Aerosol generating device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generation device for heating an aerosol-generating substrate to form an aerosol. More specifically, the aerosol generation device includes an aerosol generation chamber configured to accommodate and heat the substrate to generate an aerosol, the aerosol generation chamber including at least a heating element, an elongated housing, a cover that can be positioned in a closed position covering the aerosol generation chamber and an open position exposing the aerosol generation chamber, and a tray configured to accommodate and hold the substrate, the tray connected to the cover.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device that heats an aerosol-generating substrate to form an aerosol. The disclosure is particularly applicable to portable aerosol-generating devices that can operate at low temperatures. Such devices can heat tobacco or other suitable aerosol substrate materials by conduction, convection, and / or radiation, rather than by combustion, to generate an aerosol for inhalation. [Background technology]

[0002] The popularity and use of aerosol-generating devices (also known as e-cigarettes and heat-not-burn products) has grown rapidly over the past few years. A variety of devices and systems are available that heat or warm aerosolizable materials, as opposed to burning tobacco in traditional tobacco products.

[0003] This type of device generates an aerosol or vapor by heating an aerosol substrate, typically comprising moist tobacco or other suitable solid aerosolizable material, to temperatures typically ranging from 150°C to 350°C. By heating, rather than burning or combusting, such an aerosol substrate, an aerosol is released that contains the ingredients desired by the user but without the toxic and carcinogenic by-products of combustion and burning. Furthermore, aerosols produced by heating tobacco or other aerosolizable material typically do not contain the burnt or bitter tastes resulting from combustion and burning, which can be unpleasant to users. Therefore, the substrate does not require the sugars and other additives typically added to such materials to make the smoke and / or vapor more palatable to the user. In such devices, the aerosol substrate is heated by a heating element, e.g., in a heating chamber. The aerosol substrate is consumed by the production of aerosol and must be periodically replaced. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a convenient method for replacing the aerosol substrate in the heating chamber.

[0004] Additionally, it is desirable to generate more aerosol from a given amount of aerosol substrate, and therefore it is desirable to provide a device that can heat the aerosol substrate to generate aerosol more efficiently. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect, the following disclosure provides an aerosol generation device comprising: an aerosol generation chamber configured to accommodate and heat a substrate to generate an aerosol, the aerosol generation chamber comprising at least a heating element; an elongated housing; a cover that can be in a closed position covering the aerosol generation chamber and an open position exposing the aerosol generation chamber; and a tray configured to accommodate and hold the substrate, the tray being connected to the cover; when the cover is in the open position, the tray can accommodate the substrate, and the accommodated substrate is located at least partially outside the aerosol generation chamber; when the cover is in the closed position, the accommodated substrate is completely contained within the aerosol generation chamber and contacts the heating element; and the cover can be moved from the open position to the closed position by rotation, whereby the tray translates in a longitudinal direction of the housing toward the heating element and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing, such that the substrate held by the tray contacts the heating element.

[0006] The tray provides an intuitive and robust method for replacing aerosol substrate consumables by removing used substrate from the tray and placing unused substrate on the tray. Closing the cover moves the substrate into the aerosol generation chamber, providing a simple and intuitive method for the user to correctly position the substrate. Additionally, movement of the tray into the aerosol generation chamber brings the substrate into contact with the heating element, thereby improving aerosol generation efficiency.

[0007] In a second aspect of the invention according to the first aspect of the invention, the tray comprises means for securing a substrate to the tray.

[0008] This ensures that the substrate is fixed and does not move relative to the tray, so when the cover is in the closed position the substrate is always in the correct position relative to and in contact with the heating element, improving aerosol generation efficiency.

[0009] In a third aspect of the invention, according to the second aspect of the invention, the means for fixing are one or more protrusions that can engage in corresponding recesses in the substrate.

[0010] This provides a durable, intuitive and straightforward method for achieving the fixation described above.

[0011] In the fourth aspect of the present invention according to the third aspect of the present invention, the recesses can be formed by embossing the substrate with one or more protrusions.

