Body unit of non-combustion-type flavor inhaler and heating unit of non-combustion-type flavor inhaler

Abstract

A body unit of a non-combustion-type flavor inhaler that is equipped with: a heating unit comprising a heating section to which a cartridge, said cartridge being equipped with a reservoir that stores an aerosol-producing liquid and a liquid-holding member that holds the aerosol-producing liquid supplied from the reservoir, is detachable, and which is positioned in contact with the liquid-holding member to heat the aerosol-producing liquid held by the liquid-holding member by generating heat when an electric current is supplied, and a conductive section which is electrically connected to the heating section to form a closed circuit; an induction coil which generates a magnetic field when an electric power is supplied, and allows the conductive section to generate an electric current by electromagnetic induction; and a power supply that supplies the electric power to the induction coil.

Description

Main unit of non-burning flavor inhaler and heating unit of non-burning flavor inhaler

[0001] The present invention relates to a main unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler and a heating unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler.

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a system that generates an aerosol by heating a liquid aerosol source (hereinafter also referred to as a liquid aerosol-generating substrate or an aerosol-generating liquid) and allows a user to inhale a flavor from the aerosol. Patent Document 1 proposes a system that includes a first component including a housing and a power source disposed within the housing, a second component detachably attached to the first component and including a heating element and a liquid moving element, and a third component including a reservoir that accommodates the liquid aerosol-generating substrate.

[0003] Special table 2019-506851 publication

[0004] In systems that generate heat by passing an electric current through a heating element such as a filament and use the generated heat to heat an aerosol source, the heating element may need to be replaced if, for example, the heating element deteriorates or becomes dirty. However, because the heating element is connected to a power source via electrical wiring, when replacing it, the user must disconnect the power source, remove the heating element, connect a new heating element to the electrical wiring, and install it in the system. This makes the replacement process cumbersome and inconvenient. Furthermore, it takes time for the heating element to reach a predetermined temperature after starting to pass electric current, resulting in inconveniences such as a long time lag before suction can begin and variations in the controlled temperature of the heating element. Therefore, further improvements in convenience are desired.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that can improve the convenience of inhaling flavors.

[0006] The main body unit of the non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to the present invention is detachably equipped with a cartridge having a reservoir that stores an aerosol-generating liquid and a liquid holding member that holds the aerosol-generating liquid supplied from the reservoir, and is equipped with a heating unit that is arranged in a position that contacts the liquid holding member and that heats the aerosol-generating liquid held by the liquid holding member by generating heat when supplied with electric current, and a conductive part that is electrically connected to the heating part to form a closed circuit, an induction coil that generates a magnetic field when supplied with electric power and generates electric current in the conductive part by electromagnetic induction, and a power source that supplies electric power to the induction coil.

[0007] The heating section may be disposed between the conductive section and a planned mounting position where the liquid holding member will be disposed when the cartridge is mounted to the main body unit.

[0008] The heating portion may include a connection portion with the conductive portion, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the connection portion toward a planned attachment position of the liquid holding member.

[0009] The conductive portion has a shape in which a slit is provided along the uniaxial direction in the peripheral wall of a tube extending in the uniaxial direction, and a part of the peripheral wall is spaced apart in the circumferential direction by the slit, and when the conductive portion is viewed from the side of the intended mounting position of the liquid holding member in the uniaxial direction, one part and the other part facing each other in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall across the slit may each be connected to a connection part of the heating portion.

[0010] The conductive portion may be formed so that the length in the one axial direction is longer than the length of the heating portion.

[0011] The heating portion and the conductive portion may be formed along the same cylinder.

[0012] The heating portion may be detachable from the conductive portion.

[0013] The main unit may include a plurality of the heating sections, and the plurality of heating sections may be connected to one of the conductive sections, and the plurality of heating sections may be arranged spaced apart from one another.

[0014] The induction coil may be disposed so as to surround the conductive portion.

[0015] The main unit may have a core disposed inside the cylinder to increase the density of the magnetic flux from the induction coil.

[0016] The conductive portion may include a base member and a conductive layer provided on a surface of the base member, and the conductive layer may be formed from a material having at least one of a higher magnetic permeability and a higher electrical conductivity than the base member.

[0017] The heating unit of the present invention is a heating unit provided in a non-combustion type flavor inhaler to which a cartridge can be detachably attached, the cartridge comprising a reservoir for storing aerosol-generating liquid and a liquid holding member for holding the aerosol-generating liquid supplied from the reservoir, the heating unit comprising: a heating section that is arranged in a position in contact with the liquid holding member, and that heats the aerosol-generating liquid held by the liquid holding member by generating heat when supplied with electric current; and a conductive section that is electrically connected to the heating section to form a closed circuit and that supplies the electric current generated by electromagnetic induction to the heating section.

[0018] The heating unit according to the present invention is a heating unit provided in a non-combustion type flavor inhaler to which a cartridge can be detachably attached, the cartridge including a reservoir that stores aerosol-generating liquid and a liquid holding member that holds the aerosol-generating liquid supplied from the reservoir, the heating unit comprising: a heating section that is arranged in a position in contact with the liquid holding member and that receives a supply of electric current to generate heat and thereby heat the aerosol-generating liquid held by the liquid holding member; and a conductive section that is electrically connected to the heating section to form a closed circuit and that supplies the electric current generated by electromagnetic induction to the heating section, the heating section comprising: a connection portion with the conductive section; and a protruding portion that protrudes from the connection portion on the side of a planned attachment position where the liquid holding member will be placed when the cartridge is attached, the conductive section having a shape in which a slit is provided along the uniaxial direction in a peripheral wall of a tube that extends in the uniaxial direction, and a part of the peripheral wall is spaced apart in the circumferential direction by the slit, When the conductive portion is viewed from the intended mounting position of the liquid holding member in the uniaxial direction, one portion and the other portion that face each other across the slit in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall are each connected to the connection portion of the heating portion, and the length dimension in the uniaxial direction is formed to be longer than the length dimension of the heating portion.

[0019] The contents described in the Summary of the Invention may be combined as much as possible without departing from the objectives and technical ideas of the present invention.

