Aroma provision device and aroma provision method

Abstract

To provide an aroma provision device capable of instantly generating an aroma, and to provide an aroma provision method.SOLUTION: Provided is an aroma provision device comprising: a porous material holding a fragrance material; a heating part that heats the porous material; a space that concentrates and retains the fragrance material released from the porous material; a blower that sends air to the space; and a body container that holds the porous material, the heating part, the space and the blower. The porous material includes at least one type of fragrance material. In addition, provided is an aroma provision method comprising: a first heating step for heating the porous material including the at least one type of fragrance material and vaporizing a first fragrance material; a first concentration step for concentrating and retaining, in the space, the first fragrance material released from the porous material; and a first fragrance material generation step for guiding air to the space and releasing the first fragrance material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aroma providing device and an aroma providing method, and more particularly to an apparatus and an aroma providing method for instantly providing a high-concentration aroma. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Aroma providing devices have been available in the past (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-10011 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional scent providing devices are unable to instantly emit a high concentration of scent. Therefore, an object of the present application is to provide an aroma providing device and an aroma providing method that can instantly generate an aroma. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above objectives, the following is used: [Invention 1] A porous body for holding a fragrance; A heating unit for heating the porous body; a space for concentrating and retaining the fragrance released from the porous body; A blower for blowing air into the space; a main body container that holds the porous body, the heating unit, the space, and the blower; Including, The porous body is a fragrance providing device containing at least one type of fragrance. [Invention 2] The aroma providing device according to Invention 1, wherein one of the porous bodies contains multiple types of fragrances. [Invention 3] 3. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the porous bodies are used. [Invention 4] The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of types of fragrances are contained in the porous body in a mixed state. [Invention 5] The fragrance providing device according to Invention 1 or 2, wherein the fragrance is an unpleasant fragrance. [Invention 6] The aroma providing device according to Invention 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of types of fragrances are an unpleasant fragrance and a pleasant fragrance. [Invention 7] 3. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of types of the aromas are generated over time by utilizing the difference in boiling points of each of the aromas. [Invention 8] The plurality of types of fragrances are a first fragrance and a second fragrance, The first fragrance is an unpleasant fragrance, The second fragrance is a pleasant fragrance, 3. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the boiling point of the first fragrance is lower than the boiling point of the second fragrance. [Invention 9] 3. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air sender is a fan or a blower. [Invention 10] 3. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous body is a monolith. [Invention 11] Heating a porous body containing at least one flavoring agent; a first heating step of gasifying the first flavoring; a first concentration step of concentrating and retaining the first fragrance released from the porous body in a space; A first fragrance generating step of directing air into the space and releasing the first fragrance. [Invention 12] After the first flavor generating step, a second heating step of heating the porous body is performed. a second concentration step of concentrating and retaining the second flavoring released from the porous body in the space; A fragrance providing method as described in Invention 11, comprising a second fragrance generating step of directing air into the space and releasing the second fragrance. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the fragrance provision device and fragrance provision method of the present invention, a fragrance can be generated instantaneously. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an aroma providing device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] Schematic diagram for explaining an example of a carrier according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a heating unit and a carrier of an aroma providing device according to an embodiment; FIG. 2B is a plan view of the carrier of FIG. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of a modified example of the aroma providing device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the aroma providing device according to the embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 2A is a side view of a modified example of the aroma providing device of the embodiment; FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a cap of the aroma providing device of the embodiment; and FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the upper part of the main body container of the aroma providing device of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the aroma providing device according to the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. The embodiment is not limited to each configuration described below, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The embodiment also includes embodiments and examples obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments and examples.

[0009] <Main unit configuration> The aroma provision device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The aroma provision device 100 is not placed in a certain place in a room and emits an aroma for a long period of time, but is instead a device in which a person holds the aroma provision device 100 in their hand or places it nearby and smells the aroma for a short period of time. The aroma provision device 100 is portable. The aroma providing device 100 has a main container 11, and has therein a carrier 12, a heating section 13, a blower 14, a power source 15, a control section 16, and an input section 17.

[0010] An embodiment will now be described as an example. Main container 11 has, on its outer surface, outlet portion 10 and inlet portion 18. Furthermore, input portion 17 has an operation portion facing the outer surface of main container 11. The main container 11 has an outlet 10 at the top and an inlet 18 on the side of the bottom. It is made of a metal material such as aluminum, or a resin material. Like a gourd or a bottle, the top is small and bounded, and has the outlet 10. It is cylindrical or rectangular in shape, and its horizontal cross section becomes smaller toward the outlet 10 at the top.

