WO2020078801A1

WO2020078801A1 - Assembly of a plurality of fluid tanks, inhalator, station and method for testing the flavour of a fluid mixture

Info

Publication number: WO2020078801A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/077374
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Kessler; Gunnar Niebuhr; Rene Schmidt
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh
Priority date: 2018-10-15
Filing date: 2019-10-09
Publication date: 2020-04-23
Also published as: DE102018125441A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (50) of a plurality of fluid tanks (6A, 6B, 6C,... ) comprising fluids for electrical vaporisation stored therein. A respective fluid mixture (49A, 49B, 49C,...) is stored in each fluid tank (6A, 6B, 6C,...). Each fluid mixture (49A, 49B, 49C,... ) has at least one carrier fluid and one or more flavouring and/or active ingredient components with similar vaporisation behaviour to one another. The overall flavour only arises from the combination of multiple flavouring components in the vapour phase.

Description

Assembling a plurality of liquid tanks, inhaler, station and method for testing the taste of a liquid mixture

The present invention relates to an assembly of a plurality of liquid tanks with liquids stored therein for electrical evaporation. The invention further relates to an inhaler, as well as a station and method for testing the taste of a liquid mixture.

Electronic cigarette products currently on the market generally have a single-chamber tank. The taste and nicotine content of the vapor depend on the one hand on the composition of the liquid. In addition, the release of nicotine and flavoring ingredients obeys the laws of evaporation kinetics, i. H. The taste and effect change with each stroke over the life of the cartridge.

The increasing desire for an individual consumer experience requires ever more complex aroma or flavor combinations, for example tropical fruit notes. It is problematic that such flavor notes contain a large number of different aroma substances or aroma components or constituents, which in turn are individually subject to a certain evaporation kinetics. The result of this is that when such a complex flavor is evaporated in the course of the differential distillation taking place, the different aroma constituents evaporate one after the other inconsistently, and the originally desired complex taste experience is therefore not achieved over a certain period of time. but at most selectively, and it is even possible for undesirable bad notes to arise.

Accordingly, when the electronic cigarette product is heated, a differential distillation which is dependent on the liquid composition and consequently segregation takes place. This results in a time- or temperature-dependent release of components. This leads to a change in the concentration of the component mixture, which results in an undesirable time and temperature-dependent variable release of the aroma and / or active ingredients. This can mean that the desired active ingredient, fragrance and / or taste experience is not achieved in one go (puff).

The object of the invention is to develop the objects and methods mentioned at the outset in such a way that complex and diverse taste experiences can be achieved over a longer period of time in the electrical evaporation of liquids.

The invention solves the problem with the features of the independent claims.

The invention accordingly provides a compilation or a set of a plurality of liquid tanks with liquids stored therein for an electrical evaporation device, a liquid mixture being stored in each liquid tank. According to the invention, each liquid mixture has at least one carrier liquid and one or more aroma and / or active ingredient components with mutually similar evaporation behavior, with an overall aroma resulting from the Combination of several aroma components only results in the vapor phase.

The invention has recognized that there is no segregation of liquid components and thus an undesirable sequential release of the individual aroma components of an overall aroma if aroma / active ingredient components with similar evaporation behavior are combined in a liquid mixture and a liquid tank.

The invention enables the consumer to select a plurality of liquid tanks with a respective basic aroma from a large number of different liquid mixtures. According to the invention, in particular liquid mixtures with basic aromas such as fruity, tart, sweet, etc. are provided.

The actual formation of the flavor or overall aroma notes then no longer takes place via the evaporation of a mixture of all liquid mixtures, but rather via the individual evaporation of each individual liquid mixture. This has the consequence that the actual vapor aroma is formed only by mixing the individual vapor fractions in accordance with the individual liquid mixtures. In other words, if a complex fragrance or taste is desired by the consumer, which consists of aroma components with significantly different evaporation behavior, then this can be produced according to the invention by simultaneous separate evaporation of two or more liquid mixtures and subsequent mixing of the vapor fractions in the vapor phase. By using a plurality of individual liquid tanks with liquid mixtures and different aroma constituents, aroma substances can be added to the steam at the same time, which would only occur one after the other in time in the steam due to their different behavior during differential distillation if a single complex flavor or complex aroma were used. According to the invention, more complex and conventionally not realizable aroma or flavor notes can be realized in the steam over long periods of time and separation of the liquid components is prevented in a simple manner.

