Aerosol substrate carrier

Abstract

A substrate carrier (1) for use with an aerosol generation device (100) includes a first end (2) including a mouthpiece (10), a second end (3) opposite the first end, a substrate (20) disposed toward the second end, and a heat-retaining portion (21) disposed between at least a portion of the substrate and the first end, the heat-retaining portion (21) being a portion of the substrate having a higher density than at least one upstream portion of the substrate and configured to inhibit heat transfer from the substrate toward the first end. By configuring the substrate carrier in this manner, the substrate can be efficiently heated by the aerosol generation device during use.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Aerosol generation devices have become popular as alternatives to conventional combustible tobacco products. Heated tobacco products, also referred to as non-combustion heated products, are one category of aerosol generation devices configured to heat a substrate to a temperature sufficient to generate an aerosol from the tobacco substrate but not so high as to cause the tobacco to burn. Although this specification particularly refers to heated tobacco products, it will be understood that the following description equally applies to aerosol generation systems incorporating other types of heatable substrates.

[0002] In some heated tobacco products, the tobacco substrate is provided as a separate article loaded within the aerosol generation device, which includes a device for heating the article. For example, the aerosol generation device may have a heating chamber into which the article is loaded for subsequent heating. This arrangement provides advantages over, for example, disposable devices, as it minimizes waste (since the only waste is the used article) and allows the user to carry only a single reusable device. However, many current aerosol generation systems using the arrangement of a separate article and device have drawbacks such as heat loss and inefficient power usage, and systems attempting to address these problems are costly.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for an aerosol generation system that overcomes these problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a substrate carrier for use with an aerosol generating device is provided, comprising a first end including a mouthpiece, a second end opposite to the first end, a substrate positioned toward the second end, and a heat-retaining portion positioned between at least a portion of the substrate and the first end, the heat-retaining portion comprising a portion of the substrate having a higher density than at least one upstream portion of the substrate, and configured to suppress heat transfer from the substrate toward the first end.

[0005] The "flow" of the substrate carrier is defined as the flow from the second end to the first end of the carrier, corresponding to the user inhaling the aerosol generated in the substrate through the carrier towards the mouthpiece. For example, components near the first end of the substrate carrier are considered to be downstream of components near the second end.

[0006] The high-density heat-insulating portion functions as an insulator, preventing unnecessary heat transfer away from the substrate towards the first end of the carrier. This reduces the energy wasted during heating of the substrate carrier, thus improving the power efficiency of the aerosol generating device used with the substrate carrier. The heat-insulating portion also protects other parts and components of the substrate carrier from the high temperatures used to heat the substrate and generate aerosols. Furthermore, using a higher-density portion of the substrate as the heat-insulating portion not only increases the amount of substrate that can be contained within the substrate carrier, but also enables a simplified and less expensive manufacturing process.

[0007] Preferably, the heat-insulating portion is permeable to air and / or includes at least one pore between the end of the heat-insulating portion closest to the first end of the carrier and the end of the heat-insulating portion closest to the second end of the carrier. In this way, the aerosol generated by heating the substrate can be inhaled by the user through the heat-insulating portion.

[0008] In some examples of the present invention, the heat-retaining portion has a density higher than the average density of the base material. In particular, the heat-retaining portion may include a material having a density higher than the base material.

[0009] The composition of the heat-insulating portion varies depending on the substrate used for the substrate carrier. For example, the substrate may contain an aerosol-forming agent and tobacco or non-tobacco (e.g., cellulose pulp) fibers. In one example, a higher density of the heat-insulating portion is achieved by increasing the amount of aerosol-forming agent in a portion of the substrate. Since the density of the aerosol-forming agent is higher than the density of the tobacco or non-tobacco fibers, this portion becomes the heat-insulating portion. In a preferred example, a higher density of the heat-insulating portion is also achieved by increasing the content of tobacco or non-tobacco fibers within the heat-insulating portion. That is, the ratio of aerosol-forming agent to fibers within the heat-insulating portion is equal to or preferably lower than the average ratio of the substrate. As the content of the aerosol-forming agent decreases during aerosol generation (and thus the density of the heat-insulating portion decreases), this ratio of aerosol-forming agent to fibers maintains an effective level of aerosol-forming agent in the substrate (especially within the heat-insulating portion) so that the desired aerosol generation continues and the heat insulation of the heat-insulating portion is maintained.

