US20240245124A1 - Flavor inhaler and flavor inhalation system - Google Patents

Flavor inhaler and flavor inhalation system Download PDF

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Publication number
US20240245124A1
US20240245124A1 US18/627,472 US202418627472A US2024245124A1 US 20240245124 A1 US20240245124 A1 US 20240245124A1 US 202418627472 A US202418627472 A US 202418627472A US 2024245124 A1 US2024245124 A1 US 2024245124A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
consumable material
heater
heating unit
urging
flavor inhaler
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
US18/627,472
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English (en)
Inventor
Tetsuya Yoshimura
Yasunobu Inoue
Manabu Yamada
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Japan Tobacco Inc
Original Assignee
Japan Tobacco Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Japan Tobacco Inc filed Critical Japan Tobacco Inc
Assigned to JAPAN TOBACCO INC. reassignment JAPAN TOBACCO INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: YAMADA, MANABU, YOSHIMURA, TETSUYA, INOUE, YASUNOBU
Publication of US20240245124A1 publication Critical patent/US20240245124A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D1/00—Cigars; Cigarettes
    • A24D1/20—Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices
    • 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
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a flavor inhaler and a flavor inhalation system.
  • a known flavor inhaler is used to inhale flavor or the like without burning a material.
  • the flavor inhaler includes, for example, protrusions between which a consumable material inserted into the flavor inhaler is disposed and compressed (see, for example, PTL 1).
  • One object of the present invention is to provide a flavor inhaler and a flavor inhalation system that allows smooth insertion of the consumable material while the consumable material is urged against the heater.
  • a first aspect of the present invention provides a flavor inhaler.
  • This flavor inhaler includes an accommodating unit configured to accommodate at least a portion of a consumable material; a heating unit configured to be inserted into the consumable material accommodated in the accommodating unit and heat the consumable material from inside; and an urging section provided on an inner peripheral surface of the accommodating unit and configured to urge the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit toward the heating unit.
  • the urging section urges the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit toward the heating unit. Therefore, the consumable material can be brought into close contact with the heating unit, and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heating unit to the consumable material can be increased.
  • the urging section includes a plurality of urging sections, at least one of the urging sections being provided at each of positions facing each other.
  • the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit can be urged toward the heating unit in opposite directions.
  • a distance between the urging sections that face each other is less than a diameter of the consumable material before being inserted into the accommodating unit.
  • the consumable material can be brought into closer contact with the heating unit, and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heating unit to the consumable material can be further increased.
  • the urging section includes a plurality of urging sections arranged in a staggered pattern along a longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit.
  • the urging sections are arranged in the staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit, frictional force is more gently applied to a surface of the consumable material upon insertion of the consumable material than when the urging sections are disposed to face each other.
  • the urging section protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating unit toward the heating unit by a distance that gradually increases along a direction from an end adjacent to an opening in the accommodating unit toward an end opposite to the end adjacent to the opening.
  • the distance by which the urging section protrudes gradually increases in the direction from the end adjacent to the opening in the accommodating unit toward the end opposite to the end adjacent to the opening, the consumable material can be gradually deformed, and therefore can be smoothly deformed.
  • a perimeter of the heating unit in cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit gradually increases along the direction from the end adjacent to the opening in the accommodating unit toward the end opposite to the end adjacent to the opening, and the urging section protrudes a maximum distance at a position at which the heating unit has a maximum perimeter in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit.
  • the urging section protrudes a maximum distance at the position at which the heating unit has a maximum perimeter in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit, the consumable material can be brought into closer contact with the heating unit, and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heating unit to the consumable material can be further increased.
  • an end portion of the urging section opposite to an end portion adjacent to an opening in the accommodating unit is stopper-shaped.
  • the end portion of the urging section opposite to the end portion adjacent to the opening in the accommodating unit is stopper-shaped, even if the consumable material receives a force in a pull-out direction, the consumable material can be prevented from falling because the stopper-shaped end portion generates resistance.
