CN114532601A

CN114532601A - Aerosol generating system with aerosol generating article locking function

Info

Publication number: CN114532601A
Application number: CN202210307531.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 赵杨; 韩熠; 向能军; 巩效伟; 朱瑞芝; 张子龙; 马俊; 倪和朋; 郭丁荣; 申钦鹏; 刘凌璇; 杨柳
Original assignee: China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-03-25
Filing date: 2022-03-25
Publication date: 2022-05-27

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system having an aerosol-generating article locking function, comprising an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating appliance; the aerosol-generating appliance comprises an aerosol-generating appliance housing (N1) and an aerosol-generating article receiving cavity (N2) within the aerosol-generating appliance housing (N1), the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity (N2) having a locking component (N3) therein; the aerosol-generating article comprises a body portion and an outer sleeve (5) located outside the body portion; the locking part (N3) and the outer sleeve (5) can rotate relatively to fix the outer sleeve (5); the locking member (N3) is axially movable to cause the outer sleeve (5) to move axially relative to the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article, thereby performing the function of locking the outer sleeve (5) and of pulling the outer sleeve (5) relative to the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article.

Description

Aerosol-generating system with aerosol-generating article locking function

Technical Field

The present invention is in the field of aerosol-generating articles, in particular aerosol-generating articles and aerosol-generating appliances using particles of aerosol-source material, and more particularly relates to an aerosol-generating system having a locking function for aerosol-generating articles.

Background

Particle-type aerosol-generating articles are a new type of Heat-Not-Burn (abbreviated as HNB) aerosol-generating articles in recent years, which use aerosol-source material particles as an aerosol-generating material instead of an aerosol-source material sheet, the aerosol-source material particles are heated more uniformly than the aerosol-source material sheet, and the aerosol spreads more smoothly along inter-particle gaps than along sheet-like material gaps, and thus are popular among consumers.

Particulate aerosol-generating articles are known products on the market, the structure of which is illustrated with reference to figure 1: the main structure of the aerosol source material aerosol generating device is an integral outer sleeve X1, the far lip end of the integral outer sleeve is sealed by a sealing film X2, then particles X3 of the aerosol source material are filled into the integral outer sleeve to form a particle section, a multi-hole fixing section (commonly called a gear piece) X4 is arranged at the downstream of the particle section, then an airflow channel section X5 is reserved for collecting and containing aerosol (sometimes the airflow channel section X5 is a single section of cavity, or sometimes the airflow channel section X5 is a hollow rod), and a filter section X6 is arranged at the downstream of the airflow channel section X5 and is used as a cigarette holder for holding in the mouth of a user. The aerosol-generating article is in use inserted with the distal lip end into a heating device having a heating element which heats particles of aerosol source material to release gaseous flavour components which condense into a macroscopic aerosol on exposure to cold air in the airflow passage segment X5, which aerosol is then filtered through the filter segment and into the mouth of a user.

The airflow channel segment X5 is crucial for aerosol formation, and according to the theory of aerosol science, the gaseous flavor component released by heating needs to be cooled to be condensed into solid or liquid particles, and the solid or liquid particles need to be suspended in the air to form aerosol (commonly called "smoke" or "fog" or "smoke" in general) visible to the naked eye. Therefore, in existing particle-type aerosol-generating articles, the airflow channel segment X5 must be left.

Furthermore, because the particles are loose and fluid, if not constrained, they can inevitably flow on a large scale to the downstream airflow path segment X5 when the aerosol-generating article is placed horizontally or inverted, resulting in a substantial reduction in the number of particles that can be directly heated by the heating element, and naturally the amount of flavour released and subsequently generated aerosol will also be reduced, and to ensure that the particles are sufficiently heated, the particles must be constrained within a confined space adjacent the heating element. This confinement is currently achieved by placing a sealing film X2 upstream of the pellet section and providing a multi-ported fastener section X4 downstream of the pellet section, with the two ends being confined so that pellets do not flow around.

The sealing film X2 is usually made of high-permeability thin paper and then adhered to the upstream end face of the outer sleeve X1 by an adhesion method, and the adhering process of the sealing film X2 is complex and low in efficiency, and special sealing film adhering equipment is needed. In addition, because the end face of the outer sleeve X1 is not on the same plane, burrs and the like exist, the surface of the thin paper has defects, the gluing is not uniform and the like, the sealing film is not firmly adhered, the sealing film for sealing the opening of the aerosol generating product is degummed in the subsequent production process, the leakage of the internal storage granular material is caused, the production environment is polluted, certain other materials are lost, and the production efficiency is influenced. The existing granular heating cigarette is manufactured by adopting a mode of sealing by a sealing film and filling granules. The problems of low automation degree, low sealing success rate (and difficult detection) and low production efficiency of aerosol generating products exist. When used, the sealing film is pierced and heated, and particles are scattered out of the aerosol-generating device after the aerosol-generating product is pulled out of the aerosol-generating device, which makes it difficult to clean the aerosol-generating device.

