Aerosol Generator

Abstract

An aerosol generating device that heats an aerosol product and generates an aerosol includes a case; a heater disposed in the case to generate heat; a support disposed in the case and including a cavity for accommodating the aerosol product; ribs formed on the inner peripheral surface of the support and extending circumferentially around the cavity so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the aerosol product accommodated in the cavity; and an airflow path formed between the case and the support so that air flows into the cavity.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device that heats an aerosol product to generate an aerosol. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, there has been an increasing demand for alternatives to traditional cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for aerosol generating devices that generate aerosols by heating an aerosol generating substance without combustion. This has led to active research into heated aerosol generating devices. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] When the aerosol generating device is used, the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol product (e.g., a cigarette) may be deformed over time due to the application of heat to the aerosol product. As the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol product is irregularly deformed, the transfer amount of the aerosol components changes irregularly over time. As a result, the tobacco taste and atomization amount are not kept constant during the use of the aerosol generating device.

[0004] In addition, gaps are formed between the aerosol product and the aerosol generating device, which creates unpredictable airflow paths. In particular, the cross-section of the shape of the aerosol product is irregularly deformed, causing an irregular amount of air to flow into the gap. In that case, the amount of aerosol generating material used to generate aerosol during smoking may not be constant.

[0005] In addition, if the aerosol product is not inserted into the aerosol generating device in the correct direction, the amount of aerosol components transferred will be different each time. In addition, if the aerosol product touches the lips, the aerosol product will unintentionally detach from the aerosol generating device.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present embodiment is not limited to the technical problem as described above, and other technical problems may be inferred from the following embodiment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An embodiment provides an aerosol generating device that aligns the direction in which an aerosol product is inserted into the aerosol generating device with respect to a preset alignment position of the aerosol generating device and fixes the position of the aerosol product inserted into the aerosol generating device.

[0008] The embodiments provide an aerosol generating device that maintains a constant cross-sectional shape of the aerosol product during use of the aerosol generating device, preventing the generation of unexpected airflow paths.

[0009] An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment for solving the above-mentioned problems includes a case; a heater disposed in the case and generating heat; a support disposed in the case and including a cavity for accommodating an aerosol product; a rib formed on the inner surface of the support and extending circumferentially of the cavity so as to surround the outer surface of the aerosol product accommodated in the cavity; and an air flow path formed between the case and the support so that air flows into the cavity. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The aerosol generating device of the embodiment can provide a consistent tobacco taste and atomization volume by guiding the insertion of an aerosol product into the aerosol generating device and fixing the aerosol product inserted into the aerosol generating device.

[0011] In addition, the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment can generate an aerosol with a constant composition by maintaining the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol product constant and preventing the generation of undesirable airflow paths. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1]1 is a diagram showing an example of a cigarette being inserted into an aerosol generating device. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a cigarette being inserted into an aerosol generating device. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a cigarette being inserted into an aerosol generating device. [Figure 4] 1 is a drawing showing an example of a cigarette. [Diagram 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 8A] FIG. 2 is a plan view of an aerosol generating device produced as a comparative example. [Figure 8B] FIG. 8B is an enlarged perspective view of part A in FIG. 8A. [Figure 8C] 8B is a cross-sectional view of the support with the aerosol product inserted into the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 8A. [Figure 9A] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. [Figure 9B] FIG. 9B is an enlarged perspective view of part B of FIG. 9A. [Figure 9C] 9B is a cross-sectional view of the support with the aerosol product inserted into the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 9A. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The terms used in the examples are currently widely used general terms as much as possible while considering the functions in the present invention, but they may vary depending on the intentions or precedents of the engineers in the field, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in certain cases, the applicant may arbitrarily select terms, and in such cases, the meanings of the terms will be described in detail in the description of the invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention must be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the overall content of the present invention, not just the names of the terms.

[0014] Throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain component, it does not mean excluding other components, but may further include other components, unless otherwise specified to the contrary. Furthermore, the terms "... unit" and "... module" described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and may be realized by hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software.