[0011] The carrier 12 is a porous body that holds a fragrance inside. The carrier 12 is heated, and the released fragrance is carried by the air, supplying the scent to the outlet 10. The carrier 12 will be described in detail below. The air flow 22 enters from the inlet 18, passes through the blower 14, and is guided to the carrier 12. At the outlet 10, the person smells the scent. The air flow 22 flows from inside the carrier 12 around the carrier 12. The fragrance that has accumulated in the space 20 above the carrier 12 is sent to the outlet 10. This allows a high concentration of fragrance to be instantly discharged from the outlet 10.

[0012] Space 20 is located above carrier 12, on the outlet 10 side, and temporarily stores the fragrance released from heated carrier 12. Because the opening area of ​​outlet 10 is small, the gasified fragrance remains inside main container 11 and is released to the outside from outlet 10 by air flow 22. As a result, the fragrance can be released instantly.

[0013] The volume of the space 20 is about 3cc to 30cc, and preferably about 5cc to 20cc. If the space is too large, the scent will diffuse and it will not be possible to supply a high concentration of scent. The horizontal cross-sectional area of ​​the space 20 may be the same as the diameter (horizontal cross-sectional area) of the outlet 10, or may be about six times larger. The heating unit 13 is a heater or the like that heats the support 12. The control unit 16 controls the on / off, output, etc. An input unit 17 gives instructions to the control unit 16.

[0014] The blower 14 preferably has a pressure ratio greater than one. The higher the pressure ratio, the faster the scent will spread, and the more intense the scent will be felt by people. The outlet 10 of the main container 11 has a laminar flow section 24. The laminar flow section 24 is provided so that the air (including the fragrance) discharged from the main container 11 does not spread too much and is discharged in a good straight line.

[0015] The laminar flow section 24 is a thin cylindrical cavity. It does not have to be cylindrical, but may be a square columnar shape (polygonal columnar shape such as a rectangular columnar shape). By having a constant cross-sectional shape, the air flow is adjusted and the air is released to the outside in a straight line. Furthermore, the laminar flow section 24 can instantly release a high concentration of fragrance. The laminar flow section 24 is preferably a hollow columnar shape. A cylindrical shape is preferable. The cross-sectional diameter is 4 to 8 mm, preferably 5 to 7 mm. The length is 1 mm or more, more preferably 3 cm to 5 cm.

[0016] The blower 14 sends air into the carrier 12. A fan may be used, but a blower is preferred. Here, the fan refers to a blower with a pressure ratio of less than 1.1. The pressure ratio is the ratio of the pressure at the inlet and outlet of the blower. For example, if the inlet is atmospheric pressure, 101.3 kPa, the maximum outlet pressure of the fan is 111.4 kPa.

[0017] The blower is an air blower with a pressure ratio of 1.1 or more and less than 2.0. As mentioned above, when the inlet is at atmospheric pressure, the maximum outlet pressure of the blower is 202.6 kPa. Air can be instantly sent to the carrier 12, and the aroma can be instantly provided. In the case of a blower, the diameter of the outlet 10 (laminar flow section 24) is preferably 8 to 12 mm, with a center of 10 mm, and in the case of a fan, the diameter of the outlet 10 (laminar flow section 24) is preferably 5 to 7 mm, with a center of 6 mm. In fact, when the aroma providing device 100 was operated, it was found that in order to instantly sense the aroma, the air velocity at the outlet portion 10 (laminar flow portion 24) should be 0.2 L / min to 1.4 L / min, and preferably 0.6 L / min to 1.2 L / min. If the air velocity is low, it takes a long time to sense the aroma, and if the air velocity is high (fast), the time to sense the aroma becomes shorter, which is not good.

[0018] The power source 15 supplies power to each element of the aroma providing device 100, such as the heating unit 13 and the control unit 16. The power source 15 may be a battery, or may receive power from an external power source and use that power. Although not shown, it is preferable that power can be supplied from the side or bottom of the main container 11. It is preferable that power can be supplied wirelessly or by wire.

[0019] The control unit 16 controls each element of the aroma provision device 100. Each element is controlled in response to an input from the input unit 17. The control unit also has an internal recording unit that can store each setting and can control each element using the settings. The input unit 17 is a portion for inputting settings from outside the main container 11. The control unit 16 performs control based on the settings, such as ON / OFF control and strength control of the heating unit 13.

[0020] The outlet portion 10 blows the air in the main container 11 to the outside. Inlet section 18 is located at the bottom of main container 11 and takes in surrounding air into main container 11. However, inlet section 18 is not essential, and air may be taken in through outlet section 10. In other words, air may be blown out from outlet section 10 and other surrounding air may be taken into main container 11 from outlet section 10. A cover 19 is provided between the blower 14 and the heating section 13, so that the air from the blower 14 is guided to the carrier 12 without leaking to other places.

