WO2023170182A1

WO2023170182A1 - An aerosol-generating device comprising a compression device and method for compressing an aerosol-generating article

Info

Publication number: WO2023170182A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/055943
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pier Paolo MONTICONE; Layth Sliman BOUCHUIGUIR
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2022-03-10
Filing date: 2023-03-08
Publication date: 2023-09-14
Also published as: CN118742216A

Abstract

The invention relates to an aerosol-generating device comprising an oven having a first opening through which an aerosol-generating article could be inserted at least partially in the oven and a compression device which is arranged outside the oven and in front of the opening to compress the aerosol-generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven through the opening. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising such an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article. A method for inserting an aerosol-generating article at least partially in an oven of an aerosol-generating device by the steps of compressing the aerosol-generating article by a compression device which is arranged outside the oven and in front of an opening of the oven to compress the aerosol- generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven through the opening, and moving the compressed aerosol-generating article at least partially into the oven is disclosed, too.

Description

An aerosol-generating device comprising a compression device and method for compressing an aerosol-generating article

Description

The present invention is directed to an aerosol-generating device comprising an oven having an opening, through which an aerosol-generating article could be inserted at least partially in the oven. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a system comprising such an aerosolgenerating device and a method for inserting an aerosol-generating article at least partially in an oven of an aerosol-generating device.

In the last years the so-called reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers) have been become popular as an alternative to traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Numerous devices and systems are available on the market. They have in common, that in contrast to the traditional products, the tobacco is not burned but heated to produce an aerosol and/or vapor for inhalation.

In heat-not-burn devices, the substrate is heated in the aerosol generation device. Devices of this type generate an aerosol and/or vapor by heating a solid aerosol substrate, typically comprising tobacco, to a temperature typically in the range 200°C to 350°C. This temperature has been found advantageous since the substrate is releasing flavor in form of an aerosol but without combusting or burning the substrate. Accordingly, harmful by-products of combustion and burning could be avoided.

Until now, a drawback of known devices of this kind is their high energy consumption. The battery of some of these devices has to be recharged after each single use. Other devices comprise a larger battery, but - at least in contrast to traditional products like cigarettes - these devices are bulkier.

It has been found that efficient energy transfer rate between the heating element and the substrate to be heated is crucial. Accordingly, some devices have been developed to overcome this drawback.

An example of such a heating device is described in CN 110 558624 A. This device comprises a circumferential wall of a heating chamber, which is made from a plurality of wall elements. Along this wall a fastener made from memory alloy is arranged. By controlling the temperature, the shape of the memory alloy can be adjusted, so that after reaching a critical temperature, the heater is compressed. This deformation results in a reduced size of an accommodating cavity of the heater and a cigarette will be automatically clamped. Thus, a increased energy transfer rate could be achieved and the heating efficiency of the device is improved.

Also the document CN 112 401 311 A relates to a smoking device, comprising a heating chamber. A tobacco source is arranged inside this heating chamber, which comprises a shell and a heating part in form of a central pin. The heating chamber is formed by at least two cigarette clamping parts. These two parts could form a cavity of different size between each other. The size of the cavity is adjusted by rotating a driving part, which can rotate relative to the cigarette clamping part. Since the inner volume of the driving part has an oval crosssection the width of the internal spacing along a given direction depends on the rotation angle of the driving part with respect to this direction. By rotating the driving part, the spacing between two cigarette clamping parts could be adjusted.

A further smoking device with increased energy transfer rate is known from US 2021 282 459 A1. This device comprises a retaining element which is clamping a tobacco source within the device. The internal diameter of this retaining element differs with respect to its position. When shifted along the longitudinal direction of the smoking device, the internal diameter could be reduced, e.g. by reducing the width of slits in the sidewalls of the retaining element. A heat source is provided in form of a blade or rod.

In all these prior art publications, the mechanism for reducing the diameter of a heating chamber is quite complex and handling of the device is difficult. Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an aerosol-generating device which overcomes these drawbacks. It should not only increase the energy transfer rate between a heating source and the aerosolgenerating article but should also be easy to handle and require only little space.

It has been found that these problems could be overcome by an aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, a system according to claim 9 and a method according to claim 12.

