METHOD OF MANUFACTURING TOBACCO GRANULES

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0163350, filed on Nov. 15, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, and more specifically, to a method of manufacturing tobacco granules with improved production efficiency.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, there has been a growing demand for alternative methods that overcome the shortcomings of general cigarettes. For example, there is a growing demand for systems that generate aerosols by heating cigarettes (or “aerosol generating articles”) by using an aerosol generating device, rather than a method of generating aerosols by burning the cigarettes.

An aerosol generating article may include at least one aerosol generating rod, which may include an aerosol generating substrate impregnated with a liquid non-tobacco material and/or a solid tobacco material. A tobacco material may be included in the aerosol generating rod in various forms, such as cut filler, granules, or powder.

SUMMARY

Tobacco granules may be spherical particles having a preset size. Tobacco granules may be manufactured by introducing tobacco powder into a fluidized bed reactor, fluidizing the tobacco powder, and then spraying tobacco slurry into the fluidized bed reactor. Tobacco slurry adheres to a surface of the fluidized tobacco powder in a fluidized bed reactor and agglomerates on the surface, which increases the size of the tobacco powder, and accordingly, tobacco granules may be manufactured. It takes time for the tobacco powder to grow into tobacco granules, and the capacity of a fluidized bed reactor is limited. Accordingly, there is a need to improve the manufacturing efficiency of tobacco granules.

Problems to be solved by the embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to the problems described above, and problems not described will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the disclosure and the accompanying drawings.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of manufacturing tobacco granules includes spraying tobacco slurry into a fluidized bed reactor in which tobacco powder is fluidized, wherein the fluidized bed reactor is of a bottom spray type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2a shows an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2b shows an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates an aerosol generating article according to another embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates an aerosol generating article according to another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements.

In the following description, with respect to constituent elements used in the following description, the suffixes “module” and “unit” are used only in consideration of facilitation of description, and do not have mutually distinguished meanings or functions. As used herein, the suffix “module” or “unit” may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with other terms, for example, “logic,” “logic block,” “part,” or “circuitry.” A “module” or a “unit” may be a single integral component, or a minimum unit or part thereof, adapted to perform one or more functions. For example, the “module” or the “unit” may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

In addition, in the following description of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when the same may make the subject matter of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification rather unclear. In addition, the accompanying drawings are provided only for a better understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification and are not intended to limit the technical ideas disclosed in the present specification. Therefore, it should be understood that the accompanying drawings include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

It will be understood that although the terms “first”, “second”, etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component.

It will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another component, it may be directly connected to or coupled to another component, or intervening components may be present. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another component, there are no intervening components present.

As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as software including one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., a memory 17) readable by a machine (e.g., an aerosol generating device 1). For example, a processor (e.g., a controller 12) of the machine (e.g., the aerosol generating device 1) may call at least one instruction among one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute the at least one instruction. This makes it possible for the machine to be operated to perform at least one function according to the called at least one instruction. Examples of the one or more instructions may include codes created by a compiler, or codes executable by an interpreter. A machine-readable storage medium may be provided as a non-transitory storage medium. The ‘non-transitory storage medium’ is a tangible device and only means that it does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves). This term does not distinguish a case in which data is stored semi-permanently in a storage medium from a case in which data is temporarily stored.

In the present disclosure, a direction of the aerosol generating device 1 may be defined based on an orthogonal coordinate system. The x-axis direction in the orthogonal coordinate system may be defined as a left-right direction of the aerosol generating device 1. The y-axis direction may be defined as a front-back direction of the aerosol generating device 1. The z-axis direction may be defined as an upward and downward direction of the aerosol generating device 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a power supply 11, the controller 12, a sensor unit 13, an output unit 14, an input unit 15, a communication unit 16, a memory 17, and/or heater 18 or CH. However, it may be understood by those skilled in the art that some of the components shown in FIG. 1 may be omitted or new components may be added, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1.

According to an embodiment, the sensor unit 13 may sense a state of the aerosol generating device 1 or a state of the surroundings of the aerosol generating device 1 and may transmit information corresponding to the sensed state to the controller 12. For example, the sensor unit 13 may include a temperature sensor, a puff sensor, an insertion detection sensor, a reuse detection sensor, an overwetting detection sensor, a cigarette identification sensor, a cartridge detection sensor, a cap detection sensor, and/or a movement detection sensor. The sensor unit 13 may further include various sensors, such as a liquid remaining amount sensor for detecting the liquid remaining amount of a cartridge and an immersion sensor for detecting immersion of the aerosol generating device 1.

According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor may detect the heating temperature of the heater 18 or CH. The aerosol generating device 1 may include a separate temperature sensor for detecting respective temperatures of the heater 18 or CH, or the heater 18 or CH may serve as a temperature sensor. For example, the temperature sensor may be used to measure an impedance of the heater 18. The impedance of the heater 18 may be correlated with the temperature of the heater 18. The temperature sensor may measure a current and/or voltage applied to the heater 18 (or an induction coil). Based on the measured current and/or voltage, the impedance for the heater 18 may be calculated. The controller 12 may estimate the temperature of the heater 18, based on the calculated impedance.

For example, the temperature sensor may include a resistive element (e.g., a thermistor) whose resistance value changes in response to a change in temperatures of the heater 18 or CH. The temperature sensor may output a signal corresponding to the resistance value of the resistive element, and the controller 12 may detect the temperatures and/or temperature changes of the heater 18 or CH, based on the signal corresponding to the resistance value.

As another example, the temperature sensor may include a sensor for detecting the resistance values of the heater 18 or CH. The temperature sensor may output signals corresponding to the resistance values of the heater 18 or CH, and the controller 12 may detect the temperatures and/or temperature changes of the heater 18 or CH, based on the signals corresponding to the resistance values.

According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor may detect a temperature of the power supply 11. The temperature sensor may be disposed adjacent to the power supply 11. For example, the temperature sensor may be attached to one surface of the power supply 11 (e.g., a battery) and/or mounted on one surface of a printed circuit board. For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a power protection circuit module (PCM), and the temperature sensor may be disposed adjacent to the power supply 11 together with the power PCM.

According to an embodiment, the temperature sensor may be disposed inside a housing (not shown) of the aerosol generating device 1 to detect an internal temperature of the housing.

According to an embodiment, the puff sensor may detect a puff of a user.

For example, the puff sensor may include a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor may output a signal corresponding to an internal pressure of the aerosol generating device 1, and the controller 12 may detect the puff of the user, based on the signal corresponding to the internal pressure. The internal pressure of the aerosol generating device 1 may correspond to pressure of an airflow path along which gas flows. The puff sensor may be disposed to correspond to the airflow path along which gas flows, in the aerosol generating device 1.

As another example, the puff sensor may include a temperature sensor. When the user' puff occurs, a temporary temperature drop may occur in the airflow path, a space where an aerosol generating article is inserted (hereinafter, an insertion space), the heater 18 or CH, etc. The controller 12 may detect the user's puff, based on a signal corresponding to the temperature of the airflow path, etc. output from the temperature sensor.

As another example, the puff sensor may include both a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. In this case, the temperature sensor may measure a temperature that is used to correct an internal pressure measured by the pressure sensor. For example, the puff sensor may correct the signal corresponding to the internal pressure, based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, and may output the corrected signal. As another example, the puff sensor may output the signal corresponding to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, and the signal corresponding to the internal pressure measured by the puff sensor. In this case, the controller 12 may receive the signals, and may correct the signal corresponding to the internal pressure, based on the signal corresponding to the temperature.

As another example, the puff sensor may include a capacitance sensor. In the present disclosure, the capacitance sensor may also be referred to as a cap sensor or a capacitive sensor. When the user's puff occurs, a temperature change and/or aerosol flow may occur within the insertion space of the aerosol generating article, and accordingly, an internal permittivity of the insertion space may change. The controller 12 may detect the user's puff, based on a signal corresponding to the internal permittivity, etc. of the insertion space output by the temperature sensor.

The puff sensor is not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may be implemented using various sensors for detecting the user's puff.

According to an embodiment, the insertion detection sensor may detect insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article. The insertion detection sensor may be provided around the insertion space. The insertion detection sensor may also include any combination of the aforementioned examples.

For example, the insertion detection sensor may include a capacitance sensor. The capacitance sensor may include at least one conductor. The at least one conductor may be arranged adjacent to the insertion space. When the aerosol generating article is inserted into or removed from the insertion space, a permittivity around the conductor may change. The controller 12 may detect the insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article, based on a signal corresponding to the internal permittivity, etc. of the insertion space output by the capacitance sensor.

As another example, the insertion detection sensor may include an inductive sensor. The inductive sensor may include at least one coil. The at least one coil may be disposed adjacent to the insertion space. When the aerosol generating article (e.g., a wrapper of the aerosol-generating article) includes a conductor and is inserted into or removed from the insertion space, a change in a magnetic field may occur around a coil where a current flows. The controller 12 may detect insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article including the conductor, based on the characteristics (e.g., a frequency, a current value, a voltage value, an inductance value, and an impedance value of an alternating current) of a current output or detected by the inductive sensor. Alternatively, the aerosol generating article (e.g., a medium portion of the aerosol generating article) may include a susceptor (SUS), etc. Even in this case, a change in the magnetic field around the coil may occur based on the insertion or removal of the susceptor, etc. within the insertion space, and the controller 12 may also detect the insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article, based on the characteristics of the current of the inductive sensor.

The insertion detection sensor is not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may be implemented using any of various sensors (e.g., a proximity sensor) for detecting insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article. The insertion detection sensor may also include any combination of the aforementioned examples. According to an embodiment, the insertion detection sensor may include a switch, etc. for detecting compression performed by the aerosol generating article.

According to an embodiment, the reuse detection sensor may detect whether the aerosol generating article is reused, for example, the reuse detection sensor may be a color sensor for detecting a color of the aerosol generating article. When the aerosol generating article is used by the user, a change in the color of a portion of the wrapper surrounding the outside of the aerosol generating article may occur due to generated aerosol or heating. The color sensor may output a signal corresponding to optical characteristics (e.g., a wavelength of light) corresponding to the color of the wrapper, based on light reflected by the wrapper. When a change in the color of the portion of the wrapper is detected, the controller 12 may determine that the aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space has already been used.

According to an embodiment, the overwetting detection sensor may detect whether the aerosol generating article is in an overwetting state. For example, the overwetting detection sensor may include a capacitance sensor. The capacitance sensor may include at least one conductor disposed adjacent to the insertion space. The controller 12 may detect whether the aerosol generating article is in an overwetting state, based on the level of a signal corresponding to a permittivity, etc. output by the capacitance sensor. For example, the controller 12 may check a level range including the level of the signal, based on a look-up table, and may determine a moisture content for the aerosol generating article, based on the checked level range.

According to an embodiment, the cigarette identification sensor may detect whether the aerosol generating article is authentic, and/or detect the type of the aerosol generating article.

For example, the cigarette identification sensor may include an optical sensor for detecting an identification material (or an identification mark) located on an outer surface (e.g., a wrapper) of the aerosol generating article. The optical sensor may radiate light toward the identification material (or the identification mark) of the aerosol generating article, and may detect the authenticity and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, based on the reflected light. For example, the identification material may include a material that emits light of a wavelength in a specific band, based on the radiated light. The controller 12 may detect the authenticity and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, based on the range of the wavelength.

