TW202228535A - Aerosol generation device with ejection mechanism using leverage - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device with an ejection mechanism using leverage. More specifically, an aerosol generation device (1), comprising: an aerosol generation chamber (103) configured to receive and heat a substrate (2) to generate aerosol; a cover (102) which can be in a closed position (31) covering the aerosol generation chamber (103), and in an open position (33) exposing the aerosol generation chamber (103); an ejection mechanism (101) having a lever (1011) and being at least partially engaged with the cover (102) so as to eject at least a portion of the substrate (2) out of the aerosol generation chamber (103) when the cover (102) is in the open position.

Description

Aerosol generating device with ejection mechanism using lever

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device in which an aerosol-generating substrate is heated to form an aerosol; more particularly, an aerosol-generating device having a lever-operated ejection mechanism.

The popularity and use of aerosol-generating devices, also known as heat-not-burn products or vaporizers or electronic cigarettes, has grown rapidly over the past few years. Various devices and systems are available for heating or warming aerosolizable substances other than burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.

Commonly used, risk-reduced or risk-modified devices are heated matrix aerosol-generating devices or heat-not-burn devices. This type of device generates an aerosol or vapor by heating an aerosol substrate, typically comprising moist tobacco leaves or other suitable aerosolizable material, to a temperature typically in the range of 150°C to 350°C . Heating the aerosol matrix without burning or burning it releases an aerosol that includes the components sought by the user, but does not include the toxic carcinogenic by-products of combustion and burning. In addition, aerosols produced by heating tobacco or other aerosolizable materials generally do not include burnt or bitter tastes that may be unpleasant to the user from burning and burning, and therefore, the base does not require sugar and other Additives, sugars and additives are often added to such materials to make the smoke and/or vapor more palatable to the user.

In such devices, the substrate is typically substantially contained within the aerosol-generating chamber for heating, and the user typically needs to push a button after consumption to eject the substrate from the aerosol-generating chamber for replacement with a new substrate. However, arranging buttons on the device may create voids on the housing of the aerosol-generating device that reduce access to the aerosol-generating device, and may complicate operation of the device by the user.

The present invention provides a smoking article for an aerosol generating device that addresses some or all of the above problems.

The first embodiment of the present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, the aerosol generating device includes: - an aerosol-generating chamber configured to receive and heat the substrate to generate the aerosol; - a lid that can be in a closed position covering the aerosol-generating chamber and an open position exposing the aerosol-generating chamber; and - an ejection mechanism having a lever and at least partially engaging the cover to eject at least a portion of the substrate from the aerosol-generating chamber when the cover is in the open position; wherein the ejection mechanism may be in an ejected state in which at least a portion of the substrate protrudes from the aerosol-generating chamber and an undelivered state in which the substrate is fully contained by the aerosol-generating chamber; and When the cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the ejection mechanism transitions from the non-ejection state to the ejection state, thereby ejecting the substrate by rotating the lever.

The ejection mechanism improves the convenience for the user to use and replace the aerosol substrate. The substrate can be ejected automatically by simply opening the cover. This provides an intuitive and robust way for replacing the substrate, and also allows for a simple internal structure of the aerosol-generating device.

According to a second embodiment, in the first embodiment, when the cover is moved from the open position to the closed position, the lever is rotated back to the original position to enter the undeployed state in which the substrate is completely inserted into the aerosol-generating chamber.

According to a third embodiment, in any of the preceding embodiments, the cover may be in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position when the cover is moved from the closed position to the intermediate position , the lever does not rotate, and when the cover moves from the neutral position to the open position, the lever ejects the substrate by rotating.

With this arrangement, the substrate is only ejected when the aerosol generating chamber is fully exposed, which avoids accidental manipulation by the user.

According to a fourth embodiment, in any of the preceding embodiments, the lever at least partially defines a bottom surface of the aerosol-generating chamber.

According to a fifth embodiment, in any of the preceding embodiments, the ejection mechanism has a sliding track, and a sliding block connected to the cover and the lever is arranged to slide in the sliding track to trigger the lever rotation.

According to a sixth embodiment, in the previous embodiment, the securing mechanism mechanically engages the lever with the slider so that the lever rotates when the slider slides, and vice versa.

