A heating furnace for an aerosol generating apparatus having a heating plate, an aerosol generating apparatus having a heating furnace, and a method for assembling a heating furnace.

Abstract

The furnace (10) for an aerosol generating device includes a tubular member (12) having a first end and a second end and at least one flat support wall (16) that extends across an interior tubular cavity of the tubular member (12) between the first end and the second end, at least one flat heater (18) attached to the flat support wall (16) that includes an electrical connection (24) that extends through the second end of the tubular member (12), and at least one closure (26) configured to at least partially close the second end. The aerosol generating device has at least one such furnace. In a method of assembling a furnace for an aerosol generating device, a tubular member having two open ends is provided, and at least one flat support wall with a flat heater attached thereto is inserted through one of the open ends, and one end is closed by an electrical connection that extends through the closure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating furnace for an aerosol generating device, an aerosol generating device having such a heating furnace, and a method of assembling the heating furnace.

Background Art

[0002] Aerosol generating devices are becoming popular as an alternative to conventional smoking articles such as cigarettes. In such devices, the aerosol is heated, which is usually achieved by a substantially tubular furnace with a thin-film heater wound around it. An aerosol-forming article, such as a rod that is a tobacco substrate, is inserted into the tubular heater and heated. Conventional thin-film heaters require many assembly operations that are at least partially performed manually.

[0003] This also applies to the curved heating plate as shown in the specification of Chinese Utility Model No. 209995365U. Further, the method of bringing a movable heating plate into contact with a rod that is a tobacco substrate as shown in the specification of European Patent No. 3228199B1 is relatively complicated. Finally, the specification of Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 109965350A shows a polygonal support tube with a heater plate fixed externally.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] On this premise, the essential object of the present invention is to provide a furnace for an aerosol generating device that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time maintains the required heat conduction.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The above-mentioned objective is solved by the subject matter of claim 1, which describes a furnace comprising a tubular member and at least one flat support wall extending across its internal tubular cavity. At least one flat heater is attached to the flat support wall, and an electrical connection extends through a second end of the tubular member that can be closed by a suitable closure. Such a furnace is easy to manufacture and ensures the necessary heat conduction to the rod inserted within the tubular member through contact with the support wall to which the flat heater is attached. Furthermore, the structure can be simplified by reducing the height of the heater to the contact point with the rod. Moreover, compared to conventional heating furnaces, the need for insulation is reduced because the tubular member functions as a first insulator. In particular, unwanted heat conduction to the tubular member (rather than the rod) can be minimized due to the fact that contact between the flat heater and the tubular member is limited to, for example, line contact along a suitable rail provided between the tubular member and the flat heater.

[0006] The tubular member may, for example, have a cylindrical shape and may have rails on its interior to allow insertion of, for example, a flat heater and / or a flat support wall to which at least one flat heater is attached. The flat heater may be provided, for example, as a rectangular plate. Regarding the number of heater plates, three is currently preferred, but generally two or four are also possible, and a single heater plate or five or more heater plates are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0007] With respect to airflow, there is no significant difference compared to conventional airflow configurations known to be efficient. However, the airflow can be more easily arranged as a result of the specific arrangement of the flat support walls in the tubular member. In particular, an airflow channel can be arranged between the tubular member and at least one flat support wall. The airflow channel may further include an air inlet provided at the first end and / or a channel provided between the airflow channel and the internal tubular cavity. The channel may be formed in the flat support wall, for example as a passage traversing the support wall, typically near the bottom of the cavity, and / or within a closure that allows air to flow into the rod. In either case, the air can communicate with the cavity in which the rod is located.

[0008] Several preferred embodiments are described in further claims.

[0009] Due to its simple structure, a flat heater essentially separates the central cavity of the tubular member from its surrounding cavity, and the central cavity is preferably larger than the surrounding cavity. In this way, the central cavity can be made large enough to accommodate the rod material, and a surrounding cavity can be provided that allows the flat heater to be placed on it and contributes to heat insulation, without significantly increasing the overall size of the tubular member. The surrounding cavity can function as an air passage as described above.

[0010] Because flat heaters have a relatively simple structure, they may include a plate and a heating element attached thereto.

[0011] In a particularly efficient manner, the heater may include heater tracks printed on a ceramic material or a metal plate. The heater may also be a resistance heating fiber mat or grid or a heating layer coated on a plate. The heating coating may be chemically bonded to the electrical insulating material of the plate. For example, the conductive material coating may be metal, metal oxide, or carbon. The plate may be a heat-resistant plate such as PEEK or a metal coated with an electrical insulating layer, as described in the concurrently pending European Patent No. 21155871.3.

[0012] In the first simulation, it was found that both a structure in which the heating element faces the central cavity, or an alternative structure in which the heating element faces the peripheral cavity, can efficiently heat the rod material contained in the central cavity. When the heating element faces the central cavity, heat conduction can be advantageously maximized.

[0013] In particular, to facilitate manufacturing, a flat support wall may include a pair of guide members, such as rails, configured for insertion through a flat heater. Similarly, a tubular member may have one or more pairs of such guide members configured for insertion into a support wall.

[0014] The flat heater may include a metal shield. The metal shield may be attached to the flat heater. The metal shield may be positioned and sized to cover all or part of the side of the flat heater facing the central cavity. Alternatively, the metal shield may be positioned and sized to cover all or part of the side of the flat heater facing the peripheral cavity. It is also conceivable to have two metal shields, one on each side of the flat heater. The metal shield may be a metal plate thinner than the thickness of the flat heater. The metal shield may have a bent portion at the first end of the tubular member, which is bent relative to the rest of the metal shield. The bent portion may have a rounded edge.

[0015] By attaching a metal shield to a flat heater, the flat heater can be protected from physical impact, which may be particularly important in the case of a flat heater containing ceramic material. Furthermore, this configuration improves the sliding properties of the flat heater due to the presence of the metal shield, making it easier to insert the flat heater, for example.

[0016] The features relating to the metal shield can be applied to the configurations of the second to fifth aspects of this disclosure / invention described below.

[0017] To enhance heating efficiency and enable individual heating patterns, the tubular member may include at least two flat support walls extending across its internal cavity, each of which includes at least one flat heater. Since the two flat support walls can be arranged parallel to each other, the rod can be efficiently heated from two opposing surfaces.

[0018] In this configuration, flat heaters can be mounted in series or parallel to provide different heating patterns. In this situation, even if multiple heaters are provided and configured to operate simultaneously, the assembly of the furnace is simplified by providing them separately.

[0019] Efficient heating can be achieved using both a resistive flat heater and an inductive heating element, in other words, both a resistive and / or inductive heater.

[0020] Regarding the safe placement of the heating element, an electrical insulating layer may be provided between the support plate and the heating element.

[0021] In this situation, an electrically insulating polymer, ceramic, or DLC may be suitable for the electrically insulating layer. The heating element can also be bonded to the support plate by, for example, a silicone adhesive. The heating element may also be directly applied to the support plate by an electrically insulating coating (e.g., DLC) and a resistive layer (e.g., titanium) directly printed or deposited on the coating.

[0022] The tubular member may have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape with respect to the shape of its outer wall, or it may have other shapes such as a square, polygon, or oval, even if they are not preferable.

[0023] The tubular members and closures can be manufactured from heat-resistant plastics such as PEEK or silicone, metals such as stainless steel, or a combination thereof.

[0024] Regarding the shape of the closure, it has been found that a lid or a plug is beneficial. A separate lid or plug enables the manufacturing of the tubular member and the method of assembling the device.

[0025] The present invention further provides a method for assembling a heating furnace for an aerosol generating device. In this method, by providing a tubular member having two open ends, one or more flat heaters can be inserted through one of the open ends. Then, the open end is preferably closed by a closure such as a lid or a plug while passing through an electrical connection portion. Here, the other end, which is referred to as the first terminal, remains open so that a rod can be inserted.

[0026] In this situation, it is expected that there is little variation in assembly. Further aspects of the present disclosure / invention In addition to the above invention, the present disclosure / invention further relates to the following inventive aspects. In this regard, the above invention can be regarded as the first aspect of the present disclosure / invention, and the following aspects are respectively denoted as the second to fifth aspects.

[0027] It should be understood that one feature of the second to fifth aspects, which is expressed in the same terms as the features described above with respect to the first aspect, or which corresponds structurally and / or functionally, may have the same features as each feature of the first aspect. Similarly, a feature that is expressed in the same terms as one of the features of the second to fifth aspects described above with respect to the first aspect, or that corresponds structurally and / or functionally to one of the features of the second to fifth aspects, may have the same features as each of the features of one of the second to fifth aspects. In particular, this is applicable to the tubular member, the separation wall, and the heater / heating element / flat heater. In particular, the flat heaters of the first and fifth aspects may be the same as or correspond to the heaters of the second and third aspects, and vice versa. Similarly, the flat heaters of the first and fifth aspects and the heaters of the second and third aspects may be the same as or correspond to the heating element of the fourth aspect, and vice versa.