An aerosol-generating device according to the present invention comprises an oven having an opening through which an aerosol-generating article could be inserted at least partially in the oven. The aerosol-generating device further comprises a compression device which is arranged outside the oven in front of the opening to compress the aerosol-generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven through the opening. Since the compression device is not part of the oven as such but arranged outside the oven, the oven and the aerosol-generating device could be smaller than known devices. This facilitates handling by a user.

In the context of the current invention, an aerosol-generating article may be any consumable article comprising a charge of solid or semi-solid aerosol-generating material, such as in particular tobacco material.

Preferably, the compression device comprises opposing pressing members definining a gap therebetween, said gap extending perpendicularly to a direction of insertion of the aerosolgenerating article into the compression device and oven through the opening. Preferably, the direction of insertion of the aerosol-generating article is coincident with or colinear with a longitudinal direction of the oven.

Preferably, the pressing members of the compression device may for example comprise guiding members having a tapered surface towards said direction of insertion, such that upon pushing of an aerosol-generating article against the tapered surfaces of the pressing members said aerosol-generating article is effectively forced in the gap, thereby undergoing compression and a dimensional reduction across a transversal section thereof perpendicular to the direction of insertion.

In embodiments, at least one of the pressing members may be movable in a perpendicular direction to the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article into the oven. The at least one movable pressing member may for example be slidably mounted to a holding frame, support or casing of the aerosol-generating device.

In embodiments, at least one, preferably two of the pressing members are compression rollers defining said gap between their outer peripheries. Such compression roller could apply a defined pressure in a direction towards the gap. Thus, the aerosol-generating article could be compressed in this gap outside the oven. Accordingly, when the aerosol-generating article enters the oven through this gap, it is already in a compressed state. In the oven, an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article then rests against the inner walls of the oven. Thus, direct heat transfer from the walls to the aerosol-generating article is possible.

Preferably, the compression device thus defines by the gap between its pressing members a maximal dimension, in particular a width or diameter of the aerosol-generating article to be inserted in the oven. Thus, in practice the compression device shapes the aerosol-generating article prior entering the oven such that it tighly fits into the oven against the wall thereof, to ensure optimal heating energy transfer in use of the aerosol-generating device. In addition, advantageously, an aerosol-generating article which cannot pass the compression device is considered not to be compatible with the size of the oven and thus not compatible for use with the aerosol-generating device.

In embodiments where the compression device comprises at least one roller as pressing member then the at least one roller is advantageously motor driven. More preferably the said roller is electrically driven. Such electrical drive of the at least one roller, possibly both when two rollers are provided, helps automated insertion of an aerosol-generating article in the gap and towards the oven.

Provision of such motorized compression device in an aerosol-generating device greatly facilitates use, since a user does not need to press the aerosol-generating article into the oven of the aerosol-generating device but the compression device transports the aerosolgenerating article into the oven automatically. Preferably, the driving force by which the aerosol-generating article is transported into the oven by the compressing device is determined. Thus, it can be ensured that only a compressed aerosol-generating article having a width compatible to the oven is transported into the oven. If the force needed to press the aerosol-generating article into the oven exceeds a defined threshold, the transport process will preferably be stopped and the aerosol-generating article not transported into the oven.

In a preferred embodiment, the compression device has a first opening facing in the direction of the oven and a second opening facing away from the oven, wherein a diameter of the first opening is at least > 5 %, preferably > 7.5 %, more preferably > 10 %, most preferably > 15 % and preferably < 75 %, preferably < 60 %, more preferably < 50 %, most preferably < 40 % smaller than a diameter of the second opening. This first opening could also be defined by the gap or distance between a first compression member (e.g. a compression roller) and a second complementary compression member, e.g. a further compression roller or a nonrotating component). The reduced diameter of the first opening with respect to the second opening ensures that aerosol-generating articles having a larger diameter could be inserted into and handled by the compression device, but downstream the compression device the diameter is reduced to a width compatible with the dimensions of the oven. Preferably, the device comprises a sensor for detecting insertion of an aerosol-generation article in the compression device. Especially in combination with the feature of the motor driven compression device it could be ensured that the compression process (and preferably also the transport process towards the oven) starts when the aerosol-generating article is detected. Thus, the user is not forced to press the flavor source through the compression device by force.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating device comprises a control device, which controls the compression device to compress and drive the aerosol-generating article detected by the sensor. More preferably a further sensor measures the force applied onto the aerosolgenerating article by the compression device. If the force exceeds a defined threshold value, preferably the control device will stop the compression. This is advantageous to avoid compression of accidently inserted materials and damages to the device.

