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
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/10—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/16—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes of tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/167—Chemical features of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes of tobacco substitutes in liquid or vaporisable form, e.g. liquid compositions for electronic cigarettes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/18—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/28—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances
  • A24B15/281—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances the action of the chemical substances being delayed
  • A24B15/282—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances the action of the chemical substances being delayed by indirect addition of the chemical substances, e.g. in the wrapper, in the case
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24B—MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF
  • A24B15/00—Chemical features or treatment of tobacco; Tobacco substitutes, e.g. in liquid form
  • A24B15/18—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes
  • A24B15/28—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances
  • A24B15/281—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances the action of the chemical substances being delayed
  • A24B15/283—Treatment of tobacco products or tobacco substitutes by chemical substances the action of the chemical substances being delayed by encapsulation of the chemical substances
• • 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
  • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
  • A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
  • A24D3/061—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters containing additives entrapped within capsules, sponge-like material or the like, for further release upon smoking
• • 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 disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating article.
• the invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating article, and methods of using the aerosol-generating article and system.
• Smoking substitute systems include electronic aerosol generation systems that permit a user to simulate the act of smoking by producing an aerosol (also referred to as a "vapour") that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhaled) and then exhaled.
• aerosol also referred to as a "vapour”
• HT heated tobacco
• HNB Heat not Burn
• e-cigarettes or vapes
• e-liquid a liquid
• a primary difference is that HT systems produce an aerosol predominantly from a solid substrate (e.g. tobacco leaf), whereas in e-cigarettes, the aerosol is provided from a liquid suspension.
• a typical HT system includes a HT device and a HT consumable comprising the tobacco.
• the consumable is disposed of and replaced at the end of a smoking session.
• the HT system can, herein, be interchangeably referred to as a 'system' and likewise, the HT device can be interchangeably referred to as a 'device', and also the HT consumable can be interchangeably referred to as a 'consumable'.
• the consumable is inserted into the device to form a system, such that the user can operate the system to heat the consumable in a controlled manner to release flavours, aromas and other constituents whilst volatising the nicotine in the tobacco (without burning).
• a user can then draw on a mouthpiece of the consumable to draw air through the tobacco.
• the released constituents and volatised nicotine are entrained in the airflow to create an aerosol as it mixes and cools.
• the aerosol is then inhaled by the user.
• a known HT device is sold under the brand name Pulze TM for use in combination with a HT consumable sold under the brand name iD TM .
• the present invention provides an aerosol-generating article for use in an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol that is to be consumed by a user.
• the present invention provides an aerosol-generating article which comprises a capsule comprising a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first and second compartments are not in fluid communication with one another.
• the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating article for use in an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol that is to be consumed by a user, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating substrate, and a capsule comprising a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first and second compartments are not in fluid communication with one another.
• the first compartment contains a first property modifying agent
• the second compartment contains a second property modifying agent different from the first property modifying agent
• the capsule is configured to release one or both of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent when the capsule is exposed to a release action.
• the first property modifying agent and second property modifying agent are releasable from the capsule by manual or automatic action.
• a release action e.g. breakable, perforable and/or dissolvable to release its contents
• the first property modifying agent and second property modifying agent are releasable from the capsule by manual or automatic action.
• the first compartment and the second compartment are not in fluid communication with one another prior to release, the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent cannot mix with one another. This may be beneficial since it maintains the compositional integrity of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent, which are different to one another.
• first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent are not permitted to mix with one another prior to the point of use of the aerosol-generating article, because they may be physically or chemically incompatible with one another.
• mixing of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent prior to the point of use of the aerosol-generating article may cause degradation, e.g. oxidation, of one or both of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent, thereby reducing their effectiveness.
• one of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent comprises a flavourant and the other comprises an active compound
• mixing of the flavourant and the active compound may cause a reaction which may attenuate the effectiveness of the active compound, such that mixing should be avoided until the point of use of the aerosol-generating article.
• first and second compartments are integral portions of the same capsule.
• the first compartment and second compartment are essentially fixed in position relative to one another, in close proximity to one another, to facilitate the locating of the first and second compartments and their breakage by the user, and to prevent movement or loss of one or other of the first and second compartments prior to their breakage.
• manufacturing of the article is simplified, since a single capsule unit is incorporated into the aerosol-generating article, which is able to deliver different property modifying agents which are kept separate from one another and prevented from any interaction with one another until the point of use of the aerosol-generating article.
• the aerosol-generating substrate and the capsule are distinct entities performing distinct functions within the aerosol-forming article.
• the aerosol-generating substrate and the capsule cannot be the same entity within the aerosol-generating article (although they may be connected or attached together in such a way as to form distinct parts of a single entity performing distinct functions).
• the first and second compartments are not in fluid communication with one another. For example, if a first liquid is contained within the first compartment, it is unable to pass into the second compartment without the integrity of a wall or shell of the first and/or second compartment first being compromised. Similarly, for example, if a second liquid is contained within the second compartment, it is unable to pass into the first compartment without the integrity of a wall or shell of the first and/or second compartment first being compromised. Thus if a first liquid is contained within the first compartment, and a second liquid is contained within the second compartment, the first and second liquids are unable to mix with one another unless and until the integrity of a wall or shell of the first and/or second compartments has first been compromised.
• the capsule may be configured to release one or both of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent when the capsule is exposed to a release action.
• the release action comprises one or more of: (a) pressure applied to an outer wall or shell of the capsule leading to rupture of the capsule and release of the first property modifying agent and/or the second property modifying agent; (b) exposure of the capsule to an agent which causes dissolution or degradation of a wall or shell of the capsule, leading to perforation of the wall or shell and release of the first property modifying agent and/or the second property modifying agent; (c) physical piercing or perforation of a wall or shell of the capsule by a perforating implement, leading to perforation of the capsule and release of the first property modifying agent and/or the second property modifying agent.
• the capsule is a frangible capsule.
• the capsule may be breakable to release the first property modifying agent and/or the second property modifying agent by rupture of a wall or shell of the capsule under applied external pressure by a user.
• frangible means that a shell or wall of the capsule is able to be compromised to release some or all of the contents of the capsule by physical means. This includes, for example fracture of the capsule brought about by physical pressure placed upon the capsule; piercing of the capsule by a suitable implement.
• a frangible capsule may also be configured to degrade by interaction with an external material, for example partial or complete dissolution of the wall of the capsule due to contact with a liquid or solvent, such that the capsule wall becomes porous allowing the release of some or all of the contents.
• a given capsule may be designed to be vulnerable to only one method of compromising the shell or wall, or may be simultaneously vulnerable to more than one method. For example, a capsule may be able to fracture under pressure and may also be able to become porous after exposure to a liquid or solvent.
• the capsule may comprise a shell or envelope enclosing a volume, wherein the volume is divided into the first compartment and the second compartment, wherein the first and second compartments are not in fluid communication with one another.
• the first and second compartments may therefore each comprise discrete inner volumes defined by an outer wall or shell of the capsule.
• the portion of the capsule volume making up the first compartment may contain the first property modifying agent, and the portion of the capsule volume making up the second compartment may contain the second property modifying agent.
• the shell may be breakable, dissolvable or degradable to release one or both of the first and second property modifying agents.
• the capsule may comprise a polymer film.
• the capsule e.g. the shell of the capsule
• the capsule may comprise a polymer film, wherein the polymer is soluble in water.
• the capsule e.g. the shell of the capsule
• the capsule comprises a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) film.
• the capsule may comprise a shell (e.g. breakable, degradable or dissolvable) which comprises or consists of the PVOH film.
• one or both of the first compartment and the second compartment comprise a PVOH film.
• one or both of the first compartment and the second compartment comprise a frangible or breakable shell which comprises or consists of the PVOH film.
• one or both of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent independently comprise one or more of a flavourant and an active compound.
• first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent are each independently in the form of a liquid, gel or paste.
• the gel may be a hydrogel, e.g. a material containing a gelling polymer, such as a gum, and a solvent, such as water, alongside the property modifying agent.
• the first property modifying agent and second property modifying agent may be different from one another, i.e. the overall composition of the first property modifying agent may be different from the overall composition of the second property modifying agent.