Wherein the multi-ported fastener segment X4 is typically ceramic or silicone and has an outer wall which is fixedly attached to the inner wall of the paper sleeve by an adhesive and has at least one axial through hole X41 in its center and/or at least one peripheral vent groove X42 in its outer periphery which are sized to allow passage of smoke but not particles of the aerosol source material, thereby both blocking the particles of the aerosol source material and transmitting the smoke. However, the presence of the multi-aperture fastener segment adds cost and operational inconvenience to the commercial manufacture of particulate aerosol-generating articles and it is therefore a continuing desire of those skilled in the art to eliminate the multi-aperture fastener segment. However, eliminating the multi-ported fastener segment necessitates the placement of a gas flow channel segment downstream of the particle segment to collect and contain the aerosol, and this segment also serves to confine the aerosol source material particles that are scattered, presenting a dilemma.

In addition, the aerosol-source material particles of the existing particle-type aerosol-generating articles are located most upstream (at the end face, separated from the outside only by a thin sealing film) of the aerosol-generating articles, and are easily affected by the outside during transportation and storage. In addition, in order to ensure that the aerosol source material particles are more easily heated to generate aerosol when being sucked and that the generated aerosol can be better released, the aerosol source material particles need to be packed as loose as possible and not to be particularly compact. However, this results in a large contact area between the aerosol source material particles and the air during transportation and storage, which leads to the loss of the additive such as the flavor or the smoke agent added to the aerosol source material particles.

In addition, in order to improve the cooling effect of the flue gas in the existing products, it is generally necessary to form vent holes on the side wall of the aerosol-generating product, so as to introduce the external ambient air into the airflow channel inside the aerosol-generating product, mix the air with the flue gas, and cool the flue gas. When the aerosol-generating article is not smoked, that is to say, during transportation or storage of the aerosol-generating article, the presence of the vent holes can allow air to enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article and to come into more or less contact with the particles of the aerosol-source material, thereby causing the loss of the additive such as the perfume or the smoke suppressant added to the particles of the aerosol-source material, or moisture in the outside air to enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article through the vent holes, which can also easily cause the particles of the aerosol-source material to become damp, and thus can adversely affect the preservation of the particles of the aerosol-source material.

Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate the need for a sealing membrane and multi-orifice fastener section, to confine the aerosol source material particles that are dispersed, to ensure that the aerosol produced is smoothly delivered to the filter section, and to keep the aerosol source material particles from being upstream of the aerosol-generating article during transport and storage, and to provide venting holes.

There is also a need for aerosol-generating devices for use with aerosol-generating articles that address the above-mentioned problems.

The present invention is directed to solving the above problems.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides an aerosol-generating system having an aerosol-generating article locking function, comprising an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating appliance;

the aerosol-generating appliance comprises an aerosol-generating appliance housing N1 and an aerosol-generating article receiving cavity N2 within the aerosol-generating appliance housing N1, the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity N2 having a locking component N3 therein;

the aerosol-generating article comprises a body portion and an outer sleeve 5 located outside the body portion;

the locking part N3 and the outer sleeve 5 can rotate relatively to each other to fix the outer sleeve 5;

the locking member N3 is axially movable to bring the outer sleeve 5 into axial movement relative to the main body portion of aerosol-generating article.

The locking member N3 includes a support bar N31 and a locking disk N32 on the support bar N31, and the locking disk N32 is rotatably movable relative to the outer sleeve 5.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating article is a particle-type aerosol-generating article, the main body portion of the particle-type aerosol-generating article comprises an inner tube 1, and a filter component 2 and a hollow component 3 arranged in the inner tube 1 in sequence from a proximal lip end to a distal lip end, the hollow component 3 having a particle component 4 of aerosol-source material within a hollow cavity;

the outer sleeve 5 has a top opening 51 and a bottom surface 52 of the seal, wherein the top opening 51 is located at one side of the filter element 2, the bottom surface 52 of the seal is located at one side of the hollow element 3, and the bottom surface 52 of the seal is used for sealing off the particle part 4 of the aerosol source material in the hollow element 3;

the outer sleeve 5 is axially movable relative to the body portion to provide an axial distance between the upstream end face of the hollow member 3 and the closure base surface 52, the axial distance defining a cavity 6 defined by the outer sleeve 5, the parts 4 of aerosol source material particles in the hollow member 3 being moved into the cavity 6.

The upstream and downstream referred to in the present invention are defined in terms of the gas flow direction. More specifically, the distal labial end is upstream and the proximal labial end is downstream.

The sequential arrangement in the invention is not limited to the tight connection of the two, but only the sequential limitation. That is, any other form of element may be interposed between them.

In the invention, the inner tube 1 and the outer sleeve 5 are fixed by friction or slight adhesion, so long as the relative movement between the two is ensured in the transportation and storage process, and the relative movement between the two can be realized under the action of external force.

The particle-type aerosol-generating article of the present invention is not limited to the production process, and may be in a form of filling, in which each component is sequentially filled into the inner tube, or in a form of composite wrapping, in which each unit is sequentially arranged and then the inner tube is formed by wrapping and rolling. The material of the inner tube is selected from, but not limited to, paper, ceramic, temperature resistant resin or clay.

