Aerosol-forming device with improved article insertion and heating

Abstract

An aerosol-forming device (1) comprising a heating device configured to heat a rectangular parallelepiped aerosol-forming article (20), a heating chamber having a heater structure, the heating chamber configured to contain the aerosol-forming article during heating by the heating device, and a tray (28) including a tray receptacle configured to receive the aerosol-forming article, wherein the heater structure is configured to heat at least one of two opposing main surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped aerosol-forming article, wherein the tray receptacle includes two openings, each opening exposing one of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure, wherein the tray is slidable between a loading position and a usage position, wherein, in the loading position, the tray receptacle is accessible from an outside environment for loading the aerosol-forming article into the tray receptacle, and wherein in the usage position, the tray receptacle is displaced from the loading position and forms at least part of the heating chamber.

Description

[0001] FTR3854

[0002] 1 / 27

[0003] AEROSOL-FORMING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED ARTICLE INSERTION AND HEATING

[0004] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of aerosol-forming systems and devices for generating aerosol, also referred to as aerosol-generating systems and devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to electronic aerosol-forming systems, devices, and articles configured to generate aerosol inhalable by a user and / or to generate nicotine-containing aerosol. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming device with housing parts that are movable relative to each other, to an aerosol-forming system comprising such aerosol-forming device, and to use of such aerosol-forming device and / or system. Further, the present disclosure relates to a method of loading an aerosol-forming article into a heating chamber of an aerosolforming device and / or of heating an aerosol-forming article in an aerosol-forming device.

[0005] Aerosol-forming or aerosol-generating devices are typically designed as handheld devices that can be used by a user for consuming or experiencing, for instance in one or more usage sessions, aerosol generated from an aerosol-forming substrate or an aerosol-forming article, for example by heating. The aerosol-forming devices the present disclosure pertains to are mainly directed to the field of tobacco and tobacco-substitute products, as well as e-vapor devices, for example heated tobacco products (HTP), heat-not-burn devices, electronic cigarettes, e-vapor devices, and / or vaporisers. The aerosol-forming devices of the present disclosure may also pertain to other types of inhalers, dispensers, or atomizers, for example inhalers, dispensers, or atomizers for medical applications.

[0006] Typical aerosol-forming systems can be designed as one-part systems or devices including an aerosol-forming device that can be operated by a user to generate aerosol. Alternatively, aerosol-forming systems can be designed as two-part systems or devices comprising an aerosolforming device and a companion device for storing and / or charging the aerosol-forming device. In either design or configuration, the aerosol-forming system or device can be used by a user for consuming or inhaling, for instance in one or more usage sessions, aerosol generated based on heating an aerosol-forming article or substrate couplable to the aerosol-forming system. In the context of the present disclosure, an aerosol-forming device can refer to both a one-part device and a two-part device, unless explicitly specified otherwise.

[0007] The aerosol-forming article, also referred to as aerosol-generating article, can comprise an aerosol-generating or aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco or nicotine-containing substrate. The aerosol-forming article may be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into the aerosol-forming device or system. In conventional systems or devices, the aerosol-forming article is usually formed as a stick that can be at least partly inserted into a cavity or heating chamber of the aerosol-forming device for aerosol consumption. Insertion of the sticklike shaped aerosol-forming article into the cavity, however, can potentially damage the aerosolforming article, which may potentially affect an experience for a user, for example in terms of taste FTR3854

[0008] 2 / 27 or homogeneity of the experience. Also, inserting the aerosol-forming article into and removing it from the cavity of conventional systems may, at least for some users or in certain scenarios, be cumbersome.

[0009] Exemplary aerosol-forming substrates can comprise solid substrate material, such as tobacco material or tobacco cast leaves (TCL) material. The substrate material can, for example, be assembled, often with other elements or components, to form a substantially stick-shaped aerosol-forming article. Such a stick or aerosol-forming article can be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into the aerosol-forming device. The aerosol-forming device may comprise a heating element or heater device for heating the aerosol-forming article and / or the aerosol-forming substrate. The heating element or heater device may be part of the aerosolforming article and / or the aerosol-forming device. Alternatively or additionally, aerosol-forming substrates can comprise one or more liquids and / or solids, which can, for example, be supplied to the aerosol-forming device in the form of a cartridge or container. Corresponding exemplary aerosol-forming articles can, for example, comprise a cartridge containing or fillable with the liquid and / or solid substrate, which can be vaporized during aerosol consumption by the user based on heating the substrate and / or liquid. Usually, such cartridge or container can be coupled to, attached to or at least partially inserted into the aerosol-forming device. Alternatively, the cartridge may be fixedly mounted to the aerosol-forming device and refilled by inserting liquid and / or solid into the cartridge. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate or article may comprise or include one or more of nicotine, aroma, sugar, moisturising agent, botanicals, preservative, flavouring, for example cocoa, liquorice, menthol and lactic acid or other additives. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate or article may additionally or alternatively comprise one or more pharmaceutical agents or drugs and may include one or more adjuvants.

[0010] For generating the aerosol during use or consumption, heat can be supplied by a heating element, heater device or heat source to heat at least a portion or part of the aerosol-forming substrate. The heating element, heater device or heat source can be arranged in the handheld device or a handheld part of the aerosol-forming device. Alternatively or additionally, at least a part of or the entire heating element or heater device or heat source can be fixedly associated with or arranged within an aerosol-forming article, for instance in the form of a stick or cartridge, which can be attached to and / or powered by the handheld device or handheld part of the aerosolforming device.

[0011] Exemplary heating elements or heater devices can be based on one or more of resistive heating, inductive heating and microwave heating using electrical energy supplied via, drawn from or stored in an energy storage or battery of the aerosol-forming device. As used herein, a battery of the aerosol-forming device can generally refer to an energy storage of the aerosol-forming FTR3854

[0012] 3 / 27 device configured to store electrical energy. Accordingly, the term energy storage can include one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, one or more accumulators or other types of energy storage. Also, any reference to a battery herein can include a plurality of batteries.

[0013] Typically, aerosol-forming devices comprise an energy storage, for example a battery, providing the electrical energy needed to operate the aerosol-forming device and especially for heating the aerosol-forming substrate and / or article, for example to generate aerosol in one or more usage sessions using one or more aerosol-forming articles. The battery may, for example, be a lithium-ion battery.

[0014] As used herein, a usage session may refer to a period of time, during which a user may use the device to generate, consume, experience or inhale aerosol using the aerosol-forming device. Therein, a usage session may be finite. In other words, a usage session may have a start, an end and a duration. The duration of the usage session as measured by time may be influenced by use during the usage session. The duration of the usage session may have a maximum duration determined by a maximum time from the start of the usage session. The duration of the usage session may be less than the maximum time if one or more monitored parameters reaches a predetermined threshold before the maximum time from the start of the usage session. By way of example, the one or more monitored parameters may comprise one or more of: i) a cumulative puff count of a series of puffs drawn by a user since the start of the usage session, and ii) a cumulative volume of aerosol evolved from the aerosol-forming substrate since the start of the usage session.