[0012] According to the fourth aspect, during manufacture, recesses do not need to be formed in the substrate, saving one production step, making the substrate more cost effective. The protrusions on the tray can then be "embossed" into the flexible substrate, serving the same purpose as the previously provided recesses.

[0013] In a fifth aspect of the invention according to any one of the previous aspects of the invention, the movement of the tray in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing is caused by an inclined wall of the aerosol generation chamber.

[0014] The angled walls provide a simple and durable way to guide the tray towards the desired position, thus ensuring that the substrate contacts and / or is pressed towards the heating element, thus improving aerosol generation efficiency.

[0015] In a sixth aspect of the invention according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the invention, the tray has a generally L-shaped cross section, with the long leg of the L-shape oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing and the short leg extending from the long leg towards the heating element.

[0016] The L-shaped tray ensures that the substrate placed on the tray does not slide downward from the tray. Furthermore, the short legs of the L-shaped tray make it easy to handle the device, as the user can easily insert the substrate, which is then held in place by the short legs of the L-shaped tray. Therefore, the L-shaped tray provides an intuitive handling method while improving the aerosol generation efficiency of the device.

[0017] In a seventh aspect of the invention according to any one of the previous aspects of the invention, the cover is connected to the housing by a hinge that allows rotation of the cover.

[0018] The connection to the housing ensures that the cover will not get lost when the device is not in use. The rotating hinge provides the user with an intuitive way to handle the device.

[0019] In an eighth aspect of the invention according to any one of the previous aspects of the invention, the cover is biased towards the closed position.

[0020] This ensures that the device closes properly after the substrate is inserted. Additionally, it provides tactile feedback to the user.

[0021] In a ninth aspect of the present invention according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the biasing is achieved by a spring.

[0022] This provides a simple, durable and cost effective method for actuation as described above.

[0023] In a tenth aspect of the invention according to any one of the previous aspects of the invention, the tray is connected to the cover such that rotation of the cover about a hinge allows translational movement of the tray.

[0024] This provides an intuitive and robust method for orienting the substrate relative to the heating element.

[0025] In an eleventh aspect of the present invention according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the connection between the tray and the cover is realized by a second hinge, the second hinge being separate from the hinge that allows the cover to rotate.

[0026] This provides an intuitive and robust method for orienting the substrate relative to the heating element.

[0027] In a twelfth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects of the present invention, rotation of the cover is converted into translational movement of the tray by a lever.

[0028] This provides an intuitive and robust method for orienting the substrate relative to the heating element.

[0029] In a thirteenth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the present invention, the tray moves along the longitudinal direction of the housing towards the centre of the housing as the cover moves from the open position to the closed position, and moves in the opposite direction as the cover moves from the closed position to the open position.

[0030] This provides an intuitive and robust method for correctly positioning the substrate relative to the heating element. Additionally, it provides an easy way to replace a used substrate with an unused substrate.

[0031] In a fourteenth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the present invention, when the cover moves from the closed position to the open position, the base moves by the short leg along the longitudinal direction of the housing in a direction away from the center of the housing.

[0032] This provides an easy way to exchange used substrate for unused substrate.

[0033] In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the aforementioned aspects of the present invention, the substrate is moved along the length of the housing in a direction away from the center of the housing by means of a means for securing the substrate to the tray.

[0034] This ensures that the substrate is positioned correctly relative to the heating element, thus improving aerosol generation efficiency.

[0035] In a sixteenth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the previous aspects of the present invention, the substrate has the shape of a plate, a pad or a disc.

[0036] Substrates having such a shape are substantially flat and can be easily contacted by a substantially flat heating element, thereby ensuring permanent contact and improving aerosol generation efficiency, and the ratio of the surface in contact with the heating element to the volume of the substrate is relatively large, thereby further increasing aerosol generation efficiency.

[0037] In a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, according to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the substrate has an upper surface and a lower surface, and in the closed position of the cover, the lower surface is in contact with the long leg of the tray and the upper surface is in contact with the heating element.

[0038] In this manner, the long legs of the tray move toward the heating element, thereby clamping the substrate between the tray and the heating element and forcing it toward the heating element, thereby improving aerosol generation efficiency.

