Hot air electromagnetic baking device for aerosol generating substrate and control method of hot air electromagnetic baking device

Abstract

The hot air electromagnetic baking device comprises a conveying mechanism, a heat source mechanism, a monitoring mechanism and a control mechanism, humidity and temperature data of materials are collected in real time through a humidity probe and an infrared assembly of the monitoring mechanism, the control mechanism dynamically adjusts the electromagnetic heating intensity and hot air parameters, and the hot air heating intensity and the hot air parameters are controlled. The limitation that only temperature is controlled in traditional baking is broken through, quality degradation caused by water residues is avoided, and the defect rate of the reconstituted tobacco is directly reduced; the drying mode comprises hot air drying of the air supply mechanism and electromagnetic heating of the heat source mechanism, the conveying belt directly generates eddy heat in an alternating magnetic field, heat energy rapidly permeates from the bottom of the material, and the problems that a surface layer is prone to dry and hard and the internal water content is uneven in a traditional hot air heating mode are solved; double heat sources complement to realize internal and external synchronous drying of materials, so that the baking time is shortened and the energy consumption is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent relates to the field of reconstituted tobacco production equipment, specifically to a hot air electromagnetic baking device for an aerosol-generating matrix and its control method. Background Art

[0002] Reconstituted tobacco, also known as tobacco flakes, refers to a recycled product made from discarded tobacco stems, tobacco dust, and tobacco flakes during cigarette processing, either in sheet or shredded form, for use as a cigarette filler. Reconstituted tobacco plays a vital role in cigarette production, not only reducing costs but also improving the inherent quality of cigarettes. Reconstituted tobacco production began in the 1950s, primarily through the thick pulp method, roller pressing, and papermaking, with the latter being further categorized as wet or dry papermaking. Papermaking-based reconstituted tobacco offers distinct advantages over currently produced roller-pressed and thick pulp-based reconstituted tobacco, including lower density, higher filling value, improved mechanical resistance, and a high yield of shredded tobacco, as well as a faster burning rate, lower tar release, and improved product plasticity.

[0003] Curing is a crucial step in the production of reconstituted tobacco leaves. This involves drying the remaining moisture from the tobacco leaves through a curing device before they enter the next process. The quality of the curing process directly impacts the quality of the finished tobacco leaves. However, in actual production, the focus is on controlling the temperature in the curing area while neglecting humidity regulation. This often results in high humidity levels within the curing area, significantly increasing the defect rate during the curing process and significantly impacting the quality of the tobacco leaves. Therefore, a curing device is needed that can monitor humidity changes in the reconstituted tobacco leaves in real time during the curing process and ensure uniform curing. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to increase the attention paid to humidity regulation in the baking area, reduce the defect rate during the baking process, and improve the baking quality of tobacco leaves, this patent provides the following technical solutions:

[0005] In a first aspect, a hot air electromagnetic baking device for an aerosol-generating substrate is provided. The hot air electromagnetic baking device includes a conveying mechanism, a heat source mechanism, a monitoring mechanism, and a control mechanism. The conveying mechanism is used to transport the aerosol-generating substrate. The heat source mechanism can generate an alternating magnetic field. The monitoring mechanism monitors the humidity of the aerosol-generating substrate during baking. The control mechanism adjusts the baking temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate by the heat source mechanism in real time according to the monitoring results. The conveying mechanism includes a conveyor belt, on which the aerosol-generating substrate is placed. The conveyor belt moves within the range of the alternating magnetic field and converts the electromagnetic cutting effect into heat energy, thereby electromagnetically heating the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0006] Furthermore, the hot air electromagnetic baking device also includes an air supply mechanism, which is used to dry the aerosol generating matrix with hot air. The control mechanism adjusts the air drying temperature of the aerosol generating matrix by the air supply mechanism in real time according to the monitoring results; the air drying temperature provided by the air supply mechanism is 59-68°C, 68-77°C or 77-86°C; the baking temperature provided by the heat source mechanism is 70-87°C, 87-104°C or 104-121°C.

[0007] Furthermore, the air supply mechanism includes an air supply support frame and a hot air box assembly, and the hot air box assembly is fixed on the air supply support frame.

[0008] Furthermore, the conveying mechanism also includes a conveying support frame, a first roller, and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller are fixed at both ends of the conveying support frame, and the conveyor belt is tensioned and transports the aerosol generating matrix through the first roller and the second roller.

[0009] Furthermore, the material of the conveyor belt includes ferromagnetic material, and the ferromagnetic material is one or more selected from iron, cobalt, nickel, cast iron, Permalloy, ferrite, iron alloy, cobalt alloy and nickel alloy.

[0010] Furthermore, the heat source mechanism includes a heat source support frame and a heating component, the heating component is fixed on the heat source support frame, the heating component is a material that can generate an alternating magnetic field, and the heating component is selected from one or more of an induction coil, a transformer, an inductor, an inductor or a generator.

[0011] Furthermore, the monitoring mechanism includes a humidity probe assembly and an infrared assembly. The humidity probe assembly monitors the humidity of the aerosol generating substrate and transmits humidity data to the control mechanism. The infrared assembly monitors the temperature of the aerosol generating substrate and transmits temperature data to the control mechanism.