[0021] <Fragrance> At least one or more types of fragrances can be used. Examples of the multiple types of fragrances include a stimulating fragrance (unpleasant fragrance) and a pleasant fragrance (pleasant fragrance). Only the unpleasant fragrance or only the pleasant fragrance may be used. The fragrance is a liquid with a high boiling point. The boiling point is about 100°C to 300°C. A solution in which the fragrance is dissolved in a solvent may also be used. When a solvent is used, a solvent with the above boiling point is used. Note that the temperature for heating the fragrance providing device is set to around 160°C so that it can be carried around. If the temperature is too low, the fragrance is only gradually released. Therefore, it is preferable to raise the temperature to 130°C to 190°C, and preferably to 145°C to 170°C.

[0022] (1) Fragrances that cause irritation (unpleasant fragrances) The following are examples of fragrances that provide stimulation. In addition to natural mint and L-menthol, fragrances that provide a strong cool or refreshing sensation can also be used, such as Sensates (Takasago International Corporation), a specialty chemical that enhances the impact of cool or refreshing sensations. Sensates is a specialty chemical from Takasago International Corporation that is expected to enhance cool, refreshing, and warm sensations. Sensate products include COOLACT (registered trademark), which provides a cool and refreshing sensation, and HOTACT (registered trademark), which provides a warm sensation.

[0023] In addition, among natural essential oils, woody oils such as cypress, cedarwood, eucalyptus, and juniper, spices such as cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and cardamom, and resins such as frankincense, benzoin, and myrrh can be used.

[0024] In addition, other ingredients that have bactericidal and antibacterial properties include 1,8-cineole (common in eucalyptus), thymol (common in thyme), eugenol (common in cloves), and methyl salicylate (common in wintergreen, the ingredient in aspirin). At least one of the above may be used as the flavoring that provides the stimulation.

[0025] (2) Pleasant fragrances (pleasant fragrances) Usually, fragrances contained in perfumes can be used. These are fragrances that make you feel good. Fragrances that make you feel good, such as fruity or floral scents, are used. Among natural essential oils, herbal oils such as peppermint, rosemary, clary sage, marjoram, and basil, and citrus oils such as bergamot, orange, lemon, melissa, and lemongrass can be used.

[0026] The pleasant flavor may be other than the flavor that provides stimulation. At least one of the above may be used. As fragrances that provide stimulation (unpleasant fragrances), fragrances with values ​​-1 to -4 in Table 1 below can be used. As fragrances that provide a good feeling (pleasant fragrances), fragrances with values ​​+1 to +4 in Table 1 below can be used.

[0027] <Quantifying odors> There are methods used to indicate the degree of pleasantness or unpleasantness of a fragrance. Currently in Japan, a 9-point pleasantness / unpleasantness indication method is used. In this embodiment, since it is a sensation over a short period of time (a few seconds, 1 to 10 seconds), a short-term evaluation is used.

[0028] [Table 1]

[0029] <Carrier> The carrier 12 of the embodiment may be any porous material capable of retaining a flavoring. Examples of the carrier 12 of the embodiment include glass, nylon membranes, semiconductor wafers, latex particles, cellulose particles, microbeads, silica beads, magnetic beads, activated carbon, sponges, etc. The carrier of the embodiment is preferably a monolith.

[0030] <Monolith> Here, the following monolith is particularly suitable as the carrier 12. A monolith is a porous body that is a single structure having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeletal structure and macropores that are formed by the skeleton and are continuous from one end of the skeleton to the other end, in other words, that penetrate from the top to the bottom of the skeleton and are interconnected, and is an integral porous body.

[0031] In addition, the monolith is preferably one having a structure with mesopores, which are pores in the skeleton of the through-holes (macropores) that are smaller in diameter than the through-holes and may or may not communicate with each other, or one having a structure without mesopores. As the monolith, one having through-holes that are continuous and regularly forming a three-dimensional network structure is preferable, but is not limited thereto. In addition, it is preferable that the through-holes have a cross section in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the monolith that is circular or nearly so.

[0032] For this reason, the monolith can hold a large amount of fragrance, and even if the fragrance becomes gaseous, it can be prevented from leaking out in a short time. In other words, it can be held in the macropores. As shown in Figure 1, there is no tray to receive the fragrance at the bottom of the carrier 12, and air can be added from the bottom. In particular, silica monoliths are preferable because the pore size can be freely controlled.

[0033] As the monolith, ceramic monoliths including silica monoliths and glass monoliths, and polymer monoliths can be used. The raw material of the monolith is not particularly limited, but inorganic materials such as ceramics and glass are preferable. Furthermore, in the case of biological sample components, non-target substances may be adsorbed depending on the raw material forming the monolith, so silica monoliths made from silicon alkoxides, which have a proven track record in solid phase extraction, are preferable.