[0010] The heat-retaining portion may include the portion of the substrate closest to the first end of the substrate carrier. In this way, the heat-retaining portion allows heat to move freely around the substrate, while suppressing heat from passing through the edges of the substrate, thereby enabling uniform heating of the substrate.

[0011] The substrate carrier may further include an aerosol collection area positioned between the substrate and the first end. During use, the aerosol collection area allows aerosols generated by heating the substrate to accumulate before they are inhaled by the user. The properties of the generated aerosols can be more easily altered within the aerosol collection area. For example, the aerosol collection area may include a cooling area configured to lower the temperature of the generated aerosols.

[0012] The aerosol collection area may include a hollow tube.

[0013] The heat-retaining portion may be positioned between at least a portion of the substrate and at least a portion of the aerosol collection area. This arrangement prevents heat from being transferred from the substrate to the aerosol collection area.

[0014] The heat-retaining portion may additionally include a high-density portion of the aerosol collection area having a higher density than at least one downstream portion of the aerosol collection area, and the high-density portion of the aerosol collection area is adjacent to the substrate. The high-density portion of the aerosol collection area further suppresses heat transfer from the substrate toward the first end of the substrate support. In some examples, the high-density portion of the aerosol collection area may have a higher density than the average density of the aerosol collection area.

[0015] The substrate support may further include a second heat-retaining portion located at the end of the substrate closest to the second end of the substrate support, and configured to suppress heat transfer from the substrate. This second heat-retaining portion of the substrate further suppresses heat transfer away from the substrate, particularly from the second end of the substrate support.

[0016] The second heat-insulating portion may include a portion of the substrate having a higher density than at least one downstream portion of the substrate. In this way, heat loss from the substrate is reduced without introducing additional components or reducing the amount of substrate contained within the substrate carrier. In some examples, the second heat-insulating portion may have a density higher than the average density of the substrate; that is, the second heat-insulating portion may include a material having a higher density than the substrate material.

[0017] The substrate support may further include a cooling region positioned between the substrate and the first end of the substrate support. This allows the temperature of the generated aerosol to be reduced before inhalation, and allows the substrate to be heated to a high temperature (without combustion) to rapidly generate the aerosol if necessary.

[0018] The substrate can be positioned along less than 50% of the length of the substrate carrier. This ensures that there is sufficient space within the substrate carrier for other components such as the aerosol collection area, cooling area, and mouthpiece.

[0019] A substrate may have a density that varies along its length. This can be achieved in various ways. This may allow for modification of aerosol generation (and the smoking / vapor inhalation experience). For example, the density of the substrate may change gradually, i.e., with continuity of properties, across the entire substrate, with the highest density being closest to the first end of the carrier or in its vicinity. In specific examples, this means that the density of the substrate changes gradually between the heat-retaining portion and other areas of the substrate, giving a gradient of changing density across the substrate (or at least a portion of it). In another example, several distinct regions of the substrate with different densities may be provided within the substrate. This means that the density of the substrate changes instantly and substantially between different distinct regions of the substrate (e.g., between the heat-retaining portion and the rest of the substrate), such that a clear density boundary or stepwise change is located between the distinct regions of the substrate.

[0020] The density of the substrate is generally 0.260–0.8 mg / mm³. 3 It may be included in the following. The density of the heat-retaining portion is preferably 0.4 mg / mm³. 3 Higher than, and more preferably 0.5 mg / mm 3 Higher than 0.6 mg / mm³, most preferably 0.6 mg / mm³ 3 It is higher than that. The density of the substrate upstream of the heat-retaining portion is preferably 0.5 mg / mm³. 3 Lower than, preferably 0.45 mg / mm³ 3 Lower than, more preferably 0.4 mg / mm³ 3 It is lower than that.

[0021] The heat-retaining portion can be positioned closer to the second end of the base material carrier than to the first end.