[0015] The sticks used as aerosol-forming articles may be predominantly based on cylindrical rodshape embodiments, following the traditional concepts from conventional tobacco containing products (TCP), and its manufacturing, for example rod-making technologies. Cylindrical rodshape consumables may be designed for use with devices having tubular cavities, which may use several heating technologies (induction and resistive are common, and there also exists infrared heating, microwave heating, etc) to generate a heated temperature profile for aerosolization of the consumable. The cylindrical consumable geometry, however, may result in non-uniform heat distribution along the radial direction of its cross section. This, in turn, may negatively influence the aerosol quality provided by these devices and may also lead to non-uniform and incomplete depletion of the aerosol-forming article, i.e. a waste of substrate.

[0016] It may therefore be desirable to provide for an improved aerosol-forming device and system, which overcomes or at least mitigates the drawbacks of conventional systems, for example which allows for safe insertion of an aerosol-forming article into and / or removal from an aerosol-forming device. For example, it may be desirable to provide for an improved aerosol-forming device using an improved aerosol-forming article, ensuring a more uniform heat distribution in the aerosolforming article and improving aerosol quality and user experience. FTR3854

[0017] 4 / 27

[0018] These advantages may be achieved by the features described herein.

[0019] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-forming device comprising: a heating device configured to heat an aerosol-forming article, for example a rectangular parallelepiped aerosol-forming article, a heating chamber having a heater structure, the heating chamber configured to contain the aerosol-forming article during heating by the heating device, and a tray including a tray receptacle configured to receive the aerosol-forming article, wherein the heater structure is configured to heat at least one of two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article, for example the rectangular parallelepiped aerosol-forming article, wherein the tray is slidable between a loading position and a usage position, wherein, in the loading position, the tray receptacle is accessible from an outside environment for loading the aerosol-forming article into the tray receptacle, and wherein in the usage position, the tray receptacle is displaced from the loading position and forms at least part of the heating chamber. For example, the heater structure may be configured such that an inner surface of the heating chamber has two opposing surfaces, wherein each of the two opposing surfaces includes a part of the heating device and is configured to heat a substantially flat surface, i.e. one of the opposing main surfaces, of the aerosol-forming article.

[0020] In particular, the aerosol-forming device according to the present disclosure may be configured for use with substantially flat or planar, for example plate-shaped or cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped, for example rectangular parallelepiped-shaped, aerosol-forming articles. Thus, the tray and / or the tray receptacle may also be configured for use with and / or to receive aerosol-forming articles of these shapes. In such flat aerosol-forming articles, the heat distribution during heating may be more homogeneous than in conventional cylindrical sticks. Also, handling of substantially flat aerosol-forming articles may be easier. As flat aerosol-forming articles are not rotationally symmetric, their positioning and orientation inside the device, for example inside the heating chamber, may be more closely controlled through the insertion process, improving heating and aerosol quality.

[0021] The heating chamber and the heating device of the aerosol-forming device may also be configured for use with an aerosol-forming article in a shape as previously described. For example, the tray receptacle and / or the heating chamber may be configured to receive an aerosolforming article having two substantially flat opposing main surfaces and / or having a cuboid or parallelepiped shape, for example a cuboid or parallelepiped shape with rounded corners. Therefore, for example, the heating chamber may provide an interior space in a shape corresponding to the aerosol-forming article. The interior space of the heating chamber may be configured to at least partly receive the aerosol-forming article. The interior space of the heating chamber may, for example, also be substantially flat or planar, for example plate-shaped or cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped. FTR3854

[0022] 5 / 27

[0023] The substantially flat or planar aerosol-forming article may have two opposing main surfaces. The main surfaces may be the two surfaces together making up the majority of the total surface of the aerosol-forming article. Therefore, the two opposing surfaces or two opposing main surfaces may make up more than half of the total surface area of the aerosol-forming article. They may extend in a length and a width direction of the aerosol-forming article and may be distanced from each other in a thickness direction of the aerosol-forming article. The distance of the two main surfaces may therefore correspond to the thickness of the aerosol-forming article. The two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article may be substantially flat or flat.

[0024] The heating chamber and the heating device may be configured to heat at least one or both of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article. The heating chamber and the heating device may therefore be configured and / or arranged such that when the aerosol-forming article is inserted into the heating chamber, the heating device contacts at least one or both of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article. To achieve this, the heating device and / or the heating chamber may have a heater structure adapted or configured to heat the aerosol-forming article. For example, the heating device or the heater structure may comprise a first heating element configured to contact a first main surface of the aerosol-forming article arranged in the heating chamber. The heating device or the heater structure may further comprise a second heating element configured to contact a second main surface of the aerosol-forming article arranged in the heating chamber.

[0025] The heater structure may make up, constitute and / or be configured as two opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber as mentioned above, and may be configured to correspond to and / or be in contact with the two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article in the heating chamber. In other words, the two opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber as mentioned above may be the two main surfaces of the heating chamber, together making up a majority of the total inner surface of the heating chamber. Therefore, the heater structure and / or the two opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber and / or the heating elements may make up more than half of a total surface area of the inner surface of the heating chamber. They may be parallel to each other and / or mirror images of each other, constituting two opposing inner boundaries of the clearance provided for the insertion of the aerosol-forming article. For example, the two opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber may each comprise one of the first and second heating elements. The heating elements may therefore also be substantially flat or planar to facilitate contact between the heating elements and the aerosol-forming article.

[0026] The tray may be configured to transport the aerosol-forming article into the heating chamber by its movement from the loading position into the usage position. Particularly, the tray may be configured to transport the aerosol-forming article into a position inside the heating chamber, for FTR3854

[0027] 6 / 27 example between the heater structure, in which the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article are in contact with the heating elements arranged on the two opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber, i.e. with the main surfaces of the heating chamber. The aerosolforming article can be fluidically connected to an upstream and / or downstream connection member, upon bringing the device into a closed position. In other words, the movement of the tray from the loading position into the usage position may lead to a fluidic connection of the aerosol-forming article to an upstream and / or downstream connection member. The fluidic connection may be a sealed or substantially sealed connection, for example an airtight or substantially airtight or aerosol-tight or substantially aerosol-tight connection. For example, the upstream and / or downstream connection member may comprise a blade structure configured to at least partially penetrate into the aerosol-forming article and / or the airflow channel inside the aerosol-forming article. The upstream and / or downstream connection member may therefore be configured to provide the aerosol-forming article with airflow and / or to guide aerosol from the aerosol-forming article, for example to a mouthpiece of the device. Therefore, after the tray is moved into the usage position along with the aerosol-forming article, the aerosol-forming article may be heated to generate or form aerosol for consumption by the user.