The other end of the aerosol generating product directly selects the bottom surface 52 of the seal of the outer sleeve 5 to restrain aerosol source material particles, so that the problems that the seal film is not firmly adhered and falls off are avoided.

Preferably, the closure base surface 52 of the outer sleeve 5 closes off the aerosol-source material particle section 4 in the hollow section 3 when the particulate aerosol-generating article is in a non-smoking state position;

when the particulate aerosol-generating article is in a smoking state position, the outer sleeve 5 is moved axially relative to the body portion, there is an axial distance between the upstream end face of the hollow member 3 and the base face 52 of the closure, the axial distance forming a cavity 6 by the outer sleeve 5, the particulate component 4 of aerosol source material contained in the hollow member 3 falling under gravity into the cavity 6, the hollow cavity region of the hollow member 3 forming an air flow channel 7.

That is, the aerosol-generating article of the invention of the particle type has two positions for both the aerosol-source material particles and the closure base surface 52 in the non-puffs state and in the puffs state, the closure base surface 52 seals off the portion 4 of the aerosol-source material particles in the hollow part 3. When in the suction state, the outer sleeve 5 is moved axially relative to the body portion, there being an axial distance between the upstream end face of the hollow part 3 and the closure base face 52, the axial distance forming a cavity 6 by the outer sleeve 5, the parts 4 of aerosol source material particles contained in the hollow part 3 falling under gravity into the cavity 6, the hollow cavity region of the hollow part 3 forming an air flow passage 7.

Because the aerosol source material particles are positioned in the cavity of the hollow part 3 during transportation and storage, the aerosol source material particles can be filled more tightly and have the smallest contact area with air, thereby ensuring better preservation of additives such as essence, spice or smoke agent added in the aerosol source material particles. And on entering the suction state position, as the outer sleeve 5 moves axially relative to the body portion, the aerosol source material particle parts 4 drop under gravity into the cavities 6, where the particles drop relatively more loosely due to the larger diameter of the cavities 6, facilitating aerosol generation and release. And the hollow cavity originally containing the aerosol source material particles forms an airflow channel to provide a space for the flow and convergence of the aerosol.

Preferably, the bottom surface 52 of the seal has an opening 521, and the remaining portion of the bottom surface 52 of the seal except the opening 521 is used as a protrusion 522, the outer sleeve 5 has a sealing member 523 therein, the protrusion 522 is used to limit the sealing member 523 into the outer sleeve 5, and the sealing member 523 can seal the opening 521, and the sealing member 523 can move axially relative to the outer sleeve 5 under the action of external force. The purpose of the snap-seal member 523 being axially displaceable relative to the outer sleeve 5 under the action of an external force is that the locking disk N32 of the aerosol-generating appliance can in turn be pushed into the outer sleeve 5 by pushing the snap-seal member 523.

Preferably, the locking disk N32 has a notch N33 corresponding to the shape of the protrusion 522, and the locking disk N32 can rotate relative to the outer sleeve 5; the manner in which the locking disk N32 is rotationally moved relative to the outer sleeve 5 is not limited herein and the outer sleeve 5 may be manually rotated after insertion of the aerosol-generating article to produce relative rotation between the locking disk N32 and the outer sleeve 5. It is of course also possible that the support bar N31 of the aerosol-generating appliance carries the locking disk N32 into rotational movement, thereby producing a relative rotation between the locking disk N32 and the outer sleeve 5.

After the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity N2, the notch N33 corresponds to the position of the protrusion 522, so that the locking disk N32 passes through the protrusion 522 into the interior of the outer sleeve 5, and further, the locking disk N32 and the outer sleeve 5 relatively rotate, the notch N33 is misaligned with the protrusion N32, and the locking disk N32 fixes the outer sleeve 5 through the protrusion 522, so that the locking component N3 pulls the outer sleeve 5 through the protrusion 522 to move axially relative to the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating device housing N1 further has a lock activation button thereon, and after the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity N2, pressing the lock activation button can control the locking member N3 to lock the outer sleeve 5 and pull the outer sleeve 5 to move axially relative to the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article until reaching the smoking state position.

Preferably, the outer side of the inner tube 1 is provided with an indicating mark, and the relative axial movement of the outer sleeve 5 and the main body part to the suction state position can be judged through the indicating mark.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating article and the aerosol-generating article further have indicia thereon to facilitate alignment of the notch N33 with the projection N32, so that a consumer can directly position the aerosol-generating article and the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is inserted, and ensure that the notch N33 and the projection N32 are directly aligned after the aerosol-generating article is inserted.

Preferably, the inner tube 5 is selected from air-permeable materials, and external air can enter the inside thereof through the inner tube 5.

Preferably, the side wall of the hollow part 3 is provided with vent holes 31 penetrating through the side wall in the radial direction, after the main body part and the outer sleeve 5 are relatively moved axially to the suction state position, the external environment air can enter the hollow cavity of the hollow part 3 through the vent holes 31, and the number of the vent holes 31 is one or more.

