WO2023095189A1

WO2023095189A1 - Flavor inhaler and smoking system

Info

Publication number: WO2023095189A1
Application number: PCT/JP2021/042899
Authority: WO
Inventors: 正実川邊; 康信井上; 干城隅井; 学山田
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2021-11-24
Filing date: 2021-11-24
Publication date: 2023-06-01
Also published as: KR20240044487A; JPWO2023095189A1

Abstract

This flavor inhaler comprises: a housing part that houses the smokable substance of a consumable containing a smokable substance and a stopper element; a heater that is configured to be inserted into the smokable substance housed in the housing part and heat the smokable substance from the interior; and a gap between the heater and the stopper element that is formed when the heater is inserted into the smokable substance.

Description

Flavor sucker and smoking system

The present invention relates to flavor inhalers and smoking systems.

Conventionally, flavor inhalers for inhaling flavors without burning materials have been known. As such a flavor inhaler, for example, an electrically heated aerosol generating system having a chamber containing smoking articles in a housing is known (Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 5963375

In an electrically heated aerosol generating system as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a pin- or blade-shaped heater is inserted into the smokable substance, and the smokable substance is heated by the heater. The smokable material is stressed axially (the direction of insertion of the heater) when the smokable material is inserted into or removed from the heater. For this reason, a stopper element, such as a filter, is sometimes provided at the tip of the consumable to prevent smokable substance from spilling out of the consumable as the heater is inserted and removed. However, stopper elements such as filters are susceptible to melting or damage due to heat. For this reason, it is preferable to sufficiently heat the smokable substance while inhibiting heat transfer to the stopper element. Also, in the case where the tip of the consumable does not have a stopper element and the smokable material extends to the tip of the consumable, when the upstream end of the smokable is heated like the rest of the consumable, the upstream There is a risk that the aerosol will flow back upstream of the air flow path from the end.

One of the purposes of the present invention is to suppress heat transfer to the stopper element. Another object of the present invention is to reduce heat transfer to the upstream end of the smokable material.

According to the first aspect, a flavor inhaler is provided. The flavor inhaler comprises a container for containing the smokable substance of a consumable material including a smokable substance and a stopper element, and a container for inserting the smokable substance contained in the container to release the smokable substance. A heater configured to heat from the inside and a gap between the heater and the stopper element formed when the heater is inserted into the smokable substance.

According to the first aspect, since the heater is at least partially separated from the stopper element, heat transfer to the stopper element can be suppressed while the smokable substance is heated by the heater. Therefore, melting or damage of the stopper element can be suppressed, and heat loss due to heat transfer to the stopper element can also be suppressed. In addition, it is preferable that the gap exists over the entire circumference of the heater. In this case, heat transfer to the stopper element can be further suppressed.

According to a second aspect, in the first aspect, the heater has a heat-generating portion and a non-heat-generating portion positioned along the insertion direction, and the gap is between the non-heat-generating portion of the heater and the stopper element. The gist is to be located.

According to the second aspect, since a gap is provided between the non-heat-generating portion and the stopper element, where the contribution of heating of the smokable substance is small, the heat-generating portion heats the smokable substance to generate sufficient aerosol. Heat transfer to the stopper element can be further suppressed.

A gist of a third aspect is that, in the second aspect, the heat-generating portion is located closer to the tip side of the heater than the non-heat-generating portion.

According to the third aspect, they can be positioned so that the non-heat-generating portion overlaps the stopper element and the heat-generating portion overlaps the smokable substance in the axial direction (heater insertion direction).

A gist of a fourth aspect is that, in the second aspect or the third aspect, the heating part has a resistance heating element and a cover that covers the outer surface of the resistance heating element.

According to the fourth aspect, since the resistance heating element does not come into direct contact with the smokable substance, it is possible to suppress contamination of the resistance heating element by the smokable substance and occurrence of physical damage to the resistance heating element.

