Aerosol generating device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device for heating an aerosol-generating substrate to form an aerosol. More specifically, the aerosol-generating device includes an aerosol-generating chamber configured to accommodate and heat the substrate to generate an aerosol, the aerosol-generating chamber including at least a heating element, a cover capable of covering an aperture in the device in a closed position and exposing the aperture in an open position, and a tray for accommodating and holding the substrate.

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, the 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; a cover that covers an aperture in the device in a closed position and can expose the aperture in an open position; and a tray for accommodating and holding the substrate, wherein when the cover is in the open position, the tray is positioned below the aperture so that a substrate can be accommodated or a substrate held by the tray can be manually removed by a user; and when the cover is in the closed position, the substrate accommodated and held by the tray is contained within the aerosol generation chamber and contacts the heating element, and the cover can be translated from the open position to the closed position by translating the cover over the aperture, thereby causing the tray to translate such that the substrate held by the tray translates into the aerosol generation chamber and contacts the heating element.

[0006] The tray provides an intuitive and robust method for replacing aerosol substrate consumables by removing a used substrate from the tray through an aperture in the housing and placing an unused substrate on the tray. Closing a lid over the aperture 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] Optionally, the translational movement of the tray comprises translational movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of a rectangular housing of the aerosol generation device.

[0008] Translation in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing allows for longer translation, which allows for a larger substrate surface area and therefore higher aerosol generation efficiency.

[0009] Optionally, the tray is connected to the cover in a manner that fixes the position of the tray relative to the cover in the longitudinal direction of the housing, such that translational movement of the cover in the longitudinal direction of the housing results in translational movement of the tray in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

[0010] This allows for ergonomic and intuitive handling by the user: by sliding the cover over the aperture, the tray moves with the substrate, automatically orienting the substrate relative to the heating element.

[0011] Optionally, the tray is connected to the cover in a manner that fixes the position of the tray relative to the cover in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing, such that translational movement of the cover in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing results in translational movement of the tray in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing.

[0012] This provides tactile feedback to the user as to where the substrate is located and whether the substrate is already fully positioned within the aerosol generation chamber, thereby improving intuitive handling.

[0013] Optionally, the tray comprises at least two bolts configured to be disposed within the guide rails.

[0014] This allows the tray to be guided along a specific track along the guide rails, improving intuitive handling and ensuring correct positioning of the substrate relative to the heating element, thereby improving aerosol generation efficiency.

[0015] Preferably, each of the bolts consists of or comprises a pair of substantially cylindrical studs.

[0016] By providing two studs on each side of the tray instead of one continuous bolt extending from each side of the tray, less material is used and the device is more cost effective.

[0017] Preferably, the bolts are arranged on the tray at a distance from each other, with one bolt preferably being arranged in front of the substrate and one bolt preferably being arranged behind the substrate relative to the insertion direction.

[0018] This allows for good controllability of the tray's position within the guide rails by the long lever, and in particular allows for precise control of the tray's orientation in a direction substantially parallel to the guide rails.

[0019] Optionally, the diameter of the bolt is at most three times the thickness of the tray, preferably at most two times the thickness of the tray, and more preferably no greater than the thickness of the tray.

[0020] The small studs improve the ability of the tray to move through the guide rails, thus making the device easier for the user to handle.

[0021] Optionally, the tray is guided between the open and closed positions by a guide rail configured to receive at least a portion of the bolt.

[0022] This allows for precise control of the distance from the tray to the heating element, thus improving the efficiency of aerosol generation.

[0023] Optionally, the guide rail has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being located below the aperture and the second portion being located below the heating element, the first portion having a first distance to the level of the heating element and the second portion having a second distance to the level of the heating element, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

[0024] The two distances from the heating element area to the guide rails force the tray, and therefore the substrate, closer to the heating element as the tray moves into the aerosol generation chamber. Ultimately, the substrate can be pressed against the heating element, thereby ensuring continuous contact between the substrate and the heating element during consumption of the substrate. This improves aerosol generation efficiency.

[0025] Optionally, in the closed position, both bolts are located in the second portion of the guide rail.

[0026] When both bolts are positioned on the second portion of the guide rail, they hold the substrate in close proximity to the heating element, thereby forcing both ends of the substrate against the heating element. By forcing the substrate against the heating element, aerosol generation efficiency is improved.

