Aerosol generating device and medium containing rod

Abstract

An aerosol generating device according to one embodiment includes a storage section that stores a medium-containing rod, an atomization section that generates an aerosol, and a power supply section that transmits the power required to heat the atomization section, and the aerosol generated from the atomization section of the aerosol generating device passes through the medium-containing rod, causing the medium to be transferred, and the medium-containing rod stored in the storage section can be replaced and used.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following examples relate to an aerosol generator and a medium containing rod.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the demand for alternative products that overcome the disadvantages of traditional cigarettes has been increasing. For example, the demand for devices that generate aerosol by electrically heating a cigarette stick (for example, cigarette-type electronic cigarettes) has been increasing. As a result, research on electrically heated aerosol generators and cigarette sticks (or aerosol articles) applied thereto has been actively carried out. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2017-0132823 discloses a non-combustible flavor attractor, a flavor source unit, and an atomization unit.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] An object according to one embodiment is to provide an aerosol generator and a medium containing rod that transfer nicotine by indirectly heating a medium with aerosol.

[0004] An object according to one embodiment is to provide an aerosol generator and a medium containing rod that constitute a disposable stick indirect heating type (non-heating type) electronic cigarette to improve hygiene and provide a uniform flavor during nicotine transfer.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment includes a housing portion that houses a medium containing rod, an atomizing portion that generates an aerosol, and a power supply portion that transmits the power necessary to heat the atomizing portion. The aerosol generated from the atomizing portion of the aerosol generating device passes through the medium containing rod, and the medium migrates. The medium containing rod housed in the housing portion can be replaced and used, and the filter segment included in the medium containing rod can be filled with medium particles.

[0006] The medium containing rod includes a first filter segment disposed at the most upstream of the medium containing rod, a second filter segment disposed downstream of the first filter segment and containing medium particles, and a filter rod disposed at the most downstream of the medium containing rod. The filter rod can include a cooling segment and a mouthpiece segment.

[0007] The medium containing rod can include a basic pH adjuster.

[0008] The medium containing rod can include tobacco granules, and the tobacco granules can be manufactured by a crimping process.

[0009] The medium containing rod can include a disposable cigarette.

[0010] The atomizing portion can include a liquid storage tank that stores a liquid composition material for generating an aerosol, a liquid transmission means that promotes the transfer of the liquid composition material, and a heater that heats the liquid composition material.

[0011] The second filter segment containing the medium particles has a moisturizing agent applied to one surface of a filter member. After a plurality of the medium particles are arranged on the one surface of the filter member to which the moisturizing agent is applied, the one surface of the filter member is folded so as to face each other, and then further folded a plurality of times. The filter member folded a plurality of times can be formed by being wrapped with a wrapper.

[0012] The medium-containing rod used together with the aerosol generator according to an embodiment includes a first filter segment disposed at the most upstream of the medium-containing rod, and a second filter segment disposed downstream of the first filter segment and filled with medium particles in a filter member, and a pH adjuster can be disposed in the second filter segment.

[0013] The pH adjuster can include a basic salt.

[0014] It further includes a filter rod disposed at the most downstream of the medium-containing rod, and the filter rod can include a cooling segment and a mouthpiece segment.

[0015] The first filter segment and the second filter segment can include an acetate substance.

Effect of the Invention

[0016] The aerosol generator and the medium-containing rod according to an embodiment can transfer nicotine by indirectly heating the medium with an aerosol.

[0017] The aerosol generator and the medium-containing rod according to an embodiment can constitute a disposable stick indirect heating type (non-heating type) electronic cigarette to improve hygiene and provide a uniform flavor during nicotine transfer.

[0018] The effects of the aerosol generator and the medium-containing rod according to an embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1A

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[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, since various changes can be made to the embodiments, the scope of the patent application is not limited or restricted by these embodiments. It should be understood that all changes, equivalents or alternatives to the embodiments are included in the scope of the rights.

[0021] The terms used in the embodiments are used for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as intended to limit. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms such as "including" or "having" in this specification are intended to specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should not be construed as precluding the presence or addition possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the embodiments belong. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries shall be construed to be consistent with the meanings they have in the context of the relevant art, and shall not be construed in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined in this application.

[0023] In addition, when explaining with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals shall be assigned to the same components regardless of the reference signs in the drawings, and duplicate explanations thereof shall be omitted. When it is determined that a specific explanation of a known technology related to explaining an embodiment may obscure the gist of the embodiment, the detailed explanation thereof shall be omitted.