[0028] The aerosol-forming device according to the present disclosure may comprise two elements or parts which may be movable with respect to each other. The first part may be a device body, for example comprising an outer casing as well as the heating chamber with the heating device. The device body may also comprise the energy storage or battery of the aerosol-forming device and / or any control circuitry or controller. The first part may therefore be the main part of the aerosol-forming device comprising a majority of the components of the device. The second part may comprise the tray comprising the tray receptacle and a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may be arranged on and / or fixed to the tray and may be movable along with the tray between the usage position and the loading position. For example, in the usage position, the tray may be completely displaced into the device body, i.e. the first part, and may be inaccessible from the outside of the device. The mouthpiece may act as a cover or lid and may close off the interior of the device body, for example the heating chamber, and / or the tray from the outside environment. When the device is in the usage position, the user may displace the mouthpiece, either by pulling on the mouthpiece or using an actuator as described in more detail below, thereby pulling or moving or sliding the mouthpiece away from the device body. By this movement, the tray may be pulled from the heating chamber and from the inside of the device body until the tray is in the loading position. In the loading position, the tray and also the tray receptacle may be accessible for a user, for example for inserting an aerosol-forming article into the receptacle. With the article inserted into the tray receptacle, the tray and the mouthpiece may then be displaced from the loading position FTR3854

[0029] 7 / 27 into the usage position, thereby closing the aerosol-forming device. The user may then activate the aerosol-forming device to generate aerosol from the aerosol-forming article.

[0030] In general, the movement of the tray between the loading position and the usage position may take any suitable form. For example, the tray may be hinged to the device body and may be swiveled and / or rotated around the hinge, thereby moving between the loading position and the usage position. As another example, the tray and the device body may each comprise a thread or worm configured to mesh with each other, enabling the tray to be screwed into the device body to reach the usage position and out of the device body to reach the loading position. Alternatively, the tray may be linearly slidable between the loading position and the usage position, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device. Alternatively, however, the tray may be linearly slidable between the loading position and the usage position along a direction that is perpendicular, for example orthogonal, to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device. A linearly slidable motion of the tray and the mouthpiece in relation to the device body may be both easily implementable and robust. The device body may comprise a linear guide, for example a linear guiding rail, which may be shaped correspondingly to the tray and which may be configured to guide the tray’s motion between the loading position and the usage position.

[0031] In the usage position, the tray and the mouthpiece or the tray alone may close the heating chamber to the outside environment except for an airflow path including an air inlet into the heating chamber and an aerosol outlet from the heating chamber. Therefore, that the tray and / or the tray receptacle forms at least part of the heating chamber may mean that the tray and / or the tray receptacle may, in the usage position, constitute part of the boundary and / or the inner surface of the heating chamber. The tray may therefore shield the aerosol-forming article in the heating chamber from the outside environment. On the one hand, this may prevent heat from escaping the heating chamber. On the other hand, this may prevent air from entering the heating chamber through other ways that the airflow path provided through the heating chamber and through the airflow channel in the aerosol-forming article.

[0032] The heating device and / or heater structure may be a resistive heater configured to heat at least one of the two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article and / or the opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber. Additionally or alternatively, the heating device may be an inductive heater configured to heat at least one susceptor element inside the aerosol-forming article or at least one susceptor element arranged inside the heating chamber and outside of the aerosol-forming article. Additionally or alternatively, the heating device may be a dielectric heater including two opposing electrode plates arranged inside the heating chamber forming a load capacitor of an oscillation circuit. Therefore, the two heating elements mentioned above may comprise or be configured as resistive heating elements or as inductive heating elements or as dielectric heating elements. In the case that the heating device is a resistive or a FTR3854

[0033] 8 / 27 dielectric heater, no further preparations of the aerosol-forming article are necessary. In the case that the heating device is an inductive heater, the aerosol-forming article may comprise a susceptor element, for example one or more metal strips.

[0034] The tray may be shaped and / or be configured to cooperate with the heating chamber and the heating device for heating the aerosol-forming article. This may mean that the tray is configured to position the aerosol-forming article in the usage position such that optimal heating by the heating device is facilitated. For example, the tray and / or the tray receptacle may be configured to expose two substantially flat opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure, for example to the two opposing surfaces of the heating chamber. In other words, the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article and the heater structure and / or the main surfaces of the heating chamber are brought into close proximity in the usage position. To achieve this, the tray receptacle may include at least one opening exposing at least one of two substantially flat main opposing surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure and / or to one of the two opposing surfaces of the heating chamber. The tray receptacle may include two openings, each opening exposing one of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure and / or one of the main surfaces of the heating chamber. The tray may even be configured to bring the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article and the heater structure and / or the main surfaces of the heating chamber into contact with each other in the usage position.

[0035] That the tray receptacle may include openings may mean that the tray receptacle may be configured to contact the aerosol-forming article only at the edges or edge portions of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article. The aerosol-forming article may comprise a frame made from a structural material, for example a fibrous material like cardboard, which does not contain the aerosol-forming substrate. The frame may be configured to provide structural integrity for the aerosol-forming article and may be arranged at the edges or edge portions of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article. Therefore, when the tray receptacle only contacts the aerosolforming article at the edges or edge portions, i.e. only contacts the aerosol-forming article at the frame, the central portion of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article are free of the tray receptacle and may therefore be presented to or brought into proximity or into contact with the main surfaces of the heating chamber and / or the heating device. In summary, therefore, the tray receptacle and / or the tray may be shaped and / or configured to only contact the aerosol-forming article at the frame, i.e. in a region free of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0036] The heater structure may be completely arranged on the device body, and not on the tray. For example, the tray may be free of the heater structure. In other words, the heater structure may be exclusively arranged outside of or away from the tray. In this way, the heater structure, particularly all parts of the heater structure, is / are stationary when the tray is moved between the FTR3854

[0037] 9 / 27 loading position and the usage position. Any parts of the heating structure, particularly actively heated parts, like heating elements, may therefore be arranged outside of the tray. No part of the heater structure may be moveable when the tray is moved between the loading position and the usage position. As no part of the heater structure may be arranged on the tray, there is no need for electrical connections or other complex arrangements allowing for at least partial movement of the heater structure. Only the tray may be moveable, which simplifies the design and lowers costs. Simultaneously, for example by the tray receptacle presenting both main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure to be heated through the openings, efficient heating is achieved, despite the low complexity of the design.

[0038] As already mentioned, the heater structure and / or the main surfaces of the heating chamber are shaped in correspondence with at least one of the main surfaces, particularly substantially flat opposite main sides or surfaces, of the aerosol-forming article to ensure optimal heating. For example, each of the two opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber may be shaped in correspondence with one of the two substantially flat opposite sides or surfaces of the aerosol-forming article. In particular, each of the two opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber, i.e. the main surfaces, may be substantially flat. As the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article are also substantially flat, optimal proximity or even contact for heating may be ensured.

[0039] In the usage position, the tray receptacle may form a part of the inner surface of the heating chamber arranged between the heater structure, i.e. the two opposing surfaces of the heating chamber, i.e. between the two main surfaces of the heating chamber and / or the heating elements. In other words, the tray receptacle may form a part of the inner surface of the heating chamber arranged perpendicularly to the two opposing surfaces of the heating chamber, i.e. the two main surfaces of the heating chamber. In this way, the heating chamber may be closed to or closed off from the outside environment, except for the airflow path through the heating chamber and the aerosol-forming article. This closure or sealing of the heating chamber to the outside environment may therefore partly be achieved by the tray and / or the mouthpiece attached to the tray. In particular, the tray and / or the mouthpiece may close the heating chamber on one or more of the narrow sides of the heating chamber, which span between the main surfaces of the heating chamber.