[0034] <Silica monolith> The silica monolith using silicon alkoxide as a raw material is not particularly limited, but for example, silica monoliths manufactured using tetraethoxysilane, tetramethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, methyltriethoxysilane, etc. as raw materials are preferable, and silica monoliths manufactured by sol-gel synthesis using these raw materials alone or in combination are also preferable.

[0035] The monolith will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the monolith. There are macropores 31 and mesopores 32. There are mesopores 32 between the macropores 31. The macropores 31 mainly function as air passages, and the mesopores 32 mainly hold the fragrance. When the carrier 12 is heated, the temperature rises, and the fragrance becomes gaseous and moves from the mesopores 32 to the macropores 31, and the fragrance is carried by the air passing through the macropores 32. It is preferable to gradually release the fragrance over multiple heating processes rather than releasing all of the fragrance from the mesopores 32 in a single heating process. The fragrance may be held in some of the macropores 31.

[0036] <Mesopores 32 and macropores 31> The pore size of the monolith is not particularly limited to the diameter of the macropores 31, which are through-holes through which the fragrance gas flows, but is preferably 1 to 50 μm. The diameter of the mesopores 32 in which the fragrance is retained is also not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 300 nm or less. The pore size is the average pore size.

[0037] The state in which the fragrance is generated changes depending on the sizes of the mesopores 32 and macropores 31. The relationship between the pore size and the generation of the fragrance is shown in Table 2. The amount of the generated fragrance was measured by gas chromatography. The mesopores of 25 and 55 nm are more likely to release the fragrance than the 10 nm mesopores. However, as will be explained below, when the carrier 12 is used multiple times, it is necessary to add the fragrance each time when all the fragrance is released to the outside. From this point of view, Examples 1 and 4 are preferable. The mesopores 32 and macropores 31 are not essential but are preferred examples.

[0038] [Table 2]

[0039] <Production of Silica Monolith> The production of the silica monolith is not particularly limited, but can be carried out as follows using a commonly known method such as the sol-gel method: First, a water-soluble polymer is dissolved in an aqueous solution of acetic acid, the above-mentioned raw materials are added to this solution, a hydrolysis reaction is carried out, and the resulting solution is solidified after stirring.

[0040] The solidified gel is then immersed in an aqueous ammonia solution, dried, and heated to obtain a porous silica monolith made of amorphous silica. The higher the temperature of immersion in the ammonia solution, the larger the mesopores that can be obtained, and the size of the mesopores can be freely changed by controlling the temperature during drying and heating. In particular, the silica monolith can be made non-porous at around 1100°C. Macropores can also be controlled by the raw material ratio and the temperature during solidification.

[0041] As a specific example, when preparing the monolith by the sol-gel method, tetraethoxysilane is polymerized in an acidic aqueous solution containing polyethylene glycol polymer (PEO) to obtain a sol solution. The sol solution is poured into a cylindrical polycarbonate pipe, for example, with an inner diameter of 8 mm and a length of 50 cm, sealed, and incubated for 20 hours. In this way, a cylindrical monolith sol body, for example, a monolith sol body with an outer diameter of 5 mm and a length of 40 cm, can be obtained. Then, the solution in the gel is completely replaced with an aqueous ammonia solution, and the monolith is incubated to form mesopores, and washed with methanol to obtain a silica monolith.

[0042] By changing the PEO concentration from 1% to 20%, the macropore diameter of the monolith porous body can be changed from 0.1 μm to 200 μm, and by changing the concentration of the ammonia solution from 0.01% to 1%, the mesopore diameter of the monolith porous body can be changed from 0.0001 μm to 0.2 μm.

[0043] In other words, silica monoliths are synthesized by partially hydrolyzing metal alkoxides such as tetramethoxysilane and reactive organic monomers such as trimethoxysilane, either alone or in combination, and polycondensing them to create colloidal oligomers (production of a sol), which are then further hydrolyzed to promote polymerization and crosslinking, creating a three-dimensional mesh-like skeletal structure (production of a gel).

[0044] Finally, it is fired to completely gel and solidify, and gelation is complete if the firing temperature is 300°C or higher. Furthermore, by setting the firing temperature to a high temperature treatment of about 1100°C, it is possible to make the silica monolith non-porous. Once gelation is complete, it will not denature even with heat such as fusion.

[0045] Although glass monoliths and ceramic monoliths are made from different raw materials and are produced by different methods, they are porous bodies having a structure similar to that of the silica monolith and can also be used. Ceramic monoliths made from ceramics are not particularly limited, but may be selected from compounds of Group 4 elements such as silica, titanium, zirconium, and hafnium, alumina silicate A (sintered hard magnetic particles), silica sand, alumina, alumina silicate B (sintered chamotte particles), porous mullite, and diatomaceous earth.