As another example, the cigarette identification sensor may include a capacitance sensor. According to the types of aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space, the internal permittivity of the insertion space may vary. The controller 12 may detect the authenticity of and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, based on the signal corresponding to the internal permittivity, etc. of the insertion space output by the capacitance sensor.

As another example, the cigarette identification sensor may include an inductive sensor. When a conductor is included in the wrapper and/or interior (e.g., a medium portion) of the aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space, the characteristics of a current detected by the inductive sensor (e.g., a frequency, a current value, a voltage value, an inductance value, and an impedance value of an AC current) may differ according to the types of aerosol generating article inserted into the insertion space. The controller 12 may detect the authenticity of and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, based on the characteristics of a current output by the capacitance sensor or detected by the inductive sensor.

The cigarette identification sensor is not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may be implemented using any of various sensors for detecting whether the aerosol generating article is authentic, and/or detecting the type of the aerosol generating article. The cigarette identification sensor may also include any combination of the aforementioned examples.

According to an embodiment, the cartridge detection sensor may detect insertion and/or removal of the cartridge. For example, the cartridge detection sensor may include an inductive sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor, a hall sensor (a hall IC) using a hall effect, and/or an optical sensor.

According to an embodiment, the cap detection sensor may detect insertion and/or removal of the cap. For example, the cap detection sensor may include an inductive sensor, a capacitance sensor, a resistance sensor, a hall sensor (a hall IC), and/or an optical sensor. The cap may include a structure that covers at least a portion of the cartridge mounted on or inserted into the aerosol generating device 1 or covers at least a portion of the housing of the aerosol generating device 1. When the cap is mounted on or removed from the housing, the cap detection sensor may output a signal corresponding to the mounting or removal of the cap. The controller 12 may detect the mounting or removal of the cap, based on a signal corresponding to the mounting or removal.

According to an embodiment, the movement detection sensor may detect a motion of the aerosol generating device 1. The movement detection sensor may be implemented using at least one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

According to an embodiment, the sensor unit 13 may further include at least one of a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, a global positioning sensor (GPS), or a proximity sensor, in addition to the above-described sensors. Functions of the sensors would be instinctively understood by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of their names and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted herein.

According to an embodiment, the output unit 14 may output information about the state of the aerosol generating device 1. The output unit 14 may include a display, a haptic unit, and/or a sound output unit, but embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, information about the aerosol generating device 1 may include a charging/discharging state of the power supply 11 of the aerosol generating device 1, preheating states of the heater 18 or CH, an insertion/removal state of the aerosol generating article and/or the cartridge, a mounting and/or removal state of the cap, or a state in which use of the aerosol generating device 1 is limited (e.g., detection of an abnormal article). The display may visually provide the information about the state of the aerosol generating device 1 to the user. For example, the display may include a light-emitting diode (LED), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), etc. When the display includes a touch pad, the display may also be used as an input unit 15. A haptic unit may tactually provide the information about the state of the aerosol generating device 1 to the user. For example, the haptic unit may include a vibration motor, a piezoelectric element, an electrical stimulation device, etc. The sound output unit may acoustically provide the information about the aerosol generating device 1 to the user. For example, the sound output unit may convert an electrical signal into a sound signal and may output the sound signal to the outside.

According to an embodiment, the power supply 11 may output power for operating the aerosol generating device 1. The power supply 11 may include one or more batteries. The power supply 11 may supply power so that the heater 18 or CH may be heated. In addition, the power supply 11 may supply power required for operations of the controller 12, the sensor unit 13, the output unit 14, the input unit 15, the communication unit 16, the memory 17, etc. which are other components included in the aerosol generating device 1. The power supply 11 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the power supply 11 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but embodiments are not limited thereto. The power supply 11 may be a rechargeable (separate-type) battery (hereinafter, a detachable battery. The detachable battery may be mounted on a battery accommodation part provided within the aerosol generating device 1, or may be removed from the battery accommodation part. The detachable battery may be charged either via wire or wirelessly.

According to an embodiment, the heater 18 or CH may heat a medium and/or an aerosol generating material within the aerosol generating article and/or the cartridge by receiving power from the power supply 11. The aerosol generating device 1 may include a heater 18 for heating the aerosol generating article and/or a cartridge heater CH for heating the cartridge (i.e., a solid and/or liquid medium).

According to an embodiment, the heater 18 or CH may be electro-resistive heaters. For example, the electro-resistive heaters may include an electro-resistive material, such as a metal including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, or the like, or a metal alloy. The electro-resistive heaters may be implemented using a metal heating wire, a metal heating plate on which an electric conductive track is disposed, a ceramic heating body, or the like.

According to an embodiment, the heater 18 or CH may be induction heating heaters. For example, the induction heating heaters may include a susceptor that generates heat through a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be generated from an induction coil by an AC current flowing through the induction coil. The generated magnetic field may penetrate a heater and an eddy current may be generated by the susceptor. The susceptor may be heated based on the generation of the eddy current. According to an embodiment, the susceptor may be included within the aerosol generating article (e.g., the medium portion). Even in this case, the susceptor included within the aerosol generating article may be heated by the induction coil.

The heater 18 or CH are not limited to the aforementioned examples, and may include or be replaced with various heating methods, structures, components, etc. for heating the aerosol generating article and/or the cartridge.

According to an embodiment, the input unit 15 may receive information input by the user. For example, the input unit 15 may include a touch panel, a button, a keypad, a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, etc.

According to an embodiment, the memory 17 is hardware for storing various kinds of data processed in the aerosol generating device 1, and may store pieces of data that have been processed and are to be processed by the controller 12. For example, the memory 17 may include at least one type of storage medium selected from among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, a secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory), a random access memory (RAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. For example, the memory 17 may store data about an operating time of the aerosol generating device 1, a maximum number of puffs, a current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, and the user's smoking pattern.

According to an embodiment, the communication unit 16 may include at least one component for communication with another electronic device (e.g., a portable electronic apparatus). For example, the communication unit 16 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication unit, an Near Field Communication (NFC) communication unit, a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication unit, a ZigBee communication unit, an infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wireless Fidelity Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Adaptive Network Topology (Ant)+communication unit, a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., a LAN or WAN) communication unit, etc.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control overall operations of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the controller 12 may include at least one processor. The controller 12 may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or as a combination of a general-use micro controller unit (MCU) (or a microprocessor) and a memory in which a program executable by the general-use MCU is stored. It will also be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present embodiment pertains that the controller 12 may be implemented as other types of hardware.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supplying of the power of the power supply 11 to the heater 18 or CH, thereby controlling the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH. The controller 12 may control the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH and/or power supplied to the heater 18 or CH, based on the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH detected using the temperature sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). The controller 12 may control the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH and/or the power supplied to the heater 18 or CH, based on a temperature profile and/or a power profile stored in the memory 17.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control power (e.g., a voltage and/or a current) supplied to the heater 18 or CH by controlling a power conversion circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the heater 18 or CH and the power supply 11. For example, the power conversion circuit may include a DC/DC converter (e.g., a buck converter, a buck-boost converter, a boost converter, or a Zener diode) that converts power that is to be supplied to the heater 18 or CH, and a DC/AC converter (e.g., an inverter) that converts power that is to be supplied to an induction coil (not shown). The DC/AC inverter may be implemented as a full-bridge circuit or half-bridge circuit including a plurality of switching elements. For example, the power conversion circuit may include at least one switching element, such as a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and a field effect transistor (FET).

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the current and/or voltage supplied to the heater 18 or CH by controlling the frequency and/or duty ratio of a current pulse input to the at least one switching element of the power conversion circuit. A duty ratio with respect to an on/off operation of the switching element may correspond to a ratio of an output voltage of the power conversion circuit to an output voltage of the power supply 11.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control power that is supplied to the heater 18 or CH, by using at least one method among a pulse width modulation (PWM) method and a proportional-integral-differential (PID) method. For example, the controller 12 may control a current pulse having a certain frequency and a duty ratio to be supplied to the heater 18 or CH, by using the PWM method. The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 or CH, by adjusting the frequency and duty ratio of the current pulse. For example, the controller 12 may determine a target temperature that is a target of control, based on the temperature profile. The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 or CH, by using a PID method, which is a feedback control method using a difference value between the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH and the target temperature thereof, a value obtained by integrating the difference value according to the flow of time, and a value obtained by differentiating the difference value according to the flow of time.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may determine target power that is a target of control, based on the power profile. The controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 or CH to correspond to preset target power, according to the flow of time.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may detect the user's puff by detecting the power supplied to the heater 18 or CH. In more detail, the controller 12 may control the power supplied to the heater 18 or CH, by using the PID method. When the user' puff occurs, a temporary temperature drop may occur in a space where the aerosol generating article is inserted (hereinafter, the insertion space), the heater 18 or CH, etc. Accordingly, a change may occur in the power (or current) supplied to the heater 18 or CH during power control using the PID method. The controller 12 may detect the user's puff, based on a change in the power that is controlled.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may prevent the heater 18 or CH from being heated. For example, the controller 12 may control an operation of the power conversion circuit so that the amount of the power supplied to the heater 18 or CH is reduced or the power supply to the heater 18 or CH is stopped, based on the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH exceeding a preset limit temperature.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control charging/discharging of the power supply 11. For example, the controller 12 may check the temperature of the power supply 11 by using the temperature sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). When the temperature of the power supply 11 is equal to or greater than a first limit temperature, the controller 12 may block charging of the power supply 11. When the temperature of the power supply 11 is greater than or equal to a second limit temperature, the controller 12 may stop using (e.g., discharging) the power stored in the power supply 11. The controller 12 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power stored in the power supply 11. For example, the controller 12 may calculate the remaining capacity of the power supply 11, based on a voltage and/or current sensing value of the power supply 11.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or CH, based on a result of the sensing performed by the sensor 13.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or CH, based on insertion and/or removal of the aerosol generating article into and/or the insertion space. For example, when it is determined using the insertion detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) that the aerosol generating article has been inserted into the insertion space, the controller 12 may control power to be supplied to the heater 18 or CH. When it is determined using the insertion detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) that the aerosol generating article has been removed from the insertion space, the controller 12 may block the supply of power to the heater 18 or CH. When the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH are equal to or greater than a limit temperature or temperature change slopes of the heater 18 or CH are equal to or greater than a set slope, the controller 12 may determine that the aerosol generating article has been removed from the insertion space.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control power supply time periods and/or power supply amounts for the heater 18 or CH, based on the state of the aerosol generating article. For example, when it is determined using the overwetting detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) that the aerosol generating article is in an overwetting state, the controller 12 may increase the power supply time periods (e.g., preheating time periods) for the heater 18 or CH.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or CH, based on reuse or non-reuse of the aerosol generating article. For example, when it is determined that the aerosol generating article has been used, the controller 12 may block supply of power to the heater 18 or CH.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or CH, based on attachment and/or removal of the cartridge. For example, when it is determined using the cartridge detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) that the cartridge is in a separated state, the controller 12 may block supply of power to the heater 18 or CH or may control power to be not supplied to the heater 18 or CH.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or CH, based on whether the aerosol generating material of the cartridge has been exhausted. For example, when it is determined that the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH exceed the limit temperature while the heater 18 or CH are being preheated (i.e., in a preheating section), the controller 12 may determine that the aerosol generating material in the cartridge has been exhausted. When it is determined that the aerosol generating material of the cartridge has been exhausted, the controller 12 may cut off the supply of power to the heater 18 or CH.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the supply of power to the heater 18 or CH, based on whether use of the cartridge is possible. For example, when it is determined based on data stored in the memory 17 that a current number of puffs is equal to or greater than a maximum number of puffs set in the cartridge, the controller 12 may determine that the use of the cartridge is not possible. For example, when a total time period during which the heater 18 or CH are heated is greater than or equal to a preset maximum time period or a total amount of power supplied to the heater 18 or CH is greater than or equal to a preset maximum power amount, the controller 12 may determine that the use of the cartridge is not possible. In this case, the controller 12 may block supply of power to the heater 18 or CH or may control power to be not supplied to the heater 18 or CH.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the supply of power to the heater 18 or CH, based on the user's puff. For example, the controller 12 may determine occurrence or non-occurrence of a puff and/or the intensity of the puff, by using the puff sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). When the number of puffs reaches the preset maximum of puffs or puffs are not sensed for a preset time period or more, the controller 12 may cut off the supply of power to the heater 18 or CH. When a puff is sensed, the controller 12 may control the supply of power to the heater 18 or CH.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control supply of power to the heater 18 or CH, based on authenticity of the aerosol generating article (or the cartridge) and/or the type of the aerosol generating article. For example, the controller 12 may detect authenticity or of the aerosol generating article and/or the type of the aerosol generating article, by using the cigarette identification sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). For example, when the aerosol generating article (or the cartridge) is detected as counterfeit, the controller 12 may block supply of power to the heater 18 or CH. When the aerosol generating article (or the cartridge) is detected as authentic, the controller 12 may control (e.g., start) supply of power to the heater 18 or CH. As another example, the controller 12 may differently control power supply to the heater 18 or CH according to the types of aerosol generating article (or cartridge). In more detail, when the aerosol generating article (or the cartridge) is detected as a first aerosol generating article (or a first cartridge), the controller 12 may control the temperatures and/or power of the heater 18 or CH, based on a first temperature profile (or a first power profile), and, when the aerosol generating article (or cartridge) is detected as a second aerosol generating article (or a second cartridge), may control the temperatures and/or power of the heater 18 or CH, based on a second temperature profile (or a second power profile).