In order to improve the cooling effect of the flue gas, it is often necessary to form ventilation holes in the side walls of the aerosol-generating article in order to introduce ambient air into the airflow channels inside the aerosol-generating article, mix it with the flue gas and cool it. When the aerosol-generating article is not smoked, that is to say, during transportation or storage of the aerosol-generating article, the presence of the vent holes can allow air to enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article and to come into more or less contact with the particles of the aerosol-source material, thereby causing the loss of the additive such as the perfume or the smoke suppressant added to the particles of the aerosol-source material, or moisture in the outside air to enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article through the vent holes, which can also easily cause the particles of the aerosol-source material to become damp, and thus can adversely affect the preservation of the particles of the aerosol-source material. The outer sleeve 5 is located on the outside of the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article of the invention and the ventilation aperture is located in the main body portion, the outer sleeve 5 being capable of sealing the ventilation aperture in a non-smoking state of storage and transport of the aerosol-generating article, and when the aerosol-generating article is in a smoking state, the outer sleeve 5 is axially displaced a distance relative to the main body portion to expose the ventilation aperture at which time ambient air can enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article through the ventilation aperture. In addition to this, the vent hole may also serve as an indicator of relative axial movement of the outer sleeve 5 and the main body portion to the suction state position, i.e. when the outer sleeve 5 and the main body portion are moved axially relative to each other until the vent hole is just fully exposed, and indicates that the suction state position is reached.

That is, the inner tube may be a breathable material or a non-breathable material. When it is an air permeable material, air can be introduced into the inner tube by its own air permeability. When it is an air impermeable material, air may be introduced into the inner tube by perforating the inner tube. Of course, the mode of the vent hole is preferably adopted, so that the vent hole can also be directly used as an indicator for the pulling-out distance, and the two purposes are achieved at the same time.

Preferably, the hollow member 3 is one or more segments. The hollow member is a hollow rod having a hollow structure, such as a hollow acetate rod, a hollow corrugated grooved rod, a hollow tube having a gear structure, or a hollow paper tube. The construction of the hollow corrugated grooved rod and the hollow tube with the gear structure can be referred to the patent application with the name of a filled aerosol-generating article with a stopper, which has been filed by the present applicant under application No. 2021226872810, and the description of the technical solutions and effects of the hollow corrugated grooved rod and the hollow tube with the gear structure is applicable to the present invention.

Preferably, the blocking member 523 is selected from paper, polylactic acid sheet, acetate fiber, or high temperature resistant material, wherein high temperature resistant means capable of withstanding the temperature of 250-320 ℃. The material of the capture member 523 may be air permeable or air impermeable and when air permeable may be suitable for use in a conventional heated aerosol-generating device which allows air to enter from the upstream end of an aerosol-generating article and when air impermeable may be suitable for use in a hermetically sealed heated aerosol-generating device which does not allow air to enter from the upstream end of an aerosol-generating article.

The outer sleeve 5 is a paper tube, a stainless steel tube or a metal tube capable of receiving electromagnetic induction. Preferably said outer sleeve 5 is also provided with a mesh structure. More preferably, the outer sleeve 5 is selected from a metal mesh which receives electromagnetic induction, and the corresponding inner tube has a section of antimagnetic material layer on the side close to the bottom surface 52 of the seal. This is particularly the case for electromagnetic heating appliances, where the heating process of the aerosol-generating appliance can be initiated when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the aerosol-generating article receiving chamber, but now the outer sleeve 5 does not receive the electromagnetic generator of the aerosol-generating appliance and generates heat because the inner tube has a layer of anti-magnetic material on the side close to the bottom surface 52 of the closure, and when the locking means has locked the outer sleeve 5 of the aerosol-generating article and the cavity 6 has been formed, the inner tube is moved away from the electromagnetic induction region, thereby releasing the prevention of electromagnetic reception by the outer sleeve 5, so that the outer sleeve 5 normally receives magnetic induction and is heated, i.e. the outer sleeve 5 now acts as a susceptor for the electromagnetic heating appliance. The object of such an arrangement is also to facilitate direct actuation of the aerosol-generating device after insertion of the aerosol-generating article, avoiding the cumbersome steps of first actuating the locking component and then actuating the heating component.

The aerosol generating system comprises the following use methods:

A. the closure base surface 52 of the outer sleeve 5 closes off the particulate section 4 of aerosol source material in the hollow section 3 when the particulate aerosol-generating article is in a non-smoking state position; inserting an aerosol-generating article in a non-smoking state position into the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity N2, the notch N33 corresponding in position to the protrusion 522, such that the locking disk N32 passes through the protrusion 522 into the interior of the outer sleeve 5;

B. activating the locking means N3, the locking disc N32 and the outer sleeve 5 moving in relative rotation, the notch N33 being out of position with the projection N32, the locking disc N32 securing the outer sleeve 5 by the projection 522, so that the locking means N3 pulls the outer sleeve 5 by the projection 522 axially relative to the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article, the upstream end face of the hollow part 3 and the closure base surface 52 having an axial distance therebetween, the axial distance forming a cavity 6 by the outer sleeve 5, aerosol source material particle parts 4 contained in the hollow part 3 falling under gravity into the cavity 6, the hollow cavity area of the hollow part 3 forming an air flow channel 7, the aerosol-generating article being in a smoking state position;

C. the aerosol-generating appliance heating member activates heating of the aerosol-generating article's aerosol source material particle components 4 to produce an aerosol.

