EP4152978A1

EP4152978A1 - Cigarette heating device, method for heating a cigarette received in a cigarette heating device, metering unit, and corresponding heating method

Info

Publication number: EP4152978A1
Application number: EP21700183.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fritz Schmitt
Original assignee: Beamax SA
Current assignee: ALIENWORKS S.A.
Priority date: 2020-05-18
Filing date: 2021-01-07
Publication date: 2023-03-29
Also published as: EP4152974A1; WO2021233608A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cigarette heating device comprising a cavity for receiving a cigarette and at least one sealing element. The sealing element divides the cavity into at least two thermally separated heating zones, each heating zone having a heating unit, preferably a heating coil and/or a heating element, so that the heating zone can be heated by the heating unit. The invention additionally relates to a method for heating a cigarette received in a cigarette heating device, to a metering unit which has a carrier film, wherein the carrier film has at least one reservoir for a gel, an active ingredient, and/or a flavoring agent, and each reservoir has a heating element, and to a corresponding heating method.

Description

Cigarette heating device, method for heating a cigarette accommodated in a cigarette heating device, as well as metering unit and a corresponding heating method

The invention relates to a cigarette heating device, a method for heating a cigarette accommodated in a cigarette heating device, as well as a metering unit and a corresponding heating method. With the invention, commercially available cigarettes can be heated without burning tobacco in order to enable less harmful smoking pleasure.

When cigarettes are burned, most of the pollutants are produced at temperatures between 200-700 ° C. In contrast, according to the invention, the cigarettes can only be heated up to a maximum of 300 ° C., so that the production of harmful substances can be significantly reduced. In particular, toxic carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein can be reduced by up to 80-96%.

Well-known heat-not-burn products are based on two different variants. In the first variant, a tobacco stick is usually heated in a tube-like chamber to an optionally adjustable temperature of up to a maximum of approx. 300 °. In the second variant, a heating rod is usually inserted into the tobacco stick, which heats the tobacco.

Both systems heat the entire tobacco body several times. Because of the large volume, a lot of energy and thus a lot of uncontrolled heat is generated. By contrast, the invention makes it possible to heat only that amount of tobacco during heating that is also burned during a normal smoking process. In contrast to known e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products, the present invention also allows the smoking of commercially available cigarettes.

By means of the invention, the cigarette or the tobacco of the cigarette can be consumed as in the normal smoking process. The pause between puffs on the cigarette can be very long, up to a few hours. Short smoking of two to three puffs is also possible without having used up the cigarette afterwards. In particular, the invention enables intermittent smoking with several long breaks.

The invention also makes it possible to generate a mixture from different flavorings by means of a metering unit, wherein the mixture can be adjusted by a control unit. The individual flavors can be controlled separately and thus form a predetermined mixture of flavors.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a

Cigarette heating device with a cavity for receiving a cigarette and at least one sealing element, such as a sealing ring, the sealing element dividing the cavity into at least two heating zones, each heating zone having a heating unit, preferably a heating coil and / or a heating element, so that the heating zones are independent can be heated from each other by their respective heating unit. If the cigarette heating device has more than one sealing ring, the cavity can have more than two heating zones separated from one another or be divided into such. The heating unit can heat the air in the corresponding heating zone in the cavity to approx. 180 ° -320 °. It can be provided that the heating unit does not contact the cigarette.

The heating element can be arranged on an inner wall of the cavity and / or form part of the inner wall of the cavity. The heating element can be or have a ceramic heating element.

The heating coil can be cast into the inner wall of the cavity and / or the heating element. The heating coil can be wound on an inside of the cavity or around the cavity.

Heating can be started by pulling on the cigarette. The heating time may be about 0.3 second with a Aufheizendtemperatur of about 180 ⁰ to 320 °. The duration of the heating period can be, for example, 1 to 2 seconds. The heating period can also be long, as is the case with the cigarette.

The cigarette can be coated with one or more active ingredients. The active ingredient can have a proportion of moisture. The moisture can accelerate the transfer of heat. The active ingredient can evaporate when heated with the heating unit. By heating the active ingredient in particular, an overpressure can arise in the cavity or the heating zone when the cigarette is received, which can drive the active ingredient through the cigarette paper of the cigarette into the interior of the cigarette or into the tobacco. The evaporated and heated active ingredient can transfer heat to the tobacco. The sealing ring can be designed to hold a cigarette received in the cavity, so that when the cigarette is received in the cavity, a space can be formed between the cigarette and at least one inner wall of the cavity and / or of the heating element. The sealing ring can consist of silicone or have one.

The cigarette heater can have ten to fifteen sealing rings. The cigarette heating device can have ten to fifteen heating zones formed by the sealing rings.

The sealing ring can have an insulating washer which can thermally separate the heating zones adjacent to the sealing ring from one another when the cigarette is received in the cavity. The sealing ring can have an active substance disk, wherein the active substance disk can have an active substance reservoir for receiving an active substance and / or a flavoring substance. The insulating disk and the active substance disk can be connected to one another or made in one piece with one another. However, it can also be provided that the insulating disk and the active substance disk are separate parts.

The active ingredient disk can have an active ingredient application element which can be fluidically connected to the active ingredient reservoir. The active ingredient application element can be set up to treat a cigarette received in the cavity with active ingredient and / or flavor, preferably to wet it and / or to apply active ingredient and / or flavor. The active substance application element can be or have a sponge or a material with capillary action.

