CN114727659A

CN114727659A - Aerosol generating device and aerosol generating system

Info

Publication number: CN114727659A
Application number: CN202080081538.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: K.阿代尔
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2019-11-29
Filing date: 2020-11-27
Publication date: 2022-07-08
Also published as: JP2023503543A; EP4064889A1; WO2021105452A1; US20220408816A1; KR20220108059A

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device (1) having a housing (2) is provided. The aerosol-generating device comprises a first aerosol-generating unit (10) adapted to generate a first type of vapour from a solid substrate (32). The first aerosol generating unit further comprises a receiving interface (14) for a consumable (30). The receiving interface comprises a plurality of heating elements (16) with spikes (17) arranged such that the spikes are inserted into the consumable when the consumable is received by the receiving interface. The housing (2) comprises a cavity in which at least part of the receiving interface is arranged. The spikes of the heating element are arranged in at least two arrays and the opposing arrays of heating elements with spikes are configured to uniformly heat the region of the consumable between the opposing arrays.

Description

Aerosol generating device and aerosol generating system

The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating system according to the preambles of the independent claims.

The aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating system have the ability to generate an aerosol due to heat generated by the power source. The aerosol is intended to be inhaled into the mouth of a user. Of particular interest are aerosol delivery devices and systems that provide components of tobacco in the form of an aerosol, such as provided by devices commonly referred to as electronic cigarettes. As used herein, the term "aerosol" is intended to encompass vapors, gases, aerosols, and/or particulate matter of a form or type suitable for human inhalation, whether visible or invisible, and whether in a form that is considered aerosolized or not.

One example of an aerosol generating device is described in US2018/0056015a 1. US2018/0056015a1 discloses a twin vaporizer having a vaporizing assembly with a first chamber having plant matter for containing dry plant matter. The dried plant matter is heated with a first heating element. Further, the dual vaporizer includes a second chamber having a second heating element, wherein a wick in fluid communication with the second chamber draws the liquid. The wick is heated with a coil to generate vapor.

Another aerosol generating device is shown in CN 103431525B. The device includes a housing having a tobacco column assembly. The assembly includes heating pins arranged in a column. However, the heating pin penetrates only the peripheral area of the inserted consumable. As a result, during operation, the peripheral portion of the consumable is heated to a different temperature than the internal portion of the consumable, resulting in either the peripheral portion or the internal portion not being heated sufficiently or being heated to too high a temperature, which may result in an unpleasant taste.

The problem of the present invention is therefore to provide an aerosol which gives the consumer a pleasant and smooth mouthfeel.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating device having a housing. The aerosol-generating device comprises a first aerosol-generating unit. The first aerosol generating unit is adapted to generate a first type of vapour from the solid substrate. The first aerosol generating unit further comprises a receiving interface for the consumable. The interface contains a plurality of heating elements having spikes arranged such that they are inserted into the consumable when it is received by the interface. The interface may include a temperature sensor adapted to be inserted into the consumable.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing contains a chamber in which at least a portion of the interface is disposed. The spikes of the heating element are arranged in at least two arrays. An array may be understood as a regular or irregular arrangement of heating elements. For example, the heating elements may be arranged in one column (i.e., a1 × X array) or in multiple columns (i.e., a 2, 3, or 4 × X array). The spacing between the rows of heating elements may be regular, in particular identical. The columns may extend in the same direction. The spacing between the columns may be regular, in particular identical. Each array may have a width of 2, 3 or 4 columns, where each column may have a length of 4, 6, 8 or more heating elements.

By arranging the spikes of the heating element in the array, the consumable comprising the solid matrix is heated more evenly. This provides a reliable and constant amount and quality of released vapor.

Further, the opposing arrays of heating elements with spikes may be configured to uniformly heat the area of the consumable between the opposing arrays. The uniform heat distribution has the effect of producing smoke uniformly over the entire heating area and makes the aerosol feel smoother. Further, the entire solid matrix between the arrays can be heated to a suitable temperature, resulting in greater efficiency.

