AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH A REMOVABLY-INSERTABLE RESIDUE COLLECTOR

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system is provided, including an aerosol-generating device having a heating chamber configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate, the heating chamber including a first end having an opening, a second end having a base, and a side wall extending between the opening and the base; and a residue collector removably insertable into the heating chamber and positionable at or near the second end, the heating chamber further including a first side opening in the side wall and a second side opening in the side wall, opposite the first side opening, and the residue collector being insertable into the heating chamber and removable from the heating chamber through the first and the second side openings.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. An aerosol-generating system, comprising: an aerosol-generating device having a heating chamber configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate, the heating chamber comprising a first end having an opening, a second end having a base, and a side wall extending between the opening and the base; and a residue collector removably insertable into the heating chamber and positionable at or near the second end, wherein the heating chamber further comprises a first side opening in the side wall and a second side opening in the side wall, opposite the first side opening, and wherein the residue collector is insertable into the heating chamber and removable from the heating chamber through the first and the second side openings.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 13, wherein the residue collector is positionable between the base of the heating chamber and an aerosol-forming substrate when the aerosol-forming substrate is received in the heating chamber.

15. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 13, wherein the residue collector comprises a body having a first face, a second face, and a side wall extending between the first face and the second face, and wherein, when the residue collector is positioned within the heating chamber, the second face is positioned adjacent the base of the heating chamber.

16. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 13, further comprising a heating assembly and a power supply configured to supply power to the heating assembly.

17. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 16, wherein the heating assembly comprises a heater that projects into the heating chamber through the base.

18. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 17, wherein the residue collector comprises a slot extending between the first face and the second face, and wherein the slot is configured to receive the heater when the residue collector is positioned in the heating chamber.

19. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein the slot extends to the side wall of the residue collector such that the heater is configured to be received in the slot through the side wall.

20. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 19, wherein the residue collector further comprises a plurality of cut-outs on opposite sides of the slot.

21. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein a lip projects from the first face of the residue collector around a periphery of the first face such that an open cavity is defined by the first face and the lip.

22. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 21, wherein a plurality of projections project from the first face of the residue collector into the cavity defined by the first face and the lip.

23. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein the residue collector further comprises one or more slits extending between the first face and the second face.

24. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein the residue collector is provided as part of an array of residue collectors, and wherein adjacent residue collectors in the array are releasably secured together at the side walls.

Description

[0053] Particular embodiments will now be discussed in detail and shown by way of example only in the following Figures, in which:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a cut-through view of an aerosol-generating system according to the present invention;

[0056] FIG. 3a shows a first embodiment of a residue collector according to the present invention;

[0057] FIG. 3b shows a second embodiment of a residue collector according to the present invention;

[0058] FIG. 3c shows a third embodiment of a residue collector according to the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 3d shows a fourth embodiment of a residue collector according to the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an aerosol-generating system according to a first aspect of the present invention;

[0061] FIGS. 5a to 5c show a cut-through perspective view of an aerosol-generating system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an aerosol-generating device 102 of an aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 102 is generally elongate and cylindrical and comprises a main body portion 103 at a first end and a heating portion 104 at a second end, opposite the first end. The main body portion 103 includes an outer housing 105, which houses a power supply, control apparatus and charging port (not shown). The heating portion 104 includes a generally cylindrical heating chamber 106, which is generally defined by a cylindrical side wall 108 projecting from one end of the main body portion 103, coaxial to the main body. The heating chamber 106 comprises an opening 110 at a first end 112, distal to the main body 103, and is closed at a second end 114, opposite the first end 112, by a base 116 positioned at the main body portion 103. The heating portion 104 further includes an extractor 120 removably positionable over the cylindrical side wall 108. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the aerosol-generating device 102 partly disassembled with the extractor 120 removed. FIG. 2 shows a cut-through view of the aerosol-generating device 102 fully assembled with the extractor 120 received over the heating chamber 106.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical side wall 108 defines a plurality of vents 109 extending through the side wall 108. The vents 109 are configured to enable air to enter the heating chamber 106 from the outside. Each vent 109 is generally elongate and extends substantially parallel to the central axis of the heating chamber 106. The vents 109 are spaced evenly around the circumference of the side wall 108 at a substantially centrally between the first end 112 and the second end 116.