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the output unit 14, based on a result of the sensing performed by the sensor unit 13. For example, when the number of puffs counted using the puff sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13) reaches a preset number, the controller 12 may control the output unit 14 to visually, tactually, and/or acoustically provide information indicating that the aerosol generating device 1 is about to be terminated. For example, the controller 12 may control the output unit 14 to visually, tactually, and/or acoustically provide information about the temperatures of the heater 18 or CH.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may store and update a history of an event occurred in the memory 17, based on certain event occurrence. For example, the event may include insertion detection of the aerosol generating article, heating start of the aerosol generating article, puff detection, puff end, overheat detection of the heater 18 or CH, detection of overvoltage application to the heater 18 or CH, heating end of the aerosol generating article, an operation such as power on/off of the aerosol generation device 1, charging start of the power supply 11, detection of overcharging of the power supply 11, and charging end of the power supply 11, which are performed by the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the history of the event may include, for example, a date and time of the event, and log data corresponding to the event. For example, when a predetermined event is insertion detection of the aerosol generating article, log data corresponding to the event may include data for a sensing value, etc. of the insertion detection sensor (e.g., the sensor unit 13). For example, when the predetermined event is overheating detection of the heater 18 or CH, the log data corresponding to the event may include data about, for example, the temperature of the heater 18 or CH, the voltage applied to the heater 18 or CH, and the current flowing through the heater 18 or CH.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may control the communication unit 16 to form a communication link with an external device, such as the user's mobile terminal.

According to an embodiment, when receiving data on authentication from the external device through the communication link, the controller 12 may dismiss limitation of the use of at least one function (e.g., a heating function) of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the data on authentication may include the user's birthday, a unique number representing the user, and completion or non-completion of authentication of the user.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may transmit data on the state of the aerosol generating device 1 (e.g., a remaining capacity of the power supply 11, and an operating mode) to the external device via the communication link. The transmitted data may be output through, for example, a display of the external device.

According to an embodiment, when a request for a location search of the aerosol generating device 1 is received from the external device via the communication link, the controller 12 may control the communication unit 16 to perform an operation corresponding to the location search. For example, the controller 12 may control the haptic unit to generate vibration, or may control the display to output an object corresponding to the location search and a search end.

According to an embodiment, when receiving firmware data from the external device via the communication link, the controller 12 may perform firmware update.

According to an embodiment, the controller 12 may transmit data on a sensing value of at least one sensor unit 13 to an external server (not shown) through the communication link, and may receive and store a learning model generated by learning sensing values from a server through machine learning, such as deep learning. The controller 12 may perform, for example, an operation of determining the user's inhaling pattern and an operation of generating a temperature profile, by using the learning model received from the server.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a power supply protection circuit. The power protection circuit may include at least one switching element, and may cut off transmission path to the power supply 11 in response to overcharging and/or overdischarging of the power supply 11. The aerosol generating device 1 may further include a connection interface, such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may transmit/receive information by being connected to another external device through the connection interface, or may charge the power supply 11.

The aerosol generating article as described herein may include at least one aerosol generating rod (e.g., a medium portion) and at least one filter rod. The heater 18 may be arranged to correspond to the at least one aerosol generating rod, and may be designed differently according to arrangement orders and/or locations of the aerosol generating rod and the filter rod. The aerosol generating rod may include at least one of nicotine, an aerosol generating material, and additives. For example, the aerosol generating material may include glycerin (e.g., vegetable glycerin (VG)) and/or propylene glycol (PG), but may also include various other materials. For example, the additives may include flavors and/or organic acid, and may also include various other materials. For example, the aerosol generating rod may include an aerosol generating substrate (e.g., a sheet) impregnated with a liquid non-tobacco material (e.g., an aerosol generating material and/or nicotine), and/or may include a solid tobacco material (e.g., leaf tobacco and reconstituted tobacco). The tobacco material may be included in the aerosol generating rod in various forms, such as Cut Tobacco, granules, or powder. According to an embodiment, the additives of the aerosol generating rod may include an alkaline substance. Based on the basic material, the nicotine of the tobacco material included in the aerosol generating rod may have an alkaline pH (e.g., pH 7.0 or higher). In this case, freebase nicotine may be released from the aerosol generating rod even at low temperature. According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating rod may include two or more aerosol generating rods, wherein the two or more aerosol generating rods may include a tobacco material and/or a non-tobacco material, respectively. Although not shown, at least one aerosol generating rod and at least one filter rod may be individually and/or integrally wrapped by at least one wrapper. In the disclosure, the aerosol generating article may be referred to as a stick.

The cartridge mentioned in the disclosure may contain an aerosol generating material in any one state among a liquid state, a solid state, a gaseous state, a gel state, and the like. The aerosol generating material may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or may be a liquid including a non-tobacco material. The cartridge may include a storage containing an aerosol generating material and/or a liquid delivery unit impregnated with (containing) the aerosol-generating material. For example, the liquid delivery unit may include a wick or the like, such as a cotton fiber, a ceramic fiber, a glass fiber, or porous ceramic. The cartridge heater CH may be included in the cartridge, as a coil-shaped structure that is wound around the liquid delivery unit or in a structure in contact with one side of the liquid delivery unit. Alternatively, the cartridge heater CH may be included in an aerosol generating device 1 that is separable from the cartridge.

FIG. 2a illustrates an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2b illustrates an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a housing 10, the power supply 11, the controller 12, the sensor unit 13, and/or a heater 182 or 183 (e.g., the heater 18 of FIG. 1). However, the components included in the aerosol generating device 1 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 2a or 2b. It may be understood by those skilled in the art that some of the components shown in FIG. 2a or 2b may be omitted or new components may be added. The aerosol generating device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2a may be referred to as an ‘internal heating type’ aerosol generating device that heats the inside of an aerosol generating article 2. The aerosol generating device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2b may be referred to as an ‘external heating type’ aerosol generating device that heats the outside of the aerosol generating article 2. In the drawings below, any description that overlaps with FIG. 1 will be omitted.

According to an embodiment, the housing 10 may provide a space opened upward so that the aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted. In the disclosure, the upwardly-opened space may be referred to as an insertion space. The insertion space may be recessed toward the inside of the body 10 by a certain depth so that at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted thereinto. The depth of the insertion space may be equal to or greater than a length of a region in the aerosol generating article 2, in which an aerosol generating material and/or a medium is included. A lower end of the aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted into the housing 10, and an upper end of the aerosol generating article 2 may protrude to the outside of the housing 10. A user may inhale aerosol by holding, in his or her mouth, the upper end of the aerosol generating article 2 exposed to the outside.

According to an embodiment, the heaters 182 and 183 may heat the aerosol generating article 2.

Referring to FIG. 2a, the heater 182 may be implemented as an internal heating heater.

According to an embodiment, the internal heating heater may extend long upward in a space (i.e., the insertion space) into which the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted. As illustrated in FIG. 2a, the internal heating heater may include a rod-shaped heating element or a needle-shaped heating element. However, the internal heating heater may include any of various heating elements, such as a tube-shaped heating element or a plate-shaped heating element. The internal heating heater may be inserted through a lower side of the aerosol generating article 2.

According to an embodiment, the internal heating heater may include an electrically resistive heater and/or an induction heating heater.

For example, the electrically resistive heater may include an electrically resistive material on the inside (e.g., an inner hollow or an inner surface) or the outside (e.g., an outer surface), and may be heated as a current flows through the electrically resistive material. In this case, the electrically resistive heater may be electrically connected to the power supply 11, and may directly generate heat by receiving a current from the power supply 11. An induction coil 181 may be omitted.

For example, in the case of induction heating heaters, the aerosol generating device 1 may include the induction coil 181 surrounding at least a portion of the internal heating heater (e.g., being positioned outside to correspond to a length of at least a portion of the heater). In this case, a magnetic flux concentrator, etc. may be further included on the outside of the induction coil 181 in order to increase the efficiency of induction heating. An induction heating heater may include a susceptor, and may generate heat based on a magnetic field generated by the induction coil 181. According to an embodiment, the induction heating heater (e.g., a susceptor) (or a heater module including the induction heating heater) may be arranged to be detachable from the housing 10.

According to an embodiment, the heater 182 may be multiple heaters. The multiple heaters may include a first heater and a second heater, and may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 2. The first heater and the second heater may be arranged in parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction. The first heater and the second heater may operate as electrically resistive heaters and/or induction heating heaters, and may be sequentially heated or may be simultaneously heated. In this case, the first heater and the second heater may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of two or more aerosol generating rods. Alternatively, the first heater and the second heater may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of a first portion and a second portion of one aerosol generating rod. When the heater 182 is an induction heating heater, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a first induction coil and a second induction coil, and the first induction coil and the second induction coil may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of the first heater and the second heater. Alternatively, the first heater and the second heater may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of a first portion and a second portion of the one heater 182. Three or more heaters and/or three or more induction coils may be included.