[0046] In this case, the manufacturing method is not limited to the above, but for example, ceramic particles (hard magnetic crushed material, silica, alumina, chamotte, etc.) having a certain particle size range, a pore-forming material such as crystalline cellulose, and an appropriate dispersion solvent are mixed, molded, and sintered. More specifically, for example, it is not limited to the above, but a ceramic monolith having a composition of metal oxide-Na2O-B2O3-SiO2-CaO, etc. can be manufactured by mixing silica sand, boric acid, soda ash, and various metal oxides such as Al2O3, ZrO2, ZnO2, TiO2, SnO2, MgO2, etc., and melting the mixture at 1200 to 1400°C.

[0047] Glass monoliths made from glass include, but are not limited to, those with a composition of NaO-B2O3-SiO2-CaO, and may be manufactured using glass to which various oxides such as Al2O3, ZrO2, ZnO2, TiO2, SnO2, and MgO2 have been added. In this case, the manufacturing method is, but is not limited to, for example, a mixture of silica sand, boric acid, soda ash, and alumina, which is melted at 1200 to 1400°C to produce a glass lump. The composition becomes Na2O-B2O3-SiO2-CaO, and the glass becomes porous.

[0048] After molding at 800-1100℃, unseparated borosilicate glass is obtained, which is separated into SiO2 and B2O3-NaO-CaO phases by heat treatment, and a glass monolith with the SiO2 skeleton remaining can be produced by acid treatment. When the raw material for the monolith is inorganic, it is possible to produce one with a uniform pore distribution by changing the conditions during heat treatment.

[0049] In ceramic monoliths and glass monoliths, the diameter of macropores can be controlled by adjusting the composition and phase separation conditions, and mesopores can be formed simultaneously with macropores. In addition, a porous polymer monolith made from a polymer material can be used as the monolith, which has high chemical resistance and durability against alkaline solvents, is not affected by silanol, and is configured such that the surface of the monolith is coated with a polymer.

[0050] The material of the polymer monolith is not particularly limited, but specific examples include copolymers such as styrene-divinylbenzene, methacrylic acid ester, and acrylamide. The monolith may be constructed by introducing an anion exchange group into a polymer that is a copolymer of these. The monomers that constitute the polymer monolith are not particularly limited as long as they have copolymerizability, and a monomer suitable for the purpose may be selected. In addition, the hydrophobicity can be controlled by adjusting the blending ratio of the monomers. In addition, the uniformity of the diameter of the macropores and the diameter of the mesopores of the polymer monolith can be controlled by the blending ratio of the porogen that dissolves the monomer, the type of solvent, the monomer concentration, the ratio of the crosslinking agent and the polymerization initiator, the polymerization temperature, etc.

[0051] As an example of polymer monolith production, we will give an example of anion exchange polymer monolith production using the ring-opening reaction of epoxy groups. First, 300 μL of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and 100 μL of ethylene glycol methacrylate (EDMA) are dissolved in a hologen consisting of 350 μL of 1-propanol, 200 μL of 1,4-butanediol, and 50 μL of water. After passing nitrogen through this monomer solution, 4 mg of 2,2'-azobis(isobutyronitrile) is added, and the solution is filled into a column tube and reacted at 60°C for 24 hours to produce a GMA-based polymer monolith.

[0052] The monomer to be polymerized is not particularly limited, but examples of the monomer that can be used include 3-acrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium, 2-acryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium, 2-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium, vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium, and 3-methacryloylaminopropyltrimethylammonium.

[0053] <Carrier 12 and Heating Unit 13> Next, the configuration of carrier 12 and heating unit 13 mounted in main container 11 will be described with reference to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3(a) and the plan view of FIG. 3(b). The heating section 13 is located at the end of the carrier 12, and heats the carrier 12 from the end. In this example, the carrier 12 is a single mass, the heating section 13 is located on the horizontal periphery of the carrier 12, and air is supplied to the carrier 12 from below the carrier 12. The heating section 13 may be located on part of the periphery. Furthermore, the heating section 13 may be located on part of the upper and lower surfaces of the carrier 12. It is sufficient that the heating section 13 is capable of heating the carrier 12.

[0054] The carrier 12 holds a fragrance inside. A plurality of types of fragrances can be used. For example, a fragrance that stimulates (a fragrance that causes discomfort, a first fragrance) and a fragrance that gives a good feeling (a fragrance that causes comfort, a second fragrance). The plurality of types of fragrances are distributed almost homogeneously in the carrier 12. The plurality of types of fragrances may be mixed and provided to the carrier 12, or may be supplied to the carrier 12 individually.

