Aerosol generation device

Abstract

This aerosol generation device comprises: a body having an insertion hole into which a factory made cigarette (FMC) is inserted, an outlet, and an airflow path extending between the insertion hole and the outlet to guide an airflow from the insertion hole to the outlet; a first heater configured to heat the FMC inserted into the insertion hole; and an aerosol generating unit that accommodates an aerosol generating material, includes a second heater to heat the aerosol generating material so as to generate aerosol, and is positioned so as to communicate with the airflow path, thereby allowing the generated aerosol to flow into the airflow path.

Description

Aerosol generator

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, and more particularly, to an aerosol generating device having a structure in which nicotine generated from a regular tobacco cigarette passes through an aerosol generating unit.

[0002] Recently, there has been a growing demand for alternative devices that address the shortcomings of traditional cigarettes, such as their characteristic odor and the presence of health-threatening substances (such as carcinogens). For example, there is growing demand for aerosol-generating devices (commonly referred to as "e-cigarettes") that heat aerosol-generating materials rather than the traditional method of burning tobacco to produce aerosol.

[0003] These aerosol generators have many advantages, such as eliminating or suppressing the generation of harmful substances such as tar compared to regular tobacco cigarettes, significantly reducing the effects of secondhand smoke, and eliminating or minimizing the odor left on smokers' mouths and hands after smoking regular tobacco cigarettes. However, many users who are accustomed to the unique taste and smell of traditional tobacco cigarettes are still reluctant to use aerosol generators.

[0004] Furthermore, some users have a fondness for not only the taste and aroma of traditional tobacco cigarettes, but also the feel of the tobacco filter on their lips and inside their mouth.

[0005] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its purpose an aerosol generating device that can maximize the advantages of an aerosol generating device while providing a taste and aroma closer to the taste and aroma of a traditional regular cigarette.

[0006] The present invention has been made to achieve the above-described object, and according to a first aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating device is provided, including a body having an insertion hole into which a Factory Manufacturing Cigarette (FMC) is inserted, an outlet, and an airflow passage extending between the insertion hole and the outlet to guide airflow from the insertion hole to the outlet; a first heater configured to heat the common tobacco cigarette inserted into the insertion hole; and an aerosol generating unit configured to receive an aerosol generating substance, include a second heater, heat the aerosol generating substance to generate an aerosol, and be arranged to communicate with the airflow passage so that the generated aerosol is introduced into the airflow passage.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating unit further includes a case that houses the aerosol generating material therein; and a moisture absorbent configured such that one portion comes into contact with the aerosol generating material to absorb moisture from the aerosol generating material and the other portion is exposed to the airflow passage, and the second heater may be configured to heat the moisture absorbent.

[0008] In one embodiment, the absorbent may be a porous ceramic absorbent.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the case has a hole opening toward the airflow passage, and the absorbent material blocks the hole so that the aerosol-generating material can be contained within the case together with the case and be exposed toward the airflow passage.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating unit is a cartridge in which the case, the absorbent body, and the second heater are combined, and can be integrally attached to the body.

[0011] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating material may include at least vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG).

[0012] The aerosol generating unit includes a first aerosol generating unit and a second aerosol generating unit serially along the airflow passage, and the first aerosol generating unit can accommodate at least vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and nicotine as the aerosol generating material, and the second aerosol generating unit can accommodate at least vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and a flavoring material as the aerosol generating material.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the outlet may be provided with a drip tip or a filter portion separated from the tobacco portion of the general tobacco and the filter portion.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the insertion hole may be configured to insert the tobacco portion and filter portion of the general tobacco, the tobacco portion separated from the filter portion.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the body may include a cover that closes the insertion hole to prevent the tobacco portion inserted into the insertion hole from coming out.

[0016] In one embodiment, the cover may have a through hole communicating the insert hole with the outside.

[0017] In one embodiment, the outlet may be open upwardly and the insertion hole may be open downwardly.

[0018] According to the above-described configuration, the present invention can provide an advantage of providing a taste and flavor closer to that of traditional conventional tobacco cigarettes by grafting a conventional tobacco cigarette onto an aerosol generating device and using the conventional tobacco cigarette as is.

[0019] In addition, by designing the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating unit to not pass through the tobacco part of a regular tobacco cigarette, the amount of smoke (amount of vapor) can be maximized, thereby maximizing the benefits of the aerosol generating device.