According to an embodiment, a susceptor may be disposed (or included) in the inside (e.g., the medium portion) of the aerosol generating article 2, and the susceptor included within the aerosol generating article 2 may be implemented to generate heat, based on the magnetic field generated by the induction coil 181.

Referring to FIG. 2b, the heater 183 may be an external heating heater.

According to an embodiment, the external heating heater may extend long upward around a space (i.e., the insertion space) into which the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted. For example, the external heating heater may be disposed to surround at least a portion of the insertion space. For example, the external heating heater may include a tubular shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) including a hollow therein. The external heating heater may have a shape including a hollow on the inside and surrounding the hollow. In this case, the external heating heater may be supported by a polyimide film. A heater supported by such a film may be referred to as a film heater. The external heating heater may be disposed to surround at least a portion of the insertion space. The external heating heater may heat the outside of the aerosol generating article 2 inserted into the hollow.

According to an embodiment, the external heating heater may include an electrically resistive heater and/or an induction heating heater. A description of FIG. 2b that overlaps with FIG. 2a will be omitted. In the case of induction heating heaters, the aerosol generating device 1 may include an external heating heater implemented as a tube-shaped susceptor, and may include the induction coil 181 surrounding at least a portion of the external heating heater (e.g., being positioned outside to correspond to a length of at least a portion of the heater). The induction coil 181 may include a fan coil. When the external heating heater is an electrically resistive heater, heat generation is possible through a current flow on a tube-shaped electrically resistive heater (e.g., a film heater), and thus the separate induction coil 181 may be omitted. Insulation may also be disposed on the outside of the external heating heater. Accordingly, the heat radiated outward by the heater 183 and applied to the outside of the housing 10 may be reduced.

According to one embodiment, the heater 183 may be multiple heaters, and the first heater and the second heater may be arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction so as to each surround at least a portion of the insertion space. The first heater and the second heater may operate as electrically resistive heaters and/or induction heating heaters, and may be sequentially heated or may be simultaneously heated. When the heater 183 is an induction heating heater, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a first induction coil and a second induction coil, and the first induction coil and the second induction coil may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of the first heater and the second heater. Alternatively, the first heater and the second heater may be respectively arranged at locations corresponding to longitudinal locations of a first portion and a second portion of the one heater 183.

Unlike what shown in FIG. 2a or FIG. 2b, the heater 182 of FIG. 2a and the heater 183 of FIG. 2b may be included together in the aerosol generating device 1. In this case, the heater 182 may heat the inside of the aerosol generating article 2, and the heater 183 may heat the outside of the aerosol generating article 2.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 1 may be provided with an airflow channel through which air flows. For example, the housing 10 may include a structure (e.g., a hole) in which air may be introduced from the outside into the housing 10. The air introduced into the housing 10 may be introduced into the aerosol generating article 2 through the lower end (i.e., an upstream side) of the aerosol generating article 2. Aerosol generated based on the heating of the aerosol generating article 2, together with the introduced air, may be inhaled into the user's mouth through the upper end (i.e., the downstream side) of the aerosol generating article 2.

FIG. 3 shows an aerosol-generating device 1 according to an embodiment.

According to one embodiment, the aerosol-generating device 1 may include a housing 10, a power supply 11, a controller 12, a sensor unit 13, and/or a heater 183 and CH (e.g., the heater 18 and CH in FIG. 1). However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art related to the present embodiment that the components included in the aerosol-generating device 1 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 3 and that some of the components may be omitted or new components may be further included. In the drawings below, a description of configurations identical to those shown in FIG. 1 will be omitted.

According to one embodiment, the housing 10 may provide a space that is open upwardly to allow the aerosol-generating article 2 to be inserted thereinto (hereinafter referred to as an insertion space). The insertion space may be formed so as to be depressed in the housing 10 to a predetermined depth so that at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 2 may be inserted thereinto. The lower end of the aerosol-generating article 2 may be inserted into the housing 10, and the upper end of the aerosol-generating article 2 may protrude outside the housing 10.

Unlike the configuration shown in the drawings, the cartridge 19 may provide an insertion space for receiving the aerosol-generating article 2. In this case, the insertion space may be formed so as to be depressed in the cartridge 19 to a predetermined depth so that at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 2 may be inserted thereinto. The lower end of the aerosol-generating article 2 may be inserted into the cartridge 19, and the upper end of the aerosol-generating article 2 may protrude outside the cartridge 19. In this case, the aerosol-generating device 1 may not include the heater 183.

According to one embodiment, the depth of the insertion space may be equal to or greater than the length of a region of the aerosol-generating article 2 in which an aerosol-generating substance and/or a medium is contained. A user may inhale air while holding the externally exposed upper end of the aerosol-generating article 2 in the mouth.

According to one embodiment, the heater 183 may heat the aerosol-generating article 2. The heater 183 may be elongated upwardly around the space into which the aerosol-generating article 2 is inserted (i.e., the insertion space). In an example, the heater 183 may have a tube shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape) with a cavity formed therein. The heater 183 may include a shape including a cavity formed therein and surrounding the cavity. In this case, the heater 183 may be supported by a polyimide film. The heater supported by this film may be referred to as a film heater. The heater 183 may be disposed so as to surround at least a portion of the insertion space. The heater 183 may heat the outer side of the aerosol-generating article 2 inserted into the cavity. In the present disclosure, the heater 183 may be referred to as an external heating-type heater, which heats the outer side of the aerosol-generating article 2. Meanwhile, a thermally insulating material may be disposed outside the heater 183. Accordingly, the amount of heat emitted from the heater 183 in the radially outward direction and released outside the housing 10 may be reduced.

According to one embodiment, the heater 183 may include an electro-resistive heater and/or an induction heater.

For example, the electro-resistive heater may include an electro-resistive material, and may generate heat as current flows through the electro-resistive material. In this case, the electro-resistive heater may be electrically connected to the power supply 11, and may directly generate heat using current received from the power supply 11.

For example, in the case of an induction heater, the aerosol-generating device 1 may further include an induction coil (not shown) surrounding at least a portion of the heater 183 (e.g., disposed outside the heater 183 so as to correspond to the length of at least a portion of the heater 183). In this case, a magnetic flux concentrator may be further provided outside the induction coil (not shown) in order to increase efficiency of induction heating. The induction heater may include a susceptor, and may generate heat based on a magnetic field generated by the induction coil (not shown).

According to one embodiment, the heater 183 may be a multi-heater. The multi-heater may include a first heater and a second heater, and may be inserted into the aerosol-generating article 2. The first heater and the second heater may be disposed side by side in the longitudinal direction. The first heater and the second heater may operate as an electro-resistive heater and/or an induction heater, and may be heated sequentially or simultaneously. In this case, the first heater and the second heater may be disposed at positions corresponding to the positions of two or more aerosol-generating rods in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Alternatively, the first heater and the second heater may be disposed at positions corresponding to the positions of a first portion and a second portion of one aerosol-generating rod in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Meanwhile, if the heater 183 is an induction heater, the aerosol-generating device 1 may include a first induction coil and a second induction coil, and the first induction coil and the second induction coil may be disposed at positions corresponding to the positions of the first heater and the second heater in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Alternatively, the first heater and the second heater may be disposed at positions corresponding to the positions of a first portion and a second portion of one heater 183 in the longitudinal direction, respectively. In addition, three or more heaters and/or three or more induction coils may be included.

Unlike the configuration shown in the drawings, the aerosol-generating device 1 may not include the heater 183. The aerosol-generating article 2 may be directly or indirectly heated by the cartridge heater CH or may not be substantially heated. Indirect heating may mean that the aerosol-generating article 2 is heated by receiving heat contained in the aerosol during the process in which the aerosol generated by the cartridge heater CH passes through the aerosol-generating article 2. In this case, the aerosol-generating device 1 may be referred to as a non-heating-type (or indirect heating-type) aerosol-generating device. An additive such as an alkaline substance may be contained in the aerosol-generating rod of the aerosol-generating article 2. Based on the alkaline substance, nicotine contained in the aerosol-generating rod may have an alkaline pH (e.g., pH 7.0 or higher). This alkaline nicotine may flow to the user's oral cavity together with the aerosol introduced into the aerosol-generating article 2 from the cartridge 19 to be described later.

Unlike the configuration shown in the drawings, the heater 183 may include an internal heating-type heater. For example, the internal heating-type heater may include various heating elements, such as a rod-shaped heating element, a tubular heating element, a plate-shaped heating element, or a needle-shaped heating element. The internal heating-type heater may be inserted through the lower portion of the aerosol-generating article 2, and may be set to heat the inner side of the aerosol-generating article 2.

According to one embodiment, the cartridge 19 may be removably coupled to the housing 10. For example, a space may be formed on one side of the housing 10, and at least a portion of the cartridge 19 may be inserted into the space formed in one side of the housing 10 so that the cartridge 19 is mounted to the housing 10. Alternatively, the cartridge 19 may be integrally formed with the housing 10.

According to one embodiment, the aerosol-generating device 1 and/or the cartridge 19 may be provided with an airflow channel through which air flows. For example, the housing 10 may include a structure allowing outside air to be introduced into the housing 10 in the state in which the cartridge 19 is inserted thereinto. The introduced air may pass through the cartridge 19, may be introduced into the insertion space through the airflow channel CN, and then may flow to the user's oral cavity. The airflow channel CN may include various structures for reducing residual droplets or making the flow of air smooth.

Although it is illustrated in FIG. 3 that the cartridge 19 is located beside the aerosol-generating article 2 and the airflow channel CN is formed from the side surface of the aerosol-generating article 2 to the lower end (i.e., upstream side) of the aerosol-generating article 2, the positions of the cartridge 19 and the airflow channel CN are not limited thereto. For example, the cartridge 19 may be located adjacent to the lower end (i.e., upstream side) of the aerosol-generating article 2. In this case, the airflow channel CN may be formed in a substantially straight shape to connect the cartridge 19 to the lower end (i.e., upstream side) of the aerosol-generating article 2.

According to one embodiment, the cartridge 19 may include a storage part CO that contains an aerosol-generating substance, a cartridge heater CH, and/or a liquid delivery part that is impregnated with (contains) the aerosol-generating substance. The liquid delivery part 25 may be impregnated with the aerosol-generating substance supplied from the chamber CO. For example, the liquid delivery part may include a wick formed of, e.g., cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic.

According to one embodiment, the cartridge heater CH may heat the aerosol-generating substance contained in the cartridge 19. For example, the cartridge heater CH may include an electro-resistive heater and/or an induction heater.

In an example, the electro-resistive heater may include an electro-resistive material, and may generate heat as current flows through the electro-resistive material. In another example, in the case of an induction heater, the aerosol-generating device 1 may further include an induction coil (not shown) provided around the induction heater. The induction heater may include a susceptor, and may generate heat based on a magnetic field generated by the induction coil (not shown). The cartridge heater CH may be formed in a coil shape surrounding (or wound around) the liquid delivery part and/or in a shape (e.g., a patterned shape) contacting one side of the liquid delivery part.

Unlike the configuration shown in the drawings, the cartridge heater CH may be included in the aerosol-generating device 1. For example, the cartridge heater CH may be included inside the housing 10. In this case, the cartridge 19 and the cartridge heater CH may be separated by removal of the cartridge 19.