[0022] The mouthpiece may include a filter. This may improve the smoking / vapor inhalation experience for the user and provide a compact substrate carrier. The filter may include at least two filter segments having different properties, particularly different pressure drops, lengths, and / or fiber densities (i.e., denier per filament, total denier). The filter segments may include or be filled with cavities. The filter may be formed from a filter tow composed of filaments made of cellulose acetate or a paper-based material.

[0023] The base carrier may further include packaging material surrounding the base carrier. This increases the strength of the base carrier. Optionally, the packaging material may include at least one ventilation hole, preferably multiple holes arranged circumferentially. This allows for control of aerosol suction resistance and temperature. Preferably, the packaging material is cigarette rolling paper. The base or base portion, aerosol collection area or paper tube and filter or filter segment may be individually packaged in dedicated packaging layers and combined with one or more outer packaging layers. The filter or filter segment is usually packaged in one or more plug wraps and combined with other elements (e.g., paper tube, base) using chipping paper. The insulation portion may be packaged in a first packaging layer and assembled with the rest of the base using a second packaging layer.

[0024] The substrate may contain tobacco treated with an aerosol-generating agent. This ensures that the substrate generates the desired aerosol for the user to inhale. The aerosol-generating agent and its amount can be adjusted to alter the properties of the generated aerosol. Examples of aerosol-generating agents include polyols such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol, monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, and non-polyols such as esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, or triethyl citrate.

[0025] The substrate may include reconstituted tobacco such as paper-reconstituted tobacco, extruded tobacco sheets and / or formed tobacco sheets.

[0026] Paper-reconstituted tobacco refers to a tobacco material formed by a process in which tobacco raw materials are extracted using a solvent to obtain an extract of soluble substances and a residue containing a fibrous material, and the extract is remixed with the fibrous material from the residue by depositing the extract on the fibrous material. An aerosol-forming agent can optionally be added to the sheet together with flavor and / or water. The paper-reconstituted tobacco can be blended with tobacco leaf lamina.

[0027] The formed tobacco sheet can be made from a slurry containing tobacco, an aerosol-forming agent and water. The slurry can be formed to form a substrate and then dried.

[0028] The substrate can be formed as a gathered sheet, a shredded sheet or strand, a mousse, granules and combinations thereof.

[0029] In one embodiment, the substrate includes only shredded sheets having various densities. In another embodiment, the substrate is formed by a heat-insulating portion composed of a gathered sheet, and the remaining portion of the substrate is essentially formed by a shredded sheet. The shredded sheet generally includes randomly arranged strands of reconstituted tobacco. In contrast to the strands, the gathered sheet generally includes one or more sheets of reconstituted tobacco that can be folded into a tobacco rod and ultimately crimped before folding.

[0030] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating device comprising a substrate carrier according to any example of the first aspect of the present invention, a heating chamber configured to receive a second end of the substrate carrier, a power source, a heater arranged to supply heat to the heating chamber, and a control circuit configured to control the supply of power from the power source to the heater, wherein an opening of the heating chamber is aligned with a part of the heat-insulating portion of the substrate carrier when the substrate carrier is received in the heating chamber.

[0031] Since the opening of the heating chamber is the edge of the heating area provided by the heating chamber, aligning the opening of the heating chamber with a portion of the heat-retaining portion of the substrate carrier makes it possible to heat the substrate within the heating chamber while suppressing heat transfer along the aerosol carrier. In addition, by aligning the components in this manner, heat transfer between the portion of the substrate carrier close to the first end of the carrier and the heating chamber is reduced (compared to the heat-retaining portion of the substrate).

[0032] The heating chamber may include a heat-retaining portion to suppress heat transfer from the substrate of the substrate carrier. The heat-retaining portion of the heating chamber suppresses heat transfer from the substrate of the substrate carrier to other components of the aerosol generating device. In addition, the heat-retaining portion of the heating chamber may suppress heat transfer from the heating chamber to other components of the device or to parts of the substrate carrier outside the heating chamber.

[0033] The heat retention portion of the heating chamber can be aligned with the heat retention portion of the substrate carrier. In this way, undesirable heat transfer from the substrate carrier away from the substrate is reduced, passing through both the carrier (due to the heat retention portion of the substrate carrier) and the internal volume of the heating chamber and device surrounding the substrate carrier (due to the heat retention portion of the heating chamber). In other words, heat transfer away from the heating chamber and the substrate is reduced.