The evaporation behavior of the liquid components can be determined, preferably calculated and / or measured, in advance, in particular on the basis of time-dependent evaporation curves. A curve of the temporal change in the aroma components in the vapor phase is particularly suitable as a basis for this determination. For example, the evaporation behavior of the liquid components can be determined by measuring and evaluating evaporation curves. As an alternative or in addition, a curve of the change over time of the aroma components in the liquid phase can be used as the basis for the calculation. In general, the evaporation behavior of the liquid components can be determined by measurement. Experimental testing is also conceivable.

Accordingly, the aroma / active ingredient constituents of different liquid tanks accordingly have a dissimilar or different evaporation behavior from one another. Aroma / active ingredient components, for example, have a similar evaporation behavior if their evaporation curves, and / or a time derivative thereof, have extremes that are close to one another in time, zeros, turning points, saddle points and / or other excellent points. Aroma / active ingredient components, for example, have a dissimilar or different evaporation behavior if the duration of their release differs significantly. The duration of the release can be quantitatively determinable, for example, via an integral of the curve, or another suitable measure for the curve. For example, in the case of a unimodal or monotonously falling curve, a half-value width or another suitable measure for the width of the curve can be determined.

In an advantageous embodiment, the carrier liquid can preferably comprise propylene glycol, glycerol and / or water. The proportion or ratio of the at least one carrier liquid speed in different liquid mixtures is advantageously different and / or adapted to the respective aroma components.

For each liquid mixture, an individual heating parameter set is preferably stored in an electronic control device of a cartridge assigned to the liquid mixture.

The invention also provides an inhaler, in particular an electronic cigarette product, with a plurality of connections for a plurality of corresponding liquid tanks. At least one separate evaporator is assigned to each receptacle, so that each liquid mixture can be evaporated separately and the overall aroma can only be derived from the combination. nation of the individual vapor phases, preferably from several liquid mixtures.

With the help of the inhaler according to the invention, adjustable and, above all, more complex aroma compositions can be realized by the consumer than is possible with conventional systems.

An individual heating parameter set is preferably assigned to each liquid mixture and the electronic control device controls each evaporator individually with the corresponding assigned parameter set. Due to the individual controllability of the separate evaporators, the consumer can mix his or her own flavor or aroma using individual settings. The individual controllability can in particular be an individual regulation of the performance of the evaporators, the evaporation taking place in accordance with the composition of the liquid mixture, the temperature of the evaporator and the pressure, in particular the ambient pressure.

Depending on the individual smoke profile, the liquid tanks or the cartridges with the liquid mixtures and the different aroma components can be emptied at different speeds. However, since the liquid tanks or cartridges can advantageously be replaced individually with the liquid mixtures, no separated liquid has to be disposed of unused.

The invention thus enables significantly more complex flavor notes or overall aromas and thus leads to increased smoking pleasure. Overall, the taste quality of e-cigarette vapor can be enriched and improved. The invention also provides a station for testing the taste of a liquid mixture by a consumer, comprising a plurality of liquid tanks, an inhaler with a plurality of vaporizers and an electronic control device. At least one separate evaporator can be assigned to each liquid tank, so that each liquid mixture can be evaporated separately and the overall aroma results from the combination of the individual vapor phases. The station has an input terminal which enables the consumer to make an input, the control device selecting a subset of all liquid tanks of the station based on the input of the consumer and controlling the evaporators of the selected liquid tanks. The station according to the invention is therefore a taste bar that works in the manner of an e-cigarette and is set up, for example, in sales outlets for e-liquids, ie liquids for electronic evaporation, so that the user or consumer can put together desired flavors in a practical or experimental manner. can try and choose.

In one embodiment, the control device of the station can determine, preferably calculate, the subset of the liquid tanks to be selected with regard to an overall aroma to be achieved. The input of the consumer is particularly taken into account when determining the overall aroma. For example, the consumer can experimentally determine the overall aroma using the station. The calculation can be carried out, for example, using a UN I FAC method (Universal Quasi-Chemical Functional Group Activity Coefficients) or another suitable method. leads.

The station advantageously has a display for displaying the calculated and / or selected liquid tanks in order to inform the consumer accordingly.

The station preferably has a distributor device by means of which a selected subset of liquid tanks can be connected to evaporators in a liquid-conducting manner. In this preferred embodiment, it is not necessary for each liquid tank to be assigned its own evaporator. In particular, the number of evaporators required can be less than the number of liquid tanks.

