in the closed curves formed by the tobacco sheet 100, and accordingly, the airflow may pass through the second portion 22000 with relatively low resistance. Thus, the aerosol-generating article 20000 may have a relatively low inhalation resistance.

In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 20000 may have an inhalation resistance of about 20 to about 60 mm H₂O. The inhalation resistance of about 20 to about 60 mm H₂O is deemed a relatively low value in the art, which allows a user to smoothly inhale the aerosol. As a result, a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling with respect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating how heat is transferred in cut tobacco, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating how heat is transferred in a continuous tobacco sheet, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7A, when the aerosol-generating article includes a tobacco material in the form of cut tobacco, it can be seen that heat transferred from the wrapper is discontinuously transferred between the tobacco materials. In contrast, referring to FIG. 7B, when the second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article includes a tobacco material in the form of a tobacco sheet, it may be seen that the heat transferred from the wrapper 25000 is continuously transferred within the tobacco sheet 200. As a result, the tobacco sheet 200 may be effectively heated, and a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling with respect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating air flow in cut tobacco.

FIG. 8B is a diagram illustrating air flow in one continuous tobacco sheet.

Referring to FIG. 8A, when the aerosol-generating article includes a tobacco material in the form of cut tobacco pieces, it may be seen that the aerosol generated by heating forms a congested airflow between the cut tobacco pieces.

In contrast, referring to FIG. 8B, the second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article according to the embodiment includes one tobacco sheet 300, and the aerosol forms a straight airflow beside the tobacco sheet 300. Thus, the airflow may pass through the second portion 22000 with relatively low resistance, compared to FIG. 8A. Thus, the aerosol-generating article 20000 may have relatively low inhalation resistance, and a user may feel an excellent smoking feeling with respect to the aerosol-generating article 20000.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol-generating system may include the above-described aerosol-generating article 20000 and an aerosol-generating device (not shown) which heats at least one of the first portion 21000 and the second portion 22000 of the aerosol-generating article 20000.

The features described above with respect to the generating article 20000 may be applied to the aerosol generating article included in the aerosol-generating system.

In an embodiment, the second portion 22000 may include a tobacco sheet that is folded one or more times, and the aerosol-generating device may generate an aerosol by heating at least a portion of the first portion 21000 and at least a portion of the second portion 22000.

At least one of the components, elements, modules or units (collectively “components” in this paragraph) represented by a block in the drawings, such as the controller 12000 in FIGS. 1-3, may be embodied as various numbers of hardware, software and/or firmware structures that execute respective functions described above, according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, at least one of these components may use a direct circuit structure, such as a memory, a processor, a logic circuit, a look-up table, etc. that may execute the respective functions through controls of one or more microprocessors or other control apparatuses. Also, at least one of these components may be specifically embodied by a module, a program, or a part of code, which contains one or more executable instructions for performing specified logic functions, and executed by one or more microprocessors or other control apparatuses. Further, at least one of these components may include or may be implemented by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that performs the respective functions, a microprocessor, or the like. Two or more of these components may be combined into one single component which performs all operations or functions of the combined two or more components. Also, at least part of functions of at least one of these components may be performed by another of these components. Further, although a bus is not illustrated in the above block diagrams, communication between the components may be performed through the bus. Functional aspects of the above exemplary embodiments may be implemented in algorithms that execute on one or more processors.

Furthermore, the components represented by a block or processing steps may employ any number of related art techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and the like.

The descriptions of the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and equivalents thereof may be made. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should be defined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to those described in the claims will be construed as being included in the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating article comprising:

a first portion including an aerosol-generating material;

a second portion including a tobacco material in a form of a tobacco sheet;

a third portion configured to cool airflow which has passed through the first portion and the second portion; and

a fourth portion including a filter material,

wherein the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the fourth portion are sequentially arranged in a length direction of the aerosol-generating article.

2. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco sheet has a rectangular shape, and a ratio of a vertical length to a horizontal length of the tobacco sheet is 10:1 to 30:1.

3. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco sheet is corrugated or folded.

4. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco sheet has a length of 180 mm or more in one direction.

5. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the second portion includes a plurality of tobacco sheets.

6. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the tobacco sheet includes 75 to 85 parts by weight of tobacco leaves, 5 to 20 parts by weight of a moisturizer, 3 to 10 parts by weight of pulp, and 3 to 10 parts by weight of a viscosity agent, based on a total of 100 parts by weight.

7. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating article has an inhalation resistance of 20 to 60 mm H2O.

8. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein a cross section taken perpendicular to the length direction has at least one closed curve formed by the tobacco sheet.

9. An aerosol generating system comprising:

the aerosol-generating article of claim 1; and

an aerosol-generating device configured to heat at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the aerosol-generating article.

10. The aerosol generating system of claim 9, wherein the second portion includes a tobacco sheet in a folded form, and the aerosol-generating device generates an aerosol by heating at least part of the first portion and at least part of the second portion.