[0020] In addition, since the tobacco part and the filter part are separated from a regular tobacco cigarette, and the tobacco part is inserted into the lower insertion hole and used as a nicotine dispensing part, and the filter part is used as a part that the user puts in the mouth and inhales instead of a drip tip, the use of a drip tip can be replaced, which can provide an advantage in terms of cost. In addition, since the filter part that is disposable after a single use is used instead of the drip tip that is reused and difficult to clean, it can provide an advantage in terms of hygiene. Above all, it can provide an advantage in increasing the satisfaction of users who nostalgically feel the feeling of biting the filter of a traditional regular tobacco cigarette.

[0021] In addition, by designing the insertion hole into which a regular tobacco cigarette is inserted to be open downward, the regular tobacco cigarette inserted into the insertion hole at the bottom of the body of the aerosol generator can fall downward after use, thereby providing a structure that is easy to clean.

[0022] The technical effects that can be obtained through the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0023] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and it should be understood that they are not provided to limit the scope of the present invention only to the matters illustrated in such drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing an aerosol generating cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 is a drawing schematically showing an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention similar to the aerosol generating device of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention similar to the aerosol generating device of FIG. 3.

[0029] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0030] Before going into detailed description, it should be noted that the terms used in this specification should not be interpreted as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of ​​the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to explain his or her own invention in the best way.

[0031] Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0032] In addition, when describing the present invention, a detailed description of a related known configuration or function is omitted if it is determined that the gist of the present invention may be obscured.

[0033] Since the embodiments of the present invention are provided to more fully explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, the shapes and sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated for clearer explanation. Accordingly, the sizes and proportions of each component depicted do not fully reflect the actual sizes or proportions.

[0034] Additionally, it should be understood that the expressions related to direction mentioned herein are used for convenience to aid understanding of embodiments of the present invention and are merely used to indicate relative positional relationships. For example, the terms "upper" and "lower" do not imply that the upper portion is located at a higher elevation than the lower portion, based on the height above sea level, but are simply used to indicate that they are located on opposite sides.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] The aerosol generator includes a body (100), a first heater (200), an aerosol generator (300), and a power source (400).

[0037] The body (100) may have an insertion hole (110) and an outlet (120) and an airflow passage (130) extending between the insertion hole (110) and the outlet (120) to guide airflow from the insertion hole (110) to the outlet (120).

[0038] The insertion hole (110) is provided so that a regular tobacco cigarette (FMC, Factory Manufacturing Cigarette) (500) is inserted. Therefore, the present invention can provide an advantage of providing a taste and flavor that are closer to the taste and flavor of a traditional regular tobacco cigarette (500) by grafting a regular tobacco cigarette (500) onto an aerosol generating device and using the regular tobacco cigarette (500) as is. Here, the regular tobacco cigarette (500) refers to a traditional cigarette, not the so-called electronic cigarette that has been popularized recently. Unlike electronic cigarettes that generate aerosol by heating, regular tobacco cigarettes (500) are used to generate aerosol by burning, i.e., by combustion. The insertion hole (110) may be formed at the bottom and may be provided to be open downward. Accordingly, a regular tobacco cigarette (500) inserted into the insertion hole (110) at the bottom of the body (100) of the aerosol generator can be dropped downward after use, thereby providing a structure that is easy to clean.

[0039] The outlet (120) may be formed at the top and open upwards so that the user can inhale the generated aerosol. A drip tip (600) that the user can bite with his / her mouth may be inserted into the outlet (120). Typically, the drip tip (600) is inserted so as to be detachable from the outlet (120), but the present invention is not limited thereto. The drip tip (600) may also be fixedly attached to the outlet (120) so as not to allow detachment.

[0040] The airflow passage (130) is a passage through which airflow moves, and may be formed to extend from the insertion hole (110) to the outlet (120). Accordingly, the insertion hole (110) may function as an inlet through which air flows in, and the outlet (120) may function as an outlet through which the generated aerosol flows out. Here, the composition of the airflow will vary depending on each position of the airflow passage (130). That is, as air flows into the insertion hole (110) from the outside, the airflow begins, and as it passes through the regular tobacco cigarette (500), the nicotine generated from the regular tobacco cigarette (500) is mixed with the air, and as it passes through the aerosol generating unit (300), mainstream smoke mixed with vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, etc., which will be described later, may flow out through the outlet (120). Accordingly, in this embodiment, the aerosol generated from the aerosol generating unit (300) is designed not to pass through the tobacco part (510) of the general tobacco cigarette (500), thereby maximizing the amount of smoke (amount of vaporization), thereby maximizing the benefits of the aerosol generating device.