[0028] Features related to one aspect may be independent of, or combined with, features related to another aspect. Second aspect The second aspect relates to a heating furnace for an aerosol generating device, an aerosol generating device having such a furnace, and a system.

[0029] Aerosol generating devices are becoming popular as alternatives to conventional smoking articles such as cigarettes. In such devices, an aerosol is heated, which is typically achieved by a substantially tubular furnace with a thin film heater wound around it. An aerosol-forming article, such as a rod that is a tobacco substrate, is inserted into the tubular heater and heated. Conventional thin film heaters require many assembly operations that are at least partially performed manually.

[0030] This also applies to a curved heating plate as shown in the specification of Chinese Utility Model No. 209995365U. Furthermore, the method of contacting a movable heating plate with a rod that is a tobacco substrate, as shown in the specification of European Patent No. 3228199B1, is relatively complex. Finally, the specification of Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 109965350A shows a polygonal support tube with a heater plate fixed externally. Summary of the second aspect On this premise, the essential object of the second aspect is to provide a furnace for an aerosol generating device that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture while maintaining the required heat conduction.

[0031] The above objective is addressed by the subject of item 1 of the second embodiment, according to which the furnace has a tubular member and at least one separation wall fixed to and extending across the internal tubular cavity of the member. The separation wall may be slightly elastic depending on its thickness and material. At least one heater is attached to the separation wall, and an electrical connection can extend through a second end of the tubular member which can be closed by a suitable closure. Such a furnace is easy to manufacture and at the same time ensures the necessary heat conduction to the rod inserted in the tubular member by contact with the separation wall to which the heater is attached. Efficient heating can be achieved by both a resistive flat heater and an inductive heating element, in other words, by both a resistive and / or inductive heater.

[0032] Furthermore, the separation wall separates the heating cavity, into which an aerosol-generating article such as a tobacco base stick is inserted, from the airflow cavity. The airflow cavity is open at the first end of the tubular member and communicates with the heating cavity at the second end so that air flows from the airflow cavity to the heating cavity. Therefore, by appropriately designing this airflow, the desired pressure drop can be achieved. In particular, the influence of the stick position on the airflow and consequently the pressure drop can be significantly reduced. In other words, the position of the stick can be well defined, and in particular, it can be efficiently subjected to heat conduction contact with one or more heaters provided on one or more separation walls. Independent of the stick position, the airflow path and pressure drop are defined by the position and structure of the separation wall that separates the heating cavity from the airflow cavity. As a result, the pressure drop is significantly stabilized. Furthermore, a noticeably weak flavor is prevented by reducing air contact with the outer packaging paper.

[0033] To put it another way, a typically flat separation wall separates the central cavity of the tubular member that forms the heating cavity from its surrounding cavity that forms the airflow cavity, and the volume of the central cavity is preferably larger than that of the surrounding cavity. In this way, the central cavity can be made large enough to accommodate the rod material, and a surrounding cavity can be provided that contributes to heat insulation by allowing the placement of a typically flat heater, without significantly increasing the overall size of the tubular member. The tubular member may, for example, have a cylindrical shape and may have rails on the inside to allow the insertion of, for example, a flat heater and / or a flat separation wall to which at least one flat heater is attached. The flat heater may be provided, for example, as a rectangular plate.

[0034] Several preferred embodiments of the second aspect are further described as itemized subjects of the second aspect.

[0035] While the separation wall may generally have any suitable shape, an essentially flat separation wall is currently preferred because it is easy to manufacture and efficiently fulfills its purpose.

[0036] To enhance heating efficiency and enable individual heating patterns, the tubular member may include at least two flat separation walls extending across its internal cavity, each separation wall containing at least one heater. The two flat separation walls can be arranged parallel to each other, allowing the rod to be efficiently heated from two opposing surfaces. Corresponding to the first separation wall described above, the second separation wall separates the second airflow cavity from the heating cavity.

[0037] One or more separation walls may include a second or additional heater. In either case, if there are two or more heaters, they can be mounted in series or parallel to provide different heating patterns. In this situation, even if multiple heaters are provided and configured to operate simultaneously, the assembly of the furnace is simplified by providing them separately.

[0038] Due to its simple structure, it is currently preferable to arrange two separation walls facing each other on both sides of the longitudinal axis plane of the tubular member of the heating furnace, preferably symmetrically. The separation walls are positioned at a distance that allows a rod with a diameter larger than the distance between the separation walls to be deformed and compressed at the insertion position between the first and second heaters.

[0039] In particular, to facilitate manufacturing, the tubular member may include at least one pair of guide members, such as rails, configured for inserting the separation wall.

[0040] Since the heater has a relatively simple structure, it may include a plate and a heating element attached thereto. In the first simulation, it was found that both a structure in which the heating element faces the central cavity, or an alternative structure in which the heating element faces the peripheral cavity, can efficiently heat the rod contained in the central cavity. When the heating element faces the central cavity, heat conduction can be advantageously maximized. When the heating element faces the peripheral cavity, higher convective heating can be obtained from the air flowing through the cavity. With this configuration, the air flowing through the peripheral cavity can be preheated before it flows into the rod from below, improving the heating of the rod. It is also conceivable to have at least one heater facing the central cavity and at least one second heater facing the peripheral cavity, so that the two heaters can be controlled independently. The internal heater will further heat the rod by conduction, while the external heater will heat more air by convection. Regarding the number of heating plates, three are currently preferred, but generally two or four are also possible, and a single heating plate or five or more heating plates are similarly within the scope of the second embodiment.

[0041] Since the heater plate has two heating elements, it is also possible to configure it so that one heating element is located on the side of the plate facing the central cavity and the other heating element is located on the side of the plate facing the peripheral cavity. In this configuration, heating by convection and heating by conduction are effectively combined in a single heater.

[0042] The heating element on the plate side facing the peripheral cavity may be longer in the longitudinal direction than the heating element on the plate side facing the central cavity. In particular, the heating element on the plate side facing the peripheral cavity may be 10%, preferably 20%, and more preferably 30% longer than the heating element on the plate side facing the central cavity. This is because the air passage in the peripheral cavity is longer than the central cavity in the area occupied by the tobacco portion of the stick. This configuration ensures proper preheating of the air flowing through the peripheral cavity.

[0043] Similar to the first embodiment described above, the heater may include a ceramic plate or a metal plate on which heating elements, such as heater tracks printed on the ceramic plate, can be provided. In this way, the above-described advantages can be realized by providing a double-sided ceramic heater having heating elements on both sides as described above.

[0044] The features relating to the double-sided heater can be applied to the configurations of the first and third to fifth embodiments.

[0045] To appropriately design and advantageously alter the pressure drop, the heating furnace may include an airflow control component configured to change the airflow cross-section of the airflow cavity. In other words, the arbitrary cross-sectional area defining the airflow cavity can perhaps be varied by the user to individually find the optimal airflow cross-section and the resulting pressure drop.

[0046] In this situation, the airflow control member can be manually moved between a first airflow cross-section and a second airflow cross-section with a different, particularly reduced, pressure drop. Preferably, the pressure drop can be controlled within the range of 40 to 120 mmH2O, preferably 50 to 90 mmH2O.

[0047] If the airflow control component is rotatable, it offers further advantages in terms of ease of use.

[0048] With regard to the efficient manufacture of the heating furnace described herein, the tubular members described above can be formed from deep-drawn material pieces such as steel or aluminum. Alternatively, the tubular members can be formed from extruded material pieces such as steel, aluminum, or heat-resistant polymers.

[0049] Regarding the safe placement of the heating element, an electrical insulating layer may be provided between the support plate and the heating element.

[0050] In this situation, an electrically insulating polymer, ceramic, or DLC may be suitable for the electrically insulating layer. The heating element can also be bonded to the support plate by, for example, a silicone adhesive. The heating element may also be directly applied to the support plate by an electrically insulating coating (e.g., DLC) and a resistive layer (e.g., titanium) directly printed or deposited on the coating.

[0051] The aforementioned closures, lids, or plugs may be manufactured from separate elements that are mechanically attached to the tubular member, for example, by press-fitting or welding, or they may be efficiently provided as an integral part of the tubular member.

[0052] The tubular members and closures can be manufactured from heat-resistant plastics such as PEEK or silicone, metals such as aluminum or stainless steel, or a combination thereof.

[0053] As described above, the heater is positioned in direct contact with the tobacco stick to enable direct heat conduction to the stick. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the heater is positioned away from the stick when the stick is inserted into the tubular member. For example, the shortest distance between the stick and the heater in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member may be at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm, more preferably at least 0.5 mm, most preferably at least 0.7 mm, preferably less than 1.5 mm, more preferably less than 1.2 mm, and most preferably about (1.0 ± 0.1) mm.