[0012] In a second aspect, a control method for a hot air electromagnetic baking device for an aerosol-generating matrix is ​​provided, the control method comprising the following steps: step S1: the heat source mechanism and the air supply mechanism are started under the action of the control mechanism and bake the aerosol-generating matrix on the conveying mechanism; step S2: the monitoring mechanism monitors the aerosol-generating matrix in real time and obtains real-time data; step S3: the monitoring mechanism transmits the real-time data to the control mechanism; step S4: the control mechanism adjusts the heat source mechanism and the air supply mechanism after receiving the real-time data.

[0013] Furthermore, the real-time data includes humidity data and temperature data of the aerosol generating substrate.

[0014] Furthermore, in step S4, the control mechanism adjusts the air supply temperature and air supply speed of the air supply mechanism after receiving the real-time data, and adjusts the working current of the heat source mechanism after receiving the real-time data.

[0015] This patent has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. This patent relates to the field of dust removal equipment for reconstituted tobacco production, and provides a hot air electromagnetic baking device for an aerosol-generating matrix and a control method thereof, including a transmission mechanism, a heat source mechanism, a monitoring mechanism, and a control mechanism. The humidity probe and infrared component of the monitoring mechanism collect material humidity and temperature data in real time, and the control mechanism dynamically adjusts the electromagnetic heating intensity and hot air parameters, breaking through the limitation of traditional baking that only controls temperature. The dual-parameter closed-loop control effectively suppresses the problem of excessive humidity in the baking area, avoids quality deterioration caused by moisture residue, and directly reduces the defect rate of reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0017] 2. The drying method in this patent includes hot air drying by the air supply mechanism and electromagnetic heating by the heat source mechanism. The conveyor belt directly generates eddy current heat in the alternating magnetic field. The heat energy quickly penetrates from the bottom of the material, solving the problems of traditional hot air heating that the surface is easy to dry and hard and the internal moisture content is uneven. The air supply mechanism specifically adjusts the humidity diffusion rate of the material surface to avoid local over-wetting / over-drying. The dual heat sources complement each other to achieve synchronous drying of the inside and outside of the material, which not only shortens the baking time but also reduces energy consumption.

[0018] 3. The monitoring mechanism of this patent can monitor data in real time and feed it back to the control mechanism. The monitoring mechanism regulates the air supply mechanism and the heat source mechanism. This control method establishes a "monitoring-feedback-execution" closed loop through the real-time response of the monitoring mechanism-control mechanism-air supply mechanism and heat source mechanism, thereby realizing self-optimization of baking parameters. Compared with manual adjustment, it is more accurate and can avoid waste of human resources.

[0019] 4. The heat source mechanism controls the deep heating intensity and alternating magnetic field intensity by adjusting the working current, and the air supply mechanism controls the surface moisture evaporation rate by adjusting the air supply temperature and wind speed. Such a baking mechanism can adapt to the initial moisture content fluctuations of different batches of materials, ensure the humidity consistency at the baking end point, and improve the quality of the aerosol generation matrix after baking.

[0020] 5. Innovate the heating method in the traditional baking process. Use ferromagnetic materials on the conveyor belt to directly convert the alternating magnetic field energy into conductive heat, improve the utilization rate of thermal energy, and avoid the flying debris caused by direct hot air, which meets the physical property requirements of reconstituted tobacco leaves.

[0021] In the following embodiments, "aerosol generating material" may refer to a substance that generates smoke and / or aerosol or is used for smoking. For example, the aerosol generating substrate may include a tobacco substance. For example, the aerosol generating substrate may include tobacco leaves, tobacco stems, or substances processed therefrom. As a more specific example, the aerosol generating substrate may include pulverized tobacco leaves, pulverized reconstituted tobacco, expanded pipe tobacco, expanded stem cuts, and reconstituted tobacco leaves. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0022] Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises nicotine. In some preferred embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises tobacco.

[0023] The aerosol-generating product preferably uses a solid matrix and may include one or more of powder, particles, shredded strips, ribbons or flakes of one or more of herb leaves, tobacco leaves, homogenized tobacco, and expanded tobacco; alternatively, the solid matrix may contain additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavor compounds to be released when the matrix is ​​heated.

[0024] Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco volatile aroma compounds or non-tobacco volatile aroma compounds that are released upon heating the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may also comprise one or more capsules comprising, for example, additional tobacco volatile aroma compounds or non-tobacco volatile aroma compounds, and such capsules may melt during heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0025] Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may be disposed on or embedded in a thermally stable carrier. The carrier may be in the form of a powder, granules, pellets, chips, strips, bars, or sheets. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be disposed on the surface of the carrier in the form of, for example, a sheet, foam, gel, or slurry. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be placed over the entire surface of the carrier, or alternatively, may be arranged in a pattern to provide uneven flavor delivery during use.

[0026] The aerosol-forming substrate may be in the form of a plug comprising the aerosol-forming material circumscribed by paper or other wrapping material.Where the aerosol-forming substrate is in the form of a plug, the entire plug including any wrapping paper is considered to be the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0027] Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises a plug comprising a gathered sheet of homogenised tobacco material or other aerosol-forming material surrounded by a wrapper.