  • the heating unit has an elliptical shape in cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit.
  • the heating unit since the heating unit has an elliptical shape in cross section, the consumable material occupies a space in the accommodating unit with a smaller dimension in the transverse direction compared to when a heating unit of the same cross-sectional area with a circular shape in cross section is used. Therefore, the thickness of the accommodating unit can be reduced.
  • the heating unit is flat-plate-shaped, the contact area between the heating unit and the consumable material can be increased. Therefore, the efficiency of heat transmission from the heating unit to the consumable material can be increased.
  • the urging section includes a plurality of urging sections arranged along a minor axis of the heating unit or in a thickness direction of the heating unit.
  • the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit can be deformed into a flat shape, so that the consumable material can be brought into closer contact with the heating unit.
  • the urging section includes a plurality of urging sections disposed near an end portion of the heating unit opposite to an end portion adjacent to the opening in the accommodating unit, the urging sections being arranged along a major axis of the heating unit or in a width direction of the heating unit.
  • the urging sections are disposed near the end portion of the heating unit opposite to the end portion adjacent to the opening in the accommodating unit, the consumable material can be reliably brought into close contact with the heating unit to the tip of the consumable material, and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heating unit to the consumable material can be increased.
  • the base members can support the heating element.
  • the heating element is a heat-emitting element and the base members are conductive plates, the conductive plates can support the heat-emitting element and serve as electrodes at the same time.
  • the urging section does not overlap the heating element in a longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit.
  • the urging section does not overlap the heating element in the longitudinal direction of the accommodating unit, the transmission of heat generated by the heating element to the accommodating unit through the urging section can be suppressed.
  • a fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides a flavor inhalation system.
  • the flavor inhalation system includes a consumable material and the flavor inhaler according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects.
  • a flavor inhalation system including a flavor inhaler
  • the urging section urges the consumable material inserted into the accommodating unit toward the heating unit. Therefore, the consumable material can be brought into close contact with the heating unit, and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heating unit to the consumable material can be increased.
  • the consumable material includes an insertion portion into which the heating unit configured to heat the consumable material from inside is inserted, and the insertion portion includes an annular sheet disposed to surround the heating unit inserted into the insertion portion.
  • the insertion portion includes the annular sheet disposed to surround the heating unit inserted into the insertion portion, the shape of the consumable material can be easily deformed into a shape that follows a shape of the heating unit when the heating unit is inserted into the consumable material.
  • a distance from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of the insertion portion in a radial direction in cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the consumable material is greater than a minimum distance between the heating unit and the urging section.
  • the consumable material can be reliably urged against the heating unit by the urging section, and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heating unit to the consumable material can be further increased.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the main part of a flavor inhaler according to an embodiment of the present invention taken along a width direction of a heater.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the main part of the flavor inhaler according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along a thickness direction of the heater.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the heater illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heater illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic side-sectional view of a consumable material according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a tobacco portion in cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the consumable material illustrated in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 7 shows sectional views of the consumable material accommodated in the flavor inhaler.
  • FIG. 8 shows sectional views of the consumable material accommodated in the flavor inhaler.
  • FIG. 10 shows other sectional views of the consumable material accommodated in the flavor inhaler.
  • FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating an arrangement of retaining ribs in the width direction of the heater.
  • FIG. 12 is a sectional view illustrating an arrangement of retaining ribs in the width direction of the heater.
  • FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating an arrangement of retaining ribs in the thickness direction of the heater.
  • a tobacco stick will be described as an example of a consumable material.
  • the consumable material is not limited to tobacco as long as the consumable material generates flavor when heated.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the main part of a flavor inhaler 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention taken along a width direction of a heater 120 .
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the main part of the flavor inhaler 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention taken along a thickness direction of the heater 120 .
  • the flavor inhaler 100 includes a housing (accommodating unit) 110 and a heater (heating unit) 120 .
