Non-combustion flavor inhaler

Abstract

A non-combustible flavor inhaler of the present disclosure includes: a receiving portion that receives a flavor rod having a flavor rod portion and a nozzle portion so as to be insertable and removable; a control unit that controls the electric power supplied to the heating portion to heat the flavor rod so as to heat the flavor rod by means of the heating portion; and a capacitive sensor that detects a capacitance that varies according to a state of the flavor bar housed in the housing portion, in which: the capacitive sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode; and the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged along a bottom surface of the accommodating part, and when the flavor bar is inserted into a defined position relative to the accommodating part, the tip end of the flavor bar is in contact with the bottom surface. This allows the capacitive sensor to be properly positioned, thereby improving the performance of the non-combustion flavor inhaler.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a non-combustion flavor inhaler. Background Art

[0002] Non-combustion flavor inhalation systems have been proposed as alternatives to conventional combustion-type cigarettes, in which tobacco leaves are burned for inhalation. For example, heat-not-burn tobacco products are known that include an electric heating device and a tobacco rod for use with the electric heating device, the electric heating device including a heater assembly, a battery unit serving as a power source for the heater assembly, and a control unit for controlling the heating element of the heater assembly.

[0003] Furthermore, in a non-combustion flavor inhaler in which a user inserts a tobacco stick into the inhaler and the tobacco stick is heated, a mechanism is known that detects the insertion of the tobacco stick by a change in capacitance (PTL 1). Furthermore, a mechanism is known that detects the insertion of the tobacco stick and the type of the tobacco stick by measuring capacitance associated with a mark provided on the tobacco stick (PTL 2).

[0004] Citation List

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] PTL 1JP 2017-510270 A

[0007] PTL 2WO 2019 / 185748 A1 Summary of the Invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] In a non-combustion flavor inhaler, when using a capacitive sensor to detect the insertion status of a flavor stick (hereinafter also referred to as a tobacco stick), if the capacitive sensor is attempted to be positioned along the side surface of the receiving portion, there is a problem that the capacitive sensor interferes with the heating portion, which heats the flavor stick from the periphery of the receiving portion. Therefore, the capacitive sensor must be positioned away from the heating portion, making it difficult to properly position the capacitive sensor. If the capacitive sensor is not properly positioned, there is a problem that the status of the flavor stick cannot be accurately detected, making it difficult to properly control the non-combustion flavor inhaler to achieve sufficient performance.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables the performance of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler to be improved by appropriately arranging a capacitance sensor.

[0011] Solution to the problem

[0012] (Aspect 1)

[0013] In order to achieve the above objectives, the technology according to the present disclosure relates to a non-combustion flavor inhaler, which includes:

[0014] a receiving portion for receiving a flavor stick having a flavor rod portion and a mouthpiece portion so as to be insertable and removable,

[0015] a control unit that controls electric power supplied to the heating portion to heat the flavor stick, thereby heating the flavor stick by means of the heating portion, and

[0016] a capacitance sensor that detects capacitance that changes according to a state of a flavor stick accommodated in the accommodating portion, wherein:

[0017] The capacitive sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode; and

[0018] The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed along a bottom surface of the receiving portion, and when the flavor stick is inserted into a defined position relative to the receiving portion, the tip end of the flavor stick contacts the bottom surface.

[0019] (Aspect 2)

[0020] In aspect 1, when the capacitance sensor has detected the insertion of the flavor stick, the control unit may perform at least one of: turning on the power; starting heating by means of the heating portion; and notifying the user that the insertion of the flavor stick is completed.

[0021] (Aspect 3)

[0022] In aspect 1 or 2, the control unit may determine that the insertion of the flavor stick is complete when the value of the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor reaches a prescribed threshold value.

[0023] (Aspect 4)

[0024] In aspect 3, when the power is on and the flavor stick is not inserted into the accommodation portion, the control unit may detect capacitance by means of the capacitance sensor and correct a value of capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor based on the detection result.

[0025] (Aspect 5)

[0026] If the flavor stick is not inserted into the accommodating portion, the control unit may detect capacitance by means of the capacitance sensor when the power is turned off, and correct the value of capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor when the power is next turned on based on the detection result.

[0027] (Aspect 6)

[0028] In any of aspects 1 to 3, the capacitance sensor may be provided so that a minimum gap between the first electrode and the second electrode is 7 mm or less on the same plane along the bottom surface of the accommodating portion.

[0029] (Aspect 7)

[0030] In any of aspects 1 to 4, the capacitive sensor may be arranged to overlap 40% or more and less than 100% of the tip end surface of the flavor stick that has been inserted to the defined position in the direction of flavor stick insertion and removal.

[0031] It should be noted that the means for solving the problems in the present invention can be adopted in combination as much as possible.

[0032] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0033] The present invention makes it possible to provide a technique that enables the performance of a non-combustion flavor inhaler to be improved by appropriately arranging a capacitance sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] [ Figure 1 ] is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-combustion type flavor inhalation system according to an embodiment.

[0035] [ Figure 2 ] is an oblique view of a tobacco rod according to an embodiment.

[0036] [ Figure 3 ] is a diagram for describing the internal structure of a tobacco rod according to an embodiment.

[0037] [ Figure 4A ] is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to an embodiment.

[0038] [ Figure 4B ] is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of a non-combustion flavor inhaler provided with a microwave heating type heating part (induction coil).

[0039] [ Figure 4C ] is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of a non-combustion flavor inhaler provided with an internal heating heater.

[0040] [ Figure 5 ] is a diagram showing an example in which a flat plate-like electrode is arranged along the rear wall of the accommodating portion.

[0041] [ Figure 6 ] is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the first electrode and the second electrode and the end surface of the tobacco rod.

[0042] [ Figure 7 ] is a diagram showing the configuration of the control unit.