[0034] The heating chamber may include one or more compression elements arranged to extend from the inner surface of the heating chamber such that the width of the heating chamber decreases in at least one direction.

[0035] One or more compression elements can securely hold the accepted substrate carrier within the heating chamber and limit the distance the substrate carrier can be inserted into the heating chamber (without damaging the carrier). Furthermore, the compression elements can function as insertion guides for the substrate carrier, facilitating easy insertion and removal of the substrate carrier into and from the heating chamber.

[0036] The thermal insulation portion of the substrate carrier can be at least partially aligned with the upper end of one or more compression elements. This provides further support for the substrate carrier (since the thermal insulation portion of the substrate carrier is typically the most robust part of the substrate) and a more effective thermal seal between the thermal insulation portion and the compression elements.

[0037] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating device is provided, comprising a heating chamber and a substrate carrier, wherein the heating chamber is configured to receive the substrate carrier, and the substrate carrier includes a heat-retaining portion configured to align with the opening of the heating chamber when the substrate carrier is received into the heating chamber.

[0038] By aligning the heat-insulating portion of the substrate with the opening of the heating chamber, the heat insulation of the heating chamber is improved, and heat transfer through the heat-insulating portion is suppressed. In particular, the heat-insulating portion of the substrate is positioned within the opening of the heating chamber to provide an improved thermal seal, reduce heat loss from the heating chamber through the opening, and thereby improve the efficiency of the device.

[0039] The heat-retaining portion may be configured to suppress heat transfer from the substrate towards the first end of the substrate support.

[0040] The heat-insulating portion is permeable to air and / or may include at least one pore between the end of the heat-insulating portion closest to the first end of the carrier and the end of the heat-insulating portion closest to the second end of the carrier, the second end of the base carrier being on the opposite side from the first end.

[0041] The heat-insulating portion may have a lower thermal conductivity than at least one upstream portion of the substrate support. In some examples, the heat-insulating portion may have a lower thermal conductivity than the average thermal conductivity of the substrate support.

[0042] The heat-retaining portion may include an insulating material. The insulating material may include polyimide or other heat-resistant plastics, ceramics, glass fiber, or epoxy resin.

[0043] The heat-insulating portion may include a portion of the substrate having a higher density than at least one upstream portion of the substrate carrier. In some examples, the heat-insulating portion may include a portion of the substrate having a higher density than the average density of the substrate carrier.

[0044] A third embodiment of the substrate carrier may include any of the features described above or below with respect to the first or second embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Herein, embodiments of the present invention will be described merely as examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0046] [Figure 1A] An exemplary aerosol generation device including a substrate carrier is schematically shown. [Figure 1B] An exemplary aerosol generation device including a substrate carrier is schematically shown. [Figure 2] An exemplary substrate carrier is schematically shown. [Figure 3] Another exemplary substrate carrier is schematically shown. [Figure 4] Further examples of substrate supports are schematically shown. [Figure 5A] Another exemplary aerosol generation device including a substrate carrier is schematically shown. [Figure 5B] Another exemplary aerosol generation device including a substrate carrier is schematically shown. [Figure 6] Further schematic examples of aerosol generation devices including substrate supports are shown. [Figure 7] Another schematic example of an aerosol generation device including a substrate support is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0047] Figures 1A and 1B show an overall assembled configuration of an exemplary aerosol generating device 100. The device 100 includes an outer housing with an opening into which a substrate carrier 1 can be inserted. Figure 1A shows the device 100 with the substrate carrier 1 being inserted, and Figure 1B shows the substrate carrier 1 held within the aerosol generating device 100.

[0048] The aerosol generating device 100 includes a heating chamber 110 within a housing, configured to receive the substrate carrier 1 through an opening 111 of the heating chamber 110. For the purposes of this description, the end of the heating chamber 110 near the opening 111 is referred to as the “top” of the heating chamber 110, while the end of the heating chamber 110 furthest from the opening is referred to as the “bottom” of the heating chamber. In addition, the end of the heating chamber 110 near the opening 111 is referred to as the “downstream” of the end of the heating chamber 110 furthest from the opening 111. A heater 120 is located near the heating chamber 110 to supply heat to the internal volume of the heating chamber 110 and is connected to a power supply 130. A control circuit 140 is configured to control the supply of power from the power supply 130 to the heater 120.