[0028] In this patent, aerosol former is used to describe any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds which, in use, promotes the formation of an aerosol and which is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol-generating article.

[0029] Suitable aerosol formers are known in the art and include, but are not limited to, polyols such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, and glycerol; esters of polyols such as glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, or glycerol triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di-, or polycarboxylic acids such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Preferred aerosol formers are polyols or mixtures thereof such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, and most preferably glycerol.

[0030] The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a single aerosol-forming agent. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a combination of two or more aerosol-forming agents.

[0031] Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate has an aerosol-forming agent content of greater than 5% by dry weight. More preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate may have an aerosol-forming agent content of between about 5% and about 30% by dry weight. In one embodiment, the aerosol-forming substrate has an aerosol-forming agent content of about 20% by dry weight.

[0032] Tobacco sheets can be made by roll-forming, slurry-making, and paper-making processes known in the art to form aerosol-forming substrates, including homogenized tobacco sheets for use in aerosol-generating articles.

[0033] In this patent, sheet refers to a laminar element having a width and length that are substantially greater than its thickness.

[0034] In this patent, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises a gathered textured sheet of homogenised tobacco material.

[0035] In this patent, textured sheet means a sheet that has been crimped, embossed, stamped, perforated or otherwise deformed.The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a gathered textured sheet of homogenised tobacco material comprising a plurality of spaced apart indentations, protrusions, perforations or a combination thereof.

[0036] Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises a gathered, crimped sheet of homogenised tobacco material.The use of a textured sheet of homogenised tobacco material may advantageously facilitate gathering of the sheet of homogenised tobacco material to form the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0037] In this patent, a curled sheet is a sheet having a plurality of substantially parallel ridges or corrugations. Preferably, when the aerosol-generating article is assembled, the substantially parallel ridges or corrugations extend along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article. This advantageously facilitates gathering of the curled sheet of homogenised tobacco material to form the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0038] PID (proportional integration differentiation) control, with a history of nearly 70 years, is characterized by its simple structure, excellent stability, reliable operation, and easy adjustment. It is widely used in fields such as autonomous driving, intelligent manufacturing, robotics, drones, and unmanned vehicles. When the structure and parameters of the controlled object are not fully understood or a precise mathematical model is unavailable, other control theory techniques are difficult to apply. The structure and parameters of the system controller must be determined through experience and on-site debugging. PID control technology is most convenient in these situations. The three PID parameters each have their advantages and disadvantages. Different combinations of PID, PI, and PID parameters can be used for different systems based on their characteristics.

[0039] Advantages of the P parameter: It speeds up the adjustment speed, making it reach the desired position faster, but there is a static error; Disadvantages of the P parameter: When the P value increases, the oscillation amplitude of the curve increases, the oscillation becomes more frequent, the overshoot increases, and the system is not stable enough.

[0040] Advantages of the D parameter: reducing the adjustment time, making it reach the desired position faster, and reducing overshoot; Disadvantages of the D parameter: being easily disturbed. When disturbed, the larger the D value, the more unstable the curve system.

[0041] The advantages of the I parameter are: reducing static error and making the curve reach the desired target; the disadvantages of the I parameter are: increasing the adjustment time and increasing the overshoot.

[0042] Infrared temperature sensors can be divided into two categories based on their measurement principle: photoelectric infrared temperature sensors and thermoelectric infrared temperature sensors. Pyroelectric infrared temperature sensors utilize the thermal effects of infrared radiation, measuring the absorbed infrared radiation through thermoelectric and pyroelectric effects, and thermistors, indirectly measuring the temperature of objects radiating infrared light. Their measurement range is approximately 1-30 meters, with a response time of approximately 0-999 seconds. They can directly output standard voltage, current, thermocouple, and digital signals.

[0043] Photoelectric infrared temperature sensors operate based on the photoelectric effect. Their core component is a specialized transistor with a metal reflective surface. When heat is applied to the transistor surface, it radiates infrared energy, which is reflected back into the transistor, activating the photoelectric effect and generating conductive charges. These charges are then read and converted into digital or analog signals, indicating the object's temperature. Furthermore, infrared photoelectric sensors utilize the properties of infrared light to detect and measure objects without direct contact, by detecting their reflection or absorption.

[0044] A humidity sensor, also known as a humidity transducer, senses the water vapor content in a gas and converts it into a usable output signal. It is primarily used in mechanical engineering, sensors, and gas and humidity sensors. In most cases, if precise temperature control is unavailable or the measured space is not sealed, an accuracy of ±5% RH is sufficient. For local spaces requiring precise constant temperature and humidity control, or where humidity changes need to be tracked and recorded over time, an accuracy of ±3% RH is recommended.