The sealing ring and / or the active substance disk can be at least partially compressible, so that the one received in the active substance reservoir Active ingredient and / or flavoring substance can be driven into the cigarette with compression of the sealing ring and / or the active ingredient disc when the cigarette is received in the cavity.

The sealing ring can have an opening. The breakthrough can be fluidically connected to the active ingredient reservoir, so that the active ingredient and / or flavor can be introduced through the breakthrough into the active ingredient reservoir.

The cigarette heating device can have an active substance line. The active ingredient line can be fluidically connectable to the opening, so that the active ingredient and / or flavor can be introduced into the active ingredient reservoir via the active ingredient line through the opening. The heating coil can have the active substance line. The heating coil can preferably be designed as a cannula. The sealing ring and / or the active substance disk can be rotatable, so that when the sealing ring and / or the active substance disk is rotated, the opening can be opened and / or closed.

The cavity can have a volume of 500 to 700 mm ³ , preferably 550 to 650 mm ³ and particularly preferably 600 mm ³ . The cavity can be dimensioned in such a way that a cigarette can be accommodated completely or at least for the most part, for example more than 70%, in the cavity. The cavity can be cylindrical.

When the cigarette is received in the cavity, the intermediate space can have a volume of 100 to 300 mm ³ , preferably 150 to 250 mm ³ and particularly preferably 200 mm ³ . Due to the relatively small volume, rapid heating of the tobacco and cooling of the device can be achieved. The cigarette heating device can have a control unit. The control unit can be connected to and / or control the heating unit, heating coil and / or heating element via lines. The control unit can be set up to set, control and / or regulate the temperature of the heating unit, heating coil and / or heating element.

The cigarette heating device can have a camera. The camera can be arranged on or in the cavity such that, when the cigarette is received in the cavity, it can detect a code printed or attached to the cigarette or a filter of the cigarette. The camera can be connected to the control unit so that information stored in the code, e.g. control information, can be processed by the control unit. It can be provided that the control unit controls the respective heating units of the respective heating zones based on the information in the code.

The cigarette heating device can have a radio interface (16) for radio communication with an external device, preferably a smartphone or a laptop. The radio interface can be connected to the control unit, so that when the external device is connected, data can be exchanged between the control unit and the external device.

The cigarette heating device can have a flap at a distal end opposite the opening of the cavity, so that when the flap is open, a fluid, preferably air, can be fed into the cavity. The flap can be designed to be opened under a negative pressure in the cavity and / or when a cigarette received in the cavity is pulled. It can be provided that the flap automatically closes again after pulling on the cigarette and / or when the negative pressure is removed. For example, the flap can be closed under the influence of gravity. The flap can, for example, alternatively or can also be closed by magnets, whereby, for example, a first magnet can be attached to the flap and a second magnet can be attached to a suitable position in such a way that the flap is moved into the closed position by the magnets.

The cigarette heating device can have a contact which is arranged such that when the flap is open, the flap makes contact with the contact. The contact can be connected to the control unit, so that contacting of the contact and / or opening of the flap can be detected by the control unit.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for heating a cigarette accommodated in a cavity of a cigarette heating device, the cigarette heating device having at least two heating zones, with the following steps: a. Detecting an opening of a flap of the cigarette heater by a control unit of the cigarette heater; b. Control at least one of the heating zones of the

The respective heating unit assigned to the cigarette heating device, preferably a heating coil and / or a heating element, based on a control stored in the control unit and heat at least one heating zone, so that the part of the cigarette received in the cavity in the heating zone is heated.

The detection of an opening of the flap can comprise a detection of a contact with a contact of the cigarette heating device through the flap. When controlling and heating the heating zone, at least two, more or all of the heating zones can be successively heated. The next heating zone at a distal end opposite the opening of the cavity can preferably be heated as the first, and the heating zone closest to the opening of the cavity can be heated as the last. In the case of the successive heating of the heating zones, at least two of the heating zones and / or respectively adjacent heating zones can be heated in an at least temporarily overlapping manner.

The heating of the heating zone can be stopped when a closing of the flap is detected by the control unit.

Before or during the heating of the heating zones, a code attached to the cigarette or a filter of the cigarette can be detected by a camera of the cigarette heating device. The code can contain or have control information. The control information can be evaluated by the control unit. When heating the heating zones, the heating zones can be heated according to the control information.

Before or during the heating of the heating zones, control instructions from an external device can be received by a radio interface of the cigarette heating device. The control instructions can be evaluated by the control unit. When heating the heating zones, the heating zones can be heated according to the control instructions.

The cigarette heating device used in carrying out the method can be or have a cigarette heating device as described above.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a metering unit which has a carrier film, the carrier film at least one or more Has reservoirs for a gel, an active ingredient and / or a flavor, each reservoir having a heating element. In some embodiments, the dosing unit can be used independently of the cigarette heating device. In some embodiments, the dosing unit can be used in conjunction with the cigarette heating device. The heating element can be arranged in, on or near the reservoir. The heating element can heat the reservoir and / or substances contained therein.

The carrier film and / or the dosing unit can be rolled into a cylindrical shape, e.g. to form a suction tube. The carrier film and / or the dosing unit can be wrapped around a cigarette. If the carrier material is rolled into a tube, it can be provided that the gel fields have no contact with one another. The shape of the tube has the advantage that a large surface area is created inside the tube and the smoke flow that pulls through the tube can transport flavors well.

The reservoir and / or the heating element can be printed onto the carrier film. An active ingredient, a gel, a flavoring agent or the like can be accommodated in the one in the reservoir. The gel can preferably contain nicotine, flavor and / or active ingredient.

