EP4260724A1 - Flavor inhaler and method for manufacturing flavor inhaler - Google Patents

Flavor inhaler and method for manufacturing flavor inhaler Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4260724A1
EP4260724A1 EP20965141.3A EP20965141A EP4260724A1 EP 4260724 A1 EP4260724 A1 EP 4260724A1 EP 20965141 A EP20965141 A EP 20965141A EP 4260724 A1 EP4260724 A1 EP 4260724A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flavor inhaler
accommodating
pressurized
accommodating portion
chamber
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP20965141.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Noriyoshi Sato
Yuki Masuda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Japan Tobacco Inc
Original Assignee
Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Japan Tobacco Inc filed Critical Japan Tobacco Inc
Publication of EP4260724A1 publication Critical patent/EP4260724A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a flavor inhaler and a method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler.
  • flavor inhalers for inhaling flavors or the like without burning materials are known.
  • a flavor inhaler there is a flavor inhaler including an accommodating portion that accommodates a flavor generating article and a heating portion that heats the flavor generating article accommodated in the accommodating portion and adapted to secure air tightness by using an O-ring, for example (see PTL 1, for example).
  • the O-ring is disposed in the vicinity of the accommodating portion. Therefore, there is a concern that the O-ring is degraded due to long-term exposure to a heat from the heating portion and an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion. As a result, there is a concern that the aerosol generated in the accommodating portion leaks to the inside of a casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • the present invention was made in order to solve at least a part of the problem as described above, and an object thereof is to obtain a flavor inhaler and a method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler capable of preventing an aerosol generated in an accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of a casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • a flavor inhaler includes: a tubular accommodating portion that has an opening formed at one end by an opening edge portion and accommodates at least a part of a flavor generating article via the opening; an abutting portion that abuts the opening edge portion over an entire circumference of the opening; and a sealing portion that seals a part between the accommodating portion and the abutting portion at a position separated from the accommodating portion.
  • heat from the accommodating portion is unlikely to be transmitted to the sealed part and degradation of the sealed part is prevented by the sealing portion sealing the part between the accommodating portion and the abutting portion at the position separated from the accommodating portion, and it is thus possible to prevent an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of a casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • the sealing portion includes an annular first member that is provided over an entire circumference of an outer circumferential surface of the accommodating portion and supports the accommodating portion and a second member that comes into contact with the abutting portion over an entire circumference of the abutting portion, is engaged with the first member over an entire circumference of the first member, and is configured of an elastic material, a seal portion is formed at a contact location between the first member and the second member, and the seal portion is formed on a side closer to an axis of the accommodating portion in a radial direction of the accommodating portion than an outer edge of the first member, in the first aspect.
  • the seal portion is formed on the side closer to the axis of the accommodating portion in the radial direction of the accommodating portion than the outer edge of the first member at the contact location between the first member and the second member, and it is thus possible to reduce the size of the flavor inhaler as compared with a case where the seal portion is formed at the outer edge of the first member.
  • the second member is configured of an elastic material, and it is thus possible to improve a sealing property of the seal portion.
  • the seal portion includes a seal surface that extends along an axial direction of the accommodating portion in the second aspect.
  • the third aspect of the present invention it is possible to widen the area where the first member and the second member come into contact with each other by the first member and the second member coming into surface contact with each other to form the seal surface, and it is thus possible to further prevent an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of the casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • the first member and the second member are disposed to be aligned along the axial direction of the accommodating portion, the first member includes a projecting portion that projects toward the second member along the axial direction of the accommodating portion, the second member includes a recessed portion that is provided to face the projecting portion, and the seal surface is formed at a contact location between a surface of the projecting portion on an inner side in the axial direction of the accommodating portion and a surface of the recessed portion on an outer side in the axial direction of the accommodating portion, in the third aspect.
  • the surface of the projecting portion and the surface of the recessed portion come into contact with each other and forms the seal surface at the contact location between the projecting portion and the recessed portion, and it is thus possible to improve a sealing property of the seal surface and to further prevent an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of the casing of the flavor inhaler. Also, it is possible to extend the leakage path length of the aerosol by the projecting portion and the recessed portion forming the seal surface and thereby to further prevent the aerosol generated in the accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of the casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • the first member and the second member are disposed to be aligned along the axial direction of the accommodating portion, the first member includes a first projecting portion that projects toward the second member along the axial direction of the accommodating portion, the second member includes a second projecting portion that projects toward the first member along the axial direction of the accommodating portion, and the seal surface is formed at a contact location between a surface of the first projecting portion on an inner side in the axial direction of the accommodating portion and a surface of the second projecting portion on an outer side in the axial direction of the accommodating portion, in the third aspect.
  • the surface of the first projecting portion and the surface of the second projecting portion come into contact with each other and form the seal surface at the contact location between the first projecting portion and the second projecting portion, and it is thus possible to improve a sealing property of the seal surface and to further prevent an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of the casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • the first member and the second member are mutually slidable on the seal surface in any of the third to fifth aspects.