[0055] The carrier 12 is a single object, but in this example, three regions are assumed. From the heating unit 13 side, they are the first region 12a, the second region 12b, and the third region 12c. The carrier 12 is heated by the heating unit 13, but the temperature differs depending on the distance from the heating unit 13 due to thermal conduction. This temperature difference allows multiple fragrant substances to be released to the outside of the carrier 12 within a certain period of time. The heat of the heating unit 13 is transferred from the first region 12a to the second region 12b and the third region 12c. Due to the difference in boiling point (using the difference in boiling point), the fragrant substances become gas at different times for each type and are released to the outside. The temperature of the carrier 12 is partially different, so that the fragrant substance can be released multiple times. For example, the fragrant substance in the first region 12a may be used first, followed by the fragrant substance in the second region 12b, and then the fragrant substance in the third region 12c. This is explained in Table 3 below. The difference in boiling point between the two flavorings is 5°C to 60°C, preferably 10°C to 50°C.

[0056] The temperature of the heating unit 13 may be controlled by providing a thermistor, or may be controlled by the power supplied to the heating unit 13. Although the heating unit 13 operates continuously during operation, it may also be operated for a fixed period of time. If the above-described monolith is used as the carrier 12, the fragrance can be retained by the macropores 31, and leakage of the fragrance can be prevented.

[0057] <Process> The process will be explained using Table 3. The first flavoring and the second flavoring are set so as to be uniformly distributed across the first region 12a to the third region 12c. (1) First heating step The support 12 is heated by the heating unit 13. The support 12 is heated to a predetermined first temperature. The first temperature is the boiling point of the first flavoring ±α, where α is about 3 to 8°C. When the boiling point of the first fragrance is ±α, the first fragrance vaporizes and is released from the carrier, but the second fragrance, which has a higher boiling point, is vaporized at a lower rate, so little gas is released and a gas-liquid equilibrium is reached on the surface of the carrier, and the second fragrance remains in a liquid state within the carrier.

[0058] (2) First concentration step The first flavoring becomes gaseous through the first heating step, but remains within the main container 11, such as in the space 20 around the carrier 12. During this step, it is preferable not to introduce air from the blower 14 to the carrier 12. The first flavoring is concentrated and retained in the space 20.

[0059] (2) First aroma generation process After the first concentration step, air is blown onto the carrier 12 by the blower 14. The concentrated first flavoring is instantly released from the outlet 10. This takes about a few seconds (1 to 10 seconds). The vaporized first fragrance accumulated in the space 20 or the like is carried to the outside of the main container 11 by the air.

[0060] (4) Second heating step After the first aroma generating step, the temperature of the carrier 12 is further increased from the first temperature by the heating unit 13 to a second temperature. The second temperature is the boiling point of the second fragrance +α, where α is about 3 to 8°C. When the temperature is within the boiling point of the second flavoring ±α, the second flavoring is vaporized and released from the carrier 12.

[0061] (5)Second concentration step The second flavoring becomes gaseous through the third heating step, but remains within the main container 11, such as in the space 20 around the carrier 12. During this step, it is preferable not to introduce air from the blower 14 to the carrier 12. The second flavoring is concentrated and retained in the space 20.

[0062] (6) Second aroma generation process After the second concentration step, air is introduced into the space 20 by the blower 14. The second flavoring present in the space 20 is released from the outlet 10. Since it is not necessary to blow out the second flavoring all at once, the blower 14 may blow air onto the carrier 12 during the second heating step to blow out the aroma. The time is about several seconds (1 to 10 seconds).

[0063] The above steps (1) to (6) can be repeated. (a) Example of carrier 12 where scent is emitted from different locations The first time, the flavoring in the first region 12a that is heated first is used, and the second time, the first region 12a is heated but without flavoring, and the second region 12b is heated and its flavoring is used. The next time, the flavoring in the third region 12c is used in the same way. The regions are only tentatively set, and there may be two regions or more than three regions. They can be set arbitrarily depending on the size of the carrier 12, the pore size, the flavoring, the heating conditions, and the positional relationship between the heating unit 13 and the carrier 12. In addition, each region may not only be located in one place as a solid mass, but may also be located in multiple places in the carrier 12. It depends on the way heat is transmitted. The regions are only tentatively set to three, and it is possible to use many regions and carry out ((1) to (6)) many times.

[0064] (b) Mesopore 32: Examples of different locations where scents are released In (a), the aroma is generated in different locations of the carrier 12, but in the example in (b), the location of aroma generation differs depending on the position of the mesopores 32. That is, the first time, the aroma is generated by the fragrance in the shallow locations of the mesopores 32, close to the macropores 31, becoming gaseous. The second time, the aroma is generated by the fragrance in the deeper mesopores 32 than the first time. The third time, the aroma is generated by the fragrance in the even deeper (further away) mesopores 32. Each time is about 1 to 3 minutes. It can be used repeatedly. The carrier 12 is a porous body, and gradually releases the fragrance over time.