[0043] [ Figure 8 ] is a diagram showing a control method performed by a control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] An embodiment of a flavor stick and a non-combustion flavor inhalation system according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative positions of the components described in this embodiment are merely examples. For example, in this embodiment, a flavor stick containing tobacco filler as a flavor source (hereinafter also referred to as a "tobacco stick") is described as an example of a flavor stick. However, a flavor stick does not necessarily contain tobacco filler and primarily contains other flavor components.

[0045] Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a non-combustion type flavor inhalation system 200 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is an oblique view of a tobacco rod 100 according to an embodiment, and Figure 3 1 is a diagram for describing the internal structure of the tobacco rod 100 according to the embodiment. Figures 1 to 3 In the figures, the left-right direction of the tobacco rod 100 or the non-combustion flavor inhaler 30 into which the tobacco rod 100 is inserted is represented as the X direction, the up-down direction is represented as the Y direction, and the depth direction is represented as the Z direction. It should be noted that this also applies to the subsequent figures. For ease of explanation, these directions are merely illustrative and do not limit the components of the non-combustion flavor inhalation system 200. For example, the components of the non-combustion flavor inhalation system 200 are not limited to being arranged in the directions shown in the figures.

[0046] The non-combustion type flavor inhalation system 200 includes a tobacco rod 100 and a non-combustion type flavor inhaler 30 that heats a tobacco rod portion (flavor rod portion) 110 of the tobacco rod 100. The tobacco rod 100 is accommodated in an accommodating cavity 313 of an accommodating portion 310 in such a manner that it can be inserted into and removed from the accommodating cavity 313 through an insertion opening 3A of the non-combustion type flavor inhaler 30.

[0047] When a user uses the non-combustion flavor inhaler 30, the tobacco rod 100 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 313. In this state, the heater 32 disposed within the accommodating portion 310 generates heat to heat the tobacco filler within the tobacco rod 100, thereby generating an aerosol containing tobacco components for inhalation by the user. At this point, the tobacco rod 100 is inserted into the accommodating portion 310 to a defined position so that it can be heated by the heater 32. In this embodiment, the tobacco rod 100 is inserted into the accommodating portion 310 along the Z-direction, and the defined position is where the tip end of the tobacco rod 100 abuts the bottom surface 319 of the accommodating portion 310.

[0048] [Tobacco Stick]

[0049] The tobacco rod 100 according to this embodiment takes the form of a generally cylindrical rod. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the illustrated example, the tobacco rod 100 comprises a tobacco rod portion 110, a mouthpiece portion 120 and a tipping paper 130 integrally connecting the components together. The mouthpiece portion 120 is coaxially connected to the tobacco rod portion 110 by wrapping the tipping paper 130 together with the tobacco rod portion 110.

[0050] Reference numeral 101 denotes the mouthpiece end of the tobacco rod 100 (mouthpiece portion 120). Reference numeral 102 denotes the tip end of the tobacco rod 100 opposite to the mouthpiece end 101. The tobacco rod portion 110 is provided on the tip end 102 side of the tobacco rod 100. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the example shown, the tobacco rod 100 has a substantially constant diameter over its entire length in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter also referred to as the axial direction or the Z direction) from the mouth end 101 to the tip end 102 .

[0051] [Tipping paper]

[0052] The material of the tipping paper 130 is not particularly limited, and may include paper made from common plant fibers (pulp), sheets made from polymer-based chemical fibers (such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon), polymer-based sheets, metal foil, or composite materials comprising a combination of the above. For example, the tipping paper 130 may be made from a composite material in which a polymer-based sheet is laminated onto a paper substrate. It should be noted that the tipping paper 130 referred to herein refers to a sheet of material that connects the multiple segments of the tobacco rod 100 (e.g., connecting the tobacco rod portion 110 and the mouthpiece portion 120).

[0053] The method for manufacturing the tipping paper 130 is not particularly limited, and a general method can be applied. For example, in the case of an embodiment in which pulp is the main component, a method using pulp in which the texture is adjusted and homogenized in a papermaking process using a Fourdrinier papermaking machine, a cylinder mold papermaking machine, or a cylinder-short wire combination papermaking machine can be cited. It should be noted that, if necessary, a wet strength agent may be added to impart water resistance to the wrapping paper, or a sizing agent may be added to adjust the printing conditions of the wrapping paper.

[0054] <Tobacco rod part>

[0055] The configuration of the tobacco rod portion 110 is not particularly limited, and the tobacco rod portion can take a general form. For example, a tobacco filler 111 wrapped with a wrapping paper 112 can be used.

[0056] [Tobacco filler]

[0057] In the present embodiment, the tobacco filler 111 is configured to contain tobacco shreds. The material of the tobacco shreds contained in the tobacco filler 111 is not particularly limited, and well-known materials such as leaves and midribs can be used. In addition, ground tobacco can be formed by grinding dried tobacco leaves into an average particle size of 20 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and then homogenized and processed into a sheet (hereinafter also referred to as a "homogenized sheet"), which is chopped. In addition, the tobacco rod member can be filled with a material obtained by chopping a homogenized sheet having a length similar to the length of the tobacco rod member in the longitudinal direction and substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod member, thereby forming a so-called "strand-type" filling material. In addition, the width of the tobacco shreds is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less so as to fill the tobacco rod member portion 110. Furthermore, although the content of dried tobacco leaves contained in tobacco rod portion 110 is not particularly limited, 200 mg / rod portion or more and 800 mg / rod portion or less can be cited, and 250 mg / rod portion or more and 600 mg / rod portion or less is preferred. This range is particularly suitable if tobacco rod portion 110 has a circumference of 22 mm and a length of 20 mm.