[0045] Humidity sensors are the simplest humidity sensors. Humidity sensors are mainly divided into two categories: resistive and capacitive. Humidity resistors: The characteristic of humidity resistors is that a film made of humidity-sensitive material is covered on the substrate. When water vapor in the air is adsorbed on the humidity-sensitive film, the resistivity and resistance value of the component change. This characteristic can be used to measure humidity. The advantage of humidity resistors is high sensitivity. The main disadvantages are poor linearity and product interchangeability. Humidity capacitors: Humidity capacitors are generally made of polymer film capacitors. When the ambient humidity changes, the dielectric constant of the humidity capacitor changes, causing its capacitance to change as well. The change in capacitance is proportional to the relative humidity. The main advantages of humidity capacitors are high sensitivity, good product interchangeability, fast response speed, small humidity hysteresis, ease of manufacturing, and easy miniaturization and integration. Their accuracy is generally lower than that of humidity resistors.

[0046] Choosing a suitable humidity sensor requires considering three dimensions: measurement range, measurement accuracy, and time drift and temperature drift.

[0047] Selecting the measurement range—As with measuring weight and temperature, the first step in selecting a humidity sensor is determining its measurement range. With the exception of meteorological and scientific research departments, those involved in temperature and humidity measurement and control generally don't require full humidity range measurement. The purpose of measurement is control, and the measurement range and control range are collectively referred to as the usable range.

[0048] Selecting measurement accuracy – Like measurement range, measurement accuracy is the most important specification for a sensor. Every percentage point improvement is a step up, or even a higher grade, for the sensor. This is because achieving different levels of accuracy results in significantly different manufacturing costs.

[0049] Consider time drift and temperature drift - Almost all sensors have time drift and temperature drift. Since humidity sensors must be in contact with water vapor in the atmosphere, they cannot be sealed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this patent, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of this patent and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other relevant drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0051] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the hot air electromagnetic baking device in this patent;

[0052] Figure 2 This is a flow chart of the control method of the hot air electromagnetic baking device in this patent.

[0053] The description of the accompanying drawings is as follows:

[0054] 100: transmission mechanism;

[0055] 110: conveying support frame;

[0056] 120: first roller;

[0057] 130: second roller;

[0058] 140: conveyor belt;

[0059] 200: Monitoring agency;

[0060] 220: humidity probe assembly;

[0061] 230: infrared component;

[0062] 300: heat source mechanism;

[0063] 310: heat source support frame;

[0064] 320: heating component;

[0065] 400: air supply mechanism;

[0066] 410: air supply support frame;

[0067] 420: hot air box assembly;

[0068] 500: Control mechanism. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] The detailed features and advantages of the present application are described in detail below in the specific implementation methods, and the content is sufficient to enable any technical personnel in this field to understand the technical content of the present application and implement it accordingly. Based on the description, claims and drawings disclosed in this specification, technical personnel in this field can easily understand the relevant purposes and advantages of the present application.

[0070] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. Although the specific structure and arrangement discussed, it should be understood that this is done merely for illustrative purposes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other structures and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention can also be used for various other applications.

[0071] In this specification and claims, reference will be made to various terms which, unless otherwise indicated, shall be defined to have the following meanings:

[0072] The singular forms "a" and "the" include the corresponding plural forms. "At least one" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can mean: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or plural.

[0073] All numbers used to express amounts of ingredients, properties (e.g., molecular weight), reaction conditions, and the like should be considered to be modified in all instances by the term "within the inevitable error range" or "about." Accordingly, the numerical values ​​set forth herein are approximate and may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not intended to limit the scope of the claims, the doctrine of equivalents should be applied, for example, each numerical value should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

[0074] It should be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein simply describes a relationship between associated objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A alone, A and B together, or B alone. A and B can be singular or plural. Furthermore, the character " / " as used herein generally indicates an "or" relationship between the associated objects, but it may also indicate an "and / or" relationship. For specific understanding, please refer to the context.

[0075] In the description of this embodiment, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "bottom", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or are the orientations or positional relationships in which the product is usually placed when in use. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on this application.

[0076] Unless otherwise indicated, the following abbreviations have the following meanings and any other abbreviations used but not defined herein have their generally accepted standard meanings:

[0077] All other terms used herein that are not specifically defined in this patent are intended to have the general meanings understood by ordinary technicians in the field to which they belong, and in particular, ordinary technicians in the field can directly and unambiguously determine the meaning of how to implement the technical solution of this patent after reading the claims, description and drawings of this patent.

[0078] Even if there are incomplete descriptions, omissions or ambiguities in the grammar, text, punctuation, graphics, symbols, etc. in the claims, description and drawings of this patent, ordinary technicians in this field can still reach the only correct understanding by reading the claims, description and drawings as a whole without excessive reasoning or experimentation, and effectively exclude various incorrect understandings that are not aimed at achieving the purpose of this patent.

[0079] Ordinary technical personnel in the relevant field will give priority to reading the patent claims, specifications and drawings to reasonably interpret the terms; secondly, they will choose to refer to the relevant definitions in other documents published by the applicant before the application date to reasonably interpret the terms; thirdly, they will choose to reasonably interpret the terms by referring to the references cited in this patent; finally, they will choose to reasonably interpret the terms by combining the technical dictionaries, technical manuals, reference books, textbooks, national or industry technical standards, etc. commonly used by technical personnel in the relevant technical field.