[0039] In an 18th aspect of the present invention according to either the 16th or 17th aspect of the present invention, when the substrate is contained in the tray, at least one of the sides of the substrate is in contact with the short leg.

[0040] This provides an intuitive and robust way for the user to correctly position the substrate on the tray. Holding the substrate in place with the short legs fixes the position of the substrate relative to the heating element, thus improving the aerosol generation efficiency of the device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0041] [Figure 1] 1 shows a side view of an aerosol generation device with the cover in an open position. [Figure 2] 1 shows a side view of an aerosol generating device with the cover in a closed position. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device with the cover in an open position and a substrate inserted into the device. [Figure 4] An enlarged view of the tray is shown. [Figure 5] 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of an aerosol generation device with the cover in an open position. [Figure 6] 1 shows a side cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device with the cover in a closed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals indicate the same or similar parts. It should be noted that the drawings are schematic and the dimensional ratios may differ from those of the actual drawings.

[0043] The aerosol generating device 1 is configured to operate with a substantially cubic substrate 11, preferably having a flat shape. In a typical embodiment, the substrate 11 has a size of 18 x 12 x 1.2 mm. In general, the length of the substrate in preferred embodiments is 40-10 mm, preferably 30-12 mm, more preferably 25-14 mm, and most preferably 22-15 mm. The width of the substrate in preferred embodiments is 30-6 mm, preferably 25-8 mm, more preferably 20-9 mm, and most preferably 16-9 mm. The height of the substrate in preferred embodiments is 3-0.5 mm, preferably 2-0.6 mm, more preferably 1.8-0.8 mm, and most preferably 1.6-0.9 mm.

[0044] The aerosol substrate may include, for example, nicotine, tobacco, and / or an aerosol-forming agent. Tobacco can take the form of various materials, such as cut tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf, and / or reconstituted tobacco. Suitable aerosol-forming agents include polyols (such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol), non-polyols (such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin, or vegetable glycerin). In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The substrate may also include at least one of a gelling agent, a binder, a stabilizer, and a humectant. The aerosol substrate may be porous to allow air to flow through the substrate and collect the aerosol. The substrate may be, for example, a foam or packed strands or fibers. The substrate may be formed into a stable shape by an extrusion and / or rolling process. The aerosol-generating substrate may be molded to provide an airflow channel or channels. These may be aligned with the airflow channels of the aerosol-generating device to increase airflow through the heating chamber. The substrate may be exposed with a bare outer surface. Alternatively, the substrate may comprise a breathable wrapper covering at least a portion of the surface of the aerosol-generating substrate. The wrapper may comprise, for example, paper and / or a nonwoven fabric.

[0045] Although the aerosol generation chamber 15 may simply be the internal volume of the housing 2, the aerosol generation chamber 15 is preferably enclosed by an insulating enclosure within the housing 11 so that further components, such as a control circuit and a power supply (not shown), are insulated from the heat provided within the aerosol generation chamber 15. The housing may generally be made from any rigid material, such as a thermoplastic material or a metal (e.g., aluminum). The insulating enclosure may be made from a heat-resistant material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or polyamide (PA), to prevent thermal deformation or melting. The heat-resistant material may be a super engineering plastic, such as polyimide (PI), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), or polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

[0046] The substrates 11 are aligned within the aerosol generation chamber 15 by inserting the tray 5 carrying the substrates 11 into the aerosol generation chamber 15. When the cover 7 is in the open position, the substrates can be placed on the tray. When the tray 5 is inserted into the aerosol generation chamber 15, the tray 5 is guided to a position where the substrates 11 are held within the aerosol generation chamber 15, as shown in FIG. 6. However, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tray 5 may also be in a second position where the substrates 11 can be placed on or removed from the tray 5.