[0054] This configuration allows for more uniform heating of the rod. Furthermore, this configuration prevents overheating of multiple parts of the rod, reduces off-flavors, and improves the quality of release from the aerosol generator.

[0055] To adopt a configuration in which the heater is positioned away from the rod, the separation wall including the heater may be positioned further away from the rod than when the heater is in direct contact with the rod. In this case, to ensure that air is guided to properly preheat and still flows through the surrounding cavity rather than the gap formed between the rod and the heater, the heating furnace may include an air blockage section provided between the first and second ends of the tubular member, and at least one air passage opening provided between the air blockage section and the first end of the tubular member, the at least one air passage opening configured to allow communication between the outside, for example, the outside of the heating furnace and the surrounding cavity (airflow cavity).

[0056] In the case of a cylindrical rod, the air-blocking portion may have a ring shape, that is, the air-blocking portion may be an air-blocking ring. The air-blocking portion may generally be configured and sized to block air from flowing into the gap between the rod and the heater at the position of the air-blocking ring. In the case of a cylindrical rod, the inner radius of the air-blocking ring may be smaller than the outer radius of the cylindrical rod.

[0057] The air barrier may be formed as an integral part of the separation wall, or as a separate part attached to the separation wall, for example, as a part at the first end of a tubular member.

[0058] Generally, the air barrier may be located between the first and second ends of the tubular member. However, in order to properly preheat the air flowing through the surrounding cavity, it is preferable to position the air barrier closer to the first end of the tubular member than to the second end, particularly close to the first end. The air barrier may be located at the first end of the tubular member.

[0059] The air passage opening may be of any shape as long as it allows communication between the outside, for example, the outside of the heating furnace, and the surrounding cavity. For example, the air passage opening may be circular or elliptical in shape.

[0060] More than one air passage opening may be provided in the heating furnace. For example, if the air barrier is formed integrally with the separation wall, one or more air passage openings may be provided in the separation wall. If the air barrier is formed as part of a separate component attached to the separation wall, one or more air passage openings may be provided in the separate component. The air passage opening may be provided at the first end of the tubular member.

[0061] For example, the heating furnace can be configured such that when the rod is inserted into the cylindrical member, at least one air passage opening is provided at a position further from the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical member than the point of contact between the air barrier and the rod. This allows outside air to flow into the surrounding cavity through the air passage formed in the region behind the air barrier, i.e., the region between the air barrier and the cylindrical member, when viewed from the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the tubular member, and through the air passage opening.

[0062] Further features of the air-blocking section and air passage opening will become clear from the drawings and attached descriptions.

[0063] With the above-described configuration of the air blockage section and air passage opening, air is forced to pass through the air passage opening and flow directly towards the heater side, opposite to the rod material. This allows the air to be properly preheated, leading to more uniform heating of the rod material, preventing overheating of parts of the rod material, reducing off-flavors, and improving the quality of release from the aerosol generator.

[0064] The features relating to the air barrier and the air passage opening can be applied to the configurations of the first and third to fifth embodiments.

[0065] As shown above, the second embodiment further provides an aerosol generating apparatus including a control unit, an electrical support unit, and a housing including a furnace, as described herein.

[0066] In this situation, heat conduction to the tobacco stick can be further improved by providing an insulating material surrounding the furnace. For example, the insulating material may be a vacuum sleeve or a fiber-containing casing such as ceramic.

[0067] Finally, the aerosol generation system described herein includes the aerosol generation apparatus described above and a rod-shaped aerosol substrate at least partially inserted into a heating furnace, wherein the aerosol substrate is sized to be deformed and compressed by one or more separation walls. Third aspect A third aspect relates to a heating furnace for an aerosol generating apparatus and an aerosol generating apparatus having such a furnace.

[0068] Aerosol generators are becoming popular as alternatives to conventional smoking products such as cigarettes. In such devices, the aerosol is heated, which is usually achieved by a roughly tubular furnace surrounded by a thin film heater. The aerosol-forming article, such as a tobacco-based rod, is inserted into the tubular heater and heated. Conventional thin film heaters require a great deal of assembly work, at least partially done manually.

[0069] This also applies to curved heating plates, as shown in Chinese Utility Model No. 209995365U. Furthermore, the method of bringing a movable heating plate into contact with a tobacco-based stick, as shown in European Patent No. 3228199B1, is relatively complex. Finally, Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 109965350A shows a polygonal support tube to which the heating plate is fixed externally.

[0070] International Publication No. 201150964A1 relates to a tubular electrical insulating substrate and a wound heating element including a heating orbit provided inside or outside the electrical insulating substrate. An aerosol-forming substrate can be inserted into the tubular electrical insulating substrate, and the heating orbit surrounds or partially surrounds the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0071] European Patent Application Publication No. 3337344A relates to a cartridge having a separation wall 10 defining first and second compartments 11, 12 for aerosolizable substances (e.g., a nicotine source and a second substance source). The compartments may be heated by first and second internal susceptors. Summary of the third aspect Based on this premise, the essential objective of the third embodiment is to provide a furnace for an aerosol generating device that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture while maintaining the necessary heat conduction.

[0072] The above objective is addressed by the subject of item 1 of the third embodiment, according to which the furnace comprises a tubular member and at least one flat support wall extending across the internal tubular cavity. At least one flat heater is attached to the flat support wall, and the flat support wall is fixed to the tubular member by mechanical fasteners. This provides sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the insertion of a large number, for example, several thousand, base rods. At the same time, the mechanical fasteners have sufficient resistance to environmental changes such as high-temperature cycles and changes in humidity. Furthermore, the mechanical fasteners facilitate the manufacture of the furnace.

[0073] Various concepts of such mechanical fasteners are conceivable, and currently, particularly advantageous properties are expected from multiple lugs and recesses provided on the side of a flat support wall, and typically two complementary elements provided on the inner surface of a tubular member, such as a rail. Since these lugs and recesses can be formed in a manner similar to what is known as a cable tie, the flat support wall can be easily inserted, for example, until it reaches a stop position and then locks against movement in the opposite direction, i.e., outward from the tubular member. Thus, any force acting on the flat support wall when removing the rod will not remove the flat support wall. At the same time, the stop or similar structure prevents the flat support wall from moving in an unwanted direction when the rod is inserted.

[0074] Therefore, sufficient mechanical strength is guaranteed while the assembly of the heating furnace remains easy. Furthermore, compared to, for example, the case where a flat support wall is bonded to a tubular member, it is expected that the effects of temperature and environmental changes, as described above, can be kept to a minimum.

[0075] The electrical connection can extend through the second end of the tubular member, which can be closed by a closure. Such a furnace is easy to manufacture, and the necessary heat conduction to the rod inserted within the tubular member can be ensured by contact with the support wall to which the flat heater is attached. Furthermore, the fact that the height of the heater can be reduced to the point of contact with the rod simplifies the configuration. Moreover, compared to conventional heating furnaces, the tubular member functions as the first insulator, thus reducing the need for additional insulation. In particular, the fact that contact between the flat heater and the tubular member is limited to, for example, linear contact along a suitable rail provided between the tubular member and the flat heater minimizes unwanted heat conduction to the tubular member (rather than the rod simplifier).

[0076] The tubular member may, for example, have a cylindrical shape and may have rails on its interior to allow insertion of, for example, a flat heater and / or a flat support wall to which at least one flat heater is attached. The flat heater may be provided, for example, as a rectangular plate. With respect to the number of heater plates, three is currently preferred, but generally two or four are also possible, and a single heater plate or five or more heater plates are also within the scope of the third embodiment.

[0077] Regarding airflow, there is no significant difference compared to conventional airflow configurations that are known to be efficient.

[0078] Several preferred embodiments of the third aspect are further described as itemized subjects of the third aspect.

[0079] Because flat heaters have a relatively simple structure, they may include a plate and a heating element attached thereto. Particularly in an efficient manner, the heater may include heating orbits printed on, for example, a ceramic material or a metal plate. The heater may also be a resistance heating fiber mat or grid or a heating layer coated on a plate. The heating coating may be chemically bonded to the electrical insulating material of the plate. For example, the conductive material coating may be metal, metal oxide or carbon. The plate may be a heat-resistant plate such as PEEK or a metal coated with an electrical insulating layer, as described in the concurrently pending European Patent No. 21155871.3.

[0080] In particular, to facilitate manufacturing, the tubular member may include at least one pair of guide members, such as rails, configured for inserting a flat support wall with a heater in between. Similarly, the flat support wall may have one or more pairs of such guide members configured for insertion into the tubular member.