  • the housing 110 has an opening 10 at one end, and receives at least a portion of a consumable material 200 (described below) inserted into the opening 10 through the opening 10 .
  • the housing 110 is made of, for example, a resin.
  • the housing 110 may be made of polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a polymer alloy containing a plurality of types of polymers, or a metal, such as aluminum.
  • the housing 110 is formed such that the cross-sectional area of the housing 110 in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof is smallest at a location near the opening 10 .
  • the housing 110 includes a shaping guide (guide section) 20 and retaining ribs (urging section) 30 .
  • the shaping guide 20 defines the opening 10 , and deforms the cross-sectional shape of the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 to a shape corresponding to the shape of the heater 120 .
  • the retaining ribs 30 are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the housing 110 and urge the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 toward the heater 120 , thereby deforming the shape of the consumable material 200 .
  • the detailed structures of the shaping guide 20 and the retaining ribs 30 and the function of deforming the consumable material 200 will be described below.
  • the housing 110 has an air inlet (not illustrated) at an end opposite to the end at which the opening 10 is provided, that is, at the bottom of the housing 110 .
  • This air inlet allows air to be supplied to the consumable material 200 inserted in the housing 110 .
  • the flavor inhaler 100 is structured as a bottom-flow flavor inhaler.
  • the air inlet may be formed in a member constituting the bottom of the housing 110 and communicate with the consumable material 200 through the inside of the member.
  • the structure of the housing 110 can be simplified in the region around the opening 10 .
  • convection in the air layer 40 (described below) can be suppressed, and the thermal insulation performance of the air layer 40 can be maintained.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the heater illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the heater illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • the heater 120 includes a PTC element (heating element) 121 , at least two metal plates (base members) 122 , and a holding member 123 .
  • the PTC element 121 is sandwiched between the metal plates 122 and bonded to the metal plates 122 by, for example, a conductive adhesive paste.
  • the conductive adhesive paste may be, for example, an anisotropic conductive adhesive obtained by uniformly dispersing conductive particles in an epoxy-based adhesive.
  • the metal plates 122 may be made of an iron alloy containing nickel (Ni), such as Invar (registered trademark), having a low coefficient of thermal expansion. In such a case, separation of the metal plates 122 from the PTC element 121 due to thermal expansion caused when the PTC element 121 is heated can be suppressed. In addition, since the PTC element 121 is sandwiched between the at least two metal plates 122 , the metal plates 122 can support the PTC element 121 and serve as electrodes at the same time.
  • Ni nickel
  • Invar registered trademark
  • the holding member 123 is joined to the housing 110 when the heater 120 is attached to the housing 110 .
  • the holding member 123 may be made of an engineering plastic.
  • Engineering plastics have high heat resistance and mechanical strength, and can be formed into a desired shape at low cost by, for example, injection molding. Therefore, engineering plastics are suitable for use as the material of a structural member.
  • the holding member 123 may be formed of PEEK, which is an example of engineering plastic.
  • PEEK is a thermoplastic resin having significantly high heat resistance and high dimensional stability. Therefore, when the holding member 123 is made of PEEK, the influence of heat generated by the heater 120 on the holding member 123 can be reduced.
  • the PTC heater is a heater including a resistor having characteristics (PTC characteristics) such that the electrical resistance suddenly increases and the current stops flowing when a certain temperature (referred to as the Curie temperature) is reached.
  • PTC characteristics characteristics
  • the PTC heater is capable of maintaining the temperature at or below a predetermined temperature without using a control device or the like.
  • the heater 120 may be a PTC heater including a resistor made of barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ) having the PTC characteristics.
  • the Curie temperature of the barium titanate that forms the heater 120 can be set to 350° C., and therefore the consumable material 200 can be heated at a temperature of less than 350° C.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic side sectional view of the consumable material 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a tobacco portion 210 in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the consumable material 200 illustrated in FIG. 5 .