[0015] As used herein, when a phrase such as "at least one of" precedes an element in a sequence, it modifies the entire element and not each individual member of the sequence. For example, the phrase "at least one of a, b, and c" should be interpreted as including a, b, c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

[0016] The term "aerosol product" refers to a product designed to be inhaled by a person who inhales the aerosol product. The aerosol product includes an aerosol-generating material that generates an aerosol without combustion. For example, at least one aerosol product can generate an aerosol when loaded into an aerosol generating device and heated by the aerosol generating device. The shape, size, material, and structure of the aerosol product vary from embodiment to embodiment. Examples of aerosol product may include, but are not limited to, cigarette-shaped materials and cartridges. Hereinafter, "cigarette" (i.e., when used alone without modifiers such as "general," "traditional," or "combustible") refers to an aerosol product having a shape and size similar to a traditional combustible cigarette.

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0019] 1 to 3 are diagrams showing an example in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

[0020] 1, the aerosol generating device 10 includes a battery 11, a controller 12, and a heater 200. 2 and 3, the aerosol generating device 10 further includes a vaporizer 13. In addition, a cigarette 20 may be inserted into the internal space of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0021] The components according to the present embodiment are illustrated in the aerosol generating device 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3. Therefore, it will be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art according to the present embodiment that the aerosol generating device 10 further includes other general components in addition to the components illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.

[0022] 2 and 3 show the aerosol generating device 10 including the heater 200, the heater 200 may be omitted if necessary.

[0023] In Fig. 1, the battery 11, the control unit 12, and the heater 200 are illustrated as being arranged in a row. In addition, in Fig. 2, the battery 11, the control unit 12, the vaporizer 13, and the heater 200 are illustrated as being arranged in a row. In addition, in Fig. 3, the vaporizer 13 and the heater 200 are illustrated as being arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generation device 10 is not limited to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. That is, the arrangement of the battery 11, the control unit 12, the heater 200, and the vaporizer 13 may be changed depending on the design of the aerosol generation device 10.

[0024] When a cigarette 20 (aerosol generating article) is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, the aerosol generating device 10 may activate the heater 200 and / or the vaporizer 13 to generate an aerosol from the cigarette 20 and / or the vaporizer 13. The aerosol generated by the heater 200 and / or the vaporizer 13 passes through the cigarette 20 and is delivered to a user.

[0025] If necessary, the aerosol generating device 10 can heat the heater 200 even when the cigarette 20 is not inserted in the aerosol generating device 10 .

[0026] The battery 11 supplies power used for the operation of the aerosol generation device 10. For example, the battery 11 supplies power to heat the heater 200 or the vaporizer 13, and supplies power necessary for the operation of the control unit 12. The battery 11 also supplies power necessary for the operation of a display, a sensor, a motor, and the like provided in the aerosol generation device 10.

[0027] The control unit 12 generally controls the operation of the aerosol generation device 10. Specifically, the control unit 12 controls the operation of not only the battery 11, the heater 200, and the vaporizer 13, but also other components included in the aerosol generation device 10. In addition, the control unit 12 checks the state of each component of the aerosol generation device 10 and determines whether the aerosol generation device 10 is in an operable state.

[0028] The control unit 12 includes at least one processor. The processor may be realized by an array of a number of logic gates, or may be realized by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program that can be executed by the microprocessor. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiment pertains to that the processor may also be realized by other forms of hardware.

[0029] The heater 200 may be heated by power supplied from the battery 11. For example, when a cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10, the heater 200 is located outside the cigarette. Thus, the heated heater 200 may increase the temperature of the aerosol generating material within the cigarette.

[0030] The heater 200 may also be an electrical resistive heater. For example, the heater 200 may include a conductive track, and the heater 200 may be heated by passing a current through the conductive track. However, the heater 200 is not limited to the above example, and may be any heater that can be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol generating device 10, or may be set to a desired temperature by a user.