[0081] Regarding a robust and easily manufactured heating furnace that includes mechanically fixed support walls, it has been found that it is efficient to form the tubular members and / or at least one flat support wall from an elastic material such as plastic, PEEK, or metal.

[0082] With regard to the materials for tubular members and / or flat support walls, these can be advantageously manufactured from heat-resistant plastics such as PEEK, metals such as stainless steel, or combinations thereof.

[0083] As already shown above, the mechanical fastener may be, for example, a clamp fastener, which is known to be robust and easy to manufacture.

[0084] The mechanical fastener may include at least two clamping rings spaced apart along the axial length of the tubular member, between which a flat support wall can be clamped.

[0085] Assembly becomes particularly easy if at least one of the clamping rings is self-locking.

[0086] To enhance heating efficiency and enable individual heating patterns, the tubular member may include at least two flat support walls extending across its internal cavity, each of which includes at least one flat heater. The two flat support walls can be arranged parallel to each other, and in particular symmetrically, so that the rod can be efficiently heated from two opposing surfaces.

[0087] In this configuration, flat heaters can be mounted in series or parallel to provide different heating patterns. In this situation, even if multiple heaters are provided and configured to operate simultaneously, the assembly of the furnace is simplified by providing them separately.

[0088] Efficient heating can be achieved using both resistive flat heaters and inductive heaters.

[0089] Regarding the shape of the closure device, it has been found that a lid or stopper is beneficial.

[0090] Because of its simple structure, the support wall with a flat heater essentially separates the central cavity of the tubular member from one or more surrounding cavities, and it is preferable that the central cavity has a larger volume than the surrounding cavities. In this way, the central cavity can be made large enough to accommodate the rod, and surrounding cavities can be provided that allow a flat heater to be placed on top and contribute to heat insulation, without significantly increasing the overall size of the tubular member.

[0091] In the first simulation, it was found that both a structure in which the heating element faces the central cavity and an alternative structure in which the heating element faces the peripheral cavity can efficiently heat the rod contained in the central cavity. When the heating element faces the central cavity, heat conduction can be advantageously maximized. When the heating element faces the peripheral cavity, higher convective heating can be obtained from the air flowing within the cavity. It is also conceivable that the two heaters can be controlled independently by having at least one heater facing the central cavity and at least one second heater facing the peripheral cavity. The internal heater will further heat the rod through conduction, while the external heater will heat more air through convection.

[0092] This disclosure further provides a method for assembling a heating furnace for an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein a tubular member having two open ends can be provided so that one or more flat support walls having a heater can be inserted through one of the open ends and mechanically fixed in place. The tubular member can be closed while allowing electrical connections to pass through. Here, the other end, referred to as the first end, is left open so that a rod can be inserted.

[0093] In this situation, it is expected that there will be little variation in the assembly process.

[0094] A third embodiment further provides an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a control unit, an electrical supply unit, and a housing including a heating furnace as described herein. In this configuration, thermal insulation can be improved by enclosing the furnace with an insulating material. Fourth aspect A fourth aspect relates to a heater for an aerosol generating apparatus and an aerosol generating apparatus having such a heater.

[0095] Aerosol generators are becoming popular as alternatives to conventional smoking products such as cigarettes. In such devices, the aerosol is heated, which is usually achieved by a roughly tubular furnace surrounded by a thin film heater. The aerosol-forming article, such as a tobacco-based rod, is inserted into the tubular heater and heated. Conventional thin film heaters require a great deal of assembly work, at least partially done manually.

[0096] This also applies to curved heating plates, as shown in Chinese Utility Model No. 209995365U. Furthermore, the method of bringing a movable heating plate into contact with a tobacco-based stick, as shown in European Patent No. 3228199B1, is relatively complex. Finally, Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 109965350A shows a polygonal support tube to which the heating plate is fixed externally.

[0097] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 110638113A relates to an insulation system including a heating pipe and an outer insulating pipe connected by a support piece having ribs. U.S. Patent No. 10368582B2 shows a heating element for an e-cigarette including a heating support made of a hard cylindrical or square ceramic material which may have depressions or recesses on its surface. Finally, International Publication No. 201150964A1 relates to a heater for an aerosol generating device including a flat insulating substrate having conductive tracks. Summary of the fourth aspect Based on this premise, the essential objective of the fourth embodiment is to provide a heater for an aerosol generating apparatus that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, while simultaneously providing the necessary stability and strength while maintaining a relatively low thermal mass.

[0098] The above-mentioned objectives are addressed by the subject of item 1 of the fourth embodiment, according to which the heater comprises a support plate and at least one typically flat heating element mounted on the support plate. The support plate is substantially cubic with length, width, and thickness, the thickness being less than the length and width. At least one localized emboss is provided to increase the rigidity of the support wall. The emboss can form, for example, one or more preferably linear ribs, ridges, or webs to increase rigidity against bending. At the same time, the plate thickness is essentially maintained even in the area of ​​one or more embosses, so the amount of material used and consequently the mass is kept low. In other words, the emboss has a concave shape on one side of the plate and a convex shape on the opposite side. The increased rigidity is particularly effective in maintaining reliable contact with the inserted tobacco stick, thus enabling efficient heat conduction.

[0099] Such heaters are easy to manufacture, and it has been found that the necessary heat conduction to the rod inserted within the tubular member can be ensured by contact with the support plate to which the heating element is attached. Furthermore, the fact that the bulk of the heater can be reduced to the point of contact with the rod simplifies the structure. Moreover, compared to conventional heaters, the tubular member of the heater can function as a primary insulator, thus reducing the need for additional insulation.

[0100] Several preferred embodiments of the fourth aspect are further described as separate subject topics of the fourth aspect.

[0101] The support plate can be made from high heat-resistant plastics such as PEEK, metal, especially stainless steel, or a combination thereof.

[0102] In the fourth embodiment, the thickness of the support plate can be advantageously kept very thin, i.e., thinner than 0.5 mm, preferably thinner than 0.1 mm, and most preferably about 0.07 mm.

[0103] As described above, the embossing can form essentially linear ribs of a certain length that are advantageously extendable along the length or axial direction of the heater. If the heater is considered tubular, its longitudinal direction corresponds to the length of the tube. However, good rigidity against bending can also be achieved by at least one embossing that extends at a certain angle, particularly essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0104] The first simulation showed that the advantages of the fourth embodiment can be used in both cases: when the embossing protrudes toward the nearest wall of the heater, and when it protrudes in the opposite direction, i.e., toward the tobacco stick inserted into the heater.

[0105] Regarding at least one embossed shape, particularly a preferred shape when viewed in cross-section of a rib, a V-shape or U-shape has been found to be beneficial.

[0106] Regarding the mounting of the heating elements, they can at least partially overlap when viewed from the thickness direction, so they are not affected at all by the embossing.

[0107] Efficient heating can be achieved using both resistive and inductive heating elements, in other words, both resistive and / or inductive heaters.

[0108] Regarding the safe placement of the heating element, an electrical insulating layer may be provided between the support plate and the heating element.

[0109] In this situation, electrical insulating polymers, ceramics, or DLC may be suitable for the electrical insulating layer. The heating element can also be bonded to the support plate by, for example, a silicone adhesive. The heating element can also be directly applied to the support plate by an electrical insulating coating (e.g., DLC) and a resistive layer (e.g., titanium) directly printed or deposited on the coating.

[0110] As already shown, when the maximum height of the embossing is greater than the thickness of the support plate, stability can be favorably balanced with the amount of material used and the bulkiness.

[0111] As previously shown, the heater described herein is particularly suitable for a heating furnace for an aerosol generating apparatus having a tubular member with two ends. The heater extends between the two ends within the tubular member.

[0112] In this situation, the heater is preferably attached to the inner wall of the tubular member. As previously shown, the length of the heater extends along the axial direction of the tubular member in this fourth embodiment.

[0113] Due to its simple structure, the heating element essentially separates the central cavity of the tubular member from its surrounding cavity, and the central cavity is preferably larger in volume than the surrounding cavity. In this way, the central cavity can be made large enough to accommodate the rod, and a surrounding cavity can be provided to allow the placement of the heating element and contribute to heat insulation, without significantly increasing the overall size of the tubular member. Because the heating element has a relatively simple structure, it may include a plate and heating elements attached thereto. The tubular member may have, for example, a cylindrical shape and may have, for example, a rail on the inside that allows for the insertion of a support plate having a heating element and / or at least one heating element attached thereto. The heating element may be provided as, for example, a rectangular plate.