The length of the spikes of one array may be at least a quarter, preferably at least a third or at least a half of the distance between the opposing arrays. The distance between the opposing arrays is in particular the direction of extension of the chambers. For example, the chamber may be a cylinder with a circular base of diameter (e.g., 30 mm). In this case, the distance between the opposing arrays may be 30mm (or less) and the spikes have a length of at least 7.5mm, 10mm or 15 mm. Preferably, the length of the spikes of the two opposing arrays is at least a quarter, preferably at least a third or at least a half of the distance between the opposing arrays.

In a further aspect of the invention, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a second aerosol-generating unit adapted to generate a second type of vapour from the liquid substrate. Further, during normal operation of the user, the first aerosol-generating unit may be arranged upstream or downstream of the second aerosol-generating unit with respect to the airflow through the aerosol-generating device.

Both changes (upstream and downstream) can improve the quality of the released vapor.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the combination of the heating element and the spike and the upstream arrangement of the first aerosol generating unit produces a smoother aerosol and the user experience is significantly improved due to the stronger flavour compared to the known device.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating element itself may form a spike. For example, the heating element may be formed from a resistive wire bent to form a tip. In further embodiments, the spike is made at least in part of a susceptor material and heated by a magnetic coil, or the spike is covered by a resistively heatable material, or the spike is made at least in part of a resistively heatable material.

In particular embodiments, the chamber may include 2, 3, 4, or more arrays.

In a preferred embodiment, the chamber has a cylindrical shape and a central axis. The at least two arrays may extend in the direction of the central axis or in the direction of the circumference of the cylindrical shape. Thus, a uniform heating of the consumable is provided. It should be noted that the arrays may extend along the same direction or in different directions from each other. The array may be arranged around the circumference of the cylindrical chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the spikes extend in the axial or radial direction of the chamber. In particular, when the heating element is arranged at an end portion of the cylindrical chamber, the heating element extends in an axial direction of the chamber, and when the heating element is arranged on a curved surface of the cylinder, the heating element extends in a radial direction.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two arrays of spikes are arranged at substantially opposite sides of the chamber, such that the consumable may be held at the interface by the spikes. When the spikes are arranged on substantially opposite sides, the consumable is securely held in the chamber and is prevented from accidentally falling out. Furthermore, the heating within the consumable is particularly uniform.

In a preferred embodiment, spikes on generally opposite sides of the chamber are connected to one another to form a closed loop. In this way, it is ensured that the heating penetrates the core of the consumable.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises an enclosure of the chamber, wherein at least one of the array of heating elements extends from the enclosure into the chamber. The closure securely retains the consumable within the chamber. A heating element, in particular a spike, extending from the closure secures the consumable in a desired position within the interface, in which desired position heat is applied. Thus, a reliable placement of the consumable within the interface is ensured.

It is particularly preferred that the closure is a door which can be hinged. Alternatively, the door may also be slidable or separable from the housing, or any other suitable mechanism for moving the door may be used. An advantage of a hinged door is that pressure can be easily applied to insert the spike into the consumable.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two arrays extend into the chamber from opposite sides of the chamber, and the arrays are offset from each other. For example, one of the arrays may be offset relative to the other array in the axial or circumferential direction of the chamber. Thus, a more uniform heat distribution is achieved and the space within the consumable is more efficiently utilized.

In a particular embodiment, the consumable may be a tobacco rod.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the spikes at least partially overlap. For example, the spikes may extend from opposite sides of the consumable and may overlap with respect to the direction of extension of one of the arrays. Thus, the spikes are allowed to penetrate deeper into the consumable and even more spikes can fit the same length into the tobacco rod. Further, the solid substrate may be heated more uniformly. The opposing spikes may extend in the same direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the interface includes a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is adapted to be inserted into a consumable. Preferably, the sensor is a thermocouple, and further preferably is arranged in a position in the downstream direction of the interface along the direction of the air flow. The temperature sensor may be adapted to measure the temperature at the center of the consumable. The temperature sensor may form a spike or may be inserted through a spike. The spikes of the temperature sensor may form part of one of the aforementioned arrays or may be arranged separately therefrom. Further preferably, the temperature sensor is arranged at a downstream end of the interface in the direction of the air flow.