[0031] Meanwhile, as another example, the heater 200 may be an induction heater. Specifically, the heater 200 includes a conductive coil for inductively heating the cigarette, and the cigarette includes a susceptor that is heated by the induction heater.

[0032] For example, the heater 200 may include a tubular heating element, a plate heating element, a needle heating element, or a rod heating element, and may heat the interior or exterior of the cigarette 20 depending on the shape of the heating element.

[0033] In addition, a plurality of heaters 200 may be disposed in the aerosol generating device 10. In this case, the plurality of heaters 200 may be disposed so as to be inserted inside the cigarette 20, or may be disposed outside the cigarette 20. In addition, among the plurality of heaters 200, some may be disposed so as to be inserted inside the cigarette 20, and the rest may be disposed outside the cigarette 20. In addition, the shape of the heater 200 is not limited to the shapes illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, and various shapes may be produced.

[0034] The vaporizer 13 heats the liquid composition and generates an aerosol, which may be transmitted to the user through the cigarette 20. That is, the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 13 travels along an airflow passage of the aerosol generating device 10, which may be configured to allow the aerosol generated by the vaporizer 13 to be transmitted to the user through the cigarette 20.

[0035] For example, the vaporizer 13 may include, but is not limited to, a liquid storage unit, a liquid transfer means, and a heating element. For example, the liquid storage unit, the liquid transfer means, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generation device 10 as separate modules.

[0036] The liquid storage unit can store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition can be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance including a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance. The liquid storage unit can be made to be detached / attached to / from the vaporizer 13, or can be made integral with the vaporizer 13.

[0037] For example, the liquid composition may include water, solvent, ethanol, plant extract, fragrance, flavoring agent, or vitamin mixture. The fragrance may include, but is not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, various fruit fragrance ingredients, and the like. The flavoring agent includes ingredients that provide various flavors or tastes to the user. The vitamin mixture may include, but is not limited to, at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E. The liquid composition may also include an aerosol forming agent, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

[0038] The liquid transfer means transfers the liquid composition in the liquid reservoir to the heating element, for example, but not limited to, a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic.

[0039] The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition transferred by the liquid transfer means. For example, the heating element can be, but is not limited to, a metal hot wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, etc. Also, the heating element can be configured with a conductive filament such as a nichrome wire and arranged in a structure wound around the liquid transfer means. The heating element can be heated by current supply and transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol can be generated.

[0040] For example, the vaporizer 13 may also be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer, but is not limited thereto.

[0041] Meanwhile, the aerosol generation device 10 may further include a general-purpose component in addition to the battery 11, the control unit 12, the heater 200, and the vaporizer 13. For example, the aerosol generation device 10 includes a display capable of outputting visual information and / or a motor for outputting tactile information. The aerosol generation device 10 also includes at least one sensor (such as a puff detection sensor, a temperature detection sensor, or a cigarette insertion detection sensor). The aerosol generation device 10 may also be manufactured with a structure in which external air flows in or internal gas flows out even when the cigarette 20 is inserted.

[0042] 1 to 3, the aerosol generating device 10 may configure a system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11 of the aerosol generating device 10. Alternatively, the heater 200 may heat the aerosol generating device 10 in a state where the cradle and the aerosol generating device 10 are combined.

[0043] The cigarette 20 may be similar to a typical combustion cigarette. For example, the cigarette 20 may be divided into a first portion including an aerosol-generating material and a second portion including a filter or the like. Alternatively, the second portion of the cigarette 20 may also include an aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion.

[0044] The entire first part may be inserted into the aerosol generation device 10, and the second part may be exposed to the outside. Alternatively, only a part of the first part may be inserted into the aerosol generation device 10, or the entire first part and a part of the second part may be inserted. A user inhales the aerosol while holding the second part in their mouth. In this case, the aerosol is generated by external air passing through the first part, and the generated aerosol is delivered to the user's mouth by passing through the second part.