  • the consumable material 200 includes the tobacco portion (insertion portion) 210 and a paper tube 220 .
  • the tobacco portion 210 has a through hole 211 in which the heater 120 is to be inserted at the center thereof.
  • the tobacco portion 210 includes a flavor-releasing layer (annular sheet) 212 , which has a two-layer structure and is disposed to surround the inserted heater 120 , and an elastic deformation layer (annular sheet) 213 .
  • the outer periphery of the elastic deformation layer 213 is wrapped with a wrapper 214 .
  • the flavor-releasing layer 212 includes, for example, a tobacco sheet and a non-tobacco sheet disposed on the outer periphery of the tobacco sheet and carrying glycerine.
  • the flavor-releasing layer 212 releases a volatile compound containing flavor when heated by the heater 120 .
  • the flavor-releasing layer 212 may include only one of the tobacco sheet and the non-tobacco sheet.
  • the elastic deformation layer 213 may be composed of, for example, a nonwoven fabric sheet, a corrugated sheet, or a non-tobacco sheet, and is elastically deformable in the thickness direction (that is, in the radial direction of the cylindrical elastic deformation layer 213 ). Upon insertion of the heater 120 , the elastic deformation layer 213 contributes to the deformation of the consumable material 200 into a shape that follows the shape of the heater 120 .
  • the elastic deformation layer 213 is elastically deformed in the thickness direction relative to the heater 120 and easily approaches or comes into contact with the heater 120 . Therefore, the flavor-releasing layer 212 can further approach or come into contact with the heater 120 , so that the consumable material 200 can be efficiently heated.
  • the tobacco sheet may contain, for example, tobacco and a polyhydric alcohol.
  • the polyhydric alcohol contained in the tobacco sheet may be a single type of polyhydric alcohol or a combination of two or more types of polyhydric alcohol.
  • the polyhydric alcohol may also be added to the above-described elastic deformation layer 213 .
  • the tobacco sheet is formed in a sheet shape by mixing a binder with powdered tobacco and the polyhydric alcohol.
  • FIGS. 7 to 9 are sectional views illustrating the consumable material 200 accommodated in the flavor inhaler 100 .
  • a flavor inhalation system is formed by applying the consumable material 200 to the flavor inhaler 100 .
  • the flavor-releasing layer 212 and the elastic deformation layer 213 of the consumable material 200 are shown as a single annular sheet 215 .
  • FIG. 7 illustrates the consumable material 200 passing the shaping guide 20 in a cross section taken along the width direction of the heater 120 and a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 at an inlet portion 22 of the shaping guide 20 .
  • FIG. 8 illustrates the consumable material 200 passing the retaining ribs 30 in a cross section taken along the width direction of the heater 120 and cross sections orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 at intermediate portions of the retaining ribs 30 and end portions of the retaining ribs 30 adjacent to the other end.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates the consumable material 200 passing the retaining ribs 30 in a cross section taken along the width direction of the heater 120 and cross sections orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 at intermediate portions of the retaining ribs 30 and end portions of the retaining ribs 30 adjacent to the other end.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates the consumable material 200 accommodated at a predetermined accommodation position in the housing 110 in a cross section taken along the width direction of the heater 120 and a cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 at a position close to an end portion of the heater 120 adjacent to the other end.
  • the shaping guide 20 includes a tapered portion 21 , the inlet portion 22 , and a contact portion 23 .
  • the tapered portion 21 is formed to expand toward the one end of the housing 110 , and guides the insertion of the consumable material 200 into the flavor inhaler 100 .
  • the shaping guide 20 guides the consumable material 200 to a tip of the heater 120 so that the consumable material 200 can be reliably inserted into the heater 120 .
  • the shaping guide 20 has a tapered shape that expands toward the outside of the housing 110 , the insertion of the consumable material 200 is guided so that the consumable material 200 can be easily accommodated in the housing 110 .