In a preferred embodiment of the aerosol-generating device a volume of the internal cavity of the oven, in which the aerosol-generating article could be inserted and/or a cross-sectional diameter of the oven cavity, perpendicular to the direction along which the aerosolgenerating article is inserted into the oven, is constant. As described above the reduction of the volume and/or diameter of the oven as such has been found to be an important drawback of the known devices. Preferably the above-defined diameter of the oven remains constant along the transport direction of the aerosol-generating article (or the direction along which the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the oven) for at least 30 %, preferably > 50 %, more preferably > 70 %, most preferably > 90 % or even 100 % of the length of the oven. However, it is possible that the cross-sectional diameter of the oven varies depending on the depth and/or the orientation.

Preferably at least parts of the walls of the oven comprise a heating element for actively heating an aerosol-generating article inserted in the oven. Thus, the heat is preferably applied to the outer walls of the aerosol-generating article. Thus, the area for the heat transfer is much larger than in alternative devices, in which the heat is applied by means of a pin or a blade to an internal volume of the aerosol-generating article. However, for some embodiments such a heat transfer element is preferred.

If a very large heat transfer area is desired, a combination of these two embodiments is preferred. Applying heat over the walls of the oven and a blade or pin will increase the heat transfer surface and allows for fast heat transfer. A further advantage of this embodiment is that due to the volume of the inserted blade or pin the (already compressed) material of the aerosol-generating article is further forced towards the oven walls. This further increases the heat transfer rate between the walls of the oven and the aerosol-generating article.

In a preferred embodiment, the oven comprises a second opening, wherein this second opening is open at least for vapor when the first opening is closed, wherein the second opening is preferably in fluid connection to a mouthpiece. In another embodiment, the mouthpiece is inserted through the first opening and the aerosol could be inhaled by a user after passing through the first opening and the mouthpiece. In this embodiment, the second opening allows air to flow into the oven to avoid negative pressure, which makes inhalation difficult.

The invention is further directed to a system comprising an aerosol-generating device as described above and an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article is preferably part of a capsule. The aerosol-generating article (and/or the capsule) extends in a first direction, in a second and in a third direction, which are each perpendicular with respect to each other. The extension along the first direction is greater than along the second and third direction. Preferably the first direction is the direction along which the aerosolgenerating article is inserted into the oven. At least (in the non-compressed state) one of the second or third direction extends a width of the oven.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating article is compressible at least in the second or third direction. Thus, in a compressed state, its extension along this direction is smaller than the width of the oven. This facilitates insertion of the aerosol-generating article (and/or the capsule) into the oven.

In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-generating article and/or the oven has a circular cross section. Especially for the aerosol-generating article, the consumers are still used to handle stick-like tobacco products like cigarettes. Thus, they are familiar with handling tobacco products having a circular cross section and will get used to such a system fast.

Preferably, a longitudinal extension of the aerosol-generating article and/or the oven along the axial direction is greater than a diameter of the circular cross section. Thus, the stick-like shape is ensured. The longitudinal extension of the aerosol-generating article along the axial direction could even be greater than that of the oven. In this embodiment it is preferred that the aerosol-generating article comprises a mouthpiece, through which the aerosol generated in the oven could be inhaled by a consumer.

The above-mentioned problems are further solved by a method for inserting an aerosolgenerating article at least partially in an oven of an aerosol-generating device. This method comprises the steps of compressing the aerosol-generating article by a compression device which is arranged outside the oven and at least indirectly connected to the oven, and moving the compressed aerosol-generating article at least partially into the oven. Preferably these steps are performed in the above-mentioned order to ensure that the aerosol-generating article is compressed, when moved into the oven. Preferably the compression is reversible. Thus, the previously compressed aerosol-generating article extends when moved into the oven. Thus, a essentially direct contact of outer walls of aerosol-generating article with the inner walls of the oven is established. This improves heat transfer from the inner walls of the oven to the aerosol-generating article. Accordingly, an aerosol could be generated from the aerosol-generating article at minimum energy consumption.