[0080] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, the implementation methods of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0081] A movable hot air drying device for aerosol-generating substrate, see Figure 1 , including a conveying mechanism 100, a monitoring mechanism 200, a heat source mechanism 300, an air supply mechanism 400 and a control mechanism 500. The conveying mechanism 100 is used to transport the aerosol generating substrate to be dried, the heat source mechanism 300 can generate an alternating magnetic field, the heat source mechanism 300 is used to heat and dry the aerosol generating substrate in transportation, and the air supply mechanism 400 is used to dry the moist aerosol generating substrate; the monitoring mechanism 200 is arranged on the heat source mechanism 300 and the air supply mechanism 400, the monitoring mechanism 200 is used to monitor the humidity and detect the temperature of the aerosol generating substrate during baking, the monitoring mechanism 200 detects the data changes of the aerosol generating substrate during the drying process and sends the data to the control mechanism 500 in real time, and the control mechanism 500 controls the conveying mechanism 100, the monitoring mechanism 200 and the air supply mechanism 400.

[0082] The control mechanism 500 controls the start and stop of the conveying mechanism 100. When the aerosol-generating substrate enters the conveying mechanism 100, the control mechanism 500 can control the conveying mechanism 100 to start transporting the aerosol-generating substrate; when the aerosol-generating substrate completes the drying process, the control mechanism 500 can control the conveying mechanism 100 to immediately stop transporting the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0083] The control mechanism 500 receives the real-time monitoring data from the monitoring mechanism 200, and determines the drying process of the aerosol generating substrate according to the real-time monitoring data, and then outputs the determination result.

[0084] The control mechanism 500 controls the start and stop and regulation of the air supply mechanism 400. The control mechanism 500 can start and stop the air supply mechanism 400 and adjust the air supply speed and air supply temperature of the air supply mechanism 400.

[0085] The control mechanism 500 controls the start and stop and regulation of the heat source mechanism 300 . The control mechanism 500 can start and stop the heat source mechanism 300 and adjust the current size and alternating magnetic field strength of the heat source mechanism 300 .

[0086] The control mechanism 500, the monitoring mechanism 200, the heat source mechanism 300 and the air supply mechanism 400 form a loop for real-time monitoring of the drying process of the aerosol generating matrix. Specifically, the aerosol generating matrix enters the conveying mechanism 100 and is transported. During the transportation process, the air supply mechanism 400 sends out hot air to dry the aerosol generating matrix. The monitoring mechanism 200 monitors the data changes of the aerosol generating matrix in real time to obtain temperature data and humidity data. The monitoring mechanism 200 transmits the temperature data and humidity data to the control mechanism 500, and the control mechanism 500 judges the drying state and drying process of the aerosol generating matrix at this time, and then controls the air supply speed and air temperature of the aerosol generating matrix by the air supply mechanism 400 through the control mechanism 500, and controls the current size and alternating magnetic field strength of the aerosol generating matrix by the heat source mechanism 300 through the control mechanism 500.

[0087] The conveying mechanism 100 includes a conveying support frame 110, a first roller 120, a second roller 130 and a conveyor belt 140. The first roller 120 and the second roller 130 are fixed at both ends of the conveying support frame 110. The conveyor belt 140 is stretched and transported by the first roller 120 and the second roller 130.

[0088] Specifically, the conveying support frame 110 includes a two-layer structure. The support frame body has a square main frame. Four supporting feet are provided at the bottom of the main frame. Four support plates extend upward from the top of the main frame in the opposite direction of the four supporting feet. Two support plates are used to support the first roller 120 and the second roller 130 at both ends of the conveying support frame 110. The conveying support frame 110 is made of a material with high hardness and not easy to deform, but this patent is not limited to this.

[0089] Specifically, the conveyor belt 140 is looped between the first roller 120 and the second roller 130 and is tensioned by the first roller 120 and the second roller 130. After the conveyor belt 140 is tensioned by the first roller 120 and the second roller 130, there should be a sufficient distance between the bottom of the conveyor belt 140 and the top of the main frame to maintain normal operation of the conveyor belt 140. It is easy to understand that the installation height of the axis of the first roller 120 and the second roller 130 on the support plate should be slightly greater than the radius of the first roller 120 and the second roller 130. However, the specific installation height of the axis of the first roller 120 and the second roller 130 on the support plate is not limited in the present invention.

[0090] Specifically, the top surface of the conveyor belt 140 is used to transport the aerosol-generating substrate to be dried and being dried, so the actual transportation distance of the conveyor belt 140 is substantially equal to the length of the conveying support frame 110, and the material of the conveyor belt 140 is heat-resistant material.

[0091] Specifically, the heat-resistant material can be used as the belt body itself and / or the heat-resistant coating coated on the surface of the belt body.

[0092] Specifically, the heat-resistant coating is one or more selected from silicone coating, inorganic silicone coating, water-based coating, graphite, heat-resistant resin and heat-resistant filler, but this patent is not limited thereto.

[0093] In addition, the conveyor belt 140 generates heat by entering the alternating magnetic field of the heat source mechanism 300 and performing cutting motion, thereby heating the aerosol generating matrix. Therefore, in addition to being resistant to high temperatures, the conveyor belt 140 should also have ferromagnetic properties. Therefore, the material of the belt body is selected from one or more of iron, cobalt, nickel, cast iron, Permalloy, ferrite, iron alloy, cobalt alloy and nickel alloy, but this patent is not limited to this.