The gel can be or have a gel-like substance. The gel can be set up to release the active ingredient only at a certain temperature, which can be set by the heating element.

The individual reservoirs or gels can be controlled separately so that, for example, a mixture of flavorings can be produced. The dosing unit and / or the reservoir can have a filter. The filter can preferably be arranged in the reservoir.

The dosing unit can have a control unit. The control unit of the dosing unit can be connected to and / or control the heating element via control contacts. The control unit of the dosing unit can be set up to set, control and / or regulate the temperature of the heating element. Each heating element of the respective reservoirs can be controlled separately by the control unit.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for heating a gel, active ingredient and / or flavoring material received in a reservoir of a dosing unit, the method comprising: controlling at least one respective heating element assigned to a reservoir, based on activation stored in a control unit of the dosing unit and heat at least one reservoir with the heating element, so that the gel, active ingredient and / or flavoring substance received in the reservoir is heated.

During the activation and heating, at least two, more or all of the reservoirs can be successively heated, the metering unit having at least two reservoirs. With the successive heating of the reservoirs, at least two of the reservoirs can be heated in an overlapping manner at least at times.

The dosing unit used in the method can be or have a dosing unit described above. A cigarette wrapped with a dosing unit described above or a rolled dosing unit described above can be accommodated in the cavity of the cigarette heating device. In this case, for example, the sealing ring can contact the dosing unit and / or apply active ingredient to the dosing unit, as described above with regard to the cigarette. It can also be provided that the dosing unit accommodated in the cavity (with or without a cigarette) is heated at least in sections by the heating unit, the heating coil or the heating element of a respective heating zone, as described above with regard to the cigarette.

The control contacts of the dosing unit can contact corresponding contacts of the cigarette heating device, so that a connection can preferably be established between the control unit of the cigarette heating device and at least one heating element of the dosing unit or at least one heating element can be controlled by the control unit.

The invention is explained further with reference to the following figures. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cigarette heating device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows some exemplary embodiments of a sealing ring according to the invention of a cigarette heating device;

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a filter;

FIG. 4 shows some embodiments of filter elements; and FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a metering unit according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a cigarette heating device 100 according to the invention. The cigarette heating device 100 has a cavity 17 for receiving a cigarette 2. The cigarette 2 can have a filter 1. As an alternative or in addition, it can also be provided that the filter 1 is designed separately from the cigarette 2 and is inserted into the cavity 17 after the cigarette 2 has been inserted. The cigarette 2 can be a commercially available cigarette. The cavity 17 can have a volume of approximately 600 mm ³ , for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the cavity 17 can be cylindrical and / or adapted to the shape of the cigarette 2 to be accommodated. The cigarette heating device 100 has at least one heating unit. The heating unit is set up to heat a cigarette 2 received in the cavity 17. The heating of the cigarette 2 by the heating unit can take place in sections, for example spatially and / or temporally separated.

The heating unit can have one or more heating elements 5. The heating element 5 can consist of a ceramic or have such a ceramic. The heating body 5 can for example consist of a tube, for example a ceramic tube, or have such a tube. As shown in FIG. 1, the heating element 5 can be arranged in the cavity 17 in such a way that the heating element 5 does not touch a cigarette 2 received in the cavity 17. However, it can also be provided that the heating element 5 makes contact at least in sections with a cigarette 2 received in the cavity 17.

As an alternative or in addition, the heating unit can have one or more heating coils 4. The heating coil can be arranged in or on the cavity 17 in such a way that it has at least one cigarette 2 received in the cavity 17 can heat in sections. The heating coil 4 can be cast at least partially or completely into the inner wall of the cavity 17. As an alternative or in addition, the heating coil 4 can be cast at least partially or completely into the tube, for example the ceramic tube, of the heating element 5. By regulating or controlling the resistance of the heating coil 4, its temperature can be regulated or controlled. If the resistance of the heating coil 4 changes, its temperature can change.

The cigarette heating device 100 has at least one sealing ring 3 which divides the cavity 17 into at least two or more heating zones 101. The sealing rings 3 can thermally isolate the respective heater 101 from one another when a cigarette 2 is received in the cavity 17. It can be provided that a heating unit, a heating coil 4 and / or a heating element 5 is or are arranged in the cavity 17 in such a way that they can heat one of the heating zones 101. A separate heating unit, heating coil 4 and / or heating element 5 is preferably assigned to each heating zone 101, or a separate heating unit, heating element 4 and / or heating element 5 is suitably arranged in each heating zone. Due to the thermal insulation provided by the sealing rings 3, each heating zone 101 can thus be individually heated by the heating unit, heating coil 4 and / or heating element 5 assigned to it, without adjacent heating zones 101 being heated as well. In this way, the cigarette 2 can also be or will be heated individually in sections. The sealing ring 3 can preferably consist of or have a heat-resistant silicone. It can be provided that the sealing ring or rings 3 contacts or carries a cigarette 2 received in the cavity 17 and thus keeps the cigarette 2 at a distance from the heating unit, the heating coil 4 and / or the heating element 5.

The sealing ring or rings 3 and the cavity 17 can be dimensioned in such a way that when the cigarette 2 is received in the cavity 17 between the Cigarette 2 and the inner wall of the cavity 17 or of the heating element 5, a space 115 can be formed. The space can have a volume of 100 to 300 mm ³ , preferably 150 to 250 mm ³ and particularly preferably 200 mm ³ .

