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. First and second tubular elements extend through the body of fibrous material, substantially along a common axis, and each of the first and second tubular elements are circumferentially surrounded by said fibrous material. A component can include a body of fibrous material and a tubular element embedded within the body, such that it is circumferentially and longitudinally surrounded by the fibrous material forming said body. An article can have a downstream end, and include a body of fibrous material and a tubular element circumferentially surrounded by said fibrous material, wherein the tubular element extends to a first longitudinal end of said body and is spaced from a second longitudinal end of said body, and wherein the longitudinal end of said body to which the tubular element extends is spaced from the downstream end of the article.

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 tubular elements extending through said body substantially along a common axis and each circumferentially surrounded by said fibrous material.   
     
     
         2 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the component forms the mouthpiece of a single article. 
     
     
         3 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous material is a first cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         4 . A component according to  claim 3 , wherein the first cellulose-based material is paper. 
     
     
         5 . A component according to  claim 4 , wherein said paper is formed from wood-pulp. 
     
     
         6 . A component according to  claim 3 , wherein the first cellulose-based material is reconstituted tobacco sheet. 
     
     
         7 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubular elements are separated by a gap between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, or between 0.75 mm and 1.5 mm, or between 1 mm and 3 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second tubular elements are separated by a gap of between 5 mm and 15 mm, or between 6 mm and 12 mm, or between 8 mm and 11 mm. 
     
     
         9 . A component according to  claim 8 , wherein the body of fibrous material extends into said gap. 
     
     
         10 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second tubular elements extend to a longitudinal end of the component. 
     
     
         11 . 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. 
     
     
         12 . A component according to  claim 11 , wherein the first and second crimping factors are one of depth, spacing, pressure or temperature. 
     
     
         13 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second tubular elements are formed from a second cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         14 . A component according to  claim 13 , wherein the second cellulose-based material is paper. 
     
     
         15 . A component according to  claim 14 , wherein said paper is formed from wood-pulp. 
     
     
         16 . A component according to  claim 15 , wherein the second cellulose-based material is reconstituted tobacco sheet. 
     
     
         17 . A component according to  claim 1 , wherein the body of fibrous material is formed from one or more sections of sheet material. 
     
     
         18 . A component for an article for use in or as an aerosol provision system, the component comprising:
 a body of fibrous material; and   a tubular element embedded within the body such that it is circumferentially and longitudinally surrounded by the fibrous material forming said body.   
     
     
         19 . A component according to  claim 18 , wherein the component forms the mouthpiece of a single article. 
     
     
         20 . A component according to  claim 18 , wherein the fibrous material is a first cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         21 . A component according to  claim 20 , wherein the first cellulose-based material is paper. 
     
     
         22 . A component according to  claim 21 , wherein said paper is formed from wood-pulp. 
     
     
         23 . A component according to  claim 20 , wherein the first cellulose-based material is reconstituted tobacco sheet. 
     
     
         24 . A component according to  claim 18 , wherein a proximal end of the tubular element is spaced from a longitudinal end of the component by at least 5 mm, or at least 8 mm, or at least 10 mm. 
     
     
         25 . A component according to  claim 18 , wherein the tubular element extends to a longitudinal end of the component. 
     
     
         26 . A component according to  claim 18 , 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. 
     
     
         27 . A component according to  claim 26  wherein the first and second crimping factors are one of depth, spacing, pressure or temperature. 
     
     
         28 . A component according to  claim 18 , wherein the tubular element is formed from a second cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         29 . A component according to  claim 18 , wherein the body of fibrous material is formed from one or more sections of sheet material. 
     
     
         30 . An article for use in or as an aerosol provision system, the article having a downstream end, the article comprising:
 a body of fibrous material; and   a tubular element circumferentially surrounded by said fibrous material, wherein the tubular element extends to a first longitudinal end of said body and is spaced from a second longitudinal end of said body, and wherein the longitudinal end of said body to which the tubular element extends is spaced from the downstream end of the article.   
     
     
         31 . An article according to  claim 30 , wherein the fibrous material is a third cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         32 . An article according to  claim 31 , wherein the third cellulose-based material is paper. 
     
     
         33 . An article according to  claim 32 , wherein said paper is formed from wood-pulp. 
     
     
         34 . An article according to  claim 33 , wherein the third cellulose-based material is reconstituted tobacco sheet. 
     
     
         35 . An article  according to 30 , wherein a proximal end of the tubular element is spaced from a longitudinal end of the article by at least 5 mm, or at least 8 mm, or at least 10 mm. 
     
     
         36 . An article  according to 30 , wherein the tubular element extends to a longitudinal end of the article. 
     
     
         37 . An article  according to 30 , 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. 
     
     
         38 . An article according to  claim 37  wherein the first and second crimping factors are one of depth, spacing, pressure or temperature. 
     
     
         39 . An article  according to 30 , wherein the tubular element is formed from a second cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         40 . An article  according to 30 , wherein the body of fibrous material is formed from one or more sections of sheet material. 
     
     
         41 . An article comprising a component according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         42 . A method for forming a component for an article for use in an aerosol provision system, the method comprising:
 applying a crimp pattern to a sheet of fibrous material, the crimp pattern comprising a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves;   providing a feed of tubular elements; and   gathering said sheet of fibrous material around said tubular elements to form a body of material in which at least at least one tubular element extends through said body substantially along a common axis and is circumferentially surrounded by said sheet of fibrous material.   
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 42 , further comprising positioning the at least one tubular element such that the at least one tubular element is embedded within the body of material such that it is both circumferentially and longitudinally surrounded by the sheet of fibrous material forming said body of material. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus configured for manufacturing a component in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising:
 a crimp roller for applying a crimp pattern to a sheet of fibrous material, the crimp pattern comprising a series of substantially parallel ridges and grooves;   a feed mechanism for tubular elements; and   a garniture assembly for gathering said sheet of fibrous material around said tubular elements to form a body of material in which at least at least one tubular element extends through said body substantially along a common axis and is circumferentially surrounded by said fibrous material.