According to the seventh embodiment, in either of the fifth or sixth embodiments, the protrusion (1021) of the cover is slidably engaged with the protrusion of the slider so that when the cover is removed from the closed When the position is moved to the open position or from the open position to the closed position, the lever is correspondingly depressed or lifted.

According to the eighth embodiment, in any one of the fifth to seventh embodiments, the protruding portion (1021) of the cover member and/or the protruding portion of the sliding block are made of metal.

With this arrangement, the lifespan of the ejection mechanism and the device is extended.

According to a ninth embodiment, in any of the preceding embodiments, the aerosol-generating device has an elongated shape, and the cover is arranged to slide in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device.

The preferred embodiments will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used herein, the terms "aerosol-generating device," "vaporizer system," "inhaler," or "electronic cigarette" may include electronic cigarettes configured to deliver an aerosol to a user, including for Smoking aerosols. In the present invention, the illustrated embodiments of the aerosol generating system are illustrative.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 , an electronic cigarette 1 for consuming a substrate is shown. The electronic cigarette 1 can be used as a substitute for conventional cigarettes. The electronic cigarette 1 has a generally elongated elongated shape, including a cover 102 and a body 106 . The cover 102 is slidingly engaged with the body 106 via slide rails (not shown). When the surface of the device 1 , which is perpendicular to the insertion direction 21 , is used as the side surface of the aerosol-generating device 1 , the cover is arranged on the side surface of the main body of the device 1 and in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the substrate 2 . slide. The cover 102 is arranged to slide in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device 1 when the direction parallel to the insertion direction 21 is taken as the lateral direction and the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction 21 is taken as the longitudinal direction. The cover 102 has a closed position 31 that covers the aerosol-generating chamber 103 when the user consumes the substrate 2, and an open position 33 that exposes the opening of the aerosol-generating chamber 103 included in the aerosol-generating device 1 for Insertion or extraction of matrix 2. The aerosol-generating chamber 33 is oriented vertically in the body, ie arranged in the lateral direction of the device 1 . In this embodiment, there is also an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position. When the cover member 102 slides to the middle position, the opening of the aerosol generating chamber 103 is completely exposed. In a preferred embodiment, when the lid 102 is slid from the closed position to the intermediate position, the lid 102 just exposes the full opening of the aerosol generating chamber 103 .

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an aerosol-generating substrate 2 . The substrate 2 may, for example, comprise nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former. Tobacco can take the form of various materials such as cut tobacco, granulated tobacco, leaf tobacco and/or reconstituted tobacco. Suitable aerosol formers include: polyols such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; non-polyols such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, and glycerol derivatives such as triethylene glycol. Acetate, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerol or vegetable glycerol and other esters. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The matrix 2 may also include at least one of a gelling agent, a binder, a stabilizer, and a humectant.

The matrix 2 is porous so that air can flow through the matrix 2 and collect the aerosol at this time. The matrix 2 may be, for example, foam, or wrapped strands or fibers. The substrate 2 can be formed into a stable shape by extrusion and/or rolling processes. The aerosol-generating substrate 2 may be shaped to provide one airflow channel on one side, or in preferred embodiments more preferably multiple airflow channels on both sides, as shown in FIG. 1 . These air flow channels may be aligned with the air flow channels of the aerosol generating device 1 in order to increase the air flow through the aerosol chamber 103 . The substrate 2 is exposed with a bare outer surface. Alternatively, the substrate 2 may include a breathable wrap covering at least a portion of the surface of the substrate 2 . The wrap may, for example, comprise paper and/or nonwoven fabrics.

In this embodiment, the substrate may have a generally flat cuboid shape or pod shape with dimensions of 18 x 12 x 1.2 mm, wherein the length, width and depth of the cuboid are each in the range of, for example, +/- 40% select within. Generally, in preferred embodiments, the length of the matrix is between 40 and 10 mm, preferably between 30 and 12 mm, more preferably between 25 and 14 mm, and most preferably between 25 and 14 mm. The optimum is between 22 and 15 mm. In preferred embodiments, the width of the substrate is between 30 and 6 mm, preferably between 25 and 8 mm, more preferably between 20 and 9 mm, and most preferably between 16 and 9 mm. In preferred embodiments, the depth of the matrix is between 3 and 0.5 mm, preferably between 2 and 0.6 mm, more preferably between 1.8 and 0.8 mm, and most preferably between 1.6 and 0.9 mm.