• the first and second property modifying agents share at least one component of their respective compositions in common, however they may differ based on one or more of (a) the presence of a component in one of the first and second property modifying agents which is absent from the other; (b) the concentration or quantity of a component in one of the first and second property modifying agents which is different from the concentration or quantity of that same component in the other.
• first and second property modifying agents share a common solvent, but each contains a solute (e.g. flavourant or active compound) which is absent from the other.
• solute e.g. flavourant or active compound
• the first property modifying agent comprises a flavourant. In some examples, the first property modifying agent comprises an active compound.
• the second property modifying agent comprises a flavourant. In some examples, the second property modifying agent comprises an active compound.
• the first property modifying agent comprises a flavourant and the second property modifying agent does not comprise a flavourant.
• the second property modifying agent comprises an active compound and the first property modifying agent does not comprise an active compound.
• the first property modifying agent comprises a flavourant and the second property modifying agent comprises an active compound. In some examples, the first property modifying agent comprises a flavourant and does not comprise an active compound, and the second property modifying agent comprises an active compound and does not comprise a flavourant.
• the active compound may be selected from the group consisting of: nicotine, cocaine, caffeine, THC, CBD, opiates and opioids, cathine and cathinone, cannabinoids, kavalactones, mysticin, beta-carboline alkaloids, salvinorin A, together with any combinations, functional equivalents to, and/or synthetic alternatives to the foregoing.
• the first property modifying agent comprises a first flavourant and the second property modifying agent comprises a second flavourant, wherein the first and second flavourants are different from one another.
• the first property modifying agent comprises a first flavourant and the second property modifying agent comprises a second flavourant, wherein the first and second flavourants are different from one another, and wherein the first property modifying agent does not comprise the second flavourant and the second property modifying agent does not comprise the first flavourant.
• the first property modifying agent comprises a first active compound and the second property modifying agent comprises a second active compound, wherein the first and second active compounds are different from one another.
• the first and second active compounds may be independently selected from the active compounds listed above.
• the first property modifying agent comprises or consists of nicotine or a nicotine salt dissolved in a liquid carrier.
• the second property modifying agent comprises or consists of a flavourant dissolved in a liquid carrier.
• the liquid carrier comprises propylene glycol and/or glycerine.
• the first property modifying agent comprises nicotine or a nicotine salt
• the second property modifying agent comprises a flavourant
• the first property modifying agent is a liquid, gel or paste comprising nicotine or a nicotine salt
• the second property modifying agent is a liquid, gel or paste comprising a flavourant.
• the first property modifying agent comprises or consists of nicotine or a nicotine salt dissolved in propylene glycol and/or glycerine
• the second property modifying agent comprises or consists of a flavourant dissolved in propylene glycol and/or glycerine.
• the first property modifying agent comprises or consists of a first flavourant dissolved in propylene glycol and/or glycerine
• the second property modifying agent comprises or consists of a second flavourant dissolved in propylene glycol and/or glycerine, wherein the first and second flavourants are different from one another.
• the first and second compartments may be connected by a sealed section of the capsule which maintains the fluid separation of the first and second compartments.
• the first compartment may be joined with the second compartment along a shared outer edge thereof.
• the first compartment may be separated from the second compartment by a heat-seal formed between two opposing polymer films which are attached to one another by a heat-sealed region configured to provide fluid separation of the first and second compartments.
• the capsule may be formed by bringing two polymer films together and heat sealing the polymer films along their peripheral edges, with a further heat seal being made across a central portion of the capsule to create the first and second compartments.
• the capsule may comprise a first polymer film and a second polymer film, the first polymer film being laminated to the second polymer film around an entire peripheral edge thereof by a peripheral heat-sealed region, and the first polymer film also being laminated to the second polymer film in a heat-sealed strip which extends across the capsule from one location on the peripheral heat-sealed region to a second opposing location on the peripheral heat-sealed region; wherein in a first inner region bounded by the heat-sealed strip and a first part of the peripheral heat-sealed region the first polymer film and second polymer film are not sealed to one another, thereby providing a first compartment, and in a second inner region bounded by the heat-sealed strip and a second part of the peripheral heat-sealed region the first polymer film and second polymer film are not sealed to one another, thereby providing a second compartment.
• capsules made by the lamination of two polymer (e.g. PVOH) films, laminated together in such a way that separate compartments are created which are not in fluid communication with one another.
• polymer e.g. PVOH
• capsule designs may be used to contain detergents for use in clothes washing machines or dishwashing machines.
• the capsule is configured to be frangible upon manual interaction of the user with an external surface of the aerosol-generating article, and/or upon interaction with an actuation portion of an aerosol-generating apparatus which is configured to receive the aerosol-generating article.
• the capsule is configured to be frangible upon manual interaction of the user with an external surface of the aerosol-generating article.
• the capsule may be configured to be frangible when the user pinches the aerosol-generating article laterally to compress its cross-section and put pressure on the capsule. This may be achieved by ensuring that the outer sleeve/wrapper of the aerosol-generating article consists of a layer or layers which are flexible and able to be deformed to break the capsule before returning or substantially returning to the original state, to ensure that aerosol is able to pass through the aerosol-generating article.
• paper and/or cardboard wrapping material may be suitable to facilitate this.
• the aerosol-generating article may comprise indicia on its outer surface marking the location on the outer surface where pressure should be applied in order to rupture the capsule within.
• the first and second compartments of the capsule are configured to be independently frangible upon manual interaction of the user with an external surface of the aerosol-generating article and/or upon interaction with an actuation portion of an aerosol-generating apparatus which is configured to receive the aerosol-generating article.
• the capsule may be positioned and oriented in such a way within the aerosol-generating article that pressure applied by the user to the outer surface of the aerosol-generating article may be directed to rupture only one of the first or second compartments.
• one of the first or second compartments may be located at a position which is downstream of the other of the compartments by a suitable distance to avoid simultaneous rupture when the user applies pressure to one or the other of the first or second compartments.
• the user may discriminate when applying pressure in order to rupture only one of the compartments.
• the user may tailor their experience. For example, in examples where the first and second compartments respectively contain different flavourants, the user may select only one of the flavourants based on their preference and rupture only the corresponding capsule, thereby allowing that flavourant to become entrained within the aerosol for inhalation. Alternatively, the user may rupture the two compartments at different time points during a smoking session.
• the user may choose to rupture the second compartment at the beginning of the session to release only the flavourant, and rupture the first compartment towards the end of the session to receive a second "hit" of nicotine after the amount of nicotine released from the aerosol-generating substrate has depleted.
• the capsule is configured to be frangible upon interaction with an actuation portion of an aerosol-generating apparatus which is configured to receive the aerosol-generating article.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus may contain a suitable protrusion which applies pressure to the aerosol-generating article sufficient to rupture the capsule, either automatically when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the aerosol-generating apparatus, or upon an input made by the user (e.g. pressing of a switch or button on the aerosol-generating apparatus).
• the capsule is configured to be dissolvable, degradable or perforable upon contact with one or more components of the aerosol released by the aerosol-generating substrate.
• the shell of the capsule is configured to become porous following contact with one or more components of the aerosol released by the aerosol-generating substrate.
• one or more of water, glycerine and propylene glycol may be present within the aerosol and may come into contact with the shell of the capsule (e.g. PVOH shell), causing the shell to become at least partially porous and allowing the property modifying agent contained within the capsule to pass out of the capsule and become entrained within the aerosol to be inhaled by the user.
• the capsule is configured to be frangible upon contact with a heating element which is part of an aerosol-generating apparatus which is configured to receive the aerosol-generating article.
• some aerosol-generating apparatus include a resistive heater comprising a rod or blade that extends into the cavity.
• the rod or blade is intended to be inserted into the aerosol-generating substrate, e.g. the tobacco rod.
• the capsule may be positioned within the aerosol-generating article to facilitate contact with the heating element when the heating element is inserted into the aerosol-generating article.
• the capsule may be positioned within the aerosol-generating substrate itself, or immediately downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate, depending on the type and length of the heater element present in the aerosol-generating apparatus into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted.