[0027] Optionally, the aerosol generating device comprises a second guide rail also having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being located below the aperture and the second portion being located below the heating element, the first portion having a first distance to the level of the heating element and the second portion having a second distance to the level of the heating element, the second distance being smaller than the first distance, and the second guide rail being located at a distance from the first guide rail in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

[0028] Two guide rails within the housing improve the stability of the tray and ensure that the substrate is properly pressed against the heating element. The second guide rail provides a second fixed point in addition to the first guide rail, ensuring that the substrate is held parallel to the heating element. If only one guide rail is provided, only one edge of the substrate can contact the heating element, whereas if the second guide rail allows the opposite second edge of the substrate to contact the heating element, the entire surface of the substrate is pressed against the heating element, thereby improving aerosol generation efficiency.

[0029] Optionally, at least one bolt is disposed in the first guide rail and at least one bolt is disposed in the second guide rail.

[0030] This improves the stability of the tray and ensures that the substrate is properly pressed against the heating element, thereby improving the efficiency of aerosol generation.

[0031] Optionally, the tray includes a recess configured to receive and hold the substrate.

[0032] During translation of the tray into the aerosol generation chamber, recesses in the tray secure the substrate on the tray and prevent movement of the substrate relative to the tray, ensuring that the substrate can be moved into the correct position relative to the heating element and improving aerosol generation efficiency.

[0033] Optionally, the substrate has the shape of a plate, pad or disc.

[0034] 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. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 shows a top view of an aerosol generation device with the cover in an open position. [Figure 2] 1 shows a top view of an aerosol generating device with the cover in a closed position. [Figure 3] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device with the cover in an open position. [Figure 4] An enlarged view of the tray is shown. [Figure 5] An enlarged view of the guide rail is shown. [Figure 6] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device with the cover in a closed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] 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.

[0037] The aerosol generating device 1 is preferably configured to operate with a substantially cubic substrate 11 having a flat shape. In a typical embodiment, the substrate 11 has dimensions of 18 x 12 x 1.2 mm. In general, the length of the substrate in preferred embodiments is 40 to 10 mm, preferably 30 to 12 mm, more preferably 25 to 14 mm, and most preferably 22 to 15 mm. The width of the substrate in preferred embodiments is 30 to 6 mm, preferably 25 to 8 mm, more preferably 20 to 9 mm, and most preferably 16 to 9 mm. The height of the substrate in preferred embodiments is 3 to 0.5 mm, preferably 2 to 0.6 mm, more preferably 1.8 to 0.8 mm, and most preferably 1.6 to 0.9 mm.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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).

[0040] The substrate 11 is aligned within the aerosol generation chamber 15 by inserting the tray 5 carrying the substrate 11 into the aerosol generation chamber 15. The substrate can be placed on the tray through the aperture 4 in the housing 2. When the tray 5 is inserted into the aerosol generation chamber 15, the tray 5 is guided to a position where the substrate 11 is 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 substrate 11 can be placed on or removed from the tray 5.

[0041] While the substrate 11 is being heated and the aerosol is being generated, or at a 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 form the aerosol.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 1 is shown. The device may include a rectangular housing 2 and a mouthpiece 3 that can be used to draw the generated aerosol out of the device. The housing has an aperture 4 that allows access to the interior of the housing. In the open position, as shown in FIG. 1, the cover 7 is in the open position, exposing the aperture. A tray 5 is located below the aperture. The tray 5 may include a recess 6 or other means for securing a substrate that can be inserted by a user. The cover 7 may be translated to a closed position by sliding it along the longitudinal direction 8 of the housing 2.

[0043] 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 over the aperture 4. From the closed position the cover can be translated back to the open position by sliding it in the opposite longitudinal direction 8.

[0044] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the aerosol generation device 1 with the cover 7 in the open position. The tray 5 may be connected to the cover 7 using a connecting element 13, which ensures that the tray 5 is always in a fixed position relative to the cover 7. This means that when the cover 7 slides in the longitudinal direction 8 of the housing 2 from the open position to the closed position, the tray translates in the same direction.

[0045] In some embodiments, as the cover 7 and tray 5 move from the open position to the closed position, the tray 5 with the substrate 11 moves along guide rails 12, which are held in place using bolts 14. As the bolts 14 slide along the inclined portions 23, the tray 5 moves parallel to the inclined portions 23. Thus, in addition to moving along the longitudinal direction 8, the tray also moves perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 8 toward the heating element 10. Once the cover 7 and tray 5 are in the closed position, the substrate 11 may therefore contact and be pressed against the heating element 10.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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 will not be discussed herein.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4 , the tray 5 has a recess 6 for receiving and holding the substrate 11. The depth D2 of the recess 6 is less than the height D1 of the substrate 11 so that the substrate 11 partially protrudes from the recess 6 when placed in the recess 6. The tray includes bolts 14, which are longer than the width of the tray and are positioned to protrude from both sides of the tray 5. In some embodiments, each bolt may simply be provided as a pair of studs protruding from the sides of the tray. The bolts are configured to be placed within guide rails 12.