The heating element of the aerosol-generating device used in conjunction with the aerosol-generating article of the present invention may be in the form of a circumferential heating cartridge or a central heating rod, and the heating element may generate heat in the form of electromagnetic heating or resistive heating.

The aerosol-generating article of the present invention is more preferably suitable for use in a circumferentially-type resistively-heated aerosol-generating appliance, as well as an electromagnetically-heated aerosol-generating appliance. When the aerosol-generating device used in combination therewith is a circumferential resistance-heated aerosol-generating device, it is only necessary to locate the heating cartridge (heating element) axially outside the aerosol source material particles. When the aerosol-generating device used in conjunction with it is an electromagnetic heated aerosol-generating device, it is only necessary to locate the magnetic field-receptive susceptor axially outside the aerosol-source material particles, or to locate the aerosol-source material particles, or more simply to locate the susceptor material directly on the outer sleeve 5 surrounding the aerosol-source material particles.

The technical scheme can be freely combined on the premise of no contradiction.

The invention has the following beneficial effects:

1. the present invention provides an aerosol-generating system having an aerosol-generating article locking function, the locking member N3 of an aerosol-generating appliance and the outer sleeve 5 of an aerosol-generating article being relatively rotatable therebetween to secure the outer sleeve 5; further, said locking member N3 of the aerosol-generating appliance is axially movable to bring said outer sleeve 5 into axial movement relative to said main body portion of the aerosol-generating article, thereby performing the function of locking the outer sleeve 5 and of pulling the outer sleeve 5 relative to the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article.

2. The aerosol-generating article of the present invention eliminates the multi-ported fastener segments and the sealing membrane, but still allows for two-end confinement of the particles by the bottom surface 52 of the seal of the outer sleeve 5 during transport and storage, and the particle-based aerosol-generating article of the present invention has two positions for both the particles of aerosol-source material and the bottom surface 52 of the seal in the non-aspirating state and the aspirating state, and the bottom surface 52 of the seal blocks the parts 4 of the particles of aerosol-source material in the hollow parts 3 in the non-aspirating state. When in the suction state, the outer sleeve 5 is moved axially relative to the body portion, there being an axial distance between the upstream end face of the hollow part 3 and the closure base face 52, the axial distance forming a cavity 6 by the outer sleeve 5, the parts 4 of aerosol source material particles contained in the hollow part 3 falling under gravity into the cavity 6, the hollow cavity region of the hollow part 3 forming an air flow passage 7.

3. Because the aerosol source material particles are positioned in the cavity of the hollow part 3 during transportation and storage, the aerosol source material particles can be filled more tightly and have the smallest contact area with air, thereby ensuring better preservation of additives such as essence, spice or smoke agent added in the aerosol source material particles. And on entering the suction state position, as the outer sleeve 5 moves axially relative to the body portion, the aerosol source material particle parts 4 drop under gravity into the cavities 6, where the particles drop relatively more loosely due to the larger diameter of the cavities 6, facilitating aerosol generation and release. And the hollow cavity originally containing the aerosol source material particles forms an airflow channel to provide a space for the flow and convergence of the aerosol.

4. In order to improve the cooling effect of the flue gas, it is often necessary to form ventilation holes in the side walls of the aerosol-generating article in order to introduce ambient air into the airflow channels inside the aerosol-generating article, mix it with the flue gas and cool it. When the aerosol-generating article is not smoked, that is to say, during transportation or storage of the aerosol-generating article, the presence of the vent holes can allow air to enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article and to come into more or less contact with the particles of the aerosol-source material, thereby causing the loss of the additive such as the perfume or the smoke suppressant added to the particles of the aerosol-source material, or moisture in the outside air to enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article through the vent holes, which can also easily cause the particles of the aerosol-source material to become damp, and thus can adversely affect the preservation of the particles of the aerosol-source material. The outer sleeve 5 is located on the outside of the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article of the invention and the ventilation aperture is located in the main body portion, the outer sleeve 5 being capable of sealing the ventilation aperture in a non-smoking state of storage and transport of the aerosol-generating article, and when the aerosol-generating article is in a smoking state, the outer sleeve 5 is axially displaced a distance relative to the main body portion to expose the ventilation aperture at which time ambient air can enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article through the ventilation aperture. In addition to this, the vent hole may also serve as an indicator of relative axial movement of the outer sleeve 5 and the main body portion to the suction state position, i.e. when the outer sleeve 5 and the main body portion are moved axially relative to each other until the vent hole is just fully exposed, and indicates that the suction state position is reached.