• the capsule is located downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate within the aerosol-generating article. In this way, the capsule is conveniently located for interaction with aerosol which leaves the aerosol-generating substrate and passes downstream, since the aerosol will come into contact with the capsule. This allows the property modifying agent(s) to become more easily entrained within the aerosol. This also facilitates contact of the aerosol with the surface of the capsule to cause the capsule to become porous, as one possible release action.
• the capsule is located within a void between the aerosol-generating substrate and a filter component located downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate. In this way, the capsule is more easily compressed by the user when pressure is applied to the outer surface of the aerosol-generating article, since the capsule is not protected by any components of the aerosol-generating article. Furthermore, placing the capsule downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate provides the benefits described above.
• the capsule is in contact with the aerosol-generating substrate.
• contact with the aerosol-generating substrate may assist in immobilising the capsule within the aerosol-generating article, especially if the capsule is also in contact with a further component of the aerosol-generating article, e.g. a downstream filter component, thus creating a "sandwich" effect to hold the capsule in place.
• the entire capsule lies downstream of at least part of the aerosol-generating substrate. In some examples, the entire capsule lies downstream of the entire aerosol-generating substrate, i.e. the capsule lies downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate and either makes contact with the aerosol-generating substrate, or is displaced from the downstream end of the aerosol-generating substrate.
• the capsule lies immediately downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate. In other words, in some examples there are no further components of the aerosol-generating article between the capsule and the aerosol-generating substrate (although there may be a void or gap). In this way, the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating substrate can easily make contact with the capsule without being diverted or obstructed by other components of the aerosol-generating article.
• the capsule is held or supported in a fixed position within the aerosol-generating article by contact with at least two components of the aerosol-generating article.
• the capsule may be "sandwiched" between two separate components, thereby preventing movement of the capsule from its chosen position.
• one of the components is the aerosol-generating substrate.
• one of the components is the aerosol-generating substrate and another of the components is a filter component.
• one of the components is the aerosol-generating substrate and another of the components is a paper rod.
• the capsule is held or supported within the body of the aerosol-generating substrate.
• the aerosol-generating substrate comprises a slit or gathered sheet of tobacco or tobacco-derived material
• the capsule may be embedded within the aerosol-generating substrate within folds of the gathered sheet or between strands of the slit sheet.
• the capsule is configured to begin to release one or more of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent after a predetermined period of time after the start of a smoking session.
• a typical smoking session with a HT consumable may be around 5 minutes.
• the capsule is configured to begin to release one or more of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent after a period of time of at least 1 minute, at least 2 minutes or at least 3 minutes into the smoking session.
• the user benefits from an initial delivery of active compound from the aerosol-generating substrate only (an initial "hit"), and after the predetermined period of time, as the amount of active compound delivered by the aerosol-generating substrate begins to deplete, the first property modifying agent and/or the second property modifying agent begins to be delivered by the capsule after it becomes sufficiently porous (delivering a subsequent "hit" from the first property modifying agent and/or the second property modifying agent).
• the capsule is configured to begin to release one or more of the first property modifying agent and the second property modifying agent after a period of time of from 1 minute to 5 minutes, for example from 2 minutes to 5 minutes or from 3 minutes to 5 minutes into the smoking session.
• the capsule i.e. capsule shell
• the capsule shell comprises one or more swellable polymers.
• the capsule comprises one or more bioresorbable polymers.
• Bioresorbable polymers are polymers which dissolve or degrade and are absorbed within the body and which are non-toxic or substantially non-toxic, and which will swell and ultimately dissolve when brought into contact with a suitable solvent/liquid (e.g. an aerosol). Since dissolution is the desired mechanism by which the capsule becomes porous, and since a user will inhale products of the aerosol-generating article, bioresorbable polymers offer a suitable choice of polymer for the shell of the capsule.
• Bioresorbable polymers which may be suitable for the capsule include starch, polylactide, polyglycolide, Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) or Poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA), Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), Poly( ⁇ -caprolactone) (PCL), Poly L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLLGA), Poly(L-lactide-co- ⁇ -caprolactone) (PLCL), poly(-3-hydroxybutyrate), polyhyaluronic acid esters, polydioxanone, aliphatic polyesters, natural polymers, polyanhydrides, poly(ortho esters), polyphosphazenes, poly(amino acids), "pseudo"-poly(amino acids), polyalkylcyanoacrylates, polypropylene fumarate), poly(ester-ether), and poly(vinyl alcohol).
• the capsule shell comprises PVOH. In some examples, the capsule shell consists of PVOH.
• flavourant for the first and/or second property modifying agent is not limited and may be selected from any flavourant known to the skilled person. Examples include one or more of menthol, liquorice, chocolate, fruit flavour (including e.g., citrus, cherry etc.), vanilla, spice (e.g., ginger, cinnamon) and tobacco flavour.
• the capsule has a width of from 1 mm to 7 mm, for example from 3 mm to 5 mm.
• the aerosol-generating substrate comprises tobacco or a tobacco derivative.
• the aerosol-generating article is a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable.
• HNB heat-not-burn
• the aerosol-generating article further comprises one or more of:
• the aerosol-generating article can be a consumable, e.g. a HT consumable, and the aerosol-generating apparatus can be a HT device as described above.
• the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-generating substrate which may include a solid (as opposed to liquid) substrate capable of being heated to release at least one volatile compound that can form an aerosol.
• tobacco leaf is one such substrate, wherein an aerosol is generated by inhaling through the heated substrate.
• aerosol-generating systems might also be easily configured to heat non-tobacco organic material such as other plant material (e.g., cannabis leaf). Consequently, the aerosol-generating article (e.g.
• a HT consumable is intended at its broadest to include an aerosol-generating substrate comprising at least one volatile compound that is intended to be vaporised/aerosolised and that may provide the user with a recreational and/or medicinal effect when inhaled.
• Suitable chemical and/or physiologically active volatile compounds include the group consisting of: nicotine, cocaine, caffeine, THC, CBD, opiates and opioids, cathine and cathinone, cannabinoids, kavalactones, mysticin, beta-carboline alkaloids, salvinorin A, together with any combinations, functional equivalents to, and/or synthetic alternatives of the foregoing.
• the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article may comprise a plant material.
• the plant material may comprise at least one plant material selected from the list including Amaranthus dubius, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry), Argemone mexicana, Amica, Artemisia vulgaris, Yellow Tees, Galea zacatechichi, Canavalia maritima (Baybean), Cecropia mexicana (Guamura), Cestrum noctumum, Cynoglossum virginianum (wild comfrey), Cytisus scoparius, Damiana, Entada rheedii, Eschscholzia califomica (California Poppy), Fittonia albivenis, Hippobroma longiflora, Humulus japonica (Japanese Hops), Humulus lupulus (Hops), Lactuca virosa (Lettuce Opium), La
• the plant material is tobacco.
• any type of tobacco may be used. This includes, but is not limited to, flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Maryland Tobacco, dark-air cured tobacco, oriental tobacco, dark-fired tobacco, perique tobacco and rustica tobacco. This also includes blends of the above-mentioned tobaccos.
• the tobacco may comprise one or more of leaf tobacco, stem tobacco, tobacco powder, tobacco dust, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, homogenised tobacco, shredded tobacco, extruded tobacco, cut rag tobacco and/or reconstituted tobacco (e.g., slurry recon or paper recon).
• the aerosol-generating substrate may be formed into a rod of material.
• a tobacco rod e.g. tobacco rod
• the aerosol-generating substrate may be formed into a substantially cylindrical shape such that the article/consumable resembles a conventional cigarette.
• the aerosol-generating substrate may have a diameter of between 5 and 10 mm (e.g., between 6 and 9 mm or 6 and 8 mm e.g., around 7 mm).
• the aerosol-generating substrate may have an axial length of between 10 and 25 mm (e.g., between 11 and 14 mm, such as around 12 or 13 mm).
• the aerosol-generating substrate may comprise a gathered sheet of homogenised recon tobacco or gathered shreds/strips formed from such a sheet.
• the plurality of strips may be substantially aligned.
• the plurality of strips, parallel to one another, may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rod.
• the plurality of strips may be tightly packed together.