[0020] According to the present invention, a technology can be provided that can improve the convenience of inhaling flavors.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a non-combustion flavor inhaler according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heater, a coil, and a core. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an example of a manufacturing method of a heater. FIG. 4B is a diagram showing another example of a manufacturing method of a heater. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conductive section including a base member and a conductive layer. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a liquid retention member. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a heater and a liquid retention member in a state where the liquid retention member is not in contact with the heater just before the cartridge is attached to the main unit. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a heater and a liquid retention member in a state where the cartridge is attached to the main unit. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater according to Modification 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heating section according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state where the heater according to the second embodiment is in contact with the liquid retention member. FIG. 13A is a diagram showing the configuration of a heating section according to Modification 2. FIG. 13B is a diagram showing the configuration of a conductive section according to Modification 2. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater according to Modification 2. Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater according to Modification 3. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater according to a third embodiment. Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to a fourth embodiment. Fig. 18 is a diagram showing the configuration of an induction coil according to the fourth embodiment. Fig. 19 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater according to a fifth embodiment. Fig. 20 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater according to a sixth embodiment. Fig. 21 is a diagram showing the configuration of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler equipped with a heater according to the sixth embodiment.

[0022] An embodiment of a non-combustion flavor inhaler according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment are examples. The order of processes is also an example, and can be interchanged or performed in parallel as much as possible without departing from the objectives and technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0023] <First Embodiment> Fig. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of a non-combustion-type flavor inhaler according to a first embodiment. The non-combustion-type flavor inhaler 1 according to this embodiment includes a cartridge 2 that holds a liquid aerosol source (aerosol-generating liquid), a main unit 3 for heating the aerosol source, and a mouthpiece 4 that is a mouthpiece that a user holds in their mouth to inhale the aerosol. The main unit 3 and the cartridge 2 are formed to be detachable from each other. Furthermore, the cartridge 2 and the mouthpiece 4 are also formed to be detachable from each other. The cartridge 2, main unit 3, and mouthpiece 4 of this embodiment are each shaped like a column, such as a cylinder or a rectangular pillar, and are detachable from each other in the axial direction.

[0024] The cartridge 2 includes a reservoir 21 that stores the aerosol source and a liquid holding member 22 that holds the aerosol source supplied from the reservoir 21. When the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3, the liquid holding member 22 of the cartridge 2 comes into contact with a heater (heating unit) 31 of the main unit 3. The aerosol source absorbed in the liquid holding member 22 is heated by the heater 31 to generate an aerosol. The aerosol generated in this manner passes through a flow path in the cartridge 2 and the mouthpiece portion 4 and is inhaled by the user. In the embodiments, for convenience, the direction in which the cartridge 2 and the mouthpiece portion 4 are located in the non-combustion flavor inhaler 1 and in which the cartridge 2 is pulled out from the main unit 3 will be referred to as "up," and the direction in which the main unit 3 is located in the non-combustion flavor inhaler 1 and in which the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3 will be referred to as "down."

[0025] <Cartridge> The cartridge 2 has an outer shell 20, a reservoir 21, and a liquid retention member 22. The outer shell 20 is a generally cylindrical member, and is provided with a connection mechanism at its upper end for connection to the mouthpiece 4, and a connection mechanism at its lower end for connection to the main unit 3, and is provided with the reservoir 21 and the liquid retention member 22 inside.

[0026] The reservoir 21 is a tank that stores the aerosol source. The aerosol source is a liquid, such as a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin or propylene glycol. The aerosol source may also be a mixed liquid containing nicotine liquid, a flavor component such as tobacco, water, a fragrance, etc. The shape of the reservoir 21 is not particularly limited, but it has a storage space that stores the aerosol source, and this storage space is formed to communicate with the liquid holding member 22. As a result, the reservoir 21 supplies the aerosol source in the storage space to the liquid holding member 22. The reservoir 21 also has an aerosol flow path 211 through which the aerosol generated by heating the aerosol source passes, as described below.

[0027] The liquid retention member 22 is formed, for example, from an aggregate of fibrous materials such as glass fiber or rock wool, or from a material (porous material) having internal voids such as porous ceramic. The liquid retention member 22 contacts the aerosol source stored in the reservoir 21 and is disposed so that the voids within the liquid retention member 22 communicate with the space in the reservoir 21 that stores the aerosol source. Therefore, the liquid retention member 22 absorbs and retains the aerosol source by capillary action. The liquid retention member 22 also has a surface 222 exposed to the main unit 3. When the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3, the surface 222 of the liquid retention member 22 abuts against a heating unit 311 provided in the main unit 3. The shape of this surface (hereinafter also referred to as the abutting surface) 222 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a flat or curved surface. When the heating part 311 is in contact with the contact surface 222 of the liquid holding member 22, the heating part 311 generates heat, whereby the aerosol source near the contact surface 222 is heated and an aerosol is generated.

[0028] An aerosol flow path 221 that communicates with the aerosol flow path 211 of the reservoir 21 is provided in the center of the liquid retention member 22. While Fig. 1 shows an example in which the aerosol flow paths 211, 221 are provided in the center of the liquid retention member 22 and the reservoir 21, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the aerosol flow paths 211, 221 may be located anywhere within the cartridge 2 as long as they are positions that allow the aerosol to be delivered to the mouthpiece portion side. For example, the aerosol flow paths 211, 221 may be provided outside the liquid retention member 22 and the reservoir 21 along the inner surface of the outer shell 20. The aerosol generated in the liquid retention member 22 is inhaled by the user's inhalation (puff) and moves to the mouthpiece portion 4 through the aerosol flow paths 211, 221.

[0029] <Mouthpiece> The mouthpiece 4 is a mouthpiece through which the user inhales the aerosol, and is connected to the end of the aerosol flow path provided in the cartridge 2. The mouthpiece 4 may also be a capsule filled with a flavor source 41, such as shredded tobacco leaves. In this case, the capsule is opened during use, connecting the cartridge 2 opening with the user opening, and the aerosol passes through the storage space of the flavor source 41 as the user puffs, thereby adding flavor to the aerosol. The non-combustion flavor inhaler 1 may not include the mouthpiece 4. If the mouthpiece 4 is not provided or if the mouthpiece 4 does not include the flavor source 41, the aerosol source held in the reservoir 21 may be a mixed liquid containing the flavor source.

[0030] <Main Unit> The main unit 3 includes a generally cylindrical housing 37, and includes a heater (heating unit) 31, an induction coil 32, an operation detection unit 33, a control unit 34, a core 35, and a battery (power source) 36 in the internal space of the housing 37. The heater 31 includes a heating unit 311 and a conductive unit 312. The heating unit 311 is disposed in a position that contacts the liquid retention member 22 when the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3. The induction coil 32 receives power from the battery 36, as described below, to generate a magnetic field, which generates a current in the conductive unit 312 by electromagnetic induction. The heating unit 311 receives the current generated in the conductive unit 312 to generate Joule heat, thereby heating the aerosol source held by the liquid retention member 22.