  • a stress does not occur at the first member that supports the accommodating portion by the first member and the second member mutually sliding on the seal surface even in a case where a force in the axial direction is applied to the accommodating portion, and it is thus possible to prevent sealing breakage from occurring between the first member and the second member.
  • the second member includes a pressurized portion that is pressurized by the abutting portion in any of the second to sixth aspects.
  • a seal is formed between the abutting portion and the second member by the pressurized portion being pressurized by the abutting portion, and it is thus possible to prevent an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of the casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • the second member is biased toward the first member by the pressurized portion being pressurized by the abutting portion in the seventh aspect.
  • the second member is biased toward the first member by the pressurized portion being pressurized by the abutting portion, and it is thus possible to improve a sealing property of the sealing surface.
  • the second member includes a positioning portion that is engaged with at least one of a casing of the flavor inhaler and a fixed portion that is fixed to the casing of the flavor inhaler in any of the second to eighth aspects.
  • the second member is held by the casing of the flavor inhaler or by the fixed portion that is fixed to the casing of the flavor inhaler by the positioning portion, and it is thus possible to prevent positional deviation of the accommodating portion in the casing.
  • the second member includes a holding portion that holds a state detecting portion that detects a state of the abutting portion in any of the second to ninth aspects.
  • the tenth aspect of the present invention it is possible to detect the state of the abutting portion by using the state detecting portion and thereby to detect a puffing operation on the basis of a change in temperature of the abutting portion by using a thermistor as the state detecting portion, for example.
  • a flavor inhaler includes: a tubular accommodating portion that has an opening formed at one end by an opening edge portion and accommodates at least a part of a flavor generating article via the opening; a tubular abutting portion that abuts the opening edge portion over an entire circumference of the opening; and a sealing portion that seals a part between the accommodating portion and the abutting portion at a position separated from the accommodating portion, the sealing portion including a pressurized portion that projects from the sealing portion, is pressurized by the abutting portion, has an annular shape, and is configured of an elastic member, and a projecting length of the pressurized portion being longer than a thickness of the pressurized portion that perpendicularly intersects the projecting direction in a state before the pressurization.
  • the eleventh aspect of the present invention heat from the accommodating portion is unlikely to be transmitted to the sealed part and degradation of the sealed part is prevented by the sealing portion sealing the part between the accommodating portion and the abutting portion at the position separated from the accommodating portion, and it is thus possible to prevent an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of a casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • the projecting length of the pressurized portion is longer than the thickness of the pressurized portion in a state before the pressurization, and it is thus possible to form a seal between the abutting portion and the pressurized portion while reducing a resistance at the time of the insertion of the abutting portion.
  • a method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler including a tubular accommodating portion that has an opening formed at one end by an opening edge portion and accommodates at least a part of a flavor generating article via the opening, a tubular abutting portion that abuts the opening edge portion, and a sealing portion that seals a part between the accommodating portion and the abutting portion at a position separated from the accommodating portion, in which the sealing portion includes a pressurized portion that is pressurized by the abutting portion, has an annular shape, and is configured of an elastic member, the method including: disposing the accommodating portion inside the sealing portion, disposing the sealing portion inside a casing of the flavor inhaler, inserting the abutting portion into the sealing portion such that the abutting portion abuts the opening edge portion; and pressurizing the pressurized portion in an insertion direction of the abutting portion by insert
  • heat from the accommodating portion is unlikely to be transmitted to the sealed part and degradation of the sealed part is prevented by the sealing portion sealing the part between the accommodating portion and the abutting portion at the position separated from the accommodating portion, and it is thus possible to obtain a flavor inhaler capable of preventing an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion from leaking to the inside of a casing of the flavor inhaler.
  • Fig. 1A is a schematic front view of a flavor inhaler 100 according to an embodiment.
  • Fig. 1B is a schematic top view of the flavor inhaler 100 according to the embodiment.
  • Fig. 1C is a schematic bottom view of the flavor inhaler 100 according to the embodiment.
  • an X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinate system may be added for convenience of description. In the coordinate system, the Z axis is directed vertically upward, the X-Y plane is disposed to cut the flavor inhaler 100 in the horizontal direction, and the Y axis is disposed to extend from the front surface to the rear surface of the flavor inhaler 100.
  • the Z axis can also be called an insertion direction of a flavor generating article to be accommodated in a chamber 50 of an atomization portion 30, which will be described later, or an axial direction of the chamber 50. Additionally, the X axis is in a direction that perpendicularly intersects the Y axis and the Z axis.
  • the flavor inhaler 100 is configured to generate an aerosol containing a flavor by heating a flavor generating article of a stick type having a flavor source containing an aerosol source, for example.
  • the flavor inhaler 100 has an outer housing 101 (corresponding to an example of a casing), a slide cover 102, and a switch portion 103.