[0047] While the substrate 11 is being heated and the aerosol is being generated, or at some later time, air is directed towards the mouthpiece 3 to provide the aerosol to the user. In some embodiments, the air is directed by the user inhaling. In other embodiments, the aerosol generation device 1 may comprise a pump for pumping air towards the mouthpiece 3 to provide the aerosol.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 1 is shown. The device may include an elongated housing 2 and a mouthpiece 3 that can be used to draw generated aerosol from the device. In the open position, as shown in FIG. 1, a cover 7 is rotated toward the open position, exposing a tray 5. The tray 5 may include a protrusion 6 or other means for securing a substrate that may be inserted by a user. The cover 7 may be moved to a closed position by rotating it in a rotational direction 8 about a hinge 16.

[0049] Figure 2 shows the same embodiment of the aerosol generation device 1 as in Figure 1. However, in Figure 2, the cover 7 is in a closed position, covering the aerosol generation chamber 15. The cover can be moved from the closed position back to the open position by rotating it in the opposite direction of rotation 8.

[0050] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the aerosol generation device 1 with the cover 7 in the open position. The cover 7 is rotatably attached to the housing 2 by a first hinge 16. In a preferred embodiment, the first hinge 16 may be located in a rotating element that may be rigidly connected to the cover 7. However, in other embodiments, different solutions are possible, such as a hinge, a lever, etc., located directly on the cover.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, hinge 16 may be spring loaded and biased towards the closed position, so that device 1 must be actively opened by the user but will spring closed if cover 7 is not held in the open position by the user.

[0052] In other embodiments, other means for biasing the hinge 16 toward the closed position may be provided, such as the use of gravity. In still other embodiments, the hinge 16 may not be biased toward the closed position, so that the user must actively move the cover 7 to the closed position by rotating the cover 7 about the hinge 16 in the rotational direction 8.

[0053] A first end of lever 13 is rotatably connected to a rotating element 19 via a second hinge 17 spaced from the first hinge 16. A second end of lever 13 is rotatably connected to the backside of tray 5 by a third hinge 18. Thus, during rotation of cover 7 in rotation direction 8, lever 13 is pressed towards the center of the device, thereby pressing the tray in the same direction.

[0054] The aerosol generation chamber 15 includes one or more heating elements 10 configured to heat the substrate 11 to generate an aerosol from the substrate 11. The heating elements are preferably electrical heating elements, such as resistive heating elements, although any type of heating element suitable for providing heat to the aerosol generation chamber 15 may be used. The heating elements 10 preferably have a substantially flat configuration, but may have different shapes in some embodiments.

[0055] The heating element 10 may be powered by a power source such as a removable battery, a rechargeable battery, etc. The electrical circuitry required to power a heating element is known to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be discussed herein.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, the tray 5 has an L-shaped configuration with a long leg 21 and a short leg 22. The short leg 22 is configured to be positioned below the substrate 11 to prevent the substrate from sliding downward due to gravity. The long leg is configured to contact a flat surface of the substrate 11 to control the position of the substrate relative to the heating element 10. In some embodiments, the long leg 21 may include a protrusion 6 configured to lock onto a corresponding recess 23 in the substrate 11. In some embodiments, a flexible substrate may be used such that when pressure is applied to the substrate 11 by the long leg 21 of the L-shaped tray 5, the recess 23 is embossed into the substrate 11. This securement ensures that the substrate 11 is held in the correct position relative to the heating element 10 and also ensures that the substrate is lifted with the tray during movement from the closed position to the open position. This is especially important for anticipated embodiments that do not include an L-shaped tray 5.

[0057] As cover 7 rotates in rotational direction 8, spaced hinges 16 and 17 convert the rotation of rotation element 19 into translational movement of tray 5 toward the center of device 1. As tray 5 translates toward the center of device 1, it approaches angled wall 12. This angled wall 12 causes tray 5, moving in the longitudinal direction of housing 2, to also move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of housing 2 and toward heating element 10. Once the cover is in the closed position, the tray has moved into close proximity to heating element 10, so that substrate 11 may contact and be pressed against heating element 10.

[0058] 5 shows the aerosol generation device 1 in a state ready to generate an aerosol, with the cover 7 in a closed position and the substrate 11 inside the aerosol generation chamber 15. The substrate here can be heated by the heating element 10 to generate an aerosol. The aerosol can then be provided to a user through the mouthpiece 3.