[0031] The operation detection unit 33 includes, for example, a pressure sensor, detects the negative pressure generated when the user puffs on the mouthpiece unit 4, and inputs a signal corresponding to the detection result to the control unit 34. The operation detection unit 33 may also be an operation button or input means operated by the user. The control unit 34 controls the power supply to the heating unit 311 based on the signal input from the operation detection unit 33. For example, the control unit 34 controls the heat generation of the heating unit 311 in response to the user's puffing.

[0032] The main unit 3 may include other components. For example, it may include an output unit such as an indicator that indicates the operating status of the main unit 3 by lighting or flashing, or a display that displays the status of the non-combustion flavor inhaler 1. The main unit 3 may also include a charging connector for connecting to a cable that supplies current to charge the battery 36, or a power receiving unit that can wirelessly receive power transmitted from an external power source. The power source is not limited to a battery, and may also be one that provides externally supplied power to the control unit 34 or the induction coil 32. In this case, the power source 36 of the main unit 3 may be a simple power line connecting the external power source to the control unit 34 or the induction coil 32, or may be a conversion circuit that converts external power to a predetermined voltage value, frequency, etc.

[0033] <Heater> Figure 2 shows the configuration of the heater 31, with (A) showing the front of the heater 31, (B) showing the left side of the heater 31, (C) showing the right side of the heater 31, (D) showing the top of the heater 31, and (E) showing the bottom of the heater 31. Note that the back of the heater 31 is simply reversed left to right compared to the front, so the back is not shown. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the heater 31, coil 32, and core 35.

[0034] The heater 31 has a conductive portion 312 extending in one axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) and a heating portion 311 connected to one end of the conductive portion 312. The heating portion 311 and the conductive portion 312 are electrically connected to each other to form a closed circuit. The conductive portion 312 is generally cylindrical and extends in the Y-axis direction, and a peripheral wall 3121 is provided with a slit 3122 that runs along the Y-axis direction. That is, the conductive portion 312 has a shape in which parts of the peripheral wall 3121 are separated in the circumferential direction by the slit 3122. Similarly, the heating portion 311 is generally cylindrical and arranged to share a central axis C with the conductive portion 312, and a slit 3112 that runs along the Y-axis direction is provided in part of the circumferential direction. That is, the heating portion 311 has a shape in which parts of the peripheral wall are separated in the circumferential direction by the slit 3112.

[0035] The heating section 311 is disposed between the conductive section 312 and the intended mounting position where the liquid retention member 22 will be disposed when the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3. As shown in Fig. 2C , the heating section 311 has connection portions 3113 and 3114 extending downward from the vicinity of opposite ends of the heating section 311 across the slit 3112 in the circumferential direction, and these connection portions 3113 and 3114 are connected to the conductive section 312. When viewed from the intended mounting position of the liquid retention member 22 in the Y-axis direction, one portion 3123 and the other portion 3124 of the conductive section 3121 that face each other across the slit 3122 in the circumferential direction are connected to the connection portions 3113 and 3114 of the heating section 311, respectively.

[0036] In the heater 31 shown in FIG. 2 , the conductive portion 312 is formed so that its length L2 in the Y-axis direction is longer than the length L1 of the heating portion 311. Meanwhile, the heating portion 311 and the conductive portion 312 have substantially the same circumferential length C0 and thickness T0, and therefore the cross-sectional area of ​​the heating portion 311 is smaller than that of the conductive portion 312 in a cross section along the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the electrical resistance of the heating portion 311 is higher than that of the conductive portion 312, and when a current flows, the heating portion 311 mainly generates heat. Furthermore, the resistivity of the material constituting the heating portion 311 may be higher than that of the material constituting the conductive portion 312. Since the resistance value R is defined as R = ρ / A (resistivity ρ, cross-sectional area A), using a material for the heating portion 311 with a higher resistivity ρ than the conductive portion 312 makes it easier to set the resistance value R of the heating portion 311 higher, making it easier to obtain the desired amount of heat and improving design flexibility.

[0037] The heater 31 is detachably held in the housing 37 of the main unit 3. For example, the heater 31 can be inserted into or removed from the housing 37 through an opening at the top of the housing 37. This allows the heater 31 to be removed and replaced with a new heater 31 when the heater 31 deteriorates due to scorching or the material of the liquid holding member 22 adhering to the heater 31.

[0038] FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a manufacturing method for the heater 31. First, a conductive metal tube 30 is prepared (step S10). A portion of the peripheral wall 3011 is removed along the central axis C (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) passing through the centers of the openings 301 and 302 at both ends to form a slit 3022 (step S11). Then, a notch 3023 is formed in the peripheral wall 3011 at a position a predetermined length L1 away from one end (the upper end in the illustrated example) of the tube 30, extending from a position opposite the slit 3022 across the central axis C toward the slit 3022 along a direction perpendicular to the central axis C (the X- and Z-axes) (step S12). As a result, the portion of the metal tube 30 above the notch 3023 becomes the heating portion 311, and the remaining portion near the slit 3022 becomes the connection portions 3113 and 3114. The portion of the metal tube 30 below the notch 3023 becomes the conductive portion 312. In this way, according to the manufacturing method of FIG. 4A, the heating portion 311 and the conductive portion 312 can be formed from the same cylinder 30, and the heater 31 can be manufactured easily.

[0039] 4B shows another example of a manufacturing method for the heater 31. First, a conductive metal plate 30A extending in one axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) is prepared (step S20). Then, a slit 3024 is formed in a position a predetermined length L1 away from one end (the upper end in the illustrated example) and in a direction perpendicular to the Y-axis (the X-axis direction in the illustrated example) (step S21). The ends of the slit 3024 are provided a predetermined distance away from left and right ends 3015 and 3016 of the plate 30A, and connection portions 3113 and 3114 are formed between the slit 3024 and the left and right ends 3015 and 3016 of the plate 30A.

[0040] Then, the plate 30A is rolled into a generally cylindrical shape around a central axis C parallel to the Y axis, and the left and right ends 3015, 3016 of the plate 30A are brought close to each other to form a slit 3022 between the left and right ends 3015, 3016 (step S22). As a result, the portion of the generally cylindrical plate 30A above the slit 3024 becomes the heating portion 311, and the portion below the slit 3024 becomes the conductive portion 312. Note that steps S21 and S22 are not limited to this, and the slit 3024 may be formed after the plate 30A is rolled. In this way, according to the manufacturing method of FIG. 4B , the heating portion 311 and the conductive portion 312 can be formed from the same plate 30A, making it easy to manufacture the heater 31.

