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EP-4228446-B1 - SUSCEPTOR HEATING ELEMENT EXTRACTION

EP4228446B1EP 4228446 B1EP4228446 B1EP 4228446B1EP-4228446-B1

Inventors

  • BESSO, CLEMENT
  • PARISI, Carmelo Simone Maria

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20211015

Claims (14)

  1. An assembly to facilitate removal of a susceptor heating element (25) from an aerosol generating article (10), the assembly comprising: a cutting tool (400) comprising (i) a body (410) defining a passageway (420) through which the aerosol generating article (10) may be passed, and (ii) a cutting element extending into the passageway (420), wherein the cutting element comprises a cutting edge arranged to cut the aerosol generating article (10) as the aerosol generating article (10) passes through the passageway (420); and a heating element removal tool (700) comprising a tip (710) configured to magnetically attract the susceptor heating element (25) and to remove the heating element (25) from the aerosol generating article that has been cut by the cutting tool (400) when the tip (710) is placed in proximity to the susceptor heating element (25).
  2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cutting element comprises a first blade (430).
  3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element removal tool (700) is retainable in the passageway (420).
  4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein the heating element removal tool (700) is magnetically retainable in the passageway (420).
  5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the tip (710) of the heating element removal tool (700) is magnetically attracted to the cutting element to magnetically retain the heating element removal tool (700) in the passageway (420).
  6. An assembly according to any one the preceding claims, comprising a separator tool (900) configured to aid in separating a portion of the cut aerosol generating article (10) from an opposing portion of the cut aerosol generating article (10) along the cut (15).
  7. An assembly according to claim 6, wherein the separator tool (900) is retainable in the passageway (420).
  8. A tool (400) to facilitate removal of a susceptor heating element (25) from an aerosol generating article (10), the tool (400) comprising: a body (410) defining a passageway (420) through which the aerosol generating article (10) may be passed; and a cutting element extending into the passageway (420), wherein the cutting element comprising a cutting edge arranged to cut the aerosol generating article (10) as the aerosol generating article (10) passes through the passageway (420), and wherein the cutting element comprise a magnet and is configured to magnetically attract the susceptor heating element (25).
  9. A tool (400) according to claim 8, wherein the cutting element comprises a blade (430).
  10. A tool (400) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the cutting element is configured to be inserted into the passageway (420) and removed from the passageway (420).
  11. A method for removing a susceptor heating element (25) from an aerosol generating article (10), the method comprising: passing the aerosol generating article (10) through a passageway (420) of a cutting tool (400), the cutting tool (400) comprising (i) a body (410) defining the passageway (420) and (ii) a cutting element extending into the passageway (420), the cutting element comprising a magnet and a cutting edge, wherein the cutting edge is arranged to cut the aerosol generating article (10) as the aerosol generating article is passed through the passageway (420); removing the susceptor heating element (25) from the cut aerosol generating article (10), wherein removing the susceptor heating element (25) from the cut aerosol generating article (10) comprises magnetically attracting the susceptor heating element (25) to the cutting tool (400).
  12. A method according to claim 11, wherein removing the susceptor heating element (25) from the cut aerosol generating article (10) comprises magnetically attracting the susceptor heating element (25) to the cutting element.
  13. A method for removing a susceptor heating element (25) from an aerosol generating article (10), the method comprising: passing the aerosol generating article (10) through a passageway (420) of a cutting tool (400), the cutting tool (400) comprising (i) a body (410) defining the passageway (420) and (ii) a cutting element extending into the passageway (420), the cutting element comprising a cutting edge arranged to cut the aerosol generating article (10) as the aerosol generating article is passed through the passageway (420); removing the susceptor heating element (25) from the cut aerosol generating article (10) with a heating element removal tool (700) comprising a tip (710) configured to magnetically attract the susceptor heating element (25) and , removing the susceptor heating element (25) from the aerosol generating article that has been cut by the cutting tool (400) when the tip (710) is placed in proximity to the susceptor heating element (25).
  14. A method according to claim 13, comprising separating a portion of the cut aerosol generating article (10) from an opposing portion of the cut aerosol generating article (10) along the cut (15).

Description

The present disclosure relates to methods, tools, and assemblies for extracting a susceptor heating element from an aerosol generating article. Some aerosol generating systems include an aerosol generating device having an inductive heating element and a cavity configured to receive an aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating article comprises an aerosol forming substrate and a susceptor heating element. The susceptor heating element is positioned such that the inductive heating element of the aerosol generating device may heat the susceptor heating element when the aerosol generating article is received in the cavity. Heating of the susceptor heating element causes heating of the aerosol forming substrate to generate an aerosol. Removal of a susceptor heating element from an aerosol generating article may be challenging. The interior of the aerosol generating article may need to be accessed, as the susceptor heating element is typically within an interior of the aerosol generating article. In some instances, the susceptor heating element may be embedded within the aerosol forming substrate. EP 3 114 945 A1 discloses a disassembly device and a disassembly method for smokers' articles for recovering and/or disposing defective products in the tobacco industry. US 2013/199549 A1 discloses a size adaptable cigar splitting apparatus for splitting cigar wrappers of cigars, cigarillos and other smoking devices. According to aspects of the present invention, there is provided an assembly to facilitate removal of a susceptor heating element from an aerosol generating article. The assembly comprises a cutting tool. The cutting tool comprises a body defining a passageway through which the aerosol generating article may be passed and comprises a cutting element extending into the passageway. The cutting element comprises a cutting edge arranged to cut the aerosol generating article as the aerosol generating article passes through the passageway. The assembly also comprises a heating element removal tool comprising a tip configured to magnetically attract the susceptor heating element and to remove the heating element from the aerosol generating element that has been cut by the cutting tool when the tip is placed in proximity to the susceptor heating element. Use of the assembly may permit recovery and recycling of the susceptor heating element. In some aerosol generating articles comprising a susceptor heating element, the susceptor heating element may be the only element that is not biodegradable or may be one of a limited number of elements that are not biodegradable. Accordingly, removal and recycling of the susceptor heating element may be environmentally advantageous. In addition, it may be advantageous to recover the susceptor heating element because susceptor material may be a valuable resource. The recycled susceptor heating element may be used in any suitable manner. For example, the recycled susceptor heating element may be reused, repurposed, or components may be recovered. The assembly of the present invention may advantageously be arranged to permit safe cutting of the aerosol generating article. For example, the cutting edge of the cutting element may be positioned within the passageway. Such positioning may prevent accidental contact of the cutting edge of the cutting element by a user. The heating element removal tool may be retainable relative to the passageway of the cutting tool. Such an arrangement may be convenient for a consumer. For example, when the heating element removal tool is retained relative to the passageway of the cutting tool, the space occupied by the assembly may be reduced relative to storing each tool separately. Retention of the heating element removal tool relative to the cutting tool may also allow the tools to be stored together so that both tools are available when needed by the consumer. According to aspects of the present invention, there is provided a tool to facilitate removal of a susceptor heating element from an aerosol generating article. The tool comprises a body defining a passageway through which the aerosol generating article may be passed. The tool also comprises a cutting element extending into the passageway. The cutting element comprises a cutting edge arranged to cut the aerosol generating article as the aerosol generating article passes through the passageway. The cutting element comprises a magnet and is configured to magnetically attract the susceptor heating element. The cutting element may be configured to be inserted into the passageway and removed from the passageway. When the cutting element is removed from the passageway and the susceptor heating element is magnetically attracted to the cutting element, the susceptor heating element may be removed from the passageway. The removed susceptor heating element may be recycled. The tool of the present invention may advantageously be arranged to permit safe cutting of the aerosol generating article