According to a fifth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the gist is that there is a wall portion disposed between the heater and the stopper element, in contact with the stopper element, and separated from the heater. and

According to the fifth aspect, since the gap can be formed between the stopper element and the heater by the wall, the size (volume or thickness) of the gap can be made constant. As a result, heat transfer to the stopper element can be stably suppressed.

The gist of the sixth aspect is that, in the fifth aspect that quotes the second aspect, the wall portion is positioned so as to overlap the non-heat-generating portion in the insertion direction and is spaced apart from the non-heat-generating portion.

According to the sixth aspect, since a gap is provided between the non-exothermic portion and the wall portion, where the contribution of heating of the smokable substance is small, the smokable substance is heated by the heat generating portion to generate sufficient aerosol, Heat transfer to the wall can be suppressed. As a result, heat transfer to the stopper element in contact with the wall can be suppressed.

A gist of a seventh aspect is that in the fifth aspect or the sixth aspect, the wall portion has a tapered surface whose diameter decreases from the rear end side to the front end side of the heater.

According to the seventh aspect, when the heater is inserted into the smokable substance from the tip side, the stopper element in contact with the wall is pushed apart to form a gap between the stopper element and the heater via the wall. be. At this time, the tapered surface of the wall smoothly spreads the stopper element, so that the heater can be easily inserted into the smokable substance.

The gist of an eighth aspect is that in any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, a heat insulating member is provided between the wall portion and the heater.

According to the eighth aspect, heat transfer from the heater to the wall can be further suppressed. As a result, heat transfer to the stopper element in contact with the wall can be further suppressed.

A ninth aspect is any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the heater has a first portion positioned along the insertion direction and a second portion having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first portion. , wherein the first portion is located closer to the tip side of the heater than the second portion, and the gap is located between the second portion and the stopper element.

According to the ninth aspect, when the heater is inserted into the consumable material, the first portion first forms a through hole corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the first portion in the stopper element, and then the second portion is inserted between the stopper element and the shaft. They can be positioned so as to overlap in direction. As a result, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the through hole and the second portion, so that melting or damage to the stopper element can be suppressed, and heat loss due to heat transfer to the stopper element can be suppressed.

The gist of the tenth aspect is that in the ninth aspect citing the second aspect, the second portion includes the non-heat generating portion.

According to the tenth aspect, since a gap is provided between the second portion where the contribution of heating of the smokable substance is small and the stopper element, the smokable substance is heated by the heat generating portion to generate sufficient aerosol, Heat transfer to the stopper element can be further suppressed.

The gist of the eleventh aspect is that in the ninth or tenth aspect, the first portion and the second portion are coaxially arranged.

If the central axis of the second portion is positioned outside the cross section of the first portion, the second portion may come into contact with the inner surface of the through hole formed in the stopper element by the first portion. According to the eleventh aspect, by adjusting the shape of the second portion, it is possible to position the entire second portion inside the outer peripheral surface of the first portion when viewed from the insertion direction. As a result, a gap can be provided between the second portion and the stopper element over the entire circumference, so that heat transfer to the stopper element can be further suppressed.

A gist of a twelfth aspect is that in any one of the ninth to eleventh aspects, the entire second portion is positioned inside the outer peripheral surface of the first portion when viewed from the insertion direction.

According to the twelfth aspect, a gap can be provided between the second portion and the stopper element over the entire circumference, so heat transfer to the stopper element can be further suppressed.

According to the thirteenth aspect, a flavor inhaler is provided. The flavor inhaler includes a container for containing a consumable smokable substance, and a heater configured to be inserted into the smokable substance contained in the container to heat the smokable substance from the inside. a wall disposed around the heater; and a gap between the heater and the wall.

