Abstract
An aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol, the aerosol-generating device including: a housing; a heating chamber configured to receive an aerosol-generating article containing an aerosol-generating substrate; and a heating element disposed in the heating chamber and being configured to be arranged in a first position, in which the heating element penetrates the aerosol-generating substrate, and in a second position, in which the heating element is at least partly retracted from the heating chamber, and being further configured to move, during retraction from the heating chamber, relative to the housing. A method for retracting a heating element from a heating chamber of an aerosol-generating device is also provided.
Claims
1.-14. (canceled)
15. An aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable aerosol, the aerosol-generating device comprising: a housing; a heating chamber configured to receive an aerosol-generating article containing an aerosol-generating substrate; and a heating element disposed in the heating chamber, wherein the heating element is configured to be arranged in a first position, in which the heating element penetrates the aerosol-generating substrate, and in a second position, in which the heating element is at least partly retracted from the heating chamber, and wherein the heating element is further configured to move, during retraction from the heating chamber, relative to the housing.
16. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 15, wherein the heating chamber comprises an opening in a base of the heating chamber, and wherein the heating element is further configured to be retracted through the opening.
17. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 15, further comprising a retraction mechanism connected to the heating element.
18. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, further comprising a power supply and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control a supply of power to the retraction mechanism.
19. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, wherein the retraction mechanism is configured as a mechanical mechanism comprising one or more of a slider mechanism, a screw mechanism, a cantilever mechanism, a push mechanism, a pull mechanism, a spring mechanism, an elastic mechanism, a roller mechanism, and a gear mechanism or a magnetic mechanism or a temperature sensitive mechanism.
20. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises one or more of a shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a shape memory ceramic, and bimetal.
21. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a support element and a guide, wherein the heating element is connected to the support element, and wherein the support element is slidably connected to the guide.
22. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, wherein the retraction mechanism comprises a biasing mechanism configured to bias the heating element towards the heating chamber.
23. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 22, wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring.
24. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, further comprising multiple heating elements connected to the retraction mechanism, or multiple retraction mechanisms each being connected to one or more heating elements.
25. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 24, wherein the heating chamber comprises multiple openings in a base of the heating chamber, and the multiple heating elements or the one or more heating elements are configured to be collectively retracted through the multiple openings.
26. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, wherein the retraction mechanism is configured to push the heating element into the heating chamber after retraction of the heating element from the heating chamber by the retraction mechanism.
27. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 15, further comprising an activation mechanism, wherein the heating element is retracted from the heating chamber upon activation of the activation mechanism.
28. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 27, wherein the activation mechanism is a push-button.
29. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 15, wherein the heating element is centrally aligned within the heating chamber and is configured to be retractable along a longitudinal central axis of the heating chamber.
30. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the opening comprises a cleaning element configured to remove residues from the heating element during retraction of the heating element from the heating chamber.
31. A method for retracting a heating element from a heating chamber of an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising the following steps: i) providing an aerosol-generating device comprising a housing, a heating chamber configured to receive an aerosol-generating article containing an aerosol-generating substrate and a heating element, wherein the heating element is disposed in the heating chamber, wherein the heating element is configured to be arranged in a first position, in which the heating element penetrates the aerosol-generating substrate, and in a second position, in which the heating element is at least partly retracted from the heating chamber, and wherein the heating element is further configured to move, during retraction from the heating chamber, relative to the housing; and ii) retracting the heating element from the heating chamber.