[0114] In the first simulation, it was found that both a structure in which the heating element faces the central cavity and an alternative structure in which the heating element faces the peripheral cavity can efficiently heat the rod contained in the central cavity. When the heating element faces the central cavity, heat conduction can be advantageously maximized. When the heating element faces the peripheral cavity, higher convective heating can be obtained from the air flowing within the cavity. It is also conceivable that the two heaters can be controlled independently by having at least one heater facing the central cavity and at least one second heater facing the peripheral cavity. The internal heater will further heat the rod through conduction, while the external heater will heat more air through convection.

[0115] To facilitate manufacturing in particular, the support plate may include a pair of guide members, such as rails, configured for inserting a heating element. The same applies to tubular members that optionally have guide members configured for inserting the support plate.

[0116] To enhance heating efficiency and enable individual heating patterns, the tubular member may include at least two support plates extending across its internal cavity, each support plate containing at least one heating element. The two support plates can be positioned parallel to each other, allowing the rod to be efficiently heated from two opposing surfaces. In this configuration, even if multiple heaters are provided and configured to operate simultaneously, providing them separately simplifies the assembly of the heaters.

[0117] In this configuration, the heating elements can be arranged in series or parallel to provide different heating patterns.

[0118] Regarding the closure of tubular members, it has been found that a lid or stopper is beneficial.

[0119] With respect to airflow, there is no significant difference compared to conventional airflow configurations known to be efficient. However, the airflow can be more easily arranged as a result of a specific arrangement of flat support walls in the tubular member. In particular, an airflow channel can be arranged between the tubular member and at least one flat support wall. The airflow channel may further include an air inlet provided at the first end and / or a channel provided between the airflow channel and the internal tubular cavity. The airflow channel may be formed in the flat support wall and / or closure so that air can flow into the rod.

[0120] In particular, since contact between the flat heater and the tubular member is limited to linear contact along a suitable rail provided between the tubular member and the flat heater, unnecessary heat conduction to the tubular member (rather than the rod-shaped material) can be minimized.

[0121] Regarding the number of heating plates, three are currently preferred, but generally two or four are also possible, and a single heating plate or five or more heating plates are also within the scope of the fourth embodiment. Fifth aspect A fifth aspect relates to a heating furnace for an aerosol generating apparatus.

[0122] Aerosol generators are becoming popular as alternatives to conventional smoking products such as cigarettes. In such devices, the aerosol is heated, which is usually achieved by a roughly tubular furnace surrounded by a thin film heater. The aerosol-forming article, such as a tobacco-based rod, is inserted into the tubular heater and heated. Conventional thin film heaters require a great deal of assembly work, at least partially done manually.

[0123] This also applies to curved heating plates, as shown in Chinese Utility Model No. 209995365U. Furthermore, the method of bringing a movable heating plate into contact with a tobacco-based stick, as shown in European Patent No. 3228199B1, is relatively complex. Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 109965350A shows a polygonal support tube to which the heating plate is fixed externally.

[0124] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 110638113A relates to a non-combustion smoking device having a heating film and a vacuum-insulated tube on the outside thereof. Similar devices are known from International Publication No. 2020218855A2, Chinese Utility Model No. 210054651U, and Chinese Utility Model No. 208875408U. Summary of the fifth aspect Based on this premise, the essential objective of the fifth embodiment is to provide a furnace for an aerosol generating device that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, while also improving thermal insulation.

[0125] The above-mentioned objectives are addressed by the subject of item 1 of the fifth embodiment, according to which the furnace comprises a tubular member and at least one flat support wall extending across the internal tubular cavity of the member. At least one flat heater is attached to the flat support wall, and an electrical connection extends through a second end of the tubular member that can be closed with a suitable closure. Such a furnace is easy to manufacture and ensures the necessary heat conduction to the rod inserted in the tubular member through contact with the support wall to which the flat heater is attached. Furthermore, the structure can be simplified by reducing the height of the heater to the contact point with the rod. Moreover, compared to conventional heating furnaces, less insulation is needed because the tubular member functions as the first insulator.

[0126] In particular, the fact that contact between the flat heater and the tubular member is limited to, for example, linear contact along a suitable rail provided between the tubular member and the flat heater minimizes unwanted heat conduction to the tubular member (rather than the rod). Furthermore, the tubular member has at least one wall with a vacuum sealed inside, which further improves its thermal insulation properties. In particular, the vacuum has excellent thermal insulation properties and, when integrated with the wall, allows the heating furnace to remain compact.

[0127] Regarding airflow, there is no significant difference compared to conventional airflow configurations that are known to be efficient. Several preferred embodiments of the fifth aspect are further described as itemized subjects of the fifth aspect.

[0128] The material of at least one wall of the tubular member and the closure can be manufactured from heat-resistant plastics such as PEEK, metals such as stainless steel, or a combination thereof.

[0129] The tubular member may have, for example, a cylindrical shape, which further supports smaller sizes while simultaneously enabling the necessary heat conduction to the rod.

[0130] Due to its simple structure, a flat heater essentially separates the central cavity of the tubular member from its surrounding cavity, with the central cavity being preferably larger than the surrounding cavity. In this way, the central cavity can be made large enough to accommodate the rod, and a surrounding cavity can be provided that allows the flat heater to be placed on it and contributes to heat insulation, without significantly increasing the overall size of the tubular member.

[0131] Because flat heaters have a relatively simple structure, they may include a plate and a heating element attached thereto.

[0132] In a particularly efficient manner, the heater may include heater tracks printed on a ceramic material or a metal plate. The heater may also be a resistance heating fiber mat or grid or a heating layer coated on a plate. The heating coating may be chemically bonded to the electrical insulating material of the plate. For example, the conductive material coating may be metal, metal oxide, or carbon. The plate may be a heat-resistant plate such as PEEK or a metal coated with an electrical insulating layer, as described in the concurrently pending European Patent No. 21155871.3.

[0133] In the first simulation, it was found that both the structure in which the heating element faces the central cavity and the alternative structure in which the heating element faces the peripheral cavity can efficiently heat the rod contained in the central cavity. When the heating element faces the central cavity, heat conduction can be advantageously maximized.

[0134] In particular, to facilitate manufacturing, the flat support wall may include a pair of guide members, such as rails, configured for inserting a flat heater through it. Similarly, the tubular member may have one or more pairs of such guide members configured for inserting the support wall. Thus, the tubular member may have rails on its interior that allow for the insertion of, for example, a flat heater and / or a flat support wall to which at least one flat heater is attached. The flat heater may be provided, for example, as a rectangular plate. Regarding the number of heater plates, three is currently preferred, but generally two or four are also possible, and a single heater plate or five or more heater plates are also within the scope of the fifth embodiment. Increasing the number of plates can result in better heat distribution. However, a balance must always be struck between heat distribution and the complexity of the device. Depending on the application, three or four plates may be the best balance.

[0135] To enhance heating efficiency and enable individual heating patterns, the tubular member may include at least two flat support walls extending across its internal cavity, each of which includes at least one flat heater. Since the two flat support walls can be arranged parallel to each other, the rod can be efficiently heated from two opposing surfaces.

[0136] In this configuration, flat heaters can be mounted in series or parallel to provide different heating patterns. In this situation, even if multiple heaters are provided and configured to operate simultaneously, the assembly of the furnace is simplified by providing them separately.

[0137] Efficient heating can be achieved using both a resistive flat heater and an inductive heating element, in other words, both a resistive and / or inductive heater.

[0138] Regarding closures, they can be manufactured from heat-resistant plastics such as PEEK or silicone, metals such as stainless steel, or combinations thereof, and the shape of the lid or stopper has been found to be beneficial for the closure.