  • the outer housing 101 configures the outermost housing of the flavor inhaler 100 and has a size with which it fits in a user's hand. The user can hold the flavor inhaler 100 with his/her hand and inhale the aerosol when the user uses the flavor inhaler 100.
  • the outer housing 101 may be configured by assembling a plurality of members.
  • the outer housing 101 is made of a resin, for example, and may be formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, or a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers, or metal such as aluminum, in particular.
  • PC polycarbonate
  • ABS acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
  • PEEK polyether ether ketone
  • the outer housing 101 has an opening, which is not illustrated, for receiving the flavor generating article, and the slide cover 102 is slidably attached to the outer housing 101 to close the opening.
  • the slide cover 102 is configured to be movable along an outer surface of the outer housing 101 between a closed position (the position illustrated in Figs. 1A and 1B ) at which the opening of the outer housing 101 is closed and an open position at which the opening is open. It is possible to cause the slide cover 102 to move between the closed position and the open position by the user manually operating the slide cover 102, for example. In this manner, the slide cover 102 is able to permit or restrict access to the flavor generating article inside the flavor inhaler 100.
  • the switch portion 103 is used to switch ON and OFF of an operation of the flavor inhaler 100.
  • power is supplied from a power source, which is not illustrated, to a heating portion, which is not illustrated, and it is possible to heat the flavor generating article without burning the flavor generating article, by the user operating the switch portion 103 in a state where the flavor generating article is inserted into the flavor inhaler 100.
  • the switch portion 103 may be a switch provided outside the outer housing 101 or may be a switch located inside the outer housing 101. In a case where the switch is located inside the outer housing 101, the switch is indirectly pressed by pressing the switch portion 103 on the surface of the outer housing 101. In the present embodiment, an example in which the switch of the switch portion 103 is located inside the outer housing 101 will be described.
  • the flavor inhaler 100 may further have a terminal, which is not illustrated.
  • the terminal can be an interface that connects the flavor inhaler 100 to an external power source, for example.
  • the external power source can cause a current to flow to the power source and charge the power source by connecting the external power source to the terminal.
  • the flavor inhaler 100 may be configured to be able to transmit data related to the operation of the flavor inhaler 100 to an external device by connecting a data transmission cable to the terminal.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic side sectional view of the flavor generating article 110.
  • the flavor inhaler 100 and the flavor generating article 110 can configure a smoking system.
  • the flavor generating article 110 has a smokable article 111, a tubular member 114, a hollow filter portion 116, and a filter portion 115.
  • the smokable article 111 is rolled by a first roll paper 112.
  • the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 are rolled by a second roll paper 113 that is different from the first roll paper 112.
  • the second roll paper 113 also rolls a part of the first roll paper 112 that rolls the smokable article 111.
  • the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 are coupled to the smokable article 111.
  • the second roll paper 113 may be omitted, and the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 may be coupled to the smokable article 111 by using the first roll paper 112.
  • a lip release agent 117 for promoting the user's lip release from the second roll paper 113 is applied to the outer surface of the second roll paper 113 in the vicinity of an end portion thereof on the side of the filter portion 115.
  • the part of the flavor generating article 110 to which the lip release agent 117 is applied functions as a mouthpiece of the flavor generating article 110.
  • the smokable article 111 can contain a flavor source such as tobacco, for example, and an aerosol source.
  • the first roll paper 112 for rolling the smokable article 111 can be a sheet member with breathability.
  • the tubular member 114 can be a paper pipe or a hollow filter.
  • the flavor generating article 110 includes the smokable article 111, the tubular member 114, the hollow filter portion 116, and the filter portion 115 in the illustrated example, the configuration of the flavor generating article 110 is not limited thereto.
  • the hollow filter portion 116 may be omitted, and the tubular member 114 and the filter portion 115 may be disposed to be adjacent to each other.
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the flavor inhaler 100 along the arrow 3-3 illustrated in Fig. 1B .
  • an inner housing 10 (corresponding to an example of a casing) is provided inside the outer housing 101 of the flavor inhaler 100.
  • the inner housing 10 is made of a resin, for example, and may be formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, or a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers, or metal such as aluminum, in particular.
  • PC polycarbonate
  • ABS acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
  • PEEK polyether ether ketone
  • the inner housing 10 is preferably made of PEEK in terms of heat resistance and strength.
  • a power source portion 20 and the atomization portion 30 are provided in the inner space of the inner housing 10.
  • the outer housing 101 and the inner housing 10 may be collectively referred to as a casing.
  • the power source portion 20 includes a power source 21.
  • the power source 21 can be a chargeable battery or a nonchargeable battery, for example.
  • the power source 21 is electrically connected to the atomization portion 30.
  • the power source 21 can thus supply power to the atomization portion 30 to appropriately heat the flavor generating article 110.