[0024] Furthermore, when explaining the components of an embodiment, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. can be used. These terms are for distinguishing the components from other components, and the essence, order, or sequence of the corresponding components are not limited by these terms. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "joined" to another component, it is understood that the component is directly connected or joined to the other component, but it should also be understood that other components may be "connected", "coupled", or "joined" between the components.

[0025] Components included in any one of the embodiments and components having a common function shall be described using the same names in other embodiments. Unless otherwise stated, the descriptions given in any one of the embodiments are applicable to the other embodiments, and specific descriptions within the overlapping scope shall be omitted.

[0026] In the following examples, "humectant" can mean a substance that can facilitate the formation of visible smoke and / or aerosol. Examples of humectants include, but are not limited to, glycerin (GLY), propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. In the art, humectants can be used interchangeably with terms such as aerosol-forming agents and wetting agents.

[0027] In the following examples, "aerosol-forming substrate" can mean a substance that can form an aerosol. The aerosol can contain volatile compounds. The aerosol-forming substrate can be solid or liquid.

[0028] For example, the solid aerosol-forming substrate can include solid substances based on tobacco raw materials such as sheet tobacco, cut tobacco, and reconstituted tobacco, and the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can include liquid composition substances based on nicotine, tobacco extracts, and / or various flavoring agents. However, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to these examples.

[0029] In the following examples, "aerosol generating device" can mean a device that generates an aerosol using an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into the user's lungs through the user's mouth.

[0030] In the following examples, "medium-containing rod" can mean an article that contains a medium. A typical example of a medium-containing rod is a cigarette, but the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0031] In the following examples, "upstream" or "upstream direction" means the direction away from the user's (smoker's) mouth, and "downstream" or "downstream direction" can mean the direction approaching the user's mouth. The terms upstream and downstream are used to describe the relative positions of the elements that make up the medium-containing rod. For example, in the medium-containing rod 100 shown in FIG. 2, the granule rod 120 is located upstream or in the upstream direction of the filter rod 140, and the filter rod 140 is located downstream or in the downstream direction of the granule rod 120.

[0032] In the following examples, "puff" means the user's inhalation, and inhalation means the situation of drawing in through the user's mouth or nose into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs.

[0033] In the following, various examples according to the accompanying drawings will be described.

[0034] FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams schematically showing aerosol generating devices according to some examples. FIG. 1A shows that the cartridge 222 and the heater 224 are arranged in a row, and FIG. 1B shows that the cartridge 222 and the heater 224 are arranged in parallel.

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the aerosol generating device 200 according to this embodiment can include a housing, a storage part 210, an atomizing part 220, and a power supply part 230. Here, the atomizing part 220 can include a cartridge 222 and a heater 224, and the atomizing part 220 can generate an aerosol. However, only the components related to this embodiment are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and it can be understood that, for an ordinary technician in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs, in addition to the components shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, other general components are further included. For example, the aerosol generating device 200 can further include an input module for inputting commands, etc. from a user and an output module for outputting information such as the state of the device and smoking information. Hereinafter, each component of the aerosol generating device 200 will be described.

[0036] The housing can form the appearance of the aerosol generating device 200. Further, the housing can form a storage part 210 for storing the medium storage rod 100. The housing may preferably be realized with a material that can protect the internal components.

[0037] Next, the storage part 210 can be a space capable of storing the medium storage rod 100. When the medium storage rod 100 is stored in the storage part 210, the storage part 210 can include a coupling structure so that the medium storage rod is firmly coupled without coming off. The coupling structure can include, for example, a coupling structure using interference fitting, a coupling structure using a magnetic substance, a coupling structure using an electromagnetic force substance, and the like. Further, the medium storage rod 100 stored in the storage part 210 can be in the form of a stick or a cigarette that can be replaced after one use as described later.

[0038] Next, the atomizing part 220 can further include a liquid storage tank, liquid transfer means, and a heater. However, without being limited thereto, the atomizing part 220 can further include other components. Further, the cartridge 222 may be detachably manufactured from the heater 224 or may be manufactured integrally with the heater 224.

[0039] The liquid storage tank can store a liquid composition. The liquid composition may be a liquid containing a tobacco-containing substance or a nicotine-containing substance, or may be a liquid containing a non-tobacco substance. For example, the liquid composition can include water, a solvent, ethanol, a plant extract (e.g., a tobacco extract), a fragrance, an aerosol-forming agent, a flavoring agent, or a vitamin mixture. The fragrance can include, but is not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, various fruit fragrance components, etc. The flavoring agent can include components that can provide various fragrances or flavors to the user. The vitamin mixture can include, but is not limited to, at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E being mixed. The liquid composition can further include a humectant. The humectant can be, but is not limited to, glycerin (VG), polypropylene glycol (PG), sorbitol, or a mixture thereof.