[0139] Hereinafter, the first aspect of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, using a number of exemplary embodiments thereof. Furthermore, the second to fifth aspects of this disclosure / invention will be described here with reference to the drawings, using a number of exemplary embodiments thereof. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0140] [Figure 1] This shows a top view of a heating furnace according to the first embodiment (of the present invention / first aspect). [Figure 2] This shows a top view of a heating furnace according to a second embodiment (of the first aspect of the present invention). [Figure 3] A schematic perspective view of the first embodiment (of the present invention / first aspect) is shown. [Figure 4] Figure 2 shows a heating furnace equipped with a metal shield. [Figure 5] A top view of a heating furnace according to a second embodiment is shown. [Figure 6] A side view of the heating furnace according to the first embodiment of the second aspect is shown. [Figure 7] Multiple side views of heaters used in multiple embodiments of the second aspect are shown. [Figure 8] A side view of a heating furnace according to a second embodiment of the second aspect is shown. [Figure 9] A side view of a heating furnace according to a third embodiment of the second aspect is shown. [Figure 10] A side view of a heating furnace in a second embodiment, which is provided with an air-blocking section and an air passage opening, is shown. [Figure 11]A perspective cross-sectional view is shown showing a part of a heating furnace in a second embodiment, which is provided with an air-blocking section and an air passage opening. [Figure 12] Figure 11 shows another perspective view of a part of the heating furnace. [Figure 13] A partial cross-sectional perspective view is shown showing a heating furnace of a second embodiment, which is provided with an air-blocking section and an air passage opening. [Figure 14] A top view of a heating furnace according to a third embodiment is shown. [Figure 15] A perspective view of the heating furnace according to the first embodiment of the third aspect is shown. [Figure 16] A schematic side view of the second embodiment of the third aspect is shown. [Figure 17] A top view of the heater according to the fourth embodiment is shown. [Figure 18] Figure 17 shows a schematic perspective view of the heater. [Figure 19-21] A top view of the support plate according to the fourth embodiment is shown. [Figure 22] A top view of a heating furnace according to the fifth embodiment is shown. [Figure 23] Figure 22 shows a schematic perspective view of the furnace. [Figure 24-26] The fifth aspect shows cross-sectional perspective views of several different embodiments of the tubular member. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0141] As can be seen from Figure 1, the heating furnace 10 essentially comprises a cylindrical tubular member or cup 12 having two pairs of opposing rails 14 inside, configured to accommodate two essentially flat support walls 16, each fitted with at least one flat heater 18. The flat support walls 16 are essentially parallel to each other, each separating a relatively large central cavity 20 from two peripheral cavity portions 22. In the illustrated embodiment, each flat heater faces the central cavity 20 and, as a result, is in direct contact with a rod, which is a tobacco substrate (not shown). Such direct contact is particularly beneficial for heat conduction to the rod. The diameter of the rod may be greater than the maximum distance between the flat heaters, so that the rod can be deformed and compressed at the insertion position between the heaters.

[0142] However, even in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, which differs from Figure 1 only in that the flat heater 14 faces the surrounding cavity 22, sufficient heating of the rod can be guaranteed.

[0143] As shown in Figure 3, an optional electrical connection 24 extends through the second (lower) end of the cup 12, and the end is closed by a plug 26 while the connection extends through it. Each flat heater may be resistive or formed as an induction heating susceptor. The rail and / or flat support wall can extend along all or part of the extension between the first and second ends of the cup 12. If it extends along the entire length between the first and second ends, the structure as a whole is particularly stable.

[0144] Figure 4 shows the same configuration as in Figure 2, except that the metal shield 40 is attached to the flat heater 18 on the side facing the central cavity 20. The metal shield can protect the heater if the heater is made from a ceramic body with embedded resistance tracks. The metal shield 40 can also serve to insert the heater by sliding the edge of the shield along a rail 14 (not shown).

[0145] Further details relating to the heating furnace and its components according to the present invention can be obtained from the second to fifth aspects, and all such disclosures relating to specific components and their characteristics are incorporated herein by reference. Second aspect As can be seen in Figure 5, the heating furnace 10 essentially comprises a cylindrical tubular member or cup 12 having two pairs of opposing rails 14 inside, configured to accommodate two essentially flat separating walls 16, each fitted with at least one flat heater 18. The flat separating walls 16 are essentially parallel to each other, each separating a relatively large central heating cavity 20 from two airflow cavities 22. In the illustrated embodiment, each flat heater faces the central cavity portion 20 and, as a result, is in direct contact with a rod, which is a tobacco substrate (not shown). Such direct contact is particularly beneficial for heat conduction to the rod.

[0146] As shown in Figure 6, for the sake of clarity, the rod 24 does not come into contact with the heater 18 as it would in actual use in this particular embodiment, and air flows from the first open end 26 of the cup 12 toward the second end 28, where it enters the heating cavity 20. The air then essentially continues to flow through the rod 24 toward the first end 26, where the user can touch the rod 24 with their mouth.

[0147] Figure 7 shows a side view of a flat heater 18 that can be used in multiple embodiments of the second embodiment. Figure 7(a) shows the side of the flat heater 18 facing the central cavity 20, while Figure 7(b) shows the side of the flat heater 18 facing the airflow cavity 22. As can be seen from the figures, the heater 18 has two heating elements 44 on its plate 43, and provides a structure in which one heating element 44 is provided on each side of the plate. In this case, the plate 43 may be a ceramic plate. As described above, the heating elements 44 may be provided as heater tracks printed on the ceramic plate 43. In this way, the above advantages can be realized by providing a double-sided ceramic heater having heating elements on both sides.

[0148] The airflow is essentially the same as in the embodiment of Figure 8, where the platform 30 is essentially different from that of Figure 5, in which case the platform 30 is integrated with a closure 32 provided at the second end, serving to support the rod 24 while still allowing air to flow into the rod from the bottom. For this purpose, the platform 30 may have one or more embossings such as ribs, recesses or protrusions. Despite the arrow in the center of Figure 8, the platform obstructs air from flowing into the rod to some extent, so air also passes through the sides of the platform.

[0149] In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, an airflow control member 34 is shown, which may be, for example, a manually activated throttle valve. This can, of course, also be applied to the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

[0150] Figure 10 shows essentially the same configuration as the embodiment shown in Figure 6, except that the air-blocking portion 41 and the air passage opening 42 are provided in the heating furnace 10. In Figure 10, the air-blocking portion 41 is an air-blocking ring through which the material rod 24 is inserted when the material rod 24 is inserted into the heating furnace. The separation wall 16 is not shown in Figure 10. However, it should be understood that the air-blocking portion 41 can be formed as an integral part of the separation wall 16, and at least one air passage opening 42 can be provided in the separation wall. Alternatively, the air-blocking portion 41 can be formed as part of a separate component attached to the separation wall 16, and at least one air passage opening 42 may be provided in a separate component.

[0151] In the configuration shown in Figure 10, the heating furnace 10 employs a configuration in which, when the rod is inserted into the tubular member 12, at least one air passage opening 42 is provided at a position further from the longitudinal central axis of the tubular member 12 than the contact point between the air barrier 41 and the rod 24. As a result, air from the outside (indicated by the white arrow) flows through the air passage in the heating furnace formed in the region behind the air barrier 41 when viewed from the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the tubular member, i.e., the region between the air barrier 41 and the tubular member 12, and flows into the surrounding cavity (airflow cavity) 22 through the air passage opening 42.

[0152] Figure 11 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a part of a heating furnace 10 in a second embodiment, which is provided with an air-blocking section 41 and an air passage opening 42. In Figure 11, the air-blocking section 41 is similarly an air-blocking ring through which the rod 24 is inserted when the rod 24 is inserted into the heating furnace 10. Two flat heaters 18 are also shown.

[0153] Similar to the case in Figure 10, the heating furnace 10 employs a configuration in which at least one air passage opening 42 is located further from the central longitudinal axis of the tubular member 12 than the point of contact between the air blockage 41 and the rod 24 when the rod is inserted into the tubular member 12. In this particular embodiment, the airflow indicated by the two arrows in Figure 11 is the same as the schematic diagram in Figure 10. That is, air flows into the heating furnace 10 through the air passage opening 42 provided at the first end 26 of the tubular member 12, and is then guided downward along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 12 and over the flat side surface of the heater 18 facing the airflow cavity 22.

[0154] Figure 12 shows another perspective view of the heating furnace 10 shown in Figure 11. Four heaters 18 are arranged circumferentially at equal intervals from each other by a separation wall 16 structure, with the shape of a ridge between the heaters. This structure allows the heaters 18 to be positioned around the tobacco stick 24, away from the tobacco stick 24, when the tobacco stick 24 is inserted into the tubular member 12. For example, the shortest distance between the tobacco stick and the heater in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member may be at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm, more preferably at least 0.5 mm, most preferably at least 0.7 mm, preferably less than 1.5 mm, more preferably less than 1.2 mm, and most preferably about (1.0 ± 0.1) mm. This configuration enables more uniform heating of the tobacco stick. Furthermore, this configuration can prevent overheating of multiple parts of the tobacco stick, reduce off-flavors, and improve the quality of release from the aerosol generator.

[0155] Figure 13 shows a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a second embodiment of the heating furnace 10, which is provided with an air-blocking section 41 and an air passage opening 42. A tubular member 12 is also shown in Figure 13. The configuration of the air-blocking section 41, the air passage opening 42, and the heater 18, as well as the airflow generated within the device, are the same as those described with respect to Figures 11 and 12.

[0156] Further details relating to the heating furnace and its components according to the second aspect can be obtained from the first and third to fifth aspects, and all such disclosures relating to specific components and their characteristics are incorporated herein by reference. Third aspect As can be seen from Figure 14, the heating furnace 10 essentially comprises a cylindrical tubular member or cup 12 having two pairs of opposing rails 14 inside, configured to accommodate two essentially flat support walls 16 to which at least one flat heater 18 is attached. The flat support walls 16 are essentially parallel to each other, each separating a relatively large central cavity portion 20 from two peripheral cavity portions 22. In the illustrated embodiment, each flat heater faces the central cavity portion 20 and, as a result, is in direct contact with a rod, which is a tobacco substrate (not shown). In particular, by selecting a rod with a lateral dimension greater than the distance to the flat heater 18, the rod is kept in a compressed state within the cavity portion 20. Such direct contact, and the possible compression due to deformation of the rod, is particularly beneficial for heat conduction to the rod.