[0094] The conveying support frame 110 is further provided with a sub-frame between the main frame and the ground and close to the ground, and the sub-frame is used to further reinforce the conveying mechanism 100 .

[0095] The air supply mechanism 400 includes an air supply support frame 410 and a hot air box assembly 420. The air supply support frame 410 is a frame that is much higher than the conveying mechanism 100, and the length of the air supply support frame 410 is similar to the length of the conveying support frame 110. The air supply support frame 410 is arranged around the conveying support frame 110. It is easy to understand that the height setting of the air supply support frame 410 is based on the air supply range and air supply temperature field of the air supply mechanism 400 that monitors the aerosol generating matrix by the monitoring mechanism 200.

[0096] Specifically, the main body of the air supply support frame 410 is a square main frame, and four supporting feet are provided at the bottom of the main frame, and the downward supporting positions of the four supporting feet are similar to the four supporting feet of the conveying support frame 110; the width of the main frame of the air supply support frame 410 is slightly larger than the width of the main frame of the conveying support frame 110, so that the supporting feet of the air supply support frame 410 can be supported on both sides of the conveying support frame 110; the height of the supporting feet of the air supply support frame 410 is 2.8 to 3.2 times the height of the supporting feet of the conveying support frame 110, and the height of the aerosol generating matrix transported after the conveyor belt 140 is tensioned is 0.5 to 0.75 times the height of the supporting feet of the air supply support frame 410.

[0097] Specifically, a hot air box assembly 420 is installed on the main frame of the air supply support frame 410. The hot air box assembly 420 outputs hot air under the control of the control mechanism 500. The hot air box assembly 420 changes the wind speed and air supply temperature of the output hot air through the control mechanism 500. In this embodiment, the hot air box assembly 420 is composed of three parallel hot air boxes combined in the main frame of the air supply support frame 410.

[0098] Specifically, a humidity probe assembly 220 is provided on the two short rods representing the width at the top of the main frame of the air supply support frame 410. The number of industrial cameras on a single short rod is 5 to 10. The humidity probe assembly 220 can perform real-time humidity monitoring of the incoming and outgoing aerosol generating matrix and generate humidity data, and finally transmit the humidity data to the control mechanism 500.

[0099] The heat source mechanism 300 includes a heat source support frame and a heating component 320 , and the heating component 320 is disposed on the heat source support frame.

[0100] Specifically, the main body of the heat source support frame is a square main frame, and four supporting feet are provided at the bottom of the main frame, and the downward supporting positions of the four supporting feet are similar to the four supporting feet of the conveying support frame 110; the width of the main frame of the air supply support frame 410 is slightly larger than the temperature of the main frame of the heat source support frame, so that the supporting feet of the heat source support frame can be supported on both sides of the conveying support frame 110.

[0101] Specifically, the height of the heat source support frame is higher than the height of the support feet of the conveying support frame 110 and lower than the height of the support feet of the air supply support frame 410, and the height of the support feet of the heat source support frame should be close to the height of the connecting line of the center of the side circle of the first roller 120 and the center of the side circle of the second roller 130. This is because the main frame of the heat source support frame is arranged in the elliptical cavity formed by the first roller 120, the second roller 130 and the conveyor belt 140 of the conveyor belt 140. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the heat source support frame with the heating component 320 installed is lower than the top of the conveyor belt 140 and the height of the bottom of the heat source support frame should be higher than the bottom of the conveyor belt 140. In this way, when the heat source mechanism 300 is operating normally to generate an alternating magnetic field, the conveyor belt 140 is still performing repeated rotational motion, and the arrangement of the heating component 320 and the heat source support frame main frame inside the conveyor mechanism 100 makes the heating component 320 closest to the conveyor belt 140 and can maximize the magnetic induction cutting motion of the running conveyor belt 140 within the range of the generated alternating magnetic field, thereby generating heat.

[0102] Specifically, the length of the heat source support frame should be less than the distance from the inner roller edge of the first roller 120 to the inner roller edge of the second roller 130 .

[0103] Specifically, the length of the heat source support, the length of the air supply support frame 410 and the length of the transport support frame 110 should be arranged in descending order: the length of the transport support frame 110 > the length of the air supply support frame 410 > the length of the heat source support frame.

[0104] Specifically, under the control of the control mechanism 500, the heating component 320 can generate an alternating magnetic field, causing the running conveyor belt 140 to undergo a magnetic induction cutting motion, thereby generating heat. It is readily understood that the heating component 320 should be internally provided with a component capable of converting electrical energy into an alternating magnetic field. The heating component 320 may be internally provided with one or more of an induction coil, a transformer, an inductor, an inductor, or a generator, but this patent is not limited thereto.

[0105] The heating component 320 includes two heating boxes, and the infrared component 230 is arranged on both sides of the heating box and between the two heating boxes.