According to one embodiment, an aerosol may be generated based on generation of heat by the cartridge heater CH. For example, as the aerosol-generating substance impregnated in the liquid delivery part is heated by the cartridge heater CH, vapor may be generated from the aerosol-generating substance, and an aerosol may be generated as the generated vapor is mixed with the outside air introduced into the cartridge 19. The aerosol generated by the cartridge heater CH may be introduced into the aerosol-generating article 2 through the airflow channel CN. While the aerosol passes through the aerosol-generating article 2, tobacco or a flavoring substance may be added to the aerosol, and the aerosol containing the tobacco or the flavoring substance may be inhaled into the user's oral cavity through one end of the aerosol-generating article 2.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating article 2 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the aerosol generating article 2 may include an aerosol generating rod 21 and a filter rod 22. Also, the aerosol generating article 2 may be wrapped in at least one wrapper 24.

The aerosol generating rod 21 may include a tobacco material and/or a non-tobacco material. The tobacco material and non-tobacco material may include nicotine and may generate an aerosol including nicotine vapor when heated. The tobacco material and non-tobacco material may have various shapes. For example, the tobacco material and the non-tobacco material may each have at least one form of a sheet, a cut filler, a strand, a particle, a bead, a granule, powder, and an extract but are not limited thereto.

The tobacco material may be manufactured with a leaf tobacco raw material and/or a reconstituted tobacco raw material. A leaf tobacco raw material may include at least one of yellow tobacco, burley tobacco, and oriental tobacco but is not limited thereto. The reconstituted tobacco raw material may refer to a tobacco raw material regenerated with a tobacco byproduct. For example, the reconstituted tobacco raw material may include reconstituent tobacco leaves.

The non-tobacco material may refer to a material manufactured without using a tobacco raw material. For example, the non-tobacco material may be manufactured with cellulose, nicotine, organic acid, and so on. Furthermore, the non-tobacco material may be manufactured with cellulose, nicotine salt, and so on but is not limited thereto.

The tobacco material and the non-tobacco material may each include an aerosol generating material. For example, an aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol but is not limited thereto. Also, the tobacco material may also include additives, such as flavoring agents and organic acid.

The aerosol generating rod 21 may include at least one reconstituent tobacco sheet. The reconstituent tobacco sheet may include at least one of a slurry-type reconstituent tobacco leaf and a paper-type reconstituent tobacco leaf. The slurry-type reconstituent tobacco leaf and paper-type reconstituent tobacco leaf may be distinguished by manufacturing method. At least one reconstituent tobacco sheet may extend in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating rod 21. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto, and the aerosol generating rod 21 may also include multiple reconstituent tobacco cut fillers manufactured with cut or shredded reconstituent tobacco sheet. Also, the reconstituent tobacco sheet may be crimped to have wrinkles, and the aerosol generating rod 21 may include the crimped reconstituent tobacco sheet or multiple reconstituent tobacco fillers manufactured with the crimped reconstituent tobacco sheet.

The aerosol generating rod 21 may include at least one of a puffed cut filler and a puffed midrib. The puffed cut filler and puffed midrib may be manufactured by puffing midrib or so on, which is a byproduct of a leaf tobacco raw material.

The filter rod 22 may include multiple segments. Referring to FIG. 4, the filter rod 22 may include a first segment 221, a second segment 222, and a third segment 223. The first segment 221, the second segment 222, and the third segment 223 may be arranged sequentially in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 2.

The first segment 221 may support a tobacco material included in the aerosol generating rod 21. The first segment 221 may be adjacent to a downstream end of the aerosol generating rod 21. The first segment 221 may prevent a tobacco material from being pushed downstream when the heater 18 of the aerosol generating device 1 is inserted into the aerosol generating rod 21 through an upstream end of the aerosol generating rod 21.

The first segment 221 may include a filter material. For example, the first segment 221 may include at least one filter material among paper, cellulose acetate, polylactic acid, polypropylene, and lyocell. The first segment 221 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod having an internal hollow but is not limited thereto.

The second segment 222 may cool an aerosol. A high-temperature aerosol generated by the aerosol generating rod 21 may be cooled as the high-temperature aerosol passes through the second segment 222.

The second segment 222 may include a filter material. For example, the second segment 222 may include at least one filter material among paper, cellulose acetate, polylactic acid, polypropylene, and lyocell. The second segment 222 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod having an internal hollow but is not limited thereto. For example, the second segment 222 may be a tube formed of paper.

The first segment 221 and the second segment 222 may each be a tubular rod having an internal hollow. A diameter of a hollow of the second segment 222 may be greater than a hollow of the first segment 221. Accordingly, the velocity of airflow moving from the first segment 221 toward the second segment 222 may be accelerated, and an aerosol may be effectively cooled.

The second segment 222 may include a cooling material. For example, the cooling material may include a polymeric material having a cooling function. A polymeric material having a cooling function may absorb the heat from a high-temperature aerosol when coming into contact with the high-temperature aerosol. The polymeric material having a cooling function may include polylactic acid but is not limited thereto. In another example, the second segment 222 may be a tubular rod having an internal hollow, and a surface of the internal hollow may be coated with a polymeric material having a cooling function.

The second segment 222 may include a perforation (or at least one perforation) 222P. The perforation 222P may be formed in a circumference of the second segment 222 to form one or more rows. External air may be introduced into the second segment 222 through the perforation 222P. The external air introduced into the second segment 222 may be mixed with a high-temperature aerosol generated by the aerosol generating rod 21 to cool the high-temperature aerosol. The perforation 222P may be exposed to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1 when the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1.

The third segment 223 may filter some ingredients included in an aerosol passing through the third segment 223. The third segment 223 may include a filter material. For example, the third segment 223 may include at least one filter material among paper, cellulose acetate, polylactic acid, polypropylene, and lyocell. For example, the third segment 223 may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer (for example, triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow.

The third segment 223 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod having an internal hollow, but a shape of the third segment 223 is not limited thereto.

The third segment 223 may add a flavor to an aerosol passing through the third segment 223. For example, the third segment 223 may include a flavoring agent. The flavoring agent may be sprayed in a liquid state onto the third segment 223 but is not limited thereto.

The flavoring agent may include menthol but is not limited thereto. For example, the flavoring agent may include cinnamon, sage, herb, chamomile, galangal, persimmon, lavender, bergamot, lemon, orange, jasmine, ginger, vanilla, spearmint, peppermint, acacia, coffee, celery, sandalwood, cocoa, and so on but is not limited thereto. In another example, the flavoring agent may also include an animal-based flavor, such as musk, ambergris, civet, and castor oil.

The flavoring agent may also be an alcohol-based compound, such as geraniol, linalool, anethole, or eugenol. The flavoring agent may also be an aldehyde-based compound, such as vanillin, benzaldehyde, or anisaldehyde. The flavoring agent may also be an ester compound, such as isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, or linalyl butyrate.

The third segment 223 may include a capsule (or at least one capsule) 23. The capsule 23 may be buried in a filter material. The capsule 23 may generate a flavor or aerosol. For example, the capsule 23 may have a structure in which a liquid including a flavoring agent is surrounded by a membrane. The membrane of the capsule 23 may be ruptured by external pressure, and thereby, the liquid included in the membrane may be released to the outside. The liquid released from the capsule 23 may be absorbed by the filter material of the third segment 223. The capsule 23 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape but is not limited thereto.

The third segment 223 may include an adsorbent. The adsorbent may adsorb a preset material in a gas phase. For example, the adsorbent may include at least one of activated carbon, zeolite, alumina, silica gel, and bentonite.

The aerosol generating article 2 may include a wrapper 24 that wraps at least part of the aerosol generating rod 21 and/or at least part of the filter rod 22. The wrapper 24 may be composed of a single wrapper, or may be composed of a combination of multiple wrappers, such as a first wrapper 241, a second wrapper 242, a final wrapper 24F, and tip paper 24T.

The wrapper 24 may include paper. For example, the wrapper 24 may include paper having a thickness of about 10 μm to about 150 μm and a basis weight of about 20 g/m² to about 100 g/m² but is not limited thereto. When the wrapper 24 is a combination of multiple wrappers, thicknesses and basis weights of pieces of paper included in the multiple wrappers may be equal to or different from each other.

The aerosol generating article 2 may be wrapped in multiple layers by two or more wrappers. For example, the aerosol generating rod 21 may be wrapped by the first wrapper 241, the filter rod 22 may be wrapped by the second wrapper 242, and both the aerosol generating rod 21 and the filter rod 22 may be wrapped again by the final wrapper 24F.

The first wrapper 241 may wrap the aerosol generating rod 21. The first wrapper 241 may include a thermal conductivity enhancing material. The thermal conductivity enhancing material may include a metal foil, such as aluminum foil, but is not limited thereto. The thermal conductivity enhancing material may evenly distribute the heat transferred to the aerosol generating rod 21 by enhancing the thermal conductivity of the first wrapper 241. For example, the first wrapper 241 may be a stacked sheet in which paper and metal foil are stacked. The first wrapper 241 may be a stacked sheet in which paper is on one surface of a metal foil, or may be a stacked sheet in which paper is on both surfaces of the metal foil.

The second wrapper 242 may wrap the filter rod 22. Although FIG. 4 illustrates that the second wrapper 242 wraps only the third segment 223 among the segments of the filter rod 22, the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the second wrapper 242 may wrap the second segment 222 and the third segment 223, or completely wrap the filter rod 22. The aerosol generating article 2 may also include separate wrappers wrapping respectively the first segment 221, the second segment 222, and the third segment 223.

The second wrapper 242 may be oil-resistant. As the second wrapper 242 is oil-resistant, a flavoring agent included in the third segment 223 and/or the capsule 23 may be prevented from leaking outside the aerosol generating article 2. For example, the second wrapper 242 may include at least one of polyvinyl alcohol and silicone. A surface of the second wrapper 242 may be coated with an oil-resistant material.

The final wrapper 24F may integrally wrap the aerosol generating rod 21 and the filter rod 22. The final wrapper 24F may protect an outer surface of the aerosol generating article 2 such that the aerosol generating article 2 may be smoothly inserted into the aerosol generating device 1.

The final wrapper 24F may include a perforation (or at least one perforation) 24FP. For example, the final wrapper 24F may wrap the second segment 222, and the perforation 24FP of the final wrapper 24F may be in a position corresponding to the perforation 222P of the second segment 222.

The wrapper 24 may include the tip paper 24T. The tip paper 24T may wrap a partial region of the aerosol generating article 2 extending in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 2 from a downstream end of the aerosol generating article 2. For example, the tip paper 24T may wrap entirety of the third segment 223 and a part of the second segment 222. The tip paper 24T may come into contact with a user's mouth during use of the aerosol generating article 2.

The tip paper 24T may include a perforation (or at least one perforation) 24TP. For example, the tip paper 24T may wrap the second segment 222, and the perforation 24TP of the tip paper 24T may be at a position corresponding to the perforation 222P of the second segment 222.

An outer surface of the tip paper 24T may be coated with a material, such as a sweetener and a lip release agent. The sweetener may provide a sweet taste to a user. For example, the sweetener may include sucralose, citric acid, and so on but is not limited thereto. After a user's mouth comes into contact with the tip paper 24T, a lip release agent may cause the user's mouth to be easily separated from the tip paper 24T. For example, the lip release agent may include at least one of nitrocellulose, ethyl acetate, polyamide, and isopropyl alcohol but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating article 2 according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the aerosol generating article 2 may include an aerosol generating rod 21, a filter rod 22, and a front-end plug 25. Also, the aerosol generating article 2 may be wrapped by a wrapper (or at least one wrapper) 24.