The temperature sensor may measure the temperature, and thus the condition of the tobacco, in particular the temperature at the centre of the consumable. Thus, the tobacco vapor provided has a constant temperature and composition. In one example, the temperature sensor may be used for closed loop control of tobacco and steam temperature control. The closed loop may contain a temperature sensor, a controller, and a heating element. Thus, an active monitoring of the core of the tobacco part in the consumable is achieved, so that the control is optimized.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a controller and at least part of the heating elements are independently controllable by the controller. As a result, tobacco may be heated from a first end to a second end, similar to burning a cigarette. Alternatively or additionally, the consumable may comprise different tobacco components that need to be heated to different temperatures. For example, in the case of a consumable that is not uniformly packaged, the heating energy may be adjusted according to the density of different sections of the consumable.

In a preferred embodiment, the chamber comprises a first heating zone and a second heating zone. Each heating zone comprises one or more heating elements, wherein the controller is configured to control the heating elements independently of each other. Defining the heating zones may enable the consumables to be individually adjustable. For example, one of the heating zones may be turned on or off depending on the taste of the user or the input of the user. The consumable may contain only a specific additive such as methanol as a section of the additive, and the user may decide whether or not to consume the specific additive. Further, the heating zone may allow partial consumption of the consumable to continue later. During the first phase of use, in case only the solid material in the first heating zone is consumed, the user may turn on the device at a later time and start consuming the solid material in the second heating zone, wherein the user experience will resemble a new consumable.

In a preferred embodiment, the spikes of the heating element may contain air conduits. The air conduit may be configured to allow airflow through the spike into the consumable. Thus, the air flow is directed into the centre of the tobacco rod and the air is heated by the spikes as it enters. As a result, the consumable releases more flavor and aroma.

In a preferred embodiment, the first aerosol generating unit and the second aerosol generating unit are connected with the airflow passage, and the second aerosol generating unit comprises a second unit inlet for receiving the first type of vapour through the airflow passage. There may be no inlet in the housing for providing the airflow directly to the second aerosol-generating unit without passing through the first aerosol-generating unit. Thus, the entire airflow through the second aerosol generating unit is pushed through the first aerosol generating unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the spike is configured to pierce a wall of the consumable when the consumable is received by the interface. Thus, the consumable may be provided with a wall isolating the solid substrate from the environment, thereby preserving the solid substrate.

In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises an outlet vapour passage downstream of the first and second vapour generating units such that the first and second types of vapour are thoroughly mixed before reaching the outlet of the aerosol generating device.

A further aspect of the invention relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device as described above, and a consumable. The consumable may comprise a solid matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises a liquid matrix. In one embodiment, only one of the matrices, preferably the solid matrix, contains nicotine.

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1: a schematic diagram of an aerosol-generating system according to the present invention is disclosed,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram: a detailed view of a first embodiment of an interface for a consumable of an aerosol-generating system is disclosed,

FIG. 3A: a detailed view of a second embodiment of an interface for a consumable of an aerosol-generating system is disclosed,

FIG. 3B: a detailed view of an embodiment of the first aerosol generating unit is disclosed,

FIG. 4: a detailed view of a third embodiment of an interface for a consumable of an aerosol-generating system is disclosed,

FIG. 5: a detailed view of a fourth embodiment of an interface for a consumable of an aerosol-generating system is disclosed, an

FIG. 6: a detailed view of a fifth embodiment of an interface for a consumable of an aerosol-generating system is disclosed.

Figure 1 discloses a schematic view of an aerosol-generating system according to the present invention. The aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating device 1. The aerosol generating device 1 may receive one or more consumables 30 containing liquid and/or solids. The aerosol-generating system is then formed by the aerosol-generating device 1 in combination with a consumable containing a liquid and/or a solid.

