Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
  • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
  • A24D1/20—Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a consumable for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device and to a system for heating aerosol-generating material.
• Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke.
• Alternatives to these types of articles release an inhalable aerosol or vapour by releasing compounds from a substrate material by heating without burning.
• These may be referred to as non-combustible smoking articles, aerosol generating assemblies or non-combustible aerosol provision systems.
• a heating device which release compounds by heating, but not burning, a solid aerosolisable material.
• This solid aerosolisable material may, in some cases, contain a tobacco material.
• the heating volatilises at least one component of the material, typically forming an inhalable aerosol.
• These products may be referred to as heat-not-burn devices, tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products (THP).
• THP tobacco heating products
• e-cigarette / tobacco heating product hybrid devices also known as electronic tobacco hybrid devices.
• These hybrid devices contain a liquid source (which may or may not contain nicotine) which is vaporised by heating to produce an inhalable vapour or aerosol.
• the device additionally contains a solid aerosolisable material (which may or may not contain a tobacco material) and components of this material are entrained in the inhalable vapour or aerosol to produce the inhaled medium.
• a consumable for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device wherein the consumable comprises:
• a longitudinally-extending air channel provided in the first section allows the overall mass of the consumable to be reduced.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section is provided as a body of aerosol generating material.
• the first section is provided as a longitudinally extending section of the consumable.
• the first section of aerosol generating material comprises an aerosol-generating film.
• the aerosol-generating film comprise an amorphous solid.
• the aerosol-generating film is arranged within the first section of aerosol generating material to comprise the at least one longitudinally-extending air channel extending through the first section of aerosol generating material
• the aerosol generating material is provided on a carrier, optionally the carrier is paper or card.
• the aerosol generating material is provided as or within an aerosol-generating film.
• the aerosol-generating film is attached to or cast onto the carrier.
• the carrier comprises a carrier material onto which the aerosol-generating film is cast.
• the carrier is a sheet material.
• the aerosol-generating film, or aerosol generating material, of the first section is provided as a layer or film on the carrier, optionally the layer has a thickness of about 0.11 mm to 0.17 mm, for example of about 0.12 mm to 0.13 mm.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.11 mm to 0.17 mm, for example of about 0.12 mm to 0.13 mm.
• the aerosol-generating film may be laminated onto the carrier.
• the aerosol generating material is provided on or as a sheet material, optionally arranged to comprise at least one substantially spiral shaped cross section so as to define the at least one longitudinally-extending air channel extending through the first section.
• the substantially spiral shaped cross section defines at least one longitudinally-extending air channel through the first section between each layer of the spiral.
• the at least one longitudinally-extending air channel extends entirely through the first section.
• the aerosol generating material is provided on a tubular member, optionally comprising a sheet material.
• the tubular sheet material is a wrapper, e.g. wrapping paper, of the consumable.
• the aerosol generating material is provided on the tubular sheet material as a layer, optionally so as to provide an annular longitudinally extending tube lined with aerosol generating material.
• the aerosol generating material is provided on or as a sheet material gathered to comprise a plurality of folds defining one or more longitudinally-extending air channels between each fold.
• the one or more longitudinally-extending air channels extend entirely through the first section.
• the pressure drop member is provided at a distal-most end of the consumable.
• the pressure drop member is or comprises a plug, such as an end-plug.
• the pressure drop member is configured to extend from an upstream-most end of the first section of aerosol generating material to an upstream-most end of the consumable.
• the pressure drop member is provided as a body of material.
• the body of material is substantially tubular, optionally so as to correspond with a tubular shape of the consumable, e.g. of an outer wrapper of the consumable.
• the pressure drop member is configured to provide a pressure drop of from 5 mm wg to 60 mm wg, such as 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 or 60 mm wg, or a range defined by any two of these values, for example from 10 mm wg to 30 mm wg, for example from 15 mm wg to 25 mm wg, for example from 18 mm wg to 23 mm wg, or for example from 20 mm wg to 22 mm wg.
• the first section is configured to provide a pressure drop of from 0 to 60 mm wg, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 or 60 mm wg, or a range defined by any two of these values, for example from 0 mm wg to 10 mm wg, for example from 0 mm wg to 8 mm wg, for example from 0 mm wg to 5 mm wg, for example from 0 mm wg to 3 mm wg, or for example from 1 mm wg to 5 mm wg.
• a pressure drop of from 0 to 60 mm wg, such as 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 or 60 mm wg, or a range defined by any two of these values, for example from 0 mm wg to 10 mm wg, for example from 0
• the pressure drop of the consumable as a whole is from 30 mm wg to 95 mm wg, for example 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49. 50, 55, 60 65, 70, 80, 85, 90 or 90 mm wg, or a range defined by any two of these values, for example from 35 mm wg to 60 mm wg, from 40 mm wg to 50 mm wg, from 40 to 45mm wg.
• the pressure drop member may be configured to provide a correspondingly high pressure drop so as to compensate for the low pressure drop so as to provide a consumable having an overall pressure drop according to the preceding values and range of values.
• the firmness of the pressure drop member is from 60% to 72%, for example from 67% to 70%.
• the firmness (or "hardness") of the component may be measured according to the following protocol. Where the hardness of a section is referred to herein, the hardness is that as determined by the following measurement process. Any suitable device may be used for performing the measurement, such as the Borgwaldt Hardness Tester H10.
• the hardness measurement is performed at the longitudinal centre point of the body or multi-section rod (as specified).
• a load bar is used to apply the defined load to the body.
• the length of the load bar should be significantly higher than that of the specimen to be measured.
• the body to be measured Prior to the hardness measurement, the body to be measured is conditioned according to ISO 3402 for a minimum of 48 hours, and is maintained in environmental conditions according to ISO 3402 during the measurement.