The aerosol-generating substrate is preferably designed to be shorter than or equal to the length of the aerosol-generating chamber 103 in the longitudinal direction 21 so that the substrate can be completely covered by the cover 102 and when the cover is in the closed position of the cover 102 is completely encapsulated and contained in the aerosol generating chamber 103. In other words, the aerosol-generating chamber 103 has a substantially cuboid shape corresponding to the shape of the substrate 2, with a size of 20 x 12 x 1.2 mm, wherein each of the length, width and depth of the cuboid is in the range of +/- 40% select within. The length of the aerosol-generating chamber is preferably greater than the length of the substrate 2 (here 18 mm), and the width and depth of the aerosol-generating chamber 103 are preferably greater than the width and depth of the substrate 2 (12 mm, respectively). mm and 1.2 mm). Preferably, in preferred embodiments, the length of the aerosol generating chamber is between 45 and 11 mm, preferably between 35 and 13 mm, more preferably between 30 and 14 mm between, and most preferably, between 25 and 15 mm. In preferred embodiments, the width of the chamber is between 31 and 6 mm, preferably between 26 and 8 mm, more preferably between 21 and 9 mm, and most preferably is between 17 and 9 mm. In preferred embodiments, the depth of the chamber is between 4 and 0.5 mm, preferably between 3 and 0.6 mm, more preferably between 2.8 and 0.8 mm, and most preferably is between 2 and 0.9 mm.

The cuboid of the aerosol generating chamber has two openings at opposite ends to form two surfaces perpendicular to the lateral direction. One of the openings (“first opening”) is configured as an opening for inserting and extracting the substrate 2 and can be covered by the cover 102 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the main body further includes an ejection mechanism 101 (shown in dark color), a LiPo battery 106 , a PCBA 104 (which includes a controller or CPU), and a device for charging the LiPo battery 106 and/or transferring data to the device 1 USB-C connector 105. The ejection mechanism 101 is configured to eject the substrate 2 from the aerosol-generating chamber 103 via the second opening of the aerosol-generating chamber 103 by supporting the substrate 2 . The aerosol generating chamber 103 is engaged with the ejection mechanism 101 . This means that at least a part of the substrate 2 can be ejected from the first opening of the aerosol generating chamber when the substrate 2 is ejected by the ejection mechanism 101, and the substrate 2 can be taken out by the user's hand after the cover is opened .

Before using the device 1 and consuming the substrate 2, the user first opens the lid 102 of the device 1 by sliding the lid 102 in the longitudinal direction to an intermediate or open position. Next, the user inserts the substrate 2 into the first opening of the aerosol-generating chamber 103 along the insertion direction 21 . Next, the user closes the cover by sliding the cover 102 to the closed position 31 . The user activates the device by means of a button on the device 1 and starts consuming the substrate 2 . In an alternative embodiment, a sensor may be arranged in the device 1 to sense the closure of the lid and/or the presence of the substrate 2 in the device 1 and then automatically trigger heating of the substrate 2 . After the user completes consumption of the substrate 2, the user simply opens the lid 2 until the lid slides to the open position 33. At least a portion of the substrate 2 emerges and ejects automatically from the first opening of the aerosol generating chamber 103 . In a preferred embodiment, the sensor is configured to sense the opening of the cover 102 to stop the heating of the aerosol generating chamber 103 . Finally, the user dislodges the matrix 2 from the device 1 .

Figures 3a to 3c illustrate specific configurations of the ejection mechanism 101 .