[0049] The substrate carrier 1 includes a substrate 20 that, when in use, is received into a heating chamber 110 and heated to release vapors that form an aerosol. Typically, the substrate 20 includes tobacco treated with an aerosol-generating agent such as propylene glycol or glycerol, which is called reconstituted tobacco.

[0050] As shown in Figure 1B, the dimensions of the substrate 20 are the same as the dimensions of the heating chamber 110. This makes it easy to heat the substrate 20 uniformly without wasting energy heating the areas of the substrate carrier 1 other than the substrate 20. The width or diameter of the substrate 20 is slightly smaller than the width or diameter of the internal volume of the heating chamber 110 in order to allow for easy insertion of the substrate 20 into the heating chamber 110.

[0051] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the carrier 1 includes a first end 2 and a second end 3 having a substrate 20 positioned on the side of the second end 3 of the carrier 1. During use, the aerosol generated in the substrate 20 can be inhaled by the user through the substrate carrier 1. Advantageously, a portion of the substrate 20 includes a heat-insulating portion 21 positioned at the end of the substrate 20 closest to the first end 2 of the carrier 1. The heat-insulating portion 21 has a higher density than the average density of the substrate 20. This configuration acts as an insulator, suppressing heat transfer from the substrate 20 to the first end 1. In particular, the heat-insulating portion 21 has a higher density than at least one second portion positioned upstream of the heat-insulating portion 21. Thus, less energy is used to heat the unnecessary portion of the carrier 1 (i.e., the portion of the carrier 1 region other than the substrate 20), thereby increasing the heating efficiency of the aerosol generating device used with the substrate carrier 1. By using the higher-density portion of the base material 20 as the heat-insulating portion 21, the structure of the base material carrier 1 can be simplified and the cost of the base material carrier 1 can be reduced compared to such carriers that use separate heat-insulating components that must be incorporated into the base material carrier. In addition, this configuration increases the amount of base material 20 that can be contained within the base material carrier 1, thereby extending the lifespan of the carrier 1.

[0052] The substrate carrier 1 shown in Figure 3 includes a second heat-retaining portion 22 positioned at the end of the substrate 20 closest to the second end 3 of the carrier 1. Similar to the first heat-retaining portion 21, the second heat-retaining portion 22 has a density higher than the average density of the substrate 20 in order to further suppress heat transfer from the substrate 20. In this case, at least one low-density portion of the substrate is positioned between the first heat-retaining portion 21 and the second heat-retaining portion 22. In other examples, different heat-retaining portions may have different properties, but in some examples of the present invention, the size, shape and density of the second heat-retaining portion 22 are the same as those of the first heat-retaining portion 21.

[0053] As shown in Figure 4, the substrate carrier 1 may include additional components such as a mouthpiece 10 positioned at a first end 2 of the carrier 1. The mouthpiece 10 may include a filter (not shown) for altering the properties of the aerosol generated prior to inhalation. An aerosol collection area 30 is also provided, positioned between the substrate 20 and the first end 2, and typically the aerosol collection area 30 includes a hollow tube. In some examples, the aerosol collection area may include a folded and rolled polymer film, such as cellulose acetate. In some examples of the present invention, the heat-insulating portion 21 additionally includes a high-density portion 31 of the aerosol collection area 30 to further suppress undesirable heat transfer away from the substrate 20. The high-density portion 31 of the aerosol collection area 30 has a higher density than at least one downstream portion of the aerosol collection area 30. Preferably, the high-density portion 31 of the aerosol collection area 30 is adjacent to the substrate 20 to minimize heat transfer from the substrate 30. It is important that the high-density portion 31 of the collection area 30 allows the aerosol to pass through. The passage of this aerosol can be achieved by a high-density portion 31 that is permeable to air or has at least one pore that penetrates the portion 31.