• the aerosol-generating substrate may comprise one or more additives selected from humectants, flavourants, fillers, aqueous/non-aqueous solvents and binders.
• the flavourant may be provided in solid or liquid form. It may be selected from one or more of menthol, liquorice, chocolate, fruit flavour (including e.g., citrus, cherry etc.), vanilla, spice (e.g., ginger, cinnamon) and tobacco flavour.
• the flavourant may be evenly dispersed throughout the aerosol-generating substrate or may be provided in isolated locations and/or varying concentrations throughout the aerosol-generating substrate.
• Humectants are provided as vapor generators - the resulting vapor helps carry the volatile active compounds and increases visible vapor.
• Suitable humectants include polyhydric alcohols (e.g. propylene glycol (PG), triethylene glycol, 1 ,2-butane diol and vegetable glycerine (VG)) and their esters (e.g. glycerol mono-, di- or tri-acetate). They may be present in the combustible material of the smoking body in an amount between 5 and 50 wt %.
• the humectant content of the combustible material of the smoking body may have a lower limit of at least 5% by weight of the plant material, such as at least 10 wt %, such as at least 20 wt %, such as at least 30 wt %, or such as least 40 wt %.
• the humectant content of the combustible material of the smoking body may have an upper limit of at most 50% by weight of the plant material, such as at most 40 wt %, such as at most 30 wt %, or such as at most 20 wt %.
• the humectant content is 10 to 40 wt % of the combustible material of the smoking body, such as 10 to 30 wt %.
• Suitable binders are known in the art and may act to bind together the components forming the combustible material of the smoking body.
• Binders may comprise starches and/or cellulosic binders such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, gums such as xanthan, guar, arabic and/or locust bean gum, organic acids and their salts such as alginic acid/sodium alginate, agar and pectins.
• the binder content is 5 to 10 wt % of the combustible material of the smoking body e.g. around 6 to 8 wt %.
• Suitable fillers are known in the art and may act to strengthen the combustible material of the smoking body.
• Fillers may comprise fibrous (non-tobacco) fillers such as cellulose fibers, lignocellulose fibers (e.g. wood fibers), jute fibers and combinations thereof.
• the filler content is 5 to 10 wt % of the combustible material of the smoking body e.g. around 6 to 9 wt %.
• the combustible material of the smoking body may comprise an aqueous and/or non-aqueous solvent.
• the combustible material of the smoking body has a water content of between 5 and 10 wt % e.g. between 6 to 9 wt % such as between 7 to 9 wt %.
• the aerosol-generating article can be specifically adapted for use with a HT device (either known devices or the HT devices described herein).
• a combustible cigarette is not specifically adapted for use with a HT device. Primarily, this is because insertion of a combustible cigarette into a HT device and subsequent operation of the HT device, would not generate an acceptable vapour for consumption by the user. In particular, an insufficient aerosol vapour would be generated. Consequently, in the exemplary embodiments of aerosol-generating articles (e.g.
• a carrier in the aerosol-generating substrate e.g. tobacco material
• a first vapour is produced from the tobacco material volatising the nicotine (or other active substance as described above) and a second vapour is produced from vaporisation of the carrier.
• the carrier added to the aerosol-generating substrate suitably comprises polyglcol (PG), propylene glycol, and/or vegetable glycerine (VG).
• the exemplary aerosol-generating article may include an aerosol-generating substrate combined with one or more further components or elements by a wrapping paper which can include a combining paper and/or a tipping paper.
• the combining paper may circumscribe the aerosol-generating substrate and further components and may be glued or adhered to form a homogenous component or rod as is known in the art and as explained in the background section above. Therefore, except where incompatible, the addition or combination of features of the described and claimed aspects and embodiments of the consumables is expressly considered.
• wrapping paper in its broadest is intended to include any suitable substrate that can be used to circumscribe the components of the aerosol-generating article to join or wrap one or more of the components. It is envisaged that suitable substrates are thin and flexible, with paper or similar materials being exemplary. Thus, as used herein, wrapping substrate is used interchangeably to reference wrapping paper in its broadest form even for instance when the aerosol-generating article paper is not combining components.
• the described aspects and embodiments can be suitable for use with a HT system wherein the HT consumable is intended to be used as described in the background section above. That is, the aerosol-generating article (e.g. a consumable) can be inserted into a cavity at a downstream end of the HT device. Or stated alternatively, the aerosol-generating article is insertable into the cavity in a downstream to upstream direction. Herein, such arrangements can be termed 'downstream' aerosol-generating article or consumable.
• the aerosol-generating substrate is arranged at an upstream end and a distal, downstream end of the aerosol-generating article (e.g.
• the HT consumable comprises a mouthpiece, for instance, a mouthpiece filter (e.g., a terminal filter arrangement).
• the mouthpiece filter may comprise a monoacetate filter or a hollow bore filter.
• the hollow bore filter may be a triple bore filter e.g., with three bores arranged in an equilateral triangle around a central axis.
• the mouthpiece filter may be comprised of cellulose acetate or polypropylene tow.
• the mouthpiece filter element e.g., the terminal filter element
• the mouthpiece filter element may be comprised of activated charcoal or may be comprised of paper.
• the mouthpiece filter element is suitably at least partly (e.g., preferably, but not necessarily entirely) circumscribed with a plug wrap e.g., a paper plug wrap.
• the mouthpiece filter may include flavourant.
• the mouthpiece filter can be formed with a capsule able to be fractured (fractureable) that a user can fracture to release a vapour or liquid (e.g., provided with a crush ball) as is known in the art.
• the mouthpiece filter (at the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article) is suitably joined to the upstream elements forming the aerosol-generating article and including at least the aerosol-generating substrate by a circumscribing tipping layer e.g., a tipping paper layer (which can be a component of the wrapping paper).
• the tipping paper may have an axial length longer than the axial length of the terminal filter element such that the tipping paper completely circumscribes the terminal filter element plus the wrapping layer surrounding any adjacent upstream element.
• the aerosol-generating article may comprise further components and elements.
• further elements can be arranged between the aerosol-generating substrate and the mouthpiece filter.
• the further elements may be provided to either or one side of the aerosol-generating substrate.
• the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-cooling element which is adapted to cool the aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate (by heat exchange) before being inhaled by the user. That is, in some aerosol-generating articles, the cooling element regulates the temperature of vapour.
• the cooling element may suitably comprise a bore filter and a paper tube
• each of the bore filter and the paper tube regulate the temperature of the vapour in use.
• the bore filter may be a hollow bore filter.
• the paper tube may be a spiral paper tube.
• the paper tube may be a continuous paper tube wound in a spiral or the paper tube may be a cardboard tube.
• the paper tube itself may be impermeable to air but comprise a plurality of perforations e.g., formed by a laser. The plurality of perforations may be distributed circumferentially about the paper tube and correspond in number and location with the plurality of perforations of the tipping paper to provide ventilation into an internal cavity of the paper tube.
• the exemplary HT consumable is configured as an upstream consumable. That is, a consumable for use with a HT device having a cavity at an upstream end for receiving the consumable, an air passage through the device to a mouthpiece at a downstream end.
• the aerosol-generating substrate may be a cylindrical rod.
• the cylindrical rod can have opposed end faces.
• Each end face may be a planar face. That is, the end face is said to be a planar face along the predominant plane of the aerosol-generating substrate, even though the end face may be formed from the termination of multiple strands at the common plane.
• the tobacco rod has a planar face on each end, even though the end face may be formed from the termination of multiple strands of tobacco with voids therebetween.
• the cylindrical rod has a longitudinal axis, and the end faces are suitably perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
• the present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating article according the first aspect, and an aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a heater.
• the present invention provides a heated tobacco (HT) system comprising an aerosol-generating article (e.g. a HT consumable) and an aerosol-generating apparatus (e.g. a HT device) configured with a heating zone.
• a heated tobacco (HT) system comprising an aerosol-generating article (e.g. a HT consumable) and an aerosol-generating apparatus (e.g. a HT device) configured with a heating zone.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus may include a cavity that may be configured to receive the aerosol-generating article.
• the cavity may be sized and/or dimensioned to conform with the outer dimensions of the aerosol-generating article (or vice versa).