[0059] 6 shows the aerosol generation device 1 with the cover 7 in the open position. After the user has consumed the aerosol, they can return the cover 7 to the open position by rotating it in the reverse rotational direction 28. The rotational element 19 again converts the rotation into a translational movement to lift the tray out of the aerosol generation chamber. The short legs 22 of the L-shaped tray 5 and / or the protrusions 6 on the tray and the recesses 23 on the substrate 11 lift the substrate 11 together with the tray out of the aerosol generation chamber 15. From there, the substrate 11 can be manually removed by the user and replaced with an unused substrate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1. Aerosol generating device 2. Housing 3 mouthpiece 5 trays 6 Protrusion 7 Cover 8 Rotation direction 10 heating elements 11 Base material 12 Sloped wall 13 Lever 15 Aerosol generation chamber 16 First hinge 17 Second hinge 18 Third Hinge 19 Rotational Elements 21 Long Legs 22 Short legs 23 Recess 28 Reverse rotation direction

Claims

1. an aerosol generation chamber (15) configured to accommodate and heat a substrate (11) to generate an aerosol, said aerosol generation chamber (15) comprising at least a heating element (10); A vertically elongated housing (2), a cover (7) that can be in a closed position covering the aerosol generation chamber (15) and in an open position exposing the aerosol generation chamber (15); a tray (5) configured to receive and hold the substrate (11), the tray (5) being connected to the cover (7); Equipped with When the cover (7) is in the open position, the tray (5) can accommodate the substrate (11), and the accommodated substrate (11) is at least partially located outside the aerosol generation chamber (15); When the cover (7) is in the closed position, the contained substrate (11) is completely contained within the aerosol generation chamber (15) and in contact with the heating element (10); the cover (7) can be moved from the open position to the closed position by rotation, whereby the tray (5) translates in the longitudinal direction of the housing (2) towards the heating element (10) and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing (2), so that a substrate (11) held by the tray (5) contacts the heating element (10); An aerosol generating device (1).

2. The tray (5) comprises means for fixing the substrate (11) to the tray (5).

2. An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 1.

3. said means for fixing are one or more protrusions (6) that can engage in corresponding recesses in said substrate (11); 3. An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 2.

4. The recesses can be formed by embossing the substrate (11) with the one or more protrusions (6). An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 3.

5. The movement of the tray (5) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing (2) is caused by the inclined walls (12) of the aerosol generation chamber. An aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The tray (5) has a cross section that is approximately L-shaped, The long leg (21) of the L-shape is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing (2), A short leg (22) extends from the long leg (21) towards the heating element (10); 3. An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 2.

7. The cover (7) is connected to the housing (2) by a hinge that allows the rotation of the cover (7). An aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The cover (7) is spring biased towards the closed position. An aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The tray (5) is connected to the cover (7) such that the rotation of the cover (7) about the hinge allows translational movement of the tray.

8. An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 7.

10. The connection between the tray (5) and the cover (7) is realized by a second hinge; the second hinge being separate from the hinge that allows the rotation of the cover; 10. An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 9.

11. The rotation of the cover (7) is converted into a translational movement of the tray (5) by a lever (13). An aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

12. the tray (5) moves along the longitudinal direction of the housing (2) toward the center of the housing (2) as the cover (7) moves from the open position to the closed position; moves in the opposite direction as the cover (7) moves from the closed position to the open position; An aerosol generating device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. When the cover (7) moves from the closed position to the open position, the base (11) moves along the longitudinal direction of the housing (2) in a direction away from the center of the housing (2) due to the short legs (22).

7. An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 6.

14. the substrate (11) is moved in a direction away from the center of the housing (2) along the longitudinal direction of the housing (2) by the means for fixing the substrate (11) to the tray (5); 7. An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 6.

15. The substrate (11) has an upper surface and a lower surface, In the closed position of the cover (7), the lower surface is in contact with the long legs (21) of the tray (5) and the upper surface is in contact with the heating element (10).

15. An aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 14.

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