[0045] As an example, external air may flow in through at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10. For example, the opening and / or closing of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10 and / or the size of the air passage may be adjusted by the user. This allows the user to adjust the amount of atomization, smoking sensation, etc. As another example, external air may flow into the cigarette 20 through at least one hole formed in the surface of the cigarette 20.

[0046] Hereinafter, an example of the cigarette 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an example of a cigarette.

[0048] 4, the cigarette 20 includes a tobacco rod 21 and a filter rod 22. The first portion described above with reference to FIGS.

[0049] 4, the filter rod 22 is illustrated as a single segment, but is not limited thereto. That is, the filter rod 22 may be composed of multiple segments. For example, the filter rod 22 includes a first segment that cools the aerosol and a second segment that filters a predetermined component contained in the aerosol. In addition, the filter rod 22 may further include at least one segment that performs another function, if necessary.

[0050] The cigarette 20 is also wrapped by at least one wrapper 24. The wrapper 24 may have at least one hole through which external air flows in or internal gas flows out. As an example, the cigarette 20 may also be wrapped by one wrapper 24. As another example, the cigarette 20 may be wrapped by two or more wrappers 24 in a superimposed manner. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be wrapped by a first wrapper, and the filter rod 22 may be wrapped by a second wrapper. Then, the tobacco rod 21 and the filter rod 22 wrapped by the individual wrappers may be combined, and the entire cigarette 20 may be rewrapped by a third wrapper. If the tobacco rod 21 or the filter rod 22 is composed of a plurality of segments, each segment may also be wrapped by an individual wrapper. Then, the entire cigarette 20, in which the segments wrapped by the individual wrappers are combined, may be rewrapped by another wrapper.

[0051] The tobacco rod 21 includes an aerosol-generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material may include, but is not limited to, at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. The tobacco rod 21 may also include other additives, such as flavoring agents, humectants, and / or organic acids. A flavoring liquid, such as menthol or a humectant, may be added to the tobacco rod 21 by being sprayed onto the tobacco rod 21.

[0052] The tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured in various ways. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured in the form of a sheet or a strand. The tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured from tobacco shreds obtained by cutting a tobacco sheet into small pieces. The tobacco rod 21 may also be surrounded by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material may be a metal foil such as aluminum foil, but is not limited thereto. For example, the thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 may uniformly distribute the heat transferred to the tobacco rod 21 to improve the thermal conductivity applied to the tobacco rod, thereby improving the tobacco taste. The thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 may also function as a susceptor that is heated by an induction heater. In this case, although not shown, the tobacco rod 21 may further include an additional susceptor in addition to the thermally conductive material surrounding the outside.

[0053] The filter rod 22 is also a cellulose acetate filter. Meanwhile, the shape of the filter rod 22 is not limited. For example, the filter rod 22 may be a cylindrical rod or a tubular rod having a hollow inside. The filter rod 22 may also be a recessed rod. If the filter rod 22 is composed of multiple segments, at least one of the multiple segments may be manufactured to have a different shape.

[0054] The filter rod 22 may be manufactured to generate a flavor. For example, a flavoring liquid may be sprayed onto the filter rod 22, or separate fibers coated with the flavoring liquid may be inserted into the filter rod 22.

[0055] The filter rod 22 may also include at least one capsule 23. Here, the capsule 23 performs the function of generating flavor and the function of generating aerosol. For example, the capsule 23 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is covered with a coating. The capsule 23 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0056] If the filter rod 22 includes a segment for cooling the aerosol, the cooling segment may be made of a polymeric material or a biodegradable polymeric material. For example, the cooling segment may be made of pure polylactic acid, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the cooling segment may be made of a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes formed therein. However, the cooling segment is not limited to the above examples, and may be applicable without limitation as long as it can perform the function of cooling the aerosol.