The ejection mechanism 101 is at least indirectly connected to the aerosol generating chamber 103 and the cover 102 and at least partially engaged with the cover 102 . The ejection mechanism 101 includes a lever 1011 similar to or in the form of a seesaw. The lever 1011 has two straight beams or rods pivoting at fixed hinges in the device 1 . The two beams are integrated in one piece and fixedly form a predetermined angle. The top end of one of the two beams is configured to support the substrate as the bottom (inner lower surface or floor) of the aerosol-generating chamber 103 when the substrate 2 is heated and protrudes into the aerosol-generating chamber 103 . Therefore, when the cover 102 is slidably opened, at least a part of the substrate 2 is ejected from the first opening of the aerosol generating chamber 103 . The lever movement of the lever 1011 is triggered by the cover 102 and can be divided into two states: an ejected state and a non-ejected state. In the ejected state, the substrate 2 protrudes from the aerosol-generating chamber 103 , while in the non-ejection state, the substrate 2 is completely contained by the aerosol-generating chamber 103 . When the cover 102 moves from the closed position 31 to the open position 33 , the ejection mechanism 101 transitions from the non-ejection state to the ejection state, thereby ejecting the substrate 2 by rotating the lever 1011 . More specifically, when the cover 102 slides from the closed position 31 to the intermediate position 32, the lever 1011 does not rotate, and when the cover 102 slides from the intermediate position 32 to the open position 33, the lever 1011 is moved by the lever to eject the substrate 2 .

The ejection mechanism further includes a slide track 1013 in which a slide block 1012 is disposed and configured to engage with the cover and the lever to trigger lever movement of the lever 1011 . The sliding rails 1013 are arranged along the lateral direction of the device 1, with the sliding blocks 1012 moving along the same axis. The slider has opposite ends along the axis. The first end has a sloped surface, and at least a portion of the second end forms an arc. The cover 102 includes a protrusion having a sloped surface that slidingly engages and cooperates with the sloped surface of the slider 1012 between the intermediate position 32 and the closed position 33 . In other words, when the cover is moved from the intermediate position 32 to the closed position 33, the inclined surface of the protruding portion of the cover 102 presses the sliding block 1012 to move it downward, and the arc of the sliding block 1012 presses down one beam of the lever 1011, The other beam of the lever 1011 is lifted due to the lever movement.

In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the ejection mechanism includes or is preferably made of metal material; preferably, the protruding portion 1021 of the cover 102 and/or the inclined surface of the sliding block 1012 is made of metal production.

In another preferred embodiment, a securing mechanism (not shown) is configured to mechanically engage the lever 1011 with the arc of the slider 1012 so that the lever 1011 rotates when the slider 1012 slides and vice versa. More specifically, in one embodiment, a spring may be arranged under the beam of the lever 1011 . In another embodiment, the slide block 1012 may be provided with a ring through which the beam of the lever 1011 extends. In yet another embodiment, magnets may be arranged in lever 1011 and slider 1012 . Having this fixing mechanism allows the beam of the lever to move in rotation together with the slider 1012 and the cover 102 . Thus, from the closed position 33 to the intermediate position 32, the substrate 2 is automatically inserted into the heating chamber 103, wherein the beam of the lever 1011 supporting the substrate 2 is rotated downwards.

In other embodiments, the device 1 may be configured without a fixture. When the lid 102 is in the open position 33 , the user can insert the substrate 2 into the aerosol-generating chamber 102 . Since the beam of the lever 1011 close to the heating chamber is lifted and protrudes into the aerosol-generating chamber 102 , the substrate 2 also protrudes at least partially from the aerosol-generating chamber 102 . The user can simply hold the device 1 horizontally so that, under the weight of the substrate 2, when the cover is slid from the intermediate position 32 to the closed position 31, the lever is reset due to gravity.

In the following, the process performed by the ejection mechanism 101 in the device 1 and the different states of the ejection mechanism, more particularly the ejection state and the non-ejection state, are discussed with reference to Figures 3a to 3c. non-ejection state

In Figures 3a and 3b, the ejection mechanism 101 is in a non-ejection state. The substrate 2 is fully inserted into the aerosol generating chamber 103 . One beam of the lever 1011 (supporting substrate 2 ) is pressed down by the substrate, while the other beam of the lever 1011 is lifted together with the sliding block 1012 .