[0058] The various types of tobacco used can be used for the tobacco leaves used in the production of tobacco shreds and homogenized sheets. Examples that can be cited include yellow tobacco, burley tobacco (Burley), oriental tobacco (orient) or natural types, and other tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and Nicotiana rustica (Nicotiana rustica) varieties, and mixtures thereof. Suitable blends of the above varieties can be used in the mixture to achieve the desired taste. The details of tobacco varieties are further described in " Dictionary of tobacco [Tobacco Dictionary], The Tobacco Research Center [Tobacco Research Center], 2009.3". There are multiple conventional methods for producing homogenized sheets, that is, for grinding tobacco leaves and processing them into the method for homogenized sheets. According to the first method, papermaking technology is used to produce paper sheets. According to the second method, a suitable solvent (such as water) is mixed with the ground tobacco leaves, and the mixture is homogenized, and afterwards the homogenized material is thinly cast on a metal plate or metal strip and dried to produce a cast sheet. According to the third method, a suitable solvent (such as water) is mixed with the ground tobacco leaves, and the mixture is homogenized, and the homogenized material is then extruded into a sheet form and shaped to produce a calendered sheet. Details of the types of homogenized sheets are disclosed in "Dictionary of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009."

[0059] The moisture content of the tobacco filler 111 can be listed as 10 wt % or more and 15 wt % or less relative to the total weight of the tobacco filler 111, and preferably 11 wt % or more and 13 wt % or less. Such a moisture content suppresses the formation of wrapping stains and improves rolling suitability when producing the tobacco rod portion 110. There are no particular restrictions on the size or preparation method of the tobacco shreds contained in the tobacco filler 111. For example, a material obtained by chopping dried tobacco leaves to a width of 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less can be used. In addition, when a ground material is used in a homogenized sheet, a sheet can be formed by grinding dried tobacco leaves to an average particle size of approximately 20 μm to 200 μm and then homogenizing the ground tobacco, and the homogenized sheet can be chopped to a width of 0.5 μm or more and 2.0 mm or less for use.

[0060] The tobacco filler 111 may include an aerosol base material for generating aerosol smoke. The type of aerosol base material is not particularly limited, and extracts and / or components thereof from various types of natural products may be selected according to the application. Aerosol base materials that may be listed include glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. The amount of aerosol base material contained in the tobacco filler material is not particularly limited, and from the perspective of generating sufficient aerosol and imparting good flavor, the amount is generally 5 wt % or more and preferably 10 wt % or more relative to the total amount of the tobacco filler, and is generally 50 wt % or less, and is preferably 15 wt % or more and 25 wt % or less.

[0061] The tobacco filler 111 may contain a flavoring agent such as menthol. The amount of the flavoring agent contained in the tobacco filler 111 is not particularly limited, and from the perspective of imparting a good flavor, the content is typically 10,000 ppm or more, preferably 20,000 ppm or more, and more preferably 25,000 ppm or more, and typically 70,000 ppm or less, preferably 50,000 ppm or less, more preferably 40,000 ppm or less, and even more preferably 33,000 ppm or less.

[0062] [Wrapping paper]

[0063] The wrapping paper 112 is a sheet material for wrapping the tobacco filler 111. Its composition is not particularly limited, and common wrapping paper can be used. For example, the base paper of the wrapping paper 112 can use cellulose fiber paper, and more specifically, wood or a mixture thereof can be cited.

[0064] In addition to the above, wrapping paper 112 may contain fillers such as calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, and kaolin. Various additives other than base paper and fillers may also be added to wrapping paper 112. For example, water resistance improvers such as wet strength agents (WS agents) and sizing agents may be added to improve water resistance. Wrapping paper 112 may also be coated as appropriate.

[0065] The axial length of the tobacco rod portion 110 can vary appropriately depending on the size of the product, but is, for example, 5 mm or greater, preferably 10 mm or greater, more preferably 12 mm or greater, and even more preferably 18 mm or greater, and typically 70 mm or less, preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 30 mm or less, and even more preferably 25 mm or less.

[0066] <Nozzle part>

[0067] The configuration of the tobacco rod 100 is not particularly limited, and the tobacco rod can take a general form. Figure 1 In the illustrated aspect, the mouthpiece portion 120 includes two sections (or segments), namely a cooling section 121 and a filtering section 122. The cooling section 121 is positioned between and in contact with the tobacco rod portion 110 and the filtering section 122. Alternatively, gaps may be formed between the tobacco rod portion 110 and the cooling section 121, and between the tobacco rod portion 110 and the filtering section 122. Furthermore, the mouthpiece portion 120 may be formed from a single segment.

[0068] [Cooling section]

[0069] The configuration of cooling section 121 is not particularly limited as long as it functions to cool the tobacco mainstream smoke, and an example thereof may be a cylindrical cardboard. In this case, the interior of the cylinder forms a cavity, and the vapor containing the aerosol-generating substrate and tobacco flavor components contacts the air in the cavity and is cooled.

[0070] One aspect of cooling section 121 may be a cylindrical paper tube formed by processing a single sheet of paper or by gluing multiple sheets together. Furthermore, to enhance the cooling effect by allowing room-temperature outside air to come into contact with the high-temperature steam, holes are preferably provided around the paper tube for introducing outside air. Cooling section 121 is provided with ventilation holes 103, which are openings for drawing in air from the outside. The number of ventilation holes 103 in cooling section 121 is not particularly limited.

[0071] [Filter section]

[0072] The configuration of the filter segment 122 is not particularly limited as long as it has the function of a general filter, and for example, cellulose acetate tow processed into a cylindrical shape can be cited. There is no particular limitation on the single yarn fineness or the total fineness of the cellulose acetate tow, but in the case of a filter segment having a circumference of 22 mm, the single yarn fineness is preferably 5 to 20 g / 9000 m, and the total fineness is preferably 12,000 to 30,000 g / 9000 m. The cross-sectional shape of the fiber of the cellulose acetate tow may be a Y-shaped cross-section or an R-shaped cross-section. When the filter segment 122 is formed by filling the cellulose acetate tow, triacetin may be added in an amount of 5 wt% to 10 wt% relative to the weight of the cellulose acetate tow in order to improve the filter hardness. Figure 2 In the illustrated example, the filtering segment 122 is configured from a single segment, but the filtering segment 122 may be configured from a plurality of segments.