• a body is placed into the Hardness Tester H10, a pre-load of 2 g is applied to the body, and after 1 s the initial height h0 of the body under the 2 g pre-load is recorded. The pre-load is then removed and a load bar bearing a load of 150 g is lowered onto the sample at a rate of 0.6 mm/s, after 5 s the height h1 of the body under the 150 g load is measured.
• the hardness of the component is determined as the average hardness of at least 20 components measured according to this protocol.
• the hardness before use of the component at the longitudinal centre of the second body of material 4 can be between 80% and 99%, optionally between 85% and 97%.
• the hardness before use of the component at the longitudinal centre of the first body of material 6 can be between 80% and 95%, optionally between 80% and 90%.
• the pressure drop member comprises, or is provided as, a second section of aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol generating material of the first and second sections of aerosol generating material are different to each other.
• the second section comprises tobacco.
• the aerosol-generating material of the second section comprises cut rag tobacco.
• the pressure drop member is provided as a folded and/or tucked section of paper, such as wrapping paper, folded to cover a distal end of the consumable.
• the folded section of paper comprises one or more areas of overlapping folds.
• the first section of aerosol generating material comprises a plurality of discrete bodies of aerosol generating material.
• the discrete bodies comprise aerosol generating material provided on a carrier, or carrier material, and optionally the carrier is a sheet material such as paper or cardboard.
• the body of aerosol generating material of the first section comprises a first aerosol generating material and wherein the plurality of discrete bodies comprise a second aerosol generating material different from the first aerosol generating material.
• the plurality of discrete bodies are provided as strips of aerosol generating material, optionally provided on a carrier, such as paper or cardboard.
• the plurality of discrete bodies of aerosol generating material are distributed, interspersed or mixed throughout the body of aerosol generating material of the first section.
• the aerosol generating material is provided as a layer, for example as a film, on the carrier.
• the plurality of discrete bodies of aerosol generating material each comprise an aerosol-generating film, for example an aerosol-generating film that is or comprises an amorphous solid.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section is arranged to provide at least one air gap or void defining the least one longitudinally-extending air channel extending through the first section of aerosol generating material.
• the pressure drop member comprise paper, a non-woven material, or cellulose acetate fibres.
• the mass ratio of the pressure drop member to the first section of aerosol generating material is more than 1, for example from 1 to 5, for example 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, or 5.0, or is within a range defined by any two of these values.
• the overall mass of the consumable is 390mg or less, for example 340mg or less, or 300mg or less, or 290mg or less.
• the consumable further comprises a segment extending from a downstream-most end of the first section of aerosol generating material to a downstream-most end of the consumable.
• the segment comprises a cooling segment comprising a longitudinally extending air channel for cooling the flow of air therethrough.
• a system for heating aerosol-generating material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol generating material comprising:
• a consumable for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device comprising a first section of aerosol generating material arranged to comprise at least one longitudinally-extending air channel extending through the first section of aerosol generating material and a pressure drop member arranged upstream of the section of first section of aerosol generating material.
• the pressure drop across the pressure drop member is higher than the pressure drop across the first section of aerosol generating material.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise a binder, such as a gelling agent, and an aerosol former.
• a substance to be delivered and/or filler may also be present.
• a solvent such as water, is also present and one or more other components of the aerosol-generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent.
• the aerosol-generating material is substantially free from botanical material.
• the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise or be in the form of an aerosol-generating film.
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise a binder, such as a gelling agent, and an aerosol former.
• a substance to be delivered and/or filler may also be present.
• the aerosol-generating film may be substantially free from botanical material.
• the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1 mm.
• the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.11 mm to 0.17 mm, for example of about 0.12 mm to 0.13 mm.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise more than one film, and the thickness described herein may refer to the aggregate thickness of those films.
• the aerosol-generating film may be continuous.
• the film may comprise or be a continuous sheet of material.
• the sheet may be in the form of a wrapper.
• the sheet may be gathered to form a gathered sheet or it may be shredded to form a shredded sheet.
• the shredded sheet may comprise one or more strands or strips of aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol-generating film may be discontinuous.
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise one or more discrete portions or regions of aerosol-generating material, such as dots, stripes, strips or lines, which may be supported on a support.
• the support may be planar or non-planar.
• Each of the one or more discrete portions or regions of aerosol-generating material may comprise a combination of two or more aerosol-generating materials. Discrete portions of different aerosol-generating materials may be heated separately.
• the slurry may be heated to remove at least about 60 wt%, 70 wt%, 80 wt%, 85 wt% or 90 wt% of the solvent.
• the amorphous solid may be substantially free from botanical material.
• the amorphous solid may be substantially tobacco free.
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise from about 15 wt% to about 60 wt% binder, such as a gelling agent, for example from about 25 wt%, 30 wt%, or 35 wt% to about 40 wt%, 45 wt% or 50 wt% of a binder (all calculated on a dry weight basis).
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise about 25 to 50 wt%, 30 to 45 wt% or 35 to 40 wt% of the binder.
• the binder comprises a hydrocolloid.
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) one or more compounds selected from polysaccharide gelling agents, such as alginate, pectin, starch or a derivative thereof, cellulose or a derivative thereof, pullulan, carrageenan, agar and agarose; gelatin; gums, such as xanthan gum, guar gum and acacia gum; silica or silicone compounds, such as PDMS and sodium silicate; clays, such as kaolin; and polyvinyl alcohol.
• polysaccharide gelling agents such as alginate, pectin, starch or a derivative thereof, cellulose or a derivative thereof, pullulan, carrageenan, agar and agarose
• gelatin such as xanthan gum, guar gum and acacia gum
• silica or silicone compounds such as PDMS and sodium silicate
• clays such as kaolin
• polyvinyl alcohol polyvinyl alcohol
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) one or more polysaccharide gelling agents.
• the polysaccharide gelling agent is selected from alginate, pectin, starch or a derivative thereof, or cellulose or a derivative thereof. In some embodiments the polysaccharide gelling agent is selected from alginate and a cellulose derivative.