[0065] [Table 3] The first fragrance is the fragrance that stimulates the senses, as described above, and the second fragrance is the fragrance that makes the senses pleasant, as described above. The boiling point of the first fragrance is lower than that of the second fragrance, so the first fragrance is generated first. After that, the second fragrance is generated after a certain period of time.

[0066] A person using the aroma provision device 100 operates the input unit 17 of the aroma provision device 100, activates it, and smells the aroma from the outlet unit 10. First, the person smells the aroma of the first fragrance, which is generated instantly, and then, after a period of time, smells the aroma of the second fragrance. The aroma of the first fragrance stimulates the person and wakes them up, or resets their mood. Then, the aroma of the second fragrance makes the person feel good.

[0067] As a result, people can wake up from drowsiness, long-term fatigue, boredom, etc., feel refreshed, and continue working. For example, long-distance car drivers, people who work long hours, people who study long hours, people who wake up, etc. can be stimulated and immediately resume their previous work or action normally, or immediately start their work or action.

[0068] Furthermore, the scent of the second fragrance allows the user to work and perform tasks comfortably, and encourages the user to continue using the fragrance emitting device 100 from the next time onwards. In the above, the first flavor and the second flavor are used, but only one of them may be used. In this case, either the first step (first heating step to first aroma generating step) or the second step (second heating step to second aroma generating step) will be used.

[0069] <Carrier 12> Although one carrier is used in Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b), a plurality of carriers may be used. The fragrance contained in each carrier may be different.

[0070] <Method of retaining fragrance on carrier 12> The carrier 12 can be made to hold the flavoring by (1) immersing the carrier 12 in a flavoring liquid, or (2) dripping flavoring liquid onto the upper surface of the carrier 12. The fragrance may be used in the form of a mixture of multiple liquids, or each of the liquids may be used alone.

[0071] (1) How to soak the carrier 12 in the fragrance liquid A liquid containing a fragrance is poured into a beaker or the like, and the carrier 12 is submerged in the liquid. If the carrier 12 is a monolith, the fragrance will permeate the monolith if it is submerged for a few seconds. (2) Method for dropping droplets of flavor onto the top surface of the carrier 12 Droplets of the fragrance are dropped onto the carrier 12 using a dispenser or the like. If the carrier 12 is a monolith, the fragrance liquid will permeate the carrier 12 simply by dropping the liquid.

[0072] <Adding fragrance to carrier> An example of a method for replenishing fragrance is described below. (1) Supply from the outlet The flavor liquid is dropped from the outlet 10 to supply the flavor to the carrier 12. (2) Decomposition The cross-sectional views of Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are used for explanation. A separation section 21 is provided on main container 11. Separation section 21 may be a screw, a recessed or protruding section, etc., and at separation section 21, main container 11 can be separated into upper portion 11a and lower portion 11b, and then joined together. After main container 11 is separated, liquid fragrance is dripped from fragrance container 29 in the same manner as above. If fragrance container 29 is pressurized by a resin container, the liquid fragrance can be ejected from a nozzle at the tip. Fragrance container 29 may be of a syringe type.

[0073] The carrier 12 may be removed from the main container 11 and immersed in the liquid of the flavoring. In this case, the carrier 12 is set so as to be detachable. (3) Supply from the inlet This will be explained with reference to Figure 5. An injection port 28 is provided in the main container 11, and a fragrance container 29 is inserted into the injection port 28 to supply droplets of fragrance to the carrier 12. The injection port 28 is usually covered with a lid. Alternatively, the injection port 28 may have a rubber plate lid that opens when the fragrance container 29 is inserted.

[0074] 6(a) to 6(c) and 7 show an aroma provision device 200, which is a modified example of the aroma provision device 100. The following describes the parts that are different from the aroma provision device 100. Items that are not described are the same as those in the aroma provision device 100. Fig. 6(a) is a side view of the aroma providing device 200. Fig. 6(b) is a perspective view of the cap 25. Fig. 6(c) is a perspective view of the upper part of the main container 11. The aroma providing device 200 is shaped like a 600cc plastic bottle. It can be placed in a car, a bag, etc. in the same way as a plastic bottle. A cap 25 is detachably fitted to the top of the main container 11.