[0064] The cylindrical side wall 108 further defines a side opening 118 at the second end of the heating chamber 106, which will be described in more detail later on.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 2, a heater 130 extends into the heating chamber 106 through the base 116 at the closed second end 114. The heater 130 comprises a resistive heating element (not shown) that is connected to the power supply and control unit in the main body portion 103 of the device 102. The heater 130 is configured as an internal heater for penetrating into an aerosol-forming substrate received in the heating chamber 106. The heater 130 is in the form of an elongate, planar, heating blade terminating at a tapered end or a point at the end distal to the base 116. The heater 130 extends into the heating chamber 106 in a direction substantially parallel with the cylindrical side wall 108. The heater 130 is arranged centrally within the heating chamber 106, such that the heater 130 is substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the heating chamber 106. The heater 130 is elongate, which means that the heater 130 has a length dimension that is greater than its width dimension and its thickness dimension. The heater 130 is also thin, which means its thickness dimension is substantially less than its length dimension and its width dimension. First and second opposing faces of the heater 130 are defined by the length and the width of the heater 130. In this embodiment, the length of the heater 130 is about half the length of the cylindrical side wall 108. In other words, the heater 130 extends about half way into the heating chamber 106. Since the heater 130 extends only partially the length of the heating chamber 106, the cylindrical side wall 108 provides some protection to the heater 130 by preventing access to the heater 130 from the side. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the heater 130 may extend into the heating chamber 106 by different amounts, for example, the heater 130 may extend about three quarter of the way into the heating chamber or may extend substantially the entire length of the heating chamber.

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the extractor 120 is removably receivable over the cylindrical side wall 108. The extractor 120 comprises an outer sleeve 122 and a sliding receptacle 124 received in the outer sleeve 122.

[0067] The outer sleeve 122 is generally in the form of a cylindrical tube that is open at both ends. The outer sleeve 122 has an external diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of the housing 105 of the main body portion 103, such that the outer sleeve 122 and the housing 105 of the main body portion 103 form a substantially continuous cylindrical shape when the extractor 120 is received on the cylindrical side wall 108.

[0068] The sliding receptacle 124 is generally in the form of a cylindrical tube that is open at a first end and substantially closed at a second end, opposite the first end. The sliding receptacle 124 defines a chamber for receiving aerosol-forming substrate. The second end of the sliding receptacle 124 is substantially closed except for a central opening 125 that is configured to receive the heater 130 when the extractor 120 is received on the side wall 108. The central opening 125 of the second end of the sliding receptacle 124 is slightly larger than the heater 130 such that an air gap is provided between the second end of the sliding receptacle and the heater 130 when the extractor 120 is received over the cylindrical side wall 108. A flange 126 protrudes outwards from the sliding receptacle 124 at the open end. The sliding receptacle 124 is received in the outer sleeve 122 and secured to the outer sleeve 122 at the flange 126 at the first end.

[0069] The sliding receptacle 124 has an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer sleeve 122, such that an annular gap 127 is provided between the outer sleeve 122 and the sliding receptacle 124. The annular gap 127 is sized and configured to receive the cylindrical outer wall 108. The outer diameter of the sliding receptacle 124 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical side wall 108, such that the sliding receptacle 124 may be easily received in the heating chamber 106. The inner diameter of the outer sleeve 122 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical side wall 108, such that an air gap is formed between the outer sleeve 122 and the cylindrical side wall 108 when the extractor 120 is received over the cylindrical side wall 108. The flange 126 provides a stop against which the outer end of the cylindrical side wall 108 abuts when the extractor 120 is fully received over the cylindrical side wall 108.

[0070] In FIG. 2, the extractor 120 is shown in a first position, or an operating position, where the extractor is fully received over the cylindrical side wall 108. In this position, the cylindrical side wall 108 is fully received in the annular gap 127, with the end of the side wall 108 abutting the flange 126 of the extractor 120.