Finally, the invention provides a method for testing the taste of a liquid mixture by a consumer using a plurality of liquid tanks and an inhaler with a plurality of vaporizers. At least one separate evaporator is assigned to each liquid tank, so that each liquid mixture is evaporated separately and the overall aroma results from the combination of the individual vapor phases. According to the invention, a subset of all the liquid tanks provided is automatically selected on the basis of an input from a consumer, and the evaporators of the selected liquid tanks are controlled in accordance with the selection.

The invention is explained below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures. It shows Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an inhaler.

2 shows an inhaler for holding a plurality of here three cartridges, each with a liquid tank;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an assembly of liquid tanks with different liquid mixtures; 4A-4D are diagrams of the evaporation behavior of an exemplary liquid mixture; and

Fig. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a test station. The inhaler 27, here an electronic cigarette product, comprises a housing 28 in which an air channel 30 is provided between at least one air inlet opening 31 and one air outlet opening 24 at a mouth end 32 of the cigarette product 27. The mouth end 32 of the cigarette product 27 denotes the end at which the consumer pulls for inhalation and thereby acts on the cigarette product 27 with a suppressor and generates an air flow 34 in the air duct 30.

The inhaler 27 comprises an evaporator device 1 for evaporating liquids from a plurality of liquid tanks 6A, 6B, 6C, ..., and an advantageously reusable base part 20. One example of an advantageous construction of the inhaler 27 can be seen in FIG. 1.

The evaporator device 1 advantageously comprises several, here three evaporator units 23, each with a liquid tank 6A, 6B, 6C, .... Each evaporation unit 23 comprises, for example, a dimensionally stable support 2, which can be designed as a support plate and with which a corresponding liquid tank 6A, 6B, 6C, ... can be connected or connected. Each evaporation unit 23 has one or more evaporators 3, which are used to evaporate the evaporator or evaporators 3 from the corresponding liquid tank 6A, 6B,

6C, ... serve supplied liquid and which are advantageously mounted on the carrier 2.

The liquid supplied to the evaporator 3 is converted into vapor / aerosol by the evaporator 3. The electric evaporator 3, in particular, has at least one, preferably a plurality, of electrical resistance heating elements.

Each evaporator unit 23 is advantageously designed in a structural unit with a liquid tank 6A, 6B, 6C, ... as an interchangeable cartridge 1 9A, 1 9B, 19C, .... The liquid tanks 6A, 6B, 6C, ... can be refillable, so that the cartridges 19A, 19B, 19C, ... are reusable parts. The cartridges 1 9A, 1 9B, 1 9C, ... can alternatively be designed as disposable parts.

Each vaporizer unit 23 or each cartridge 19A, 19B, 19C, ... expediently has a vapor outlet opening, through which generated steam and / or aerosol can exit the vaporizer unit 23 and can be admixed with the air flow 34 flowing through the inhaler 27 in order to Exit from the inhaler 27 through a pull opening 24 to be inhaled by the consumer.

Each evaporator unit 23 advantageously comprises a digital electronic control device 4, for example an application-specific see integrated circuit (ASIC), which can preferably be arranged on the carrier 2. The evaporator (s) 3 of the evaporator unit 23 can be controlled individually or in groups by the corresponding electronic control device 4 and can be heated with electricity from an energy store 46 in order to evaporate liquid present on the heating elements of the evaporator 3.

The evaporator unit 23 or the cartridge 19A, 19B, 19C,... Has an electrical contact element 7, here in the form of an electrical connector, with a plurality of electrical contacts 10. The contacts 10 are connected to the electronic control device 4 by means of electrical lines in order to transmit sensor signals, control signals and / or electrical energy from or to the base part 20 of the inhaler 27. The evaporator unit 23 can have sensors, for example a temperature sensor for measuring the heating temperature and / or a pressure sensor for measuring the flow pressure.

The base part 20 advantageously comprises a control unit 29 and an energy storage unit 40 connected or to be connected to the control unit 29. The control unit 29 comprises an electronic control 21 (see FIG. 2) and an electrical contact element 22 connected to it, here in the form of a the plug 7 matching socket. The control unit 29 advantageously further comprises a user interface 52, in particular a wireless interface, for example a Bluetooth interface, via which a user can control or set the inhaler 27 by means of a mobile communication device, for example a smartphone, and / or receive information from the latter. The electro African controller 21 and the electrical contact element 22 are advantageously arranged on a common circuit board 26. The The entirety of the electronic control device 4 and the electronic control 21 is referred to in the context of this application as the electronic control device 56 of the inhaler 27.