[0040] In general, the tray receptacle may have any form or shape which may, on the one hand, enable the aerosol-forming article to be received and / or held in the tray receptacle and which may, on the other hand, simultaneously allow heating of the aerosol-forming article by the heating device when the tray along with the tray receptacle and the aerosol-forming article is in the usage position. For example, it may be provided that the tray receptacle includes a receptacle groove configured to at least partly receive the aerosol-forming article. The receptacle groove may be FTR3854

[0041] 10 / 27 particularly configured to receive only a part of the aerosol-forming article, particularly the frame or at least a part of the frame of the aerosol-forming article. In other words, the receptacle groove may be configured to receive the edges or edge portions of the main surfaces of the aerosolforming article. In particular, the receptacle groove may be configured to receive at least part of at least one or at least two or at least three of the narrow sides of the aerosol-forming article, particularly along with the edges or edge portions of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article. The receptacle groove may be configured to receive at least part of a maximum of three or a maximum of two or a maximum of one of the narrow sides of the aerosol-forming article. By keeping at least one of the narrow sides of the aerosol-forming article free of the receptacle groove, easy insertion of the aerosol-forming article into the receptacle groove by a user is facilitated. When the receptacle groove is configured to receive at least part of two narrow sides of the aerosol-forming article, it may be configured in an L-shape. When the receptacle groove is configured to receive at least part of three narrow sides of the aerosol-forming article, it may be configured in a U-shape. In particular, the receptacle groove may be configured as one continuous groove into which the perimeter or edge of the aerosol-forming article may be inserted.

[0042] When the receptacle groove is configured to receive at least part of three narrow sides of the aerosol-forming article, after inserting the aerosol-forming article into the receptacle groove, the aerosol-forming article may only be moved in the reverse direction of the insertion direction of the aerosol-forming article into the receptacle groove. In other words, the receptacle groove may prevent movement of the aerosol-forming article in all directions except an insertion direction. The insertion direction may, for example, be transverse to the longitudinal direction of the aerosolforming device.

[0043] To further improve the ease of loading an aerosol-forming article into the tray receptacle and to further increase the optimal positioning and orientation of the aerosol-forming article in the heating chamber, the tray receptacle may comprise a fastening device configured to fasten the aerosol-forming article in the tray receptacle. The fastening device may be configured to fasten or fix or hold the aerosol-forming article in the optimal position in the tray receptacle so that the transport of the aerosol-forming article from the loading position into the usage position in the heating chamber is facilitated. For example, the fastening device may comprise a chamfer or bevel, the tray receptacle being narrower the farther the aerosol-forming article is pushed into the tray receptacle, thereby fastening the aerosol-forming article by pinching it in the chamfer or bevel. Additionally or alternatively, the fastening device may comprise a clamp configured to hold the aerosol-forming article in place by clamping it either between two parts of the clamp or by clamping it against a side wall of the tray receptacle. Additionally or alternatively, the fastening device may comprise a penetrating element, for example a needle or a nail, which may be configured to penetrate at least partly into the aerosol-forming article. For example, the FTR3854

[0044] 11 / 27 penetrating element may be configured to penetrate into the frame of the aerosol-forming article, particularly without penetrating the substrate chamber and / or the substrate.

[0045] In principle, the movement of the tray between the loading position and the usage position may be actuated by the user pushing and pulling on the mouthpiece connected to the tray. However, alternatively, the aerosol-forming device may comprise an actuator movably arranged on the aerosol-forming device, particularly on the device body, the actuator being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the movement of the tray between the loading position and the usage position is actuatable by the movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position. For example, the actuator may comprise or may be a knob or sliding button arranged on the outside of the device body. The actuator may be connected to the tray such that a movement of the actuator directly results in the movement of the tray with respect to the device body.

[0046] For example, the actuator may be linearly movable, for example slidable, between the first position and the second position along or perpendicular to or orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device. For this purpose, the device body may comprise an actuator guide configured to guide and / or limit the movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position. The actuator guide may, for example, comprise or be configured as a guide rail or groove along which the actuator may be moved. The movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position may be parallel to the movement of the tray between the loading position and the usage position. However, other solutions are possible. For example, the movement of the actuator may be translated into a movement of the tray which is angled, for example perpendicular to or orthogonal to the movement of the actuator.

[0047] As already mentioned, the aerosol-forming device may also comprise a mouthpiece configured to deliver aerosol to the mouth of a user. The mouthpiece may be arranged on the tray and / or may be movable along with the tray between the loading position and the usage position. The mouthpiece may also be used to at least partly close off the heating chamber from the outside environment when the tray is in the usage position. To increase longevity and hygiene of the aerosol-forming device, the mouthpiece may be configured to be replaceable and may be removably fastened to the tray. Therefore, the mouthpiece may be dismounted from the tray and the aerosol-forming device by a user, in particular without the use of a tool of any kind. The mouthpiece may therefore be replaced with a new mouthpiece whenever the user deems such a replacement necessary. The tray may therefore comprise a mounting structure for the mouthpiece, wherein the mounting structure is configured to place and orient the mouthpiece in the correct position and orientation on the tray when a new mouthpiece is received in the mounting structure. FTR3854

[0048] 12 / 27

[0049] The aerosol-forming device according to the present disclosure may further comprise an aerosol-forming article. The aerosol-forming device may be configured to generate aerosol based on heating at least a part of the aerosol-forming article. The aerosol-forming article comprised by the aerosol-forming device may be any of the aerosol-forming articles as mentioned herein.

[0050] The present disclosure also pertains to an aerosol-forming system, the system including at least one aerosol-forming device as described herein and a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-forming device with electrical energy. All of the features, functions and advantages described for the aerosol-forming device are also applicable to the aerosol-forming system and vice versa.

[0051] Further, the present disclosure also pertains to a method of loading an aerosol-forming article into a heating chamber of an aerosol-forming device and / or of heating an aerosol-forming article in an aerosol-forming device, for example an aerosol-forming device according to the present disclosure, the method including: loading the aerosol-forming article into a tray receptacle of a tray; moving the tray from a loading position into a usage position, wherein the tray in the usage position forms at least a part of a heating chamber configured to contain the aerosolforming article during heating by a heating device; and heating, by the heating device, at least two substantially flat opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article via a heater structure of the heating chamber, for example comprising at least two opposing surfaces of an inner surface of the heating chamber, to produce aerosol for consumption by a user. All of the features, functions and advantages described for the aerosol-forming device and / or the aerosol-forming system are also applicable to the method and vice versa.

[0052] The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

[0053] Example 1 . An aerosol-forming device comprising: a heating device configured to heat an aerosol-forming article, for example a rectangular parallelepiped aerosol-forming article, a heating chamber having a heater structure, the heating chamber configured to contain the aerosol-forming article during heating by the heating device, and a tray including a tray receptacle configured to receive the aerosol-forming article, wherein the heater structure is configured to heat at least one of two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article, for example the rectangular parallelepiped aerosol-forming article, preferably wherein the tray receptacle includes two openings, each opening exposing one of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure, wherein the tray is slidable between a loading position and a usage position, FTR3854

[0054] 13 / 27 wherein, in the loading position, the tray receptacle is accessible from an outside environment for loading the aerosol-forming article into the tray receptacle, and wherein in the usage position, the tray receptacle is displaced from the loading position and forms at least part of the heating chamber.