[0073] Examples of general functions of the filter in the filter segment 122 include regulating the amount of air mixed when inhaling the aerosol, reducing flavor, and reducing nicotine and tar, but not all of these functions need to be provided. In addition, in electrically heated tobacco products (which produce fewer components and tend to have a lower tobacco filler filling rate compared to cigarette products), an important function of the filter is to prevent the tobacco filler from falling while controlling the filtering function.

[0074] The rod-shaped tobacco rod 100 preferably has a columnar shape having an aspect ratio equal to or greater than 1, which satisfies the shape defined below.

[0075] Aspect ratio = h / w

[0076] w is the width of the tobacco rod 100 at the tip end 102, and h is the length in the axial direction, preferably h ≥ w. The cross-sectional shape of the tobacco rod 100 is not particularly limited and may be polygonal, rounded polygonal, circular, or elliptical, among others. The width w of the tobacco rod 100 is the diameter when the cross-sectional shape of the tobacco rod 100 is circular, the major diameter when the cross-sectional shape of the tobacco rod 100 is elliptical, or the diameter of the circumscribed circle or the major diameter of the circumscribed ellipse when the cross-sectional shape of the tobacco rod 100 is polygonal or rounded polygonal. The axial length h of the tobacco rod 100 is not particularly limited and, for example, is typically 40 mm or greater, preferably 45 mm or greater, and more preferably 50 mm or greater. Furthermore, the axial length h is typically 100 mm or less, preferably 90 mm or less, and more preferably 80 mm or less. The width w of the tobacco rod 100 is not particularly limited and, for example, is typically 5 mm or greater, preferably 5.5 mm or greater. In addition, the width w is typically 10 mm or less, preferably 9 mm or less, and more preferably 8 mm or less. The ratio between the lengths of the cooling section 121 and the filtering section 122 (cooling section: filtering section) over the length of the tobacco rod 100 is not particularly limited, but from the perspective of the amount of flavor delivered and the appropriate aerosol temperature, it is typically 0.60 to 1.40:0.60 to 1.40, preferably 0.80 to 1.20:0.80 to 1.20, more preferably 0.85 to 1.15:0.85 to 1.15, even more preferably 0.90 to 1.10:0.90 to 1.10, and particularly preferably 0.95 to 1.05:0.95 to 1.05. By setting the ratio between the lengths of the cooling section 121 and the filtering section 122 within the above-mentioned range, a balance is achieved between the cooling effect, the effect of suppressing the loss caused by the generated vapor and aerosol adhering to the inner wall of the cooling section 121, and the function of the filter to regulate the air volume and flavor, thereby making it possible to achieve good flavor and flavor intensity.

[0077] <Non-combustion flavor inhaler>

[0078] Figure 4A FIG2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the internal structure of a non-combustion flavor inhaler 30 according to a first embodiment. The non-combustion flavor inhaler 30 includes a housing 31, which is an outer shell for accommodating various components. The housing 31 houses a heater 32, a capacitance sensor 33, a temperature sensor 35, an inhalation sensor 36, a control unit 37, and a power supply 38.

[0079] [Accommodation]

[0080] The housing 31 has a housing portion 310 that accommodates the tobacco rod 100 from the front end toward the rear end so that it can be inserted and removed. The housing portion 310 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall 312 that extends in the direction of insertion / removal of the tobacco rod 100 and defines the outer periphery of the space into which the tobacco rod 100 is inserted; and a disc-shaped rear wall 311 that closes the rear end of the peripheral wall 312 to define the rear end of the space. The peripheral wall 312 or the rear wall 311 of the housing portion 310 can be formed integrally with the housing 31, or can be formed separately from the housing 31 and assembled to the housing 31. In this embodiment, the inner wall surface of the rear wall 311 (i.e., the surface of the rear wall on the side of the space into which the tobacco rod 100 is inserted) is the bottom surface 319 of the housing portion 310.

[0081] The open end of the peripheral wall 312 of the accommodating portion 310 opens to the outside of the shell 31 and serves as an insertion opening 3A for inserting the tobacco rod 100. In addition, the internal space of the peripheral wall 312 is a cylindrical accommodating cavity 313, and the end portion of the tobacco rod 100 can be inserted into and removed from the accommodating cavity via the insertion opening 3A. In Figure 4, the reference numeral CL indicates the central axis of the accommodating cavity 313 in the insertion / removal direction of the tobacco rod 100. In the following, the direction along the central axis CL is also referred to as the axial direction. It should be noted that the outer diameter of the accommodating cavity 313 (i.e., the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 312) can be equal to the outer diameter of the tobacco rod 100, or can be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tobacco rod part 110. It can also be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the tobacco rod part 110.

[0082] The heater 32 is disposed in the housing cavity 313. The peripheral wall 312 and the rear wall 311 of the housing portion 310 are formed of a material having heat-insulating and heat-resistant properties so as to withstand the heat of the heater 32 and prevent the heat of the heater 32 from spreading. Examples of materials for the housing portion 310 include, for example, alumina-silicon ceramics, and resins such as highly heat-resistant polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0083] [Heater]

[0084] The heater 32 receives a supply of electric power from the control unit 37 and generates heat to heat the tobacco rod 100 accommodated in the accommodation portion 310. That is, the heater 32 is a form of a heating portion that heats the tobacco rod 100.

[0085] The heater 32 is a substantially tubular member provided along the outer peripheral surface 360 ​​of the peripheral wall 312 of the accommodating portion 310. The heater 32 is an outer peripheral heating portion that heats the tobacco rod 100 from the outer peripheral side.

[0086] In addition, the type of heater 32 is not particularly limited, and examples that can be used include a heater in which a heating wire (for example, a wire material having high resistance, such as nickel-chromium alloy, iron-chromium alloy, or iron-nickel alloy) is laid on a steel material, or a ceramic heater or a sheathed heater. It should be noted that a sheathed heater is a heater in which a heating wire is covered with a filler and a metal tube.

[0087] The heater (heating portion) 32 only needs to be able to heat the tobacco rod portion 110 to generate aerosol, and the heating method is not particularly limited. Figure 4A A method for heating the tobacco rod from the inside is shown, but a method for heating the periphery of the paper wrapping the tobacco rod or a heating method using an induction heater may be employed.