The electrical plug 7 and the electrical socket 22 are set up correspondingly to one another, so that by plugging the plug 7 into the socket 22, an electrical connection between the evaporator unit 23 and the base part 20 for the transmission of signals, data and / or electrical power will be produced. The plug 7 and the socket 22 advantageously each have the same number of electrical contacts 1 0.

To connect the evaporator unit 23 to the base part 20, the cartridge 19A, 19B, 19C,... Is inserted into the base part 20 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base part 20 in some embodiments, as a result of which the respective plug 7 is inserted into the respective socket 22A, 22B, 22C,. .. inserted and the electrical connection is established.

The base part 20 or the control unit 29 advantageously has a number of electrical contact elements 22A, 22B, 22C, ..., here sockets, corresponding to the number of cartridges 1 9A, 19B, 1 9C, ..., in order to allow individual replacement individual cartridges 1 9A, 1 9B, 1 9C, ... The sockets 22A, 22B, 22C, ... are connected to the electronic control 21 of the base part 20 via a distributor 53.

An identification or ID (identification information) of the evaporator unit 23 is advantageously permanently stored in the electronic control device 4 of the evaporator unit 23. As a result of connecting the respective cartridge 1 9A, 1 9B, 1 9C, ... to the base part 20 The electronic control 21 can read out the identifier from the control device 4 and carry out or initiate a type-specific individual control of the respective evaporator 3 and / or the respective evaporator unit 23 which is optimized with regard to the respective liquid, for example by transmitting control and / or control commands to the control device 4. For this purpose, the electronic control 21 of the base part 20 preferably stores control data for a plurality of identifiers corresponding to a plurality of different evaporators 3 or evaporator types and / or liquids, for example - se in the form of a database.

The energy storage unit 40 comprises an energy storage 46, a battery interface 41 for connecting the control unit 29 to the energy storage unit 40 via electrical lines 51, a charging interface 42 and an electronic circuit 43 with charging electronics. The control unit 29 is supplied with current via the battery interface 41. Furthermore, analog and / or digital signals can be transmitted between the energy storage unit 40 and the control unit 29 via the battery interface 41.

In an advantageous embodiment, the electrical lines 51 comprise a digital data bus. The electrical connection 51 between the base part 20 and the energy storage unit 40 can be used, for example, to transmit information about the state of charge of the energy store 46 or diagnostic data between the control unit 29 and the energy storage unit 40. The energy store 46 can be a single-use battery or a rechargeable battery, for example a lithium-ion battery, which can be connected via the charging interface 42, for example a USB interface, or advantageously can be charged wirelessly via an inductive charging interface.

Each evaporator unit 23 advantageously has a standardized liquid interface 47 for connecting the liquid tank 6 to the evaporator unit 23, in particular its carrier 2. The liquid interface 47 is advantageously arranged on the side of the carrier 2 opposite the evaporator 3. Accordingly, the liquid from the one or more servoirs 37A, 37B, 37C,... Is provided at the liquid interface 47 and is passed through an advantageous through opening through the carrier 2 to the one or more evaporators 3. The liquid interface 47 can be sealed, for example, by means of a sealing element. Each tank 6A, 6B,

6C,... Can be detachably or non-detachably connected to the corresponding evaporator unit 23 for the consumer.

Each liquid tank 6A, 6B, 6C forms a liquid reservoir 37A, 37B, 37C. One or more evaporators 3 are assigned to each liquid tank 6A, 6B, 6C, ... or each reservoir 37A, 37B, 37C, ... Each evaporator 3 only evaporates liquid from an assigned liquid tank 6A, 6B, 6C, ... or an assigned reservoir 37A, 37B, 37C, .... so that there is no mixing of liquids from different reservoirs 37A, 37B, 37C, ..., but the aroma components contained in different liquids only mix in the vapor phase.

The reservoirs 37A, 37B, 37C are advantageously realized by means of single-chamber tanks 6A, 6B, 6C. That is, each tank 6A, 6B, 6C has only one chamber for forming a reservoir 37A, 37B, 37C.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, for example, three cards ink 1 9A, 19B, 1 9C, each with an evaporator unit 23 and with a single-chamber tank 6A, 6B, 6C. The number of cartridges 1 9 or 6 tanks can also be two or more than three. Mixed forms between single and multi-chamber tanks are possible, for example, a two-chamber tank and a single-chamber tank could be provided in FIG.

Each liquid reservoir 37A, 37B, 37C,... Is connected to one or more evaporators 3 via an assigned liquid feed 16 in order to transport liquid from a corresponding opening 58 of the liquid tank 6 to the evaporator (s) 3 and there evaporate. The liquid supply conditions 1 6 can, for example, take through holes in an intermediate part between the carrier 2 and the liquid tank 6.

