AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM WITH SUBSTRATE ADVANCE

Abstract

An aerosol generating system includes, a body defining a cavity having a cavity opening, an aerosol-forming substrate disposed in the cavity, a heating element disposed proximate to the cavity opening, and a controller configured to detect contact of the aerosol-forming substrate with the heating element.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating system comprising: a body defining a cavity having a cavity opening; an aerosol-forming substrate disposed in the cavity; a heating element disposed proximate to the cavity opening; a controller configured to detect contact of the aerosol-forming substrate with the heating element; and a mechanical advancement mechanism configured to advance the aerosol-forming substrate towards the heating element.

2. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the controller detects a resistance of the heating element.

3. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate is a gel or viscous liquid that volatizes when heated by the heating element.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is a mesh layer disposed across the cavity.

5. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid base disposed within the cavity and being movable only in one direction toward the heating element.

6. The aerosol generating system according to claim 5, further comprising an advancement mechanism configured to advance or move the rigid base toward the heating element.

7. The aerosol generating system according to claim 6, wherein the advancement element comprises a spiral element disposed on the body and rotational movement of a portion of the body moves the rigid base toward the heating element.

8. The aerosol generating system according to claim 7, wherein the rigid base or body comprises a stop element configured to allow rotation of the rotational portion of the body in only one direction.

9. The aerosol generating system according to claim 6, wherein the body forms a cartridge that is received in an aerosol-generating device and the advancement element forms a portion of the cartridge and the heating element forms a portion of the aerosol-generating device.

10. The aerosol generating system according to claim 6, wherein the body forms a cartridge that is received in an aerosol-generating device and the advancement element forms a portion of the aerosol-generating device and the heating element forms a portion of the cartridge.

11. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator configured to activate when the controller detects a resistance threshold value of the heating element, and the visual indicator comprises an indicator light or a graphical user interface or both an indicator light and a graphical user interface.

12. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to move the aerosol-forming substrate toward the heating element when the controller detects a resistance threshold value of the heating element.

13. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-forming substrates comprises nicotine.

14. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, further comprising a power source operably coupled to the controller.

Description

[0057] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawings fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number. In addition, the use of different numbers to refer to components in different figures is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. The figures are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Schematic drawings presented in the figures are not necessarily to scale.

[0058] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of an aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device with the aerosol-generating article of inserted therein.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a spring-loaded aerosol-generating article.

[0060] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a “lip-stick” advance mechanism aerosol-generating article.

[0061] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a stop elements between the body and the rigid base.

[0062] FIG. 5 is schematic sectional view of a ratchet-type stop element.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative aerosol-generating system with automatic advance of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0064] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of another aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating device with the aerosol-generating article of inserted therein

[0065] Referring now to FIG. 1, an aerosol-generating article 500 may be inserted into an aerosol-generating device 600. The aerosol-generating article 500 and the aerosol-generating device 600 together may form an aerosol-generating system 400.

[0066] An aerosol generating system 400 includes a body 512 defining a cavity 510, an aerosol-forming substrate 511 is disposed in the cavity 510 opening 515. A heating element 622 is disposed proximate to the cavity opening 515. A controller 653 is configured to detect contact of the aerosol-forming substrate 511 with the heating element 622.

[0067] The aerosol-generating device 600 shown in FIG. 1 is configured for receiving the aerosol-generating article 500. The aerosol-generating device 600 comprises a housing 601 and a receptacle 610 formed in the housing 601. The receptacle 610 is constructed for receiving the aerosol-generating article 500. The receptacle 610 may be sized and shaped so that when the aerosol-generating article 500 is inserted in the receptacle 610, at least a portion (for example the rotation portion or fixed support 551) of the aerosol-generating article 500 remains outside of the receptacle 610.

[0068] The aerosol-generating device 600 comprises a heating element 622 at the closed end of the receptacle 610. The cavity opening of the aerosol-generating article 500 abuts the heating element 622 when the aerosol-generating article 500 is received into the receptacle 610. The aerosol-forming substrate 511 preferably is a viscous liquid or gel that may flow into and through the mesh layer of the heating element 622.

[0069] Air may flow into the receptacle 610 and entrain the volatized aerosol components from the heated aerosol-forming substrate 511 and through the aerosol-generating device 600 via an air channel 650 and to the consumer.

[0070] The aerosol-generating device 600 may include a power supply 651 operably connected to a controller 653 and optional graphical user interface 652. The power supply 651 operably connected to a controller 653 may be disposed within the housing 601. The graphical user interface 652 may be disposed on the housing 601.

[0071] The aerosol-generating article 500 includes a body 512 defining a cavity 512 having a cavity opening 516. The aerosol-forming substrate 511 is disposed in the cavity 510. The heating element 622 is disposed proximate to the cavity opening 515. The body 512 includes a closed end portion 551 that may be a ring or rotation portion or a fixed support.

[0072] Alternatively, the aerosol-generating article 500 may include an advancement mechanism may be arranged in the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article 500. The advancement mechanism may be configured as a piston-type element. The advancement mechanism may be configured as a screw-type element. The advancement mechanism may translate rotational movement into lateral movement.

[0073] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a spring-loaded aerosol-generating article 500. The aerosol-generating article 500 includes a body 512 defining a cavity 510 having a cavity opening 516. The aerosol-forming substrate 511 is disposed in the cavity 512. The heating element 622 is disposed proximate to the cavity opening 515. The body 512 includes a closed end portion 551 that may be a fixed support. A spring element 517 biases a movable rigid base 513 to the spring support 551 fixed to the body 512.