[0041] The first heater (200) may be configured to heat a regular tobacco cigarette (500) inserted into the insertion hole (110). The first heater (200) may be formed on the inner surface of the insertion hole (110) so as to surround the outer periphery of the tobacco portion (510) of the regular tobacco cigarette (500). The first heater (200) may be a heating heater that generates resistance heat using power supplied from a power source (400) to heat the tobacco portion (510) of the regular tobacco cigarette (500). Alternatively, the first heater (200) may be an induction heating heater. The induction heating heater may include a susceptor (magnetized heating element) arranged to surround the outer periphery of the tobacco portion (510) of the regular tobacco cigarette (500). In addition, the aerosol generating device may include an induction coil arranged to surround the susceptor so as to inductively heat the susceptor. For induction heating, a direct current power source (400) is supplied from a power source (400) and an alternating current of a resonant frequency or a frequency different from the resonant frequency is supplied to an induction coil. By controlling this alternating current supplied to the induction coil, the susceptor can be heated, maintained, and changed to a desired temperature.

[0042] The aerosol generating unit (300) can receive an aerosol generating material and heat the aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol. The aerosol generating unit (300) can be positioned to communicate with the airflow passage (130) so that the generated aerosol can be introduced into the airflow passage (130).

[0043] Aerosol-generating substances may include at least vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG). They may also contain nicotine, flavorings, and other ingredients. For example, flavoring substances may include essential oils such as licorice, sucrose, fructose syrup, iso-sweeteners, cocoa, lavender, cinnamon, cardamom, celery, fenugreek, cascarilla, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, aromatic oils, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, mint oil, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, cinnamon, ylang ylang, sage, spearmint, ginger, coriander or coffee, tree-derived ingredients such as cypress sap or pine needle sap, root-derived ingredients such as red ginseng sap, fruit-derived ingredients such as citrus sap, mushroom-derived ingredients such as Phellinus linteus sap.

[0044] Accordingly, the tobacco flavor and nicotine derived from a regular tobacco cigarette (500) are mixed with the aerosol derived from the aerosol generating material as they pass through the aerosol generating unit (300), thereby maximizing the tobacco flavor and amount of smoke.

[0045] The power source (400) supplies power to the first heater (200) and the second heater (330). The power source (400) may be, for example, a rechargeable battery.

[0046] The aerosol generator may have a control unit (not shown) that controls the power supplied to the first heater (200) and the second heater (330) to vary the heating temperature profile. That is, the control unit may control the first heater (200) and the second heater (330) to operate at a preset optimal temperature profile.

[0047] The aerosol generator may include a power control unit (not shown) configured to control the power supplied from the power source (400) to the first heater (200) and the second heater (330) in order to control the heating temperature profile. The control unit may transmit a control signal for controlling the power supplied to the first heater (200) and the second heater (330) to the power control unit. For example, the control unit may transmit a control signal according to a heating temperature profile preset as a heating condition to the power control unit, and the power control unit may control the power supplied from the power source (400) to the first heater (200) and the second heater (330) according to the control signal, thereby controlling the heating temperature. For example, the power control unit may include a FET, and the FET may be connected to the control unit and the power source (400). The control unit may transmit a PWM signal as a control signal to the FET of the power control unit. The FET of the power control unit operates, for example, by turning on and off according to a PWM signal transmitted from the control unit, so that the power supplied from the power source (400) to the first heater (200) and the second heater (330) is controlled.

[0048] Additionally, the aerosol generator may include a sensor (700). The sensor (700) may detect the user's puffing and transmit the detection result to the control unit, and the control unit may adjust the power supplied to the first heater (200) and the second heater (330) based on the detection result. The sensor (700) may be a pressure sensor that detects pressure changes due to the user's puffing. However, the present invention is not limited to this one embodiment, and the sensor may be a sensor of various other types.