Description
[0041] The invention will be described in more detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show in:
[0042] FIG. 1: an aerosol-generating device according to the present invention with a retracted and pushed heating element;
[0043] FIG. 2: the aerosol-generating device according to the present invention with different configurations of a retraction mechanism and of heating elements;
[0044] FIG. 3: the aerosol-generating device according to the present invention with different activation mechanisms;
[0045] FIG. 4: the aerosol-generating device according to the present invention with a cleaning element; and
[0046] FIG. 5: configurations of the retraction mechanism in which the retraction mechanism comprises shape memory material.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows the aerosol-generating device according to the present invention. The aerosol-generating device comprises a housing 10 with a heating chamber 12. Within the heating chamber 12, a heating element 14 can be arranged. In the left part of FIG. 1, FIG. 1A, the heating element 14 is retracted from the heating chamber 12. In the right part of FIG. 1, FIG. 1B, the heating element 14 is positioned within the heating chamber 12. In other words, the heating element 14 is pushed into the heating chamber 12 in FIG. 1B. An aerosol-generating article 16 comprising aerosol-generating substrate such as tobacco can be inserted into the heating chamber 12. When the heating element 14 is retracted from the heating chamber 12, the aerosol-generating article 16 does not contact the heating element 14 or only slightly contact the tip of the heating element 14. When the heating element 14 is pushed into the heating chamber 12, the heating element 14 penetrates into the aerosol-generating article 16.
[0048] The aerosol-generating device also comprises a retraction mechanism 18. The retraction mechanism 18 is configured for retracting the heating element 14 from the heating chamber 12 and pushing the heating element 14 into the heating chamber 12. The retraction mechanism 18 is controlled by means of a controller 20. The controller 20 may comprise different elements such as a retraction controller 22 for controlling the retraction mechanism 18. The controller 20 may also comprise a heating controller 24 for controlling the operation of the heating element 14. The heating controller 24 may be configured to activate the heating element 14 during operation of the aerosol-generating device and deactivate the heating element 14, when the aerosol-generating device is not operated. The controller 20 is connected to a power supply 26. The power supply 26 preferably is configured as a battery. The heating controller 24 controls the supply of electrical energy from the battery towards the heating element. The retraction controller 22 and the heating controller 24 are configured separately controllable. The heating element 14 may thus be retracted and pushed independent of the operation of the heating element 14.
[0049] The retraction mechanism 18 comprises a support element 28, to which the heating element 14 is connected. The support element 28 is connected to a guide 30 which is configured such that the support element 28 can slide along the guide 30 during retraction and pushing of the heating element 14. The guide 30 runs along the longitudinal axis of the heating element 14 such that the movement of the heating element 14 during retraction and pushing is also along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heating chamber 12. The guide 30 preferably comprises a sawtooth and the support element 28 a bevel gear to realize a worm drive.
[0050] FIG. 2 shows different embodiments of the retraction mechanism 18. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, a biasing element 32 configured as a spring is depicted for biasing the support element 28 of the retraction mechanism 18 towards the heating chamber 12. In this way, the heating element 14 is pushed into the heating chamber 12, when the retraction mechanism 18 is not operated. Also, a pushing of the heating element 14 into the heating chamber 12 is simplified after retraction of the heating element 12 from the heating chamber 14. In this regard, the biasing element 32 may push the heating element 14 back into the heating chamber 12, when the retraction mechanism 18 is deactivated. Also, the retraction mechanism 18 may aid together with the biasing element 32 to push the heating element 14 back into the heating chamber 12 and potentially into an aerosol-generating article 16. The biasing element 32 is connected to the support element 28 and the base of the heating chamber.
[0051] FIG. 2C shows an embodiment in which two separate heating elements 14 are provided but connected together to a single support element 28 of the retraction mechanism 18. Preferably two openings are provided in the base of the heating chamber 12 to facilitate retraction and pushing of the two heating elements 14.
[0052] In FIG. 2D, also two heating elements 14 are provided. In comparison to FIG. 2C, in the embodiment of FIG. 2D the two heating elements 14 are provided with separate retraction mechanisms 18. In this embodiment, the heating elements 14 can be retracted from and pushed into the heating chamber 12 separately from each other, for example for heating different portions of an inserted aerosol-generating article.
[0053] FIG. 2E shows an embodiment in which the embodiments shown 2C and 2D are combined. In this regard, two separate retraction mechanisms 18 are provided wherein one retraction mechanism 18 comprises one heating element 14 and one retraction mechanism 18 comprises two heating elements 14.