  • the atomization portion 30 has a chamber 50 (corresponding to an example of an accommodating portion) extending in an insertion direction (Z-axis direction) of the flavor generating article 110, a heating portion 40 covering a part of the chamber 50, a heat insulating portion 32, and a substantially tubular insertion guide member 34 (corresponding to an example of an abutting portion) as illustrated in the drawing.
  • the chamber 50 is configured to accommodate the flavor generating article 110 therein.
  • the heating portion 40 is configured to come into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the chamber 50 and heat the flavor generating article 110 accommodated in the chamber 50.
  • a bottom member 36 may be provided at the bottom portion of the chamber 50.
  • the bottom member 36 can function as a stopper that positions a consumable material 110 inserted into the chamber 50.
  • the bottom member 36 has irregularity on a surface that the flavor generating article 110 abuts and can define a space into which air can be supplied on the surface that the flavor generating article 110 abuts.
  • the bottom member 36 is made of a resin, for example, and may be formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers, or metal such as aluminum, in particular.
  • the bottom member 36 is preferably formed of a material with a low heat conductivity to prevent heat from being transmitted to the heat insulating portion 32 and the like.
  • the heat insulating portion 32 has a substantially tubular shape as a whole and is disposed to cover the chamber 50.
  • the heat insulating portion 32 can include an aerogel sheet, for example.
  • the insertion guide member 34 is formed of a resin material, for example, and is provided between the slide cover 102 at the closed position and the chamber 50.
  • the insertion guide member 34 communicates with the outside of the flavor inhaler 100 when the slide cover 102 is at the open position, and the insertion guide member 34 guides insertion of the flavor generating article 110 into the chamber 50 by inserting the flavor generating article 110 into the insertion guide member 34.
  • Fig. 3 a state where the slide cover 102 is closed to cover the entire insertion guide member 34 is illustrated by the two-dotted chain line.
  • the flavor inhaler 100 further includes a first holding portion 37 and a second holding portion 38 that support both ends of the chamber 50 and the heat insulating portion 32.
  • the first holding portion 37 is disposed to support end portions of the chamber 50 and the heat insulating portion 32 on the negative direction side of the Z axis.
  • the second holding portion 38 is disposed to support end portions of the chamber 50 and the heat insulating portion 32 on the side of the slide cover 102 (the positive direction side of the Z axis). Details of the first holding portion 37 and the second holding portion 38 will be described later.
  • Fig. 4A is a perspective view of the chamber 50.
  • Fig. 4B is a sectional view of the chamber 50 along the arrow 4B-4B illustrated in Fig. 4A .
  • Fig. 5A is a sectional view of the chamber 50 along the arrow 5A-5A illustrated in Fig. 4B .
  • Fig. 5B is a sectional view of the chamber 50 along the arrow 5B-5B illustrated in Fig. 4B .
  • Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the chamber 50 and the heating portion 40.
  • the chamber 50 can have a tubular shape including an opening 52 into which the flavor generating article 110 is inserted and a tubular side wall portion 60 that accommodates the flavor generating article 110.
  • a flange portion 52a (corresponding to an example of an opening edge portion) is formed at an end surface that defines the opening 52 formed at an end of the chamber 50.
  • the chamber 50 is preferably formed of a material with heat resistance and a small coefficient of thermal expansion and can be formed of, for example, stainless steel.
  • the chamber 50 may be formed of a resin such as PEEK, glass, ceramics, or the like as well as metal. This enables effective heating of the flavor generating article 110 from the chamber 50.
  • the chamber 50 is not limited to the tubular shape and may have a cup shape.
  • the side wall portion 60 includes contact portions 62 and a separated portion 66.
  • the contact portions 62 come into contact with or press a part of the flavor generating article 110, and the separated portion 66 is separated from the flavor generating article 110.
  • the desired position in the chamber 50 means the position at which the flavor generating article 110 is appropriately heated or the position of the flavor generating article 110 when the user smokes.
  • Each contact portion 62 has an inner surface 62a and an outer surface 62b.
  • the separated portion 66 has an inner surface 66a and an outer surface 66b. As illustrated in Fig.
  • the heating portion 40 is disposed on the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62.
  • the heating portion 40 is preferably disposed with no clearance from the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62.
  • the heating portion 40 may include an adhesive layer. In that case, the heating portion 40 including the adhesive layer is preferably disposed with no clearance from the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62.
  • the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62 is a planar surface. It is possible to prevent a strip-shaped electrode 48 from being bent in a case where the strip-shaped electrode 48 is connected to the heating portion 40 disposed on the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62 as illustrated in Fig. 6 by the outer surface 62b of the contact portion 62 being a planar surface. As illustrated in Figs. 4B and 5B , the inner surface 62a of the contact portion 62 is a planar surface. Also, the thickness of the contact portion 62 is uniform as illustrated in Figs. 4B and 5B .