[0106] The monitoring mechanism 200 includes a humidity probe assembly 220 and an infrared assembly 230. The humidity probe assembly 220 is arranged on the air supply support frame 410 and the infrared assembly 230 is arranged on the heat source support frame. The number of infrared sensing probes on each group of infrared assemblies 230 is 5 to 10, which are used to monitor the drying status of the aerosol-generating matrix when it is transported to different locations during the transportation and drying process and generate temperature data in real time.

[0107] The control mechanism 500 includes a control box, which receives real-time data and controls the air supply temperature, air supply speed, air supply position and air supply angle in real time through PID control, thereby forming a relatively stable temperature zone in the tobacco baking area.

[0108] PID control is a traditional control method applicable to nearly all scenarios, including temperature, pressure, flow, and liquid level. Different scenarios require different PID parameter settings. Properly configured, these methods can achieve control errors as low as 0.1%, or even higher. PI and PD control are also commonly used. A PID controller uses proportional, integral, and differential functions to calculate the control variable based on the system error. The temporal relationship between these three methods is: focusing on the present (P), analyzing the past (I), and predicting the future (D).

[0109] The movable hot air drying device for the aerosol generating substrate is regulated by the PID control method, that is, real-time data monitoring, monitoring data feedback to the PID controller, and then the monitoring data is compared with the expected value data. The PID controller uses the PID control algorithm to control the temperature after false comparison difference, so that the movable hot air drying device is at the set temperature of the current drying state of the aerosol generating substrate and remains stable. The output is calculated according to the feedback signal, and the power of the heater is controlled to make the temperature reach the expected value.

[0110] In practice, the proportional parameter Kp controls the ratio of the output to the temperature deviation, the integral parameter Ki controls the ratio of the output to the integral of the temperature deviation, and the differential parameter Ka controls the ratio of the output to the rate of change of the temperature deviation. These three parameters need to be adjusted and optimized based on the specific system and application to achieve optimal temperature control.

[0111] Specifically, the desired temperature values ​​are set for different drying states of the aerosol-generating substrate. The PID controller calculates an output based on the error between the current temperature and the target temperature and transmits this output to the air supply mechanism 400. If the temperature is too low, the PID controller increases the output, and the power of the air supply mechanism 400 increases accordingly, thereby raising the drying temperature. If the temperature is too high, the PID controller decreases the output, and the power of the air supply mechanism 400 decreases accordingly, thereby lowering the drying temperature. By repeatedly adjusting the PID controller parameters, better control and stability can be achieved.

[0112] A control method for a movable hot air drying device for an aerosol-generating substrate, please refer to Figure 2 , the control method comprises the following steps:

[0113] Step S1 : The heat source mechanism 300 and the air supply mechanism 400 are started under the action of the control mechanism 500 and bake the aerosol generating substrate on the conveying mechanism 100 .

[0114] The aerosol generating matrix enters the conveying mechanism 100 opened by the control mechanism 500, the infrared component 230 corresponding to the front end of the conveyor belt 140 monitors and obtains the temperature of the initial aerosol generating matrix, and the humidity probe component 220 at the front end of the main frame of the air supply support frame 410 monitors and obtains the humidity of the initial aerosol generating matrix.

[0115] The control mechanism 500 controls the air supply mechanism 400 to start and outputs the initial air supply temperature and initial air supply speed of the air supply mechanism 400 according to the initial temperature and initial humidity of the aerosol generating substrate on the conveyor belt 140, and adjusts the alternating magnetic field strength and current size of the heat source mechanism 300.

[0116] Step S2: The monitoring mechanism 200 monitors the aerosol-generating substrate in real time and obtains real-time data.

[0117] The aerosol generating substrate is continuously transported on the conveyor belt 140. When the aerosol generating substrate is transported to different locations, the corresponding infrared component 230 obtains the transmission temperature data in real time. The transmission temperature data may include the surface temperature, internal temperature, temperature field distribution uniformity, and temperature field change value of the aerosol generating substrate detected based on the infrared detection principle.

[0118] The real-time data also includes humidity data of the aerosol generating matrix during transportation. The humidity data includes the moisture content of the aerosol generating matrix, the humidity difference between the inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface humidity, and the outer surface humidity obtained based on the detection principle of the humidity probe assembly 220.

[0119] Step S3: the monitoring mechanism 200 transmits the real-time data to the control mechanism 500 .

[0120] The monitoring mechanism 200 feeds back the transmission temperature data to the control mechanism 500. The control mechanism 200 determines the current drying state of the aerosol generating device according to the PID control method, compares the current drying state with the set value, and outputs a control signal.

[0121] Step S4: After receiving the real-time data, the control mechanism 500 adjusts the heat source mechanism 300 and the air supply mechanism 400.

[0122] After receiving the temperature data and humidity data, the control mechanism 500 adjusts the air supply temperature and air supply speed of the air supply mechanism 400. After receiving the humidity data and temperature data, the control mechanism 500 synchronously adjusts the alternating magnetic field strength and current size of the heat source mechanism 300.

[0123] It can be understood that the control method provided in this application corresponds to the baking device provided in this application. In order to make the description concise, the same or similar parts can refer to the contents of the drying device part and will not be repeated here.

[0124] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of units is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, other division methods may be used. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another device, or some features may be ignored or not performed.

[0125] Units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of these units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0126] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "one implementation" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment / implementation is included in at least one embodiment / implementation of the present invention.