The cigarette heating device 100 can have an outer tube 6. The outer tube 6 can be arranged concentrically around the cavity 17. Outer tube 6 can shield the heat or use it to generate energy using a pelletizing element. The pelletizing element can be arranged in or near the outer tube 6. The outer tube 6 can consist of or have a biodegradable material. In this case it can be provided that the outer tube 6 can be detached from the cavity 17 and / or the cigarette heating device 100 so that it can be disposed of after smoking several times. The outer tube 6 can be or have, for example, a heat-resistant cardboard box or the like. The material of the outer tube 6 can be absorbent and / or absorb pollutants and / or release active substances.

The cigarette heating device 100 can have one or more cooling openings 7. The cooling opening 7 can be fluidically and / or thermally connected to the cavity 17 and / or the heating zones 101, so that heat can be given off to the surroundings through the cool hope 7. The setting of a desired temperature in the cavity 17 and / or the heating zones 101 can thus be made easier.

The cigarette heating device 100 has a flap 9. The flap 9 can be arranged at a distal end of the cavity 17, as shown in FIG. When the flap is open, an air flow from the environment can reach a cigarette 2 accommodated in the cavity 17. The cigarette heating device 100 can also have a Venturi nozzle 8, which can be arranged fluidically between the flap 9 and cavity 17. The venturi nozzle can be used to control the draft. The venturi nozzle can control active ingredients in relation to the volume of air. If a user pulls on a cigarette 2 accommodated in the cavity 17, for example its filter 1, for example to smoke the cigarette 2, the flap 9 can open. The cigarette heating device can have a contact 10 which can be arranged such that the flap 9 contacts the contact 10 in its open state. When the contact 10 is contacted by the flap 9, a control signal can be output to a control unit 13 of the cigarette heating device 100. When the flap 9 is closed and the contact with the contact 10 is released as a result, a further control signal can be output to the control unit 13. Alternatively or in addition, it can be provided that the control unit 13 can detect contact with the contact 10.

The control unit 13 can be set up to control and / or regulate the temperature of the heating unit, heating coil 4 and / or heating element 5 or of the heating units, heating coils 4 and / or heating element 5 assigned to the heating zones 101. If contact is detected and / or present, the heating zones 101 and / or the cavity 17, for example, can be suitably heated. The heating units, heating coils 4 and / or heating elements 5 can be supplied with power via lines 11, 12 and heated to a certain temperature when the current is flowing.

The cigarette heating device 100 can have one or more thermal switches, for example a bimetal switch, which interrupts or terminates the heating by one, several or all heating units, heating coils 4 and / or heating elements 5 when a limit temperature is exceeded. For example, the thermal switch can disconnect a corresponding electrical connection or transmit a corresponding signal to the control unit 13. Of the Thermal switch can be arranged, for example, on, in or near the cavity 17 or the sealing ring 3.

In a preferred embodiment it can be provided that the heating zones 101 are heated one after the other. For example, a first heating zone 101 can first be heated for a predetermined first time interval, and then a second heating zone 101 can be heated for a predetermined second time interval. It can also be provided that the respective time intervals at least partially overlap. The first heater 101 and the second heater on and 2 need not be adjacent heaters. If the cigarette heating device 100 has several heating zones 101, then one, several or all heating zones 101 can be heated correspondingly at the same time, or offset in time, successively in time and / or space, or at least partially overlapping.

In one embodiment, the heating zone 101 located closest to the flap 9 is heated first. The heating zones 101 located downstream in the direction of the filter 1 are then successively heated. The respective heating zones can be heated for a respective time interval. Such control or heating can be advantageous, for example, if a cigarette 2 is not smoked in one piece but rather intermittently.

The cigarette heating device 100 can have a camera 15. The camera 15 can be arranged on or near the cavity 17 in such a way that when the cigarette 2 is inserted into the cavity 17, a code, e.g. a logo, pictogram, hologram, barcode, is printed or attached to the cigarette 2 or possibly the filter of the cigarette , QR code or the like. A mirror can be suitably fitted in the cavity 17 in order to enable a panoramic view of the camera 5 so that, for example, the code or the like can be detected by the camera 5 even when the cigarette 2 is rotated. Alternatively or additionally, several cameras 5 can be distributed radially be arranged to detect the code regardless of the angle of rotation of the cigarette 2. The camera 5 can be connected to the control unit 13. The control unit 13 can, for example, control the heating units, heating coils 4 and / or heating elements 5 or heat the respective heating zones 101 as a function of the code captured by the camera. For example, depending on the composition, type or brand of the cigarette 2, the cigarette 2 received in the cavity 17 can be heated differently. Depending on the code detected by the chamber 5, the respective heating zones can, for example, be controlled or heated differently.

The cigarette heating device 100 can have a radio interface 16. The radio interface 16 can be connected to the control unit 13. The radio interface 16 can be set up to establish a radio connection, e.g. via WLAN, Bluetooth, LTE, a mobile radio network and / or another radio network suitable for data transmission with an external device, e.g. a smartphone, a laptop, a PDA or the like. The control unit 13, for example, can be controlled by the external device via the radio link, or its programming can be modified. For example, a user can control or heat the respective heating zones 101 by means of an app with his smartphone via the radio link, or communicate individual activation profiles for heating the heating zones 101 to the control unit.