[0041] The manufacturing method of the heater 31 is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B , and any method may be used as long as it can form a shape similar to that shown in FIG. 2 . For example, the heater 31 may be manufactured by forming the heating portion 311 and the conductive portion 312 from separate members and connecting the heating portion 311 and the conductive portion 312 by brazing or welding. In this case, the heating portion 311 and the conductive portion 312 can be formed from different materials, allowing for the selection of materials suitable for heat generation and electromagnetic induction, thereby improving heat generation efficiency. Furthermore, although FIGS. 2 to 4B show an example of a substantially cylindrical heater 31, the heater 31 (heating portion 311 and conductive portion 312) is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may instead be a rectangular or elliptical cylinder.

[0042] Furthermore, the conductive portion 312 may have a structure in which a layer 326 made of a material with high permeability and / or high conductivity (hereinafter also referred to as a conductive layer) is provided on the surface of a base member 325. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a conductive portion 312A including a base member 325 and a conductive layer 326. Fig. 5 shows a cross section of the conductive portion 312A in a direction perpendicular to the central axis C.

[0043] 5, the base member 325 is generally cylindrical and extends in the Y-axis direction, and is provided with slits 3122 that run along the Y-axis direction. That is, the conductive portion 312 has a shape in which parts of the peripheral wall 3121 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction by the slits 3122.

[0044] The conductive layer 326 is preferably formed on at least the outer surface of the base member 325. The conductive layer 326 may also be formed on the inner surface of the base member 325 in addition to the outer surface of the base member 325. In the example of FIG. 5 , the conductive layer 326 is provided on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the base member 325.

[0045] The conductive layer 326 may be layered on the base member 325 by a method such as plating or vapor deposition. The conductive layer 326 is formed from a material having at least one of higher magnetic permeability and higher electrical conductivity than the base member 325. Examples of materials with high magnetic permeability that form the conductive layer 326 include copper, aluminum, steel, iron, and alloys thereof. Examples of materials with high electrical conductivity include iron, silver, copper, and alloys thereof.

[0046] The base member 325 may be formed from at least one of a non-conductive material and a material that is not induction-heated. For example, the base member 325 may be made of glass, ceramic, resin, etc. Alternatively, a plurality of base members 325 may be provided concentrically, and a conductive layer 326 may be provided on the surface of each base member 325.

[0047] The upper portion of each conductive layer 326 near the slit 3122 is connected to connection portions 3113 and 3114 of the heating unit 311. The heating unit 311 may also include a base member and a conductive layer, similar to the conductive unit 312A in Fig. 5, and the conductive layer of the heating unit and the conductive layer of the conductive unit 312A may be connected.

[0048] By providing the conductive portion 312A with the conductive layer 326 having high at least one of the magnetic permeability and the electrical conductivity in this manner, the eddy current generated in the conductive portion 312A can be increased, which can further increase the heat generation in the heating portion 311, and the heat generation in the conductive portion 312A can be suppressed, thereby improving the energy transmission efficiency.

[0049] <Configuration for generating aerosol> Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the liquid retention member 22. The liquid retention member 22 shown in Fig. 6 is a cylindrical wick, and an aerosol flow path 221 is formed in the center of the liquid retention member 22 when viewed from above.

[0050] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the heater 31 in this example is generally cylindrical, with the core 35 disposed within the inner space 313, and the induction coil 32 disposed outside the heater 31. That is, the core 35, heater 31, and induction coil 32 are disposed coaxially. The core 35 is a columnar member formed of a ferromagnetic material such as iron or ferrite. The inclusion of the core 35 increases the density of the magnetic flux passing through the heater 31, enabling the device to be made more compact. For example, increasing the magnetic flux density allows the outer diameters of the heater 31 and induction coil 32 to be set smaller, thereby enabling the outer diameter of the main unit 3 to be reduced.

[0051] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the upper part of the heater 31 and the liquid retention member 22 in a state immediately before the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3 and in which the liquid retention member 22 is not in contact with the heater 31. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the upper part of the heater 31 and the liquid retention member 22 in a state in which the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3.

[0052] The liquid retention member 22 is provided on the cartridge 2 so that at least the contact surface 222 that comes into contact with the heating section 311 is exposed. In the present example, the liquid retention member 22 has a flat contact surface 222, and is disposed so as to be approximately perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, which is the insertion / removal direction of the cartridge 2, when the cartridge 2 is not attached to the main unit 3 (initial state).

[0053] The heating portion 311 of the heater 31 is disposed between the intended attachment position (position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 7 ) where the liquid retention member 22 will be disposed when the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3, and the conductive portion 312. The heating portion 311 is configured so that at least a portion thereof protrudes toward the intended attachment position of the liquid retention member relative to connection portions 3113 and 3114 with the conductive portion 312. In this example, the portions of the heating portion 311 other than the connection portions 3113 and 3114 are the protruding portions.

[0054] As shown in Figure 8, when the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3, the lower end of the liquid holding member 22 is positioned lower than the upper end of the heating section 311, and the contact portion of the liquid holding member 22 with the heating section 311 is pushed upward, forming unevenness on the contact surface 222, thereby maintaining stable contact between the liquid holding member 22 and the heating section 311.

[0055] <Control Unit> The control unit 34 includes a DC / AC inverter for supplying a high-frequency AC current to the induction coil 32. When the operation switch is operated, or when the operation detection unit 33 detects that a start operation has been performed, such as when the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit or the mouthpiece 4 is attached to the cartridge 2, the control unit 34 assumes that an instruction to start the heating operation has been issued, and supplies an AC current of a predetermined frequency to the induction coil 32. For example, the control unit 34 may be configured to include a resonance capacitor and to control the supply of the AC current by causing resonance between this capacitor and the coil (inductor) 32. In this case, the frequency (resonance frequency) f of the AC current is ０ is calculated by the capacitance C of the resonance capacitor and the inductance L of the induction coil 32. ０ = 1 / (2π√(LC)). As a result, the induction coil 32 generates a fluctuating electromagnetic field (alternating magnetic field) of the predetermined frequency. The frequency of the electromagnetic field is, for example, 1 kHz or more and 30 MHz or less, preferably 50 kHz or more and 500 kHz or less, and more preferably 100 kHz or more and 250 kHz or less. In this embodiment, the inductance L of the coil is 1.1 μH, and the frequency of the fluctuating electromagnetic field is 180 kHz.