[0057] Meanwhile, although not shown in Fig. 4, the cigarette 20 according to one embodiment may further include a front-end filter. The front-end filter may be disposed on one side of the tobacco rod 21 opposite the one side facing the filter rod 22. The front-end filter prevents the tobacco rod 21 from falling out to the outside, and prevents aerosol liquefied from the tobacco rod 21 during smoking from flowing into the aerosol generating device (10 in Figs. 1 to 3).

[0058] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support shown in FIG.

[0059] 5, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment includes a case 100, a heater 200 disposed in the case 100 to generate heat, a cavity 310 to accommodate an aerosol product 20, a support 300 disposed in the case 100, ribs 400 disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 310, and an airflow path 500 through which air flows. The components of the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment are not limited to the components illustrated in the drawing, and may include additional components of the aerosol generating device 10.

[0060] The heater 200 and the support 300 may be disposed inside the case 100. The support 300 may be detachably housed in the case 100. When the support 300 is housed inside the case 100, an inner wall of the case 100 and an outer wall of the support 300 may face each other.

[0061] The support 300 includes a cavity 310 for accommodating the aerosol product product 20. The cavity 310 is also an empty space inside the support 300. The cavity 310 extends from one end 301 of the support 300, into which the aerosol product product 20 is inserted, to the other end 302 opposite the one end 301. The one end 301 may be open so that the aerosol product product 20 may be inserted. The aerosol product product 20 may be inserted into the cavity 310 through the one end 301 of the support 300. When the aerosol product product 20 is completely inserted into the cavity 310, the aerosol product product 20 may be accommodated in the cavity 310 in a state of contact with the other end 302 of the support 20.

[0062] The heater 200 can generate aerosol by generating heat for heating the aerosol product 20. As shown in Fig. 5, the support 300 includes a through hole 320 at the other end 302, and the heater 200 is present inside the cavity 310 by penetrating the other end 302 through the through hole 320. When the aerosol product 20 is completely inserted into the cavity 310, the heater 200 can be disposed adjacent to the aerosol product 20. Fig. 5 illustrates the heater 200 inserted inside the aerosol product 20, but is not limited thereto. The heater 200 can be in any form as long as it can transfer heat to the aerosol product 20 accommodated in the cavity 310.

[0063] 6, the ribs 400 may be arranged along the circumferential direction of the cavity 310 and may protrude toward the cavity 310. Referring to FIG. 5, the aerosol product product 20 is inserted along the extension direction of the cavity 310. When a user inserts an aerosol product product 20 such as a cigarette into the cavity 310, if the aerosol product product 20 is inserted into the cavity 310 without being aligned along the extension direction of the cavity 310, the aerosol product product 20 accommodated in the cavity 310 may not be aligned with respect to the position of the heater 200. In that case, the heater 200 may not be inserted into the middle part of the end of the aerosol product product 20, but may be inserted into another part of the end of the aerosol product product 20.

[0064] The ribs 400 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the cavity 310, thereby guiding the movement of the aerosol product product 20 so that the aerosol product product 20 is inserted into the cavity 310 along the extension direction of the cavity 310. That is, the ribs 400 guide the insertion direction of the aerosol product product 20, thereby aligning the position of the aerosol product product 20 with the position of the heater 200 inside the support 300. For this purpose, the ribs 400 are arranged adjacent to one end 301 of the support 300. The ribs 400 are also made of a flexible material that guides the movement of the aerosol product product 20 without damaging the aerosol product product 20.

[0065] One surface of the rib 400 is inclined with respect to the extension direction (i.e., the longitudinal direction) of the cavity 310 and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the cavity 310 so as not to interfere with the insertion of the aerosol product 20. This allows the aerosol product 20 to be naturally and smoothly inserted even if the rib 400 protrudes into the cavity 310. In addition, the rib 400 is curved convexly toward the cavity 310 in order to smoothly guide the aerosol product 20. The curved shape may have a cross section in the shape of a semicircle or a quadrant. However, the shape of the rib 400 may be various and is not limited to the above-mentioned shape.