The aerosol-generating device 1 comprises a housing 2 having a generally longitudinal shape. In particular, the housing 2 is cylindrical about the central axis 5 and includes a first end 43 and a second end 45. For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may be cylindrical. Within the housing 2, there is arranged a reusable section 40, a first aerosol generating unit 10 and a second aerosol generating unit 20. Air enters the housing through an inlet disposed at the first end 43. Alternatively, the inlet may be provided anywhere along the reusable section 40, or at the end of the first aerosol generating unit 10 facing the first end 43. Typically, the air then flows through the aerosol generating device 1 in the direction of the airflow 18 and exits the aerosol generating device through the outlet 44. In the particular embodiment shown in fig. 1, the outlet 45 is positioned at the second end.

As air flows through the aerosol generating device 1, a first type of vapour is added to the air flow by the first aerosol generating unit 10 and a second type of vapour is added to the air flow by the second aerosol generating unit 20.

The reusable section 40 includes a battery 42 and a controller 8 (see fig. 2). The

aerosol generating units

10, 20 and the reusable section 40 may be separate from each other so that they can be replaced individually.

The second aerosol-generating unit 20 comprises a liquid reservoir comprising the liquid substrate 22. The liquid matrix 22 may comprise polyols such as glycerol and propylene glycol, typically without nicotine. Alternatively, the liquid matrix 22 may contain a nicotine component from a tobacco material. The liquid matrix 22 may also contain a flavoring such as menthol. Liquid contained in the liquid reservoir is drawn towards the heater 25 through the wick 24. The heater 25 wraps around the wick 24 and evaporates the liquid that the wick draws from the liquid matrix 22, thereby forming a second type of vapor. The second type of vapour is directed through the conduit 26 towards the outlet 44 of the aerosol generating device 1.

The first aerosol generating unit 10 is arranged in an upstream position relative to the airflow 18 compared to the second aerosol generating unit 20. The first aerosol generating unit 10 comprises a receiving interface 14 for a consumable 30. The consumable comprises a solid matrix 32. The substrate may comprise tobacco material in various forms (such as cut filler and granulated tobacco), and/or the tobacco material may comprise tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco. The receiving interface 14 is formed by the chamber 4 in the housing 2. Within the chamber 4, a plurality of heating elements 16 are arranged. The heating element 16 comprises spikes 17. The spikes 17 may be formed in whole or in part from an inductively heatable susceptor material. In this case, the aerosol-generating device further comprises an induction heating coil for generating an electromagnetic field for heating the susceptor material.

Alternatively, the spikes may contain a resistive material that becomes hot when current is directed through the spike from the battery 8. For example, the spikes may be formed by bending a resistive wire to form a tip, or the spikes may be covered by a conductive layer of resistive and conductive material. Exemplary embodiments of suitable heating elements and spikes are shown in patent documents CN 103431525B, CN 208676371U and CN 104026740B.

As shown in fig. 1, the spikes 17 are arranged in two arrays 12 at opposite sides 7 of the receiving interface 14. The arrays 12 each comprise regularly spaced columns of 4 staples (i.e., a1 x 4 array).

A particularly preferred embodiment of the first aerosol generating unit 10 is shown in fig. 2. Each heating element 16, including spikes 17, is connected to a controller 8 and a battery 42 (see fig. 1). The heating elements 16 are grouped together into 3 sections: segment a, segment B, and segment C. Each section includes 2 sets of opposed heating elements 16 and may be controlled separately from the other sections by the controller 8. When the consumable 30 is inserted into the chamber 4, the heating element is pushed through the wall of the consumable 30 and into the solid matrix 32 within the consumable 30. This configuration is shown in fig. 2.