  • the inlet portion 22 is provided at an end portion of the housing 110 and has an elliptical shape in cross section.
  • the inlet portion 22 has a major axis longer than or as long as the major axis of the consumable material 200 after being accommodated in the housing 110 , and a minor axis substantially as long as the diameter of the consumable material 200 before being accommodated in the housing 110 . Since the shaping guide 20 has an elliptical shape in cross section at the end thereof, the cross-sectional shape of the consumable material 200 can be deformed into an elliptical shape that follows the shape of the shaping guide 20 during the insertion of the consumable material 200 .
  • the consumable material 200 can be restrained from wobbling in the direction of the minor axis of the shaping guide 20 . Even when the dimensions of the end surface of consumable material 200 vary, the consumable material 200 can be shaped into a constant shape by the shaping guide 20 , and can be smoothly attached to the housing 110 .
  • the heater 120 and the inlet portion 22 are arranged such that the width direction of the heater 120 coincides with the direction of the major axis of the inlet portion 22 . This allows the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 to be deformed into a shape that follows the shape of the heater 120 . Therefore, the consumable material 200 can be brought into close contact with the heater 120 , and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heater 120 to the consumable material 200 can be increased.
  • the contact portion 23 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing 110 and has an elliptical shape in cross section.
  • the contact portion 23 has a minimum inner perimeter that is less than or equal to the outer perimeter of the consumable material 200 . Accordingly, when the consumable material 200 passes the shaping guide 20 , the entire perimeter of the consumable material 200 comes into contact with the contact portion 23 , so that the cross-sectional shape of the consumable material 200 can be more reliably deformed into a shape that follows the shape of the inlet portion 22 . Therefore, even when the cross-sectional shape of the consumable material 200 varies, the consumable material 200 can be deformed to have a desired cross-sectional shape by the shaping guide 20 , and smoothly inserted into the housing 110 . In addition, since the entire perimeter of the consumable material 200 comes into contact with the contact portion 23 , the consumable material 200 can be prevented from falling.
  • the contact portion 23 is formed such that the contact portion 23 comes into point-contact with the consumable material 200 accommodated in the housing 110 in cross section taken along the longitudinal axis of the housing 110 .
  • the contact portion 23 is in point-contact with the consumable material 200 , heat transmission from the consumable material 200 to the housing 110 is reduced. Accordingly, the thermal insulation performance of the flavor inhaler 100 is increased.
  • a maximum width of the heater 120 relative to the length of the major axis of the contact portion 23 of the shaping guide 20 is greater than that in a flavor inhaler including a heater of an insertion type according to the related art.
  • the major axis of the contact portion 23 is 7 mm long, and the maximum width of the heater 120 is 6 mm.
  • the heater 120 has a maximum width of greater than 30%, preferably greater than 40%, of the length of the major axis of the consumable material 200 after being accommodated in the housing 110 .
  • the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 can be deformed into a flat shape and brought into closer contact with the heater 120 .
  • the heater 120 has a sharp shape, and the width thereof increases toward the other end. Accordingly, as the consumable material 200 is inserted beyond the shaping guide 20 , the outer shape of the consumable material 200 is deformed into a shape that follows the shape of the heater 120 . More specifically, the consumable material 200 is expanded in the width direction of the heater 120 . Thus, the consumable material 200 can be brought into close contact with the heater 120 , and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heater 120 to the consumable material 200 can be increased. In addition, since the consumable material 200 is expanded by the heater 120 , the consumable material 200 can be prevented from falling.
  • the heater 120 is flat-plate-shaped, and deforms the outer shape of the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 to an elliptical shape in cross section.
  • the major axis of the consumable material 200 after being accommodated in the housing 110 is longer than the diameter of the consumable material 200 before being accommodated in the housing 110
  • the minor axis of the consumable material 200 after being accommodated in the housing 110 is shorter than the diameter of the consumable material 200 before being accommodated in the housing 110 . Since the heater 120 deforms the outer shape of the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 to an elliptical shape in cross section, the space occupied by the consumable material 200 in the housing 110 can have a reduced dimension in the transverse direction.