[0049] In some embodiments, the guide rails 12 are spaced apart from one another such that when the cover is in the open position, the tray 5 is located between first portions 21 of the guide rails 12, and when the cover is in the closed position, the heating element 10 is located between second portions 22 of the guide rails 12. However, other spacings of the guide rails 12 are possible in other embodiments.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, four guide rails 12 are provided, with each side portion of the aerosol generation device 1 having two longitudinally spaced apart guide rails 12. In other embodiments, only two guide rails are provided longitudinally spaced apart on only one side portion, or in the middle of the aerosol generation device 1, or on opposite side portions of the aerosol generation device 1.

[0051] In yet another embodiment, only one guide rail 12 may be provided, and both bolts 14 may be configured to be located within the same guide rail 12 .

[0052] 5, the guide rail 12 has a first portion 21 and a second portion 22. The first portion 21 has a first distance to the level 20 of the heating element 10, and the second portion 22 has a second distance to the level 20, the second distance of the second portion being smaller than the first distance of the first portion. That is, the second portion 22 of the guide rail 12 is closer to the level of the heating element than the first portion 21 of the guide rail 12. The two portions 21 and 22 of the guide rail 12 may be connected by an inclined portion 23.

[0053] In some embodiments, the cover is raised / lowered during movement between the open and closed positions by means of rigid connecting elements 13. However, in other embodiments, connecting elements 13 are rigid in the longitudinal direction 8 but are movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 8, such as telescoping rods, so that the cover 7 is not raised or lowered during movement between the open and closed positions.

[0054] 6 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1. Aerosol generating device 2. Housing 3 mouthpiece 4 aperture 5 trays 6 recess 7 Cover 8 Longitudinal direction 10 heating elements 11 Base material 12 Guide rail 13 Connecting Elements 14 volts 15 Aerosol generation chamber 20 Heating Element Levels 21 First portion of guide rail 22 Second section of guide rail 23 Slope between sections

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol generating 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; a cover capable of covering an aperture in the device in a closed position and exposing the aperture in an open position; a tray for receiving and holding the substrate; when the cover is in the open position, the tray is positioned below the aperture so that a substrate can be accommodated or a substrate held by the tray can be manually removed by a user, and when the cover is in the closed position, the substrate accommodated and held by the tray is contained within the aerosol generation chamber and contacts the heating element; An aerosol generation device wherein the cover can be translated from the open position to the closed position by translating the cover over the aperture, thereby causing the tray to translate such that a substrate held by the tray translates into the aerosol generation chamber and contacts the heating element.

2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein sliding occurs in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the housing of the aerosol generating device.

3. 3. The aerosol generation device of claim 1, wherein the tray is connected to the cover in a manner that prevents longitudinal movement of the tray relative to the cover, such that translational movement of the cover results in translational movement of the tray.

4. 4. The aerosol generation device of claim 3, wherein the tray is rigidly connected to the cover in a manner that also prevents movement of the tray relative to the cover in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal movement.

5. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tray comprises at least two bolts configured to be positioned within guide rails.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5 , wherein each of the bolts is represented by a pair of studs.

7. The aerosol generating device of claim 5 or 6, wherein the bolts are arranged on the tray at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction, preferably one bolt is arranged in front of the substrate and one bolt is arranged behind the substrate.

8. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the bolt is substantially cylindrical.

9. 9. The aerosol generating device of claim 8, wherein the diameter of the bolt is at most three times the thickness of the tray, preferably no more than twice the thickness of the tray, and more preferably no greater than the thickness of the tray.

10. An aerosol generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tray is guided between the open position and the closed position by a guide rail configured to accommodate a bolt.

11. 11. The aerosol generating device of claim 10, wherein the guide rail has a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being located below the aperture and the second portion being located below the heating element, the first portion having a first distance to the cover, and the second portion having a second distance to the cover, the second distance being smaller than the first distance.

12. The aerosol generation device according to claim 11 , wherein in the closed position, both of the bolts are located in the second portion of the guide rail.

13. An aerosol generating device described in any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising a second guide rail having the same characteristics as the first guide rail described in claim 11, the second guide rail being positioned separately from the first guide rail in the longitudinal direction of the housing of the aerosol generating device.

14. 14. The aerosol generation device according to claim 13, wherein one bolt is disposed in the first guide rail and one bolt is disposed in the second guide rail.

15. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the tray comprises a recess configured to accommodate and hold the substrate.

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