[0071] The first open end of the outer sleeve 122 and the open end of the sliding receptacle 124 are arranged substantially flush with each other. However, the length of the outer sleeve 122 is greater than the length of the sliding receptacle 124. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer sleeve 122 has a length sufficient to abut the housing 105 of the main body portion 103 when the extractor 120 is in the operating position. The sliding receptacle 124 has a length sufficient to provide a space between the base 114 of the heating chamber 106 and the substantially closed second end of the sliding receptacle 124 when the extractor 120 is in the operating position. A base portion 132 of the heater 130 extends through the space. The heating element (not shown) of the heater 130 does not extend over the base portion 132 of the heater 130. The side opening 118 in the cylindrical side wall 108 is aligned with the space between the base 114 and the second end of the sliding receptacle 124.

[0072] Typically, an aerosol-generating article (not shown) that is suitable for use with the device 102 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is generally in the form of a conventional cigarette. The article comprises an aerosol-forming substrate, such as a rod of tobacco, at a distal end, and a filter at a proximal end, opposite the distal end. The article may have a width or diameter that is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sliding receptacle 124 of the extractor 120, such that the article may be easily inserted into the chamber of the sliding receptacle 124 and removed from the chamber of the sliding receptacle 124. The aerosol-forming substrate may have a length that is substantially similar to or slightly larger than the length of the portion of the heater 130 between the base portion 132 and the tapered end (i.e. the portion of the heater 130 that extends into the chamber of the sliding receptacle 124 when the extractor 120 is in the first position). This sizing enables the heater 130 to extend through substantially the entire length of the aerosol-forming substrate when the aerosol-generating article is receive in the heating chamber 106 of the device 102.

[0073] In use, when the extractor 120 received over the heating chamber 106 in the first (operating) position, the aerosol-generating article (not shown) may be inserted into the heating chamber 106 of the device 102 through the open end of the sliding receptacle 124 of the extractor 120. As the article is inserted into the heating chamber 106, the tapered end of the heater 130 encounters the aerosol-forming substrate at the distal end of the article and pierces the substrate. The aerosol-generating article may be moved further into the heating chamber 106 until the distal end of the article abuts the substantially closed second end of the sliding receptacle 124. In this fully received position, the heater 130 extends into the aerosol-forming substrate along substantially the entire length of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0074] When the device 102 is turned on, power is supplied to the heater 130 from the power supply (not shown) in the main body portion 103. The heater 130 heats the aerosol-forming substrate at the distal end of the aerosol-generating article and volatile substances are generated or evolved from the aerosol-forming substrate. When a user draws on the mouth end of the aerosol-generating article, air is drawn into the device 102 and through the aerosol-generating article, from the distal end to the mouth end, for inhalation by the user. Air is drawn into the device 102 through air inlets (not shown) in the outer wall 122 of the extractor 120 and is drawn into the heating chamber 106, into the space between the cylindrical side wall 108 and the outer surface of the sliding receptacle 124, through the vents 109 in the cylindrical side wall 108. Air between the cylindrical side wall 108 and the outer surface of the sliding receptacle 124 is drawn into the chamber of the sliding receptacle 124 through the air gap between the heater 130 and the closed second end of the sliding receptacle 124. The air entering the chamber of the sliding receptacle 124 is drawn into the aerosol-generating article through the distal end, such that the air encounters the aerosol-forming substrate that is being heated by the heater 130. The volatile substances evolved from the heated aerosol-forming substrate are entrained in the air entering the aerosol-generating article at the distal end, and are drawn with the air from the distal end of the article to the mouth end. As the volatile substances are drawn through the article, they condense to form an inhalable aerosol. The aerosol is drawn out of the article at the mouth end for inhalation by the user.

[0075] During insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber 120 and during removal of the aerosol-generating article 120 from the heating chamber 120, loose debris may be released from the aerosol-forming substrate into the heating chamber 120. In particular, loose debris may be created around the heater 130 as the substrate is moved against the heater 130. The loose debris may accumulate at the closed second end 114 of the heating chamber 106. In particular, debris may accumulate in corners of the heating chamber 106 where the base 116 meets the heater 130.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a residue collector 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is removably disposed in the heating chamber 106 of the device 102. The residue collector 1 is positioned at the second end 114 of the heating chamber 106, supported on the base 116.