Between each evaporator 3 and the associated liquid reservoir 37A, 37B, 37C, .... d. H . In the liquid supply 1 6, a capillary element can advantageously be provided, which promotes liquid speed by means of capillary action, for example with the aid of micro channels, from the liquid tank 6 to the evaporator 3 in order to ensure the wetting of the evaporator 3 and the continuous replenishment of liquid . The capillary element can comprise, for example, a pore element with an optimized pore size, an open-pore foamed element, a sponge element and / or a lamella structure.

The evaporator (s) 3 can be designed as required and expedient. For example, evaporators 3 with line or microchannels can be used, as described in DE 1 0 2016 120 803 A1, the disclosure content of which in the present application is incorporated. Bionic heating structures, such as bionic networks, are also possible for the evaporator 3. Evaporators 3 with heating structures as described in DE 1 0 201 7 1 1 1 1 9 A1 are also possible, the disclosure content of which is included in the present application.

The volume of each liquid tank 6A, 6B, 6C is advantageously in the range between 0.1 ml and 5 ml, preferably between 0.5 ml and 3 ml, more preferably between 0.7 ml and 2 ml or 1.5 ml.

The evaporator units 23 are set such that a quantity of liquid is preferably in the range between 1 pl and 20 pl, more preferably between 2 ml and 10 ml, still more preferably between 3 ml and 5 ml, typically 4 ml per train of the consumer, is metered. The evaporator units 26 can preferably be adjustable in terms of the amount of liquid / vapor per train. The same and / or different liquid mixtures 49A, 49B, 49C, ... are stored in the liquid tanks 6A, 6B, 6C, ... A combination 50 according to the invention of liquid tanks 6A, 6B, 6C, ... with liquid mixtures 49A, 49B, 49C, ... is shown in FIG. Among the liquid mixtures 49A, 49B, 49C, ... of the combination 50, at least two, advantageously at least three, further advantageously at least three, are different, i. H. differ in the composition or the constituents, and / or in the percentages by volume and / or weight of the liquid components of the liquid components. Each liquid mixture 49A, 49B, 49C, ... has a carrier liquid which advantageously comprises one or more of the components 1, 2-propylene glycol, glycerol and / or water. Each liquid mixture also has one or more aroma components and / or active ingredient, for example nicotine. The distribution of all aroma constituents and / or active substances to the different liquid tanks 6A, 6B, 6C, ... or to the different cartridges 1 9A, 1 9B, 1 9C, ... takes place in such a way that aroma constituents or active substances with a similar, in particular temporal, evaporation behavior are contained in the same liquid tank 6 or in the same cartridge 19. This is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4D. The curves in FIGS. 4A to 4D were calculated in an exemplary manner for a reference component mixture with initially approximately 50% by weight 1,2 propylene glycol (PG), approximately 32% by weight glycerol (Eq.), Approximately 16% by weight Water (H ₂ 0) and a total of about 2% by weight of, for example, four aroma constituents 1 -hexanol (1 H), phenylmethanol (Ph), vanillin (V) and acetophenone (A). The calculation was carried out under the assumption of open evaporation, ie the vapor (gas phase) is continuously removed. Furthermore, FIGS. 4A to 4D relate to the case in which an initial liquid mass is completely evaporated without further delivery. (This is to be distinguished from the case referred to as “refill”, in which the liquid mass is kept constant by adding more liquid corresponding to the originally evaporated liquid). All curves are plotted against the ratio mp _T / m _L, o of the vaporized mass GPRT based on the initial mass i .o of the velvet liquids. This corresponds to a standardized or dimensionless time axis of the evaporation: at hΊrt / Ghi_ _, o = 0 the evaporation starts and at mpi / m _L, o = 1 the entire liquid mixture has evaporated.

FIG. 4A shows the remaining mass mg (i = component index) in the liquid phase for propylene glycol (PG), glycerol (Eq.), Water (H ₂ 0), the aroma components H, Ph, V, A and for the sum of all components (to. = total) based on the initial mass nu.o of the entire liquid.

FIG. 4B shows the mass fractions W _G J in the gas phase in mass percent for propylene glycol (PG), glycerol (Eq.), Water (H ₂ 0) and the aroma constituents 1 -hexanol, phenylnmethanol, vanillin, acetophenone. In order to make the curves of the aroma constituents 1 H, Ph, V, A more visible, they were enlarged again by a factor of 10 as dashed lines.