[0054] The cooling region 40 may be positioned between the substrate 20 and the first end 2 of the substrate carrier 1. In the example of Figure 4, the cooling region 40 is shown as a separate component, but in some examples of the present invention, the cooling region 40 may be incorporated into the mouthpiece 10 or the aerosol collection region 30. In particular, in Figure 4, the cooling region 40 may be a hollow filter segment made of cellulose acetate or the like. The mouthpiece 10 may be a plain filter segment made of cellulose acetate or the like. In the example in which the cooling region 40 is incorporated into the aerosol collection region 30, the high-density portion 31 of the aerosol collection region 30 may include at least a portion of the cooling region 40.

[0055] The mouthpiece 10, cooling area 40, and aerosol collection area 30 all allow for customization and control of the properties of the generated aerosol (e.g., temperature and texture) to enhance the user's smoking / vapor inhalation experience. In some examples, the base material carrier 1 may also include packaging material 60 surrounding the base material carrier 1. The packaging material may consist of separate inner and outer packaging layers, allowing different components to be manufactured individually and combined to produce the base material carrier. In particular, the base material 20 may be packaged with a plug wrap and combined with the cooling area 30 and mouthpiece 10 by an outer packaging paper. The mouthpiece 10 and cooling area 40 may also be individually packaged with individual plug wraps and / or packaged together with a plug wrap. This plug wrap can be used to increase the strength of the base material carrier 1 and further customize the user's smoking / vapor inhalation experience. For example, the packaging material 60 may include vents to adjust the suction resistance and to cool the aerosol and / or base material carrier 1.

[0056] Figures 5A and 5B show the substrate carrier 1 when used with another aerosol generating device 100. In contrast to the device 100 described above with respect to Figures 1A and 1B, the heating chamber 110 of this aerosol generating device 100 further includes a compression element 112 and a heat retention section 113.

[0057] The compression element 112 extends from the inner surface of the heating chamber 110 such that the width of the heating chamber 110 is reduced in at least one direction. For example, in Figures 5A and 5B, the compression element 112 is a single element positioned around the opening 111 of the heating chamber 110, which effectively reduces the size of the opening 111 and thereby compresses the substrate carrier 1 when it is introduced into the heating chamber 110. In this way, the substrate carrier 1 can be reliably held within the heating chamber 110 in a predetermined configuration, for example, the substrate 20 being fixed at the center of the internal volume of the heating chamber 110 and thus heated uniformly. Other forms of compression elements 112, such as those shown in Figure 6, can produce the same effect, and for example, a number of compression elements 112 may be arranged as strips or elongated embossed sections along the length or width of the heating chamber 110, extending from the inner surface of the heating chamber 110. This allows air to be drawn into the substrate 20 from the opening 111 downwards around the outside of the carrier 1 toward the bottom of the heating chamber 110, enclosing the generated aerosol. By configuring the compression elements 112 such that the distance between opposing sides of the compression elements 112 (e.g., the inner diameter of the compression elements 112) or the distance between opposing compression elements 112 narrows as the proximity to the bottom of the heating chamber 110 increases, the compression elements 112 can be reliably guided to the desired position of the substrate carrier 1 within the heating chamber 110.

[0058] Preferably, the heat-retaining portion 21 of the substrate carrier 1 is at least partially aligned with the upper end of the compression element 112. This alignment further reduces heat loss and provides a seal between the substrate carrier 1 and the heating chamber 110 (via the compression element 112) to support the substrate carrier 1 and prevent it from being pushed too far into the heating chamber 110. For example, if the substrate 20 is in direct contact with the bottom of the heating chamber 110, this may cause the substrate 20 to overheat.

[0059] In some examples of the aerosol generation device 100, the compression element 112 may be configured to extend along the entire length of the heating chamber 110, while in other examples, the compression element may extend only over a portion of the length of the heating chamber 110.

[0060] For a device 100 configured to receive a carrier 1 (as described above) where the second heat-retaining portion 22 is in close proximity to the second end 3 of the base carrier 1, it is preferable that the compression element 112 does not extend to the bottom of the heating chamber 110. Instead, the compression element 112 extends downward only to the second heat-retaining portion 22. That is, when the base carrier 1 is received in the heating chamber 110, the compression element 112 does not overlap with the second heat-retaining portion 22. In this way, the second heat-retaining portion 22 forms a seal with the compression element 112, which helps to support the base carrier 1 within the device 100.

