Gel Aerosol-Forming Substrate Cartridge that Can be inserted into Electrically Heated Smoking Article, Electrically Heated Smoking Article Including the Same, and Aerosol Generating Device and System Therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides a gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge that can be inserted into an electrically heated smoking article, the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge comprising: a gel aerosol-forming substrate containing glycerin and gelatin, which exists in gel form, semi-solid form, or solidified form in a first temperature range including room temperature, changes to a liquid form in a second temperature range including 70° C., and is vaporized into an aerosol in a temperature range of 150 to 400° C.; a gel receptor that receives the gel aerosol-forming substrate; and wrapping paper wrapped around the side of the gel receptor in a cylindrical shape measuring 7 to 20 mm long and 5 to 8 mm in diameter, and also provides an electrically heated smoking article comprising: a filter; the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge located upstream of the filter; and a tobacco filler containing shredded tobacco located upstream of the filter and located upstream or downstream of the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge, wherein the filter, gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge, and tobacco filler are wrapped in wrapping paper to form a cigarette.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge that can be inserted into an electrically heated smoking article, the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge comprising:
 a gel aerosol-forming substrate containing glycerin and gelatin, which exists in gel form, semi-solid form, or solidified form in a first temperature range including room temperature, changes to a liquid form in a second temperature range including 70° C., and is vaporized into an aerosol in a temperature range of 150 to 400° C.;   a gel receptor that receives the gel aerosol-forming substrate; and   wrapping paper wrapped around a side of the gel receptor in a cylindrical shape and measuring 7 to 20 mm long and 5 to 8 mm in diameter.   
     
     
         22 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the gel aerosol-forming substrate further contains one or more of water, agar, a thickener, starch powder, celluloses, carboxymethyl ethers, natural food flavor, and fruit extract. 
     
     
         23 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein a content of the glycerin in the gel aerosol-forming substrate is equal to or greater than 50 wt %. 
     
     
         24 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the gel aerosol-forming substrate has a liquid composition made up of 80 to 100 wt % glycerin VG and 0 to 20 wt % glycerin PG, wherein 1 to 6 g of gelatin is contained in 100 ml of a mixture of 60 to 80% liquid composition and 20 to 40% water by volume. 
     
     
         25 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 24 , wherein the gel receptor contains the liquid composition in an amount of 70 to 120 mg. 
     
     
         26 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 24 , wherein the liquid composition made up of 80 to 100 wt % glycerin VG and 0 to 20 wt % glycerin PG is present in the gel receptor in an amount of 0.13 to 0.32 mg/mm 3  per unit volume of the gel receptor. 
     
     
         27 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge is inserted in liquid form into the gel receptor in the second temperature range, and exists in gel form, semi-solid form, or solidified form in the first temperature range. 
     
     
         28 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the gel receptor comprises a melamine-based foam resin having a thickness of 2 to 3 mm and a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         29 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the gel receptor comprises pulp or a fabric containing pulp having a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         30 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the gel receptor comprises a cotton woven or non-woven fabric having a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         31 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the gel receptor comprises a bamboo fiber woven or non-woven fabric having a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         32 . The gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of  claim 21 , wherein the wrapping paper comprises aluminum foil attached to paper and is wrapped in a cylindrical shape so that the aluminum foil comes into contact with the gel receptor. 
     
     
         33 . An electrically heated smoking article, comprising:
 a filter;   the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge of claim  1  located upstream of the filter; and   a tobacco filler containing shredded tobacco located upstream of the filter and located upstream or downstream of the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge,   wherein the filter, the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge, and the tobacco filler are wrapped in wrapping paper to form a cigarette.   
     
     
         34 . The electrically heated smoking article of  claim 33 , further comprising a tubular body directly upstream of the filter. 
     
     
         35 . An aerosol generating device for the electrically heated smoking article of  claim 33 , which is grippable and portable-sized, the aerosol generating device comprising:
 a cavity provided in the device into which the smoking article can be inserted;   at least one of a resistance heater and an induction heater provided in the device, and configured to heat an interior or exterior of the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge and the tobacco filler of the smoking article;   a rechargeable battery provided in the device and configured as a direct current power source; and   a control unit provided in the device and configured to control the at least one of the resistance heater and the induction heater by receiving direct current power from the battery.   
     
     
         36 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 35 , wherein the resistance heater is either a pipe heater configured to heat the exterior of the smoking article or an invasive heater inserted into the smoking article and configured to heat the interior, wherein the pipe heater is configured to heat the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge and/or the tobacco filler, and wherein the invasive heater is inserted into the tobacco filler and configured to heat the interior of the tobacco filler. 
     
     
         37 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 36 , further comprising a temperature sensor provided in the device and configured to sense the temperature of the at least one of the resistance heater and the induction heater, wherein the control unit is configured to control the resistance heater according to a sensed value from the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         38 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 35 , wherein the induction heater is either a heat pipe made of a susceptor material and configured to heat the exterior of the smoking article, heated by an excitation coil provided separately in the device, or a heat blade made of a susceptor material that is inserted into the smoking article and configured to heat the interior of the smoking article, wherein the heat pipe is configured to heat the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge and/or the tobacco filler, and wherein the heat blade is inserted into the tobacco filler and configured to heat the interior of the tobacco filler. 
     
     
         39 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 38 , further comprising a temperature obtaining unit provided in the device and configured to obtain the temperature of the induction heater, wherein the control unit is configured to control an electrical current applied to the excitation coil based on an input from the temperature obtaining unit. 
     
     
         40 . An aerosol generating system, comprising:
 the electrically heated smoking article of  claim 33 ; and   an aerosol generating device comprising: a cavity into which the smoking article can be inserted; at least one of a resistance heater and an induction heater configured to heat an interior or exterior of the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge and the tobacco filler of the smoking article; a rechargeable battery configured to function as a direct current power source; and a control unit configured to control the at least one of the resistance heater and the induction heater by receiving direct current power from the battery, all of which are provided in the device,   wherein an aerosol is generated inside the electrically heated smoking article by inserting the smoking article into the cavity and electrically heating the gel aerosol-forming substrate cartridge and tobacco filler of the electrically heated smoking article.