Method for producing aerosol-generating articles including a band of susceptor material

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing individual aerosol-generating articles each comprising an individual substrate section, the substrate section comprising aerosol-forming substrate (12A) with a susceptor element, the method comprising the method steps of: •A) providing a continuous band of susceptor material (16A), •B) partially cutting the continuous band of susceptor material at a predetermined precut position to produce a partially cut band of susceptor material (16B), •C) producing the aerosol-generating articles employing the partially cut band of susceptor material, wherein the precut position separates individual aerosol-generating articles from each other.

1 . Method for producing individual aerosol-generating articles each comprising an individual substrate section, the substrate section comprising aerosol-forming substrate with a susceptor element, the method comprising the method steps of:
 A) providing a continuous band of susceptor material,   B) partially cutting the continuous band of susceptor material at a predetermined precut position to produce a partially cut band of susceptor material,   C) producing the aerosol-generating articles employing the partially cut band of susceptor material, wherein the precut position separates individual aerosol-generating articles from each other, wherein during method step C) the partially cut band of susceptor material is completely cut at the predetermined precut position, thereby producing individual susceptor elements, and wherein subsequently the aerosol-forming substrate is positioned around the individual susceptor bands, thereby producing a continuous substrate section including individual susceptor elements.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two precut positions are formed in method step B) and wherein the positions of the precuts on the continuous band of susceptor material are set in such a way that one individual substrate section is located between adjacent precut positions. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein during method step C) the individual susceptor elements in the continuous substrate section are each spaced apart by gaps and wherein subsequently the continuous substrate section is cut between the gaps of the individual susceptor bands, thereby producing individual substrate sections. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein partially cutting in method step B) comprises one or more of: producing perforations in the band, producing incisions at one or both edges of the band, producing a plurality of recesses in the band. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein during method step B) flat regions on opposing edges of the continuous band of susceptor material are removed as partial cuts, thereby creating a central linking part connecting different parts of the partially cut band of susceptor material. 
     
     
         6 . System configured for producing individual aerosol-generating articles each comprising an individual substrate section, the substrate section comprising aerosol-forming substrate with a susceptor element, comprising:
 a precut device configured for partially cutting a continuous band of susceptor material to produce a precut position on the continuous band of susceptor material, wherein the precut position separates individual aerosol-generating articles from each other,   a susceptor cutting device for cutting the partially cut band of susceptor material into individual susceptor elements at a plurality of precut positions,   a substrate section forming device configured for producing aerosol-generating articles employing the partially cut band of susceptor material wherein the substrate section forming device is configured for producing a continuous substrate section comprising the individual susceptor elements, and   a transport device configured for transporting the continuous band of susceptor material between the precut device and the substrate section forming device.   
     
     
         7 . System according to  claim 6 , wherein the precut device is configured to produce at least two precuts, wherein the precut device is further configured to set the position of the at least two precuts on the continuous band of susceptor material in such a way that one single individual substrate section is located between adjacent precut positions. 
     
     
         8 . System according to  claim 6 , further comprising a substrate cutting device for cutting the continuous substrate section between the individual susceptor elements. 
     
     
         9 . System according to  claim 6 , wherein the transport device comprises a belt, preferably a toothed belt, more preferably a U-shaped toothed belt. 
     
     
         10 . Aerosol-generating article comprising:
 a substrate section comprising aerosol-forming substrate and a susceptor element, wherein the susceptor element comprises a first and a second susceptor end face, wherein at least one of the first and the second susceptor end face has a tapered shape,   wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises a first article end face and an opposing second article end face, and   wherein the first and second susceptor end face are spaced apart from these first and second article end faces.   
     
     
         11 . Aerosol-generating article according to  claim 10 , wherein one or both of the first and a second susceptor end face comprises rounded edges. 
     
     
         12 . Method for producing individual aerosol-generating articles each comprising an individual substrate section, the substrate section comprising aerosol-forming substrate with a susceptor element, the method comprising the method steps of:
 A) providing a continuous band of susceptor material,   B) partially cutting the continuous band of susceptor material at a predetermined precut position to produce a partially cut band of susceptor material,   C) producing the aerosol-generating articles employing the partially cut band of susceptor material, wherein the precut position separates individual aerosol-generating articles from each other, wherein during method step C) the partially cut band of susceptor material is completely cut at the predetermined precut position, thereby producing individual susceptor elements, and wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is positioned around the susceptor band, thereby producing a continuous substrate section including individual partially pre-cut susceptor elements.