  • the chamber 50 has two contact portions 62 in the circumferential direction of the chamber 50, and the two contact portions 62 face each other in parallel with each other.
  • the distance of at least a part between the inner surfaces 62a of the two contact portions 62 is preferably shorter than the width of the flavor generating article 110 inserted into the chamber 50 at the location disposed between the contact portions 62.
  • the inner surface 66a of the separated portion 66 can have an arc-shaped section as a whole in the plane that perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal direction (Z-axis direction) of the chamber 50. Also, the separated portion 66 is disposed to be adjacent to the contact portions 62 in the circumferential direction.
  • the chamber 50 can have a hole 56a at the bottom portion 56 thereof such that the bottom member 36 illustrated in Fig. 3 penetrates therethrough and is disposed inside the chamber 50.
  • the bottom member 36 can be fixed to the inside of the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 with an adhesive or the like.
  • the adhesive intervening between the bottom member 36 and the bottom portion 56 can be configured of a resin material such as an epoxy resin. Instead of this, an inorganic adhesive such as cement or welding can also be used.
  • the bottom member 36 provided at the bottom portion 56 can support a part of the flavor generating article 110 inserted into the chamber 50 with at least a part of an end surface of the flavor generating article 110 exposed. Also, the bottom portion 56 can support a part of the flavor generating article 110 with the exposed end surface of the flavor generating article 110 communicating with a clearance 67 (see Fig. 7 ), which will be described later.
  • the chamber 50 preferably has a tubular non-holding portion 54 between the opening 52 and the side wall portion 60. A clearance can be formed between the non-holding portion 54 and the flavor generating article 110 in a state where the flavor generating article 110 is positioned at a desired position in the chamber 50. Also, as illustrated in Figs. 4A and 4B , the chamber 50 preferably has a first guide portion 58 including a tapered surface 58a that connects the inner surface of the non-holding portion 54 to the inner surfaces 62a of the contact portions 62.
  • the heating portion 40 has a heating element 42.
  • the heating element 42 may be a heating track, for example.
  • the heating element 42 is preferably disposed to heat the contact portions 62 without coming into contact with the separated portion 66 of the chamber 50.
  • the heating element 42 is preferably disposed only on the outer surfaces of the contact portions 62.
  • the heating element 42 may have a difference in heating capability between a part heating the separated portion 66 of the chamber 50 and a part heating the contact portions 62.
  • the heating element 42 may be configured to heat the contact portions 62 to a higher temperature than that of the separated portion 66. For example, disposition densities of the heating track of the heating element 42 in the contact portions 62 and the separated portion 66 can be adjusted.
  • the heating element 42 may be wound around the outer circumference of the chamber 50 while exhibiting substantially the same heating capability over the entire circumference of the chamber 50.
  • the heating portion 40 preferably has an electrically insulating member 44 that covers at least one surface of the heating element 42 in addition to the heating element 42.
  • the electrically insulating member 44 is disposed to cover both surfaces of the heating element 42.
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrated in Fig. 5B in a state where the flavor generating article 110 is disposed at a desired position in the chamber 50.
  • the flavor generating article 110 can come into contact with and be pressed by the contact portions 62 of the chamber 50.
  • the clearance 67 is formed between the flavor generating article 110 and the separated portion 66.
  • the clearance 67 can communicate with the opening 52 of the chamber 50 and the end surface of the flavor generating article 110 located in the chamber 50. In this manner, air flowing from the opening 52 of the chamber 50 can pass through the clearance 67 and flow to the inside of the flavor generating article 110.
  • an air flow path (clearance 67) is formed between the flavor generating article 110 and the separated portion 66.
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the first holding portion 37.
  • Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of the second holding portion 38. Note that an annular member 90, which will be described later, is illustrated in a state before the insertion guide member 34 is inserted into an inner housing, which is not illustrated, that is, in a state where a pressurized portion 92 of the annular member 90 has not been pushed down in Fig. 9 .
  • the first holding portion 37 has a cap 72 and a heater cushion 74 .
  • the cap 72 is configured such that a first side surface 72a facing the chamber 50 abuts the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 and supports the chamber 50.
  • the cap 72 is made of a resin, for example, and may be formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, or a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers, in particular.
  • the cap 72 may be formed of metal, glass, ceramics, or the like.
  • the cap 72 is preferably made of PEEK in terms of heat resistance.
  • a rib 72b projecting toward the heater cushion 74 is provided at the cap 72 to stand on the surface on the side opposite to the first side surface 72a.
  • the heater cushion 74 is configured to accommodate and support an end of the cap 72.
  • the heater cushion 74 includes a second side surface 74d that is configured to abut the rib 72b formed at the cap 72.
  • the heater cushion 74 includes, on a surface on a side opposite to the chamber 50, a third side surface 74e that is configured to abut the fixed portion 22 and is provided with a projecting portion 74a that projects in a direction opposite to the chamber 50.