[0056] In this way, the control unit 34 applies an AC current to the induction coil 32 to generate a varying electromagnetic field, thereby generating an induced current in the conductive portion 312 of the heater 31. The conductive portion 312 is separated by slits 3122 along a portion of its circumference. When an induced current is generated by the induction coil 32, a potential difference occurs between opposing portions sandwiching the slits 3122, and current flows from connection portions 3123 and 3124 on the conductive portion 312 side to the heating portion 311 via connection portions 3113 and 3114 on the heating portion 311 side. As a result, Joule heat is generated in the heating portion 311, causing the heating portion 311 to heat up. In addition, an induced current is generated in the heating portion 311 due to the action of the varying electromagnetic field from the induction coil 32, and this induced current also generates heat.

[0057] In addition, the control unit 34 may be equipped with a sensor that detects the temperature of the heating unit 311 or the temperature of the liquid holding member 22, and may adjust the current supplied to the induction coil 32 based on the temperature detected by this sensor, thereby controlling the heating unit 311 to reach a predetermined temperature.

[0058] <Operation> When power supply to the induction coil 32 begins in response to a user's start operation, the heater 31 generates heat, heating the aerosol source held in the liquid holding member 22 to generate aerosol. When the user holds the mouthpiece 4 between their mouths and puffs (inhales), outside air is introduced through the air intake 371 provided in the housing 37 of the main unit 3, and the outside air is introduced to the contact position between the liquid holding member 22 and the heater 31 using the internal space of the heater 31, i.e., the internal spaces of the conductive portion 312 and the heating portion 311, as an external air passage. The aerosol mixes with the external air and moves to the mouthpiece 4 via the aerosol flow paths 211 and 221 in the cartridge 2. The aerosol then passes through the storage space for the flavor source 41 in the mouthpiece 4, thereby adding flavor to the aerosol, and the aerosol is then provided to the user from the mouthpiece 4.

[0059] <Effects> As described above, according to this embodiment, rapid heating is possible by generating heat from the heater 31 by electromagnetic induction. Therefore, for example, the time from when the start operation is performed until the heater 31 is heated to a predetermined temperature and becomes capable of suction can be shortened, thereby improving convenience.

[0060] In addition, in this embodiment, the induction coil 32 and the heater 31 are not connected by wiring, so that when replacing the heater 31, there is no need to attach or detach the wiring, and the heater 31 can be easily replaced, thereby improving convenience.

[0061] In addition, in this embodiment, the inner space of the heater 31 serves as an intake passage for outside air, so that the outside air is heated before it reaches the contact portion between the liquid retention member 22 and the heater 31, thereby reducing power consumption, for example. This reduces the number of times the battery needs to be charged, improving convenience.

[0062] 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater 31A according to Modification 1. This modification is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the heater 31A, but the other configurations are the same. For this reason, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations will be omitted.

[0063] 9A, the heater 31A has a top plate 3118 provided on the top of the heating unit 311. The top plate 3118 is, for example, a flat plate extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis C, and is arranged so as to cover the top opening of the substantially cylindrical heating unit 311. Note that the top plate 3118 is not limited to a flat plate, and may have an upper surface formed in a convex shape facing upward (toward the intended attachment position of the liquid retention member 22), or may have an upper surface formed as a curved surface recessed downward.

[0064] 9B, the top plate portion 3118 may have a slit 3119. The slit 3119 of the top plate portion 3118 is arranged so as to be continuous with the slit 3112 on the peripheral wall side, and divides the top plate portion 3118 into a connection portion 3113 side and a connection portion 3114 side, allowing current to flow in the circumferential direction of the heating portion 311.

[0065] According to this modification, the top plate portion 3118 is provided, which increases the contact area between the heater 31A and the liquid holding member 22, thereby improving the energy transmission efficiency.

[0066] 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater 31B according to a second embodiment, with (A) showing the front of the heater 31B, (B) showing the left side of the heater 31B, (C) showing the right side of the heater 31B, (D) showing the top of the heater 31B, and (E) showing the bottom of the heater 31B. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the heater 31B, but the other configurations are the same. Therefore, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and a repeated description will be omitted.

[0067] The heater 31B has a conductive portion 312B extending in one axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) and a heating portion 311B connected to one end of the conductive portion 312B. The heating portion 311B and the conductive portion 312B are formed separately, and the heater 31B is configured by connecting the heating portion 311B and the conductive portion 312B. The conductive portion 312B is substantially cylindrical and extends in the Y-axis direction, and a slit 3122 is provided in a peripheral wall 3121 along the Y-axis direction.

[0068] 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of the heating section 311B according to this embodiment, with (A) showing the front of the heating section 311, (B) showing the right side of the heating section 311B, (C) showing the top surface of the heating section 311B, and (D) showing the bottom surface of the heating section 311B. The heating section 311B is disposed between the conductive section 312B and the intended mounting position where the liquid retention member 22 will be disposed when the cartridge 2 is mounted to the main unit 3. The heating section 311B includes connection sections 3115 and 3116 that connect to the conductive section 312B, and protrusion sections 3117 that protrude upward from each of the connection sections 3115 and 3116 (toward the intended mounting position of the liquid retention member 22). In this example, the protruding portion 3117 is formed in a shape resembling an inverted V (hereinafter also referred to as an inverted V shape), but this is not limited to this, and the protruding portion 3117 may have any shape as long as it has a portion that protrudes toward the intended mounting position of the liquid holding member 22 relative to the connection portions 3115 and 3116.

[0069] The connection parts 3115 and 3116 have base wall portions 151 and 161 inserted into the inner space of the conductive portion 312B, and flange portions 152 and 162 protruding in the radial direction (X-Z axis direction) of the heater 31B. The heating portion 311B is elastic, and the distance between the base wall portions 151 and 161 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter of the conductive portion 312B. The base wall portions 151 and 161 are inserted into the inner space of the conductive portion 312 with the distance between the base wall portions 151 and 161 compressed, and are attached to the conductive portion 312. As a result, the elastic force of the base wall portions 151 and 161 of the heating portion 311B presses the base wall portions 151 and 161 against the inner surface of the conductive portion 312, preventing the heating portion 311B from coming off the conductive portion 312B. Furthermore, even when the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3 and downward pressure in the Y-axis direction is applied to the heating portion 311B by the liquid holding member 22, the flange portions 152 and 162 abut against the upper surface of the conductive portion 312B, thereby maintaining the position of the heating portion 311B. Note that the heating portion 311B is not limited to being elastic. Alternatively, the conductive portion 312B may be elastic, and the base wall portions 151 and 161 may be fitted into the inner space of the conductive portion 312B to expand the inner diameter of the heating portion 311B, and the elastic force of the conductive portion 312B may cause the inner surface of the peripheral wall 3121 to press against the base wall portions 151 and 161 of the heating portion 311B, thereby sandwiching the heating portion 311B. The heating portion 311B and the conductive portion 312B may be joined by welding, silver brazing, ceramic bonding, screws, or the like.