• the polysaccharide gelling agent is a cellulose derivative. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the inventors believe that such gelling agents do not react with calcium ions to form crosslinks.
• the polysaccharide gelling agent is alginate.
• cellulosic gelling agents include, but are not limited to, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP).
• the cellulose or derivative thereof is selected from hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP).
• CMC carboxymethylcellulose
• HPMC hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• CAP cellulose acetate propionate
• the cellulose derivative is CMC.
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) one or more of alginate, pectin, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan, xanthan gum guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, acacia gum, fumed silica, PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin and polyvinyl alcohol.
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) one or more of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, acacia gum, alginate and/or pectin.
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) alginate and/or pectin, and may be combined with a setting agent (such as a calcium source) during formation of the aerosol-generating material.
• a setting agent such as a calcium source
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise a calcium-crosslinked alginate and/or a calcium-crosslinked pectin.
• the gelling agent comprises (or is) alginate, optionally wherein the alginate is present in the aerosol-generating material in an amount of from about 15 to 40 wt%, for example about 30 to 40 wt%, of the aerosol-generating material (calculated on a dry weight basis).
• alginate is the only gelling agent present in the aerosol-generating material.
• the gelling agent comprises alginate and at least one further gelling agent, such as pectin.
• the weight ratio of the total amount of gelling agent to the total amount of constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis is from about 2:1 to 1:2, such as about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5 or 1.2:1 to 1:1.2.
• the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol.
• the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.
• glycerol propylene glycol
• diethylene glycol triethylene glycol
• tetraethylene glycol 1,3-butylene glycol
• erythritol meso-Erythritol
• ethyl vanillate ethyl laurate
• the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of erythritol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and triacetin. In some cases, the aerosol-former material comprises, consists essentially of or consists of glycerol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol.
• the aerosol-former material comprises a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol in a weight ratio of glycerol to propylene glycol of about 3: 1 to 1:3, about 2:1 to 1:2, about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, about 55:45 to 45:55, or about 45:55.
• the aerosol-former material may act as a plasticiser. If the content of the plasticiser is too high, the aerosol-generating material may absorb water resulting in a material that does not create an appropriate consumption experience in use. If the plasticiser content is too low, the aerosol-generating material may be brittle and easily broken.
• the plasticiser content specified herein provides an aerosol-generating material flexibility which allows a sheet of the aerosol-generating material to be wound onto a bobbin, which is useful in manufacture of aerosol generating articles (consumables).
• the aerosol-generating material may further comprise a filler.
• a filler may help to reduce tackiness of the aerosol-generating material, for example if high levels of aerosol-former material are present.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise less than about 50 wt% of a filler, such as from about 1 wt% to 50 wt%, or 5 wt% to 40 wt%, or 5 wt% to 30 wt%, or 10 wt% to 20 wt%.
• the filler may comprise one or more inorganic filler materials, such as calcium carbonate, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic sorbents, such as molecular sieves.
• the filler may comprise one or more organic filler materials such as wood pulp; tobacco pulp; hemp fibre; starch and starch derivatives, such as maltodextrin; chitosan; and cellulose and cellulose derivatives, such as microcrystalline cellulose and nanocrystalline cellulose.
• the aerosol-generating material comprises no calcium carbonate such as chalk.
• the aerosol-generating material may optionally comprise a flavour.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise up to about 60 wt%, 55 wt%, 50 wt% or 45 wt% of a flavour.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise at least about 0.1 wt%, 1 wt%, 10 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, 35 wt% or 40 wt% of a flavour (all calculated on a dry weight basis).
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise 1 to 60 wt%, 10 to 60 wt%, 20 to 50 wt%, or 30 to 40 wt% a flavour.
• the various aerosol-generating materials of the consumable include the same or different flavours, and/or flavours in different amounts.
• the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint.
• the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry.
• the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco.
• the aerosol-generating material may additionally comprise an emulsifying agent, which emulsified molten flavour during manufacture.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise from about 5 wt% to about 15 wt% of an emulsifying agent (calculated on a dry weight basis), suitably about 10 wt%.
• the emulsifying agent may comprise acacia gum.
• the filler may be fibrous.
• the filler may be a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, tobacco pulp, hemp fibre, cellulose or cellulose derivatives.
• the fibrous organic filler material may be wood pulp, hemp fibre, cellulose or cellulose derivatives.
• the fibrous filler is wood pulp.
• the gelling agent is CMC and is used together with wood pulp as a filler.
• one or more of the aerosol-generating materials are each formed as a sheet.
• the aerosol-generating material sheet may be incorporated into the system or consumable of the present invention in sheet form.
• the aerosol-generating material sheet may be incorporated as a planar sheet, as a gathered or bunched sheet, as a crimped sheet, or as a rolled sheet (i.e. in the form of a tube).
• a rolled sheet may be arranged in a spiral configuration (see Figure 2 ) in the consumable so as to provide one or more longitudinally-extending air channels.
• the aerosol-generating material may be included in the system/consumable as a sheet, such as a sheet circumscribing a rod of aerosolisable material (e.g. tobacco).
• the aerosol-generating material sheet may be formed on a wrapping paper which circumscribes an aerosolisable material such as tobacco.
• the sheet may be shredded and then incorporated into the assembly, optionally mixed into an aerosolisable material such as cut rag tobacco or a non-tobacco plant material.
• the sheets may be incorporated into the non-combustible aerosol provision system or consumable in the same manner or in different manners.
• the "thickness" of the aerosol-generating material describes the shortest distance between a first surface and a second surface.
• the thickness of the aerosol-generating material is the shortest distance between a first planar surface of the sheet and a second planar surface of the sheet which opposes the first planar surface of the sheet.
• the aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a sheet or layer having a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1.0 mm.
• the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm, for example 0.1-3 mm or 0.15-3 mm.