[0049] Figure 2 is a drawing schematically showing an aerosol generating unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] As shown, the aerosol generating unit (300) may include a case (310), a moisture absorbent (320), and a second heater (330).

[0051] The case (310) can accommodate an aerosol-generating substance therein. The case (310) can be arranged to surround the airflow passage (130) so that the airflow passage (130) can pass through it. That is, the case (310) can have the airflow passage (130) as a hollow space. According to one embodiment, the case (310) can have a hole open toward the airflow passage (130).

[0052] The absorbent (320) may be configured such that one portion comes into contact with an aerosol-generating material and absorbs the aerosol-generating material, while the other portion is exposed to the airflow passage (130). The second heater (330) may heat the aerosol-generating material absorbed by the absorbent (320) by heating the absorbent (320), thereby generating an aerosol. According to one embodiment, the absorbent (320) may block a hole formed in the case (310) to accommodate the aerosol-generating material inside the case (310) together with the case (310), and may be exposed toward the airflow passage (130).

[0053] The absorbent (320) may be a porous ceramic absorbent. The pore size of the porous ceramic absorbent may be 10 μm to 100 μm, and the porosity of the porous ceramic absorbent may be 30% to 60%. The porous ceramic absorbent (320) may include at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum nitride (AlN), silicon nitride (Si3N4), silicon carbide (SiC), zirconium carbide (ZrC), tungsten carbide (WC), alumina (Al2O3), cordierite, mullite, and magnesium silicate (Mg2SiO4).

[0054] The aerosol generating unit (300) may include a sealing member (340) interposed at the boundary between the case (310) and the absorbent body (320) to prevent leakage of the aerosol generating material between the case (310) and the absorbent body (320). The sealing member (340) may be made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicone.

[0055] The second heater (330) may be a resistance heating heater or an induction heating heater. The second heater (330) of the induction heating type may include a susceptor. In addition, the aerosol generator may include an induction coil for inductively heating the susceptor. The susceptor and the induction coil may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other. In particular, a porous ceramic absorbent (320) may be positioned between the susceptor and the induction coil to prevent heat (or thermal energy) of the susceptor from being transferred to the induction coil, thereby protecting the induction coil from heat. The susceptor may be configured to include a magnetic metal for induction heating. The susceptor may be heated to a temperature of, for example, 400°C or lower by induction heating of the induction coil.

[0056] The second heater (330) is mounted in a coil or rod shape to surround the hollow space within the absorbent (320), and a portion of it can be inserted and mounted within the absorbent (320).

[0057] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating unit (300) is a cartridge in which a case (310), a moisture absorber (320), and a second heater (330) are combined, and can be integrally attached to and detached from the body (100). However, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, the aerosol generating unit (300) can be provided to be fixed to the body (100). In this case, an injection hole capable of injecting aerosol into the interior of the case (310) may be required.

[0058] Figure 3 is a drawing schematically showing an aerosol generating device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] As illustrated, the aerosol generating unit (300) may include a first aerosol generating unit (360) and a second aerosol generating unit (370) serially along the airflow passage (130). The first aerosol generating unit (360) may contain at least vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and nicotine as aerosol generating materials. The second aerosol generating unit (370) may contain at least vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and a flavoring material as aerosol generating materials. The first aerosol generating unit (360) may provide nicotine provided from the first aerosol generating unit (360) in addition to nicotine provided from a regular tobacco cigarette (500), thereby providing a high impact sensation to the user.

[0060] The second heater (330) of the first aerosol generating unit (360) and the second heater (330) of the second aerosol generating unit (370) may be provided separately. In addition, the control unit may control the temperature profile of the second heater (330) of the first aerosol generating unit (360) and the temperature profile of the second heater (330) of the second aerosol generating unit (370) differently. In addition, the aerosol generating device may include a mode selection button so as to turn off either the first aerosol generating unit (360) or the second aerosol generating unit (370) or increase or decrease the aerosol generation amount according to the user's preference. When a user selects a mode by pressing a mode selection button, the control unit sends an electric signal corresponding to the selected mode to the power control unit, and the power control unit can control the power supplied from the power source (400) to each of the second heater (330) of the first aerosol generating unit (360) and the second heater (330) of the second aerosol generating unit (370).

[0061] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention similar to the aerosol generating device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention similar to the aerosol generating device of FIG. 3.