[0054] As desired, as many retraction mechanisms 18 as necessary can be provided with as many heating elements 14 as necessary.
[0055] FIG. 3 shows different embodiments of operating the retraction mechanism 18. In FIG. 3A, the retraction mechanism 18 is operated by a user 34. In this regard, the support element 28 comprises a tab which can be operated by a user 34. The user 34 can slide the support element 28 along the guides 30, thereby moving the heating element 14. Hence, the user 34 can manually retract the heating element 14 from the heating chamber 12 and push the heating element 14 back into the heating chamber 12. The tab may protrude through a slit in the housing 10 of the device to be accessible by a user, while the guides 30 and the rest of the support element 28 are arranged within the housing 10.
[0056] In FIG. 3B, the retraction mechanism 18 is operated by means of an activation mechanism 36 such as a button. Upon operation of the button, the user can retract the heating element 14 from the heating chamber 12 or pushes the heating element 14 back into the heating chamber 12.
[0057] FIG. 3C shows an embodiment in which the activation mechanism 36 is realized by means of a communication interface together with an external device such as a smartphone or a smartwatch 38.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows a cleaning element 40 for cleaning the heating element 14 during retraction from and pushing into the heating chamber 12. The cleaning element 30 is arranged around the opening at the base of the heating chamber 12. The cleaning element 30 lies flush against the heating element 14 such that residues of aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol are automatically removed from the heating element 14 during retraction of the heating element 14 from the heating chamber 12 and into the aerosol-generating device. By the cleaning element, it is also prevented that aerosol-generating substrate or other residues enter the aerosol-generating device through the opening in the base of the heating chamber 12. As can be seen in FIG. 4C, the heating element 14 is not fully retracted from the heating chamber 12. The tip of the heating element 14 remains in the heating chamber 12. The heating element 14 may be retracted to align with the base of the heating chamber.
[0059] FIG. 5 shows different embodiments of the retraction mechanism 18, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises shape memory material such as a shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer or a shape memory ceramic. A bimetal may also be utilized. FIG. 5A shows an embodiment, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises a shape memory material. This material allows the heating element to be moved between different positions. In a first position, the heating element is partly or completely retracted from the heating chamber. In a second position, the heating element is partly or entirely inserted into the heating chamber and penetrates in the aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-forming article. In a third position, the heating element is fully pushed into the heating chamber and heats other portions of the aerosol-forming substrate in the aerosol-generating article. In all embodiments shown in FIG. 5, the retraction mechanism 18 is operated by heating and cooling of the retraction mechanism 18. Preferably, the retraction mechanism 18 pushes the heating element 12 into the heating chamber 10 upon heating up and retracts the heating element 12 from the heating chamber 10 upon cooling down. The retraction mechanism 18 is preferably heated by the supply of electrical energy from the power supply 26 to the retraction mechanism 18 by the controller 20.
[0060] FIG. 5B shows an embodiment, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises multiple curved strips. When the strip is heated, the curvature of the strip changes, thereby pushing the heating element towards the aerosol-forming substrate. FIG. 5C shows an embodiment, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises a shape memory element configured to push or pull a cantilever to move the heating element. FIG. 5D shows an embodiment, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises a wound-up coil of shape memory material. When heated, the coil unwinds and moves the heating element 12. FIG. 5E shows an embodiment, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises a shape memory material and a hinge. The hinge changes the position of a cantilever mechanism, which moves the heating element. FIG. 5F shows an embodiment, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises multiple shape memory elements such as coils or springs which work together to adjust the position of the heating element. FIG. 5G shows an embodiment, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises one or more shape memory springs or coils that can pull the heating element into the heating chamber by contraction. The coil is arranged around a central axis element of the retraction mechanism 18. FIG. 5H shows an embodiment, in which the retraction mechanism 18 comprises multiple shape memory components configured to perform opposite actions. One shape memory element or group of elements moves the heating element from one position to another. Another shape memory element or group of elements moves the heating element back to the original position.