According to the thirteenth aspect, since the heater is at least partially spaced from the smokable material, the wall portion is positioned to correspond to the upstream end of the smokable material so that the upstream end of the smokable material and its vicinity can reduce the internal temperature of the smokable material somewhat. As a result, the generation of aerosol at and near the upstream end of the smokable substance can be suppressed, so that the aerosol generated there can be prevented from condensing at the bottom of the container and flowing back through the air flow path. Also, aerosol generated in other portions of the smokable material may condense at and near the upstream end of the smokable material. Further, according to the thirteenth aspect, since the wall can form a gap between the smokable substance and the heater, the size (volume or thickness) of the gap can be made constant. As a result, heat transfer to the smokable substance can be stably suppressed.

According to the 14th aspect, a flavor inhaler is provided. The flavor inhaler includes a container for containing a consumable smokable substance, and a heater configured to be inserted into the smokable substance contained in the container to heat the smokable substance from the inside. and, the heater has a first portion positioned along the insertion direction and a second portion having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first portion, the first portion being the second portion is located on the tip side of the heater.

According to the fourteenth aspect, when the heater is inserted into the smokable substance, first the through hole corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the first portion is formed in the smokable substance by the first portion, and then the second portion is formed into the smokable substance. It can be positioned so as to axially overlap the material. As a result, a gap is formed between the inner surface of this through-hole and the second portion, so that the internal temperature of the smokable material can be somewhat reduced at and near the upstream end of the smokable material. As a result, the generation of aerosol at and near the upstream end of the smokable substance can be suppressed, so that the aerosol generated there can be prevented from condensing at the bottom of the container and flowing back through the air flow path. Also, aerosol generated in other portions of the smokable material may condense at and near the upstream end of the smokable material. Moreover, according to the fourteenth aspect, it is possible to prevent the insertion resistance of the heater from increasing too much.

According to the fifteenth aspect, a smoking system is provided. The smoking system comprises a flavor inhaler of any of the first through fourteenth aspects and the consumable.

1 is a schematic side cross section of a smoking system according to the present embodiment; It is a schematic side view which shows an example of the heating part of this embodiment. FIG. 2B is a cross section of the heating portion taken along arrow 2B-2B shown in FIG. 2A; Fig. 10 is a schematic side view showing the heating part inserted into the consumable; It is a schematic side view which shows an example of the heating part of other embodiment. Fig. 10 is a schematic side view showing the heating part inserted into the consumable;

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings described below, the same or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-section of the smoking system according to this embodiment. The smoking system according to this embodiment has a consumable product 10 and a flavor inhaler 100 . Flavor inhaler 100 is preferably a portable or handheld device. As shown in FIG. 1 , consumable 10 includes stopper element 18 , smokable material 16 heated by flavor inhaler 100 , center hole filter 15 , paper tube portion 14 , and filter portion 12 . Center hole filter 15 of consumable 10 is located between smokable material 16 and paper tube portion 14 . The paper tube portion 14 can function as a cooling portion that cools the aerosol that has passed through the center hole filter 15 . The inside of the paper tube portion 14 may be filled with a material such as a sheet for increasing the contact area with the aerosol and promoting the cooling of the aerosol. The stopper element 18 is provided on the tip side of the consumable material 10 , that is, at a position where the consumable material 10 first comes into contact with the heater 62 of the heating section 60 described later when the consumable material 10 is inserted into the flavor inhaler 100 . The stopper element 18 functions to prevent the smokable substance 16 from falling off the tip of the consumable 10 and may be, for example, an acetate filter, a center hole filter, a neo filter, a paper filter, or the like. Alternatively, the stopper element 18 may include a cylindrical wrapping sheet and a stopper sheet having both ends connected to different positions on the inner surface of the wrapping sheet in the circumferential direction. The stopper sheet can be a piece of paper whose end-to-end length is greater than the diameter of the wrapping sheet. The consumable 10 may not be provided with the stopper element 18 . In that case, smokable material 16 may extend to the tip of consumable 10 .