[0066] Also, a plurality of ribs 400 may be arranged along the extension direction of the cavity 310. The plurality of ribs 400 may have different protruding degrees toward the cavity 310.

[0067] When the aerosol generation device 10 is accommodated in the cavity 310, the ribs 400 may be arranged to surround the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol product 20. The ribs 400 contact the aerosol product 20 along the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol product 20. As a result, the ribs 400 may maintain the cross-sectional shape of the aerosol product 20 and fix the position of the aerosol product 20 in the cavity 310 when the aerosol generation device 10 is in use.

[0068] The size and shape of the support 300 may correspond to the size and shape of the aerosol product article 20. For example, when the aerosol product article 20 has a cylindrical shape, the support 300 is also hollow cylindrical so as to accommodate the cylindrical aerosol product article 20. When the support 300 is hollow cylindrical, the rib 400 arranged from the inner peripheral surface of the support 300 toward the cavity 310 is also ring-shaped extending along the circumferential direction of the cavity 310.

[0069] The support 300 and the rib 400 may be integrally injection molded so as to be integrally formed, which may facilitate the manufacture of the support 300. Alternatively, the support 300 and the rib 400 may be manufactured independently and then assembled. After the support 300 and the rib 400 are manufactured separately, they may be assembled by screwing or fitting the joint parts. That is, the rib 400 may be manufactured separately and then assembled on the inner circumferential surface of the support 300. In this case, the rib 400 may be joined to the support 300 so that the inner end protrudes toward the cavity 310. The airflow path 500 is a path through which the outside air flows into the inside of the aerosol generating device 10. The air flows through the airflow path 500, is mixed with the aerosol, and is then provided to the user.

[0070] The airflow path 500 of the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment is also provided so that air flows into the cavity 310 through a gap between the case 100 and the support 300. That is, the airflow path 500 is also formed so that air flows from one end 301 of the support 300 to the other end 302 between the inner wall of the case 100 and the outer wall of the support 300, and flows into the cavity 310 through the other end 302 of the support 300. The airflow path 500 is also provided so that air flows into the cavity 310 through the above-mentioned through hole 320.

[0071] When the aerosol product 20 is inserted into the cavity 310, the ribs 400 surround and contact the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol product 20, thereby blocking air from flowing between the cavity 310 and the aerosol product 20. Therefore, the airflow path 500 of the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment is provided so that air flows into the cavity 310 through between the case 100 and the support 300, and air can be prevented from flowing directly into the cavity 310 through one end 301 of the support 300.

[0072] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the support shown in FIG.

[0073] 7, the diameter a of the cavity 310 at the position of the rib 400 is smaller than the diameter b of the aerosol product 20. The diameter a of the cavity 310 at the position of the rib 400 corresponds to the distance from one point on the rib 400 to another point on the rib 400 opposite the one point, and is smaller than the diameter of the cross section of the cavity 310 where the rib 400 is not located.

[0074] When a user inserts the aerosol product 20, the user pressurizes the aerosol product 20 in the extension direction of the cavity 310 from the position of the rib 400 so that the aerosol product 20 is completely accommodated in the cavity 310. When the aerosol product 20 is accommodated in the cavity 310, the rib 400 and the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol product 20 are in complete contact with each other. Thus, the rib 400 can fix the position of the aerosol product 20 in the cavity 310 and block air from flowing directly between the aerosol product 20 and the cavity 310.

[0075] The effects of the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0076] Figure 8A is a plan view of an aerosol generating device for a comparative example, Figure 8B is an enlarged oblique view of part A of Figure 8A, and Figure 8C is a cross-sectional view of the support with an aerosol product inserted into the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 8A.

[0077] 8A to 8C are views showing an aerosol generating device 10 in which a plurality of ribs 400 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of a cavity 310. FIG.