  • the thickness of the housing 110 can be reduced.
  • the heater 120 deforms the outer shape of the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 to an elliptical shape in cross section, the contact area between the heater 120 and the consumable material 200 can be increased. Therefore, the efficiency of heat transmission from the heater 120 to the consumable material 200 can be increased.
  • the perimeter of the heater 120 in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 gradually increases from the end adjacent to the opening 10 toward the end opposite to the end adjacent to the opening 10 , that is, from one end toward the other end. Since the perimeter of the heater 120 gradually increases from one end toward the other end, the contact length between the consumable material and the heating unit gradually increases from one end toward the other end, and therefore the consumable material can be prevented from falling.
  • the retaining ribs 30 maybe formed to protrude by a distance that gradually increases toward the other end of the housing 110 and by a maximum distance at the position at which the heater 120 has a maximum width, that is, at which the heater 120 has a maximum perimeter in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 . In this case, the distance between the tapered surfaces of the retaining ribs 30 is less than the diameter of the consumable material 200 before being inserted into the housing 110 .
  • Each retaining rib 30 has a stopper-shaped end portion with an end surface substantially orthogonal to the inner peripheral surface of the housing 110 at the other end, and is disposed so as not to overlap with the PTC element 121 of the heater 120 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 .
  • the consumable material 200 passes the retaining ribs 30 , the consumable material 200 expanded in the width direction of the heater 120 is urged by the retaining ribs 30 in the thickness direction of the heater 120 , so that the consumable material 200 is deformed into a flat shape.
  • the distance by which the retaining ribs 30 protrude increases as the width of the heater 120 increases, so that the consumable material 200 is gradually deformed into the flat shape.
  • the width of the heater 120 and the distance by which the retaining ribs 30 protrude are both at a maximum at the end portions of the retaining ribs 30 at the other end, and the consumable material 200 is in a final shape in which the consumable material 200 is in close contact with the heater 120 .
  • the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 is urged toward the heater 120 by the retaining ribs 30 , so that the consumable material 200 can be brought into closer contact with the heater 120 and that the efficiency of heat transmission from the heater 120 to the consumable material 200 can be further increased.
  • the consumable material 200 since the consumable material 200 is urged by the retaining ribs 30 , the consumable material 200 can be prevented from falling.
  • the consumable material 200 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 maybe formed such that the distance from an inner periphery to an outer periphery of the tobacco portion 210 in a radial direction in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the consumable material 200 is greater than the minimum distance between the heater 120 and each retaining rib 30 .
  • the consumable material 200 can be reliably urged against the heater 120 by the retaining ribs 30 , and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heater 120 to the consumable material 200 can be further increased.
  • the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 can be deformed into a flat shape to bring the consumable material 200 into closer contact with the heater 120 . Since at least one retaining rib 30 is provided at each of positions facing each other, the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 can be urged toward the heater 120 in the opposite directions. When the distance between the tapered surfaces of the retaining ribs 30 is less than the diameter of the consumable material 200 , the consumable material 200 can be brought into closer contact with the heater 120 , and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heater 120 to the consumable material 200 can be further increased.
  • the retaining ribs 30 when the retaining ribs 30 are formed to protrude by a distance that gradually increases toward the other end of the housing 110 , the consumable material 200 can be gradually deformed, and therefore can be smoothly deformed.
  • the end portions of the retaining ribs 30 at the other end are stopper-shaped, even if the consumable material 200 receives a force in a pull-out direction, the consumable material 200 can be prevented from falling because the stopper-shaped end portions generate resistance.
  • the retaining ribs 30 when the retaining ribs 30 are disposed so as not to overlap with the PTC element 121 of the heater 120 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 , the transmission of heat generated by the PTC element 121 to the housing 110 through the retaining ribs 30 can be suppressed.