The front-end plug 25 may cause external air to be introduced into the aerosol generating article 2. For example, an aerosol generated by a cartridge 19 of the aerosol generating device 1 may be introduced into the aerosol generating rod 21 through the front-end plug 25.

The front-end plug 25 may be on one side of the aerosol generating rod 21 which is opposite to the filter rod 22. For example, the front-end plug 25, the aerosol generating rod 21, and the filter rod 22 may be arranged sequentially in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 2. The front-end plug 25 may prevent a tobacco material of the aerosol generating rod 21 from escaping toward an upstream end of the aerosol generating rod 21.

The front-end plug 25 may include a filter material. For example, the front-end plug 25 may include at least one filter material among paper, cellulose acetate, polylactic acid, polypropylene, and lyocell. For example, the front-end plug 25 may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer (for example, triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow.

The front-end plug 25 may be a tubular rod having an internal hollow. An aerosol generated by the cartridge 19 of the aerosol generating device 1 may be introduced into the aerosol generating rod 21 through the internal hollow of the front-end plug 25. For example, the front-end plug 25 may include a hollow extending from an upstream end of the front-end plug 25 toward a downstream end thereof. A cross-section of the hollow may have various shapes, such as a circle, an oval, a polygon, a cross, and a Y-shape but is not limited thereto. In another example, the front-end plug 25 may also be a cylindrical rod without a hollow.

The front-end plug 25 may add a flavor to an aerosol passing through the front-end plug 25. For example, the front-end plug 25 may include a flavoring agent. The flavoring agent may be sprayed onto the front-end plug 25 in a liquid state but is not limited thereto.

At least one of the components of the aerosol generating article 2 illustrated in FIG. 5 is identical or similar to at least one of the components of the aerosol generating article 2 illustrated in FIG. 4, and accordingly, redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating article 2 according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the aerosol generating article 2 may include an aerosol generating rod 21 and a filter rod 22. Also, the aerosol generating article 2 may be wrapped by a wrapper (or at least one wrapper) 24.

The aerosol generating rod 21 may include a first aerosol generating rod 211 and a second aerosol generating rod 212. The first aerosol generating rod 211 and the second aerosol generating rod 212 may be arranged sequentially in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 2. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and an arrangement order of the first aerosol generating rod 211 and the second aerosol generating rod 212 may be changed.

The first aerosol generating rod 211 may generate an aerosol when heated. An aerosol generated by the first aerosol generating rod 211 may or may not include nicotine. The first aerosol generating rod 211 may include an aerosol generating material. For example, the aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol but is not limited thereto. Also, the first aerosol generating rod 211 may also include other additives, such as a flavoring agent and organic acid.

The first aerosol generating rod 211 may include an aerosol generating substrate impregnated with a liquid aerosol generating material. The aerosol generating substrate may have a sheet shape. For example, the aerosol generating substrate may be crimped to have wrinkles. The aerosol generating substrate having a wrinkled sheet shape may be wound and included in the first aerosol generating rod 211. The aerosol generating substrate may be wound around an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 2 but is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating substrate may include a polymeric material. The polymeric material may include at least one of paper, cellulose, cellulose acetate, lyocell, and polylactic acid. For example, the aerosol generating substrate may be a paper sheet that does not generate an off-flavor due to heat even when heated to a high temperature.

The second aerosol generating rod 212 may generate an aerosol including nicotine vapor when heated. For example, the second aerosol generating rod 212 may include a tobacco material and/or a non-tobacco material. The tobacco material and non-tobacco material may each have various forms. For example, the tobacco material and non-tobacco material may each have at least one of a sheet, a cut filler, a strand, particles, a bead, a granule, powder, and an extract but are not limited thereto.

The tobacco material may be manufactured with at least one of a leaf tobacco raw material and reconstituted tobacco raw material. The leaf tobacco raw material may include at least one of yellow tobacco, burley tobacco, and oriental tobacco but is not limited thereto. The reconstituted tobacco raw material may refer to a tobacco raw material regenerated with a tobacco byproduct. For example, the reconstituted tobacco raw material may include reconstituent tobacco leaves.

The non-tobacco material may refer to a material manufactured without using a tobacco raw material. For example, the non-tobacco material may be manufactured with cellulose, nicotine, organic acid, and so on. Furthermore, the non-tobacco material may be manufactured with cellulose, nicotine salt, and so on but is not limited thereto.

The tobacco material and the non-tobacco material may each include an aerosol generating material. For example, an aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol but is not limited thereto. Also, the tobacco material may also include additives, such as flavoring agents and organic acid.

For example, the second aerosol generating rod 212 may include multiple tobacco cut fillers. The tobacco cut filler may be manufactured according to a manufacturing method including an operation of blending leaf tobacco raw materials, an operation of flavoring the blended leaf tobacco raw material, and an operation of cutting the flavored leaf tobacco raw material to manufacture a tobacco cut filler.

The operation of blending the leaf tobacco raw materials may include mixing different types of leaf tobacco raw materials at a preset ratio. For example, the operation of blending the leaf tobacco raw materials may include blending yellow tobacco with burley tobacco. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and a single type of leaf tobacco raw material may be used.

According to the operation of flavoring the blended leaf tobacco raw material, the occurrence of irritation and unpleasant tastes during smoking may be suppressed, and tobacco cut fillers may have moisturizing, fragrant properties, and so on. The operation of flavoring the blended leaf tobacco raw material may include an operation of spraying a flavoring liquid onto a leaf tobacco raw material. The flavoring liquid may include a mixture of saccharide (for example, sugar or so on), organic acid (for example, citric acid, tartaric acid, or so on), an aerosol generating agent (for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, or so on), a flavoring agent (licorice extract, cocoa, or so on), and so on.

The second aerosol generating rod 212 may include at least one reconstituent tobacco sheet. The reconstituent tobacco sheet may include at least one of a slurry-type reconstituent tobacco leaf and a paper-type reconstituent tobacco leaf. The slurry-type reconstituent tobacco leaf and paper-type reconstituent tobacco leaf may be distinguished by manufacturing method. At least one reconstituent tobacco sheet may extend in a longitudinal direction of the second aerosol generating rod 212. However, the embodiments are not limited thereto, and the second aerosol generating rod 212 may also include multiple reconstituent tobacco cut fillers manufactured with cut or shredded reconstituent tobacco sheet. Also, the reconstituent tobacco sheet may be crimped to have wrinkles, and the second aerosol generating rod 212 may include the crimped reconstituent tobacco sheet or multiple reconstituent tobacco fillers manufactured with the crimped reconstituent tobacco sheet.

The second aerosol generating rod 212 may include at least one of a puffed cut filler and a puffed midrib. The puffed cut filler and puffed midrib may be manufactured by puffing midrib or so on which is a byproduct of a leaf tobacco raw material.

The second aerosol generating rod 212 may include multiple tobacco granules. The multiple tobacco granules may be particles, each having a diameter of about 100 μm to about 2,000 μm. For example, the multiple tobacco granules may be particles, each having a diameter of about 200 μm to about 1,000 μm.

The multiple tobacco granules may be manufactured by introducing a granule core into a fluidized bed reactor and spraying a tobacco mixture into the fluidized bed reactor. In the fluidized bed reactor, the tobacco mixture adheres to a surface of the granule core to be agglomerated, the granule core grows in size, and accordingly, tobacco granules are manufactured. The granule core may include tobacco fine particles made by crushing a tobacco leaf, a stem, and so on. The tobacco fine particles may each have a diameter of about 10 μm to about 80 μm. Also, the tobacco mixture may also be a mixture of a tobacco raw material, a solvent (for example, water), and so on.

In another example, tobacco granules may also be manufactured by wet-extruding a tobacco mixture in which a tobacco raw material is mixed with a solvent and by being spherical. The solvent may include water, alcohol (for example, ethanol), and so on, and additives, such as a flavoring agent, organic acid, and a pH adjuster may be added to the solvent.

Multiple tobacco granules may be between filter materials. The filter material may include least one of paper, cellulose acetate, polylactic acid, polypropylene, and lyocell. For example, the second aerosol generating rod 212 may include fibers of a filter material, and the multiple tobacco granules may be uniformly dispersed between the fibers of the filter material.

A detailed description of a method of manufacturing tobacco granules according to an embodiment is described below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

Also, a filter material may include a sheet-like material. For example, the filter material may include a paper sheet. The paper sheet may be wound and included in the second aerosol generating rod 212. The paper sheet may be wound around an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 2 but is not limited thereto. Multiple tobacco granules may be uniformly dispersed in the wound paper sheet. The paper sheet may be a crimped sheet having wrinkles.

The second aerosol generating rod 212 may include an aerosol generating substrate impregnated with a nicotine liquid composition. The aerosol generating substrate may be applied to the second aerosol generating rod 212 identically or similarly to the aerosol generating substrate described above with respect to the first aerosol generating rod 211.

The nicotine liquid composition may include nicotine. The nicotine may include freebase nicotine and nicotine salt. The freebase nicotine may refer to neutral nicotine without protons. For example, when a base is added to a positively charged nicotine salt, the base is converted into a cation, and the nicotine salt may become freebase nicotine in a neutral state.

The nicotine salt may include acid. For example, the nicotine salt may include at least one of acetic acid, benzoic acid, lactic acid, carbonic acid, citric acid, gallic acid, lauric acid, levulinic acid, malic acid, malonic acid, oxalic acid, oxalacetic acid, palmitic acid, pyruvic acid, phosphoric acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid, stearic acid, and tartaric acid.

The nicotine liquid composition may include an aerosol generating material. For example, the aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol but is not limited thereto. The nicotine liquid composition may include other additives, such as a flavoring agent and organic acid.

The nicotine liquid composition may include about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % of nicotine, based on the total weight of the nicotine liquid composition. For example, the nicotine liquid composition may include about 0.5 wt % to about 3 wt % of nicotine, based on the total weight of the nicotine liquid composition.

The nicotine liquid composition may be impregnated in an amount of about 0.05 g to about 5.0 g per 1 g of an aerosol generating substrate. For example, the nicotine liquid composition may be impregnated in an amount of about 0.1 g to about 2.0 g per 1 g of an aerosol generating substrate.

The filter rod 22 may include multiple segments. Referring to FIG. 6, the filter rod 22 may include a first segment 221 and a second segment 222. The first segment 221 and the second segment 222 may be arranged sequentially in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 2.

The first segment 221 may cool an aerosol. A high-temperature aerosol generated by the aerosol generating rod 21 may be cooled while passing through the first segment 221.

The first segment 221 may include a filter material. For example, the first segment 221 may include at least one filter material among paper, cellulose acetate, polylactic acid, polypropylene, and lyocell. The first segment 221 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod having an internal hollow but is not limited thereto.

The first segment 221 may include a cooling material. For example, the cooling material may include a polymeric material having a cooling function. The polymeric material having a cooling function may come into contact with a high-temperature aerosol and absorb heat from the aerosol. The polymeric material having a cooling function may include polylactic acid but is not limited thereto. In another example, the first segment 221 may be a tubular rod having an internal hollow, and a surface of the internal hollow may be coated with a polymeric material having a cooling function.