• a material having a thickness of 0.2 mm may be particularly suitable.
• the aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.11 mm to 0.17 mm, for example of about 0.12 mm to 0.13 mm.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise more than one layer, and the thickness described herein refers to the aggregate thickness of those layers. Where the aerosol-generating material comprises two or more aerosol-generating materials in sheet form, the sheets may have the same thickness or different thicknesses.
• the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 2000 N/m. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 900 N/m. In some examples, such as where the aerosol-generating material does not comprise a filler, the aerosol-generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 400 N/m, or around 200 N/m to around 300 N/m, or about 250 N/m.
• Such tensile strengths may be particularly suitable for embodiments wherein the aerosol-generating material and/or the aerosol-generating material is formed as a sheet and then shredded and incorporated into a consumable.
• the aerosol-generating material may have a tensile strength of from around 600 N/m to around 900 N/m, or from around 700 N/m to around 900 N/m, or around 800 N/m.
• Such tensile strengths may be particularly suitable for embodiments wherein the aerosol-generating material and/or the aerosol-generating material is included in a consumable/non-combustible aerosol provision system as a rolled sheet, suitably in the form of a tube.
• the sheets may have the same tensile strength or different tensile strengths.
• the aerosol-generating material may have any suitable area density, such as from 30 g/m2 to 120 g/m2.
• the aerosol-generating material may have a mass per unit area of 80-120 g/m2, or from about 70 to 110 g/m2, or particularly from about 90 to 110 g/m2, or suitably about 100 g/m2 (so that it has a similar density to cut rag tobacco and a mixture of these substances will not readily separate).
• Such area densities may be particularly suitable where the aerosol-generating material is included in assembly consumable/system in sheet form, or as a shredded sheet (described further hereinbelow).
• the aerosol-generating material may have a mass per unit area of about 30 to 70 g/m2, 40 to 60 g/m2, or 25 to 60 g/m2 and may be used to wrap an aerosolisable material such as tobacco.
• the sheets may have the same area density or different area densities.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise a carrier on which the aerosol-generating material is provided.
• the carrier functions as a support on which the aerosol-generating material layer forms, easing manufacture.
• the carrier may provide tensile strength to the aerosol-generating material layer, easing handling.
• a carrier may not be provided and in these embodiments the aerosol generating material may comprise an aerosol generating film which is not provided on a carrier.
• the omission of a carrier provides for an aerosol generating material/film having a reduced thermal mass, which may provide faster aerosolization of the aerosol generating material/film.
• the omission of the carrier increases the surface area of the aerosol generating material/film which provides for faster and improved aerosolisation as aerosol can be released from a greater surface area of the aerosol generating material/film.
• the carrier may be formed from materials selected from metal foil, paper, carbon paper, greaseproof paper, ceramic, carbon allotropes such as graphite and graphene, plastic, cardboard, wood or combinations thereof.
• the carrier may comprise or consist of a tobacco material, such as a sheet of reconstituted tobacco.
• the carrier may be formed from materials selected from metal foil, paper, cardboard, wood or combinations thereof.
• the carrier itself be a laminate structure comprising layers of materials selected from the preceding lists.
• the carrier may also function as a flavour carrier.
• the carrier may be impregnated with a flavour or with tobacco extract.
• the carrier may be magnetic. This functionality may be used to fasten the carrier to the device (e.g. non-combustible aerosol provision device) in use, or may be used to generate particular aerosol-generating material shapes.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more magnets which can be used to fasten the material to an induction heater in use.
• the carrier may be substantially or wholly impermeable to gas and/or aerosol. This prevents aerosol or gas passage through the carrier layer, thereby controlling the flow and ensuring it is delivered to the user. This can also be used to prevent condensation or other deposition of the gas/aerosol in use on, for example, the surface of a heater provided in an aerosol generating assembly. Thus, consumption efficiency and hygiene can be improved in some cases.
• the aerosol-generating material may be laminated to a carrier, such as a paper sheet.
• the layer of slurry may be formed on a carrier, such as a paper sheet.
• surface roughness may contribute to the strength of bond between the aerosol-generating material and the carrier.
• the paper roughness (for the surface abutting the carrier) may suitably be in the range of 50-1000 Bekk seconds, suitably 50-150 Bekk seconds, suitably 100 Bekk seconds (measured over an air pressure interval of 50.66-48.00 kPa).
• a Bekk smoothness tester is an instrument used to determine the smoothness of a paper surface, in which air at a specified pressure is leaked between a smooth glass surface and a paper sample, and the time (in seconds) for a fixed volume of air to seep between these surfaces is the "Bekk smoothness".
• the surface of the carrier facing away from the aerosol-generating material may be arranged in contact with the heater, and a smoother surface may provide more efficient heat transfer.
• the carrier is disposed so as to have a rougher side abutting the aerosol-generating material and a smoother side facing away from the aerosol-generating material.
• the carrier may be a paper-backed foil; the paper layer abuts the aerosol-generating material layer and the properties discussed in the previous paragraphs are afforded by this abutment.
• the foil backing is substantially impermeable, providing control of the aerosol flow path.
• a metal foil backing may also serve to conduct heat to the aerosol-generating material.
• the foil layer of the paper-backed foil abuts the aerosol-generating material.
• the foil is substantially impermeable, thereby preventing water provided in the aerosol-generating material from being absorbed into the paper which could weaken its structural integrity.
• the carrier is formed from or comprises metal foil, such as aluminium foil.
• a metallic carrier may allow for better conduction of thermal energy to the aerosol-generating material.
• a metal foil may function as a susceptor in an induction heating system.
• the carrier comprises a metal foil layer and a support layer, such as cardboard.
• the metal foil layer may have a thickness of less than 20 ⁇ m, such as from about 1 ⁇ m to about 10 ⁇ m, suitably about 5 ⁇ m.