[0127] Thus, the phrases "in one embodiment / specific implementation" appearing in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment / arrangement, but rather may be. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments / arrangements, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure.

[0128] Similarly, it should be understood that in the above description of exemplary embodiments / embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment / embodiment or its drawings and description for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure and aiding understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. However, except for expressly stated contrary guidance or obvious technical contradiction or exclusion, the description method of this patent should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than expressly stated in each claim. Instead, the claims reflect that the inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single aforementioned disclosed embodiment / embodiment. Therefore, the claims that follow the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment / embodiment of the invention.

[0129] Furthermore, while some embodiments / implementations described herein include but do not include certain features included in other embodiments / implementations, combinations of features from different embodiments / implementations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention and to form different embodiments / implementations, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the claims below, any claimed embodiment / implementation can be used in any combination.

[0130] The terms and expressions used in this specification are for the purpose of description and not limitation, and there is no intention in the use of these terms and expressions to exclude any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0131] It should therefore be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed through preferred embodiments, exemplary embodiments and optional features, those skilled in the art may adopt modifications or variations of the concepts disclosed in this specification, and therefore such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0132] The specific embodiments given in this specification are examples of useful embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented using many variations of the devices, device components, and method steps disclosed in this specification.

[0133] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments fully discloses the general features of the present invention so that others can easily modify and / or adapt such specific embodiments for various applications by applying knowledge within the technical scope of the art without undue experimentation and without departing from the general concept of the invention. Therefore, based on the teachings and guidance given herein, it is intended that such transformations and modifications be included within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It should be understood that the wording or terminology herein is for descriptive purposes only and is not intended to be limiting, and thus the wording or terminology of this specification will be interpreted by those skilled in the art based on the above teachings and guidance.

[0134] Additionally, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A hot air electromagnetic baking device for aerosol-generating substrate, characterized in that: The hot air electromagnetic baking device includes a conveying mechanism, a heat source mechanism, a monitoring mechanism, and a control mechanism. The conveying mechanism is used to transport the aerosol-generating substrate. The heat source mechanism can generate an alternating magnetic field. The monitoring mechanism monitors the humidity of the aerosol-generating substrate during baking. The control mechanism adjusts the baking temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate by the heat source mechanism in real time based on the monitoring results. The conveying mechanism comprises a conveyor belt on which the aerosol generating substrate is placed. The conveyor belt moves within the range of the alternating magnetic field and converts electromagnetic cutting action into heat energy, thereby electromagnetically heating the aerosol generating substrate.

2. The hot air electromagnetic baking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hot air electromagnetic baking device further includes an air supply mechanism, which is used to dry the aerosol generating substrate with hot air, and the control mechanism adjusts the drying temperature of the aerosol generating substrate by the air supply mechanism in real time according to the monitoring result; The air-drying temperature provided by the air supply mechanism is 59-68°C, 68-77°C or 77-86°C; The baking temperature provided by the heat source mechanism is 70-87°C, 87-104°C or 104-121°C.

3. The hot air electromagnetic baking device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air supply mechanism includes an air supply support frame and a hot air box assembly, and the hot air box assembly is fixed on the air supply support frame.

4. The hot air electromagnetic baking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conveying mechanism further includes a conveying support frame, a first roller, and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller are fixed at both ends of the conveying support frame. The conveyor belt is tensioned and transports the aerosol generating substrate through the first roller and the second roller.

5. The hot air electromagnetic baking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the conveyor belt includes ferromagnetic material, and the ferromagnetic material is one or more selected from iron, cobalt, nickel, cast iron, Permalloy, ferrite, iron alloy, cobalt alloy and nickel alloy.

6. The hot air electromagnetic baking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heat source mechanism includes a heat source support frame and a heating component, the heating component is fixed on the heat source support frame, the heating component is a material that can generate an alternating magnetic field, and the heating component is selected from one or more of an induction coil, a transformer, an inductor, an inductor or a generator.

7. The hot air electromagnetic baking device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The monitoring mechanism includes a humidity probe assembly and an infrared assembly. The humidity probe assembly monitors the humidity of the aerosol generating substrate and transmits humidity data to the control mechanism. The infrared assembly monitors the temperature of the aerosol generating substrate and transmits temperature data to the control mechanism.

8. A method for controlling a hot air electromagnetic baking device for an aerosol-generating substrate, characterized in that: The control method comprises the following steps: Step S1: The heat source mechanism and the air supply mechanism are started under the action of the control mechanism and bake the aerosol generating substrate on the conveying mechanism; Step S2: The monitoring mechanism monitors the aerosol-generating substrate in real time and obtains real-time data; Step S3: the monitoring mechanism transmits the real-time data to the control mechanism; Step S4: After receiving the real-time data, the control mechanism adjusts the heat source mechanism and the air supply mechanism.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The real-time data includes humidity data and temperature data of the aerosol generating substrate.

10. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: In the step S4, the control mechanism adjusts the air supply temperature and air supply speed of the air supply mechanism after receiving the real-time data, and adjusts the operating current of the heat source mechanism after receiving the real-time data.

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