[0040] The liquid transmission means can transmit the liquid composition stored in the liquid storage tank to the heater 224. For example, the liquid transmission means can be, but is not limited to, a wick element such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, porous ceramic, etc.

[0041] Next, the heater 224 can heat the liquid composition stored in the cartridge 222 to form an aerosol. For example, the heater 224 can heat the liquid composition transmitted by the liquid transmission means to form an aerosol. The formed aerosol can be transmitted to the user through the medium containing rod 100. That is, the aerosol formed by the heating of the heater 224 can move along the air flow path of the medium containing rod 100, and the air flow path can be configured such that the aerosol formed by the liquid composition stored in the cartridge can pass through the medium containing rod 100 and be transmitted to the user. The heater 224 is composed of, for example, a coil, ceramic, metal mesh, conductive filament, etc., but is not limited thereto. Also, the heating temperature of the heater 224 may be 270 °C or lower, preferably 240 °C or lower, and more preferably 200 °C or lower. As will be described later, when the medium particles P contain a pH adjuster, the minimum temperature at which nicotine can migrate becomes lower, and the heating temperature of the heater 224 can be lowered, thereby constituting an aerosol generation system having better electrical efficiency.

[0042] For reference, the cartridge 222 and the heater 224 in the art can also be referred to by terms such as a catomizer, atomizer, vaporizer, etc.

[0043] Next, the power supply unit 230 can supply the power used for the operation of the aerosol generator 200. For example, the power supply unit 230 can supply power so that the heater 224 heats the medium containing rod 100. Also, the power supply unit 230 can supply the power necessary for the operation of electrical components such as a display (not shown), a sensor (not shown), and a motor (not shown) installed in the aerosol generator 200.

[0044] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2, the medium containing rod 100 according to some embodiments will be described.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the medium-containing rod 100 according to some embodiments.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 2, the medium-containing rod 100 can include a granular rod 120 and a filter rod 140. Further, the medium-containing rod 100 can contain a medium, and as will be described later, the form of the medium to be filled can be in the form of granules, reconstituted tobacco, general cut grass, etc., and preferably can be in the form of a granular medium. When the medium is contained in the medium-containing rod 100 in the form of granules, the amount of the medium transferred to the user's mouth per puff can be uniform compared to the case where it is contained in the form of general cut grass or the like. Further, the granular medium, that is, the medium granules P, can have improved dispersibility of the granules by being filled on the filter of the medium-containing rod 100, thereby providing a uniform taste to consumers. Furthermore, the medium-containing rod 100 can further include a wrapper that wraps the rod. However, FIG. 2 shows only the components related to the embodiments of the present disclosure, and it can be understood that a person of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs will further include other general-purpose components in addition to the components shown in FIG. 2. Each component of the medium-containing rod 100 will be described below.

[0047] The granular rod 120 is a rod containing medium granules P or segments containing medium granules P, and can supply tobacco components such as nicotine or taste components when heated. At this time, the heating of the granular rod 120 can be direct heating by a heater or indirect heating by the flow of a high-temperature aerosol. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the granular rod 120 can include a filter segment, and preferably can include a first filter segment 122 and a second filter segment 124.

[0048] The first filter segment 122 can be disposed at the most upstream of the medium containing rod 100. The first filter segment 122 can perform a function of preventing the medium particles P from falling off. When the medium containing rod 100 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 200, the segment containing the medium particles P can be arranged at an appropriate position within the aerosol generating device 200. Further, the first filter segment 122 can prevent the aerosol liquefied during smoking from flowing into the aerosol generating device 200. The first filter segment 122 can include a paper filter or an acetate filter, and preferably but not limited to, the filter material is arranged in the longitudinal direction to ensure a smooth air flow path.

[0049] The second filter segment 124 can be disposed downstream of the first filter segment 122. The second filter segment 124 can contain a medium, and the form of the medium to be filled can be in the form of granules, reconstituted tobacco, general cut grass, etc., and preferably can be in the form of granular medium. The medium particles P can be tobacco particles or nicotine particles, but are not limited thereto. Further, the second filter segment 124 can further perform functions such as filtration and cooling on the aerosol. The second filter segment 124 can include a paper filter or an acetate filter, and preferably but not limited to, the filter material is arranged in the longitudinal direction to ensure a smooth air flow path.