The first segment 221 may include a perforation (or at least one perforation) 221P. The perforation 221P may be formed in a circumference of the first segment 221 to form one or more rows. External air may be introduced into the first segment 221 through the perforation 221P. The external air introduced into the first segment 221 may be mixed with a high-temperature aerosol generated by the aerosol generating rod 21 to cool the high-temperature aerosol. The perforation 221P may be exposed to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1 when the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1.

The second segment 222 may filter some ingredients included in an aerosol passing through the second segment 222. The second segment 222 may include a filter material. For example, the second segment 222 may include at least one filter material among paper, cellulose acetate, polylactic acid, polypropylene, and lyocell. For example, the second segment 222 may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer (for example, triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow.

The second segment 222 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod having an internal hollow, but a shape of the second segment 222 is not limited thereto. For example, the second segment 222 may have a hollow with an open downstream end.

The second segment 222 may add a flavor to an aerosol passing through the second segment 222. For example, the second segment 222 may include a flavoring agent. The flavoring agent may be sprayed in a liquid state onto the second segment 222 but is not limited thereto.

The flavoring agent may include menthol but is not limited thereto. For example, the flavoring agent may include cinnamon, sage, herb, chamomile, galangal, persimmon, lavender, bergamot, lemon, orange, jasmine, ginger, vanilla, spearmint, peppermint, acacia, coffee, celery, sandalwood, cocoa, and so on but is not limited thereto. In another example, the flavoring agent may also include an animal-based flavor, such as musk, ambergris, civet, and castor oil.

The flavoring agent may also be an alcohol-based compound, such as geraniol, linalool, anethole, or eugenol. The flavoring agent may also be an aldehyde-based compound, such as vanillin, benzaldehyde, or anisaldehyde. The flavoring agent may also be an ester compound, such as isoamyl acetate, linalyl acetate, isoamyl propionate, or linalyl butyrate.

The second segment 222 may include a capsule (or at least one capsule) 23. The capsule 23 may be buried in a filter material. The capsule 23 may generate a flavor or an aerosol. For example, the capsule 23 may have a structure in which a liquid including a flavoring agent is surrounded by a membrane. The membrane of the capsule 23 may be ruptured by external pressure, and thereby, the liquid included in the membrane may be released to the outside. The liquid released from the capsule 23 may be absorbed by the filter material of the second segment 222. The capsule 23 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape but is not limited thereto.

The second segment 222 may include an adsorbent. The adsorbent may adsorb a preset gaseous substance. For example, the adsorbent may include at least one of activated carbon, zeolite, alumina, silica gel, and bentonite. The adsorbent may have a particle shape, and multiple adsorbent particles may be uniformly dispersed over the entire region of a filter material but is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating article 2 may include a wrapper 24 wrapping at least part of the aerosol generating rod 21 and at least part of the filter rod 22. The wrapper 24 may be composed of a single wrapper, or may be composed of a combination of multiple wrappers, such as a first wrapper 241, a second wrapper 242, a third wrapper 243, a fourth wrapper 244, a final wrapper 24F, and tip paper 24T.

The wrapper 24 may include paper. For example, the wrapper 24 may include paper having a thickness of about 10 μm to about 150 μm and a basis weight of about 20 g/m² to about 100 g/m² but is not limited thereto. When the wrapper 24 is a combination of multiple wrappers, thicknesses and basis weights of pieces of paper included in the multiple wrappers may be equal to or different from each other.

The aerosol generating article 2 may be wrapped in multiple layers by two or more wrappers. For example, the first aerosol generating rod 211 may be wrapped by the first wrapper 241, the second aerosol generating rod 212 may be wrapped by the second wrapper 242, the first segment 221 may be wrapped by the third wrapper 243, and the second segment 222 may be wrapped by the fourth wrapper 244. The first aerosol generating rod 211, the second aerosol generating rod 212, the first segment 221, and the second segment 222 may all be re-wrapped by the final wrapper 24F.

The first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may wrap the aerosol generating rod 21. For example, the first wrapper 241 may wrap the first aerosol generating rod 211, and the second wrapper 242 may wrap the second aerosol generating rod 212.

The first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may each include a thermal conductivity enhancing material. The thermal conductivity enhancing material may include a metal foil, such as aluminum foil, but is not limited thereto. The thermal conductivity enhancing material may evenly distribute the heat transferred to the first aerosol generating rod 211 and the second aerosol generating rod 212 by enhancing the thermal conductivities of the first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242. For example, the first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may each be a stacked sheet in which paper and metal foil are stacked. The first wrapper 241 and second wrapper 242 may each be a stacked sheet in which paper is on one surface of a metal foil, or may each be a stacked sheet in which paper is on both surfaces of the metal foil.

The third wrapper 243 and the fourth wrapper may wrap the filter load 22. For example, the third wrapper 243 may wrap the first segment 221, and the fourth wrapper 244 may wrap the second segment 222.

The third wrapper 243 may include a perforation (or at least one perforation) 243P. For example, the third wrapper 243 may wrap the first segment 221, and the perforation 243P of the third wrapper 243 may be at a position corresponding to the perforation 221P of the first segment 221.

The fourth wrapper 244 may be oil-resistant. As the fourth wrapper 244 is oil-resistant, a flavoring agent included in the second segment 222 and/or the capsule 23 may be prevented from leaking outside the aerosol generating article 2. For example, the fourth wrapper 244 may include at least one oil-resistance material among polyvinyl alcohol and silicone. A surface of the fourth wrapper 244 may be coated with an oil-resistant material.

The final wrapper 24F may wrap the first aerosol generating rod 211, the second aerosol generating rod 212, the first segment 221, and the second segment 222. The final wrapper 24F may protect an outer surface of the aerosol generating article 2 such that the aerosol generating article 2 may be smoothly inserted into the aerosol generating device 1.

The final wrapper 24F may include the perforation 24FP. For example, the final wrapper 24F may wrap the first segment 221, and the perforations 24FP of the final wrapper 24F may be at a position corresponding to the perforations 221P of the first segment 221.

The wrapper 24 may include the tip paper 24T. The tip paper 24T may wrap a partial region of the aerosol generating article 2 extending in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 2 from a downstream end of the aerosol generating article 2. For example, the tip paper 24T may wrap a region corresponding to entirety of the second segment 222 and a part of the first segment 221. The tip paper 24T may come into contact with a user's mouth during use of the aerosol generating article 2.

The tip paper 24T may include the perforation 24TP. For example, the tip paper 24T may wrap the first segment 221, and the perforation 24TP of the tip paper 24T may be at a position corresponding to the perforation 221P of the first segment 221.

An outer surface of the tip paper 24T may be coated with a material, such as a sweetener and a lip release agent. The sweetener may provide a sweet taste to a user. For example, the sweetener may include sucralose, citric acid, and so on but is not limited thereto. After a user's mouth comes into contact with the tip paper 24T, a lip release agent may cause the user's mouth to be easily separated from the tip paper 24T. For example, the lip release agent may include at least one of nitrocellulose, ethyl acetate, polyamide, and isopropyl alcohol but is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment, is described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, the method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to the embodiment, may be performed by a fluidized bed reactor 3 using a bottom spray method. For example, in the method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to the embodiment, tobacco granules may be manufactured by spraying tobacco slurry S into the fluidized bed reactor 3 in which tobacco powder T1 is fluidized.

External air is introduced into the fluidized bed reactor 3 using a bottom spray method, and an airflow may be formed from a lower portion to an upper portion. This airflow may fluidize the tobacco powder T1 introduced in the fluidized bed reactor 3. Thick arrows depicted at a lower portion and an upper portion of the fluidized bed reactor 3 in FIG. 7 may indicate an airflow formed within the fluidized bed reactor 3.

The fluidized bed reactor 3 using a bottom spray method may include a spray nozzle 31 that sprays the tobacco slurry S. The spray nozzle 31 may be placed at a lower portion of the fluidized bed reactor 3 and may spray the tobacco slurry S toward an upper portion of the fluidized bed reactor 3. Thin arrows depicted at an end portion of the spray nozzle 31 in FIG. 7 may indicate the tobacco slurry S sprayed from the spray nozzle 31.

The general method of manufacturing tobacco granules use a top-spray fluidized bed reactor. The top-spray fluidized bed reactor has a disadvantage of requiring a long manufacturing time and being unsuitable for mass production.

According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing tobacco granules uses a bottom-spray fluidized bed reactor 3, and accordingly, the amount of materials used in manufacturing tobacco granules may be increased, and the time required to manufacture the tobacco granules may be reduced, resulting in improvement in productivity.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment, may include operation S110 of manufacturing tobacco particles by spraying tobacco slurry into a fluidized bed reactor in which tobacco powder is fluidized, operation S120 of manufacturing tobacco seeds by spraying tobacco slurry into the fluidized bed reactor in which tobacco particles are fluidized, and operation S130 of manufacturing tobacco granules by spraying tobacco slurry into the fluidized bed reactor in which the tobacco seeds are fluidized.

A diameter of the tobacco powder may be about 1 μm to about 80 μm, a diameter of each of the tobacco particles may be about 100 μm to about 300 μm, a diameter of each of the tobacco seeds may be about 320 μm to about 550 μm, and a diameter of each of the tobacco granules may be about 600 μm to about 850 μm.

Operation S110 of manufacturing tobacco particles, operation S120 of manufacturing tobacco seeds, and operation S130 of manufacturing tobacco granules may further include an operation of drying the manufactured tobacco particles, an operation of drying the tobacco seeds, and an operation of drying the tobacco granules. In each drying operation, air at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 150° C. may be supplied into a fluidized bed reactor for about 10 minutes to about 60 minutes.

When sizes of tobacco granules are rapidly increased in a short period of time to manufacture the tobacco granules, the hardness of the tobacco granules may decrease, or sizes and/or shapes of the manufactured tobacco granules may be ununiform. In the method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to the embodiment, the manufacturing process may be divided according to the size of an intermediate product, and accordingly, the uniformity of hardness, sizes, and/or shapes of the manufactured tobacco granules may be improved. Operation S110 of manufacturing tobacco particles, operation S120 of manufacturing tobacco seeds, and operation S130 of manufacturing tobacco granules may each be performed in a separately prepared fluidized bed reactor.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to the embodiment, may be sequentially performed through a first fluidized bed reactor 3a, a second fluidized bed reactor 3b, and a third fluidized bed reactor 3c. For example, operation S110 of manufacturing tobacco particles T2 may be performed in the first fluidized bed reactor 3a, operation S120 of manufacturing tobacco seeds T3 may be performed in the second fluidized bed reactor 3b, and operation S130 of manufacturing tobacco granules G may be performed in a third fluidized bed reactor 3c. The tobacco particles T2 manufactured in the first fluidized bed reactor 3a may be introduced into the second fluidized bed reactor 3b, and the tobacco seeds T3 manufactured in the second fluidized bed reactor 3b may be introduced into the third fluidized bed reactor 3c.