[0070] Furthermore, the joining of the heating portion 311B and the conductive portion 312B is not limited to radial fitting, and a latch lock mechanism may be used. An example of a latch lock mechanism is a structure in which a latch that can move forward and backward using a spring or the like is provided on one of the base wall portions 151 and 161 of the heating portion 311B and the peripheral wall 3121 of the conductive portion 312B, and an engagement recess that engages with the latch is provided on the other. In this case, when the base wall portions 151 and 161 of the heating portion 311B begin to fit into the internal space of the conductive portion 312B, the latch is compressed. When the heating portion 311B is completely fitted into the internal space of the conductive portion 312B, the latch engages with the engagement recess, and the pressure of the spring or the like maintains the engagement between the latch and the engagement recess. Note that when a force is applied to pull the heating portion 311B from the conductive portion 312B, the latch is compressed, disengaging from the engagement recess, and the heating portion 311B is detached from the conductive portion 312B. By using the latch lock mechanism in this manner, the heating portion 311B and the conductive portion 312B can be detachably connected to each other, while maintaining a stable bond between the heating portion 311B and the conductive portion 312B.

[0071] As in the first embodiment described above, when a current is supplied to induction coil 32 in response to a start operation to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field, an induced current is generated in conductive portion 312B, and current flows to protruding portion 3117 via connection portions 3115 and 3116, causing heating portion 311 to generate heat. Furthermore, an induced current is generated in heating portion 311 due to the action of the fluctuating electromagnetic field, causing heating portion 311 to generate heat. This heats the aerosol source held by liquid holding member 22, generating aerosol that is then inhaled.

[0072] 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the heater 31 and the liquid retention member 22 according to the second embodiment are in contact with each other. As shown in FIG. 12 , when the cartridge 2 is attached to the main unit 3, the lower end of the liquid retention member 22 is positioned lower than the upper end of the heating portion 311B, and the portion of the liquid retention member 22 that is in contact with the heating portion 311B is pushed upward, forming irregularities on the contact surface 222 of the liquid retention member 22. This increases the contact area between the heater 31B and the liquid retention member 22, improving energy transmission efficiency. Furthermore, improving energy transmission efficiency shortens the time lag from the start of heating until the predetermined temperature is reached, shortening the waiting time when suction begins and improving convenience.

[0073] In this embodiment, two inverted V-shaped protruding portions 3117 are provided so that the protruding portions 3117 contact the contact surface 222 at two locations on either side of the aerosol flow path 221 of the liquid retention member 22. However, this is not limited to this, and the number of protruding portions 3117 may be one or more. Furthermore, by configuring the heating portion 311B to be detachable from the conductive portion 312B as described above, it is possible to replace only the heating portion 311B when the heater 31B deteriorates. In this case, the conductive portion 312B may be fixed to the housing 37 and only the heating portion 311B may be replaced, or the heater 31B may be removed from the main unit 3, the heating portion 311B may be replaced, and the heater 31B may be reattached to the main unit 3. Furthermore, the protruding portions 3117 may be detachable, allowing only the protruding portions 3117 to be replaced.

[0074] <Modification 2> Fig. 13A is a diagram showing the configuration of a heating section 311D according to Modification 2, Fig. 13B is a diagram showing the configuration of a conductive section 312D according to Modification 2, and Fig. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater 31D according to Modification 2. This modification is different from the second embodiment described above in terms of the connection structure between the heating section 311D and the conductive section 312D in the heater 31D, but the other configurations are the same. For this reason, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0075] The heater 31D has a conductive portion 312D extending in one axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) and a heating portion 311D connected to one end of the conductive portion 312D. The heating portion 311D and the conductive portion 312D are formed separately, and the heating portion 311D and the conductive portion 312D are connected to each other to form the heater 31D.

[0076] The heating portion 311D has connection portions 3115 and 3116 that connect to the conductive portion 312D, and protruding portions 3117 that protrude from each of the connection portions 3115 and 3116 toward the intended attachment position of the liquid retention member 22. The connection portions 3115 and 3116 of this modified example are provided with engagement claws 81 that protrude outward from the lower portions of the outer circumferential surfaces of the base wall portions 151 and 161. Meanwhile, an engagement groove 82 that engages with the engagement claws 81 of the heating portion 311D is provided in the upper portion of the peripheral wall 3121 of the conductive portion 312D. The engagement groove 82 has a descending portion 821 that extends along the Y-axis direction, and a lateral portion 822 that extends circumferentially from the lower end of the descending portion 821.

[0077] In the heating unit 311D, the engaging claws 158 and 168 are inserted into the descending portions 821 of the engaging grooves 82 from above the conductive portion 312D with the engaging claws 81 and the engaging grooves 82 aligned, and are moved in the Y-axis direction. When the engaging claws 158 and 168 reach the lower ends of the descending portions 821 and are rotated circumferentially, the engaging claws 158 and 168 engage with the lateral portions 822. In this manner, the connection portions 3115 and 3116 in this modified example have a so-called bayonet-type structure that is connected by the engagement between the engaging claws 81 and the engaging grooves 82. The shapes of the engaging claws 81 and the engaging grooves 82 are not particularly limited to those shown in FIG. 14 , and other bayonet-type structures may be used.

[0078] According to this modification, the heating portion 311D and the conductive portion 312D can be reliably coupled together, and the heating portion 311D is prevented from accidentally falling off.

[0079] 15 shows the configuration of a heater 31E according to Modification 3, with (A) being the front of the heating section 311E, (B) being the right side of the heating section 311E, (C) being the top surface of the heating section 311E, (D) being the bottom surface of the heating section 311E, and (E) being the heater 31E attached to the conductive section 312B. This modification differs from the second embodiment in the shape of the connection portions 3115 and 3116 of the heater 31E, but the rest of the configuration is the same. Therefore, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0080] The heater 31E has a conductive portion 312B extending in one axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) and a heating portion 311E connected to one end of the conductive portion 312B. The heating portion 311E and the conductive portion 312B are formed separately, and the heating portion 311E and the conductive portion 312B are connected to each other to form the heater 31E.

[0081] The heating part 311E includes connection parts 3115 and 3116 that connect to the conductive part 312B, and protrusion parts 3117 that protrude from each of the connection parts 3115 and 3116 toward the intended attachment position of the liquid holding member 22. The connection parts 3115 and 3116 of this modified example each include a cylindrical plug part 131, a wiring part 132, and an electrode part 133.