[0050] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a plurality of medium particles P according to some embodiments are arranged on the filter member F of the second filter segment 124, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a plurality of medium particles P are arranged within the filter member F in the second filter segment 124 according to some embodiments. The medium containing rod 100 in which the filter segment 124 and the plurality of medium particles P in FIGS. 3A and 3B are arranged together has a smaller number of segments compared to a structure in which medium particles are arranged within a cavity structure, and it is easy to arrange the medium particles within the rod, so the process can be simplified during the manufacturing process.

[0051] According to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the filter member F included in the second filter segment 124 can be a filter sheet in a flat and spread form. A plurality of medium particles P can be irregularly scattered on the flat filter sheet and can be arranged in the second filter segment 124 in a manner of being folded multiple times after one side of the filter sheet is folded so as to face each other.

[0052] More specifically, referring to FIG. 3A, a medium can be arranged on a flat filter sheet to form the second filter segment 124, and the medium can preferably be a plurality of medium particles P. The lower the roundness of the plurality of medium particles P, that is, the more irregular the shape of the particles, the better they can adhere to the filter sheet. While the plurality of medium particles P are uniformly distributed on the filter sheet, the appearance of the filter segment and the like may be contaminated by fine powder generated by breaking a part of the medium particles P during the manufacturing process. Therefore, here the roundness of the particles can preferably be 30% or more and 90% or less, more preferably 60% or more and 90% or less. Subsequently, referring to FIG. 3B, the second filter segment 124 can be formed by folding the filter sheet on which the medium particles P are arranged a plurality of times in the longitudinal direction and wrapping it with a wrapper (not shown). When the medium is filled in the medium accommodating rod 100 in such a manner, the phenomenon that the medium is biased or tilted to one side is reduced, and the uniformity of the taste can be improved by uniformly distributing in the cross section of the medium accommodating rod 100.

[0053] At this time, in order to improve the adhesion between the medium particles P and the filter sheet, a binder can be applied to one surface of the filter sheet. That is, the second filter segment 124 has a binder applied to one surface of the filter sheet. After a plurality of medium particles P are scattered on one surface of the filter member F to which the binder is applied, the filter member F is folded so that one surface of the filter member F faces each other, and then folded a plurality of times. A plurality of medium particles P are arranged in the space between the folded filter members F, and the filter member F folded a plurality of times can be formed by being wrapped with a wrapper (not shown).

[0054] In addition, the second filter segment 124 can contain a pH adjuster. The pH adjuster can preferably be a basic salt, for example, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, calcium oxide, etc., but is not limited thereto. Also, a pH adjuster that generates the least negative odor during puffing can be selected and used. When the pH adjuster is included in the second filter segment 124, the pH of the tobacco particles contained in the second filter segment 124 increases, so that nicotine can sufficiently migrate from the tobacco particles even when the medium is heated to a relatively low temperature. Therefore, as a result, without directly heating the second filter segment 124, nicotine can migrate even with only the heat transferred from the hot aerosol generated by heating the cartridge 222 by the heater 224 of the aerosol generator 200 flowing along the air flow path to the tobacco particles in the medium containing rod 100. The pH adjuster can also be mixed together during the production of the medium particles P and contained in the particles themselves, or can be separately arranged at a position different from the medium particles P. Also, the pH adjuster can temporarily improve the adhesion of the medium particles P to the filter sheet by being applied to the filter sheet instead of the binder substance.

[0055] The medium particles P, particularly tobacco particles, can be manufactured by a pressure bonding process. The pressure bonding granulation process corresponds to a wet process, and the nicotine transfer rate of the tobacco particles produced is relatively high compared to the fluidized bed granulation process. Therefore, when the temperature at which the medium particles P are heated is relatively low, it may be more advantageous for nicotine transfer to include the tobacco particles P produced by the pressure bonding granulation process rather than the tobacco particles produced by the fluidized bed granulation process.

[0056] The filter rod 140 can be located downstream of the granule rod 120 and perform a filtering function on the aerosol. For this purpose, the filter rod 140 can include filter substances such as paper and cellulose acetate fibers. The filter rod 140 can further include a wrapper that wraps the filter substance.

[0057] The filter rod 140 can include a cooling segment 142 and a mouthpiece segment 144. The cooling segment 142 can perform a cooling function on the aerosol, and the mouthpiece segment 144 can perform a filtering function on the aerosol.

[0058] Also, the filter rod 140 can be made to generate a fragrance. For example, a flavoring liquid can be sprayed onto the filter rod 140, and separate fibers coated with the flavoring liquid can also be inserted into the filter rod 140. Referring to FIG. 2B, the mouthpiece segment 144 can also include a fragrance agent capsule (C). In some cases, the filter rod 140 can further include at least one segment that performs other functions.