FIG. 4C shows the same mass fractions W _L in the liquid phase in percent. Here, too, the curves of the aroma constituents 1 H, Ph, V, A are enlarged again by a factor of 10 as dashed lines.

FIG. 4D shows the boiling temperature TB in ° C. of the component mixture assuming isobaric evaporation.

It can be seen from FIG. 4B that the evaporation of the components water, propylene glycol and glycerol does not essentially take place azeotropically, but predominantly successively, the sequence being determined by the respective vapor pressures of the components. An evaporation capacity for the evaporator 3 is set in accordance with the evaporation curves of the liquid mixture or the components. The evaporation power or heating power causes the evaporator device 1 to heat until the component with the lowest boiling temperature evaporates, for example above 100 ° C. While a large part of the low-boiling components is evaporated, the evaporator device 1 heats up only slightly. After the majority of the low-boiling components have evaporated, the evaporator device 1 heats up further, which is shown in FIG. 4D as an example of increased heating from approximately 100 ° C. to approximately 200 ° C. Then another component evaporates and then a further temperature increase to about 280 ° C takes place. Before geous the vaporizer 3 continuously fed energy during evaporation. The temperature profile of the evaporator device 1 then follows the curve shown in FIG. 4D until a maximum temperature (for example 280 ° C.) is reached, at which the power of the evaporator 3 is advantageously reduced to zero.

FIG. 4B is particularly instructive for understanding the invention, since it shows the change in the composition of the vapor inhaled by the consumer (gas phase). FIG. 4B shows very clearly that, for example, 1-hexanol (1 H) and acetophenone (A) have a very similar evaporation or release behavior, since the maxima of the curves of these components, corresponding to their maximum concentration in the vapor phase, are very narrow in time are close to each other (approximately at mp _T / m _L, o = 0.18 to 0.19) and, by comparison with FIG. 4D, are emitted at similar, here relatively low temperatures, well below 200 ° C. So you can 1-Hexanol (1 H) and acetophenone (A) are advantageously combined in one and the same liquid mixture 49A.

Vanillin (V), on the other hand, only comes into the gas phase later (maximum around mp-r / m _L .o = 0.77) and accordingly at comparatively high temperatures well above 200 ° C. The evaporation or release behavior of vanillin is thus very different from 1-hexanol and acetophenone, so that vanillin is advantageously added to a separate liquid mixture 49B.

Phenylmethanol (Ph) in turn is released relatively evenly over a large evaporation range mp _T / m _L, o = 0.15 to 0.7.

The evaporation or release behavior of phenylmethanol thus also differs significantly from that of the other aroma components 1-hexanol, vanillin and acetophenone. Phenylmethanol is therefore also advantageously added to a separate liquid mixture 49C.

A comparison of FIGS. 4B and 4C shows that the evaporation or release behavior of the aroma components can best be assessed on the basis of the (relative or percentage) mass fractions W _G in the gas phase (FIG. 4B), but also an assessment based on the (Relative or percentage) mass fractions w _L , i in the liquid phase is possible.

The universal curves shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D can be determined for each liquid mixture, in particular calculated or measured, for example by calibration. In general, the evaporation behavior of the liquid components can advantageously be determined by measurement. Experimental testing is also conceivable. The optimal evaporation parameters for each relevant liquid mixture can be derived from the universal evaporation curves and are advantageously stored by the manufacturer in a data memory of the corresponding liquid tank 6 or the corresponding cartridge 19, for example in the control device 4.

The parameter sets of the liquid mixtures 49 can alternatively also be provided in the electronic control 21 of the base part 20. When a cartridge 19 is inserted into the inhaler 27, the electronic control device 56 of the inhaler 27 reads the identifier of the cartridge 19, which is stored in the data memory of the cartridge 19 and clearly describes the mixture of components contained in the cartridge 19, from the data memory and loads it the identifier of the evaporation parameter set that is uniquely assigned, and controls the evaporator 3 on the basis of the read-in evaporation parameter set. In this way, the control or regulation of the evaporator 3 on the basis of the evaporation parameter set permits optimal evaporation for each liquid mixture, in particular the evaporation at constant pressure by regulating the evaporator output according to the evaporation curves.

A station 48 for testing the taste of different liquid mixtures is shown in FIG. 5. A plurality of, for example, eight liquid tanks 6A, 6B,

..., 6H, ... are used, the number of liquid tanks deviating from eight and in particular being larger or significantly larger than eight. In each liquid tank 6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ... a liquid mixture 49A, 49B, ... 49H, ... composed according to the criteria described above is stored. In the embodiment shown, the liquid tanks 6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ... are connected to an electronically controllable distributor device 44 via corresponding lines 45A, 45B, ... 45H, ...