[0055] Example 2. The aerosol-forming device according to Example 1 , wherein the tray is linearly slidable between the loading position and the usage position along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device, or wherein the tray is linearly slidable between the loading position and the usage position along a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device.

[0056] Example 3. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein, in the usage position, the tray closes the heating chamber to the outside environment except for an airflow path including an air inlet into the heating chamber and an aerosol outlet from the heating chamber.

[0057] Example 4. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the heating device is a resistive heater configured to heat at least one of the two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article; or wherein the heating device is an inductive heater configured to heat at least one susceptor element inside the aerosol-forming article or at least one susceptor element arranged inside the heating chamber and outside of the aerosol-forming article; or wherein the heating device is a dielectric heater including two opposing electrode plates arranged inside the heating chamber forming a load capacitor of an oscillation circuit.

[0058] Example 5. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the tray receptacle is configured to expose two substantially flat opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure, preferably wherein the tray receptacle includes at least one opening exposing at least one of two substantially flat opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure.

[0059] Example 5a. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the tray receptacle is configured to contact the aerosol-forming article only at the edges or edge portions of the two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article.

[0060] Example 5b. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the tray is free of the heater structure and / or wherein the heater structure is FTR3854

[0061] 14 / 27 exclusively arranged outside of or away from the tray and / or wherein the heater structure, particularly all parts of the heater structure, is stationary when the tray is moved between the loading position and the usage position.

[0062] Example 6. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the heater structure is shaped in correspondence with at least one of the two substantially flat opposite main sides or surfaces of the aerosol-forming article, preferably wherein the heater structure comprises two opposing surfaces of an inner surface of the heating chamber, and preferably wherein each of the opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber is substantially flat.

[0063] Example 7. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the heater structure makes up more than half of a total surface area of an inner surface of the heating chamber; and / or wherein the tray receptacle and / or the heating chamber is configured to receive an aerosolforming article having two substantially flat opposing main surfaces, wherein the two opposing main surfaces make up more than half of a total surface area of the aerosol-forming article.

[0064] Example 8. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein, in the usage position, the tray receptacle forms a part of an inner surface of the heating chamber arranged between the heater structure.

[0065] Example 9. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the tray receptacle and / or the heating chamber is configured to receive an aerosol-forming article having a cuboid or parallelepiped shape, for example a cuboid or parallelepiped shape with rounded corners.

[0066] Example 10. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein the tray receptacle includes a receptacle groove configured to receive the aerosol-forming article.

[0067] Example 11. The aerosol-forming device according to the previous Example, wherein the receptacle groove prevents movement of the aerosol-forming article in all directions except an insertion direction, for example an insertion direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device.

[0068] Example 12. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, wherein FTR3854

[0069] 15 / 27 the tray receptacle comprises a fastening device configured to fasten the aerosol-forming article in the tray receptacle.

[0070] Example 13. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, including an actuator movably arranged on the aerosol-forming device, the actuator being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the movement of the tray between the loading position and the usage position is actuatable by the movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position.

[0071] Example 14. The aerosol-forming device according to the previous Example, wherein the actuator is linearly movable between the first position and the second position along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device.

[0072] Example 15. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, further comprising a mouthpiece configured to deliver aerosol to the mouth of a user, preferably wherein the mouthpiece is arranged on the tray and / or is movable along with the tray between the loading position and the usage position.

[0073] Example 16. The aerosol-forming device according to the previous Example, wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be replaceable and is removably fastened to the tray.

[0074] Example 17. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous Examples, further comprising an aerosol-forming article, preferably wherein the aerosol-forming device is configured to generate aerosol based on heating at least a part of the aerosol-forming article.

[0075] Example 18. An aerosol-forming system, the system including at least one aerosolforming device according to any one of the previous Examples and a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-forming device with electrical energy.

[0076] Example 19. A method of heating an aerosol-forming article in an aerosol-forming device, for example an aerosol-forming device according to any one of Examples 1-17, the method including: loading the aerosol-forming article into a tray receptacle of a tray; moving the tray from a loading position into a usage position, wherein the tray in the usage position forms at least a part of a heating chamber configured to contain the aerosol-forming article during heating by a heating device; and heating, by the heating device, at least two substantially flat opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article via a heater structure in the heating chamber to produce aerosol for consumption by a user.

[0077] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which: FTR3854

[0078] 16 / 27

[0079] Figure 1 shows an overview of an aerosol-forming system;

[0080] Figure 2 shows several views of an aerosol-forming article;

[0081] Figure 3 shows another overview of an aerosol-forming system with several different perspectives of the aerosol-forming device;

[0082] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the aerosol-forming device in the loading position;

[0083] Figure 5a shows another perspective view of the aerosol-forming device in the loading position;

[0084] Figure 5b shows a perspective view of another embodiment, where the insertion direction of the tray is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-forming device;

[0085] Figure 6 shows an aerosol-forming article and a heating chamber before insertion of the article into the chamber;

[0086] Figure 7 shows an aerosol-forming article and a heating chamber after insertion of the article into the chamber; and

[0087] Figure 8 shows a flow chart of the method of loading an aerosol-forming article into a heating chamber of an aerosol-forming device and / or of heating an aerosol-forming article in an aerosolforming device.

[0088] Figure 1 shows an aerosol-forming system 4 for generating aerosol, for example for consumption or inhalation by a user in one or more usage sessions. The system 4 may comprise at least one of an aerosol-forming device 1 or aerosol-generating device 1 for generating aerosol and a companion device 3 for at least partially receiving the aerosol-forming device 1. The companion device 3 may be a charging device for charging the aerosol-forming device 1 and / or an energy storage 15 or battery thereof.

[0089] The aerosol-forming device 1 may comprise an insertion opening for at least partially inserting an aerosol-forming article or aerosol-generating article, which is explained in more detail below. The aerosol-forming article may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco containing substrate and / or other active ingredient, and / or a cartridge comprising a liquid, for example a liquid that can be aerosolized for inhalation. The aerosol may be inhaled by a user using a mouthpiece 8. The aerosol may contain nicotine.