• the cavity may have the shape of a circular bore and the aerosol-generating article has the shape of a cylinder.
• a diameter of the cavity may the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the aerosol-generating article.
• the cavity may be a blind hole in the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the cavity may be provided by a bottom wall and a side wall that connects the bottom wall to an opening or aperture of the cavity. If the aerosol-generating article is fully inserted into the cavity, all outer surfaces of the aerosol-generating article that are arranged within the cavity may contact inner walls of the cavity (e.g. the bottom wall and the side wall).
• the cavity may form the opening/aperture in a housing of the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the aperture and/or the cavity may be closed by a lid, a cap, or other types of closing means if the consumable is not inserted into the cavity.
• a part of the consumable e.g. one or more filters
• the aerosol-generating article may be sized so that the one or more filters are not arranged in the cavity so that they are not heated by the aerosol-generating unit.
• the aerosol-generating article may be inserted into the cavity for aerosolising one or more components the aerosol-generating substrate.
• the tobacco portion/section of the aerosol-generating article may be inserted into the cavity to be heated by the aerosol-generating unit.
• the aerosol-generating unit may be configured to generate heat for heating the aerosol-generating substrate when inserted into the cavity.
• the components of the aerosol-generating unit that generate the heat may be arranged in and/or on the walls of the cavity so that the heat provided by the aerosol-generating unit is generated close to the aerosol-generating substrate (e.g. the precursor).
• a heat insulation may be provided around the cavity for reducing heat transfer from the aerosol-generating unit towards other parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the walls of the cavity may be made from a material with high thermal conductivity (e.g. metal) so that the heat that is generated by the aerosol-generating unit is quickly conducted along the walls of the cavity for uniformly heating the consumable.
• the aerosol-generating unit defines a heating zone, where the heating zone is an area of the cavity over which the aerosol generating unit provides or generates heat.
• the longitudinal direction of the cavity may be parallel or coincide with the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating apparatus and/or the aerosol-generating article when inserted into the cavity.
• the aerosol generating unit includes an inside-out heater having a heating element configured to penetrate the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-generating article.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus optionally the heating element, includes a resistive heater comprising a rod or blade that extends into the cavity.
• the rod or blade is intended to be inserted into the aerosol-generating substrate.
• the aerosol generating unit includes an outside-in heater arranged in or on a side wall of the cavity for heating an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article when inserted into the cavity.
• the aerosol generating unit may include a resistive heater and/or an infrared heater that is arranged to heat the sides of the aerosol-generating article.
• the aerosol-generating unit may include the inside-out heater and the outside-in heater.
• the heating element is distributed in or on the consumable.
• the aerosol generating unit may include one or more induction heaters wherein a susceptor is provided in the aerosol-generating article.
• An electromagnetic source of the induction heater can be provided about the cavity.
• the stop is formed by the closed end of the cavity.
• the stop is provided as a ledge or ridge within the cavity.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus e.g. the HT device
• the aerosol-generating apparatus can be configured to provide an airflow from the distal end of the cavity to a downstream mouthpiece on the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the distal end of the cavity can include a passageway.
• the passageway can be formed in a centre of a ledge.
• a mesh can preferably be provided at the distal end of the cavity.
• the aerosol-generating article may have an elongate shape, and optionally a rod shape (i.e., the aerosol-generating article forms a substantially cylindrical outer shape), the upstream and downstream ends of the aerosol-generating article can be air-permeable to allow an axial airflow through the aerosol-generating article.
• the aerosol-generating apparatuses may comprise any one or more of the following exemplary features, except where those features are incompatible as apparent for the skilled person. This applies for both aerosol-generating apparatuses configured with a cavity configured to allow insertion of the aerosol-generating article in the upstream and downstream direction.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus may comprise an elongate housing (also referred to as a body). An end of the elongate body may be configured for engagement with an aerosol-generating article (e.g. a consumable).
• the body may be configured for engagement with a heated tobacco consumable.
• exemplary aerosol-generating apparatuses comprise a cavity that is configured for receipt of at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article (i.e., for engagement with the consumable).
• the aerosol-forming article is of the type that comprises an aerosol former (e.g., carried by an aerosol-generating substrate).
• the heating element is rigidly mounted to the body.
• the heating element may be elongate so as to define a longitudinal axis and may, for example, have a transverse profile (i.e., transverse to a longitudinal axis of the heating element) that is substantially circular (i.e., the heating element may be generally cylindrical).
• the heating element may have a transverse profile that is rectangular (i.e., the heating element may be a "blade heater").
• the heating element may alternatively be in the shape of a tube (i.e., the heating element may be a "tube heater”).
• the heating element may take other forms (e.g., the heating element may have an elliptical transverse profile).
• the shape and/or size (e.g., diameter) of the transverse profile of the heating element may be generally consistent for the entire length (or substantially the entire length) of the heating element.
• the heating element is between 15 mm and 25 mm long, e.g., between 18 mm and 20 mm long, e.g., around 19 mm long.
• the heating element may have a diameter of between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, e.g., a diameter between 2 mm and 2.3 mm, e.g., a diameter of around 2.15 mm.
• the heating element may be formed of ceramic.
• the heating element may comprise a core (e.g., a ceramic core) comprising Al 2 O 3 .
• the core of the heating element may have a diameter of 1.8 mm to 2.1 mm, e.g., between 1.9 mm and 2 mm.
• the heating element may comprise an outer layer (e.g., an outer ceramic layer) comprising Al 2 O 3 .
• the thickness of the outer layer may be between 160 ⁇ m and 220 ⁇ m, e.g., between 170 ⁇ m and 190 ⁇ m, e.g., around 180 ⁇ m.
• the heating element may comprise a heating track, which may extend longitudinally along the heating element.
• the heating track may be sandwiched between the outer layer and the core of the heating element.
• the heating track may comprise tungsten and/or rhenium.
• the heating track may have a thickness of around 20 ⁇ m.
• the heating element is located in the cavity (of the aerosol-generating apparatus), and may extend (e.g., along a longitudinal axis) from an internal base (i.e., distal end) of the cavity towards an opening of the cavity.
• the heating element may be in the form of a rod or blade that extends from the body and into the cavity. That is, the heating element extends from an end of the body that is configured for engagement with the consumable.
• the heating element is configured for insertion into an aerosol-forming article (e.g., a HT consumable) when an aerosol-forming article is received in the cavity.
• a distal end (i.e., distal from a base of the heating element where it is mounted to the aerosol-generating apparatus) of the heating element may comprise a tapered portion, which may facilitate insertion of the heating element into the aerosol-forming article.
• the heating element may fully penetrate an aerosol-forming article when the aerosol-forming article is received in the cavity. That is, the entire length, or substantially the entire length, of the heating element may be received in the aerosol-forming article.
• the heating element may have a length that is less than, or substantially the same as, an axial length of an aerosol-generating substrate forming part of an aerosol-forming article (e.g., a HT consumable).
• an aerosol-generating substrate forming part of an aerosol-forming article (e.g., a HT consumable).
• the heating element may only penetrate the aerosol-generating substrate, rather than other components of the aerosol-forming article.
• the heating element may penetrate the aerosol-generating substrate for substantially the entire axial length of the aerosol forming-substrate of the aerosol-forming article.
• heat may be transferred from (e.g., an outer circumferential surface of) the heating element to the surrounding aerosol-generating substrate, when penetrated by the heating element. That is, heat may be transferred radially outwardly (in the case of a cylindrical heating element).
• the heating element can be configured to transfer heat radially inwardly (in the case of a tube heater).
• the heating element of the tube heater may surround at least a portion of the cavity.
• the heating element surrounds a portion of the aerosol-forming article (i.e., so as to heat that portion of the aerosol-forming article, for instance the aerosol-generating substrate).
• the heating element may surround an aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-forming article.
• the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-forming article may be located adjacent an inner surface of the (tubular) heating element.
• the heating element When the heating element is activated (by discharging a battery across the heating element), heat may be transferred radially inwardly from the inner surface of the heating element to heat the aerosol forming substrate.
• the cavity comprises a (e.g., circumferential) wall (or walls) and the (tubular) heating element extends around at least a portion of the wall(s).