[0078] When using the aerosol generating device 10, the user repeatedly puts the end of the aerosol product 20 to his / her mouth, which may cause the aerosol product 20 to come off from the cavity 310 when the aerosol product 20 comes off from the lips. In the case of the aerosol generating device 10 shown in Fig. 8A, if the fixing force of the aerosol product 20 by the rib 400 is insufficient, the aerosol product 20 may come off from the cavity 310 when the aerosol product 20 comes off from the user's lips during use.

[0079] When the aerosol generating device 10 is operated, the heater 200 heats the aerosol product 20 to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol is provided to a user via the aerosol product 20, so that the shape of the aerosol product 20 may be deformed and its cross-section may be expanded.

[0080] 8C, the cross section of the aerosol product 20 may be irregularly expanded between the disposed ribs 400. Thus, when the aerosol generating device 10 is used, over time the shape of the aerosol product 20 may change, which may cause irregularities in the composition of the generated aerosol.

[0081] 8A to 8C, every time the aerosol product 20 is inserted into the cavity 310, or every time the aerosol generation device 10 is used, the position of the aerosol product 20 relative to the heater 200 may be inconsistent, resulting in deviation in the position of the aerosol product 20 relative to the cavity 310. As a result, the heat transferred to the aerosol product 20 is not constant, and the degree to which the shape of the aerosol product 20 is deformed varies. As a result, the components of the generated aerosol are not constant.

[0082] Furthermore, gaps may occur between the ribs 400 spaced apart from one another, allowing external air to flow directly into the cavity 310, creating an unintended air flow path. Since the deformed cross-sectional shape of the aerosol production product 20 is irregular, the above-mentioned gaps may occur irregularly during use. Therefore, the amount of air that flows directly into the cavity 310 is not constant, and the amount of aerosol-generating material contained in the aerosol production product 20 used is not constant. Therefore, the components of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generation device 10 are not constant.

[0083] In other words, the spaced ribs 400 cause the shape of the aerosol generating material to be irregularly deformed, so that the insertion position of the aerosol product 20 is not aligned and an airflow path 500 is created in which air flows directly into the cavity 310, which can result in inconsistent tobacco taste and deviations in the amount of atomization each time the aerosol generating device 10 is used.

[0084] Figure 9A is a plan view of an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment, Figure 9B is an enlarged oblique view of part B of Figure 9A, and Figure 9C is a cross-sectional view of a support with an aerosol product inserted into the aerosol generating device shown in Figure 9A.

[0085] 9A and 9B, the ribs 400 may be disposed along the circumferential direction of the cavity 310 in which the aerosol product 20 is accommodated. Thus, the ribs 400 may be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol product 20 accommodated in the cavity 310 along the circumferential direction.

[0086] 9C, since the ribs 400 contact the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol product 20 in the circumferential direction, the cross-sectional shape can be maintained even if the shape of the aerosol product 20 is deformed during use of the aerosol generating device 10. Therefore, the components of the generated aerosol are consistent.

[0087] In addition, in the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment, even if the aerosol product 20 is inserted into the cavity 310 in a different direction, the ribs 400 guide the aerosol product 20 so that the insertion direction of the aerosol product 20 is aligned along the extension direction of the cavity 310. Each time the aerosol product 20 is inserted into the cavity 310, the ribs 400 keep the position of the aerosol product 20 relative to the cavity 310 constant, so that the heat transferred to the aerosol product 20 is also constant. As a result, the composition of the generated aerosol is also constant.

[0088] In addition, in the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment, the gap between the aerosol production product 20 and the cavity 310 may be sealed to prevent air from directly flowing into the cavity 310. Since a constant amount of air flows through the airflow path 500 between the case 100 and the support 300, the amount of aerosol generating material used to generate aerosol in the aerosol production product 20 is constant. Therefore, the components of the aerosol generated each time the aerosol generating device 10 is used are constant.

[0089] According to an experiment, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment increases the transfer amount of aerosol generating substances such as nicotine and glycerin by about 3% or more and keeps the aerosol components constant, compared to the aerosol generating device 10 including a plurality of ribs 400 arranged at a distance from each other. Therefore, the aerosol generating device 10 according to the embodiment maintains a constant tobacco taste and atomization amount every time it is used.