[0090] The aerosol-forming device 1 may further include processing circuitry or control circuitry with at least one controller 5 and one or more processors 17. For generating the aerosol during use or consumption of the aerosol-forming article, the aerosol-forming device 1 may comprise a heating device 25. The heating device 25 may comprise at least one heating element 6, 7 (see Figures 6 and 7) or heater device for applying heat to at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate and / or at least a part of the aerosol-forming article. Instead of the heating element 6, 7, a non-heat or non-thermal aerosolization device can be used, for example an ultrasonic device (not shown) may be used to generate aerosol from the aerosol-forming article. The processing FTR3854

[0091] 17 / 27 circuitry and / or the controller 5 and / or the processor 17 may be configured to control actuation, activation and / or deactivation of at least one heating element 6, 7 or non-thermal aerosolization device. In the following, the heating elements 6, 7 will be described with a focus on resistive heating elements 6, 7, also referred to herein as Joule-type heating elements. However, the heater does not necessarily have to be a resistive / Joule-type heater. Thus, the heating elements 6, 7 may alternatively also be configured as inductive heaters, radiation-based heaters such as infrared heaters, as well as microwave or dielectric heaters. For example, heating elements 6, 7 may be dielectric heaters, where opposing electrodes of a load capacitor supplied with an oscillating voltage are spring-loaded or movable to create a firm contact with opposing surfaces of the aerosol-forming article 20 (see Figure 2), with the substrate 23 located between the electrodes. It is possible that the two heating elements 6, 7 may be acting as external susceptors to the substrate that are heated by one or more coils wound around the two heating elements 6, 7 supplied with an AC voltage. The coil axis may coincide with the insertion axis for the aerosolforming article 20 into the heating chamber 27. As another variant, heater elements 6, 7 may be dielectric heating plates of a load capacitor, that can be subjected to an RF voltage feed. The features described for the resistive heating elements 6, 7 herein are also applicable to these alternatives.

[0092] For powering the at least one heating element 6, 7 with electrical power, the aerosol-forming device 1 may further comprise the at least one energy storage 15, for example in the form of a removable and / or rechargeable battery, for storing electrical energy or power. Both the aerosolforming device 1 and the companion device 3 may each comprise an energy storage 15 and the energy storage 15 may be electrically coupled to the respective device 1 , 3. In particular, energy storage 15 may be removably couplable to the aerosol-forming device 1 and / or the companion device 3. In other words, energy storage 15 may be a replaceable energy storage or battery. The connection between the energy storage 15 and the devices 1 , 3 may be configured so that the devices 1 , 3 may be run by electrical energy provided by the energy storage 15. Additionally, the connection between the energy storage 15 and the aerosol-forming device 1 and / or the companion device 3 may be configured so that data may be transmitted between the processing circuitries of the aerosol-forming device 1 and / or the companion device 3 and the energy storage 15.

[0093] The aerosol-forming device 1 may further comprise at least one electrical connector 12 for coupling to a corresponding at least one electrical connector 13 of the companion device 3 and / or an electrical connector of an external power supply (not shown), e.g., a USB connector with a USB charger. For example, when the aerosol-forming device 1 is at least partially inserted into the opening 14 of the companion device 3, the one or more electrical connectors 12 of the aerosolforming device 1 may be coupled with the one or more electrical connectors 13 of the companion FTR3854

[0094] 18 / 27 device 3 to charge the at least one energy storage 15 of the aerosol-forming device 1. The charging can also be performed wirelessly.

[0095] The aerosol-forming device 1 may further comprise a communications arrangement 9 or communication circuitry 9 with one or more communications interfaces 10 for communicatively coupling the aerosol-forming device 1 with the companion device 3 or other devices, for example, via an Internet connection, a wireless LAN connection, a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile phone network, a mobile data connection for example but not limited to a 3G / 4G / 5G connection, an edge connection, an LTE connection, a BUS connection, a wireless connection, a wired connection, an optical data connection such as but not limited to IrDa, a radio connection, a near field connection, and / or an loT connection.

[0096] The aerosol-forming device 1 may further comprise a data storage 11 or memory for storing information, program code or data. Data storage 11 may also store collected values of sensors and / or one or more mathematical functions or formulas, software and computer instructions that can be executed by the processing circuitry, particularly controller 5 and / or processor 17. One or more sensors 16 may be arranged on, at or in the aerosol-forming device 1 or the companion device 3 to collect data. One or more of the sensors 16 may for example be temperature sensors, strain sensors, accelerometers or any other suitable sensors.

[0097] The aerosol-forming device 1 may further comprise user interface components, for example comprising an input element or input device 19, for example in the form of a pushbutton or a capacitive button. The input device 19 may be used as a power button to activate or deactivate the heating element 6, 7 or ultrasonic device for aerosol generation thereby to activate or deactivate the aerosol-forming device 1. Upon activation of the aerosol-forming device 1 , the heating element 6, 7 may be activated and heat may be applied to at least a part of the aerosolforming article, such that aerosol can be generated for consumption or inhalation by the user, for example in a usage session. The aerosol generating device 1 and / or the companion device 3 may each comprise one or more output elements, such as a display device 18 and / or one or more LEDs, for outputting a signal and / or displaying information to a user, for example a user interface such as a GUI, or haptic and acoustic data output devices. The display device 18 may be, for example, a touchscreen and may therefore be configured as both an output and an input element.

[0098] Figure 2 shows three different views of an aerosol-forming article 20, or consumable, which may be used with the aerosol-forming device 1. In the top left, an end view is shown. Bottom left shows a perspective view, and the right side of the figure shows a side view of the aerosol-forming article 20. In contrast to conventional consumables, which may be, for example, stick or rodshaped, aerosol-forming article 20 may have a flat or planar shape. It may, for example, have the basic shape of a rectangle, optionally with rounded corners. For instance, the aerosol-forming article 20 may be a cuboid or parallelepiped, optionally with rounded corners. It may have a length FTR3854

[0099] 19 / 27

[0100] L which is greater than its width W, which is in turn greater than its thickness T. For example, the length L of the aerosol-forming article 20 may be from 20 mm to 40 mm, for example from 25 mm to 35 mm. In a non-limiting example, the length L of the aerosol-forming article 20 may be 30 mm. The width W of the aerosol-forming article 20 may be from 7 mm to 15 mm, for example from 9 mm to 13 mm. In a non-limiting example, the width W of the aerosol-forming article 20 may be 11 mm. The thickness T of the aerosol-forming article 20 may be from 1 mm to 10 mm, for example 2 mm to 5 mm, for example from 2.5 mm to 4 mm. In a non-limiting example, the thickness T of the aerosol-forming article 20 may be 3.1 mm.

[0101] The aerosol-forming article 20 may comprise a frame 21 and an aerosol-forming substrate 23, which may be arranged in a centre section of the article 20. The centre section of the article 20 may also be referred to as central section or middle section or substrate chamber of the article 20. The frame may comprise or be made of a cellulose fibre material, for example a cardboard material. The frame may define the circumference or perimeter of the aerosol-forming article 20 along the edges and / or corners. The two opposite side surfaces making up the majority of the surface of the aerosol-forming article 20 may also be referred to as the main surfaces or main sides of the aerosol-forming article 20. They may comprise or be made of or be covered by a cover sheet 26, which may comprise paper-based material, for example rolling paper, which may be fixed to the frame and, together with the frame, may define the substrate chamber, which may be filled with any type of aerosol-forming substrate or capsule mentioned herein, or a combination of one or more substrates and a capsule. The part of the two main surfaces covering the substrate chamber and therefore the substrate 23 may be smaller than the total main surfaces, thereby leaving a border or border area of the two main surfaces where the frame 21 may be arranged. In this area, therefore, the aerosol-forming article 20 may be contacted by the tray 28, for example the tray receptacle 29, without blocking or obscuring heating of the substrate chamber and / or the substrate 23. The aerosol-forming article 20 may also comprise an airflow channel 24 through the frame 21 and the substrate 23 in the substrate chamber.