[0075] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the aroma provision device 200. The aroma provision device 200 differs from the aroma provision device 100 in the arrangement of the components. The heating unit 13 is located below the carrier 12. The blower 14 is located next to the heating unit 13. The laminar flow section 24 and the space 20 are shared. In this case, the input unit 17 is a button type that can be switched between ON and OFF by pressing it. A separate display unit may be provided on the side of the main container 11. The fragrance storage section 27 is located at the bottom of the fragrance providing device 200. The fragrance storage section 27 can be removed by removing the main container lower section 11b from the main container upper section 11a. A fragrance is stored in the fragrance storage section 27, and the fragrance can be supplied to the carrier 12 as needed. As described below, the carrier 12 can be removed from the main container 11, and a fragrance can be supplied from the fragrance storage container 27 to the carrier 12.

[0076] The cap 25 has a hole passing therethrough. The hole is the laminar flow section 24 and the space 20. The carrier 12 is placed on top of the heating unit 13. Preferably, there is a metal frame (metal dish-shaped) that holds the carrier 12, and the carrier 12 is set in the frame (metal dish). The carrier 12 can be removed by removing the cap 25 from the main container 11. In order to firmly fix the carrier 12, the heating unit 13 is pushed upward by the pressure unit 26. The carrier 12 is held in a pressurized state by the cap 25 and the heating unit 13. The heating unit 13 heats the frame in which the carrier 12 is held, thereby heating the carrier 12.

[0077] Air flow 22 is introduced into main container 11 from inlet 18 by blower 14, travels through cover 19, reaches laminar flow section 24 (space 20), and is released to the outside from outlet 10. The air is not blown toward carrier 12, but is guided by the concentrated aroma temporarily stored above carrier 12, and is released to the outside from outlet 10 together with the aroma. The aroma released from the carrier 12 by heating has been accumulated in advance in the laminar flow section 24 (space 20), and is released to the outside in a concentrated state by the air flow 22. The laminar flow section 24 (space 20) is a long and narrow hole. Assuming it is cylindrical, it should have a diameter of 3 to 8 mm, preferably 5 to 7 mm. The shape should be columnar. After the aroma is pushed out together with the air flow 22 and released to the outside, it does not spread much and is concentrated in the human nose, allowing the aroma to be provided. The process is similar to that described above.

[0078] <Overall> In the above, the aroma providing devices 100 and 200 have been described as being cylindrical and bottle-shaped, but they may also be rectangular. When refilling the aroma, the type of aroma can be changed. However, in order to emit multiple types of aroma at different times over time, it is necessary to select an aroma with a boiling point close to that of the previous aroma, or to control the heating unit 13 to adjust the set temperature. Although two types of fragrances have been described, three or more types may be used. Multiple fragrances with different boiling points can be provided at different times over time. [Industrial Applicability]

[0079] This fragrance can be widely used as a device and method for providing fragrance. It can be used not only in the home or office, but also in many places such as in the car and train waiting areas. It can be used not only for personal use but also for the entire room. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 10 Exit section 11 Main container 11a Main container upper part 11b Lower part of main container 12 Carrier 12a 1st area 12b 2nd area 12c 3rd area 13 Heating section 14 Blower 15 Power supply 16 Control section 17 Input section 18 Entrance 19 Cover 20 space 21 Separation part 22 Air flow 23 Switch section 24 Laminar flow section 25 Cap 26 Pressurizing section 27 Flavor Storage Department 28 Inlet 29 Perfume container 31 Macropores 32 Mesopores 100, 200 Fragrance providing device

Claims

1. A porous body for holding a fragrance; A heating unit that heats the porous body; a space for concentrating and retaining the fragrance released from the porous body; A blower for blowing air into the space; a main body container that holds the porous body, the heating unit, the space, and the blower; Including, The scent providing device, wherein the porous body contains at least one type of fragrance.

2. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 , wherein a single porous body contains a plurality of types of aroma.

3. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the porous bodies are used.

4. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of types of fragrances are contained in the porous body in a mixed state.

5. The scent providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fragrance is an unpleasant fragrance.

6. 3. The aroma providing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of fragrances are an unpleasant fragrance and a pleasant fragrance.

7. 3. The aroma providing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of aromas are generated over time by utilizing differences in boiling points of the aromas.

8. The plurality of types of fragrances include a first fragrance and a second fragrance, The first fragrance is an unpleasant fragrance, the second fragrance is a pleasant fragrance, The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the boiling point of the first fragrance is lower than the boiling point of the second fragrance.

9. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air blower is a fan or a blower.

10. The aroma providing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the porous body is a monolith.

11. Heating a porous body containing at least one flavoring agent; a first heating step of gasifying the first flavoring; a first concentration step of concentrating and retaining the first flavoring released from the porous body in a space; A first fragrance generating step of directing air into the space and releasing the first fragrance.

12. After the first fragrance generating step, a second heating step of heating the porous body is performed. A second concentration step of concentrating and retaining the second flavoring released from the porous body in the space; The scent providing method according to claim 11, further comprising a second fragrance generating step of directing air into the space and releasing the second fragrance.

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