• the wall may be located between the inner surface of the heating element and an outer surface of the aerosol-forming article.
• the wall (or walls) of the cavity may be formed from a thermally conductive material (e.g., a metal) to allow heat conduction from the heating element to the aerosol-forming article.
• heat may be conducted from the heating element, through the cavity wall (or walls), to the aerosol-generating substrate of an aerosol-generating article received in the cavity.
• the heating element may be an infrared (IR) heating element.
• a tubular IR heating element may be configured to emit more IR radiation across the wall (or walls) than is transmitted by conduction.
• the wall (or walls) is therefore suitably transmissive of the emitted IR radiation.
• the combination of the wall (or walls) with the tubular IR heating element may be referred to as an IR heating tube. That is, in exemplary embodiments, the cavity may be formed from an IR heating tube.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus may further comprise a provision, preferably a mechanical means, to intrude into the cavity.
• a provision preferably a mechanical means, to intrude into the cavity.
• o-rings or the like that are configured to slightly compress against the inserted aerosol-generating article in order to grip the aerosol-generating article and provide resistance to withdrawal (and in relation to the upstream configured cavities, to prevent the aerosol-generating article falling out under gravity in use).
• the electrical connections may provide the resistance to withdrawal of the aerosol-generating article, or additional assist in doing so.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus comprises a cap disposed at the end of the body that is configured for engagement with the aerosol-generating article.
• the cap may at least partially enclose the heating element.
• the cap may be moveable between an open position in which access is provided to the heating element, and a closed position in which the cap at least partially encloses the heating element.
• the cap may be slidably engaged (i.e., slid to engage) with the body of the aerosol-generating apparatus, and may be slidable (i.e., able to slide) between the open and closed positions.
• the sliding between the open and closed position may act to lift the aerosol-generating article from heating element.
• the cap defines at least a portion of the cavity of the device. That is, the cavity may be fully defined by the cap, or each of the cap and body may define a portion of the cavity. Where the cap fully defines the cavity, the cap may comprise an aperture for receipt of the heating element into the cavity (when the cap is in the closed position).
• the cap may comprise an opening to the cavity. The opening may be configured for receipt of at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article (and preferably at least the portion including the aerosol-generating substate). That is, the aerosol-generating article may be inserted through the opening and into the cavity (so as to be engaged with the device).
• the cap is configured such that when an aerosol-generating article is engaged with the device (e.g., received in the cavity), only a portion of the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity. That is, a portion of the aerosol-generating article (not received in the cavity) may protrude from (i.e., extend beyond) the opening.
• this (protruding) portion of the aerosol-generating article is a terminal (e.g., mouth) end of the aerosol-generating article, which is received in a user's mouth for the purpose of inhaling aerosol formed by the system.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus comprises a power source or may be connectable to a power source (e.g., a power source separate to the aerosol-generating apparatus).
• the power source is electrically connectable to the heating element.
• altering (e.g., toggling) the electrical connection of the power source to the heating element may affect a state of the heating element.
• toggling the electrical connection of the power source to the heating element may toggle the heating element between an on state and an off state (e.g., PWM control).
• the power source may be a power store.
• the power source may be a battery or rechargeable battery (e.g., preferably a lithium-ion battery).
• the aerosol-generating apparatus comprises an input connection (e.g., a USB port, Micro USB port, USB-C port, etc.).
• the input connection may be configured for connection to an external source of electrical power, such as a mains electrical supply outlet.
• the input connection may, in some cases, be used as a substitute for an internal power source (e.g., battery or rechargeable battery). That is, the input connection may be electrically connectable to the heating element (for providing power to the heating element).
• the input connection may form at least part of the power source of the device.
• the power source comprises a rechargeable power source (such as a rechargeable battery)
• the input connection may be used to charge and recharge the power source.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus comprises a user interface (Ul).
• the Ul may include input means to receive operative commands from the user.
• the input means of the UI may allow the user to control at least one aspect of the operation of the device.
• the input means may comprise a power button to switch the device between an on state and an off state.
• the UI may additionally or alternatively comprise output means to convey information to the user.
• the output means may comprise a light to indicate a condition of the device (and/or the aerosol-forming article) to the user.
• the condition of the device (and/or aerosol-forming article) indicated to the user may comprise a condition indicative of the operation of the heating element.
• the condition may comprise whether the heating element is in an off state or an on state.
• the UI unit may comprise at least one of a button, a display, a touchscreen, a switch, a light, and the like.
• the output means may comprise one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) light-emitting diodes ("LEDs") that may be located on the body of the device.
• the device may further comprise a puff sensor (e.g., airflow sensor), which form part of the input means of the Ul. The puff sensor may be configured to detect a user drawing on an end (i.e., a terminal (mouth) end) of the system.
• the puff sensor may, for example, be a pressure sensor or a microphone.
• the puff sensor may be configured to produce a signal indicative of a puff state.
• the signal may be indicative of the user drawing (an aerosol from the aerosol-generating article) such that it is e.g., in the form of a binary signal.
• the signal may be indicative of a characteristic of the draw (e.g., a flow rate of the draw, length of time of the draw, etc).
• the aerosol-generating apparatus comprises a controller, or may be connectable to a controller that may be configured to control at least one function of the device.
• the controller may comprise a microcontroller that may e.g., be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB).
• the controller may also comprise a memory, e.g., non-volatile memory.
• the memory may include instructions, which, when implemented, may cause the controller to perform certain tasks or steps of a method.
• the controller may be connected to the input connection.
• the controller may be configured to control the operation of the heating element.
• the controller may be configured to control vaporisation of an aerosol forming part of an aerosol-forming article engaged with the device.
• the controller may be configured to control the voltage applied by power source to the heating element.
• the controller may be configured to toggle between applying a full output voltage (of the power source) to the heating element and applying no voltage to the heating element.
• the control unit may implement a more complex heating element control protocol.
• the controller includes a voltage regulator to regulate the output voltage supplied by the power source to form a regulated voltage. The regulated voltage may subsequently be applied to the heating element.
• the controller may be operatively connected to one or more components of the Ul.
• the controller may be configured to receive command signals from an input means of the Ul.
• the controller may be configured to control the heating element in response to the command signals.
• the controller may be configured to receive "on" and "off" command signals from the UI and, in response, may control the heating element so as to be in a corresponding on or off state.
• the controller may be configured to send output signals to a component of the Ul.
• the UI may be configured to convey information to a user, via an output means, in response to such output signals (received from the controller).
• the LEDs may be operatively connected to the controller.
• the controller may be configured to control the illumination of the LEDs (e.g. in response to an output signal).
• the controller may be configured to control the illumination of the LEDs according to (e.g., an on or off) state of the heating element.
• the controller may be operatively connected to the sensor.
• the controller may be configured to receive a signal from the sensor (e.g., indicative of a condition of the device and/or engaged aerosol-forming article).
• the controller may be configured to control the heating element, or an aspect of the output means, based on the signal from the sensor.
• the device may comprise a wireless interface configured to communicate wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth (e.g., a Bluetooth low-energy connection) or WiFi) with an external device.
• the input connection may be configured for wired connection to an external device so as to provide communication between the device and the external device.
• the external device may be a mobile device.
• the external device may be a smart phone, tablet, smart watch, or smart car.
• An application e.g., app
• the application may facilitate communication between the device and the external device via the wired or wireless connection.
• the wireless or wired interface may be configured to transfer signals between the external device and the controller of the device.
• the controller may control an aspect of the device in response to a signal received from an external device.
• an external device may respond to a signal received from the device (e.g., from the controller of the device).
• upstream and downstream are intended to refer to the flow direction of the vapour/aerosol, i.e. with the downstream end of the article/consumable being the mouth end or outlet where the aerosol exits the consumable for inhalation by the user.
• the upstream end of the article/consumable is typically the opposing end to the downstream end. That is, where the airflow through the component or the system is substantially straight, the upstream end will be opposed to the downstream end.
• the downstream end is defined by the exit of the aerosol to the user and the upstream end is generally an opposed region including the inlets.
• the present disclosure provides the use of an aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating article according to the first aspect, or the aerosol-generating system according to the second aspect, for the generation of an aerosol for inhalation by a user.