[0088] Figure 4B This diagram schematically illustrates the internal structure of a non-combustion flavor inhaler 30 equipped with a microwave-heating heating element (induction coil) 32A. The tobacco rod 100B includes a heating element (susceptor) 326 within the tobacco rod portion 110. This heating element generates heat through electromagnetic induction using a coil 325. The heating element 326 is a generally plate-shaped member formed longitudinally along the axial direction of the tobacco rod portion 110. The shape of the heating element 326 is not particularly limited. The heating element 326 generates heat through electromagnetic induction, thereby heating the surrounding tobacco filler 111.

[0089] Figure 4C Schematically illustrates the internal structure of the non-combustion flavor inhaler 30 provided with an internal heating type heater 32B. The heater 32B is a roughly rod-shaped member extending in the axial direction of the accommodating cavity 313. The heater 32B is arranged to protrude forward from the center portion of the rear wall 311 of the accommodating portion 310 in the axial direction. Reference numeral 321 represents the base end portion of the heater 32, and reference numeral 322 represents the tip end portion of the heater 32. The heater 32B has a conical shape that gradually tapers from the base end portion 321 toward the tip end portion 322. It should be noted that the shape of the heater 32B is not limited thereto, and can be a rod-shaped or flat (leaf-shaped) shape having the same diameter from the base end portion 321 to the tip end portion 322.

[0090] When the tobacco rod 100 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 313, the heater 32B is inserted into the tobacco rod portion 110 from the tip end 102 of the tobacco rod 100. In this state, the heater 32B receives electric power from the control unit 37 and heats the tobacco rod portion 110 to a specified temperature.

[0091] Here, in the accommodating cavity 313, the space that is heated to a prescribed temperature by means of the heat of the heater 32 (32A, 32B) is defined as the heating area A1, and the space adjacent to the insertion opening side of the heating area A1 in the axial direction (insertion / removal direction) is defined as the non-heating area A2. The non-heating area A2 is formed on the insertion opening side of the accommodating cavity 313, and the heating area A1 is formed on the inner side of the accommodating cavity 313. It should be noted that the heater 32 not only heats the part in contact with it, but also heats the part separated from the heater 32 by radiation or heat transfer. For example, the heater 32 is heated to a prescribed temperature from the front end of the heater 32A to the position 317 on the insertion opening side in the axial direction. Therefore, the heating area A1 is the area from the position 317 to the rear wall 311 in the axial direction of the accommodating portion 310. That is, the position 317 is the boundary between the heating area A1 and the non-heating area A2, and the non-heating area A2 extends from the boundary 317 to the front end of the accommodating cavity 313 in the axial direction. It should be noted that the boundary 317 can be defined as the boundary between the region that reaches the prescribed temperature when actually heated by the heater 32 and the region that is below the prescribed temperature, or it can be defined as an estimated boundary by estimating the boundary between the region that reaches the prescribed temperature and the region that is below the prescribed temperature when the heater 32 generates heat under predetermined conditions. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the boundary position between the region at the prescribed temperature and the region below the prescribed temperature on the central axis CL is estimated, and the plane passing through the boundary position and perpendicular to the central axis CL is defined as the boundary 317, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 . When the tobacco rod 100 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 313, the tobacco rod portion 110 is located in the heated area A1, and at least a portion of the mouthpiece portion 120 is located in the non-heated area A2. It should be noted that when the tobacco rod 100 is in a predetermined state, for example, when the tobacco rod 100 has been inserted into the accommodating cavity 313 until the tip end 102 of the tobacco rod 100 abuts the rear wall 311 of the accommodating portion 310, the portion of the accommodating cavity 313 where the tobacco rod portion 110 is positioned can be defined as a heating area A1, and the portion of the accommodating cavity where the suction nozzle portion 120 is positioned can be defined as a non-heating area A2.

[0092] [sensor]

[0093] The capacitance sensor 33 is a sensor that detects the capacitance of the tip end of the tobacco rod 100 when the tobacco rod 100 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 310. It should be noted that the tobacco rod portion 110 may be located in the tip end portion of the tobacco rod 100, or not located at the tip end portion of the tobacco rod 100. For example, a filter segment may be located at the tip end of the tobacco rod 100. If a filter segment is located at the tip end, the capacitance of the tip end portion of the tobacco rod 100 including the filter segment is detected. The capacitance sensor 33 includes a first electrode (first electrode) 301 and a second electrode (second electrode) 302, and detects the capacitance between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302. The first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 are located along the bottom surface 319 of the accommodating portion 310. When the tobacco rod 100 is inserted into a defined position relative to the accommodating portion 310, the tip end of the tobacco rod 100 contacts this bottom surface. In other words, the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 are arranged on the same plane parallel to the bottom surface 319 of the accommodating portion 310, with their detection surfaces facing the accommodating cavity 313. The capacitance generated between the electrodes 301 and 302 via the tobacco rod portion 110 varies depending on, for example, whether the tobacco rod portion 110 has been inserted, the insertion position of the tobacco rod portion 110, the moisture content of the tobacco filler in the tobacco rod portion 110, and the aerosol base material. Thus, the capacitive sensor 33 can detect information indicating the status of the tobacco rod portion 110 by detecting the capacitance. The first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 are electrically connected to the control unit 37 via a wire 307, and the capacitance detection results are acquired by the control unit 37.

[0094] Figure 5 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the flat-plate electrodes 301 and 302 are arranged along the rear wall 311 of the accommodating portion 310. Figure 5 As shown, in the capacitive sensor 33, a flat-plate-shaped first electrode 301 and a flat-plate-shaped second electrode 302 are provided on the surface of the rear wall 311 of the accommodating portion 310 on the side opposite to the bottom surface 319, that is, on the surface 318 inside the housing that accommodates the control unit 37 and the like. Furthermore, the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 are provided on the same flat surface 318 so that the minimum distance LA between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 is 7 mm or less, preferably 4 mm or less. It should be noted that the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 may be provided in close proximity to each other, separated by an insulating film or the like so as not to be electrically connected to each other.