Flavor inhaler 100 is configured to heat solid or liquid smokable substance 16 to atomize smokable substance 16 . The smokable material 16 constitutes part of the consumable article 10, for example in the shape of a column extending along its longitudinal direction. Consumable material 10 may be, for example, a tobacco stick in which smokable material 16 comprises tobacco. The smokable material 16 contained in the consumable 10 may contain an aerosol source that is heated at a predetermined temperature to generate an aerosol. The type of aerosol source is not particularly limited, and extracts from various natural products and/or constituents thereof can be selected depending on the application. Aerosol sources can include, for example, glycerin, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. Smokable material 16 may be tobacco such as lamina, backbone, or other known botanicals. Also, the shape of the smokable substance 16 such as tobacco may be shredded, sheet-like, string-like, powdery, granular, pellet-like, slurry-like, porous, or the like.

The flavor inhaler 100 has a battery 23 and a PCB 24 (Printed Circuit Board). The battery 23 stores power used by the flavor inhaler 100 . For example, battery 23 is a lithium ion battery. Battery 23 may be rechargeable by an external power source.

The PCB 24 is composed of a CPU, memory, etc., and controls the operation of the flavor inhaler 100. For example, the PCB 24 starts heating the smokable substance 16 in response to user manipulation of an input device, such as a push button or slide switch (not shown), and stops heating the smokable substance 16 after a certain period of time. The PCB 24 may terminate heating of the smokable material 16 even before a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the start of heating of the smokable material 16 when the number of puffs by the user exceeds a predetermined value. For example, a puff action is detected by a sensor (not shown).

Alternatively, the PCB 24 may begin heating the smokable substance 16 upon initiation of the puffing action and terminate heating of the smokable substance 16 upon termination of the puffing action. The PCB 24 may terminate heating of the smokable material 16 even before the end of the puffing action if a certain amount of time has passed since the beginning of the puffing action.

In the illustrated example, the flavor inhaler 100 has an insertion end 101 into which the consumable 10 is inserted and is configured to receive the stick-shaped consumable 10 . Also, as shown, the battery 23 and PCB 24 may be aligned in the orientation of inserting the consumable 10 into the flavor inhaler 100 . In this specification, the insertion direction of the consumable material 10 or the longitudinal direction of the flavor inhaler 100 is sometimes referred to as the axial direction. In addition, the circumferential direction in this specification means the circumferential direction about the axis in the axial direction, and the radial direction means the direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

The flavor inhaler 100 has a housing 30, a storage section 42, a heating section 60, and a cap section 80. Heating portion 60 is configured to heat smokable substance 16 . Specifically, for example, the heating portion 60 has a shape that can be inserted into the smokable substance 16 and is configured to heat the smokable substance 16 from the inside. More specifically, the heating portion 60 has a heater 62 inserted into the smokable substance 16 and a flange portion 64 for securing the heater 62 to the support 50 . The heater 62 extends axially. The flange portion 64 extends in a direction intersecting the axial direction, specifically in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction. Heater 62 may have, for example, a heating track or the like capable of being resistively heated on or within it.

The heater 62 is preferably a pin-type heater. In the case of a blade-type heater that has a very small thickness relative to its width, when the heater 62 is inserted into the smokable material 16, the small thickness of the heater 62 results in a small thickness between the main surface of the heater 62 and the stopper element 18. It is difficult for voids, which will be described later, to form. If the heater 62 is a pin-type heater, it is easier to form the gap than a blade-type heater. In addition, the pin-type heater may have, for example, a cylindrical shape. The shape of the cross section orthogonal to the insertion direction of the pin-type heater may not be a perfect circle, and may be, for example, an ellipse. The shape of the cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction of the pin-type heater may be square, but in this case, the resistance when the heater 62 is inserted into the consumable material 10 becomes too high, which is not preferable.

