A Component for use in a combustible aerosol provision system

Abstract

Component (2) for a non-combustible aerosol provision article (1), and a method of forming the component. The component comprises: a body (7) formed from a sheet of aerosol-generating material, the body comprising a void (8); and the at least one tube (11) located in the void within the body. The sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises an internal edge at least partially defining a closed end of the void. The void comprises an open end in the plane of an end of the body. The application also discloses an apparatus for manufacturing the component.

1 . A component for a non-combustible aerosol delivery system, the component comprising:
 a body formed from a sheet of aerosol-generating material, the body comprising a void; and   at least one tube located in the void within the body;   wherein the sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises an internal edge at least partially defining a closed end of the void; and   wherein the void comprises an open end in the plane of an end of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The component according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises a plurality of elongate strips extending between transversely extending bands of the aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         3 . The component according to  claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the first internal edge is a cut edge of the sheet of aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         4 . The component according to  claim 3 , wherein the sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises a slit that forms the first internal edge. 
     
     
         5 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises an aperture, and wherein an edge of the aperture comprises the first internal edge of the sheet material. 
     
     
         6 . The component according to  claim 5 , wherein the cross-section of the aperture is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         7 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the sheet of aerosol-generating material comprises first and second external edges at axial ends of the sheet material, wherein the first 
     
     
         8 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the at least one tube is located coaxially with the body of aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         9 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein an end of the tube is located in the plane of an end of the body of aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         10 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the tube is configured to receive a susceptor. 
     
     
         11 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the tube comprises at least one active substance and/or aerosol-modifying substance. 
     
     
         12 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the tube is formed from paper. 
     
     
         13 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein an end of the tube is located in abutting engagement with the closed end wall of the void. 
     
     
         14 . The component according to  any one of the preceding claims , wherein the first internal edge is spaced longitudinally from the open end of the void by a distance in the range of about 5 mm to about 45 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a component for a delivery system, the method comprising:
 providing an assembly comprising at least one tube and a sheet of aerosol-generating material comprising a first internal edge and a second internal edge; and   arranging the sheet material into a body such that the body comprises a void between the first and second internal edges that receives the at least one tube;   wherein the first and second internal edges at least partially define the closed ends of the void; and   cutting the body between the first and second internal edges to provide two body portions having voids with an open end.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein providing the assembly comprises cutting the sheet of aerosol-generating material to form a plurality of elongate strips of aerosol-generating material. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 or claim 16 , wherein providing the assembly comprises forming the first and second internal edges in the sheet material. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein forming the first and second internal edges in the sheet material comprises cutting the sheet material to form the first and second internal edges, and optionally, cutting through the entire thickness of the sheet material to form the first and second internal edge. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein forming the first and second internal edges comprises cutting the sheet material using a knife and/or laser. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to any one of  claim 17 to claim 19 , wherein forming the first and second internal edges comprises forming a slit in the sheet material. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to any one of  claim 17 to claim 19 , wherein forming the first and second internal edges comprises forming an aperture in the sheet material such that an edge of the aperture comprises the first and second internal edges of the sheet material and, optionally the aperture is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein forming the aperture comprises forming a cut-out in the sheet material. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to any one of  claim 15 to claim 22 , wherein providing the assembly comprises providing the sheet material comprising the first and second internal edges, and then providing the at least one tube on the sheet material and, optionally, wherein providing the assembly comprises forming the first and second internal edges in the sheet material, and then providing the at least one object on the sheet material. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to any one of  claim 17 to claim 22 , wherein providing the assembly comprises providing the sheet material, providing the at least one object on the sheet material, and then forming the first and second internal edges in the sheet material. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to any one of  claims 15 to 24 , comprising crimping the sheet material and, optionally crimping the sheet material to a crimp depth in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , comprising crimping the sheet material after the first and second internal edges have been formed. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 25 , comprising crimping the sheet material before the first and second internal edges have been formed. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to any one of  claim 17 to claim 27 , wherein providing the assembly comprises providing a continuous web of sheet material. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , comprising forming a plurality of internal edges in the continuous web at regularly spaced intervals. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 or claim 29 , wherein the method comprises moving the continuous path and providing the at least one tube at regular intervals as the continuous web moves along the conveyance path. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to any one of  claim 17 to claim 30 , wherein arranging the sheet material into a body comprises gathering the sheet material together to form the body. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein a first wall portion is defined by gathering the first internal edge of the sheet material and/or a second wall portion is defined by gathering the second internal edge of the sheet material. 
     
     
         33 . The method according any one of  claim 17 to claim 32 , wherein the method comprises detecting information indicative of at least one internal edge of the sheet material. 
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , comprising controlling the position that the at least one tube is supplied relative to the sheet material based on information indicative of the at least one internal edge detected by the sensor. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , comprising controlling the tube supply device based on the information indicative of the position of the at least one internal edge detected by the sensor in order to control the position that the at least one tube is supplied relative to the sheet material and, optionally, controlling the timing and/or frequency of when the at least one tube is dispensed onto the sheet material. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus for manufacturing a component for a delivery system, the apparatus comprising:
 an edge forming device configured to form a first internal edge in a sheet of aerosol-generating material;   a tube supply device configured to position at least one tube on the sheet of aerosol-generating material;   a body forming device configured to arrange the sheet of aerosol-generating material into a body such that the body comprises a void that receives the at least one tube,   wherein the first internal edge at least partially defines a boundary of the void.