[0102] Figure 3 shows additional perspective views of an aerosol-forming system 4 according to the present disclosure. The top of Figure 3 shows a companion device 3, whereas the bottom shows three different side views of an aerosol-forming device 1 , each view rotated by 90° around the longitudinal axis S or longitudinal direction S of the aerosol-forming device 1. The outer contour of the aerosol-forming device 1 is mainly constituted by the device body 22 and the mouthpiece 8. Further features of the outer contour may be the input device 19 and the display device 18, which may be implemented as a touchscreen having both input and display functions. The aerosol-forming device 1 may further comprise an actuator 31 , for example a sliding button or a sliding knob, which may be removably arranged in an actuator guide 32, for example a rail or a groove configured to guide and / or limit the movement of the actuator 31 . The actuator 31 FTR3854

[0103] 20 / 27 may be moved along the guide 32 from a first position into a second position. In Figure 3, the actuator 31 is in the second position and the mouthpiece 8 along with the tray is in the usage position, i.e. the aerosol-forming device 1 is closed.

[0104] Figure 4 shows the aerosol-forming device 1 after a user has moved the actuator 31 along the guide 32 from the second position to the first position. The actuator 31 may be connected or coupled to the tray 28, which in turn may be connected to the mouthpiece 8. The tray 28 and the mouthpiece 8 may be movably coupled to the device body 22 so that the movement of the actuator 31 from the second position to the first position may result in a movement of the tray 28 along with the mouthpiece 8 from the usage position shown in Figure 3 to the loading position shown in Figures 4 and 5. The movement of the actuator 31 from the second position to the first position as well as the movement of the tray 28 from the usage position to the loading position may be directed parallel to the longitudinal direction S of the aerosol-forming device 1 as shown by arrow I. Device body 22 may comprise further guide means for guiding the movement of the tray 28. Device body 22 may also comprise a receiving space for the tray 28 in the usage position. Part of the receiving space for the tray 28 in the usage position may be provided by the heating chamber.

[0105] Figures 5a and 5b show the aerosol-forming device 1 in the loading position, i.e. the opened aerosol-forming device 1 , from another perspective. Figure 5a shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the aerosol-forming device 1 held in a user’s hand, while Figure 5b shows a side view (top of Figure 5b) and a top view (bottom of Figure 5b) of an embodiment of the aerosolforming device 1 . In the top view of Figure 5b, the arrangement of the heater structure comprising the heating elements 6, 7 between which the aerosol-forming article 20 may be moved by the tray 28 is shown. The tray 28 may comprise a tray receptacle 29 configured to receive an aerosolforming article 20. When the tray 28 is in the loading position as shown in Figures 4 and 5a, a user may insert the aerosol-forming article 20 into the tray receptacle 29 in an insertion direction perpendicular or orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-forming device 1 , as shown by arrow II. When the tray 28 is in the loading position as shown in Figure 5b, a user may insert the aerosol-forming article 20 into the tray receptacle 29 in an insertion direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-forming device 1 , as shown by arrow II. While in Figure 5b, the aerosol-forming article 20 may be loaded or inserted into the tray receptacle 29 in a direction towards the mouthpiece 8, the opposite may also be provided, i.e. the aerosol-forming article 20 may be loaded or inserted into the tray receptacle 29 in a direction away from the mouthpiece 8. Particularly, the aerosol-forming article 20 may be inserted into the tray receptacle 29 with one of the longer narrow sides of the aerosol-forming article 20 first. As shown in the Figures, the tray receptacle 29 may comprise a groove in the tray 28 and the aerosol-forming article 20 may be at least partly inserted into the groove. Particularly, the aerosol-forming article 20 may be inserted FTR3854

[0106] 21 / 27 into the tray receptacle 29 such that the frame 28 or at least parts of the frame 28 are arranged inside the groove. A width of the groove relative to the thickness T of the aerosol-forming article 20 can be such that the aerosol-forming article 20 will be held by the tray 28 by a fitted connection, for example a press-fit or an interference-fit. Conversely, the aerosol-forming article 20 may be inserted into the tray receptacle 29 such that the center portion and / or the substrate chamber of the aerosol-forming article 20 protrude from the groove and / or are free of the tray receptacle 29 and / or the tray 28. This facilitates the insertion of the aerosol-forming article 20, as both the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article 20 are accessible for the user and may, for example, be pinched between two fingers while inserting the article into the tray 28. Also, the accessibility of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article 20 facilitate heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 23 by the heating device 25.

[0107] Tray 28 and / or tray receptacle 29 may also comprise a fastening device 30, which may be configured to fasten or fix or hold the aerosol-forming article 20 in the tray receptacle 29. For example, fastening device 30 may be a clamping device, for example comprising a clamp, or clipping device, for example a releasable clip. Fastening device 30 may be arranged at one location along the tray receptacle 29. Alternatively, there may be more than one fastening device 30 arranged along the extension of the tray receptacle 29 on the tray 28. Further alternatively, the fastening device 30 may be arranged along the entire extension of the tray receptacle 29 on the tray 28. In particular, fastening device 30 may be configured to clamp the frame 21 of the aerosolforming article 20, while leaving exposed the parts of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article 20 comprising the substrate chamber.

[0108] After the user has inserted the aerosol-forming article 20 into the tray receptacle 29, the user may then move the actuator 31 from the first position to the second position, thereby moving the tray from the loading position to the usage position. The respective movement may be parallel to the longitudinal axis S of the aerosol-forming device 1 , as shown by arrow III in Figure 5a or may be perpendicular or orthogonal to the longitudinal axis S of the aerosol-forming device 1 , as shown by arrow III in Figure 5b.

[0109] Figures 6 and 7 schematically show the insertion of the aerosol-forming article 20 into the heating chamber 27. Figure 6 shows the situation when tray 28 is in the loading position and the aerosol-forming article 20 is loaded into the tray 28, which is not shown in Figures 6 and 7. Figure 7 shows the situation when tray 28 is in the usage position and the aerosol-forming article 20 is loaded into the heating chamber 27. The heating chamber 27 may comprise the heating device 25, which in turn may comprise a first heating element 6 and a second heating element 7, which may be arranged opposite of each other at opposing main surfaces of the heating chamber 27.

[0110] The heating chamber 27 may be surrounded by an insulating casing 2, which may be configured to thermally isolate heating chamber 27 from the outside environment, for example the FTR3854

[0111] 22 / 27 fingers of a user. To further improve thermal isolation of the heating chamber 27, the heating elements 6, 7 may be distanced from the insulating casing 2 by an isolating gap 33, which may, for example, be filled with air. The heating element 6, 7 may be mounted inside the heating chamber 27 by further elements which may not be heated during heating of the heating element 6, 7.