Electric power from the battery 23 is supplied to the heater 62 . Specifically, the heater 62 is provided with leads 66 and may be electrically connected to the PCB 24 and/or the battery 23 via the leads 66 . The flavor inhaler 100 may have an induction coil that inductively heats the heater 62 . In this case, heater 62 can be inductively heated by an induction coil as a susceptor. Specifically, the heater 62 is inserted inside the smokable substance 16 and is inductively heated by an induction coil (not shown) to heat the smokable substance 16 . If the flavor sucker 100 has an induction coil, at least one of the housing 30, the container 42, and the cap 80 is preferably magnetically permeable and non-conductive (electrically insulating). This makes it difficult for at least one of the housing 30, the accommodating portion 42, and the cap portion 80 to generate heat due to the induction coil, and the heater 62 can efficiently generate heat. Materials having magnetic permeability and non-conductivity (electrical insulation) include, for example, glass, plants, wood, paper, and resins such as PEEK. The induction coil can be, for example, a planar coil or a cylindrical coil. In a state in which the consumable item 10 is positioned at a desired position within the container portion 42, the induction coil is arranged on the opposite side of the consumable item 10 via the bottom wall 44 of the container portion 42, which will be described later, or on the other side of the container portion 42, which will be described later. It may be provided so as to surround the side wall 43 .

Receptacle 42 may be generally cylindrical and configured to receive smokable substance 16 . Specifically, the housing portion 42 has a cylindrical side wall 43 and a bottom wall 44 . Side wall 43 surrounds smokable substance 16 and stopper element 18 of consumable 10 positioned at a desired location within receptacle 42 . As shown in FIG. 1 , the heater 62 of the heating section 60 penetrates through the opening 44 a of the bottom wall 44 and a part of the heater 62 is positioned inside the housing section 42 .

As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable to provide a gap S2 along the entire circumference between the smokable substance 16 of the consumable material 10 contained in the container 42 and the side wall 43 of the container 42 . This may reduce the transfer of heat from the heater 62 and the heated smokable substance 16 to the container 42 and the housing 30 than if the sides of the consumable 10 were in contact with the container 42 . As a result, the temperature rise of the surface of the housing 30 can be reduced, and the heat taken from the smokable substance 16 by the container 42 can be reduced.

The housing 30 surrounds at least the housing portion 42 . Specifically, the housing 30 surrounds the outer circumferences of the heating section 60 and the housing section 42 . As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 30 has an air inlet 32 for supplying air to the heating portion 60, and an end portion 38 having an opening into which the housing portion 42 and the cap portion 80 are inserted. The air that has flowed in from the air inlet 32 of the housing 30 flows into the housing portion 42 through an opening 44 a formed in the housing portion 42 .

The end portion 38 constitutes one end portion of the housing 30 . The housing portion 42 and the cap portion 80 are inserted from the end portion 38 when the flavor inhaler 100 is assembled. Specifically, the cap portion 80 can be detachably attached to the housing 30 . The cap portion 80 has an opening 81 for inserting the consumable 10 .

Next, the details of the heater 62 will be described. FIG. 2A is a schematic side view showing an example of the heating section 60 of this embodiment. FIG. 2B is a cross section of heating unit 60 taken along line 2B-2B shown in FIG. 2A. 2C is a schematic side view showing the heating unit 60 inserted into the consumable 10. FIG. 2A and 2C, the cover 67 and wall 70 are shown transparently. As shown in FIG. 2A, the heating portion 60 may have a heater 62 and a wall portion 70 attached to the heater 62 .