[0062] As shown, the aerosol generators of FIGS. 4 and 5 have a similar structure to the aerosol generators of FIGS. 1 and 3, except for the drip tip (600) and the cover (140).

[0063] In the insertion hole (110), a tobacco part (510) separated from the filter part (520) among the tobacco part (510) and the filter part (520) of a general cigarette may be inserted, and in the outlet (120), a filter part (520) separated from the tobacco part (510) among the tobacco part (510) and the filter part (520) of a general cigarette may be inserted. In addition, in order to prevent the tobacco part (510) inserted into the insertion hole (110) from coming off, the body (100) may include a cover (140) that closes the insertion hole (110) to support the tobacco part (510). The cover (140) may have a through hole that communicates the insertion hole (110) with the outside, so that air may be introduced into the airflow passage (130) from the outside when the user puffs.

[0064] In this embodiment, the tobacco portion (510) and the filter portion (520) are separated from a regular tobacco cigarette (500), and the tobacco portion (510) is inserted into the lower insertion hole (110) to be used as a nicotine providing portion, and the filter portion (520) is used as a portion that the user puts in the mouth and inhales instead of the drip tip (600), thereby replacing the use of the drip tip (600), thereby providing an advantage in terms of cost. In addition, the filter portion (520), which is disposable after a single use, is used instead of the drip tip (600), which is reused and not easy to clean, thereby providing an advantage in terms of hygiene. Above all, it can provide an advantage in that it can increase the satisfaction of users who have a fondness for the feeling of biting the filter of a traditional regular tobacco cigarette (500).

[0065] The present invention has been described in more detail through drawings and examples. However, the configurations described in the drawings or examples described in this specification are merely embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modified examples may exist as of the time of this application.

Claims

1. A body having an insertion hole into which a cigarette is inserted, an outlet, and an airflow passage extending between the insertion hole and the outlet to guide airflow from the insertion hole to the outlet; A first heater configured to heat the cigarette inserted into the insertion hole; An aerosol generating unit that receives an aerosol generating material, heats the aerosol generating material by a second heater to generate an aerosol, and is arranged to communicate with the airflow passage so that the generated aerosol is introduced into the airflow passage. An aerosol generating device, characterized in that the above cigarette is a factory manufacturing cigarette (FMC).

2. In paragraph 1, The above aerosol generating unit is, A case that contains the aerosol-generating material inside; It additionally includes an absorbent body configured so that one part comes into contact with the aerosol-generating material and absorbs the aerosol-generating material, and the other part is exposed to the airflow passage. An aerosol generating device wherein the second heater is configured to heat the absorbent.

3. In paragraph 2, An aerosol generating device wherein the above absorbent is a porous ceramic absorbent.

4. In paragraph 2, The above case has a hole open toward the airflow passage, An aerosol generating device in which the above-mentioned absorbent blocks the hole to contain the aerosol generating material inside the case together with the case and is exposed toward the airflow passage.

5. In paragraph 2, The aerosol generating unit is an aerosol generating device in which the case, the absorbent body, and the second heater are combined as a cartridge and are detachably attached to the body as a single unit.

6. In paragraph 1, An aerosol generating device, wherein the aerosol generating material comprises at least vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG).

7. In paragraph 1, The aerosol generating unit includes a first aerosol generating unit and a second aerosol generating unit serially along the airflow passage, The first aerosol generating unit contains at least vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol and nicotine as the aerosol generating material, An aerosol generating device wherein the second aerosol generating unit contains at least vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and a flavoring substance as the aerosol generating material.

8. In paragraph 1, An aerosol generating device, wherein a drip tip or a filter portion separated from the tobacco portion and the filter portion of the general tobacco is inserted into the outlet.

9. In paragraph 1, An aerosol generating device in which the tobacco portion and filter portion of the general tobacco are inserted into the above insertion hole, and the tobacco portion separated from the filter portion is inserted.

10. In paragraph 9, The above body, An aerosol generating device including a cover that closes the insertion hole to prevent the tobacco portion inserted into the insertion hole from coming out.

11. In paragraph 10, An aerosol generating device, wherein the cover has a through hole communicating the outside and the insert hole.

12. In paragraph 1, The above outlet is open upwards, An aerosol generating device, wherein the above insertion hole is open downward.

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