Filler element, filler element manufacturing method, and filler element manufacturing device

Abstract

This filler element 6 is used in a flavor inhaler 1, and comprises: a folded part 36 in which one sheet 34 composed of a nonwoven fabric has been folded in the width direction Z intersecting the longitudinal direction X thereof, and the diameter thereof has been reduced to a size not greater than the diameter of the filler element 6; and wrapping paper 18 that is wrapped on the folded part 36. The sheet 34 is subjected to a compression process in which at least a portion thereof in the width direction Z is compressed, such that if the total of the widths D 1 of the compressed sections of the sheet 34 in the width direction Z is defined as the total compressed width Dt 1 of the sheet 34, the ratio of the total compressed width Dt 1 relative to the sheet width Ds of the sheet in the width direction Z is a prescribed ratio.

1 . A filler element used in a flavor inhaler, the filler element comprising:
 a folded part formed by folding a single sheet formed of a nonwoven fabric in a width direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the sheet such that the folded part has a diameter reduced to a value smaller than or equal to a diameter of the filler element; and   wrapping paper wrapped around the folded part,   wherein a compression process in which at least parts of the sheet in the width direction are compressed is performed on the sheet, and,   when a sum of widths in the width direction where the sheet is compressed is defined as a total compressed width of the sheet, a percentage of the total compressed width with respect to a sheet width of the sheet in the width direction is a predetermined percentage.   
     
     
         2 . The filler element according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined percentage is smaller than or equal to 50%. 
     
     
         3 . A filler element manufacturing device, a filler element used in a flavor inhaler, the device comprising:
 a sheet processing section configured to process a single sheet formed of a nonwoven fabric while transporting the sheet through a transport path;   a folding section configured to fold, in a transport process of the sheet through the transport path, the sheet in a width direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the sheet, the sheet having been processed in the sheet processing section, thereby to form a folded rod such that the folded rod has a diameter reduced to a value smaller than or equal to a diameter of the filler element;   a wrapping section configured to wrap, with wrapping paper, the folded rod having been formed in the folding section, thereby to form a filler rod; and   a cutting section configured to cut, into the filler element, the filler rod having been formed in the wrapping section,   wherein the sheet processing section includes a plurality of roller sets, the roller sets each including a pair of rollers and each configured to pinch and transport the sheet through the transport path with the pair of rollers, and   wherein, in at least one roller out of the pair of rollers included in each of the roller sets, linear protrusions protruding throughout a circumference of an outer circumferential surface of the roller are formed,   the linear protrusions perform a compression process in which at least parts of the sheet in the width direction are compressed, and,   when a sum of widths, in the width direction, of compressed regions where the sheet is compressed by the linear protrusions is defined as a total compressed width of the sheet, a percentage of the total compressed width with respect to a sheet width of the sheet in the width direction is adjusted to a predetermined percentage.   
     
     
         4 . The filler element manufacturing device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the predetermined percentage is smaller than or equal to 50%.   
     
     
         5 . The filler element manufacturing device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the folding section includes   a preliminary folding guide configured to curve the sheet in a thickness direction of the sheet in the transport process of the sheet through the transport path,   a cylindrical transport jet configured to form the folded rod by folding, a predetermined number of times in the width direction, the curved sheet having passed through the preliminary folding guide while pulling the sheet by using air with a wind pressure,   a cylindrical trumpet guide to which the folded rod having passed through the transport jet is released together with the air with the wind pressure and which is configured to loosen and open a fabric of the folded rod by using dissipation of the air due to the release, and   a cylindrical tongue configured to reduce a diameter of the folded rod having passed through the trumpet guide to the value smaller than or equal to the diameter of the filler element.   
     
     
         6 . The filler element manufacturing device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the transport jet includes a baffle plate that stands erect on an inner circumferential surface of the transport jet toward a center of the transport jet in a radial direction, and the trumpet guide includes a baffle plate that stands erect on an inner circumferential surface of the trumpet guide toward a center of the trumpet guide in a radial direction, and   wherein the curved sheet passing through the transport jet and the trumpet guide is folded due to reception of the air with the wind pressure with the baffle plate of the transport jet and the baffle plate of the trumpet guide interposed between portions of the sheet, thereby being formed into the folded rod.   
     
     
         7 . A filler element manufacturing method, a filler element used in a flavor inhaler, the method comprising the steps of:
 processing a single sheet formed of a nonwoven fabric while transporting the sheet;   folding, in a transport process of the sheet, the sheet in a width direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of the sheet, the sheet having been processed in the processing of the sheet, thereby to form a folded rod such that the folded rod has a diameter reduced to a value smaller than or equal to a diameter of the filler element;   wrapping, with wrapping paper, the folded rod having been formed in the folding, thereby to form a filler rod; and   cutting, into the filler element, the filler rod having been formed in the wrapping,   wherein, in the processing of the sheet, compression processing in which at least parts of the sheet in the width direction are compressed is performed in the transport process of the sheet, and,   in the compression processing, when a sum of widths of compressed regions where the sheet is compressed is defined as a total compressed width of the sheet, a percentage of the total compressed width with respect to a sheet width of the sheet in the width direction is adjusted to a predetermined percentage.   
     
     
         8 . The filler element manufacturing method according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the predetermined percentage is smaller than or equal to 50.