The heater 62 preferably has a resistance heating element 68 and a cover 67 that covers the outer surface of the resistance heating element 68 . As a result, since the resistance heating element 68 does not come into direct contact with the smokable substance 16, it is possible to prevent the resistance heating element 68 from being soiled by the smokable substance 16, physical damage to the resistance heating element 68, and the like. Specifically, in the illustrated example, heater 62 may have a hollow tube 65 . Thereby, the heat capacity can be reduced as compared with the case where the heater 62 is solid. In the illustrated example, a resistance heating element 68 is formed on the outer surface of the tubular body 65, and a cover 67 is arranged on the outer surface of the resistance heating element 68, so that the tubular body 65, the resistance heating element 68, and the cover 67 are fired. An integral heater 62 can be formed by bonding. The tubular body 65 and the cover 67 may be made of an insulator such as ceramic. By arranging the cover 67 on the outer surface of the resistance heating element 68, the strength of the heater 62 can be improved and the heating can be made uniform.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the flavor inhaler 100 fills the gap S1 between the heater 62 and the stopper element 18 formed when the heater 62 is inserted into the smokable substance 16. have. This allows the heater 62 to be at least partially spaced from the stopper element 18 so that heat transfer to the stopper element 18 is inhibited while the smokable substance 16 is heated by the heater 62 . Therefore, melting or damage to the stopper element 18 can be suppressed, and heat loss due to heat transfer to the stopper element 18 can also be suppressed. In addition, it is preferable that the space S1 exists over the entire circumference of the heater 62, as shown in FIG. 2B. Thereby, heat transfer to the stopper element 18 can be further suppressed.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the heater 62 preferably has a heat generating portion 69A and a non-heat generating portion 69B positioned along the insertion direction (the axial direction or longitudinal direction of the heater 62). Specifically, for example, the heating portion 69A corresponds to the portion where the resistance heating element 68 of the heater 62 is arranged, and the non-heating portion 69B corresponds to the lead wire connected to the resistance heating element 68 (more than the resistance heating element 68). It corresponds to a portion where a conductor portion with low resistance) is arranged. Here, as shown in FIG. 2C, the gap S1 is preferably positioned between the non-heat generating portion 69B of the heater 62 and the stopper element 18. As shown in FIG. As a result, a gap is provided between the non-exothermic portion 69B and the stopper element 18, where the contribution of heating of the smokable substance 16 is small. , the heat transfer to the stopper element 18 can be further suppressed.

As shown, the heat generating portion 69A is preferably located closer to the tip of the heater 62 than the non-heat generating portion 69B. This allows the non-heat generating portion 69B to overlap the stopper element 18 and the heat generating portion 69A to overlap the smokable substance 16 in the axial direction (insertion direction of the heater 62). Moreover, the tip of the heater 62 preferably has a protrusion 69C whose diameter decreases toward the tip. This allows the heater 62 to be easily inserted into the consumable 10 .

In the illustrated example, the heating portion 60 is disposed between the heater 62 and the stopper element 18 and preferably has a wall portion 70 that contacts the stopper element 18 and is spaced apart from the heater 62 . Since the gap S1 can be formed between the stopper element 18 and the heater 62 by the wall portion 70, the size (volume or thickness) of the gap S1 can be made constant. As a result, heat transfer to the stopper element 18 can be stably suppressed. In this embodiment, the wall portion 70 may be formed of a metal such as stainless steel that is easy to process, or a material with low thermal conductivity (such as a resin material).

As illustrated, the wall portion 70 is positioned so as to overlap the non-heat generating portion 69B in the insertion direction, and is preferably spaced apart from the non-heat generating portion 69B. As a result, a gap S1 is provided between the non-heat-generating portion 69B and the wall portion 70, where the heat contribution of the smokable substance 16 is small. However, heat transfer to the wall portion 70 can be suppressed. As a result, heat transfer to the stopper element 18 in contact with the wall portion 70 can be suppressed. If the consumable 10 does not include a stopper element 18 , for example, the wall 70 is positioned to correspond to the upstream end of the smokable material 16 extending to the tip (upstream end) of the consumable 10 and the heater 62 . can be attached to The wall portion 70 is located on the root side of the heater 62 in the longitudinal direction. Here, the “root” of the heater 62 refers to a portion that exists in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the tip (upstream end) of the consumable item 10 when the heater 62 is inserted into the consumable item 10 .