[0077] Specifically, the residue collector 1 is positioned in the space between the base 114 and the substantially closed second end of the sliding receptacle 124. The residue collector 1 substantially surrounds or circumscribes the base portion 132 of the heater 130. In other words, the residue collector 1 substantially covers a portion of the base 116 around the heater 130. In this position, the residue collector is positioned at the position of the base 116 at which the majority of the loose debris released from aerosol-forming substrate accumulates. Accordingly, the residue collector 1 of the present invention is positioned to intercept debris before it reaches the base 116 of the heating chamber 106. Thus, the residue collector 1 may facilitate removal of the debris from the heating chamber 106.

[0078] The residue collector 1 has a rounded rectangular profile, having substantially planar sides and a front and rear end that are curved. The front and rear ends are curved with substantially the same curvature as the cylindrical side wall 108. The length of the planar sides is complimentary of the size of the base 114 of the heating chamber 106, such that the curved front and rear ends of the residue collector are flush with the cylindrical side wall 108 when the residue collector 1 is fully received in the heating chamber 106. The residue collector has a height or thickness between the first and second faces that is slightly smaller than the height of the space between the base 114 and the second end of the residue collector 124, such that the residue collector 1 extends substantially between the base 114 and the second end of the sliding receptacle 124 when the extractor 120 is received over the cylindrical side wall 108.

[0079] In this embodiment, the residue collector 1 is positioned in a space between the base 116 of the heating chamber 106 and the sliding receptacle 124 of the extractor 120. However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the residue collector 1 may be positioned in the chamber of the sliding receptacle 124, between the substantially closed second end of the sliding receptacle 124 and an aerosol-forming substrate received in the chamber. In these embodiments, the sliding receptacle may extend to the base 114 of the heating chamber 106. In these embodiments, the outer sleeve 122 and the sliding receptacle may require side openings to facilitate insertion and removal of the residue collector. However, the cylindrical side wall 108 of the heating chamber 106 may not require a side opening 118. An advantage of adapting the extractor 120 to accept the residue collector may be that debris that would otherwise accumulate in the extractor may be easily removed with the residue collector 1.

[0080] The side opening 118 in the cylindrical side wall 108 of the device 102 is provided to facilitate insertion of the residue collector 1 into the heating chamber 106 and removal of the residue collector 1 from the heating chamber 106. Accordingly, the side opening 118 has a similar height and width to the residue collector 1, to enable the residue collector to be inserted into the heating chamber 106 through the side opening 118 and removed from the heating chamber 108 through the side opening 118. The side opening 118 is elongate and extends transverse to the central axis of the heating chamber 106. The side opening 108 has a width substantially equal to the width of the residue collector 1 and a height substantially equal to the height of the residue collector 1. The side opening 108 is positioned between the vents 109 and the closed second end of the heating chamber 106, at the space between the base 114 and the second end of the sliding receptacle 124 when the extractor 120 is received on the cylindrical side wall 108.

[0081] In this embodiment, the residue collector 1 does not have a substantially circular profile, and as such, the residue collector does not cover the entire base 114 when the residue collector 1 is fully received in the heating chamber 106. Peripheral portions of the base 114 at either side of the side opening 118 are not covered by the residue collector. These uncovered peripheral portions of the base are unlikely to accumulate residue from aerosol-forming substrate in the heating chamber 106, as these portions of the base are directly below closed portions of the sliding receptacle 124. In some embodiments, the residue collector may have a profile substantially similar to that of the heating chamber and the residue collector may substantially cover the entire base. However, in these embodiments, the side opening of the side wall of the heating chamber may be required to extend the entire width of the heating chamber in order to enable insertion and removal of the residue collectors. It may not be necessary to increase the size of the side opening in embodiments where the residue collector is compressible to reduce the width of the residue collector on insertion and removal.

[0082] FIGS. 3a-d show specific embodiments of residue collectors in accordance with the present invention.

[0083] FIG. 3a shows a first embodiment of the residue collector 1. The residue collector 1 comprises a body defined between a first face 16 and a second face 18. A side wall 14 extends between the first face 16 and the second face 18, defining the periphery of the residue collector 1. The residue collector 1 has a substantially rounded rectangular transverse cross section, such that the residue collector 1 generally has an elongate shape with planar sides and a rounded ends. In this embodiment, one of the rounded ends may be considered to be a front end 10 and the opposite rounded end may be considered to be a rear end 11.