Thus, preferably the method further comprises the step of heating the aerosol-generating article in the oven. During this heating step, preferably the aerosol-generating article is at least partially vaporized in the oven. Thus, the aerosol could be generated.

In a preferred method, the aerosol-generating article is compressed by the compression device by > 5 %, preferably > 7.5 %, more preferably > 10 %, most preferably > 15 % and preferably < 75 %, preferably < 60 %, more preferably < 50 %, most preferably < 40 %. Thus, it can be ensured that the aerosol-generating article could easily be inserted into the oven but re-extends in the oven to contact at least parts of the inner walls of the oven.

Preferably the aerosol-generating article is at least partially transported into the oven by a motor driven transport device. Thus, the force at which the compressed aerosol-generating article is controllable and the transport process could be stopped if the force exceeds a defined threshold value. Thus, it could be avoided that incompatible aerosol-generating article are inserted by force. Preferably the motor driven transport device is part of the compression device. It has been found that especially in combination with one or more compression rollers, the aerosolgenerating article could easily be transported during the compression process.

Preferably, the method steps are intended to be carried out using an aerosol-generating device as described above. The method in particular relates to using such an aerosolgenerating device as described above. Conversely, all the features of an aerosol-generating device disclosed in combination with the method steps are also preferred embodiments of the above-described aerosol-generating device individually or in combination with other features. Preferably, the above-mentioned aerosol-generating device comprises at least means allowing the method steps (individually and/or in combination) to be performed by a user.

Further advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the appended figures. In the figures, like components in different embodiments can exhibit the same reference symbols.

The figures show:

Fig. 1 a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of an aerosol-generating device comprising a compression device before the aerosol-generating article is inserted;

Fig. 2 a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of an aerosol-generating device comprising a compression device while the aerosol-generating article is inserted; and

Fig. 3 a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of an aerosol-generating device comprising a compression device after the aerosol-generating article is inserted;

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of an aerosol-generating device 1. The device comprises an oven 2. An inner compartment 4 of this oven 2 is defined by walls. Preferably least some of these walls could be heated by means of an energy source (not shown). The oven 2 comprises at least one opening, through which an aerosolgenerating article 10 could be inserted into the oven’s inner compartment 4. Prior entering the oven 2, the aerosol-generating article 10 is compressed by a compression device 6, 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the compression device 6, 8 comprises two compression rollers 6 and 8 which are rotatable in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows P1 and P2.

Preferably rotation of the compression rollers 6 and 8 starts when an aerosol-generating article 10 is brought in vicinity to or in contact with (one of) the compression rollers 6 and 8. A suitable sensor (not shown) preferably detects the aerosol-generating article 10. Due to the different direction of rotation P1 , P2 of the compression rollers 6 and 8, the aerosolgenerating article 10 is not only compressed (along the direction between the rollers) but also transported towards the oven.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the aerosol-generating device as shown in Fig. 1 but in a state in which the aerosol-generating article 10 is partly inserted. The (partly) compressed parts of the aerosol-generating article 10 are indicated by the denser hatching. The compression is also illustrated by the smaller extension along the direction between the rollers 6, 8.

In the illustrated state, the compressed part of the aerosol-generating article 10 is already partly inserted into the inner compartment 4 of the oven 2. Preferably, the rotation of the compression rollers 6 and 8 along the directions P1 and P2 is maintained until the aerosolgenerating article 10 reaches the wall of the oven 2 opposite to the opening. In this state, which is illustrated in Fig. 3 the internal volume 4 of the oven 2 is preferably completely occupied by the aerosol-generating article 10. Thus, isolating gases are avoided and direct contact of the aerosol-generating article 10 with the hot walls of the oven 2 could be ensured.