• the carrier may have a thickness of between about 0.010 mm and about 2.0 mm, suitably from about 0.015 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.05 mm or 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm, 1.0 mm, or 0.5 mm.
• the sheets may be formed on the same carrier, may be formed on the same type of carrier, or may be formed on different carrier.
• the two or more aerosol-generating materials are included in the aerosol-generating material. These aerosol-generating materials include different active substances.
• the aerosol-generating materials may, otherwise, be the same. Alternatively the materials may differ in one or more further ways.
• the aerosol-generating materials may have different thicknesses and/or that may be provided in otherwise different sizes, such as cut to different dimensions or average particle sizes.
• the density of the aerosol-generating materials may be different.
• the aerosol-generating materials include different components or the same components in different amounts.
• the two or more aerosol-generating materials may be included in the aerosol-generating material in different amounts.
• the consumable may additionally comprise ventilation apertures. These may be provided in the sidewall of the article. In some cases, the ventilation apertures may be provided in the filter and/or cooling element/segment. These apertures may allow cool air to be drawn into the article during use, which can mix with the heated volatilised components thereby cooling the aerosol.
• the ventilation enhances the generation of visible heated volatilised components from the article when it is heated in use.
• the heated volatilised components are made visible by the process of cooling the heated volatilised components such that supersaturation of the heated volatilised components occurs.
• the heated volatilised components then undergo droplet formation, otherwise known as nucleation, and eventually the size of the aerosol particles of the heated volatilised components increases by further condensation of the heated volatilised components and by coagulation of newly formed droplets from the heated volatilised components.
• the ratio of the cool air to the sum of the heated volatilised components and the cool air is at least 15%.
• a ventilation ratio of 15% enables the heated volatilised components to be made visible by the method described above. The visibility of the heated volatilised components enables the user to identify that the volatilised components have been generated and adds to the sensory experience of the smoking experience.
• the ventilation ratio is between 50% and 85% to provide additional cooling to the heated volatilised components. In some cases, the ventilation ratio may be at least 60% or 65%.
• Articles of the present invention may be provided in any suitable shape or configuration.
• the article is provided as a rod (e.g. substantially cylindrical).
• An article provided as a rod may comprise the aerosol-generating material as shredded sheets of aerosol-generating material, for example in the first section of the consumable.
• these shredded sheets are blended with another aerosol-generating material, such as cut tobacco or another botanical material.
• the article provided as a rod may include one or more sheets of aerosol-generating material circumscribing a rod of aerosol-generating material (e.g. tobacco, an aerosol-generating material such as described herein or a combination thereof).
• a rod of aerosol-generating material e.g. tobacco, an aerosol-generating material such as described herein or a combination thereof.
• the one or more sheets of aerosol-generating material may be arranged in a spiral configuration (for example the first section of aerosol-generating material of the consumable may comprise such one or more spiral sheets), for example the one or more sheets of aerosol-generating material may be arranged in substantially spiral configuration, or having a substantially spiral-shaped cross-section.
• One or more longitudinally-extending air channels may be provided between each layer of the spiral.
• the one or more sheets may be rolled or wound into a spiral configuration.
• the one or more sheets of aerosol-generating material may be gathered so as to provide a plurality of folds (for example the first section of aerosol-generating material of the consumable may comprise such one or more gathered sheets).
• One or more longitudinally-extending air channels may be provided between, or defined by layers of, each fold.
• the consumable 101 is adapted for use with a device having a power source and a heater.
• the consumable 101 of this embodiment is particularly suitable for use with the device 51 shown in Figures 5 to 7 , described below.
• the consumable 101 may be removably inserted into the device shown in Figure 5 at an insertion point 20 of the device 51.
• the total length of the consumable 101 is between 71 mm and 95 mm, suitably between 79 mm and 87 mm, suitably 83 mm.
• the overall mass of the consumable may be 390 or less, for example 340mg or less, 300mg or less, or 290mg or less.
• the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material comprises aerosol-generating material described herein.
• the first section of aerosol-generating material 102 may be provided in sheet form 106 or as a sheet 106 of, or comprising, aerosol-generating material.
• the first section 102 comprises at least one longitudinally extending air channel 104 extending therethrough. The provision of one or more longitudinally-extending air channels allows the overall weight of the consumable to be reduced as less aerosol generating material may be provided in the first section 102 aerosol-generating material and so less aerosol generating may be provided in the consumable overall, thereby reducing the weight of the consumable.
• the first section of aerosol-generating material 102 may be provided in the form of a spiral 103 (see Fig. 2 ) and in some embodiments may have a substantially spiral shaped cross section with one or more longitudinally-extending air channels 104 between, or defined by, opposed or spaced apart layers of the spiral of sheet 106 of aerosol-generating material or between points where opposing parts or points of the sheet 106 may touch in the spiral.
• the sheet 106 may be rolled into the spiral 103 and the spiral 103 may in some embodiments be formed by a loosely rolled sheet 106 of aerosol generating material.
• the spiral 103 may be arranged to revolve around an axis which is parallel to or collinear with a longitudinal axis of the consumable.
• the aerosol-generating material for example the aerosol-generating film thereof, of each sheet 106 may be different from each other, for example the composition of the aerosol-generating material or aerosol-generating film of each sheet 103 may be different from each other, for example each sheet may comprise a different concentration of aerosol-generating material.
• the one or more longitudinally extending air channels 104 through the first section 102 may instead be provided by alternative means, for example the first section 102 may instead be provided by gathering one or more sheets 106 of aerosol-generating material so as to provide a plurality of folds 116 (see Fig. 3 ) and one or more longitudinally-extending air channels 104 may be provided between each fold 116.
• the one or more longitudinally-extending air channels 104 may define, or be defined by, at least one air gap or void within the first section 102.
• a gathered sheet of aerosol generating material has also been advantageously found to increase the pressure drop across the first section of aerosol-generating material 102 and thus may compensate for a reduction in the overall pressure drop of the consumable resulting from provision of the one or more longitudinally-extending air channels 104 in the first section 102.