[0059] Such a medium-containing rod 100 can be a disposable cigarette that is housed in the aerosol generator 200 and discarded after one use. When the medium-containing rod 100 is configured to be disposable, the taste uniformity and sustainability may be higher compared to the multi-use cartridge form that is puffed about 50 to 100 times. Also, when configured to be disposable, the hygiene can be improved compared to when configured to be multi-use.

[0060] Figures 4A and 4B show the aerosol generation system 10 according to some embodiments, and illustrate a state in which the medium-containing rod 100 is housed in the aerosol generator 200. Figure 1A shows the aerosol generation system 10 in which the cartridge 222 and the heater 224 are arranged in a row, and Figure 1B shows the aerosol generation system 10 in which the cartridge 222 and the heater 224 are arranged in parallel.

[0061] As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, in the aerosol generation system 10 according to the present disclosure, the heater 224 of the aerosol generator 200 heats the liquid composition material inside the cartridge 222 to generate an aerosol, and the generated aerosol passes through the medium-containing rod 100, and nicotine can be generated while the medium particles P, particularly tobacco particles, are indirectly heated by the aerosol. As described above, the pH adjuster contained in the second filter segment 124 has the effect of lowering the minimum transferable temperature of nicotine, and nicotine can also be transferred even when a relatively lower temperature is transmitted to the tobacco particles than when the tobacco leaves are burned and nicotine is transferred. The nicotine thus generated can be transmitted to the user along with the aerosol along the air flow path (see the direction of the arrows in Figures 4A and 4B).

[0062] As described above, although the embodiments have been described by way of example with reference to the limited drawings, those having ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, whether the described technology is performed in an order different from the described method, and / or whether the components such as the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. are combined or assembled in a form different from the described method, or are replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents, appropriate results can be achieved.

[0063] Therefore, other embodiments, other examples, and those equivalent to the claims also fall within the scope of the claims described hereinafter.

Claims

1. An aerosol generation system comprising an aerosol generator and a medium storage rod, wherein the aerosol generator comprises a storage part for storing the medium storage rod, an atomization part for generating aerosol, and a power supply part for transmitting the power necessary to heat the atomization part, and the aerosol generated from the atomization part of the aerosol generator passes through the medium storage rod and the medium migrates, and the medium storage rod stored in the storage part can be replaced and used, the filter segment included in the medium storage rod is filled with medium particles, the filter segment containing the medium particles has a binder applied to one surface of the filter member, and after arranging a plurality of the medium particles on the one surface of the filter member to which the binder is applied, the one surface of the filter member is folded so as to face each other, and then folded a plurality of times, and the filter member folded a plurality of times is wrapped with a wrapper to form an aerosol generation system.

2. The medium storage rod comprises a first filter segment disposed at the most upstream of the medium storage rod, a second filter segment disposed downstream of the first filter segment and containing the medium particles, and a filter rod disposed at the most downstream of the medium storage rod, and the filter rod includes a cooling segment and a mouthpiece segment, The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.

3. The medium storage rod contains a basic pH adjuster, The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.

4. The medium particles include tobacco particles, and the tobacco particles are manufactured by a crimping process, The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The medium storage rod contains a disposable cigarette, The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.

6. The atomization part comprises a liquid storage tank for storing a liquid composition for generating aerosol, liquid transfer means for promoting the transfer of the liquid composition, and a heater for heating the liquid composition, and The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.

7. A medium storage rod used together with an aerosol generator, comprising a first filter segment disposed at the most upstream of the medium storage rod, and a second filter segment disposed downstream of the first filter segment and filled with medium particles on the filter member including a pH adjuster is disposed in the second filter segment The second filter segment containing the medium particles has a binder applied to one surface of the filter member. After arranging a plurality of the medium particles on the one surface of the filter member to which the binder is applied, the one surface of the filter member is folded so as to face each other, and then folded a plurality of times. The filter member folded a plurality of times is wrapped with a wrapper to form a medium-containing rod.

8. The pH adjuster contains a basic salt The medium-containing rod according to claim 7.

9. further including a filter rod disposed at the most downstream of the medium-containing rod The filter rod includes a cooling segment and a mouthpiece segment The medium-containing rod according to claim 7.

10. The first filter segment and the second filter segment contain an acetate substance The medium-containing rod according to claim 7.

11. The medium particles contain tobacco particles The medium-containing rod according to claim 7.

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