[0074] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a “lip-stick” advance mechanism aerosol-generating article 500. The aerosol-generating article 500 includes a body 512 defining a cavity 510 having a cavity opening 516. The aerosol-forming substrate 511 is disposed in the cavity 512. The heating element 622 is disposed proximate to the cavity opening 515. The body 512 includes a ring or rotation element 551 that is coupled to the movable rigid base 513 and translates rotational movement into lateral movement via a spiral or helical groove 514. Pins (not shown) couple the rigid base 513 to the spiral or helical groove 514 to provide the lateral movement of the aerosol-forming substrate 511.

[0075] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a stop elements 516 between the body 512 and the rigid base 513. The stop elements 516 prevent lateral movement of the rigid base 513 and the aerosol-forming substrate 511 in a direction away from the heating element 622. The stop elements 516 may be flexible and the rigid base 513 may include a plurality of projections 517 or threading that mates with the stop elements 516.

[0076] FIG. 5 is schematic sectional view of a ratchet-type stop element 516 on the body 512. The ring or rotation portion 551 may include a include a plurality of projections 517 or detent elements 517 that mates with the stop elements 516 to provide rotation in only one direction as indicated by the arrow.

[0077] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative aerosol-generating system 400 with automatic advance of the aerosol-forming substrate 511. The aerosol-generating device 600 controller 653 may activate an actuator or advancement mechanism 560 on the aerosol-generating article 500 (or on the aerosol-forming device) to advance the aerosol-forming substrate 511 (and rigid base 513) toward the heating element 622 upon detecting that the heating element 622 is not in contact the aerosol-forming substrate 511 (a's described above).

[0078] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of another aerosol-generating system 401 including an aerosol-generating device 600 with the aerosol-generating article 500 of inserted therein.

[0079] An aerosol-generating article 500 may be inserted into an aerosol-generating device 600. The aerosol-generating article 500 and the aerosol-generating device 600 together may form an aerosol-generating system 401.

[0080] The aerosol-generating article 500 includes a mouthpiece 501 at a proximal portion of the aerosol-generating article 500 and one or more air intakes 550 along the body 512 of the aerosol-generating article 500. In this embodiment, a heating element 522 may form a portion of the heating element 522 and be in electrical connection with the aerosol-generating device 600 when the aerosol-generating article 500 is inserted into the aerosol-generating device 600. The aerosol-generating device 600 may include a pushing rod 602 that advances the aerosol-forming substrate 511 toward the heating element 522. The pushing rod 602 may contact and advance a rigid base 513 of the aerosol-generating article 500. The rigid base 513 may be slidable along the length of the cavity of the aerosol-generating article 500 containing the aerosol-forming substrate 511.

[0081] An aerosol generating system 401 includes a body 512 defining a cavity, an aerosol-forming substrate 511 is disposed in the cavity having a cavity 510 opening. A heating element 522 is disposed proximate to the cavity opening and forming a portion of the aerosol-generating article 500. A controller 653 is configured to detect contact of the aerosol-forming substrate 511 with the heating element 522.

[0082] The aerosol-generating device 600 shown in FIG. 7 is configured for receiving the aerosol-generating article 500. The aerosol-generating device 600 comprises a housing 601 and a receptacle 610 formed in the housing 601. The receptacle 610 is constructed for receiving the aerosol-generating article 500. The receptacle 610 may be sized and shaped so that when the aerosol-generating article 500 is inserted in the receptacle 610, at least a portion (for example the mouthpiece 501) of the aerosol-generating article 500 remains outside of the receptacle 610.

[0083] In this embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 500 comprises a heating element 522 at the open end of the body 512 containing the aerosol-forming substrate 511. The aerosol-forming substrate 511 preferably is a viscous liquid or gel that may flow into and through the mesh layer of the heating element 522.

[0084] Air may flow into the aerosol-generating article 500 through the air inlets 550 and entrain the volatized aerosol components from the heated aerosol-forming substrate 511 and through the mouthpiece 501 and to the consumer.

[0085] The aerosol-generating device 600 may include a power supply 651 operably connected to a controller 653 and optional graphical user interface 652. The power supply 651 operably connected to a controller 653 may be disposed within the housing 601. The graphical user interface 652 may be disposed on the housing 601.

[0086] The pushing rod 602 of the aerosol-generating device 600 may be operably connected to the power supply 651 and controller 653. The controller 653 may actuate the pushing rod 602 to advance the rigid base 513 and aerosol-forming substrate 511 toward the heating element 522.

[0087] The specific embodiments described above are intended to illustrate the invention. However, other embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims, and it is to be understood that the specific embodiments described above are not intended to be limiting.

[0088] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0089] As used herein, “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “and/or” means one or all the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

[0090] As used herein, “have,” “having,” “include,” “including,” “comprise,” “comprising” or the like are used in their open-ended sense, and generally mean “including, but not limited to”. It will be understood that “consisting essentially of,” “consisting of,” and the like are subsumed in “comprising,” and the like.

[0091] The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, including the claims.

[0092] Any direction referred to herein, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “upper,” “lower,” and other directions or orientations are described herein for clarity and brevity are not intended to be limiting of an actual device or system. Devices and systems described herein may be used in a number of directions and orientations.

[0093] Thus, aerosol-generating articles for aerosol-generating devices are described. Various modifications and variations of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are apparent to those skilled in the mechanical arts, chemical arts, and aerosol generating article manufacturing or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.