[0095] The first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 of the capacitance sensor 33 are arranged to be opposite to the tip end surface of the tobacco rod 100 that has been inserted to a defined position relative to the accommodating portion 310 in the Z direction. Figure 63 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 and the end surface of the tobacco rod 100. Figure 6 In FIG. 1 , reference numeral 104 indicates the end surface of the tobacco rod 100. The first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 are arranged to overlap with the end surface 104 of the tobacco rod 100 in the Z direction. Figure 6 What is shown. Figure 6 The shaded portion in the figure is a range 105, within which the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 302 overlap with the tip end surface 104 of the tobacco rod 100. For example, the ratio of the area of ​​the overlapping range 105 to the total area of ​​the tip end surface 104 of the tobacco rod 100 is at least 40% and less than 100%. By setting this ratio to be larger, stable detection results can be obtained.

[0096] For example, each electrode 301, 302 should have a shape that conforms to the tip end surface 104 of the tobacco rod 100, but the outer shape of the electrode is not particularly limited. Figure 6 An example is shown in which the outer shape of each electrode 301 and 302 is a rectangle, but the outer shape may be another shape, such as an ellipse or a polygon other than a rectangle. For example, each electrode 301, 302 may be formed in a semicircular shape, so that when the two electrodes 301, 302 are arranged side by side on the same flat surface 318, the outer shape of the two electrodes 301, 302 forms a circular shape that is substantially the same as the tip end surface 104 of the tobacco rod 100.

[0097] Furthermore, each electrode 301, 302 is provided on a surface 318 on the side opposite to the bottom surface 319 of the rear wall 311 of the accommodating portion 310, and when the tobacco rod is accommodated in the housing, is in close proximity to the tip end surface 104 of the tobacco rod 100, with the rear wall 311 interposed therebetween. As a result, each electrode 301 and 302 is provided at a position close to the tobacco rod 100 without competing with elements provided around the accommodating portion 310, thereby allowing accurate detection of capacitance while protecting each electrode 301 and 302 from impact and dirt caused by the insertion and removal of the tobacco rod 100.

[0098] In addition, if Figure 1As shown, the temperature sensor 35 is provided near the peripheral portion of the heating area A1 of the accommodating portion 310. The temperature sensor 35 is connected to the control unit 37, detects the temperature of the heating area A1, and inputs the detection result to the control unit 37. In addition, the accommodating portion 310 is provided with an inhalation sensor 36. The inhalation sensor 36 is a sensor for detecting the suction state (such as whether inhalation has been taken), and is, for example, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure within the accommodating cavity 313. The inhalation sensor 36 is connected to the control unit 37 and inputs the detection result to the control unit 37. It should be noted that the temperature sensor 35 is not a necessary component, and if the detection result of the temperature sensor is not used for control, such as if the control unit 37 uses the value of the current value supplied to the heater 32 to control the temperature, the temperature sensor 35 can be omitted. Similarly, if information related to inhalation is not used for control, the inhalation sensor 36 can be omitted.

[0099] [Control Unit]

[0100] Figure 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 37. The control unit 37 controls the operating state of the non-combustion flavor inhaler 30, such as controlling heating by the heater 32. The control unit 37 is, for example, a computer, which includes a processor 71 (such as a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), or a field programmable gate array (FPGA)), a memory 72 (such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read-only memory (ROM)), and an input / output unit 73. In addition, the control unit 37 of this embodiment includes a drive circuit 74 for the heater 32.

[0101] The memory 72 may include a portion serving as a main storage portion 721 and a portion serving as an auxiliary storage portion 722. It should be noted that the memory 72 may be formed integrally with the processor 71 (formed as one chip). Examples of the memory 72 that can be cited include storage media such as volatile memory (such as RAM), nonvolatile memory (such as ROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), SSD, and removable media.

[0102] The memory 72 may store an operating system (OS) for performing operations of the non-combustion type flavor inhaler 30 , various programs (firmware), various data tables, various databases, setting data, user data, and the like.

[0103] Input / output unit 73 is a device for inputting operation information (such as power on / off) from the user (smoker) or for outputting the information to be presented to the user to processor 71. Input / output unit 73 is an interface for, for example, operating capacitance sensor 33, temperature sensor 35 and inhalation sensor 36 at specified timing and for obtaining detected values ​​from each sensor 33, 35 and 36. In addition, the input / output unit 73 of the present embodiment may comprise an operation button, an input device (such as a touch panel) and an output device (such as a display unit, a vibrator and a loudspeaker). The input / output unit 73 may also comprise a communication unit for communicating with an external device via a communication line. For example, the communication unit may be connected to other computers via a communication cable to receive a program and data for controlling the non-combustion type flavor inhaler 30, and stored in the memory 72, thereby upgrading firmware, heating curves etc. The display unit is a device for displaying information, and may be an indicator, such as an LED, a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL display device.

[0104] The drive circuit 74 supplies electric power from the power supply 38 to the heater 32 according to a command from the processor 71 to operate the heater 32. The drive circuit 74 is, for example, a converter that adjusts the amount of current delivered to the heater 32.

[0105] The control unit 37 reads the program stored by the processor 71 in the memory 72 into the work area of ​​the main storage section for execution, and functions as prescribed functional units such as the determination unit 711, the heating control unit 712, and the output control unit 713. It should be noted that these functional units are not limited to those implemented based on programs (software), and some or all of the functional units may be configured using a processor, an integrated circuit, and a hardware circuit such as a logic circuit.

[0106] For example, the determination unit 711 determines information related to an operation performed by a user, the state of the tobacco rod 100, and the heating state of the heater 32 based on the detection results of each sensor 33, 35, and 36 and the input information from the input device. For example, the determination unit 711 determines at least one of the following items based on the detection value from the capacitance sensor 33: whether the tobacco rod 100 has been inserted to a defined position; the insertion position of the tobacco rod 100; whether the tobacco rod 100 has been heated; the moisture content of the tobacco rod 100; the amount of the aerosol source in the tobacco rod 100; the amount of the flavor source in the tobacco rod 100; and the type of flavor stick.