5. The inner tube of the aerosol-generating article of the invention may be a breathable material or may be a non-breathable material. When it is an air permeable material, air can be introduced into the inner tube by its own air permeability. When it is an air impermeable material, air may be introduced into the inner tube by perforating the inner tube. Of course, the mode of the vent hole is preferably adopted, so that the vent hole can also be directly used as an indicator for the pulling-out distance, and the two purposes are achieved at the same time.

6. The aerosol-generating article of the present invention is more preferably suitable for use in a circumferentially-type resistively-heated aerosol-generating appliance, as well as an electromagnetically-heated aerosol-generating appliance. When the aerosol-generating device used in combination therewith is a circumferential resistance-heated aerosol-generating device, it is only necessary to locate the heating cartridge (heating element) axially outside the aerosol source material particles. When the aerosol-generating device with which it is used is an electromagnetically heated aerosol-generating device, it is only necessary to position the susceptor, which is capable of receiving a magnetic field, axially outside the particles of aerosol-source material, or to position the susceptor material on the particles of aerosol-source material, or more simply to position the susceptor material directly on an outer sleeve surrounding the particles of aerosol-source material. The invention greatly improves the production efficiency. The adoption of circumferential heating or electromagnetic heating avoids the particles from scattering into the aerosol generating device and avoids the problem of cleanness of the aerosol generating device.

Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a particle-type aerosol-generating article of the prior art.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a multi-aperture fastener segment in a particle-based aerosol-generating article of the prior art.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the structure of an aerosol-generating system of the present invention (during blanking).

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a particulate aerosol-generating article of the invention in a non-smoking state.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of a particulate aerosol-generating article of the invention in a smoking state.

Figure 6 is a top view of a locking member of an aerosol-generating device of the invention.

Figure 7 is a top view of a locking component of an aerosol-generating device of the invention in an unlocked state with the base 52 of the closure of the aerosol-generating article.

Figure 8 is a top view of a locking member of an aerosol-generating device of the invention in a locked condition with a closure base 52 of an aerosol-generating article.

List of reference numerals:

in fig. 1-2: x1-outer sleeve, X2-sealing membrane, X3-aerosol source material particles, X4-multi-ported anchor section, X5-gas flow channel section, X6-filter section, X41-axial through hole, X42-peripheral vent groove;

in fig. 3-8: 1-inner tube, 2-filter part, 3-hollow part, 31-vent hole, 4-aerosol source material particle part, 5-outer sleeve, 51-top open, 52-sealed bottom, 521-open, 522-projection, 523-block part, 6-cavity, 7-airflow channel;

n1-aerosol-generating appliance housing, N2-aerosol-generating article receiving chamber, N3-locking member, N31-support rod, N32-locking disk, N33-notch.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be further described with reference to the following embodiments.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the following examples are illustrative of the invention only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. The examples do not specify particular techniques or conditions, and are performed according to the techniques or conditions described in the literature in the art or according to the product specifications. The materials or equipment used are not indicated by manufacturers, and all are conventional products available by purchase.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", "the" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Further, "connected" as used herein may include wirelessly connected.

In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means two or more unless otherwise specified. The terms "inner," "upper," "lower," and the like, refer to an orientation or a state relationship based on that shown in the drawings, which is for convenience in describing and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referenced device or element must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "provided" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as being fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; can be mechanically or electrically connected; may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate. To those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention are understood according to specific situations.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the prior art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Example 1

As shown in fig. 4-5, the present embodiment particulate aerosol-generating article comprises a body portion and an outer sleeve 5 located outside the body portion;

the main body part comprises an inner pipe 1, and a filtering part 2 and a hollow part 3 which are arranged in the inner pipe 1 from a near lip end to a far lip end in sequence, wherein a hollow cavity of the hollow part 3 is provided with an aerosol source material particle part 4;

The upstream and downstream mentioned in this embodiment are determined in the gas flow direction. More specifically, the distal labial end is upstream and the proximal labial end is downstream.

The closure base surface 52 of the outer sleeve 5 closes off the aerosol-source material particle sections 4 in the hollow section 3 when the particulate aerosol-generating article is in a non-aspirating position;

The bottom surface 52 of the seal has an opening 521, and the remaining portion of the bottom surface 52 of the seal except the opening 521 is used as a protrusion 522, the outer sleeve 5 has a sealing member 523 therein, the protrusion 522 is used to confine the sealing member 523 in the outer sleeve 5, and the sealing member 523 can seal the opening 521, and the sealing member 523 can move axially relative to the outer sleeve 5 under the action of external force. The purpose of the snap-seal member 523 being axially displaceable relative to the outer sleeve 5 under the action of an external force is that the locking disk N32 of the aerosol-generating appliance can in turn be pushed into the outer sleeve 5 by pushing the snap-seal member 523.