  • the heater cushion 74 can be formed of an elastic member such as silicone rubber, for example. Note that in a case where silicone rubber is used, a preferred range of Shore A hardness is 40 to 60 and can be appropriately selected in accordance with deformation of the heater cushion 74.
  • the heater cushion 74 is configured to be positioned at and fixed to the fixed portion 22 that is fixed to the inner housing, which is not illustrated. Note that the fixed portion 22 may be the inner housing itself.
  • the flange portion 52a of the chamber 50 is configured to abut the insertion guide member 34 over the entire circumference.
  • the insertion guide member 34 is made of a resin, for example, and may be formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, or a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers, in particular.
  • the insertion guide member 34 may be formed of metal, glass, ceramics, or the like.
  • the insertion guide member 34 is preferably made of PEEK in terms of heat resistance.
  • the second holding portion 38 is configured to seal an aerosol that is generated in the chamber 50 due to heating of the flavor generating article 110 at a position away from the chamber 50, specifically, at a position thermally separated from the heating portion 40 that covers the chamber 50 and leaks from a part between the chamber 50 and the insertion guide member 34.
  • the second holding portion 38 includes a gasket 80 (corresponding to an example of a first member) and the annular member 90 (corresponding to an example of a second member).
  • the gasket 80 and the annular member 90 form a sealing portion.
  • the gasket 80 is disposed over the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the chamber 50 around the non-holding portion 54 of the chamber 50 and is configured as an annular member that supports the chamber 50.
  • the gasket 80 is made of a resin, for example, and may be formed of polycarbonate (PC), an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, or a polymer alloy or the like containing polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a plurality of types of polymers, in particular.
  • the gasket 80 may be formed of metal, glass, ceramics, or the like.
  • the gasket 80 is preferably made of PEEK in terms of heat resistance.
  • the annular member 90 is brought into contact with the insertion guide member 34 over the entire circumference of the insertion guide member 34 by the pressurized portion 92, which will be described later and is configured to be engaged with the gasket 80 and support them over the entire circumference of the gasket 80.
  • the annular member 90 can be formed of an elastic member such as silicone rubber, for example. In a case where silicone rubber is used, a preferred range of Shore A hardness is 40 to 60 and can be appropriately selected in accordance with deformation of the annular member 90. Also, the annular member 90 is configured to be positioned at and fixed to the fixed portion 22 that is fixed to the inner housing, which is not illustrated.
  • a seal surface 85 that extends along the axial direction of the chamber 50 is formed at a contact location between the gasket 80 and the annular member 90.
  • the seal surface 85 is formed on the side closer to the axis of the chamber 50 in the radial direction of the chamber 50 than the outer edge of the gasket 80.
  • the second holding portion 38 including the gasket 80 and the annular member 90 can thus seal, at a position separated from the chamber 50, the aerosol that leaks from the part between the chamber 50 and the insertion guide member 34 to the inside of the inner housing.
  • the seal surface 85 is formed on the side closer to the axis of the chamber 50 in the radial direction of the chamber 50 than the outer edge of the gasket 80 at the contact location between the gasket 80 and the annular member 90, it is possible to reduce the size of the flavor inhaler 100 as compared with a case where the seal surface is formed at the outer edge of the gasket 80. Additionally, since the annular member 90 is configured of an elastic material, it is possible to improve a sealing property of the seal surface 85.
  • the gasket 80 and the annular member 90 are not necessarily in surface contact with each other, and the gasket 80 and the annular member 90 may be in point contact with each other in a sectional view illustrated in Fig. 9 . In this case, a seal portion is formed at the contact location between the gasket 80 and the annular member 90.
  • Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the gasket 80 and the annular member 90.
  • Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the annular member 90 and the fixed portion 22.
  • the gasket 80 includes a jaw portion 81 and a projecting portion 82.
  • the annular member 90 includes a recessed portion 91, a pressurized portion 92, a positioning portion 93, and a holding portion 94. The gasket 80 and the annular member 90 are disposed to be aligned along the axial direction of the chamber 50.
  • the jaw portion 81 of the gasket 80 is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the gasket 80 and is configured to be engaged with the flange portion 52a of the chamber 50 and support the chamber 50.
  • the projecting portion 82 of the gasket 80 is configured to project from the main body part of the gasket 80 toward the annular member 90 along the axial direction of the chamber 50.
  • the recessed portion 91 of the annular member 90 is provided to face the projecting portion 82 of the gasket 80.
  • the seal surface 85 is formed at the contact location between the surface of the projecting portion 82 on the inner side in the axial direction of the chamber 50 and the surface of the recessed portion 91 on the outer side in the axial direction of the chamber 50.
  • the projecting portion 82 of the gasket 80 and the recessed portion 91 of the annular member 90 are preferably configured to be mutually slidable on the seal surface 85.