[0107] The heating control unit 712 controls the drive circuit 74 based on the determination result of the determination unit 711, thereby controlling the electric power supplied from the power supply 38 to the heater 32 via the drive circuit 74. For example, when the determination unit 711 determines that the tobacco rod 100 has been inserted into the accommodating cavity 313, the heating control unit 712 starts heating. Alternatively, when the determination unit 711 determines that the moisture content or the amount of flavor source in the tobacco rod portion 110 has decreased and a state in which heating should be terminated has been reached, the heating control unit 712 stops supplying electric power to the heater 32 and terminates heating.

[0108] The output control unit 713 outputs a notification, a warning, etc. to the user based on the determination result from the determination unit 711. For example, if the insertion position of the tobacco rod 100 is not appropriate, the output control unit 713 outputs a warning, and the output control unit 713 outputs the warning, etc. as an output to the user, for example, by means of a display on the display unit, a sound output by a speaker, or vibration of a vibrator.

[0109] [Using capacitive sensors to detect tobacco sticks]

[0110] When the tobacco rod 100 is not inserted into the accommodating portion 310, the detection value from the capacitance sensor 33 is low, and increases as the tobacco rod 100 is inserted into the accommodating portion 310 and approaches the capacitance sensor 33. For this reason, for example, a value when the tobacco rod 100 is in a defined position is obtained through experiments, and a threshold value is defined based on the value and stored in the memory 72.

[0111] Then, if the detection value from the capacitance sensor 33 exceeds the threshold value, the determination unit 711 determines that the tobacco rod 100 has been inserted to the defined position. In addition, if the tobacco rod 100 has not been fully inserted to the bottom surface 319, the value of the capacitance varies depending on the distance between the capacitance sensor 33 and the tobacco rod 100.

[0112] Therefore, the determination unit 711 can obtain the distance between the tobacco rod 100 and the capacitance sensor 33, that is, the distance to the defined position, based on the detection value from the capacitance sensor 303. The control unit 37 can then perform control based on the position of the tobacco rod 100, for example, outputting a message such as "The tobacco rod is not fully inserted" or "Please insert it another XX mm" as an audio output or display output based on the calculated distance.

[0113] In addition, multiple thresholds can be set, and the determination unit 711 can turn on the power when the detection value from the capacitance sensor 33 exceeds the first threshold H1, start heating when it exceeds the second threshold H2, and notify the user when it exceeds the third threshold that it has been determined that the tobacco rod 100 has reached the defined position and the insertion is complete, that is, it can be inhaled.

[0114] Furthermore, regarding the detection value from the capacitance sensor 33, the greater the moisture content of the tobacco rod 100, the greater the capacitance, and the lower the moisture content, the smaller the capacitance. For this reason, experiments were conducted to measure capacitance while varying the moisture content of the tobacco rod 100 inserted into a defined position, and the capacitance values ​​corresponding to the moisture content were stored in the memory 72 as a data table. The determination unit 711 can then obtain the moisture content corresponding to the detection value obtained by the capacitance sensor 33 from the data table. Alternatively, calibration data can be prepared by replacing the moisture content with the amount of the flavor source or aerosol source, and the amount of the flavor source or aerosol source can be obtained from the detected capacitance value. Furthermore, the moisture content or capacitance value of a reference tobacco rod 100 before inhalation (unused state) and after inhalation is complete (used state) can be detected in advance and stored as reference data in the memory 72. When the tobacco rod 100 is inserted into the accommodating cavity 313, the control unit 37 can compare the moisture content and / or capacitance value of the inserted tobacco rod 100 with the reference data to determine whether the inserted tobacco rod 100 has been used. In addition, the capacitance value of an unused tobacco rod 100 differs depending on the type of tobacco rod 100. For this reason, the capacitance of each type of tobacco rod 100 is measured, and the capacitance values ​​corresponding to the types of tobacco rods 100 are stored as a data table in the memory 72. The control unit 37 can then obtain the type of tobacco rod 100 corresponding to the capacitance value of the inserted tobacco rod 100 from the data table.

[0115] [Control method]

[0116] Figure 8 37 is a diagram showing a control method executed by the control unit 37. When the power of the non-combustion type flavor inhaler 30 is turned on, the control unit 37 starts Figure 8 process.

[0117] In step S10, the control unit 37 acquires a detection value from the capacitance sensor 33. In addition, the control unit 37 stores the acquired detection value in the memory 72.

[0118] In step S20, the control unit 37 determines whether the detection value detected in step S10 is equal to or less than a first threshold. The first threshold is the upper limit of the detection value obtained when the tobacco rod 100 is not inserted into the accommodating portion 310. In other words, if the detection value detected in step S10 is equal to or less than the first threshold, the control unit 37 can determine that the tobacco rod 100 was not inserted when the power was turned on. If the determination in step S20 is affirmative, the control unit 37 proceeds to step S30 and determines a correction value for the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor 33. The correction value is used to correct for the effects of individual differences between capacitance sensors 33 and external interference factors (such as humidity) on the capacitance measurement value when the power is turned on. For example, the effect of external interference factors can be offset by setting the value detected in step S10 to zero and using the difference between this value and the value detected in a subsequent step as the detection result (hereinafter also referred to as the first detection result), thereby enabling accurate capacitance measurement.

[0119] In step S40, the control unit 37 obtains a detection value from the capacitance sensor 33, corrects the detection value using the correction value determined in step S30, and obtains the result as a detection result. It should be noted that if the determination in step S20 is negative, that is, the tobacco rod 100 is inserted when the power is turned on, the detection value of step S10 is not used as the correction value, and the detection value from the capacitance sensor 33 can be corrected using the factory value or the defined value.