[0061] The heat-insulating portion 113 of the heating chamber 110 suppresses heat transfer from the substrate 20 of the substrate carrier 1 to other components of the aerosol generating device 100. In addition, the heat-insulating portion 113 of the heating chamber 110 can suppress heat transfer from the heating chamber 110 to other components of the device 100 or to parts of the substrate carrier 1 outside the heating chamber 110. Preferably, the heat-insulating portion 113 of the heating chamber 110 is aligned with the heat-insulating portion 21 of the substrate carrier 1 when the substrate carrier 1 is received into the heating chamber 110. This prevents unnecessary heat transfer away from the substrate 20 through both the substrate carrier 1 (by the heat-insulating portion 21) and the internal space of the device 100 surrounding the substrate carrier 1 (by the heat-insulating portion 113). Typically, the heat-insulating portion 113 is an insulating material placed at or near the opening 111 of the heating chamber 110.

[0062] In some examples of the aerosol generating device 100, the heat-retaining portion 113 may be integrated with the compression element 112, while in other examples, the heat-retaining portion 113 and the compression element 112 may be separate components. For example, as shown in Figures 5A, 5B, and 6, the compression element 112 is covered by a portion of the heat-retaining portion 113. Alternatively, some devices 100 may include a heat-retaining portion 113 without a compression element 112, while other devices may include a compression element 112 without a heat-retaining portion, as shown in Figure 7.

[0063] As shown in Figure 5B, when the substrate 10 is held in the heating chamber 110, only a relatively small portion of the substrate 10 is compressed by the compression element 112. This allows air to flow more easily around the substrate 10 in the heating chamber 110, potentially reducing suction resistance.

[0064] Figure 6 shows an aerosol generating device 100 comprising a compression element 112 and a heat retention section 113. In contrast to the device 100 shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the compression element 112 is positioned along the length of the heating chamber 110, from the opening 111 to the bottom of the heating chamber 110, so that the substrate 20 of the substrate carrier 1 is compressed along the length of the substrate 20 when it is received into the device 100. This ensures that the device 100 securely holds the substrate carrier 1 in place and promotes consistent heat transfer from the heating chamber 110 to the substrate 10.

[0065] A higher density of the substrate can be obtained by filling paper-wrapped rods with more substrate using a disc with grooves that allows more tobacco to remain in the grooved areas of the rod. This creates a higher density in those areas when the rods are paper-wrapped. Another possible method is to produce separate wrapped segments of tobacco substrate with different densities and combine the segments with additional wrapping paper.

[0066] In the above description, the heat-insulating portion 21 of the substrate carrier 1 is provided by a portion of the substrate 20 having a higher density than at least one upstream portion of the substrate 20; however, in other examples, the heat-insulating portion 21 is not necessarily provided by the substrate carrier 1 alone. For example, the heat-insulating portion 21 may also include a high-density portion 31 of the aerosol collection area 30 that aligns with the opening 111 of the heating chamber 110 to improve the insulation of the chamber 110 and suppress heat transfer from the substrate 10. In another example, the heat-insulating portion 21 may also include separate components within the substrate carrier 1, such as an insulating element configured to be permeable to aerosols, which is positioned adjacent to the substrate 10 between the substrate 10 and the first end 2 of the carrier 1 and is aligned with the opening 111 of the heating chamber 110 when in use.

Claims

1. A substrate carrier for use with an aerosol generating device, The first end, including the mouthpiece, The second end opposite to the first end, A base material positioned toward the second end, A heat-insulating portion disposed between at least a part of the substrate and the first end, comprising a portion of the substrate having a higher density than at least one upstream portion of the substrate, and configured to suppress heat transfer from the substrate toward the first end, an aerosol collection area disposed between the substrate and the first end, Includes, The aerosol collection area includes a hollow tube, The heat-insulating portion further includes a high-density portion of the hollow tube having a higher density than at least one downstream portion of the aerosol collection area, and the high-density portion of the hollow tube is adjacent to the substrate. Base material carrier.