[0090] 10 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment. Except for the following description, the configuration is the same as that of the aerosol generating device 10 according to the above embodiment, and the same reference numerals are used for the same configuration. In this regard, the repeated description will be omitted.

[0091] 10, the aerosol generating device 10 according to an embodiment includes an opening 330 on a side surface of a support 300. The support 300 includes at least one opening 330. The opening 330 is located on the other end 302 side of the support 300 relative to the side surface on which the rib 400 is provided.

[0092] The opening 330 may allow a user who has finished using the aerosol generating device 10 to easily remove residue remaining in the cavity 310 after extracting the aerosol product 20. For example, after extracting the aerosol product 20 from the cavity 310, the user may separate the support 300 from the case 100 and remove the residue through the opening 330.

[0093] If a user inserts the aerosol product article 20 into the cavity 310 in a direction that is not aligned with the extension direction of the cavity 310, the aerosol product article 20 may be exposed through the opening 330. In that case, the heater 200 may not heat the aerosol product article 20 uniformly, which may weaken the flavor and reduce the amount of aerosol atomization. According to one embodiment, when the aerosol product article 20 is inserted into the cavity 310, the rib 400 prevents the aerosol product article 20 from biasing toward the opening 330.

[0094] The rib 400 is positioned closer to one end 301 of the support 300 than the opening 330 to guide the aerosol product article 20 so that the aerosol product article 20 can be inserted in the extension direction of the cavity 310.

[0095] 10, the airflow path 500 includes a main airflow path 510 and a sub airflow path 520. The main airflow path 510 is provided so that air flows from one end 301 to the other end 302 outside the support 300 and passes through the other end 302 to enter the cavity 310.

[0096] The sub-airflow path 520 is also provided so that air flows from one end 301 to the other end 302 outside the support 300 and passes through the opening 330 to flow into the cavity 310. The amount of air flowing through the sub-airflow path 520 can be adjusted depending on the size of the opening 330. In the aerosol generating device 10 according to another embodiment, the amount of air flowing into the cavity 310 is increased by adding the sub-airflow path 520, so that the amount of aerosol generated is increased and inhalation is made easier.

[0097] Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be embodied in various modified forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the above description. Therefore, the disclosed method should be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The scope of the present invention is defined in the claims, not the above description, and all differences within the scope of the claims should be interpreted as being included in the present invention.

Claims

1. Case and a heater disposed in the case to generate heat; a support disposed in the case and including a cavity for receiving an aerosol product; a rib formed on an inner peripheral surface of the support, extending along a circumferential direction of the cavity so as to surround and connect to an outer peripheral surface of the aerosol product when the aerosol product is contained in the cavity, and blocking the inflow of air between the cavity and the aerosol product; an air flow path formed between the case and the support so that air can flow into the cavity; the support includes an opening on a side surface thereof that opens at least a portion of the cavity; The airflow path is a first airflow path for allowing air to flow from one end of the support to another end outside the support and through the other end into the cavity; a second airflow path that allows air to flow from the one end of the support toward the exterior of the support, through the opening, and into the cavity; The rib is a first rib protruding from an inner peripheral surface of the support toward the cavity by a first length; a second rib disposed apart from the first rib along a longitudinal direction of the cavity and protruding from an inner peripheral surface of the support toward the cavity by a second length different from the first length, An aerosol generating device, wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib is positioned so as to be in complete contact with the outer peripheral surface of the aerosol product contained in the cavity, thereby fixing the position of the aerosol product.

2. 2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the cavity at the location of the rib is smaller than the diameter of the aerosol product.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein one surface of the rib is inclined along an extension direction of the cavity.

4. 2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the support includes a through hole that allows the heater to pass through the support and into the cavity.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4 , wherein the first airflow path allows air to flow into the cavity through the through hole.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the rib is separable from the support.

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