  • a stress in the axial direction is applied to the chamber 50 by the insertion guide member 34, for example, and the chamber 50 moves in the axial direction, a stress does not occur at the gasket 80 supporting the chamber 50 since the projecting portion 82 and the recessed portion 91 mutually slide on the seal surface 85. Therefore, it is possible to prevent sealing breakage between the gasket 80 and the annular member 90.
  • the gasket 80 and the annular member 90 may include a first projecting portion and a second projecting portion projecting toward the annular member 90 and the gasket 80, respectively, along the axial direction of the chamber 50, and the seal surface may be formed at the contact location between the surface of the first projecting portion on the inner side in the axial direction of the chamber 50 and the surface of the second projecting portion on the outer side in the axial direction of the chamber 50.
  • the surface of the first projecting portion and the surface of the second projecting portion come into contact with each other to form the seal surface at the contact location between the first projecting portion and the second projecting portion in this case as well, it is possible to improve the sealing property of the seal surface and to further prevent the aerosol generated in the chamber 50 from leaking to the inside of the inner housing.
  • the pressurized portion 92 of the annular member 90 is formed to project from the inner circumferential surface of the annular member 90 and is configured as an annular lip-shaped member that comes into contact with the insertion guide member 34.
  • the projecting length of the pressurized portion 92 (the length along the radial direction of the chamber 50) is longer than the thickness of the pressurized portion 92 (the length along the axial direction of the chamber 50), and the pressurized portion 92 has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion guide member 34.
  • the pressurized portion 92 is pressurized by the insertion guide member 34 and is pushed down on the negative direction side of the Z axis when the insertion guide member 34 is inserted into the inner housing at the time of manufacturing of the flavor inhaler 100.
  • Fig. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a state of the annular member in the case where the insertion guide member is inserted into the inner housing. As illustrated in Fig. 12 , the pressurized portion 92 of the annular member 90 is pushed down in the insertion direction (from the upper side to the lower side in the drawing) of the insertion guide member 34.
  • the sealing is formed between the insertion guide member 34 and the pressurized portion 92, it is possible to prevent the aerosol generated in the chamber 50 from leaking to the inside of the inner housing. Also, since the projecting length of the pressurized portion 92 is longer than the thickness of the pressurized portion 92, it is possible to form sealing between the insertion guide member 34 and the pressurized portion 92 while reducing a resistance at the time of the insertion of the insertion guide member 34.
  • the annular member 90 is preferably configured to be biased toward the gasket 80 by the pressurized portion 92 being pressurized by the insertion guide member 34. In this manner, the annular member 90 is biased toward the gasket 80, and it is thus possible to improve the sealing property of the seal surface 85.
  • the recessed portion 91 of the annular member 90 is provided to face the projecting portion 82 of the gasket 80, the projecting portion 82 is inserted into the recessed portion 91, and the annular member 90 is held by the gasket 80. Since the flange portion 52a does not pass through the chamber 50 when the chamber 50 is inserted into the gasket 80 from the bottom portion side, the chamber 50 is held by the gasket 80. The flange portion 52a and the gasket 80 are brought into close contact with each other with no gap therebetween with a gluing agent or an adhesive. Additionally, the gasket 80 is fitted to the inner diameter of one side of the heat insulating portion 32 and holds the heat insulating portion 32.
  • the heater cushion 74 holds the bottom portion side of the chamber 50 and the inner diameter of the other side of the heat insulating portion 32.
  • the rib 72b provided at the support portion 72 abuts the second side surface 74d of the heater cushion 74, and the projecting portion 74a formed on the third side surface 74e of the heater cushion 74 abuts the fixed portion 22.
  • the insertion guide member 34 comes into contact with the pressurized portion 92.
  • the diameter of the pressurized portion 92 is set to be smaller than the diameter of the insertion guide member 34, the pressurized portion 92 is pushed down in the insertion direction with the insertion of the insertion guide member 34, one surface of the pressurized portion 92 is brought into close contact with the insertion guide member 34, and the part between the one surface of the pressurized portion 92 and the insertion guide member 34 is sealed.
  • the rib 72b bites into the heater cushion 74
  • the projecting portion 74a of the heater cushion 74 collapses at the same time, and the heater cushion 74 causes a reactive force.
  • the distal end of the insertion guide member 34 is brought into close contact with the flange portion 52a due to the reactive force, and the gap between the flange portion 52a and the insertion guide member 34 is canceled. It is possible to prevent the aerosol that is present in the chamber 50 from leaking from the gap to the inside of the casing by canceling the gap.
  • the O-ring is extended to be fitted into the groove and is further compressed in an attached state, and a compression stress thus continuously acts on the member with the groove formed therein for a long period of time. If the groove is deformed, there is a concern that the an aerosol generated in the accommodating portion may leak to the inside of the casing of the flavor inhaler, and may promote degradation of an electronic circuit portion, or may lead to a breakdown of the device due to a contact failure of an electric contact portion. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to increase the thickness or employ a material with high rigidity in order to enhance rigidity of the member with the groove formed therein. Also, in order to secure a stable amount of compression, the member with the groove formed therein requires to be manufactured with high precision. This may result in increases in size and cost of the device.