2. The heat-retaining portion includes the portion of the base material closest to the first end of the base material carrier, according to claim 1.

3. The substrate carrier according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second heat-retaining portion disposed at the end of the substrate closest to the second end of the substrate carrier, the second heat-retaining portion configured to suppress heat transfer from the substrate.

4. The substrate carrier according to claim 3, wherein the second heat-retaining portion includes a portion of the substrate having a higher density than at least one downstream portion of the substrate.

5. The substrate carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a cooling region disposed between the substrate and the first end of the substrate carrier.

6. The substrate carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the substrate is arranged along less than 50% of the length of the substrate carrier.

7. The substrate carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the substrate has a density that changes along the length of the substrate.

8. The substrate carrier according to claim 7, wherein the density of the substrate gradually changes over the length of the substrate, and the highest substrate density is located at or near the end of the substrate that is closest to the first end of the substrate carrier.

9. The density of the substrate is 0.26 mg / mm³. ３ The above and 0.8 mg / mm³ ３ The substrate carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is as follows:

10. The density of the heat-retaining portion is 0.4 mg / mm³. ３ The above is the base material carrier according to claim 9.

11. The density of the heat-retaining portion is 0.5 mg / mm³. ３ The above is the base material carrier according to claim 10.

12. The density of the heat-retaining portion is 0.6 mg / mm³. ３ The above is the base material carrier according to claim 11.

13. The density of the substrate upstream of the heat-insulating portion is 0.5 mg / mm³. ３ The following is a base material carrier according to any one of claims 9 to 12.

14. The density of the substrate upstream of the heat-insulating portion is 0.45 mg / mm³. ３ The following is a base material carrier according to any one of claims 9 to 13.

15. The density of the substrate upstream of the heat-insulating portion is 0.4 mg / mm³. ３ The following is a base material carrier according to any one of claims 9 to 14.

16. The mouthpiece is a substrate carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a filter.

17. An aerosol generation system comprising a substrate carrier and an aerosol generation device, The aforementioned substrate carrier is The first end, including the mouthpiece, The second end opposite to the first end, A base material positioned toward the second end, A heat-retaining portion disposed between at least a part of the substrate and the first end, comprising a portion of the substrate having a higher density than at least one upstream portion of the substrate, and configured to suppress heat transfer from the substrate toward the first end, The aerosol generating device is A heating chamber configured to receive the second end of the substrate carrier, Power supply and A heater arranged to supply heat to the heating chamber, A control circuit configured to control the supply of power from the power source to the heater, The opening of the heating chamber is aligned with a portion of the heat-retaining portion of the substrate carrier when the substrate carrier is received into the heating chamber. The heating chamber includes a heat retention portion for suppressing heat transfer from the substrate to the substrate carrier in an aerosol generation system.

18. The aerosol generation system according to claim 17, wherein the heat retention portion of the heating chamber is aligned with the heat retention portion of the substrate carrier.

19. The aerosol generating system according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the heating chamber includes one or more compression elements arranged to extend from the inner surface of the heating chamber such that the width of the heating chamber decreases in at least one direction.

20. An aerosol generation system comprising a substrate carrier and an aerosol generation device, The aforementioned substrate carrier is The first end, including the mouthpiece, The second end opposite to the first end, A base material positioned toward the second end, A heat-insulating portion disposed between at least a part of the base material and the first end, comprising a portion of the base material having a higher density than at least one upstream portion of the base material, and configured to suppress heat transfer from the base material toward the first end, The aerosol generating device is A heating chamber configured to receive the second end of the substrate carrier, Power supply and A heater arranged to supply heat to the heating chamber, A control circuit configured to control the supply of power from the power source to the heater, The opening of the heating chamber is aligned with a portion of the heat-retaining portion of the substrate carrier when the substrate carrier is received into the heating chamber. The heating chamber includes one or more compression elements arranged to extend from the inner surface of the heating chamber such that the width of the heating chamber decreases in at least one direction. An aerosol generation system in which the heat-retaining portion of the substrate carrier is at least partially aligned with the upper end of one or more compression elements.

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