The side wall of the hollow part 3 is provided with vent holes 31 which radially penetrate through the side wall, after the main body part and the outer sleeve 5 are relatively axially moved to a suction state position, external environment air can enter the hollow cavity of the hollow part 3 through the vent holes 31, and the number of the vent holes 31 is one or more. In order to improve the cooling effect of the flue gas, it is often necessary to form ventilation holes in the side walls of the aerosol-generating article in order to introduce ambient air into the airflow channels inside the aerosol-generating article, mix it with the flue gas and cool it. When the aerosol-generating article is not being smoked, that is to say transported or stored, the presence of the ventilation openings can lead to air entering the interior of the aerosol-generating article, coming into more or less contact with the particles of the aerosol-source material, which can lead to the loss of the added additives, such as fragrances or smoking agents, inside the particles of the aerosol-source material, or moisture in the ambient air entering the interior of the aerosol-generating article through the ventilation openings, which can easily lead to the wetting of the particles of the aerosol-source material, which is detrimental to the preservation of the particles of the aerosol-source material. The outer sleeve 5 is located on the outside of the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article of the invention and the ventilation aperture is located in the main body portion, the outer sleeve 5 being capable of sealing the ventilation aperture in a non-smoking state of storage and transport of the aerosol-generating article, and when the aerosol-generating article is in a smoking state, the outer sleeve 5 is axially displaced a distance relative to the main body portion to expose the ventilation aperture at which time ambient air can enter the interior of the aerosol-generating article through the ventilation aperture. In addition to this, the vent hole may also serve as an indicator of relative axial movement of the outer sleeve 5 and the main body portion to the suction state position, i.e. when the outer sleeve 5 and the main body portion are moved axially relative to each other until the vent hole is just fully exposed, and indicates that the suction state position is reached. At this moment, the air vent can also be directly used as an indicator of the pulling-out distance, thereby achieving two purposes at a time.

The hollow member 3 is two-piece.

The blocking member 523 is selected from paper.

As shown in fig. 3, 6-8, this embodiment further comprises the aerosol-generating system of the aerosol-generating article described above, the aerosol-generating device used in cooperation with the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-generating device housing N1 and an aerosol-generating article receiving chamber N2 located in the aerosol-generating device housing N1, the aerosol-generating article receiving chamber N2 has therein a locking member N3 in cooperation with the protrusion 522, and the locking member N3 is fixed to the outer sleeve 5 by the protrusion 522;

The locking part N3 comprises a support bar N31 and a locking disc N32 positioned on the support bar N31, a notch N33 with the shape consistent with that of the protrusion 522 is arranged on the locking disc N32, and the support bar N31 can drive the locking disc N32 to rotate;

after the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity N2, the notch N33 corresponds to the position of the protrusion 522, so that the locking disk N32 passes through the protrusion 522 to enter the inside of the outer sleeve 5, the supporting rod N31 further drives the locking disk N32 to rotate, the notch N33 is misaligned with the protrusion N32, the outer sleeve 5 is fixed by the locking disk N32 through the protrusion 522, so that the outer sleeve 5 is pulled by the locking component N3 through the protrusion 522 to move axially relative to the main body part of the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol generating system is used as follows:

A. the closure base surface 52 of the outer sleeve 5 closes off the aerosol-source material particle sections 4 in the hollow section 3 when the particulate aerosol-generating article is in a non-aspirating position; inserting an aerosol-generating article in a non-smoking state position into the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity N2, the notch N33 corresponding in position to the protrusion 522, such that the locking disk N32 passes through the protrusion 522 into the interior of the outer sleeve 5;

B. actuating the locking member N3, the support rod N31 carrying the locking disk N32 in a rotational movement, the notch N33 being positionally misaligned with the projection N32, the locking disk N32 fixing the outer sleeve 5 by the projection 522, so that the locking member N3 pulls the outer sleeve 5 by the projection 522 in an axial movement relative to the main body portion of the aerosol-generating article, the upstream end face of the hollow member 3 and the closure base surface 52 having an axial distance therebetween, the axial distance forming a cavity 6 by the outer sleeve 5, the aerosol source material particle members 4 contained in the hollow member 3 falling under gravity into the cavity 6, the hollow cavity region of the hollow member 3 forming an air flow channel 7, the aerosol-generating article being in a suction state position;

C. the aerosol-generating appliance heating member is activated to heat the aerosol-source material particle part 4 of the aerosol-generating article, thereby generating an aerosol.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating system having an aerosol-generating article locking function, comprising an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating appliance;

the aerosol-generating appliance comprises an aerosol-generating appliance housing (N1) and an aerosol-generating article receiving cavity (N2) within the aerosol-generating appliance housing (N1), the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity (N2) having a locking feature (N3) therein;

the aerosol-generating article comprises a body portion and an outer sleeve (5) located outside the body portion;

-the locking member (N3) and the outer sleeve (5) are relatively rotatable to fix the outer sleeve (5);

and the locking member (N3) is axially movable to bring the outer sleeve (5) into axial movement relative to the body portion of aerosol-generating article.

2. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the locking member (N3) comprises a support rod (N31) and a locking disk (N32) on the support rod (N31), and the locking disk (N32) is rotationally movable relative to the outer sleeve (5).

3. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 2, wherein the aerosol-generating article is a particulate aerosol-generating article, the body portion of the particulate aerosol-generating article comprising an inner tube (1) and, located within the inner tube (1), a filter component (2) and a hollow component (3) arranged in sequence from a proximal lip end to a distal lip end, the hollow component (3) having within its hollow cavity a particulate component (4) of aerosol-source material;

the outer sleeve (5) has a top opening (51) and a sealing bottom surface (52), wherein the top opening (51) is positioned at one side of the filtering part (2), the sealing bottom surface (52) is positioned at one side of the hollow part (3), and the sealing bottom surface (52) is used for sealing off the aerosol source material particle part (4) in the hollow part (3);

the outer sleeve (5) is axially movable relative to the body portion to provide an axial distance between the upstream end face of the hollow section (3) and the closure base surface (52), the axial distance forming a cavity (6) from the outer sleeve (5), the particulate aerosol source material part (4) in the hollow section (3) moving into the cavity (6).

4. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 3, wherein the closure base surface (52) of the outer sleeve (5) closes off the section (4) of aerosol source material particles in the hollow part (3) when the particulate aerosol-generating article is in a non-aspirating position;

-the outer sleeve (5) is axially displaced relative to the body portion when the particulate aerosol-generating article is in a smoking state position, and the upstream end face of the hollow member (3) and the closure base surface (52) are at an axial distance from each other that forms a cavity (6) by the outer sleeve (5), -a particulate component (4) of aerosol source material contained in the hollow member (3) falls under gravity into the cavity (6), -a hollow cavity region of the hollow member (3) forms an air flow channel (7).

5. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 3, wherein the closure base surface (52) has an opening (521) and the remaining portion of the closure base surface (52) excluding the opening (521) is provided as a protrusion (522), the outer sleeve (5) has a sealing member (523) therein, the protrusion (522) is used to confine the sealing member (523) within the outer sleeve (5), and the sealing member (523) is used to seal the opening (521), the sealing member (523) is axially movable relative to the outer sleeve (5) under the action of an external force.

6. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 3, wherein the locking disk (N32) has a notch (N33) thereon conforming to the shape of the protrusion (522), and the locking disk (N32) is rotationally movable relative to the outer sleeve (5);

-the notch (N33) corresponds in position to the projection (522) after insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity (N2), such that the locking disk (N32) passes through the projection (522) into the interior of the outer sleeve (5), further the locking disk (N32) and the outer sleeve (5) are relatively rotationally moved, the notch (N33) is positionally misaligned with the projection (N32), the locking disk (N32) fixing the outer sleeve (5) by means of the projection (522), such that the locking member (N3) pulls the outer sleeve (5) by means of the projection (522) axially in relation to the body portion of the aerosol-generating article.

7. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating appliance housing (N1) further has a lock activation button thereon, and wherein pressing the lock activation button after insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity (N2) controls the locking member (N3) to lock the outer sleeve (5) and pull the outer sleeve (5) to move axially relative to the body portion of the aerosol-generating article until a smoking state position is reached.

8. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 3, wherein the inner tube (1) has an indicator mark on the outside thereof by which it is determined that the outer sleeve (5) has been moved axially relative to the body portion to a suction state position;

the inner tube (5) is selected from air-permeable materials, and outside air can enter the inner tube (5) through the inner tube;

the hollow part (3) is one or more sections;

the blocking component (523) is selected from paper, polylactic acid sheet, acetate fiber or high temperature resistant material, wherein the high temperature resistant means that the blocking component can resist the temperature of 250-320 ℃;

the outer sleeve (5) is a paper tube, a stainless steel tube or a metal tube capable of receiving electromagnetic induction.

9. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 3, wherein the hollow member (3) has one or more vent holes (31) in a side wall thereof extending radially therethrough, and wherein ambient air can pass through the vent holes (31) into the hollow cavity of the hollow member (3) after the main body portion and the outer sleeve (5) have been moved axially relative thereto to the drawn state position, the number of vent holes (31) being one or more.

10. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 5, used in the following way:

A. the closure base surface (52) of the outer sleeve (5) occluding a section (4) of aerosol-source material particles in the hollow section (3) when the particulate aerosol-generating article is in a non-aspirating position; inserting an aerosol-generating article in a non-smoking state position into the aerosol-generating article receiving cavity (N2), the notch (N33) corresponding in position to the protrusion (522) such that the locking disk (N32) passes through the protrusion (522) into the interior of the outer sleeve (5);

B. activating the locking member (N3), relative rotational movement of the locking disk (N32) and the outer sleeve (5), the notch (N33) being positionally misaligned with the projection (N32), the locking disk (N32) securing the outer sleeve (5) by the projection (522), such that the locking member (N3) pulls the outer sleeve (5) by the projection (522) to move axially relative to the body portion of aerosol-generating article, there being an axial distance between the upstream end face of the hollow member (3) and the closure floor (52) which forms a cavity (6) by the outer sleeve (5), aerosol source material particle members (4) contained in the hollow member (3) falling under gravity into the cavity (6), the hollow cavity region of the hollow member (3) forming an air flow channel (7), the aerosol-generating article is in a smoking state position;

C. an aerosol-generating appliance heating member activates heating of an aerosol-generating article aerosol source material particle member (4) to produce an aerosol.