When the user slides the cover in the longitudinal direction from the closed position 31 to the intermediate position 32, the ejection device remains in the non-ejection state. The distance L1 between the protrusion of the cover member 102 and the end of the cover member covering the aerosol generation chamber 103 is configured to be greater than the width of the aerosol generation chamber 103 . With this arrangement, when the cover is slid to the intermediate position 32, the lever 1011 begins to rotate and pivot at a fixed hinge or fulcrum in the device, so that during the transition from the non-ejected state to the ejected state, the substrate 2, and the aerosol The first opening that creates the chamber 103 is fully exposed. Ejection state

FIG. 3c shows the ejection state of the ejection mechanism 101 . The cover slides to the open position 33 . A stop structure (not shown) is arranged in the device 1 to prevent the cover 102 from sliding further rearwards. Fixing structures (not shown) may also be arranged in the device 1 so that the cover 102 is doubly stable, ie the cover can be stably held in place in the open or closed state. The fixing structure may consist of a central spring or a magnet. The sliding block 1012 is pressed and slid downward by the protrusion (having a trapezoidal shape) of the cover member 102 .

The beam of the lever 1011 connected to the slide block 1012 is depressed, while the other beam of the lever 1011 is lifted and protrudes into the aerosol-generating chamber 103 . The substrate 2 is supported and ejected from the aerosol generating device for the user to remove it from the device.

1: Electronic cigarette, aerosol generating device 101: Ejection Mechanism 1011: Leverage 1012: Slider 1013: Sliding Track 102: Cover 1021: Protrusion 103: Aerosol Generation Chamber 104:PCBA 105: USB-C connector 106: Main body, LiPo battery 2: Matrix 21: Insertion direction, longitudinal direction 31: Closed position 32: Middle position 33: Open position L1: Distance

[Fig. 1]: is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device with a substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[FIG. 2]: a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[FIG. 3a to FIG. 3c]: Schematic diagrams showing exposure of an aerosol generating device in different states according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

1: Electronic cigarette, aerosol generating device

101: Ejection Mechanism

102: Cover

2: Matrix

21: Insertion direction

Claims (9)

An aerosol generating device (1), comprising: - an aerosol-generating chamber (103) configured to receive and heat the substrate (2) to generate the aerosol; - a cover (102) that can be in a closed position (31) covering the aerosol-generating chamber (103) and an open position (33) exposing the aerosol-generating chamber (103); and - an ejection mechanism (101) having a lever (1011) and at least partially engaging the cover (102) to release at least a portion of the substrate (2) from the cover (102) when the cover (102) is in the open position The aerosol generating chamber (103) is ejected, Wherein the ejection mechanism (101) can be in an ejected state in which the substrate (2) protrudes from the aerosol generating chamber (103) and a non-ejection state in which the substrate (2) is completely contained by the aerosol generating chamber (103) status; and When the cover (102) moves from the closed position (31) to the open position (33), the ejection mechanism (101) transitions from the non-ejection state to the ejection state, whereby by rotating the lever (1011) to eject the substrate (2). The aerosol generating device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the cover (102) moves from the open position (33) to the closed position (31), the lever (1011) rotates back to the original position to enter the non-ejection state in which the substrate (2) is fully inserted into the aerosol generating chamber (103). The aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the cover (102) can be in an intermediate position ( 32), when the cover (102) moves from the closed position (31) to the intermediate position (32), the lever (1011) does not rotate, and when the cover (102) moves from the intermediate position (32) When moving to the open position (33), the lever (1011) ejects the substrate (2) by rotating. The aerosol-generating device (1) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the lever (1011) at least partially defines the bottom surface of the aerosol-generating chamber (103). The aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ejection mechanism (101) has a sliding track (1013) and is slidably connected with the cover (102) and the lever (1011) An engaged slide block (1012) is arranged to slide in the slide track (1013) to trigger rotation of the lever (1011). The aerosol-generating device (1) of the preceding claim, wherein a securing mechanism mechanically engages the lever (1011) with the slider (1012) such that when the slider (1012) slides the lever (1012) 1011) rotate and vice versa. The aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein the protrusion (1021) of the cover member (102) is slidably engaged with the end of the sliding block (1012) so that when When the cover (102) moves from the closed position (31) to the open position (33) or from the open position (33) to the closed position (31), the lever (1011) is pressed down or lifted accordingly rise. The aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, wherein at least a part of the ejection mechanism comprises a metal material, or preferably is made of a metal material, preferably , the protrusion (1021) of the cover (102) and/or the end of the sliding block (1012) are made of metal. An aerosol-generating device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol-generating device (1) has an elongated shape and the cover (102) is arranged along the aerosol-generating device (1) slide in the longitudinal direction.

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