Accordingly, Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the aerosolgenerating device after the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the oven 2. Since the final position of the aerosol-generating article 10 is reached, the rotation of the compression rollers 6 and 8 is stopped. As illustrated in Fig. 3 it is not necessary that the entire aerosolgenerating article 10 is inserted into the oven. It is possible that a part of it or of a corresponding cartridge 10 comprising the aerosol-generating article remains outside the oven. This part could for example comprise a mouthpiece, through which the aerosol generated in the oven from the aerosol-generating article 10 could be inhaled by a user. List of reference symbols

1 device, smoking device,

2 oven, oven walls, 4 internal volume of the oven,

6, 8 compression roller, transport roller,

10 aerosol-generating article , cartridge

P1 direction (of rotation),

P2 direction (of rotation),

Claims

Claims An aerosol-generating device (1) comprising an oven (2) having a first opening through which an aerosol-generating article (10) could be inserted at least partially in the oven (2), characterized by a compression device (6, 8) which is arranged outside the oven (2) and in front of the opening to compress the aerosol-generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven through the opening, the compression device (6, 8) comprising at least one roller that defines a gap, by which a defined pressure could be applied in a direction towards the gap. The aerosol-generating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the compression device (6, 8) comprises two compression rollers (6, 8) defining the gap, by which the defined pressure could be applied in a direction towards the gap. The aerosol-generating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the compression device (6, 8) defines a maximal width of the aerosol-generating article (10) to be inserted in the oven. The aerosol-generating device (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the compression device (6, 8) is motor driven, preferably electrically driven, wherein the compression device (6, 8) preferably comprises a transport device (6, 8) for accelerating the aerosol-generating article (10) in a direction towards the oven (2). The aerosol-generating device (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the compression device (6, 8) has a first opening facing in the direction of the oven (2) and a second opening facing away from the oven, wherein a diameter of the first opening is at > 5 %, preferably > 7.5 %, more preferably >10 %, most preferably > 15 % and preferably < 75 %, preferably < 60 %, more preferably < 50 %, most preferably < 40 % smaller than a diameter of the second opening. The aerosol-generating device (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by a sensor for detecting insertion of an aerosol-generating article (10) in the compression device (6, 8). The aerosol-generating device (1) according to claim 6, characterized by a control device, which controls the compression device (6, 8) to compress the aerosol-generating article (10) detected by the sensor. The aerosol-generating device (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a volume of the internal cavity (4) of the oven (2), in which the aerosol-generating article (10) could be inserted and/or a cross-sectional diameter of this cavity (4), perpendicular to the direction along which the aerosol-generating article (10) could be inserted, is constant. The aerosol-generating device (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the walls of the oven comprise a heating element for actively heating an aerosolgenerating article (10) inserted in the oven. A System comprising an aerosol-generating device (1) according to any preceding claims and an aerosol-generating article (10), wherein the aerosol-generating article (10) extends in a first direction, in a second and in a third direction, which are each perpendicular with respect to each other, wherein the extension in the first direction is greater than in the second and third direction, and wherein at least one of the second or third direction extends a width of the oven (2). The system according to claim 10, characterized in that the aerosol-generating article (10) is compressible at least in the second or third direction that in a compressed state its extension in this direction is smaller than the width of the oven (2). The system according to any of claims 10-11, characterized in that the aerosol-generating article (10) and/or the oven (2) has a circular cross section and preferably a longitudinal extension in the axial direction greater than a diameter of the circular cross section. A method for inserting an aerosol-generating article (10) at least partially in an oven (2) of an aerosol-generating device (1) comprising the steps of compressing the aerosol-generating article (10) by a compression device (6, 8) which is arranged outside the oven (2) and in front of an opening of the oven (2) to compress the aerosol-generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven (2) through the opening, and moving the compressed aerosol-generating article (10) at least partially into the oven (2). The method according to claim 13, characterized by compressing the aerosol-generating article (10) by the compression device by > 5 %, preferably > 7.5 %, more preferably >10 %, most preferably > 15 % and preferably < 75 %, preferably < 60 %, more preferably < 50 %, most preferably < 40 %. The method according to any of claims 13-14, characterized by transporting the aerosol-generating article (10) at least partially into the oven (2) by a motor driven transport device (6, 8).