As illustrated, the wall portion 70 preferably has a tapered surface 71 whose diameter decreases from the rear end side of the heater 62 toward the front end side. As a result, when the heater 62 is inserted into the smokable substance 16 from the distal end side, the stopper element 18 in contact with the wall portion 70 is pushed apart to create a gap between the stopper element 18 and the heater 62 via the wall portion 70 . S1 is formed. At this time, the taper surface 71 of the wall portion 70 smoothly spreads the stopper element 18 , so that the heater 62 can be easily inserted into the smokable substance 16 .

Specifically, the wall portion 70 has a cylindrical shape as a whole and has a tapered surface 71 that continuously expands in diameter from the front end side to the rear end side. In the illustrated example, wall 70 is cylindrical. One end of the wall portion 70 on the tip side can be fixed to the heater 62 . A method of fixing the wall portion 70 to the heater 62 can be arbitrarily selected from a chemical fixing method using an adhesive agent or the like, a mechanical fixing method such as fitting or caulking, or a combination thereof. Thereby, the wall portion 70 constitutes a member integrated with the heater 62 . A flange 72 having a diameter larger than that of the tapered surface 71 can be formed at the other end portion on the rear end side of the wall portion 70 . As shown in FIG. 2C, when the heating portion 60 is inserted into the consumable 10 , the end (stopper element 18 ) of the consumable 10 contacts the flange 72 . This allows the flange 72 to position the consumable 10 . The flange 72 can be positioned so as to axially overlap the non-heat generating portion 69B.

In this embodiment, it is preferable to have a heat insulating member between the wall portion 70 and the heater 62 . Thereby, heat transfer from the heater 62 to the wall portion 70 can be further suppressed. As a result, heat transfer to the stopper element 18 in contact with the wall portion 70 can be further suppressed. The heat insulating member may fill the entire space S1 between the wall portion 70 and the heater 62, or may be disposed between the wall portion 70 and the heater 62 so as to leave a portion of the space S1. good too. The heat insulating member may be, for example, a known heat insulating member such as aerogel.

Next, another embodiment of the heating unit 60 will be described. FIG. 3A is a schematic side view showing an example of a heating section 60 of another embodiment. 3B is a schematic side view showing the heating unit 60 inserted into the consumable 10. FIG. In Figures 3A and 3B, the cover 67 is shown opaque, but has a resistive heating element 68 similar to Figures 2A-2C.

The heating section 60 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B does not have a wall section 70 unlike the heating section 60 shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C. On the other hand, the heater 62 of the heating unit 60 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B has a first portion 73A positioned along the insertion direction and a second portion 73B having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first portion 73A. . In addition, the cross-sectional area here refers to the cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction of the heater 62 . As shown, the first portion 73A is located closer to the tip of the heater 62 than the second portion 73B, and the gap S1 is located between the second portion 73B and the stopper element 18. As shown in FIG. As a result, when the heater 62 is inserted into the consumable material 10, the first portion 73A first forms a through hole h1 corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the first portion 73A in the stopper element 18 (see FIG. 3B), and then the first portion 73A is formed. The two portions 73B can be positioned so as to axially overlap the stopper element 18 . As a result, a gap S1 is formed between the inner surface of the through hole h1 and the second portion 73B, so that the stopper element 18 can be prevented from being melted or damaged, and heat loss due to heat transfer to the stopper element 18 can also be prevented. can. Note that the through hole h1 may be formed in the stopper element 18 in advance.

As illustrated, the second portion 73B preferably includes a non-heat generating portion 69B. As a result, a gap S1 is provided between the second portion 73B, which contributes little to the heating of the smokable substance 16, and the stopper element 18, so that the smokable substance 16 is heated by the heat generating portion 69A to generate sufficient aerosol. However, heat transfer to the stopper element 18 can be further suppressed.