The station 48 further comprises a plurality of, for example, four evaporators 3. The number of evaporators 3 can correspond to the number of liquid tanks 6. In this case, the distributor device 44 can be dispensed with.

In particular if the number of evaporators 3 deviates from the number of liquid tanks 6, in particular is less than this, the distributor device 44 serves to select any selected subset of (here a maximum of four) liquid tanks 6A, 6B, ..., 6H, .. to be connected to the evaporators 3 in a liquid-conducting manner, a liquid tank being connected to an evaporator each time. For this purpose, the distributor device 44 is controlled via an electronic control device 39 of the station 48.

The evaporator device 1 comprises the evaporators 3, which are arranged in a housing 28 with an air inlet opening 31 and an air outlet opening 24. The air outlet opening 24 is connected to a mouthpiece 35 for the consumer via a line 36, for example a hose.

The station 48 also has an input terminal 33, for example a touch-sensitive screen, for the consumer. The consumer can use the input terminal 33 to make entries relating to a desired taste and / or desired flavors or flavor components. The inputs are passed from the input terminal 33 to the control device 39 of the station 48.

The control device 39 selects a subset of liquid tanks 6 from all liquid tanks 6A, 6B,..., 6H,... Based on the inputs of the consumer, and controls the distributor device 44 in such a way that the selected liquid tanks 6 are filled with the Evaporators are connected one to one liquid-conducting.

In one embodiment, the consumer can select the subset of liquid tanks 6 from all liquid tanks 6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ... themselves. In this case, the control device controls the distributor device 44 in such a way that the liquid tanks 6 selected by the consumer are connected to the evaporators one-to-one in a liquid-conducting manner.

Additionally or alternatively, the control device 44 itself can calculate the subset of the liquid tanks 6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ... to be selected with regard to an overall aroma to be achieved according to the input of the consumer. That is, the consumer enters a taste to be achieved, such as “quince”, into the input terminal 33 and the control device 48 calculates which combination of liquid mixtures 49A, 49B, ... 49H,

... "quince" is required to achieve the desired complex aroma or comes closest to this complex aroma. Algorithms suitable for this calculation are known. For example, this can be done using the UN I FAC (Universal Quasi-Chemical Functional Group Activity Coefficients) method.

In a further embodiment, the station 48 or the control device 44 can access an internal or external data tenbank, in which the liquid tanks 6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ... or liquid mixtures to be combined for a desired flavor are stored. The database can be created on the basis of calculations, measurements and / or experimental trials and can be continuously expanded if necessary.

The station 48 can advantageously have a display 25 for displaying the selected liquid tanks. The display 25 can be formed, for example, by a touch-sensitive screen.

If the consumer then pulls on the mouthpiece 35 of the evaporator device 1 and this is determined on the basis of a sensor (not shown), each evaporator 3 evaporates the liquid mixture assigned to it. Due to the one-to-one assignment of the selected liquid mixtures to the evaporator 3, each liquid mixture is evaporated separately and the overall aroma is only obtained in the vapor phase. In the manner described above, the user can experimentally put together, try out and select a wide variety of desired flavors.

As described above, the evaporators 3 are individually controlled for evaporation by the control device 39, and the mixed vapor phases of the selected tanks 6 or cartridges 19 can be carried out by the user via the line 36 and the mouthpiece 35, for example in the manner of a hookah can be inhaled. Depending on the customer's requirements, different combinations of tanks or cartridges can be combined with different liquid mixtures. The respective amount of steam released per tank or cartridge can also be set or determined via the control. In this way, a consumer can individually and / or with the help of expert staff determine an individual combination, ie the type and number of tanks or cartridges with liquid mixtures and the associated individual control of the same using an individual parameter set, for personal optimal smoking pleasure.

Claims

Expectations:

1 . Compilation (50) of a plurality of liquid tanks (6A, 6B, 6C, ...) with liquids stored therein for electrical evaporation, characterized in that in each case the liquid tank (6A, 6B, 6C, ...) contains one liquid - Mixture (49A, 49B, 49C, ...) is stored, with each liquid mixture (49A, 49B, 49C, ...) at least one carrier liquid and one or more aroma and / or active ingredient components with mutually similar evaporation behavior ten, wherein an overall aroma results from the combination of several aroma components, preferably from several of the liquid mixtures, in the vapor phase.