In operation S110 of manufacturing the tobacco particles T2, the tobacco powder T1 fluidized within the first fluidized bed reactor 3a may come into contact with the tobacco slurry sprayed into the first fluidized bed reactor 3a. Accordingly, the tobacco slurry may agglomerate on a surface of the tobacco powder T1 to increase a size of the tobacco powder T1, and accordingly, the tobacco particles T2 may be manufactured.

In operation S120 of manufacturing the tobacco seeds T3, the tobacco particles T2 fluidized within the second fluidized bed reactor 3b may come into contact with the tobacco slurry sprayed into the second fluidized bed reactor 3b. Accordingly, the tobacco slurry may agglomerate on surfaces of the tobacco particles T2 to increase sizes of the tobacco particles T2, and accordingly, the tobacco seeds T3 may be manufactured.

In operation S130 of manufacturing the tobacco granules G, the tobacco seeds T3 fluidized within the third fluidized bed reactor 3c may come into contact with the tobacco slurry sprayed into the third fluidized bed reactor 3c. Therefore, the tobacco slurry may agglomerate on the surface of the tobacco seeds T3 to increase sizes of the tobacco seeds T3, and accordingly, the tobacco granules G may be manufactured.

Temperatures inside the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may be about 10° C. to about 60° C. In the temperature range described above, sizes of the tobacco powder T1, the tobacco particles T2, and/or the tobacco seeds T3 may be smoothly increased. For example, temperatures inside the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may be about 20° C. to about 50° C.

The tobacco slurry may be a mixture in which tobacco powder is dissolved in a solvent. The solvent for the tobacco slurry may include an aqueous solvent and include water and/or an alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. For example, the tobacco slurry may include tobacco powder, water, and alcohol in a weight ratio of about 1:about 1 to about 3:about 0.5 to about 2. In the weight ratio range described above, the tobacco slurry may be smoothly sprayed from a nozzle and may be suitable for increasing sizes of the tobacco powder, tobacco particles, and/or tobacco seeds.

The fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may respectively include nozzles that sprays tobacco slurry into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c. The nozzles may spray the tobacco slurry from lower portions toward upper portions of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c.

The pressure at which the nozzles spray the tobacco slurry may be about 3 bar to about 5 bar. In the method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment, the manufacturing time of tobacco granules may be reduced by spraying tobacco slurry at a relatively high pressure through the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c of a bottom-spray type. For example, the pressure at which the nozzles spray the tobacco slurry may be about 3.5 bar to about 4.5 bar.

The pressure at which the nozzles spray the tobacco slurry may increase over time. The pressure at which the nozzles spray the tobacco slurry may increase gradually or stepwise over time but is not limited thereto.

A spray pressure range increasing over time may be about 3 bar to about 5 bar. For example, the initial spray pressure may be about 3.6 bar, and after 60 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c, the spray pressure may be about 3.9 bar. In another example, the initial spray pressure may be about 3.6 bar, and after 100 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c, the spray pressure may be about 3.9 bar. When the spray pressure of tobacco slurry increases over time, the manufacturing time of the tobacco granules may be reduced compared to when the spray pressure is constant, and the uniformity of sizes of the tobacco granules may be improved.

The tobacco slurry may be sprayed into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c at a rate of about 1 kg/min to about 4 kg/min. The spray rate of the tobacco slurry may refer to a weight of the tobacco slurry sprayed per unit time. For example, the tobacco slurry may be sprayed into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c at a rate of about 2.8 kg/min to about 3.2 kg/min.

The spray rate of the tobacco slurry into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may increase over time. The rate at which the tobacco slurry is sprayed may increase gradually or stepwise over time but is not limited thereto.

A spray rate which increases over time may range from about 1 kg/min to about 4 kg/min. For example, an initial spray rate may be about 1 kg/min, and after about 10 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c, the spray rate may be about 2.8 kg/min. In another example, the spray rate may be about 2.8 kg/min after about 5 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c, and the spray rate may be about 3.2 kg/min after about 60 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c. When the spray rate of the tobacco slurry increases over time, the manufacturing time of tobacco granules may be reduced compared to when the spray rate is constant, and the uniformity of sizes of the tobacco granules may be improved.

Air flap rates of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may be about 50% to about 70%. For example, the air flap rates of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may be about 55% to about 65%. The air flap rates of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may increase over time. The air flap rates may increase gradually or stepwise over time but are not limited thereto.

A range of the air flap rates increasing over time may be about 50% to about 70%. For example, an initial air opening ratio may be about 55%, the air opening ratio may be about 60% after approximately 30 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c, and the air opening ratio may be 65% after approximately 85 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c. When the air opening ratios of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c increases over time, the manufacturing time of tobacco granules may be reduced compared to when the air opening ratios are constant, and the uniformity of sizes of the tobacco granules may be improved.

The temperature of the air supplied from outside into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may be about 60° C. to about 150° C. When the temperature of the air flowing into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c is within the range described above, a granulation process may be performed smoothly. For example, the temperature of the air supplied from outside into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may be about 60° C. to about 130° C.

The temperature of the air supplied from outside into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may increase over time. The temperature of the air may increase gradually or stepwise over time but is not limited thereto.

The air temperature increasing over time may range from about 60° C. to about 150° C. For example, the temperature of the air supplied from outside into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may initially be about 60° C., and the temperature may be about 80° C. after about 5 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c, and the temperature may be about 120° C. after about 30 minutes of operations of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c. When the temperature of the air supplied from outside into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c increases over time, the manufacturing time of tobacco granules may be reduced compared to when the temperature is constant, and accordingly, the uniformity of sizes of the tobacco granules may be improved.

The method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to an embodiment, may satisfy Equation 1 below.

0.5≤T/(F+t)≤1.8  Equation 1

In Equation 1, t is an integer less than or equal to 500 and represents operation elapse times (minutes) of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c, T is a temperature (° C.) of the air supplied into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c at time t, and F is an air opening/closing ratio (%) of each of the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c at time t.

When the method of manufacturing tobacco granules satisfies Equation 1 over time, not only the manufacturing time of tobacco granules may be reduced, but also the amount of raw materials and tobacco slurry that may be fed into the fluidized bed reactors 3a, 3b, and 3c may be increased. Also, the uniformity of a size and shape of the manufactured tobacco granules may be improved to be suitable for mass production of tobacco granules.

Example: Manufacturing of Tobacco Granules

Operation S110 of manufacturing tobacco particles by spraying tobacco slurry into a fluidized bed reactor in which tobacco powder was fluidized according to the conditions shown in Table 1 below was performed.

TABLE 1
	Air		Tobacco	Temperature
	opening/	Nozzle	slurry	of air	Reactor
Elapsed	closing	spray	spray	supplied	internal
time	ratio	pressure	rate	to reactor	temperature	Equation
(minutes)	(%)	(bar)	(kg/min)	(° C.)	(° C.)	1

0	55	3.6	0.9	60	45	1.1
4	55	3.6	1.9	80	38	1.4
7	55	3.6	2.8	90	38	1.5
12	55	3.6	2.8	110	36	1.6
40	60	3.6	2.8	115	37	1.2
64	60	3.9	3.3	120	37	1.0
116	65	4.2	3.7	125	38	0.7

Operation S120 of manufacturing tobacco seeds by spraying tobacco slurry into a fluidized bed reactor in which tobacco particles are fluidized according to the conditions shown in Table 2 below was performed. The tobacco particles were manufactured in operation S110 performed according to the conditions described in Table 1.

TABLE 2
				Temperature
	Air		Tobacco	of air
	opening/	Nozzle	slurry	supplied	Reactor
Elapsed	closing	spray	spray	into the	internal
time	ratio	pressure	speed	reactor	temperature	Equation
(minutes)	(%)	(bar)	(kg/min)	(° C.)	(° C.)	1

0	60	3.6	0.9	70	64	1.2
3	60	3.6	1.9	90	54	1.4
5	60	3.6	2.8	100	41	1.5
77	65	3.9	3.3	125	37	0.9
84	65	3.9	3.3	125	37	0.8

Operation S130 of manufacturing tobacco granules by spraying tobacco slurry into a fluidized bed reactor in which tobacco seeds are fluidized according to the conditions shown in Table 3 below was performed. The tobacco seeds were manufactured in operation S120 performed according to the conditions described in Table 2.

TABLE 3
				Temperature
	Air		Tobacco	of air
	opening/	Nozzle	slurry	supplied	Reactor
Elapsed	closing	spray	spray	to the	internal
time	ratio	pressure	speed	reactor	temperature	Equation
(minutes)	(%)	(bar)	(kg/min)	(° C.)	(° C.)	1

0	55	3.6	0.9	60	45	1.1
3	55	3.6	1.9	70	38	1.2
6	55	3.6	2.8	100	38	1.6
31	60	3.6	2.8	125	38	1.4
60	60	3.9	3.3	125	37	1.0
85	65	3.9	3.3	125	37	0.8
130	65	3.9	3.3	125	36	0.6

Table 4 below shows production volumes (kg) of tobacco seeds and tobacco granules manufactured by the manufacturing methods of the examples described in Table 1 to Table 3, and production volume (kg) of tobacco seeds and tobacco granules manufactured by a well-known manufacturing method. The well-known manufacturing method used a fluidized bed reactor of a top spray type and is shown in Table 4 as a comparative example.

	TABLE 4
	Comparative example	Example

	Tobacco	Tobacco	Tobacco	Tobacco
Classification	seed	granule	seed	granule

First day	—	—	43	—
Second day	30	—	163	—
Third day	90	—	283	6
Fourth day	150	—	403	12
Fifth day	210	—	523	18
Sixth day	150	120	643	24
Seventh day	90	240	602	273
Eighth day	30	360	561	522
Ninth day	90	360	520	771
Tenth day	150	360	479	1,020
eleventh11 day	210	360	438	1,269
Twelfth day	270	360	397	1,518
Thirteenth day	330	360	356	1,767
Fourteenth day	390	360	315	2,016
Fifteenth day	330	480	274	2,265
Sixteenth day	270	600	233	2,514
Seventeenth	210	720	192	2,763
day
Eighteenth day	150	840	151	3,012
Nineteenth day	90	960	110	3,261

As shown in Table 4, in the example after 20 days, tobacco granules of 3,510 kg were produced, while tobacco granules of 960 kg were produced in the Comparative example. Therefore, it may be seen that, in the manufacturing method according to the embodiment, production increases by approximately three times or more compared to the well-known manufacturing method.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the amount of materials used in manufacturing tobacco granules may be increased and the manufacturing time may be reduced, compared to the well-known methods of manufacturing tobacco granules, and thus, the productivity of tobacco granules may be improved. Also, in the method of manufacturing tobacco granules, according to the embodiment, the uniformity of sizes and/or shapes of the manufactured tobacco granules may be improved, and thus, production efficiency may be increased.

Effects of the embodiments are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not described will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the disclosure and the accompanying drawings.

Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure described above are not exclusive or distinct from each other. The certain embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure described above may be combined with each other or used in combination with each other in their respective components or functions.

For example, it means that an A component described in a specific embodiment and/or the drawings and a B component described in another embodiment and/or the drawings may be combined with each other. In other words, even when it is not explained directly about combination between components, it is possible to combine unless it is explained that combination is impossible.

The above detailed description should not be interpreted restrictedly and should be considered as exemplary in all aspects. The scope of the disclosure should be determined by a rational interpretation of the attached claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the disclosure are included in the scope of the disclosure.