Also, the first portion 73A and the second portion 73B are preferably arranged coaxially. If the central axis of the second portion 73B is positioned outside the cross section of the first portion 73A, the second portion 73B may come into contact with the inner surface of the through hole h1 formed in the stopper element 18 by the first portion 73A. . When the first portion 73A and the second portion 73B are arranged coaxially, by adjusting the shape of the second portion 73B, the entire second portion 73B can be adjusted to the outer peripheral surface of the first portion 73A when viewed from the insertion direction. can be located inside the As a result, a gap S1 can be provided between the second portion 73B and the stopper element 18 over the entire circumference, so that heat transfer to the stopper element 18 can be further suppressed.

Further, it is preferable that the entire second portion 73B be located inside the outer peripheral surface of the first portion 73A when viewed from the insertion direction. As a result, the gap S1 can be provided between the second portion 73B and the stopper element 18 over the entire circumference of the second portion 73B, so that heat transfer to the stopper element 18 can be further suppressed.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical ideas described in the claims, specification and drawings. is possible. Any shape or material that is not directly described in the specification and drawings is within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention as long as it produces the action and effect of the present invention.

10 : Consumable material 16 : Smokable substance 18 : Stopper element 42 : Receptacle 62 : Heater 67 : Cover 68 : Resistive heating element 69A : Heating part 69B : Non-heating part 70 : Wall part 71 : Tapered surface 73A : First part 73B: Second part 100: Flavor sucker S1: Gap S2: Gap

Claims

a receptacle containing smokable substance of a consumable article comprising a smokable substance and a stopper element;
a heater configured to be inserted into the smokable substance contained in the container to heat the smokable substance from the inside;
a gap between the heater and the stopper element formed when the heater is inserted into the smokable substance.
The flavor inhaler according to claim 1,
The heater has a heat-generating portion and a non-heat-generating portion positioned along the insertion direction,
The flavor sucker, wherein the gap is located between the non-heat generating portion of the heater and the stopper element.
In the flavor inhaler according to claim 2,
The flavor inhaler, wherein the heat-generating part is located closer to the tip side of the heater than the non-heat-generating part.
In the flavor inhaler according to claim 2 or 3,
The flavor inhaler, wherein the heating unit includes a resistance heating element and a cover covering an outer surface of the resistance heating element.
In the flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A flavor sucker having a wall disposed between the heater and the stopper element and in contact with the stopper element and spaced apart from the heater.
In the flavor inhaler according to claim 5 citing claim 2,
The flavor inhaler, wherein the wall portion is positioned so as to overlap with the non-heat generating portion in the insertion direction and is spaced apart from the non-heat generating portion.
In the flavor inhaler according to claim 5 or 6,
The flavor inhaler, wherein the wall portion has a tapered surface whose diameter decreases from the rear end side to the front end side of the heater.
In the flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
A flavor inhaler comprising a heat insulating member between the wall and the heater.
In the flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The heater has a first portion positioned along the insertion direction and a second portion having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first portion,
the first portion is located closer to the tip side of the heater than the second portion;
The flavor sucker, wherein the void is located between the second portion and the stopper element.
In the flavor inhaler according to claim 9 citing claim 2,
The flavor inhaler, wherein the second part includes the non-heat generating part.
In the flavor inhaler according to claim 9 or 10,
The flavor sucker, wherein the first portion and the second portion are coaxially arranged.
In the flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 9 to 11,
A flavor inhaler, wherein the entire second portion is positioned inside the outer peripheral surface of the first portion when viewed from the insertion direction.
a container containing a consumable smokable substance;
a heater configured to be inserted into the smokable substance contained in the container to heat the smokable substance from the inside;
a wall portion arranged around the heater;
a flavor inhaler comprising the heater and an air gap between the wall.
a container containing a consumable smokable substance;
a heater configured to be inserted into the smokable substance contained in the container to heat the smokable substance from the inside;
The heater has a first portion positioned along the insertion direction and a second portion having a smaller cross-sectional area than the first portion,
The flavor inhaler, wherein the first portion is located closer to the tip side of the heater than the second portion.
A smoking system comprising a flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and the consumable.