[0082] The plug portion 131 is made of an insulating material and includes an insertion portion 1311 that is inserted into the inner space of the conductive portion 312B, and a flange portion 1312 that extends radially outward from the upper outer surface of the insertion portion 1311.

[0083] A protruding portion 3117 is attached to the upper portion of the plug portion 131, and a wiring portion 132 is provided along the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the flange portion 1312. One end of the wiring portion 132 is connected to the protruding portion 3117, and the other end is connected to the electrode portion 133. The electrode portion 133 extends downward beyond the flange portion 1312, and when the plug portion 131 is inserted into the conductive portion 312B, it comes into contact with the peripheral wall 3121 of the conductive portion 312B, providing electrical continuity.

[0084] When the plug portion 131 is inserted into the conductive portion 312B and the heating portion 311E is attached to the conductive portion 312B, the electrode portion 133 of the heating portion 311E is connected to one portion 3123 and the other portion 3124 that face each other across the slit 3122 of the conductive portion 312B. Therefore, when an induced current is generated in the conductive portion 312B, the current flows to the protruding portion 3117 via the electrode portion 133 and the wiring portion 132, causing the protruding portion 3117 to generate heat.

[0085] In this manner, in this modified example, the plug portion 131 holds the protruding portion 3117 to maintain its position, and the electrode portion 133 and the wiring portion 132 electrically connect the protruding portion 3117 to the conductive portion 312B, with the portion that maintains the position of the protruding portion 3117 and the portion that makes the electrical connection being separate. Therefore, the position of the electrode portion 133 can be freely set, and the conductive portion 312B can be configured so that the electrode portion 133 comes into contact with a position where the potential difference is high, for example, portions 3123 and 3124 that face each other across the slit 3122.

[0086] 16 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater 31F according to a third embodiment, with (A) showing the front of the heater 31F, (B) showing the left side of the heater 31F, (C) showing the right side of the heater 31F, (D) showing the top of the heater 31F, and (E) showing the bottom of the heater 31F. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment in the shape of the heater 31F, but the other configurations are the same. Therefore, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and a repeated description will be omitted.

[0087] The heater 31F has a conductive portion 312B extending in one axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) and a heating portion 311F connected to one end of the conductive portion 312B. The conductive portion 312B is substantially cylindrical and extends in the Y-axis direction, and a peripheral wall 3121 is provided with a slit 3122 that runs along the Y-axis direction.

[0088] The heating portion 311F is a linear member made of a conductive material, and is arranged above the conductive portion 312B so as to connect one portion 3123 and the other portion 3124 that face each other across the slit 3122.

[0089] As in the first embodiment, when a current is supplied to induction coil 32 in response to a start operation to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field, an induced current is generated in conductive portion 312B, and current flows from connection portions 3123 and 3124 to heating portion 311F, causing heating portion 311F to generate heat. This heats the aerosol source held by liquid holding member 22, generating aerosol that is then inhaled.

[0090] According to this embodiment, the configuration of the heater 31F can be simplified, which reduces the cost of the heater 31F and makes it easy to replace the heater 31F, thereby improving convenience.

[0091] <Fourth embodiment> Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to a fourth embodiment, and Fig. 18 is a diagram showing the configuration of an induction coil 32A. This embodiment is different from the third embodiment in the configuration of the induction coil 32A, but the other configurations are the same. For this reason, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations will be omitted.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 18 , the induction coil 32A of this embodiment is a flat coil formed in a spiral shape by winding a conductor (coated wire) 321 around the Y axis along a plane (X-Z plane). The induction coil 32A is disposed below the heater 31F and is electrically connected to the control unit 34. When a high-frequency AC current is supplied from the control unit 34, the induction coil 32A generates a fluctuating electromagnetic field, which generates an induced current in the conductive portion 312B of the heater 31F. The current generated in the conductive portion 312B then flows to the heating portion 311F, causing the heating portion 311F to generate heat. This heats the aerosol source held in the liquid holding member 22, generating an aerosol that is then suctioned.

[0093] In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the same heater 31F as in the third embodiment is used, but this is not limited to this, and the same heaters 31, 31A, 31B, 31D, and 31E as in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, or variants 1 to 3 may also be used.

[0094] According to this embodiment, since the induction coil 32A is not disposed in the radial direction of the heater 31F, the diameter of the main unit 3 can be reduced.

[0095] 19 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater 31G according to a fifth embodiment, with (A) showing the front of the heater 31G, (B) showing the left side of the heater 31G, (C) showing the right side of the heater 31G, (D) showing the top of the heater 31G, and (E) showing the bottom of the heater 31G. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the heater 31G, but the other configurations are the same. Therefore, the same elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and a repeated description will be omitted.

[0096] The heater 31G has a flat conductive portion 312G extending in one axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) and a heating portion 311G connected to the upper portion of the conductive portion 312G. The heating portion 311G and the conductive portion 312G are formed separately, and the heater 31G is formed by connecting the heating portion 311G and the conductive portion 312G. The conductive portion 312G is elongated in the Y-axis direction and has a plate-like shape with a thickness dimension TA in the Z-axis direction on the left and right sides that is smaller than the width dimension WA in the X-axis direction on the front and back. The conductive portion 312G has connection portions 3125 and 3126 with the heating portion 311G near the left and right ends of its upper portion.

[0097] The heating portion 311G is a band-shaped member that protrudes upward and is curved in an arc, and both ends are connected to the connection parts 3125 and 3126 at the top of the conductive portion 312G. However, the heating portion 311G may be formed in an inverted V shape that protrudes diagonally upward from the connection parts 3125 and 3126 toward the central axis C, as shown in Fig. 10(C) .

[0098] As in the first embodiment described above, when a current is supplied to induction coil 32 in response to a start operation to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field, an induced current is generated in conductive portion 312G, and current flows to heating portion 311G via connection portions 3125 and 3126, causing heating portion 311G to generate heat. Furthermore, an induced current is generated in heating portion 311 due to the action of the fluctuating electromagnetic field, causing heating portion 311 to generate heat. This heats the aerosol source held by liquid holding member 22, generating aerosol that is then inhaled.

[0099] <Sixth embodiment> Fig. 20 is a diagram showing the configuration of a heater 31H according to a sixth embodiment, and Fig. 21 is a diagram showing the configuration of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler equipped with a heater 31H according to the sixth embodiment. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment in the configuration of the conductive portion 312H of the heater 31H, but the other configurations are the same. For this reason, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted.