  • the gap between the flange portion 52a and the insertion guide member 34 can be canceled by the aforementioned simple configuration in the present embodiment.
  • the annular member 90 capable of securing a sealing property between the insertion guide member 34 and the annular member 90 and between the annular member 90 and the gasket 80 by being pushed down is disposed in order to prevent the aerosol from leaking to the inside of the casing through the gap generated between the flange portion 52a and the insertion guide member 34 and avoid an increase in size of the device with a simple configuration in the present embodiment.
  • Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating another aspect of the second holding portion.
  • a pressurized portion 192 may be configured as an annular member that projects in an arc shape from the inner circumferential surface of the annular member 90 toward the insertion guide member 34 and comes into contact with the insertion guide member 34 at a point in the sectional view illustrated in Fig. 9 .
  • the pressurized portion 192 has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the insertion guide member 34.
  • the positioning portion 93 of the annular member 90 projects outward from the main body part of the annular member 90 and is configured to be engaged with a positioning claw 22a formed at the fixed portion 22. In this manner, the annular member 90 is held by the fixed portion 22, and the annular member 90 and the gasket 80 can thus cooperate to prevent positional deviation of the chamber 50 in the inner housing. Therefore, it is possible to easily attach the insertion guide member 34.
  • the holding portion 94 of the annular member 90 projects outward from the main body part of the annular member 90 and is configured to hold a state detecting portion that detects a state of the insertion guide member 34.
  • the state detecting portion is, for example, a puff thermistor. It is thus possible to measure a change in temperature of the insertion guide member 34 by the puff thermistor and to detect a puffing operation performed by the user.
  • the heater cushion 74 may bias the chamber 50 toward the insertion guide member 34 to form a seal between the flange portion 52a of the chamber 50 and the insertion guide member 34 in order to further prevent the aerosol generated in the chamber 50 from leaking from the part between the chamber 50 and the insertion guide member 34 to the inside of the inner housing in Figs. 8 and 9 .
  • a method for manufacturing such a flavor inhaler 100 includes disposing the chamber 50 inside the sealing portion, disposing the sealing portion inside the inner housing, inserting the insertion guide member 34 into the sealing portion such that the insertion guide member 34 abuts the flange portion 52a, pressurizing the pressurized portion 92 in the insertion direction of the insertion guide member 34 by inserting the insertion guide member 34 into the sealing portion, and forming the seal part by biasing the pressurized portion 92 toward the outer side in the radial direction of the chamber 50.
  • the flavor inhaler 100 has a so-called counterflow-type air flow path through which air flowing from the opening 52 of the chamber 50 is supplied to the end surface of the flavor generating article 110
  • the present invention is not limited thereto, and the flavor inhaler 100 may have a so-called bottom flow-type air flow path through which air is supplied from the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50 to the inside of the chamber 50.
  • the heating element 42 is not limited to a resistance heating type and may be an induction heating type. In that case, the heating element 42 can heat the chamber 50 through induction heating. Also, in a case where the flavor generating article 110 has a susceptor, the heating element 42 can heat the susceptor of the flavor generating article 110 through induction heating.

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  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
EP20965141.3A 2020-12-11 2020-12-11 Flavor inhaler and method for manufacturing flavor inhaler Pending EP4260724A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2020/046197 WO2022123759A1 (ja) 2020-12-11 2020-12-11 香味吸引器および香味吸引器の製造方法

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4260724A1 true EP4260724A1 (en) 2023-10-18

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20965141.3A Pending EP4260724A1 (en) 2020-12-11 2020-12-11 Flavor inhaler and method for manufacturing flavor inhaler

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EP (1) EP4260724A1 (ja)
JP (1) JPWO2022123759A1 (ja)
TW (1) TW202222180A (ja)
WO (1) WO2022123759A1 (ja)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107772543B (zh) * 2016-08-31 2021-06-01 卓尔悦欧洲控股有限公司 一种电子烟用的自动点烟模块及应用该模块的电子烟
US20190357590A1 (en) * 2016-11-10 2019-11-28 British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited Tobacco blend
CN106880086B (zh) * 2017-04-07 2023-07-25 云南中烟工业有限责任公司 一种电子烟与低温烤烟的混合烟
US20210212366A1 (en) 2018-08-15 2021-07-15 Nicoventures Trading Limited Apparatus for heating an article including an aerosolisable medium, a method of manufacturing the apparatus and an aerosolisable material article for use with the apparatus
JP7325980B2 (ja) * 2019-03-19 2023-08-15 インテレクチュアルディスカバリーシーオー．，エルティーディー 喫煙治具

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JPWO2022123759A1 (ja) 2022-06-16
TW202222180A (zh) 2022-06-16

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