• the first section 102 of aerosol generating material is in the form of an aerosol-generating film, for example provided on the sheet 106.
• the aerosol-generating film may be, or comprise, an amorphous solid, for example such as an amorphous solid as described above.
• the first section of aerosol generating material is provided on a carrier, which in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 4 is paper, although any suitable carrier may instead be used as described hereinabove.
• the aerosol generating material of the first section 102 may be provided as a layer, for example as a film, on or in the carrier.
• the sheet 106 may therefore comprise aerosol-generating material as an aerosol-generating layer or film (which in some embodiments may be or comprise an amorphous solid) provided on the carrier.
• aerosol-generating film allows the overall weight of the consumable to be reduced as any sensory reduction of the consumable resulting from the longitudinally-extending air channel 104 of the first section 102 may be compensated for.
• the aerosol-generating material of the aerosol-generating film may in some embodiments be particularly concentrated per unit weight as compared to, for example, cut rag tobacco and this may compensate for any reduction in sensory performance of the consumable resulting from the reduction of mass of the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol generating material may comprise tobacco extract which may be particularly concentrated as compared to, for example, cut-rag tobacco, and so, even though the first section 102 comprises a longitudinally-extending air channel 104 which may reduce the mass of the first section 102 (and thereby the overall weight of the consumable), the overall sensory performance of the consumable may be maintained or improved.
• the pressure drop member 119 in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 4 extends from an upstream-most end of the first section of aerosol generating material 102 to an upstream-most end 115 of the consumable 101, although other configurations could instead be used. In the embodiment of Figs 1 and 4 , the pressure drop member 119 is provided at a distal-most end of the consumable 101.
• the pressure drop member 119 is, in the embodiments of Fig.1 and 4 , in abutting engagement with the first section 102 however other configurations could instead be used, for example the pressure drop member 119 could instead be spaced apart from the first section 102.
• the mass ratio of the second section 112 to the first section 102 of aerosol generating material may instead or in addition be more than 1. In some embodiments, the mass ratio of both the first body 108 and second section 112 to the first section of aerosol generating material 102 is each more than 1.
• the mass ratio of the first body 108 or second section 112 to the first section of aerosol generating material 102 may be from 1 to 5, for example 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, or 5.0, or may be within a range defined by any two of these values.
• the second section 112 (or "downstream section 112", or “segment 112") in some embodiments, for example in the embodiments shown in both Figures 1 and 4 , comprises a filter assembly 105.
• the filter assembly 105 includes three segments: a cooling segment 107, a filter segment 109 and a mouth end segment 111.
• the article 101 has a first end 113, also known as a mouth end or a proximal end and a second end 115, also known as a distal end.
• the body 118 and first section 102 of aerosol-generating material is located towards the distal end 115 of the article 101.
• the cooling segment 107 is located adjacent the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material between the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the filter segment 109, such that the cooling segment 107 is in an abutting relationship with the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the filter segment 109. In other examples, there may be a separation between the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the cooling segment 107 and between the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the filter segment 109.
• the filter segment 109 is located in between the cooling segment 107 and the mouth end segment 111.
• the mouth end segment 111 is located towards the proximal end 113 of the consumable 101, adjacent the filter segment 109.
• the filter segment 109 is in an abutting relationship with the mouth end segment 111.
• the total length of the filter assembly 105 is from 37 mm to 45 mm, more preferably, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is 41 mm. In another embodiment, the total length of the filter assembly 105 is from 30 mm to 40 mm, such as 34 mm or 35 mm.
• the mass ratio of the first body 108 to the first section of aerosol generating material 102 may be more than 1, and may be from 1 to 5, for example 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, or 5.0, or may be within a range defined by any two of these values.
• the filter segment 109 may be formed of any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatilised compounds from heated volatilised components from the aerosol-generating material.
• the filter segment 109 is made of a mono-acetate material, such as cellulose acetate.
• the filter segment 109 provides cooling and irritation-reduction from the heated volatilised components without depleting the quantity of the heated volatilised components to an unsatisfactory level for a user.
• a capsule (not illustrated) may be provided in filter segment 109. It may be disposed substantially centrally in the filter segment 109, both across the filter segment 109 diameter and along the filter segment 109 length. In other cases, it may be offset in one or more dimension.
• the capsule may in some cases, where present, contain a volatile component such as a flavour or aerosol-former material.
• the density of the cellulose acetate tow material of the filter segment 109 controls the pressure drop across the filter segment 109, which in turn controls the draw resistance of the article 101. Therefore the selection of the material of the filter segment 109 is important in controlling the resistance to draw of the article 101. In addition, the filter segment performs a filtration function in the article 101.
• the filter segment 109 is made of a 8Y15 grade of filter tow material, which provides a filtration effect on the heated volatilised material, whilst also reducing the size of condensed aerosol droplets which result from the heated volatilised material.
• the presence of the filter segment 109 provides an insulating effect by providing further cooling to the heated volatilised components that exit the cooling segment 107. This further cooling effect reduces the contact temperature of the user's lips on the surface of the filter segment 109.
• the filter segment 109 is between 6 mm to 10 mm in length, suitably 8 mm. In another example, the length of the filter assembly 105 is between 30 mm to 40 mm, such as 34 mm or 35 mm.
• the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material may in some embodiments be joined to the first body 108 by annular tipping paper (not shown), which is located substantially around the circumference of the first body 108 to surround the filter assembly 105 and extends partially along the length of the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material.
• the tipping paper is made of 58 GSM standard tipping base paper.
• the tipping paper has a length of between 42 mm and 50 mm, suitably of 46 mm.
• the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material may in some embodiments be provided within or extend at least partially within the cooling segment 107 - advantageously this may improve the firmness of the section of the consumable 101 containing the first section 102.