In one embodiment, the cigarette heating device 100 may not have a control unit 13. In this case, when the contact 10 is contacted by the flap 9, a circuit can be closed in such a way that electrical current can flow through the lines 11, 12 and the heating units, heating coils 4 and / or heating elements 5, so that the heating zones 101 and / or the cavity 17 is heated. Provision can be made for the respective heating zones 101 to be heated one after the other in terms of time and / or space. The cigarette heating device 100 can have a power supply unit 14, for example a battery or a rechargeable battery. The power supply unit 14 can be arranged in a suitable receptacle of the cigarette heating device 100. It can be provided that the power supply unit 14 is exchangeably received in the receptacle. The power supply unit 14 can serve to supply the control unit 13, heating units, heating coils 4 and / or heating elements 5, the camera 15 and / or the radio interface 16 with electrical energy. It can be provided that the power supply unit 14 can be charged by the pelletizing element.

FIG. 2 shows details of the cavity 17 and sealing rings 3 of some embodiments of the cigarette heating device 100 according to the invention.

In some embodiments, the sealing ring 3 can have an insulating washer 19 and an active ingredient washer 20. If the cigarette heating device 100 has several sealing rings 3, then one, several or each of the sealing rings 3 can have an insulating disk 19 and an active ingredient disk 20. The insulating disk 19 can be connected to the active substance disk 20 and / or made in one piece. However, it can also be provided that the insulating disk 19 and the active substance disk 20 are separate parts. The insulating disk 19 can consist of a thermally insulating material or have such a material. The insulating disk 19 can thermally separate two adjacent heating zones 101 when the cigarette 2 is accommodated in the cavity 17. The insulating disk 19 can be or have a heat sink. As shown in FIG. 2, the active substance disk 20 can have an active substance reservoir 22. An active ingredient and / or a flavoring substance can be received in the active ingredient reservoir 22. The active ingredient disk 20 can have an active ingredient application element 23, which can be fluidically connected to the active ingredient reservoir 22. The active substance application element 23 can, for example, have a sponge or a material Be or have capillary action. The active ingredient application element 23 can be arranged on an outside of the active ingredient disc 20 in such a way that it can contact a cigarette 2 received in the cavity 17 and apply or wet the active ingredient and / or flavoring agent from the active ingredient reservoir 22 to the cigarette 2. However, it can also be provided that the active ingredient and / or the flavoring substance is injected into the cigarette 2 with the active ingredient application element 23.

The active ingredient disc 20 can be connected to an active ingredient line 26 via an opening 24 in order to fill the active ingredient and / or flavoring substance into the active ingredient reservoir 22. Provision can be made for the active substance line to be led out of the cavity 17 in order, for example, to conveniently enable filling from outside the cigarette heater 100 without removing the active substance disc 20 from the cavity 17. The active substance line 26 can be different from the heating coil 4. However, it can also be provided that the heating coil 4 has the active substance line 26. For example, the heating coil 26 can be designed as a cannula, or the active substance can be guided inside the heating coil 4. The active ingredient and / or flavoring substance can thus be heated by the heating coil 4 or in the cannula.

Provision can be made for the active substance ring 20 and / or the sealing ring 3 to be rotatable so that the opening 24 can be opened and / or closed when the active substance ring 20 and / or the sealing ring 3 is rotated. In this way, a supply of active substance through the opening 24 via the active substance line 26 into the active substance reservoir 22 can be opened or closed.

In some embodiments it can be provided that the active substance ring 20 and / or the sealing ring 3 is compressible or compressible and / or has a compressible zone 27. When compressing or compressing the active substance ring 20 and / or the sight ring 3 or the compressible zone 27, the active substance contained in the active substance reservoir 22 can be driven via the active substance application element 23 into a cigarette 2 received in the cavity 17. It can be provided that the outer skin 6 is also at least partially compressible or compressible, for example in areas in which the outer skin 6 makes contact with the sealing ring 3.

The sealing ring 3 can have a thermal switch 29, e.g. a bimetal switch, which interrupts the heating by one, several or all of the heating units, heating coils 4 and / or heating elements 5 if the temperature is too high.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a filter 1. The filter 1 can be part of a cigarette 2, for example. Alternatively, the filter 1 can be different from the cigarette or a separate part that can be attached to the cigarette 1 and / or inserted into the cavity 17. The filter 1 can have one or more filter elements described below. The filter elements can be accommodated in a filter chamber 30 of the filter 1, for example. If the filter 1 has several filter elements, these can be separated from one another by an intermediate cavity 33. If the filter 1 has several filter elements, one, several or all of these can be different from one another or of the same type. The filter 1 can have a paper grid 31. The aerosol formed when the cigarette 2 is heated can enter or be sucked into the filter 1 at a distal end, be filtered through the filter element or elements accommodated in the filter chamber 30 and exit through the paper grille 31. The filter 1 can have openings 35 through which air from the environment can enter the filter chamber 30 and / or the intermediate cavity 33. The filter element can be or comprise a folded paper filter 32. The paper filter 23 can have a filter area of up to 5 cm ² with a diameter of 8 mm. The filter element can be or have a fabric filter 34. The fabric filter can consist of or have hemp and / or natural fibers. The tissue can be statically charged. The filter element can be or comprise a zeolite filter 36. The filter element can have a gel filter 37 or a suitable chamber for receiving a gel. The filter element can have cilia 38. The cilia can consist of or have cellulose. The cilia can be statically charged.

FIG. 4 shows some exemplary embodiments of filter elements. The paper filter 32 can have a plurality of filter paper lamellae 40. The filter area can be up to 8 cm ² , for example. By folding the paper or the folded filter lamellas, a large filter surface can be achieved.

The gel filter 37 can have gel-containing filler material 42 received in a cavity. In some embodiments, the gel filter 37 can have activated carbon 43 received in the same or a further cavity. As an alternative or in addition, the gel filter 37 can have microspheres 41 received in the same or a further cavity, which are made of a suitable filter material or can have such an active ingredient.