When the smoker starts consuming the consumable 30, first only the heating element 16 provided in section a is heated. As the solid substrate (e.g., a humectant disposed in the portion of the consumable pierced by the heating elements 16 grouped in section a) becomes lower in section a, the temperature in the heating elements 16 of section a decreases. Thereafter, the temperature of the heating element 16 in section B is increased until the solid matrix in the consumable in the region of section B is depleted. Similarly, the heating elements in section C are then heated. Thus, the smoke produced by the consumable is more consistent over the life of the consumable 30. In the example shown in fig. 2, the controller groups the heating elements into 3 zones. However, the heating elements may also be grouped into six opposing heating element sections or 2 opposing heating element sections. Further, the illustrated rows of heating elements may be longer, and the sections may also each contain 1, 3, or more sets of opposing heating elements.

A further preferred embodiment of a heating element 16 according to the invention is shown in fig. 3A. In the embodiment of fig. 3A, the heating element is electrically heatable and is formed from the resistive material of the heating element. For example, the spikes 17 may be at least partially formed of or covered by a resistive heating material. A suitable resistive heating material should have sufficient resistance to produce a suitable operating temperature (i.e., about 150 c to 350 c), a melting point well above the operating temperature required to vaporize the first type of vapor, and sufficient temperature strength. Example materials are carbon (e.g., graphite) and metal alloys, such as nickel alloys, molybdenum alloys, or tungsten alloys. In some embodiments, silicon carbide ceramics may also be suitable.

In the embodiment of fig. 3A, the circuit including the resistive heating element is formed only when the opposing heating elements 16 are connected to each other within the consumable 30. The consumable 30 is inserted into the chamber and then the heating element 16 pierces the walls of the consumable and is pushed through the matrix of the consumable 30 until they connect. Then, the current 11 may flow through two opposing heating elements 16. During insertion of the consumable, the heating element 16 pierces the core of the consumable (e.g., a tobacco rod). Thus, a substantially uniform heating of the consumable 30 is ensured. Further, the heating element may be activated only if the heating element is correctly positioned and a fault may be avoided.

In one example (see fig. 3B), the chamber 4 of the aerosol generating unit 10 may contain a hinged door 52. The chamber 4 is opened by pivoting the door 52 about one or more pivots 51 (e.g. formed by hinges). When the door is opened as shown in fig. 3B, the consumable 30 may be inserted into the chamber 4, and then the door 52 is closed. When the door is closed, the spikes 17 of the door 52 and the spikes 17 in the chamber 4 are pushed into the consumable and penetrate the matrix of the consumable.

In an alternative embodiment, the spike 17 may be movable, for example by a motor, such that the spike penetrates the consumable after the chamber is closed. In further alternative embodiments, the door may be slidable or separable from the aerosol generating unit 10.

A further preferred embodiment of the interface is shown in fig. 4. Similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 2, the spikes 17 are arranged in two opposing rows of 6 regularly spaced spikes each. As can be seen in fig. 4, the opposing rows of spikes are offset by a distance 34 in the direction of the axis 31 of the consumable. Because the opposing rows of spikes are offset from each other, the heat distribution within the consumable is more uniform. Further, due to the offset 34, the spike 17 may penetrate deeper into the consumable 30 and even overlap by a distance 33 with respect to the radial direction of the consumable or aerosol generating device.

Another embodiment of an interface is shown in fig. 5. The heating element 16 shown in fig. 5 may be similar to the heating elements provided in the previous embodiments. Furthermore, the heating element 16 shown in fig. 5 comprises a hollow bore 19 through which an air flow is guided. The hollow bore 19 may be located in the centre of the heating element 16. The air is directed from the holes 13 directly into the central part of the consumable 30, as indicated by arrows 13. Because the air is guided through the heating element with spikes 17, the air is heated while being guided into the consumable 30. The hot air causes more flavor to be released from the solid matrix.