• the cooling segment 107 is an annular tube and is located around and defines an air gap within the cooling segment.
• the air gap provides a chamber for heated volatilised components generated from the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material to flow.
• the cooling segment 107 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation yet rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 101 is in use during insertion into the device 51.
• the thickness of the wall of the cooling segment 107 is approximately 0.29 mm.
• the cooling segment 107 provides a physical displacement between the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the filter segment 109.
• the physical displacement provided by the cooling segment 107 will provide a thermal gradient across the length of the cooling segment 107.
• the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 40°C between a heated volatilised component entering a first end of the cooling segment 107 and a heated volatilised component exiting a second end of the cooling segment 107.
• the cooling segment 107 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 60 °C between a heated volatilised component entering a first end of the cooling segment 107 and a heated volatilised component exiting a second end of the cooling segment 107.
• This temperature differential across the length of the cooling element 107 protects the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 from the high temperatures of the aerosol-generating material when it is heated by the device 51. If the physical displacement was not provided between the filter segment 109 and the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material and the heating elements of the device 51, then the temperature sensitive filter segment 109 may become damaged in use, so it would not perform its required functions as effectively.
• the length of the cooling segment 107 is at least 15 mm. In one example, the length of the cooling segment 107 is between 20 mm and 30 mm, more particularly 23 mm to 27 mm, more particularly 25 mm to 27 mm, suitably 25 mm. In another embodiment, the length of the cooling segment 107 is between 30 mm to 40 mm, such as 34 mm or 35 mm.
• the cooling segment 107 is made of paper, which means that it is comprised of a material that does not generate compounds of concern, for example, toxic compounds when in use adjacent to the heater of the device 51.
• the cooling segment 107 is manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.
• the cooling segment 107 is a recess created from stiff plug wrap or tipping paper.
• the stiff plug wrap or tipping paper is manufactured to have a rigidity that is sufficient to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 101 is in use during insertion into the device 51.
• the mouth end segment 111 is an annular tube and is located around and defines an air gap within the mouth end segment 111.
• the air gap provides a chamber for heated volatilised components that flow from the filter segment 109.
• the mouth end segment 111 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation yet rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article is in use during insertion into the device 51.
• the thickness of the wall of the mouth end segment 111 is approximately 0.29 mm.
• the length of the mouth end segment 111 is between 6 mm to 10 mm, suitably 8 mm.
• the mouth end segment 111 may be manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains critical mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.
• the mouth end segment 111 provides the function of preventing any liquid condensate that accumulates at the exit of the filter segment 109 from coming into direct contact with a user.
• the mouth end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107 may be formed of a single tube and the filter segment 109 is located within that tube separating the mouth end segment 111 and the cooling segment 107.
• a ventilation region 117 is provided in the article 101 to enable air to flow into the interior of the article 101 from the exterior of the article 101.
• the ventilation region 117 takes the form of one or more ventilation holes 117 formed through the outer layer of the article 101.
• the ventilation holes may be located in the cooling segment 107 to aid with the cooling of the article 101 or, as in the embodiment shown, in the filter segment 109.
• the ventilation region 117 comprises one or more rows of holes, and preferably, each row of holes is arranged circumferentially around the article 101 in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the article 101.
• each row of ventilation holes may have between 12 to 36 ventilation holes 117.
• the ventilation holes 117 may, for example, be between 100 to 500 ⁇ m in diameter.
• an axial separation between rows of ventilation holes 117 is between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm, suitably 0.5 mm.
• the ventilation holes 117 are of uniform size. In another example, the ventilation holes 117 vary in size.
• the ventilation holes can be made using any suitable technique, for example, one or more of the following techniques: laser technology, mechanical perforation of the cooling segment 107 or pre-perforation of the cooling segment 107 before it is formed into the article 101.
• the ventilation holes 117 are positioned so as to provide effective cooling to the article 101.
• the rows of ventilation holes 117 are located at least 11mm from the proximal end 113 of the article, suitably between 17 mm and 20 mm from the proximal end 113 of the article 101.
• the location of the ventilation holes 117 is positioned such that user does not block the ventilation holes 117 when the article 101 is in use.
• Providing the rows of ventilation holes between 17 mm and 20 mm from the proximal end 113 of the article 101 enables the ventilation holes 117 to be located outside of the device 51, when the article 101 is fully inserted in the device 51, as can be seen in Figures 6 and 7 .
• By locating the ventilation holes outside of the device non-heated air is able to enter the article 101 through the ventilation holes from outside the device 51 to aid with the cooling of the article 101.
• the length of the cooling segment 107 is such that the cooling segment 107 will be partially inserted into the device 51, when the article 101 is fully inserted into the device 51.
• the length of the cooling segment 107 provides a first function of providing a physical gap between the heater arrangement of the device 51 and the heat sensitive filter arrangement 109, and a second function of enabling the ventilation holes 117 to be located in the cooling segment, whilst also being located outside of the device 51, when the article 101 is fully inserted into the device 51.
• the majority of the cooling element 107 is located within the device 51. However, there is a portion of the cooling element 107 that extends out of the device 51. It is in this portion of the cooling element 107 that extends out of the device 51 in which the ventilation holes 117 may be located.
• FIG. 4 there is shown a cross-sectional view of an article 301 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• the reference signs shown in Figure 4 are equivalent to the reference signs shown in Figure 1 , but with an increment of 200.
• the second embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment discussed above with the exception that the pressure drop member 319 comprises a second section 318 of aerosol-generating material which in this embodiment is provided as a body 318 comprising an aerosol-generating material which may be or comprise tobacco such as cut-rag tobacco.
• the article comprises a first section 302 of aerosol-generating material and a second section 318 of aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol-generating material of the second section 318 of aerosol-generating material may extend from an upstream-most end of the first section 302 of aerosol-generating material to an upstream-most end of the consumable 301.
