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KR-20260067366-A - Method and embossing device for embossing turbulence-generating features on a sheet for a filtering element of an inhaled drug delivery system

KR20260067366AKR 20260067366 AKR20260067366 AKR 20260067366AKR-20260067366-A

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an embossed sheet material that is folded to obtain a filtering element for an inhaled drug delivery device and filters a mainstream gas flow passing through the filtering element comprises the steps of: providing a sheet material; and embossing a plurality of stripes on the sheet material by a patrix-matrix embossing roller system and supplying the sheet material to a nip between the patrix-matrix embossing rollers, wherein each stripe includes an embossing feature corresponding to each of the patrix embossing roller and the matrix embossing roller of the embossing roller system, and each embossed stripe is oriented longitudinally on the sheet material with respect to the supply direction of the sheet material supplied to the nip. The embossing feature includes a profile embossing feature that embosses at least one aerodynamic profile on a sheet material, the profile embossing feature is arranged along the radial direction of a stripe on an embossing roller, and the embossed aerodynamic profile is configured to generate gas flow turbulence in a filtering element to change the flow characteristics of the main gas flow passing through the filtering element in a defined manner, and accordingly, in the stripe, the profile embossing feature is configured such that one or more minimum reduction cross-sectional areas and maximum expansion cross-sectional areas are alternately formed in the radial direction of the stripe on the embossing roller, and the ratio of the cross-sectional areas between the maximum expansion cross-sectional area and the minimum reduction cross-sectional area is in the range of 15:1 to 2:1. The embossing feature further includes a radial embossing feature that forms a longitudinal boundary embossing feature that defines the boundary of each stripe on both radial sides of the stripe on a partrix-matrix embossing roller, and additionally defines the boundary of the embossed stripe on both longitudinal sides of the embossed stripe on the sheet material.

Inventors

  • 보에글리, 샤를르
  • 뒤미트뤼, 가브리엘

Assignees

  • 보에글리-그라부레스 에스.에이.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240902
Priority Date
20230912

Claims (20)