[0084] In the embodiment of FIG. 3a, the residue collector 1 defines a slot 13 extending between the first face 16 and the second face 18, such that the slot is open at the first face 16 and the second face 18. The slot 13 is an elongate opening through the body of the residue collector 1. The slot 13 extends from the side wall 14 at the front end 10 of the residue collector 1 towards a central portion of the residue collector 1. In other words, the slot 13 is open at the front end 10. Additionally, the residue collector 1 includes a lip 9 projecting around the edge of the first face 16. The lip 9 projects upwards, away from the first face 16, and defines a recessed portion or open cavity 8 around the slot 13. In this embodiment, the lip 9 is wide, extending across a large proportion of the first face 16. Accordingly, the open cavity 8 is a narrow recessed portion. When the residue collector is fully received in the heating chamber, the open cavity 8 is arranged directly below the opening in the second end of the sliding receptacle 124. The open cavity 8 has a similar size to the opening in the second end of the sliding receptacle, so that the majority of debris falling through the opening may be received in the open cavity 8.

[0085] To prepare the device 102 for use, before the extractor 120 is received over the cylindrical side wall 108, the residue collector 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 106 of the device 102 through the side opening 118 in the cylindrical side wall 108, as shown in FIG. 4. The front 10 of the residue collector 1 is inserted into the side opening 118, and the slot 13 receives the base portion 132 of the heater 130. When the residue collector 1 is fully inserted into the heating chamber 106, the heater 130 abuts the end of the slot 13, the front 10 abuts the cylindrical side wall 108, the rear 11 is positioned flush with the cylindrical side wall 108 and the second face 18 is supported on the base 114 of the heating chamber 106, as shown in FIG. 2. Since the rear 11 of the residue collector 1 is flush with the cylindrical side wall 108, the outer sleeve 122 of the side wall may slide over the side opening 118, past the residue collector 1, without contacting the residue collector 1. During use of the device 102, debris that falls from an aerosol-generating article inserted into the heating chamber 106 collects on the first face 16 of the residue collector 1. Debris that accumulates in the recessed portion 8 may be retained by the lip 9, particularly during removal of the residue collector 1 from the device 102. Removal of the residue collector 1 from the heating chamber 106 may be performed after the extractor 120 and the article have been removed from the heating chamber 106.

[0086] A second embodiment of a residue collector 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 3b. In the second embodiment, the residue collector 1 has substantially the same shape as the first embodiment of the residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3a; however the residue collector 1 of shown in FIG. 3b defines two additional elongate slits 17. The elongate slits 17 extend between the first face 16 and the second face 18 of the residue collector 1, similar to the slot 13. The elongate slits 17 are positioned both sides of the slot 13, and extend substantially parallel to the slot 13. The elongate slits 17 extend from the front 10 of the residue collector 1. The elongate slits 17 are not configured to receive a heater of the aerosol-generating device, but rather are configured to enable the width of the residue collector 1 to be compressed to facilitate insertion and removal.

[0087] During insertion of the residue collector 1 into the heating chamber 106, an inward force can be applied to the side walls 14 on both sides of the residue collector 1, between the front 10 and rear 11 of the residue collector 1. When such an inward force is applied, the sides of each elongate slit 17 may be brought together such that the width of the residue collector is reduced. Reducing the width of the residue collector 1 may allow the residue collector 1 to be more easily inserted into the side opening 118 of the device 102.

[0088] A third embodiment of the residue collector 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 3c. The residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3c is substantially similar to the second embodiment of the residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3b, however, the residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3c comprises four elongate slits 17, two slits at either side of the slot 13. The two additional elongate slits 17 may allow the width of the residue collector 1 to be compressed even further.

[0089] A fourth embodiment of the residue collector 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 3d. The residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3d is has a substantially similar transverse cross-sectional shape to first embodiment of the residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3a. However the residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3d has several different features to the first embodiment of the residue collector 1.