A further variation of the interface 14 is shown in fig. 6, which shows a fifth embodiment of the interface. In principle, the embodiment shown in fig. 6 is similar to the embodiment shown in fig. 2. Unlike the embodiment shown in fig. 2, one spike 17 does not include a heating element 16. In the particular example of fig. 6, a spike 17' is arranged on the downstream end of one of the arrays 12 and comprises an embedded temperature sensor 15, in particular a thermocouple. The temperature sensor 15 is inserted through a spike and is arranged in the center of the consumable 30. This means that the thermocouple can measure the tobacco and the air flow at the very center of the tobacco. The temperature sensor 15 may be disposed at any position along the direction of the airflow. Preferably, however, the temperature sensor 15 is placed at the end of the interface 14 in the direction of the air flow 18. The addition of such a temperature sensor 15 or thermocouple may enable closed loop tobacco or steam temperature control and active monitoring of the core of the tobacco portion so that control is optimized. A spike with a temperature sensor 15 or a similar arrangement where a temperature sensor 15 is inserted into the consumable 30 may be provided with any of the arrays 12 provided in the above embodiments.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device (1) having a housing (2), the aerosol-generating device comprising:

-a first aerosol generating unit (10) adapted to generate a first type of vapour from a solid substrate (32), the first aerosol generating unit comprising a receiving interface (14) for a consumable (30), wherein the receiving interface (14) comprises a plurality of heating elements (16) with spikes (17) arranged such that the spikes are inserted into the consumable (30) when the consumable (30) is received by the receiving interface (14), and

-a chamber (4) in which at least a part of the receiving interface (14) is arranged, and wherein the spikes (17) of the heating elements (16) are arranged in at least two arrays (12), and

wherein opposing arrays of heating elements with spikes are configured to heat evenly the area of the consumable between the opposing arrays, characterized in that the spikes (17) at substantially opposite sides (7) of the chamber (4) are connected to each other to form a closed loop.

2. An aerosol-generating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (4) has a cylindrical shape and a central axis (5), and wherein the at least two arrays (12) extend in the direction of the central axis or in the direction of the circumference (6) of the cylindrical shape.

3. An aerosol-generating device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the spikes (17) extend in the axial or radial direction of the chamber.

4. The aerosol-generating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spikes (17) of the at least two arrays (12) are arranged at substantially opposite sides (7) of the chamber (4) such that the consumable (30) can be held in the receiving interface by the spikes (17).

5. An aerosol-generating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in which at least two arrays of spikes (17) extend into the chamber from opposite sides thereof and the at least two arrays are offset (34) from one another.

6. An aerosol-generating device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the spikes (17) at least partially overlap (34).

7. Aerosol-generating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving interface comprises a temperature sensor (15), in particular a thermocouple, wherein the temperature sensor is adapted to be inserted into the consumable (30), and wherein the temperature sensor is preferably arranged at a downstream end of the receiving interface (14) in the direction of the air flow (18).

8. An aerosol-generating device (1) according to any preceding claim comprising a controller (8), wherein at least part of the heating elements are independently controllable by the controller.

9. An aerosol-generating device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the chamber comprises a first heating zone (35) and a second heating zone (36), each heating zone comprising one or more heating elements (16), wherein the controller (8) is configured to control the heating zones independently of each other.

10. The aerosol-generating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spikes (17) of the heating elements (16) comprise air ducts (19) configured to allow an air flow (18) through the spikes (17) into the consumable (30).

11. An aerosol-generating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second aerosol-generating units are connected with an airflow pathway and the second aerosol-generating unit comprises a second unit inlet for receiving the first type of vapour through the airflow pathway, and wherein there is no inlet in the housing for providing an airflow into the second aerosol-generating unit without passing through the first aerosol-generating unit.

12. An aerosol-generating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second aerosol-generating unit (20) adapted to generate a second type of vapour from a liquid substrate (22), wherein the first aerosol-generating unit (10) is arranged upstream or downstream of the second aerosol-generating unit (20) with respect to an airflow (18) through the aerosol-generating device (1) during normal operation of a user.

13. An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, and a consumable (30), wherein the consumable (30) comprises the solid substrate.

14. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 13 comprising the liquid substrate, wherein only one of the substrates, preferably the solid substrate, contains nicotine.