[0157] Nevertheless, even in this embodiment where the flat heater 14 faces the surrounding cavity 22, sufficient heating of the rod can be guaranteed.

[0158] As shown in Figure 15, an optional electrical connection 24 extends through the second (lower) end of the cup 12, and the end is closed by a plug 26 with the connection extending through it. Each flat heater may be resistive or formed as an induction heating susceptor. The rail and / or flat support wall can extend along all or part of the extension between the first and second ends of the cup 12. If it extends along the entire length between the first and second ends, the structure as a whole is particularly stable.

[0159] Furthermore, in the illustrated case, three clamping rings 28 are shown for mechanically fixing the flat support wall 16.

[0160] As can be seen from Figure 16, this can also be achieved by a pair of rails having lugs 30 or projections similar to those used in cable ties. In other words, these rails have less resistance in one direction, for example, from bottom to top in Figure 16, than in the opposite direction. Thus, the flat support wall 16 inserted between the rails in the first direction described above can be inserted without applying excessive force until it reaches the fasteners 32 provided on each rail 14, particularly in the illustrated case.

[0161] However, in the opposite direction, i.e., towards the bottom of Figure 16, the resistance is much greater, and the flat support wall can be particularly locked in place, thus preventing any unwanted movement in this direction. This is further supported by the plug 26 near the end into which the flat support wall 16 is inserted. In short, a robust and easily manufactured heating furnace for an aerosol generating device can be provided.

[0162] Further details relating to the heating furnace and its components according to the third aspect can be obtained from the first, second, fourth, and fifth aspects, and all such disclosures relating to specific components and their characteristics are incorporated herein by reference. Fourth aspect As can be seen from Figure 17, the heater 10 essentially comprises a cylindrical tubular member or cup 12 having two pairs of opposing rails 14 inside, configured to accommodate two support plates 16 to which at least one heating element 18 is attached. The support plates 16 are essentially parallel to each other, each separating a relatively large central cavity portion 20 from two peripheral cavity portions 22. In the illustrated embodiment, each heating element faces the central cavity portion 20 and, as a result, is in direct contact with a stick, which is a tobacco substrate (not shown). Such direct contact is particularly beneficial for heat conduction to the stick.

[0163] As shown in Figure 18, an optional electrical connection 24 extends through the second (lower) end of the cup 12, and the end is closed by a plug 26 while the connection extends through it. Each heating element may be resistive or formed as an inductive heating susceptor. The rail and / or support plate can extend along all or part of the extension between the first and second ends of the cup 12.

[0164] As can be seen from Figures 19 to 21, the heating element 18 is typically smaller than the support plate 16 and can overlap with the emboss 28 in the illustrated embodiments which extend along the length of the heater. In all illustrated embodiments, the emboss has an extension or projection that extends from its maximum height, in other words, from the maximum surface area of ​​the support plate 16, which is significantly longer than the thickness of the support plate 16. In the embodiments of Figures 19 and 21, the emboss is essentially V-shaped and covers about one-third to one-quarter of the width dimension of the plate.

[0165] The above also applies to the embodiment shown in Figure 20, where the embossing is U-shaped or bowl-shaped. Any embossing can be extended in the width direction, and in either case, the rigidity of the support plate can be increased.

[0166] Further details relating to the heating furnace and its components according to the fourth aspect can be obtained from the first to third and fifth aspects, and the disclosures thereof relating to specific components and their characteristics are incorporated herein by reference. Fifth aspect As can be seen in Figure 22, the heating furnace 10 essentially comprises a cylindrical tubular member or cup 12 having two pairs of opposing rails 14 inside, configured to accommodate two essentially flat support walls 16, each fitted with at least one flat heater 18. The flat support walls 16 are essentially parallel to each other, each separating a relatively large central cavity 20 from two peripheral cavity portions 22. In the illustrated embodiment, each flat heater faces the central cavity 20 and, as a result, is in direct contact with a rod, which is a tobacco substrate (not shown). Such direct contact is particularly beneficial for heat conduction to the rod.

[0167] As can be seen from Figure 22, a vacuum 30 is sealed in the wall 28 of the cup 12, which significantly improves the heat insulation of the cup 12. In the illustrated case, the vacuum 30 is defined by two concentric wall portions 32 of the wall 28.

[0168] As shown in Figure 23, an optional electrical connection 24 extends through the second (lower) end of the cup 12, and the end is closed by a plug 26 with the connection extending through it. Each flat heater may be resistive or formed as an induction heating susceptor. The rail and / or flat support wall can extend along all or part of the extension between the first and second ends of the cup 12. If it extends along the entire length between the first and second ends, the structure as a whole is particularly stable.

[0169] Figure 24 shows the lower end of a tubular member 12 having two wall portions 32 with a vacuum 30 sealed inside, as shown in Figure 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the annular bottom portion 34 between the multiple wall portions 32 is formed by a component having two short collars that are attached overlapping the wall portions 32.

[0170] Within the inner wall portion 32 is a circular bottom portion 36 having an elongated opening 38 through which the electrical connection portion 24 passes. Although not visible in Figure 24, for example, a third opening 38 may be provided to form an isosceles triangle together with the two openings 38 visible in Figure 24.

[0171] Figure 25 shows that the circular bottom portion 36 may also be located further away from the end of the wall portion 32, and according to Figure 26, a single circular opening 38 may be provided.

[0172] Further details relating to the heating furnace and its components according to the fifth aspect can be obtained from the first to fourth aspects, and all such disclosures relating to specific components and their characteristics are incorporated herein by reference. The itemized themes of the second to fifth aspects The following itemized subject matter related to the second to fifth aspects also constitutes part of this disclosure / invention.