[0090] The lip 9 of the residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3d is narrow and extends around the periphery of the residue collector 1. The lip 9 extends upwards from the first face 16 of the residue collector 1 and with the first face 16 of the residue collector 1 defines an open cavity 19. A plurality of projections 17 also extend upwards from the first face 16 within the open cavity 19. The upward projections 17 are regularly spaced across the open cavity 19 in a regular pattern, such that the spaces between the projections 17 in the cavity 19 form orifices in a honeycomb pattern. The upward projections 17 and the lip 9 extend substantially the same distance from the first face 16, and as such the ends of the lip 9 and the projections 17 generally lie on a plane.

[0091] In use, debris that accumulates on the residue collector 1 may fall into the cavity 19, between the upward projections 17, onto the first face 16. During removal of the residue collector 1, the debris collected by the residue collector 1 may be trapped in the cavity 19, which may substantially prevent debris from being dislodged from the residue collector 1 and falling into the heating chamber 106 during removal of the residue collector 1 from the heating chamber 106.

[0092] The slot 13 of the residue collector 1 of FIG. 3d also comprises cut-outs 15 on both sides of the slot 13. The cut outs 15 extend from the slot 13 towards the side walls 14 of the residue collector 1. The cut-outs 15 extend between the first face 16 and the second face 18, similarly to the slot 13. However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments the cut-outs 15 may only extend partially from the first face 16 towards the second face 18. The areas between the cut-outs 15 define a comb like structure, with each area comprising a projecting elements 15′ extending from the body of the residue collector inwards towards the central axis of the slot 13.

[0093] When the residue collector 1 shown in FIG. 3d is inserted into the heating chamber 106 of the device 102, the ends of the projecting elements 15′ abut the base portion 132 of the heater 130. As such, during removal of the reside collector 1 from the heating chamber 106, the ends of the projecting elements 15′ are drawn against the base portion 132 of the heater 130. This allows the projecting elements 15′ to wipe clean residue from the base portion 132 of heater 130 during removal. The projecting elements 15′ may deform when the residue collector 1 is inserted into the heating chamber 106. As such, the projecting elements 15′ are generally configured to be resiliently deformable, such that they are not damaged during insertion and removal.

[0094] In all of the above embodiments, the residue collector 1 has a substantial thickness. However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the residue collector may be a thin plate or sheet. Where the residue collector is a thin plate or sheet, the rigidity of the residue collector may be required to be increased, so that the residue collector does not deform or break during insertion and removal.

[0095] Another embodiment of the aerosol-generating device 102 is shown in FIGS. 5a-c. The device 102 shown in FIGS. 5a-c is substantially identical to the device 102 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and like references numerals are used to indicate like features. However, the device 102 shown in FIGS. 5a-c comprises two opposing side openings 118a, 118b in the cylindrical side wall 108. For the sake of clarity, the extractor 120 is not shown in FIGS. 5a-c. The two opposing side openings 118a, 118b enable a residue collector 1 to be inserted and removed from either side of the device 102. In particular, a first residue collector 1 positioned within the heating chamber 106, which was inserted through the first side opening 118a, may be removed from the heating chamber 106 through the first side opening 118a by being pushed back out of the first side opening 118a by a second residue collector 1′ being inserted through the second side opening 118b. Such a replacement process is shown in FIGS. 5a-c.

[0096] In more detail, to remove a first residue collector 1 from the heating chamber 106 of the device 102 of FIGS. 5a-c, the front 10′ of the new second residue collector 1′ may be positioned to abut the front 10 of the used residue collector 1 at the second opening 118b, as shown in FIG. 5a. As the second residue collector 1′ is moved through the second side opening 118b, into the heating chamber 106, the first residue collector 1 may be pushed out of the heating chamber 106 through the first side opening 118a, as shown in FIGS. 5b and 5c. Accordingly, insertion and removal can be combined into a single act.

[0097] In both of the above embodiments, the aerosol-generating device comprises an extractor. However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments of the invention, the aerosol-generating device may not comprise such an extractor. In these embodiments, the residue collector may be positionable at or towards the second end of the heating chamber and sized such that the residue collector does not interfere with the aerosol-generating process.