[0120] In step S50, the controller 37 determines whether the first detection result obtained in step S40 is equal to or greater than a second threshold. The second threshold is the lower limit of the detection value obtained when the tobacco rod 100 has been inserted into the defined position. In other words, if the detection value obtained in step S40 is greater than or equal to the second threshold, the control unit 37 can determine that the tobacco rod 100 has reached the defined position. It should be noted that if the determination in step S50 is negative, the control unit 37 returns to step S40 and repeats the capacitance detection. At this time, a message such as "Please insert a tobacco rod" can be output to indicate that the insertion of the tobacco rod 100 is not complete.

[0121] If the determination in step S50 is affirmative, the control unit 37 proceeds to step S60 and notifies the user that the insertion of the tobacco rod 100 is complete, for example, by turning on an indicator.

[0122] In step S70 , the control unit 37 obtains a detection value from the capacitance sensor 33 , corrects the detection value using the correction value determined in step S30 , and acquires the result as a detection result.

[0123] In step S80, the control unit 37 determines whether the detection value detected in step S70 is equal to or less than a first threshold value. That is, if the detection result obtained in step S70 is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the control unit 37 can determine that the tobacco rod 100 has been removed from the accommodating portion 310. The first threshold value is set to a value much lower than the second threshold value, and a hysteresis is provided between determining whether the tobacco rod 100 has been inserted and determining whether the tobacco rod 100 has been removed, thereby suppressing false detection.

[0124] If the determination in step S80 is affirmative, the control unit 37 proceeds to step S90 , turns off the non-combustion type flavor inhaler 30 , and ends the process of FIG. 9 .

[0125] In the present embodiment, the correction value is determined using the detection value from the capacitance sensor 33 when the power is turned on in step S30, but the configuration is not limited thereto, and the value detected in step S70 immediately before the power is turned off may be stored in step S80, and the correction value of the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor 33 when the power is next turned on may be determined based on the value when the power was turned off. It should be noted that the process for correcting the capacitance value using this correction value and determining the state of the tobacco rod 100 is the same as that discussed above. Figure 8 The process is the same as Figure 9.

[0126] [Effects of the embodiment]

[0127] In the non-combustion type flavor inhaler 30 of the present embodiment, since the capacitive sensor 33 for detecting the state of the tobacco rod 100 is arranged along the bottom surface 319 of the accommodating portion 310, it is arranged in close proximity to the tobacco rod 100 without competing with components arranged around the accommodating portion 310, and thus enables the state of the tobacco rod 100 to be accurately detected, the performance of the non-combustion type flavor inhaler 30 can be improved.

[0128] [List of Reference Signs]

[0129] 100: Tobacco stick

[0130] 101: Nozzle end

[0131] 102: End

[0132] 103: Ventilation holes

[0133] 110: Tobacco rod part

[0134] 111: Filler

[0135] 112: Wrapping paper

[0136] 120: Nozzle part

[0137] 121: Cooling section

[0138] 122: Filter segment

[0139] 130: Tipping paper

[0140] 200: Non-combustion flavor inhalation system

[0141] 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D: Non-combustion flavor inhalers

[0142] 301: First electrode

[0143] 302: Second electrode

[0144] 307, 308: Wire

[0145] 31: Shell

[0146] 310: Accommodation

[0147] 311: Back wall

[0148] 312: Wall

[0149] 313: Accommodation cavity

[0150] 32: Heater

[0151] 321: base end part

[0152] 322: End part

[0153] 325: Gap

[0154] 325: Gap

[0155] 325: Coil

[0156] 326: Heating element

[0157] 33: Capacitive sensor

[0158] 330: Flexible substrate

[0159] 35: Temperature sensor

[0160] 36: Inhalation sensor

[0161] 37: Control unit

[0162] 38: Power supply (battery unit)

[0163] 3A: Insertion opening

[0164] 71: Processor

[0165] 711: Determine unit

[0166] 712: Heating control unit

[0167] 713: Output control unit

[0168] 72: Memory

[0169] 73: Input / Output Unit

[0170] 74: Driving circuit

Claims

1. A non-combustion flavor inhaler comprising: a receiving portion for receiving a flavor stick having a flavor rod portion and a mouthpiece portion so as to be insertable and removable, a control unit that controls electric power supplied to the heating portion to heat the flavor stick, thereby heating the flavor stick by means of the heating portion, and a capacitance sensor that detects capacitance that changes according to a state of a flavor stick accommodated in the accommodating portion, wherein: The capacitive sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode; and The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed along a bottom surface of the receiving portion, and when the flavor stick is inserted into a defined position relative to the receiving portion, the tip end of the flavor stick contacts the bottom surface.

2. The non-combustion flavor inhaler according to claim 1, wherein When the capacitive sensor has detected the insertion of the flavor stick, the control unit performs at least one of the following: turning on the power supply; starting heating by means of the heating portion; and notifying the user that the insertion of the flavor stick is completed.

3. The non-combustion flavor inhaler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: When the value of the capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor reaches a prescribed threshold, the control unit determines that the insertion of the flavor stick is complete.

4. The non-combustion flavor inhaler according to claim 3, wherein: When the power source is turned on and the flavor stick is not inserted into the accommodation portion, the control unit detects capacitance by means of the capacitance sensor and corrects a value of capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor based on the detection result.

5. The non-combustion flavor inhaler according to claim 3, wherein: If the flavor stick is not inserted into the accommodating portion, the control unit detects capacitance by means of the capacitance sensor when the power is turned off, and corrects the value of capacitance detected by the capacitance sensor when the power is next turned on based on the detection result.

6. The non-combustion flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The capacitance sensor is disposed so that a minimum gap between the first electrode and the second electrode is 7 mm or less on the same plane along the bottom surface of the accommodating portion.

7. The non-combustion flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The capacitance sensor is disposed so as to overlap 40% or more and less than 100% of the end surface of the tip of the flavor stick that has been inserted to the defined position in the direction of insertion and removal of the flavor stick.

Images