  • the consumable material 200 is maintained in the final shape illustrated in FIG. 8 .
  • an accommodation space 50 accommodating the consumable material 200 deformed by the heater 120 is formed in the housing 110 .
  • an air layer 40 is formed along the entire perimeter of the consumable material 200 between the accommodation space 50 and the housing 110 .
  • the air layer 40 has a low thermal conductivity, and is therefore capable of providing thermal insulation between the consumable material 200 (accommodation space 50 ) and the housing 110 , thereby reducing the energy required to heat the consumable material 200 .
  • the inlet portion 22 is in contact with the consumable material 200 over the entire perimeter of the outer periphery of the consumable material 200 , and seals the air layer 40 . Thus, the convection of air in the air layer 40 is suppressed.
  • the housing 110 is formed such that the cross-sectional area thereof in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 is smallest at a location close to the opening 10 . Accordingly, the occurrence of convection in the air layer 40 due to the inward and outward airflows around the opening 10 can be suppressed, and the thermal insulation performance of the flavor inhaler 100 can be further increased.
  • the housing 110 is formed such that the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the air layer 40 to the cross-sectional area of the consumable material 200 is in the range of 5:1 to 1:1 at a location at which the housing 110 has a maximum cross-sectional area in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 . Thus, the air layer 40 has sufficient thermal insulation performance.
  • the shaping guide 20 deforms the cross-sectional shape of the consumable material 200
  • the heater 120 deforms the shape of the consumable material 200 into a shape that follows the shape of the heater 120
  • the retaining ribs 30 urge the consumable material 200 toward the heater 120 .
  • the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 can be deformed into a flat shape and brought into close contact with the heater 120 . Therefore, the efficiency of heat transmission from the heater 120 to the consumable material 200 can be increased.
  • the heater 120 deforms the outer shape of the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 to a shape that follows the shape of the heater 120 . Therefore, the consumable material 200 can be brought into close contact with the heater 120 , and the efficiency of heat transmission from the heater 120 to the consumable material 200 can be increased.
  • the air layer 40 is formed between the accommodation space 50 accommodating the deformed consumable material 200 and the housing 110 . Therefore, the air layer 40 , which has a low thermal conductivity, serves to improve the thermal insulation performance of the flavor inhaler 100 .
  • the contact portion 23 seals the air layer 40 formed between the accommodation space 50 accommodating the deformed consumable material 200 and the housing 110 , so that the convection of air in the air layer 40 can be suppressed and good thermal insulation can be achieved.
  • the contact portion 23 is close to the opening 10 , the volume of the sealed air layer 40 can be increased, thereby improving the thermal insulation performance of the flavor inhaler 100 .
  • the heater 120 Since the heater 120 is inserted into the consumable material 200 and heats the consumable material 200 from the inside, the heater 120 , which is the heat source, does not come into contact with the air layer 40 . Therefore, the thermal insulation performance of the flavor inhaler 100 can be further increased. In addition, since the air layer 40 is formed over the entire perimeter of the outer periphery of the consumable material 200 , the thermal insulation performance of the flavor inhaler 100 can be still further increased.
  • the heater 120 is a PTC heater in the above-described embodiment, the heater is not limited to this.
  • the heater may be a flexible polyimide heater in which a heating resistor (heating element) made of, for example, stainless steel is sandwiched between two films (base members) made of, for example, polyimide (PI).
  • the heater may be a pin heater having an elliptical shape in cross section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 .
  • the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 occupies a space in the housing 110 with a smaller dimension in the transverse direction compared to when a pin heater of the same cross-sectional area with a circular cross section is used. Therefore, the thickness of the housing 110 can be reduced.
  • the retaining ribs 30 are arranged along the minor axis of the pin heater, the consumable material 200 inserted into the housing 110 can be deformed into a flat shape and brought into closer contact with the heater.
  • the housing 110 has an air inlet at an end opposite to the end at which the opening 10 is provided, that is, at the bottom of the housing 110 .