Another filter element 102 can have a foam 44 for filtering the aerosol flowing through the filter. Alternatively or additionally, the further filter element can have a membrane 45 or the like suitable for filtering, for example a silver membrane. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a metering unit 103 according to one aspect of the invention. The dosing unit 103 can be attached to a cigarette 2 or wrapped around a cigarette 2, and then introduced together with the cigarette 2 into the cavity 17 of the cigarette heating device 100 or received therein. Alternatively, only the dosing unit 103, possibly wound, can be introduced into the cavity 17 of the cigarette heating device 100 or received therein; in this case, FIGS. 1 to 4 and the corresponding descriptions of the figures can be understood to mean that the “cigarette 2” can be replaced by the “dosing unit 103”. However, it can also be provided that the dosing unit can be used independently of the cigarette heating device 100 and / or a cigarette 2.

The dosing unit 103 has a carrier film 104. The carrier film can be treated with salts which can prevent the carrier film from burning. The carrier film 104 can have one or more reservoirs. The reservoir can be printed, for example, on the carrier paper of the carrier film 104. One or more gels and / or substances, which, for example, can contain flavorings and / or active substances, can be accommodated in the reservoir. Exemplary flavors of the flavors include sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, and / or combinations of these. A gel, which can contain nicotine 105, can be accommodated in a reservoir. A gel, which can contain an encapsulated active ingredient, for example an active ingredient accommodated in microcapsules 106, can be accommodated in a reservoir. The microcapsule 106 can be configured to be activated with electromagnetic waves and / or ultrasound. It can be provided that the microcapsule 106 can also react independently to external influences. In a reservoir there can be a gel that can contain a pollutant collector 107 and / or substances that can bind pollutants (antidotes), be included. A gel, which can have a flavoring substance 108, can be received in a reservoir.

The dosing unit 103 can have a filter 109. The filter can 109 be or have an above-described filter element and / or have the features of an above-described filter element.

A heating element 110 can be guided through the reservoir and / or in the reservoir and / or arranged on, near or in the reservoir. The heating element 110 can consist of or have an electrically conductive material. The heating element 110 can be printed on during the production of the carrier film 104. The heating element 110 can be heated by electricity, for example. Provision can be made, for example, to activate nicotine with heat by heating the heating element in the reservoir. The gel accommodated in the reservoir can, when heated with the heating element, release the corresponding substance, for example the active substance, flavoring substance, nicotine or the like. The released substance can be added to the sucked in air and / or the aerosol generated by heating the cigarette 2, or can mix with them. Each reservoir can have a heating element 110 and can be heated separately or individually. In this way, for example, depending on the control or heating of the heating elements 110 and the correspondingly assigned reservoirs, various flavorings, active substances or nicotine can be added.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the carrier film is rolled into a suction tube. The dosing unit 103, which is cylindrically shaped in this way, can be inserted into the cavity 17 of the cigarette heating device 100 and smoked with it. Alternatively, the carrier film 104 and therefore the dosing unit 103 can be rolled around a cigarette 2, and then the wrapped cigarette into the cavity 17 of the cigarette heating device 100 be introduced and smoked with it. In both cases, the carrier film 104 of the metering unit 103 can be contacted by the sealing ring 3 of the cigarette heating device 100. The heating element 110 can be controlled via guide contacts 111 and / or be supplied with power. The guide contacts can be arranged in such a way that when the dosing element 103 is received in the cavity (or when the cigarette 2 is wrapped with the dosing element 103) they contact corresponding contacts of the cigarette heating device 100, so that a connection to the control unit 13 and / or the power supply unit 14 is established is or will be. The corresponding contacts of the cigarette heating device can, for example, be suitably arranged in the cavity 17. However, it can also be provided that the control unit 13 of the cigarette heating device 100 can communicate with the control unit of the dosing unit 13 via the radio interface 16 if the dosing unit 13 has a radio interface.

Data for controlling the heating elements 110 can be stored in the control unit 13. In particular, corresponding activation combinations for generating a certain taste, admixing a certain amount of active ingredient or nicotine or the like can be stored. It can be provided that the corresponding admixture is selected as a function of the code captured by the camera 15 by the control unit 13 and / or a control signal received via the radio interface 16, for example based on an app of a smartphone connected to the radio interface 16. It can be provided that the dosing unit also contains a corresponding code with corresponding information, which can be recorded by the camera 15 when the dosing unit 103 is received in the cavity 17. As an alternative or in addition, the dosing unit 103 can have its own control unit which takes on the corresponding functions and / or on which the corresponding information is stored. The dosing unit 103 can be a radio interface for Have connection to an external device, for example to receive corresponding control commands from an app of a smartphone connected to the radio interface. For example, the dosing unit can control the admixing of the corresponding substances with its own control unit if the cigarette heating device 100 does not have a control unit 13 and / or if there is no contact between the guide contacts 111 and the corresponding contacts of the cigarette heating device 100 or if it is disconnected. The dosing unit 13 can likewise have its own power supply unit. However, the power supply can also alternatively or additionally take place via the power supply unit 14 of the cigarette heating device 100.

The cigarette heating device 100 can have touch elements 112 which can be arranged on an outside of the cigarette heating device 100. The control unit 13 and / or the control unit of the dosing unit 103 can be controlled via the pushbutton elements 112, so that, for example, the heating unit, heating coil 4 and / or heating element 5 or heating zones 101 and / or heating elements 110 or the Reservoirs, easily programmed or saved.