2. Compilation of one according to claim 1, characterized in that the aroma / active ingredient components of different liquid tanks (6A, 6B, 6C, ...) have a different evaporation behavior.

3. Compilation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporation behavior of the aroma / active ingredient components in advance, in particular on the basis of time-dependent evaporation curves, be determined, preferably calculated.

4. Compilation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporation behavior is determined on the basis of the change in time of the relative mass fractions in the gas phase and / or in the liquid phase of the aroma / active ingredient constituents, preferably calculable. net, will.

5. Compilation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that flavoring / active ingredient components have a similar evaporation behavior if their

Evaporation curves and / or a time derivative thereof, extremes that are close in time, zeros, turning points, saddle points and / or other excellent points.

6. Compilation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aroma / active ingredient components have a different evaporation behavior if the duration of their release differs significantly.

7. Compilation according to claim 6, characterized in that the time period of the release of an aroma / active ingredient from the integral, or another suitable measure, of its time-dependent evaporation curve is calculated.

8. Compilation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier liquid comprises propylene glycol, glycerol and / or water.

9. Compilation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the proportion or the ratio of the at least one carrier liquid in different liquid mixtures (49A, 49B, 49C, ...) is different and / or is applied to the respective aroma / active ingredient components. fits.

1 0. Compilation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for each liquid mixture (49A, 49B, 49C, ...) an individual heating parameter set in an electronic control device (4) of one of the liquid mixture (49A, 49B, 49C, ...) assigned cartridge

(19A, 19B, 1 9C, ...) is stored.

1 1. Inhaler (27), in particular electronic cigarette product, with a plurality of connections (22A, 22B, 22C, ...) for a plurality of liquid tanks (6A, 6B, 6C, ...) according to a compilation (50) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each connection (22A, 22B, 22C, ...) is or can be assigned at least one separate evaporator (3), so that each liquid mixture (49A, 49B, 49C,. ..) can be vaporized separately and the overall aroma results only from the combination of the individual vapor phases of the aroma components, preferably from several of the liquid mixtures.

1 2. inhaler according to claim 1 1, with an electronic control device (56) for controlling the evaporator (3), characterized in that each liquid mixture (49A, 49B, 49C, ...) is assigned an individual heating parameter set or can be assigned, and the electronic control device (56) individually controls each evaporator (3) with the correspondingly assigned parameter set.

1 3rd station (48) for testing the taste of a liquid mixture by a consumer, comprising a plurality of liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...) according to a Compilation according to one of Claims 1 to 1 0, an inhaler (27) with a plurality of evaporators (3) and an electronic control device (39), each liquid tank (6A, 6B. 6H, ...) each having at least one Separate evaporator (3) can be assigned so that each

Liquid mixture (49A, 49B,, ..., 49H, ...) can be vaporized separately and an overall aroma results from the combination of individual aroma components in the vapor phase, the station (48) having an input terminal (33) which it allows the consumer to make an entry, the

Control device (39) on the basis of the input of the consumer selects a subset of all liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...) of the station (48) and the evaporators (3) of the selected liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...) controls.

14. Station according to claim 13, characterized in that the control device (48) determines, preferably calculates, the subset of the liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...) to be selected with regard to an overall aroma to be achieved.

1 5th station according to claim 14, characterized in that the calculation is carried out using the UNI FAC method.

1 6. Station according to one of claims 1 3 to 1 5, characterized in that the station (48) has a display (25) for displaying the selected or calculated liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H,. .. ) having.

1 7. Station according to one of claims 1 3 to 16, characterized in that the station (48) has a distribution device (44) by means of which a selected subset of liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...) with evaporators (3) can be connected in a liquid-conducting manner.

1 8. Method for testing the taste of a liquid mixture by a consumer using a

A plurality of liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...) according to an arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 9 and an inhaler (27) with a plurality of evaporators (3), each liquid tank (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...), at least one separate evaporator (3) is assigned so that each liquid mixture (49A, 49B,, ..., 49H, ...) is evaporated separately and that The overall aroma results from the combination of the individual vapor phases, whereby a subset of all the liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...) provided is selected on the basis of an input from a consumer and the evaporators ( 3) of the selected liquid tanks (6A, 6B, ..., 6H, ...).

1 9. Electronic database in which entries for a large number of total aromas are stored, the liquid mixtures to be combined (49A, 49B,, ..., 49H, ...) for each total aroma being stored in one entry, see above that the combination of several aroma components results in the corresponding overall aroma in the vapor phase when the liquid mixtures (49A, 49B,, ..., 49H, ...) assigned to an overall aroma are evaporated.