  1. A method for manufacturing an embossed sheet material configured to be foldable to obtain a filtering element for an inhaled drug delivery device, and filtering a mainstream gas flow passing through the filtering element, Step of providing the above sheet material; and The method comprises the step of embossing a plurality of stripes on a sheet material by a patrix-matrix embossing rollers system and supplying the sheet material to a nip between the patrix-matrix embossing rollers, wherein each stripe includes an embossing feature corresponding to each of the patrix embossing roller and the matrix embossing roller of the embossing rollers system, and each embossed stripe is oriented longitudinally on the sheet material with respect to the supply direction of the sheet material supplied to the nip. The above embossing feature is, The above sheet material includes a profile embossing feature that embosses at least one aerodynamic profile, wherein the profile embossing feature is arranged along the radial direction of a stripe on an embossing roller, and the embossed aerodynamic profile is configured to generate gas flow turbulence in the filtering element to change the flow characteristics of the main gas flow passing through the filtering element in a predetermined manner. Accordingly, In the stripe, the profile embossing feature portion is configured such that one or more minimum reduction cross-sectional areas and maximum expansion cross-sectional areas are alternately formed in the radial direction of the stripe on the embossing roller, and the ratio of the cross-sectional areas between the maximum expansion cross-sectional area and the minimum reduction cross-sectional area is in the range of 15:1 to 2:1; The above embossing feature is, A manufacturing method further comprising a radial embossing feature that defines the boundaries of each stripe on both radial sides of the stripe on the above-mentioned partrix-matrix embossing roller, and additionally forms a longitudinal boundary embossed feature that defines the boundaries of the embossed stripe on both longitudinal sides of the embossed stripe on the above-mentioned sheet material.
  2. A manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the radial embossing feature further embosses a folding line on the sheet material.
  3. In Paragraph 1 or 2, The above radial embossing feature is additionally, A plurality of enclosure walls are formed to form at least one enclosure around one or more profile embossing features on the above-mentioned Patrix-Matrix embossing roller, and For each enclosure, An enclosure opening is formed in the radial direction of the above stripe to connect the enclosure to a continuous enclosure, and The above enclosure has a maximum enclosure expansion cross-sectional area corresponding to the axial direction of the stripe, and the enclosure opening has a reduced enclosure opening cross-sectional area corresponding to the axial direction of the stripe, which is smaller than the maximum enclosure expansion cross-sectional area. A manufacturing method wherein the radial embossing feature portion is formed by the enclosure opening and the enclosure, respectively, such that one or more enclosure opening reduction cross-sectional areas and maximum enclosure expansion cross-sectional areas are alternately formed in the longitudinal direction of the stripe, and the ratio of the cross-sectional areas between the maximum enclosure expansion cross-sectional area and the enclosure opening reduction cross-sectional area of the profile is in the range of 15:1 to 2:1.
  4. A manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a first set of profile embossing features in a first stripe among the stripes is designed for a determined gas flow turbulence in a first type direction of the embossed first stripe corresponding to the first stripe, and a second set of profile embossing features in a second stripe among the stripes adjacent to the first stripe is designed for a determined gas flow turbulence in a second type direction of the embossed second stripe corresponding to the second stripe, which is opposite to the first type direction.
  5. A manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the profile embossing feature comprises at least one of a list consisting of a concave profile embossing feature that embosses a concave shape corresponding to the sheet material and a protrusion profile embossing feature that embosses a protrusion corresponding to the sheet material.
  6. A method of manufacturing, wherein, in any one of claims 1 to 5, the sheet material comprises any one of the materials listed in the list consisting of paper, cellulose-based materials, wool, plant-based or animal-based fiber materials.
  7. A manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the profile embossing feature further generates a height of an aerodynamic profile ranging from 1 to 15 times the thickness of the sheet material.
  8. A manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the embossing of the sheet material is a wallpaper-like embossing that creates a continuous and repeating pattern of embossed aerodynamic features and longitudinal boundary embossed features.
  9. A manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional area between the maximum expanded cross-sectional area and the minimum reduced cross-sectional area is in the range of 8:1 to 3:1.
  10. A manufacturing method according to claim 3, wherein one of the alternating sections of two consecutive enclosure opening reduction sections (p) has a length of 40 mm or less.
  11. A manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein one of the two consecutive enclosure opening reduction sections (p) is preferably 3 mm to 30 mm.
  12. In Paragraph 3, The above profile embossing feature further includes a plurality of baffle (201, 205) embossing feature portions that enable the embossed aerodynamic profile to function to increase gas flow turbulence occurring at at least one maximum expansion cross-sectional area (107) in the alternating section of the maximum expansion cross-sectional area and the minimum reduction cross-sectional area, A manufacturing method in which the above plurality of baffle embossing features are continuously embossed in the longitudinal direction.
  13. A manufacturing method according to claim 1, wherein each of the profile embossing feature portions has a height in the range of 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm.
  14. A manufacturing method according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of baffle embossing features is one of a protrusion feature and a groove feature, and in the case of the protrusion feature, the height, or in the case of the groove feature, the depth, is in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm.
  15. A method of manufacturing, wherein, in any one of claims 1 to 14, the sheet material has a basis weight in the range of 10 gsm to 100 gsm and a thickness in the range of 0.02 mm to 1.5 mm.
  16. An embossing device for manufacturing an embossed sheet material configured to be foldable to obtain a filtering element for an inhaled drug delivery device, and for filtering a mainstream gas flow passing through the filtering element, A patrix-matrix roller embossing system for embossing a plurality of stripes on a sheet material at a nip between patrix-matrix embossing rollers, wherein each stripe includes an embossing feature corresponding to each of the patrix embossing roller and the matrix embossing roller of the embossing roller system, and each embossed stripe is oriented longitudinally on the sheet material with respect to the supply direction of the sheet material supplied to the nip. The above embossing feature is, The above sheet material includes a profile embossing feature that embosses at least one aerodynamic profile, wherein the profile embossing feature is arranged along the radial direction of a stripe on an embossing roller, and the embossed aerodynamic profile is configured to generate gas flow turbulence in the filtering element to change the flow characteristics of the main gas flow passing through the filtering element in a predetermined manner. Accordingly, In the stripe, the profile embossing feature portion is configured such that one or more minimum reduction cross-sectional areas and maximum expansion cross-sectional areas are alternately formed in the radial direction of the stripe on the embossing roller, and the ratio of the cross-sectional areas between the maximum expansion cross-sectional area and the minimum reduction cross-sectional area is in the range of 15:1 to 2:1; The above embossing feature is, An embossing device characterized by further including a radial embossing feature that defines the boundaries of each stripe on both radial sides of the stripe on the above-mentioned partrix-matrix embossing roller, and additionally forms a longitudinal boundary embossed feature that defines the boundaries of the embossed stripe on both longitudinal sides of the embossed stripe on the above-mentioned sheet material.
  17. In claim 16, the radial embossing feature further embosses a fold line on the sheet material, an embossing device.
  18. In Paragraph 16, The above radial embossing feature is additionally, A plurality of enclosure walls are formed to form at least one enclosure around one or more profile embossing features on the above-mentioned Patrix-Matrix embossing roller, and For each enclosure, An enclosure opening is formed in the radial direction of the above stripe to connect the enclosure to a continuous enclosure, and The above enclosure has a maximum enclosure expansion cross-sectional area corresponding to the axial direction of the stripe, and the enclosure opening has a reduced enclosure opening cross-sectional area corresponding to the axial direction of the stripe, which is smaller than the maximum enclosure expansion cross-sectional area. An embossing device wherein the radial embossing feature portion is formed by the enclosure opening and the enclosure, respectively, such that one or more enclosure opening reduction cross-sectional areas and maximum enclosure expansion cross-sectional areas are alternately formed in the longitudinal direction of the stripe, and the ratio of the cross-sectional areas between the maximum enclosure expansion cross-sectional area and the enclosure opening reduction cross-sectional area of the profile is in the range of 15:1 to 2:1.
  19. An embossing device according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein a first set of profile embossing features in a first stripe among the stripes is designed for a determined gas flow turbulence in a first type direction of the embossed first stripe corresponding to the first stripe, and a second set of profile embossing features in a second stripe among the stripes adjacent to the first stripe is designed for a determined gas flow turbulence in a second type direction of the embossed second stripe corresponding to the second stripe, which is opposite to the first type direction.
  20. An embossing device according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the profile embossing feature comprises at least one of the list consisting of a concave profile embossing feature that embosses a concave shape corresponding to the sheet material and a protrusion profile embossing feature that embosses a protrusion corresponding to the sheet material.