The cigarette heating device 100 can have a display 113, which can preferably be arranged on an outside of the cigarette heating device 100. The control can, for example, be displayed via the display 113. Alternatively or additionally, the display 113 can be a touch display, via which the control can be programmed or stored. The control can also be selected or set via an app and communicated to the control unit 13 and / or the control unit of the dosing unit 103 via the radio interface. In the app, for example, the control and / or the status of the heating unit, heating coil 4 and / or heating element 5 or heating zones 101 and / or heating elements 110 or the reservoirs can be displayed. The dosing unit 103 can have a power generator 114, for example a pelletizing element, which can be electrically connected to the power supply unit 14 and / or the power supply unit of the dosing unit 103.

The features disclosed in the claims, the description and the figures can be essential for implementing the invention individually or in combination.

List of reference symbols

1 filter

2 cigarette

3 sealing ring

4 heating coil

5 radiators

6 outer tube

7 cooling holes

8 venturi nozzle

9 flap

10 contact

11 Lead negative pole 12 Lead positive pole

13 control unit

14 Power supply unit

15 Camera i6 radio interface 17 cavity

19 insulating washer

20 Active ingredient disc 22 Active ingredient reservoir

23 Active ingredient application element

24 breakthrough 26 active ingredient line 27 compressible zone

29 thermal switches

30 filter chamber

31 paper grid

32 paper filters

33 intermediate cavity Fabric filter

opening

Zeolite filter

Gel filter

Filter hairs

Filter lamella

Microsphere filler material containing gel activated carbon foam membrane

Cigarette heater

Heating zone further filter element

Dosing unit

Carrier film

nicotine

Microcapsule

Pollutant collector

Flavor

filter

Heating element

Lead contact

Tactile element

Display

Power generator

Space

Claims

Expectations

1. Cigarette heating device (100) with a cavity (17) for receiving a cigarette (2) and at least one sealing element, preferably a sealing ring (3), the sealing element dividing the cavity into at least two heating zones (101), each heating zone (101 ) has a heating unit, preferably a heating coil (4) and / or a heating element (5), so that the heating zones (101) can be heated independently of one another by their respective heating units.

2. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the heating element (5) is arranged on an inner wall of the cavity (17) and / or forms part of the inner wall of the cavity (17).

3. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the heating element (5) is a ceramic heating element or has one.

4. cigarette heating device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating coil (4) a. is cast into the inner wall of the cavity (17) and / or the heating element (5); or b. is wound on an inside of the cavity (17) or around the cavity (17).

5. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing ring (3) is designed to hold a cigarette (2) received in the cavity (17), so that when the cigarette (17) is received in the cavity (17) ( 2) an intermediate space (115) is formed between the cigarette (2) and at least one inner wall of the cavity (17) and / or of the heating element (5).

6. cigarette heating device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing ring (3) consists of silicone or has such.

7. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, which has ten to fifteen sealing rings (3) and correspondingly ten to fifteen heating zones (101) separated from one another by the sealing rings (3).

8. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing ring (3) has an insulating washer (19) which thermally separates the heating zones adjacent to the sealing ring (3) when the cigarette (2) is received in the cavity.

9. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing ring (3) has an active substance disk (20), the active substance disk (20) having an active substance reservoir (22) for receiving an active ingredient and / or a flavoring substance.

10. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 9, in which the active substance disc (20) has an active substance application element (23) which is fluidically connected to the active substance reservoir (22), the active substance application element (23) being configured to insert an active substance application element (23) into the cavity ( 17) to treat the picked up cigarette (2) with active ingredient and / or flavor, preferably to wet it and / or to apply active ingredient and / or flavor.

11. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 10, wherein the active substance application element (23) is or has a sponge or a material with capillary action.

12. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of claims 9 to 11, in which the sealing ring (3) and / or the active ingredient disk (20) is at least partially compressible so that the active ingredient and / or flavoring substance received in the active ingredient reservoir (22) is below Compression of the sealing ring (3) and / or the active ingredient disk (20) is driven into the cigarette (2) when the cigarette (2) is received in the cavity (17).

13. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of claims 9 to 12, in which the sealing ring (3) has an opening (24) which is fluidically connected to the active ingredient reservoir (22) so that active ingredient and / or flavoring substance through the opening ( 24) can be introduced into the drug reservoir (22).

14. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 13, which has an active substance line (26) which is fluidically connectable to the opening (24), so that the active substance and / or flavoring substance via the Active substance line (26) can be introduced through the opening (24) into the active substance reservoir (22).

15. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 14, in which the heating coil (4) has the active substance line (26), the heating coil (4) preferably being designed as a cannula.

16. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the sealing ring (3) and / or the active ingredient disc (20) is rotatable, so that when the sealing ring (3) and / or the active ingredient disc (20) is rotated Breakthrough (24) can be opened and / or closed.

17. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cavity (17) has a volume of 500 to 700 mm ³ , preferably 550 to 650 mm ³ and particularly preferably 600 mm ³ .

18. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the intermediate space (115) when the cigarette is received in the cavity (17) has a volume of 100 to 300 mm ³ , preferably 150 to 250 mm ³ and particularly preferably 200 mm ³ has.

19. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a control unit (13) which is connected via lines 11, 12 to the heating unit, heating coil (4) and / or heating element (5) and / or can control them, wherein the control unit (13) is set up to set, control and / or regulate the temperature of the heating unit, heating coil (4) and / or heating element (5).

20. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a camera (15) which is arranged on or in the cavity (17) in such a way that, when the cigarette (2) is received in the cavity, it points to the cigarette (2 ) or a filter (1) of the cigarette (2) can detect printed or attached code.

21. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 20, wherein the camera (15) is connected to the control unit (13) so that information stored in the code can be processed by the control unit (13).

22. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of claims 19 to 21, which has a radio interface (16) for radio connection with an external device, preferably a smartphone or a laptop, the radio interface (16) being connected to the control unit (13) so that when the external device is connected, data can be exchanged between the control unit (13) and the external device.

23. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, which has a flap (9) at a distal end opposite the opening of the cavity (17) so that a fluid, preferably air, can be fed into the cavity (17) when the flap is open is.

24. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 23, wherein the flap (9) is set up to open under a negative pressure in the cavity (17) and / or when a cigarette (2) received in the cavity (17) is pulled to become.

25. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of claims 23 or 24, which has a contact (10) which is arranged such that when the flap (9) is open, the flap (9) contacts the contact (10).

26. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 25, in which the contact (10) is connected to the control unit (13) so that contacting of the contact (13) and / or opening of the flap (9) by the control unit (13 ) is detectable.

27. A method for heating a cigarette (2) accommodated in a cavity (17) of a cigarette heating device (100), the cigarette heating device (100) having at least two heating zones (100), with the following steps: a. Detection of an opening of a flap (9) of the cigarette heating device (100) by a control unit (13) of the cigarette heating device (100); b. Controlling at least one of the respective heating units assigned to the heating zones (101) of the cigarette heating device (100), preferably a heating coil (4) and / or a heating element (5), based on an activation stored in the control unit (13) and heating at least one heating zone ( 101), so that the part of the cigarette (2) accommodated in the cavity (17) located in the heating zone (101) is heated.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein during the control and heating of the heating zone (101) at least two, more or all of the heating zones (101) are successively heated, preferably the distal end closest to one of the opening of the cavity (17) Heating zone (101) as the first, and the heating zone (101) closest to the opening of the cavity (17) is heated as the last.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein during the successive heating of the heating zones (101) at least two of the heating zones (101) and / or respectively adjacent heating zones (101) are heated in an at least temporarily overlapping manner.

30. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 27 to 29, in which the heating of the heating zone (101) is stopped when closing of the flap (9) is detected by the control unit (13).

31. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 27 to 30, in which before or during the heating of the heating zones (101) by a camera (15) of the cigarette heating device (100) on the cigarette (2) or a filter (1) of the cigarette (2) the attached code is detected, the code containing or having control information that can be evaluated by the control unit (13), the heating zones (101) being heated according to the control information when the heating zones (101) are heated.

32. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 27 to 31, in which before or during the heating of the heating zones (101) from a radio interface (16) of the cigarette heating device (100) control instructions are received from an external device, which are received by the control unit (13) can be evaluated, the heating zones (101) being heated according to the control instructions when the heating zones (101) are heated.

33. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 27 to 32, wherein the cigarette heating device (100) a The cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 26 is or has.

34. Dosing unit (103) which has a carrier film (104), the carrier film having at least one reservoir for a gel, an active ingredient and / or a flavoring substance, each reservoir having a heating element (110).

35. Dosing unit (103) according to claim 34, wherein the carrier film (104) and / or the dosing unit (103) can be rolled into a cylindrical shape, e.g. to form a suction tube, or can be wrapped around a cigarette (2).

36. Dosing unit (103) according to Claim 34 or 35, in which the reservoir and / or the heating element (110) is printed onto the carrier film (104).

37. Dosing unit (103) according to one of the preceding claims 34 to

36, in which an active ingredient, a gel, a flavoring substance or the like is received in the reservoir, the gel preferably containing nicotine, a flavoring substance and / or an active ingredient.

38. Dosing unit (103) according to one of the preceding claims 34 to

37, in which the metering unit (13) and / or the reservoir has a filter, the filter preferably being arranged in the reservoir.

39. Dosing unit (13) according to one of the preceding claims 34 to

38, which has a control unit that is connected to the heating element (110) via conductive contacts (111) and / or can control it, the control unit of the dosing unit (13) being set up to set the temperature of the heating element (110) control and / or regulate.

40. A method for heating a gel, active ingredient and / or flavoring agent received in a reservoir of a dosing unit (103), the method comprising: activating at least one respective heating element assigned to a reservoir, based on activation stored in a control unit of the dosing unit (103) and heat at least one reservoir with the heating element, so that the gel, active ingredient and / or flavoring substance received in the reservoir is heated.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein during the control and heating at least two, several or all reservoirs are successively heated, the metering unit (103) having at least two reservoirs.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein, during the successive heating of the reservoirs, at least two of the reservoirs are heated in an at least temporarily overlapping manner.

43. Method according to one of the preceding claims 40 to 42, in which the metering unit (103) is or has a metering unit (103) according to one of the preceding claims 34 to 39.

44. Cigarette heating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 26, in which a cigarette (2) wrapped with a dosing unit (103) according to one of claims 34 to 39 or a rolled dosing unit (103) in the cavity (17) one of claims 34 to 39 is included.

45. Cigarette heating device (100) according to claim 44, in which the guide contacts (111) of the metering unit (103) contacts corresponding contacts of the cigarette heating device (100), so that preferably one Connection between the control unit (13) of the

Cigarette heating device (100) and at least one heating element (110) of the metering unit (103) is produced or at least one heating element (110) can be controlled by the control unit (13).