[0100] The heater 31H has a conductive portion 312H extending in one axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the illustrated example) and a heating portion 311B connected to the upper portion of the conductive portion 312H. In this example, the heating portion 311B and the conductive portion 312H are formed separately, and the heating portion 311B and the conductive portion 312H are connected to each other to form the heater 31H.

[0101] The conductive portion 312H includes a non-magnetic bobbin 322 and a heater-side coil 323 wound around the bobbin 322. The bobbin 322 is a cylinder extending in the Y-axis direction, and a conductor wire (coated wire) 321 is wound circumferentially around the outer surface to form the heater-side coil 323. The bobbin 322 is formed of an insulating material such as resin. This prevents current leakage from the heater-side coil 323 to the bobbin 322. Both ends of the conductor wire 321 of the heater-side coil 323 are connected to connection portions 3113 and 3114 of the heating portion 311B to form a closed circuit. The heating portion 311B is attached to one end (upper end) of the bobbin 322 in the Y-axis direction. In other words, the heating portion 311B is held by the bobbin 322 when the bobbin 322 is attached to the main unit 3. In addition, since the bobbin 322 in this example is insulating, leakage of current between the connection parts 3113 and 3114 to the bobbin 322 is prevented even when the heating part 311B is attached.

[0102] When the heater 31H is inserted into the housing 37 from the top opening of the main unit 3 and attached to the main unit 3, the heater-side coil 323 is disposed coaxially with and inside the induction coil 32, and the core 35 is disposed inside the bobbin 322. Note that the conductive part 312H may include the core 35 instead of the bobbin 322, and the heater-side coil 323 may be formed by winding the conducting wire 321 around the outer periphery of the core 35.

[0103] As in the second embodiment described above, when a current is supplied to induction coil 32 in response to a start operation to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field, an induced current is generated in conductive portion 312H, and current flows to heating portion 311H via connection portions 3113 and 31114, causing heating portion 311H to generate heat. Furthermore, an induced current is generated in heating portion 311H due to the action of the fluctuating electromagnetic field, causing heating portion 311H to generate heat. This heats the aerosol source held by liquid holding member 22, generating aerosol that is then inhaled.

[0104] According to this embodiment, the conductive portion 312H is formed by the heater-side coil 323, so that an induced current flows in a specific direction, improving energy transfer efficiency. This shortens the time lag between the start of heating and the arrival of a predetermined temperature, shortening the waiting time when suction begins and improving convenience. While this embodiment illustrates an example in which the heating portion 311B similar to that of the second embodiment is used, this is not limiting and heating portions similar to the heating portion 311 of the first embodiment, the heating portion 311 having the top plate portion 3118 of Modification 1, the heating portion 311D of Modification 2, and the heating portions 311F and 311G of the third and fourth embodiments may also be used.

[0105] <Others> The configurations described in the above-described embodiments and modifications can be combined as much as possible without departing from the objectives and technical ideas of the present invention.

[0106] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Non-combustion type flavor inhaler 2 Cartridge 3 Main unit 4 Mouthpiece section 20 Outer shell 21 Reservoir 22 Liquid holding member 30A Plate 31 Heater (heating unit) 31, 31A to 31H Heater (heating unit) 32, 32A Induction coil (inductor) 33 Operation detection section 34 Control section 35 Core 36 Battery (power source) 37 Housing 41 Flavor source 131 Plug section 132 Wiring section 133 Electrode section 151, 161 Base wall section 152, 162 Flange section 153, 163 Outer wall section 158, 168 Engagement claws 211, 221 Aerosol flow path 222 Contact surface 311, 311B to 311H Heating section 312, 312B, 312D, 312G, 312H Conductive part 313 Inner space 321 Conductive wire (coated wire) 322 Bobbin 323 Heater side coil 371 Air intake port 1311 Insertion part 1312 Flange part 3115, 3116 Connection part 3117 Protruding part 3118 Top plate part

Claims

1. A main unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler to which a cartridge can be detachably attached, the cartridge comprising a reservoir for storing an aerosol-generating liquid and a liquid holding member for holding the aerosol-generating liquid supplied from the reservoir, a heating unit including a heating section that is disposed at a position in contact with the liquid holding member and that receives a current to generate heat to heat the aerosol generating liquid held by the liquid holding member, and a conductive section that is electrically connected to the heating section to form a closed circuit; an induction coil that receives a supply of power to generate a magnetic field and generates a current in the conductive portion by electromagnetic induction; a power source for supplying power to the induction coil; The main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler is provided with:

2. The main unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler as described in claim 1, wherein the heating section is disposed between the conductive section and a planned mounting position where the liquid retaining member is disposed when the cartridge is mounted to the main unit.

3. The main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler as described in claim 2, wherein the heating portion has a connection portion with the conductive portion and a protruding portion that protrudes from the connection portion toward the intended mounting position of the liquid retaining member.

4. The conductive portion is A circumferential wall of a tube extending in one axial direction is provided with a slit along the one axial direction, and a part of the circumferential wall is separated in the circumferential direction by the slit, A main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler as described in claim 3, wherein when the conductive portion is viewed from the intended mounting position of the liquid retaining member in the uniaxial direction, one portion and the other portion opposing each other across the slit in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall are each connected to a connection portion of the heating portion.

5. 5. The main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 4, wherein the conductive portion is formed so that a length dimension in the one axial direction is longer than a length dimension of the heating portion.

6. 5. The main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to claim 4, wherein the heating portion and the conductive portion are formed along the same cylinder.

7. The main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heating portion is detachable from the conductive portion.

8. The heating portion has a plurality of protruding portions, A main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler as described in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a plurality of the protruding portions are connected to one conductive portion, and the plurality of the protruding portions are arranged at a distance from each other.

9. The main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the induction coil is disposed so as to surround the conductive portion.

10. The main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a core arranged inside the cylinder for increasing the density of the magnetic flux produced by the induction coil.

11. the conductive portion includes a base member and a conductive layer provided on a surface of the base member, The main body unit of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the conductive layer is formed from a material having at least one of a magnetic permeability and a conductivity higher than that of the base member.

12. A heating unit provided in a non-combustion type flavor inhaler to which a cartridge can be detachably attached, the cartridge comprising a reservoir for storing an aerosol-generating liquid and a liquid holding member for holding the aerosol-generating liquid supplied from the reservoir, a heating section that is disposed at a position in contact with the liquid holding member and receives a current to generate heat, thereby heating the aerosol-generating liquid held by the liquid holding member; a conductive part electrically connected to the heating part to form a closed circuit and supplying a current generated by electromagnetic induction to the heating part;