A component for a delivery system and a method and apparatus for manufacturing a component for a delivery system

Abstract

A component for an article for use in or as an aerosol provision system, the component including a body of fibrous material and first and second objects circumferentially surrounded by said fibrous material, said first object being different from said second object. Also described is an article including the component, a method of manufacturing a component, and an apparatus configured for manufacturing a component.

1 . A component for an article for use in or as an aerosol provision system, the component comprising:
 a body of fibrous material; and   first and second objects circumferentially surrounded by said fibrous material, said first object being different from said second object.   
     
     
         2 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous material is cellulose-based. 
     
     
         3 . A component according to  claim 2 , wherein the cellulose-based material is paper 
     
     
         4 . A component according to  claim 3 , wherein the paper is formed from wood-pulp. 
     
     
         5 . A component according to  claim 2 , wherein the cellulose-based material is reconstituted tobacco sheet. 
     
     
         6 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one object is an aerosol-modifying agent release component. 
     
     
         7 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one object is a tubular element. 
     
     
         8 . A component according to  claim 7 , wherein the tubular element extends to a longitudinal end of the component. 
     
     
         9 . A component according to  claim 7 , wherein the tubular element is formed from cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         10 . A component according to  claim 9 , wherein the cellulose-based material is paper. 
     
     
         11 . A component according to  claim 10 , wherein the paper is formed from wood-pulp. 
     
     
         12 . A component according to  claim 9 , wherein the cellulose-based material is reconstituted tobacco sheet. 
     
     
         13 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second objects are separated by a gap between 0.5 mm and 30 mm, or between 1 mm and 20 mm, or between 1.5 mm and 15 mm, or between 2 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         14 . A component according to  claim 13 , wherein the body extends into said gap. 
     
     
         15 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is formed from sheet material. 
     
     
         16 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein a first crimping factor is applied to a first longitudinal region of the body of fibrous material and a second crimping factor is applied to a second longitudinal region of the body of fibrous material, wherein the second longitudinal region is longitudinally offset from the first longitudinal region. 
     
     
         17 . An article for use in or as an aerosol provision system, the article comprising a component according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . An article according to  claim 17 , wherein the component comprises a mouthpiece of the article. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a component for an article for use in an aerosol provision system, the method comprising the steps of:
 applying a crimp pattern to a sheet material, the crimp pattern comprising a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves;   providing a feed of tubular elements and a feed of aerosol-modifying agent release components; and   gathering said sheet material around a tubular element and an aerosol-modifying agent release component to form a body of material with a tubular element and an aerosol-modifying agent release component embedded therein.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus configured for manufacturing a component in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising:
 a crimp roller for applying a crimp pattern to a sheet material, the crimp pattern comprising a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves;   a feed mechanism for tubular elements;   a feed mechanism for aerosol-modifying agent release components; and   a garniture assembly for gathering said sheet material around said tubular elements and said aerosol-modifying agent release components to form a body of material with a tubular element and an aerosol-modifying agent release component embedded therein.