• the present disclosure may provide a method of generating an aerosol, which may implement any one or more features disclosed herein.
• the method may comprise placing the aerosol-generating article according to the first aspect in an aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a heater, as described herein (e.g. a HT device).
• an " aerosol generating apparatus” may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user.
• the apparatus may additionally/alternatively be referred to as a “smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article.
• a combustible “smoking article” may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and/or pyrolysis).
• An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity.
• the generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device.
• the input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and/or an airflow sensor.
• Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time may be referred to as an " activation " of the aerosol generating apparatus.
• the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength/duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).
• the aerosol generating apparatus may be portable.
• portable may refer to the apparatus being for use when held by a user.
• an " aerosol generating system” may be a system that includes an aerosol generating apparatus and optionally other circuitry/components associated with the function of the apparatus, e.g. one or more external devices and/or one or more external components (here “external” is intended to mean external to the aerosol generating apparatus).
• an “external device” and “external component” may include one or more of a: a charging device, a mobile device (which may be connected to the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. via a wireless or wired connection); a networked-based computer (e.g. a remote server); a cloud-based computer; any other server system.
• An example aerosol generating system may be a system for managing an aerosol generating apparatus.
• Such a system may include, for example, a mobile device, a network server, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus.
• an " aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air.
• An aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour.
• An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.
• a " precursor " may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance.
• the precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol.
• the precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring.
• the active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body.
• the active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and/or glycerine.
• flavouring may refer to a component that provides a taste and/or a smell to the user.
• the flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other.
• the precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.
• a “substrate” may refer to a solid precursor (e.g. loose leaf precursor material or a “stick” of precursor material such as tobacco), or an absorbent material (e.g. fibrous non-precursor material, such as cotton or hemp) that is imbued with a precursor (e.g. liquid or gel precursor).
• a substrate may also be referred to as an "aerosol-generating substrate”.
• a "storage portion” may be a portion of the apparatus adapted to store the precursor. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the precursor as defined above.
• a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user.
• the flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit.
• upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.
• a “ delivery system” may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user.
• the delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.
• a " flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path.
• a flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor.
• the flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user.
• a " puff” (or “ inhale “ or “ draw ”) by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and/or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.
• an " aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor.
• the aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system).
• a plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.
• a " heating system” may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated.
• the at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough.
• the at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field.
• the heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.
• a " consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor.
• the consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer.
• the consumable may include a mouthpiece.
• the consumable may include an information carrying medium.
• liquid or gel implementations of the precursor e.g. an e-liquid
• the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule” or a "pod” or an "e-liquid consumable”.
• the capsule/pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor.
• solid material implementations of the precursor e.g.
• the consumable may be referred to as a "stick” or "package” or "heat-not-burn consumable”.
• the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor.
• the consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.
• an "information carrying medium” may include one or more arrangements for storage of information on any suitable medium. Examples include: a computer readable medium; a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder; codes encoding information, such as optical (e.g. a bar code or QR code) or mechanically read codes (e.g. a configuration of the absence or presents of cutouts to encode a bit, through which pins or a reader may be inserted).
• RFID Radio Frequency Identification
• heat-not-burn may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).
• an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy.
• the apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2.
• the power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and/or an electrical connection to an external power source.
• the apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol.
• the apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
• Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1 ) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.
• FIG. 2 (generically) and Fig. 3 (specifically) set out a heat-not-burn implementation of Fig. 1
• Fig. 2 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1 , where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.
• the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable (aerosol-generating article) 70.
• the body 50 includes the power supply 2 and a heating system 52.
• the heating system 52 includes at least one heating element 54.
• the body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.
• the electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.
• the wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.
• an external (e.g. mobile) device e.g. via Bluetooth.
• the other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and/or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 3 ).
• the body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable.
• a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the heating system 52 of the body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.
• Fig. 3 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 2 .
• the consumable (aerosol-generating article) 70 is implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the body 50, which causes the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 to penetrate into the solid precursor 6.
• the consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the body 50, and a filter distal to the body 50.
• the filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole.
• the solid precursor 6 may be a reconstituted tobacco formulation.
• the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile.
• Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g. the at least one heating element may be blade-shaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).
• the body 50 includes a cap 51.
• the cap 51 In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50.
• the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50.
• the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.
• the body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50.
• the actuator 55 has the form of a button.
• the body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user.
• the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and/or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 2.
• Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.
• the body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.
• an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.
• the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.
• the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.
• an aerosol-generating article 71 is shown schematically in longitudinal cross-section, comprising an aerosol-generating substrate 41 and a capsule 46.
• the direction of aerosol flow through the aerosol-generating article is shown by an arrow 45.
• the capsule 46 includes a first compartment 47a and a second compartment 47b, and these compartments are not in fluid communication with one another due to the presence of a heat-sealed strip 47c separating them.
• the first compartment 47a contains a first property modifying agent
• the second compartment 47b contains a second property modifying agent different from the first property modifying agent.
• the structure of the capsule 46 is shown in more detail in Figs. 9 and 10 .
• the aerosol-generating article 72 is generally cylindrical in geometry and has a width (perpendicular to its longitudinal axis) of 7.2 mm.
• the aerosol-generating article 72 includes an aerosol-generating substrate 41 of length 12 mm which is formed from slit and gathered cast leaf tobacco. Moving in a downstream direction, the aerosol-generating article 72 then includes a capsule 46 located in a void of length 3 mm immediately downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate 41. The void separates the aerosol-generating substrate 41 from a hollow bore monoacetate filter 42 of length 7 mm which lies downstream. Hence the capsule 46 is located between the aerosol-generating substrate 41 and the hollow bore filter 42.
• the capsule 46 is illustrated as "free” within the void, but in other examples the capsule 46 may be partly or fully immobilised within the void, for example by being in contact with both the aerosol-generating substrate 41 and the hollow bore filter 42 such that the capsule 46 is sandwiched between the two.
• the capsule 46 is formed from two PVOH films laminated together with a peripheral heat-seal and a further heat-sealed strip across its centre to create the first compartment 47a and second compartment 47b.
• the first compartment 47a contains a first property modifying agent, which is nicotine dissolved in glycerine
• the second compartment 47b contains a second property modifying agent, which is a flavourant compound also dissolved in glycerine.
• the first compartment 47a contains a first property modifying agent, which is a first flavourant dissolved in glycerine
• the second compartment 47b contains a second property modifying agent, which is a second flavourant compound also dissolved in glycerine, where the first and second flavourants differ from one another.
• a cardboard tube 43 of length 14 mm Immediately downstream of the hollow bore filter 42 lies a cardboard tube 43 of length 14 mm. Finally, a mouthpiece filter 44 of length 12 mm made of monoacetate lies at the terminal downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 72, immediately downstream of the cardboard tube 43.
• the mouthpiece filter 44 is shown in Fig. 5 as a hollow bore filter, but in other examples a solid filter may be used instead.
• the hollow bore filter 42 and cardboard tube 43 abut one another, and the cardboard tube 43 and mouthpiece filter 44 also abut one another.
• the entire assembly of aerosol-generating substrate 41, hollow bore filter 42, cardboard tube 43 and mouthpiece filter 44 are circumscribed by a paper wrapper (not shown in Fig.
• the aerosol-generating article 72 is inserted into an aerosol-generating device such as the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 2 .
• the user may choose to squeeze or pinch the walls of the aerosol-generating article 72 inwards at a location adjacent to the capsule 46, thereby bringing opposing walls of the aerosol-generating article 72 into contact with the capsule 46 and putting the capsule 46 under pressure.
• the location on the walls of the aerosol-generating article 72 which is adjacent to the capsule 46 may be marked with visible or tactile indicia (not shown) to facilitate identification of the correct location by the user.
• the user may apply pressure specifically to a point on the walls of the aerosol-generating article 72 which is adjacent to the first compartment 47a containing the first property modifying agent, thereby causing the rupture of the first compartment 47a and the release of the first property modifying agent.
• the user may apply pressure specifically to a point on the walls of the aerosol-generating article 72 slightly further downstream, thereby causing the rupture of the second compartment 47b and the release of the second property modifying agent.