Description

Method and embossing device for embossing turbulence-generating features on a sheet for a filtering element of an inhaled drug delivery system The present invention relates to the manufacturing field of an inhaled drug delivery system, including a smoking product capable of delivering a medical drug or nicotine to a user in gaseous form through various inhalation methods, including vapor, heated tobacco, and conventional combustion tobacco known in cigarettes and cigars; more specifically, it relates to the field of embossing and components of a filtering element. Numerous prior art documents discuss the technical field of the present invention specifically relating to the tobacco industry. The prior art literature "Basic principle of cigarette design and Function," published by Ken Podraza of Philip Morris in the Life Sciences Research Organization (LSRO) between October 29 and 30, 2001, contains a wealth of information on parameters that determine the manufacture and consumption of cigarettes. Additional prior art literature, "Effect of cigarette filter components on its efficiency and smoking characteristic of cigarettes" ("Effect of cigarette filter components on its efficiency and smoking characteristic of cigarettes", Sobhy Mohammed Mohsen, Abdalla S.M. Ammar, Ateya Fathy, Bioscience Research, January 2018, Pages 325-336), provides an additional source of information with a greater focus on cigarette filters. French Patent Publication FR 2 418 628 discusses a method and apparatus for modifying a fiber sheet material to manufacture a cigarette filter or a simple filter. This publication describes a method for obtaining a filtering structure by forming a specific topographical profile on the sheet, wherein texture characteristics can be controlled by simultaneously changing the transverse elongation of the sheet by varying the height of the profile during the process. Accordingly, an embossed texture, a longitudinal crepe texture, or an intermediate texture between these can be obtained, and these characteristics can be changed without discontinuity. Therefore, the draft of the resulting filter can be controlled as needed by appropriately adjusting the texture. Since the disclosure of the aforementioned prior art literature, smoking and other inhaled drug delivery systems have made significant advancements along with the expansion of their application fields. To provide an enhanced user experience, much research and development has been conducted focusing on the filtering elements of these devices, and currently, these devices primarily perform the function of filtering gases generated in the drug receiving portion of the inhaled drug delivery system. Subsequently, the user takes in the mainstream gas through a filter located at the other end of the cigarette and places it in the mouth. Certain cigarettes or other inhaled drug delivery systems may include a filter element or tow in which an absorbent material, such as activated carbon or charcoal, is dispersed in the form of particles or granules. For example, the filtering element may include a plurality of segments, at least one of which may contain particles of a high-carbon content material. Upon reviewing the aforementioned prior art literature, "Basic Principles of Tobacco Design and Function" and "Influence of Tobacco Filter Components on Tobacco Efficiency and Smoking Characteristics," the following facts can be derived. Paper cigarette filters provide higher smoke component removal efficiency compared to conventional cellulose acetate cigarette filters at the same filter characteristic pressure drop, but this increase in efficiency entails a decrease in appearance quality. Filter pressure drop refers to the inhalation resistance required to inhale smoke through the filter at a standardized inhalation volume (inhaling 35 ml for 2 seconds). In the description of the present invention, the term "retention" used thereafter is another expression for filtering efficiency and refers to the percentage of gas components (e.g., particulates) removed by the filtering element. As the pressure drop for a given filtering configuration increases, the filtering efficiency increases due to the decrease in the main gas flow rate. At the same time, using a filtering element made of fiber material can remove particulate matter to a certain extent, but gaseous components such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are not removed. From a fluid dynamics perspective, as gas passes through a constricted section, the flow velocity increases, and according to the law of conservation of mechanical energy (i.e., Bernoulli's principle), the static pressure decreases. Therefore, any arbitrary increase in kinetic energy resulting from the increased flow velocity as the gas passes through the constricted section is offset by the pressure drop, thereby achieving equilibrium. Since Bernoulli's principle is reversible, when gas passes through an expansion section, the