• the pressure drop member 319 may further be configured to prevent the material of the first section 302 or of the body 318, for example aerosol generating material, from escaping the article 301.
• a system for heating aerosol-generating material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol generating material comprising: the consumable as described herein; and a non-combustible aerosol provision device for heating the first section of aerosol generating material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material of the first section of aerosol generating material.
• the system may be a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising the consumable described herein and a non-combustible aerosol provision device.
• the delivery system is a a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system.
• a heat-not-burn system is a tobacco heating system.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision device is a heat-not-burn device.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated.
• the hybrid system comprises the aerosol-generating material described herein comprising or consisting of the aerosol-generating material and an additional liquid or gel aerosol-generating material.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision device is an electronic tobacco hybrid device.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller.
• the power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source.
• the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system or device may comprise a heater configured to heat but not burn the aerosol generating substrate.
• the heater may be, in some cases, a thin film, electrically resistive heater. In other cases, the heater may comprise an induction heater or the like. In yet further cases, the heater may be a combustible heat source or a chemical heat source which undergoes an exothermic reaction to produce heat in use.
• the heater may heat but not burn the aerosolisable material(s) to between 120°C and 350°C in use. In some cases, the heater may heat but not burn the aerosolisable material(s) to between 140°C and 250°C in use. In some cases in use, substantially all of the aerosol-generating material is less than about 4 mm, 3 mm, 2 mm or 1 mm from the heater. In some cases, the solid is disposed between about 0.017 mm and 2.0 mm from the heater, suitably between about 0.1 mm and 1.0 mm. These minimum distances may, in some cases, reflect the thickness of a carrier that supports the aerosol-generating material. In some cases, a surface of the aerosol-generating material may directly abut the heater.
• the heater may be embedded in the aerosol-generating material.
• the heater may be an electrically resistive heater (with exposed contacts for connection to an electrical circuit).
• the heater may be a susceptor embedded in the aerosol-generating material, which is heated by induction.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may additionally comprise a cooling element and/or a filter.
• the cooling element if present, may act or function to cool gaseous or aerosol components. In some cases, it may act to cool gaseous components such that they condense to form an aerosol. It may also act to space the very hot parts of the apparatus from the user.
• the filter if present, may comprise any suitable filter known in the art such as a cellulose acetate plug.
• the non-combustible aerosol provision system may be a heat-not-burn system. That is, it may contain a solid material (and no liquid aerosolisable material).
• a heat-not-burn device is disclosed in WO 2015/062983 A2 , which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
• FIG. 5 to 7 there is shown an example of a device 51 arranged to heat aerosol-generating material to volatilise at least one component of said aerosol-generating material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled.
• the device 51 is a heating device which releases compounds by heating, but not burning, the aerosol-generating material.
• a first end 53 is sometimes referred to herein as the mouth or proximal end 53 of the device 51 and a second end 55 is sometimes referred to herein as the distal end 55 of the device 51.
• the device 51 has an on/off button 57 to allow the device 51 as a whole to be switched on and off as desired by a user.
• the device 51 comprises a housing 59 for locating and protecting various internal components of the device 51.
• the housing 59 comprises a uni-body sleeve 11 that encompasses the perimeter of the device 51, capped with a top panel 17 which defines generally the 'top' of the device 51 and a bottom panel 19 which defines generally the 'bottom' of the device 51.
• the housing comprises a front panel, a rear panel and a pair of opposite side panels in addition to the top panel 17 and the bottom panel 19.
• the top panel 17 and/or the bottom panel 19 may be removably fixed to the uni-body sleeve 11, to permit easy access to the interior of the device 51, or may be "permanently" fixed to the uni-body sleeve 11, for example to deter a user from accessing the interior of the device 51.
• the panels 17 and 19 are made of a plastics material, including for example glass-filled nylon formed by injection moulding, and the uni-body sleeve 11 is made of aluminium, though other materials and other manufacturing processes may be used.
• the top panel 17 of the device 51 has an opening 20 at the mouth end 53 of the device 51 through which, in use, the article 101, 301 including the aerosol-generating material may be inserted into the device 51 and removed from the device 51 by a user.
• the housing 59 has located or fixed therein a heater arrangement 23, control circuitry 25 and a power source 27.
• the heater arrangement 23, the control circuitry 25 and the power source 27 are laterally adjacent (that is, adjacent when viewed from an end), with the control circuitry 25 being located generally between the heater arrangement 23 and the power source 27, though other locations are possible.
• the control circuitry 25 may include a controller, such as a microprocessor arrangement, configured and arranged to control the heating of the aerosol-generating material in the article 101, 301 as discussed further below.
• a controller such as a microprocessor arrangement
• the power source 27 may be for example a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery.
• suitable batteries include for example a lithium-ion battery, a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), an alkaline battery and/ or the like.
• the battery 27 is electrically coupled to the heater arrangement 23 to supply electrical power when required and under control of the control circuitry 25 to heat the aerosol-generating material in the article (as discussed, to volatilise the aerosol-generating material without causing the aerosol-generating material to burn).
• the heater arrangement 23 will heat the article 101, 301 to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol-generating material from at least the first section 102 of aerosol-generating material, but optionally also, where provided, any other aerosol generating material of the consumable, for example the second section 319.
• tobacco material refers to any material comprising tobacco or derivatives therefore.
• tobacco material may include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes.
• the tobacco material may comprise one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fibre, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem, reconstituted tobacco and/or tobacco extract.
• the tobacco used to produce tobacco material may be any suitable tobacco, such as single grades or blends, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental. It may also be tobacco particle 'fines' or dust, expanded tobacco, stems, expanded stems, and other processed stem materials, such as cut rolled stems.
• the tobacco material may be a ground tobacco or a reconstituted tobacco material.
• the reconstituted tobacco material may comprise tobacco fibres, and may be formed by casting, a Fourdrinier-based paper making-type approach with back addition of tobacco extract, or by extrusion.

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