• the first or second property modifying agent is then free to become entrained within the aerosol which has been generated by the aerosol-generating substrate 41.
• the user may apply pressure in a less discriminatory way to a point on the walls of the aerosol-generating article 72 which extends across both the first compartment 47a and the second compartment 47b, thereby causing the rupture of both the first 47a and second 47b compartment and the release of both the first and second property modifying agents.
• the first and second property modifying agents are then free to become entrained within the aerosol which has been generated by the aerosol-generating substrate 41.
• the first and second property modifying agents comprise nicotine and flavourant respectively, this allows the user to introduce both nicotine and additional flavourant into the aerosol for inhalation, while ensuring that the nicotine and flavourant do not mix prior to the rupture of the capsule by the user.
• the aerosol-generating article 72 is inserted into an aerosol-generating device such as the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 2 .
• the aerosol-generating substrate 41 When the heater is activated by the user, the aerosol-generating substrate 41 is heated until components of the aerosol-generating substrate 41 are volatilised and form an aerosol. As the user draws on the mouthpiece filter 44, the aerosol stream is drawn through the aerosol-generating article 72 in the direction of arrow 45, first encountering the capsule 46 which lies immediately downstream.
• the first and/or second property modifying agents are able to immediately become entrained in the aerosol during the smoking session.
• the user will receive the nicotine which has been volatilised from the aerosol-generating substrate 41 and entrained within the aerosol.
• some of the first and/or second property modifying agent will also become entrained within the aerosol and will be carried downstream through the aerosol-generating article 72 to be inhaled by the user. This will provide the user with additional benefit depending on which of the first and/or second compartment they decided to rupture prior to the smoking session.
• the aerosol-generating article 72 may be designed with the intention that the user does not manually rupture the capsule 46, but that it instead eventually becomes porous enough due to contact with aerosol released from the aerosol-generating substrate 41 that some or all of the first and/or second property modifying agent is released from the capsule and becomes entrained in the aerosol for inhalation.
• the heater when the heater is activated by the user, the aerosol-generating substrate 41 is heated until components of the aerosol-generating substrate 41 are volatilised and form an aerosol.
• the aerosol stream is drawn through the aerosol-generating article 72 in the direction of arrow 45, first encountering the capsule 46 which lies immediately downstream.
• the user will receive only the material (including e.g. nicotine) which has been volatilised from the aerosol-generating substrate 41 and entrained within the aerosol, since no property modifying agents will be released by the capsule 46 initially.
• the material including e.g. nicotine
• some of the aerosol will condense onto the surface of the capsule 46 and will cause gradual dissolution, degradation and/or perforation of the outer shell or wall of the capsule 46.
• the integrity of the shell or wall will be compromised (e.g. perforated) and one or both of the first and second property modifying agent will become entrained within the aerosol and will be carried downstream through the aerosol-generating article 72 to be inhaled by the user.
• the first and second property modifying agent comprises an active compound (e.g. nicotine)
• an active compound e.g. nicotine
• the aerosol-generating article 72 may be used in an alternative manner in which a heater blade or rod which forms part of an aerosol-generating device pierces the capsule 46 when the aerosol-generating article 72 is inserted into the device in the manner shown in Figure 3 .
• the blade or rod would have a length sufficient to ensure than the blade or rod extends through the aerosol-generating substrate 41 and protrudes out of the aerosol-generating substrate 41 at its downstream end so that it is able to make contact with the capsule 46 in order to pierce the shell or wall of the capsule 46 and release one or both of the first and second property modifying agents.
• Fig. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of an aerosol-generating article 73 shown schematically in longitudinal cross-section.
• the aerosol-generating article 73 is very similar to aerosol-generating article 72 in Fig. 5 , so common structure will not be described again in detail.
• Aerosol-generating article 73 contains a capsule 46 which is held in place within the bore of a hollow bore filter 42.
• the function and composition of the capsule 46 is exactly as described for Fig. 5 . Since the capsule 46 obstructs the bore of the hollow bore filter 42, the hollow bore filter 42 is designed to ensure that the aerosol can pass through the aerosol-generating article 73 with an acceptable resistance to draw, for example by providing a material for the hollow bore filter 42 which has a reduced resistance to draw.
• Fig. 7 shows another exemplary embodiment of an aerosol-generating article 75 shown schematically in longitudinal cross-section.
• the aerosol-generating article 75 is of a fundamentally different structure to those shown in Figs. 5-6 .
• the aerosol-generating article 75 is generally cylindrical in geometry and has a width (perpendicular to its longitudinal axis) of 7.2 mm.
• the aerosol-generating article 75 includes a tobacco paste aerosol-generating substrate 411 of length 12 mm which is formed from a dried paste containing tobacco particles. Moving in a downstream direction, the aerosol-generating article 75 then includes a capsule 461 located immediately downstream of the aerosol-generating substrate 411 and in contact with it.
• the capsule 46 is of the same design as the capsule 46 described above.
• a mouthpiece filter 441 of length 5 mm lies at the terminal downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 75.
• a cylindrical paper rod 401 lies in a longitudinal direction within the aerosol-generating article 75 and abuts the capsule 461 at one end and the mouthpiece filter 441 at the other end.
• the paper rod 401 thereby acts to hold the capsule 461 in place by sandwiching it between the paper rod 401 and the aerosol-generating substrate 411.
• the entire assembly of aerosol-generating substrate 411 and mouthpiece filter 441 are circumscribed by a cardboard tube 400 which extends slightly beyond the most downstream face of the mouthpiece filter 441.
• the cardboard tube 400 is then over-wrapped by a paper wrapper (not shown in Fig. 7 ).
• the direction of aerosol flow through the aerosol-generating article 75 is shown by an arrow 45.
• the capsule 461 and paper rod 401 could have their positions exchanged, such that the capsule 461 is sandwiched between the paper rod 401 and the mouthpiece filter 441, and the paper rod 401 abuts the aerosol-generating substrate 411 at one end and the capsule 461 at the other end.
• Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of a capsule 46.
• Fig. 9 shows the same capsule 46 in cross section, along the line A-B shown in Fig. 8 .
• the capsule 46 is made by laminating two polymer films 40a and 40b together. The films are sealed together by a heat seal around their entire periphery to form a heat-sealed border region 47d, and also across a central part of the capsule 46 to form a heat sealed strip 47c. Two regions between the polymer films are not heat sealed, forming a first compartment 47a and a second compartment 47b.
• Each compartment is characterised by an inner volume defined by an outer shell which is formed by the first polymer film 40a and second polymer film 40b, as best seen in Fig. 9 .
• FIG. 8 the boundaries of the first compartment 47a and the second compartment 47b, where the heat-sealed regions meet the non-heat sealed regions, are shown by dotted lines.
• the volume within the first compartment 47a contains the first property modifying agent and the volume within the second compartment 47a contains the second property modifying agent.
• Fig. 10 shows the same capsule 46 as Figures 8 and 9 , after both the first and second compartments 47a, 47b have been ruptured by pressure applied to them by the user.
• the first and second property modifying agents are free to pass out of the capsule and become entrained within an aerosol.
• the tobacco rod 41 within the aerosol-generating article can be formed from reconstituted tobacco as shown in Fig. 11 .
• the processing of tobacco material in the preparation of reconstituted tobacco (recon) by means of a paper-making process is well known in the art as exemplified by Canadian Pat. No. 862,497 which has been incorporated herein by reference.
• the processes therein described are particularly advantageous with the paper-making process for preparing reconstituted tobacco material ("recon”) sheets.
• a carrier is added to the recon to assist in the aerosol formation to allow the consumable 70 to be specifically adapted to operate as a HT consumable 70.
• the recon is prepared in a strip maker and gathered into a rod. As shown in Fig.
• the tobacco rod therefore comprises multiple parallel strips 112 of the cut recon running parallel to the longitudinal axis. Consequently, in Fig. 11 , only the cut tips of the strips 112 are seen. Although the strips can be tightly packed, voids 114 are left between adjacent strips. As will be appreciated, the voids provide air flow passages through the tobacco rod 41. In some examples of the present invention (not shown in the Figures), the capsule 46 may lie within a void between adjacent strips 112 within the tobacco rod.

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