[0112] Between the two flat heating elements 6, 7, there may be provided a receiving space for the aerosol-forming article 20. The receiving space may be configured in shape and size to correspond to the aerosol-forming article 20. However, as shown in figure 6, the height of the clearance 34, meaning the distance between the two heating elements 6, 7, may be smaller than the thickness T of the aerosol-forming article 20. At least one of the heating elements 6, 7, preferably both, may be elastically deformable or elastically mounted so that, when the aerosolforming article 20 is inserted into the heating chamber 27, the heating elements 6, 7 are pushed to the outside, away from each other, until the clearance 34 between the heating element 6, 7 corresponds to the thickness T of the aerosol-forming article 20. In other words, at least one of the heating elements 6, 7, preferably both, may be elastically biased, for example spring biased, towards each other in a way that results in the distance or clearance 34 between the heating elements 6, 7 being smaller than the thickness T of the aerosol-forming article 20. During the insertion of the aerosol-forming article 20 between the heating elements 6, 7, the latter may be pushed away from each other so that the aerosol-forming article 20 may enter between them. In this way, the heating elements 6, 7 are elastically pushed against the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article 20, ensuring tight contact and optimal heat transfer from the heating element 6, 7 to the substrate 23 of the aerosol-forming article 20.

[0113] This insertion of the aerosol-forming article 20 into the heating chamber 27 may be performed by the tray 28 being moved from the loading position into the usage position. When the tray 28 is moved from the usage position back into the loading position, the aerosol-forming article 20 may be pulled from between the heating element 6, 7 and may be removed from the heating chamber 27. This may cause the heating element 6, 7 to be elastically moved towards each other until the clearance 34 again is smaller than the thickness T of the aerosol-forming article 20.

[0114] Figure 8 shows a flowchart of the method 40 of loading an aerosol-forming article 20 into a heating chamber 27 of an aerosol-forming device 1 and / or of heating an aerosol-forming article 20 in an aerosol-forming device 1 according to the present disclosure. Method 40 may begin in step 41 with loading the aerosol-forming article 20 into the tray receptacle 29 of the tray 28. Of course, to be able to load the aerosol-forming article 20 into the tray receptacle 29, the aerosolforming device 1 has to be in the opened position, i.e. the tray 28 has to be in the loading position. Therefore, method 40 may also comprise a step 44, prior to step 41 , of opening the aerosol- FTR3854

[0115] 23 / 27 forming device 1 , i.e. of moving the tray 28 into the loading position. When the aerosol-forming article 20 is loaded in the tray 28, method 40 may comprise step 42 of moving the tray 28 from the loading position into the usage position, wherein the tray 28 in the usage position forms at least a part of the heating chamber 27 configured to contain the aerosol-forming article 20 during heating by the heating device 25. The aerosol-forming device 1 is then ready for use. The user may initiate a usage session, moving method 42 step 43 of heating, by the heating device 25, at least two opposing substantially flat surfaces of the aerosol-forming article 20 via at least two opposing surfaces of an inner surface of the heating chamber 27 to produce aerosol for consumption by the user. The aerosol produced in this way may flow from the aerosol-forming article 20 in the heating chamber 27 through the mouthpiece 8 to the mouth of the user. After the usage session ends, for example because the aerosol-forming article 20 is depleted, method 40 may comprise step 45 of removing the aerosol-forming article 20 from the aerosol-forming device 1. Step 45 may therefore comprise opening the aerosol-forming device 1 by moving the tray 28 from the usage position to the loading position and then removing the aerosol-forming article 20 from the tray receptacle 29 of the tray 28 by the user. The user may simply pull the aerosolforming article 20 from the tray receptacle 29. The user may then either directly replace aerosolforming article 20 by a new one or close the aerosol-forming device 1 for later use.

[0116] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 10 % of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

FTR385424 / 27CLAIMS1 . An aerosol-forming device comprising: a heating device configured to heat a rectangular parallelepiped aerosol-forming article, a heating chamber having a heater structure, the heating chamber configured to contain the aerosol-forming article during heating by the heating device, and a tray including a tray receptacle configured to receive the aerosol-forming article, wherein the heater structure is configured to heat at least one of two opposing main surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped aerosol-forming article, wherein the tray receptacle includes two openings, each opening exposing one of the main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article to the heater structure, wherein the tray is slidable between a loading position and a usage position, wherein, in the loading position, the tray receptacle is accessible from an outside environment for loading the aerosol-forming article into the tray receptacle, and wherein in the usage position, the tray receptacle is displaced from the loading position and forms at least part of the heating chamber.

2. The aerosol-forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the tray is linearly slidable between the loading position and the usage position along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device, or wherein the tray is linearly slidable between the loading position and the usage position along a direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device.

3. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein, in the usage position, the tray closes the heating chamber to the outside environment except for an airflow path including an air inlet into the heating chamber and an aerosol outlet from the heating chamber.

4. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the heating device is a resistive heater configured to heat at least one of the two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article; or wherein the heating device is an inductive heater configured to heat at least one susceptor element inside the aerosol-forming article or at least one susceptor element arranged inside the heating chamber and outside of the aerosol-forming article; or wherein the heating device is a dielectric heater including two opposing electrode plates arranged inside the heating chamber forming a load capacitor of an oscillation circuit.FTR385425 / 275. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the tray receptacle is configured to contact the aerosol-forming article only at the edges or edge portions of the two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-forming article.

6. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the heater structure is shaped in correspondence with at least one of the two substantially flat opposite main sides or surfaces of the aerosol-forming article, preferably wherein the heater structure comprises two opposing surfaces of an inner surface of the heating chamber, and preferably wherein each of the opposing surfaces of the inner surface of the heating chamber is substantially flat.

7. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the heater structure makes up more than half of a total surface area of an inner surface of the heating chamber; and / or wherein the tray receptacle and / or the heating chamber is configured to receive an aerosol-forming article having two substantially flat opposing main surfaces, wherein the two opposing main surfaces make up more than half of a total surface area of the aerosol-forming article.

8. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein, in the usage position, the tray receptacle forms a part of an inner surface of the heating chamber arranged between the heater structure.

9. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the tray receptacle and / or the heating chamber is configured to receive an aerosol-forming article having a cuboid or parallelepiped shape, for example a cuboid or parallelepiped shape with rounded corners.

10. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the tray receptacle includes a receptacle groove configured to receive the aerosol-forming article, optionally wherein the receptacle groove prevents movement of the aerosol-forming article in all directions except an insertion direction, for example an insertion direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device.11 . The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, whereinFTR385426 / 27 the tray receptacle comprises a fastening device configured to fasten the aerosol-forming article in the tray receptacle.

12. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, including an actuator movably arranged on the aerosol-forming device, the actuator being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the movement of the tray between the loading position and the usage position is actuatable by the movement of the actuator between the first position and the second position, optionally wherein the actuator is linearly movable between the first position and the second position along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-forming device.

13. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising a mouthpiece configured to deliver aerosol to the mouth of a user, preferably wherein the mouthpiece is arranged on the tray and / or is movable along with the tray between the loading position and the usage position, optionally wherein the mouthpiece is configured to be replaceable and is removably fastened to the tray.

14. The aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising an aerosol-forming article, preferably wherein the aerosol-forming device is configured to generate aerosol based on heating at least a part of the aerosol-forming article.

15. An aerosol-forming system, the system including at least one aerosol-forming device according to any one of the previous claims and a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-forming device with electrical energy.

Images