  • the air inlet is not limited to this, and an air inlet that directly communicates with the air layer 40 maybe provided at the opening 10 of the housing 110 or in the housing 110 .
  • an air inlet 111 may be formed near an end portion of the housing 110 at the other end.
  • the air layer 40 is sealed by the contact portion 23 , so that the occurrence of convection can be suppressed in the air layer 40 around the contact portion 23 , and air can be introduced without causing a reduction in the heat insulation efficiency or changing the size of the flavor inhaler 100 .
  • FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views illustrating arrangements of the retaining ribs 30 in the width direction of the heater 120 .
  • FIG. 13 is a sectional view illustrating an arrangement of the retaining ribs 30 in the thickness direction of the heater 120 .
  • the retaining ribs 30 are arranged in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 .
  • frictional force is more gently applied to the consumable material 200 upon insertion of the consumable material 200 than when the retaining ribs 30 are disposed to face each other.
  • the retaining ribs 30 are disposed not only at the positions illustrated in FIG. 2 but also at positions near the end portion of the heater 120 at the other end so as to face each other in the thickness direction of the heater 120 .
  • the retaining ribs 30 are arranged at positions near the end portion of the heater 120 at the other end so as to face each other in the width direction of the heater 120 .

Landscapes

  • Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
  • Resistance Heating (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
US18/627,472 2021-11-22 2024-04-05 Flavor inhaler and flavor inhalation system Pending US20240245124A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2021/042720 WO2023089800A1 (ja) 2021-11-22 2021-11-22 香味吸引器および香味吸引システム

Related Parent Applications (1)

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EP (1) EP4437871A4 (https=)
JP (1) JP7735424B2 (https=)
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA3079706C (en) * 2011-11-21 2023-08-01 Philip Morris Products S.A. Ejector for an aerosol-generating device
US20170055580A1 (en) 2015-08-31 2017-03-02 British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited Apparatus for heating smokable material
UA127393C2 (uk) * 2016-12-16 2023-08-09 Кт & Г Корпорейшон Система генерування аерозолю та мундштук, що вставляється у внутрішній простір системи генерування аерозолю
CN110494053B (zh) * 2017-04-11 2022-05-31 韩国烟草人参公社 气溶胶生成装置
EP3409467B1 (de) * 2017-05-30 2019-07-03 Heraeus Nexensos GmbH Heizer mit einem co-gesinterten mehrschichtenaufbau
WO2018235238A1 (ja) * 2017-06-22 2018-12-27 日本たばこ産業株式会社 香味発生セグメント、ならびにこれを備える香味発生物品および香味吸引システム
CN108451028B (zh) * 2018-01-22 2024-10-15 上海新型烟草制品研究院有限公司 松脱机构、气雾产生装置、松脱方法及发烟制品
EP4585083A3 (en) * 2018-05-25 2025-10-01 JT International SA Vapour generating device with sensors to measure strain generated by a vapour generating material
KR20210101218A (ko) * 2018-12-17 2021-08-18 필립모리스 프로덕츠 에스.에이. 에어로졸 발생 물품과 함께 사용하기 위한, 다공성 매체를 포함하는, 관형 요소
CN209807157U (zh) * 2019-04-12 2019-12-20 湖南中烟工业有限责任公司 Ptc发热体及低温烟具
JP6969031B2 (ja) * 2019-04-18 2021-11-24 日本たばこ産業株式会社 加熱式たばこ
KR20220002288A (ko) * 2019-04-29 2022-01-06 필립모리스 프로덕츠 에스.에이. 가열 구역 절연부를 갖는 에어로졸 발생 장치

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WO2023089800A1 (ja) 2023-05-25
JPWO2023089800A1 (https=) 2023-05-25
KR20240064687A (ko) 2024-05-13
EP4437871A4 (en) 2025-09-17
JP7735424B2 (ja) 2025-09-08

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