[0173] A subject matter itemized in relation to one aspect may be independent of a subject matter itemized in another aspect, or it may be combined with the subject matter itemized in that other aspect. Furthermore, a subject matter itemized in relation to one aspect may be independent of the subject matter of the claims of the present invention, i.e., the first aspect, or it may be combined with the subject matter of the claims of the present invention. Second aspect 1. A heating furnace (10) for an aerosol generating device, - A tubular member (12) extending along its longitudinal axis and including an internal tubular cavity with a first end (26) and a second end (28), - A closure (22) that at least partially closes the second end (28), -Includes at least one separating wall (16) fixed to the internal tubular cavity of the tubular member (12) and extending at least partially in the longitudinal direction between the first and second ends (28) across the internal tubular cavity, The separation wall (16) separates the heating cavity (20) for inserting the aerosol product from the airflow cavity (22). The airflow cavity (22) is open at the first end (26) of the tubular member (12), and the airflow cavity is in communication with the heating cavity (20) at the second end (28) so that air flows from the airflow cavity (22) into the heating cavity (20). A heating furnace (10) in which the separation wall (16) includes at least one heater (18). 2. A heating furnace (10) as described in item 1, wherein the separation wall (16) is flat. 3. The heating furnace (10) according to item 1, comprising a second separation wall (16) that forms a second airflow cavity (22) separated from the first airflow cavity (22). 4. The heating furnace (10) as described in item 3, wherein the separation wall (16) includes a second heater (18). 5. The heating furnace (10) according to items 3 and 4, wherein the first and second separating walls (16) face each other and are preferably arranged symmetrically on each side of the longitudinal axis of the tubular member (12). 6. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 2 to 5, wherein the first and second separation walls (16) are placed on side rails of the tubular member (12) that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member (12). 7. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 2 to 6, wherein the heater (18) includes a plate and a heating element attached thereto. 8. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 2 to 7, comprising a flow control member configured to change the airflow cross-section of an airflow cavity. 9. The heating furnace (10) according to item 8, wherein the airflow control member is manually movable between a first airflow cross section and a second airflow cross section in which the pressure drop is reduced. 10. A heating furnace (10) as described in item 9, wherein the airflow control member is rotatable. 11. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 10, wherein the tubular member (12) is formed from a deep-drawn piece of a metal such as steel or aluminum. 12. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 11, wherein the closure (22) is formed of a separate element mechanically attached to or welded to the tubular member (12), or is an integral part of the tubular member (12). 13. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising a housing containing a control unit, an electrical supply unit, and a furnace as described in any one of items 1 to 12. 14. An aerosol generating apparatus as described in item 12, wherein the furnace is enclosed in a thermal insulation material. 15. An aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating apparatus as described in any one of items 1 to 10, and a rod-shaped aerosol substrate at least partially inserted into a heating furnace (10), wherein the aerosol substrate is sized to be deformed and compressed by one or more separation walls (16). Third aspect 1. A heating furnace (10) for an aerosol generating device, - A tubular member (12) including cavities (20, 22) into which a rod-shaped aerosol generating substrate is inserted, a first end open to receive the substrate, and a second end, - Extending across the interior of the tubular member (12) between the first and second ends, at least one flat support wall (16) that at least partially separates the cavities (20, 22), -Includes at least one heater (18) attached to a flat support wall (16), A heating furnace (10) has a flat support wall (16) that is fixed to a tubular member (12) by mechanical fasteners. 2. The heating furnace (10) described in item 1, wherein the heater (18) includes a plate and heating elements such as a heating orbit attached thereto. 3. A heating furnace (10) according to item 1 or 2, wherein the tubular member (12) includes internal guide members such as a plurality of rails (14) configured to insert a flat support wall (16) between them. 4. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the tubular member (12) and / or flat support wall (16) are formed of an elastic material. 5. The heating furnace (10) as described in item 4, wherein the tubular member (12) and / or flat support wall (16) are formed of PEEK. 6. A heating furnace (10) as described in any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the mechanical fastener is a clamp fastener. 7. The heating furnace (10) according to item 6, wherein the mechanical fasteners include at least two clamping rings (28) spaced apart along the axial length of the tubular member (12). 8. A heating furnace (10) as described in item 7, wherein the clamping ring is self-locking. 9. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein the tubular member (12) includes at least two flat support walls (16) extending across the internal tubular cavity (20, 22) of the tubular member (12) between a first end and a second end, and each flat support wall (16) includes at least one heater (18). 10. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 9, further comprising a closure device such as a lid or stopper (26). 11. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 10, comprising a second flat support wall (16) separating the cavity (20). 12. The heating furnace (10) according to item 11, wherein the second flat support wall (16) includes a second heater (18). 13. The heating furnace (10) according to item 11 or 12, wherein the first and second flat support walls (16) are opposite each other and preferably arranged symmetrically on both sides of the longitudinal axis plane of the tubular member (12). 14. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising a control unit, an electrical supply unit, and a housing including a heating furnace (10) as described in any one of items 1 to 13. 15. An aerosol generating apparatus as described in item 14, wherein the furnace is enclosed in a thermal insulation material. Fourth aspect 1. A heater (10) for an aerosol generating device, comprising a support plate (16) and a heating element (18) attached to the surface of the support plate (16), wherein the support plate (16) is substantially a cube having length, width and thickness, the thickness being less than the length and width, and the support plate (16) having at least one local emboss. 2. The heater (10) according to item 2, wherein the support plate (16) is made of metal, preferably stainless steel, a high heat-resistant plastic such as PEEK, or a combination thereof. 3. A heater (10) according to any one of items 1 to 2, wherein the thickness of the support plate (16) is less than 0.5 mm, preferably less than 0.1 mm, and most preferably about 0.07 mm. 4. A heater (10) according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the embossing has ribs, the length of which extends in the longitudinal direction of the heater (10) and the depth of which extends in the thickness direction of the heater (10). 5. A heater (10) according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the support plate (16) has ribs projecting in the direction of the surface of the wall to which the heating element (18) is attached or in the direction of the surface of the wall opposite to the surface to which the heating element (18) is attached. 6. A heater as described in item 5, in which the cross-section of the ribs is V-shaped or U-shaped. 7. A heater (10) according to any one of items 4 to 6, wherein the heating element (18) and the ribs overlap at least partially when viewed from the thickness direction. 8. A heater (10) according to any one of items 1 to 7, wherein the heating element (18) is capable of resistive or inductive heating. 9. A heater (10) according to any one of items 1 to 8, comprising an electrical insulating layer between the support plate (16) and the heating element (18). 10. The heater (10) described in item 9, wherein the electrical insulating layer is an electrical insulating polymer, ceramic, or DLC. 11. A heater (10) according to any one of items 1 to 10, wherein the embossing has a maximum height greater than the thickness of the support plate (16). 12. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising a heating furnace including a heater (10) as described in any one of items 1 to 11, and a tubular member (12) having a first end and a second end, and at least one heater (10) as described in any one of items 1 to 11, wherein the heater (10) extends within the tubular member (12) between the first end and the second end. 13. The aerosol generating apparatus described in item 12, wherein the heater (10) is attached to the inner wall of the tubular member (12). 14. The aerosol generating apparatus according to item 12 or 13, wherein the length of the heater (10) extends along the axial direction of the tubular member (12). 15. An aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of items 12 to 14, wherein a heater (10) separates the central cavity portion (20) of a tubular member (12) that receives an aerosol-forming substrate from the peripheral cavity portion (22) of the tubular member (12). Fifth aspect 1. A heating furnace (10) for an aerosol generating apparatus, comprising a tubular member (12) including at least one wall (28) sealed with a vacuum (30), and at least one flat heater (18) extending across the internal tubular cavity of the tubular member (12), wherein at least one flat heater (18) is attached to a flat support wall (16) including an electrical connection (24) extending through a second end of the tubular member (12), and at least one closure (26) is configured to at least partially close the second end of the heating furnace (10). 2. A heating furnace (10) as described in item 1, wherein at least one wall (28) is made of metal. 3. A heating furnace (10) according to item 1 or 2, wherein at least one wall (28) is made of a high-temperature resistant plastic material such as PEEK. 4. A heating furnace (10) as described in any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the tubular member (12) is cylindrical. 5. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the volume of the central cavity (20) of the tubular member (12) is greater than the volume of the surrounding cavity (22). 6. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the flat heater (18) includes a plate and a heating element attached thereto. 7. The heating furnace (10) according to item 6, wherein the flat heater (18) includes heater tracks printed on a ceramic or metal plate. 8. A heating furnace (10) according to item 6 or 7, wherein the heating element faces the central cavity (20) or the peripheral cavity (22). 9. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein a flat support wall (16) includes a pair of guide members such as rails (14) configured for inserting a flat heater (18) therein. 10. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 9, wherein the tubular member (12) includes at least two flat support walls (16) extending across the internal tubular cavity of the tubular member (12) between a first end and a second end, and each flat support wall (16) includes at least one flat heater (18). 11. A heating furnace (10) as described in item 10, wherein flat heaters (18) are installed in series or in parallel. 12. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 11, wherein the flat heater (18) is resistant or inductive. 13. A heating furnace (10) according to any one of items 1 to 12, wherein the closure (26) is made from a high-temperature resistant plastic material such as PEEK, metal, or a combination thereof. 14. A heating furnace (10) as described in any one of items 1 to 13, wherein the closure (26) is a lid or a stopper.

Claims

1. A heating furnace (10) for an aerosol generating device, - A tubular member (12) including a first end and a second end and at least two flat support walls (16), wherein the at least two flat support walls (16) extend across the internal tubular cavity of the tubular member (12) between the first end and the second end, - At least two flat heaters (18) are attached to each of the at least two flat support walls (16), which include an electrical connection portion (24) extending through the second end of the tubular member (12), A heating furnace (10) comprising at least one closure (26) configured to at least partially close the second end, wherein at least two flat heaters (18) separate the central cavity portion (20) of the tubular member (12) from the peripheral cavity portion (22) of the tubular member (12).

2. The heating furnace (10) according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the central cavity portion (20) of the tubular member (12) is larger than the volume of the peripheral cavity portion (22).

3. The heating furnace (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flat heater (18) includes a plate and a heating element attached thereto.

4. The heating furnace (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flat heater (18) includes a heater track printed on a ceramic or metal plate.

5. The heating furnace (10) according to claim 3, wherein the heating element faces the central cavity portion (20).

6. The heating furnace (10) according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the heating element faces the surrounding cavity portion (22).

7. The heating furnace (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flat support wall (16) includes a pair of guide members such as rails configured to penetrate and insert the flat heater (18).

8. The heating furnace (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the flat heaters (18) are arranged in series or in parallel.

9. The heating furnace (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the flat heater (18) is resistant or inductive.

10. The heating furnace (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tubular member (12) and / or closure (26) is made from a high heat-resistant plastic such as PEEK, a metal such as stainless steel, or a combination thereof.

11. The heating furnace (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the closing device (26) is a lid or a stopper.

12. An aerosol generating apparatus having at least one heating furnace as described in any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A method for assembling a heating furnace for an aerosol generating device, A tubular member (12) having two open ends is provided, At least two flat support walls, each fitted with a flat heater (18), are inserted through one of the open ends, thereby separating the central cavity portion (20) of the tubular member (12) from the peripheral cavity portion (22) of the tubular member (12) by the flat heaters (18) attached to each of the at least two flat support walls. A method in which one end is closed by an electrical connection that extends through a closure.

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