AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH AXIALLY MOVABLE INDUCTION HEATER

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a cavity to receive an aerosol-generating article including an aerosol-forming substrate; and an induction heating arrangement including a susceptor arrangement and an induction coil, the induction coil being arranged at least partly surrounding the susceptor arrangement, and the induction coil being arranged axially movable along the susceptor arrangement, and a guiding element to guide the axial movement of the induction coil, the induction coil being movable to at least a first heating position and a second heating position around the cavity, the susceptor arrangement including at least a first susceptor and a second susceptor, which are arranged distanced from each other along a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device, and the induction coil being movable to surround the first susceptor corresponding to the first heating position and movable to surround the second susceptor corresponding to the second heating position.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. An aerosol-generating device, comprising: a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate; and an induction heating arrangement comprising a susceptor arrangement and an induction coil, the induction coil being arranged at least partly surrounding the susceptor arrangement, and the induction coil being arranged axially movable along the susceptor arrangement, and a guiding element configured to guide the axial movement of the induction coil, wherein the induction coil is configured to be movable to at least a first heating position and a second heating position around the cavity, wherein the susceptor arrangement comprises at least a first susceptor and a second susceptor, which are arranged distanced from each other along a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device, and wherein the induction coil is further configured to be movable to surround the first susceptor corresponding to the first heating position and to be movable to surround the second susceptor corresponding to the second heating position.

13. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, further comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises a guiding slot, and wherein the guiding element is configured to be engageable or to be engaged with the guiding slot.

14. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 13, wherein the guiding slot is configured as a helical guiding slot.

15. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 13, wherein the guiding element and the guiding slot are further configured to enable a rotational movement of the induction coil around the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device thereby leading to the axial movement of the induction coil.

16. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, wherein the susceptor arrangement is arranged along a full length of the cavity, and wherein the induction coil partly surrounds the susceptor arrangement.

17. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, further comprising a motor configured to move the induction coil, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to automatically move the induction coil between the first heating position and the second heating position.

18. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, wherein an electrically insulating element is arranged between the first susceptor and the second susceptor.

19. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, wherein the induction coil is further configured to be movable with respect to a housing of the aerosol-generating device.

20. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, wherein the susceptor arrangement further comprises at least two elongate susceptors arranged to be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

21. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, wherein gaps are provided between the susceptors.

22. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, wherein the susceptors are arranged around a sidewall of the cavity in a tubular arrangement.

Description

[0084] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0085] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative view of the aerosol-generating device of the present invention;

[0086] FIG. 2 shows an illustrative view of the aerosol-generating device of FIG. 1 with a moved induction coil;

[0087] FIG. 3 shows the aerosol-generating device of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a guiding slot of a housing of the aerosol-generating device;

[0088] FIG. 4 shows the aerosol-generating device of any of FIGS. 1 to 3 during a heating operation;

[0089] FIG. 5 shows the aerosol-generating device of any of FIGS. 1 to 4 with specifics regarding a susceptor arrangement;

[0090] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of an aerosol-generating device with blade shape susceptors; and

[0091] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device comprising two induction coils.

[0092] FIG. 1 shows a proximal or downstream portion of an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises a cavity 10 for insertion of an aerosol-generating article 12. The aerosol-generating article 12 is depicted in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. The cavity 10 is configured as a heating chamber.

[0093] Inside of the cavity 10, a susceptor arrangement 14 is arranged. The inner diameter of the susceptor arrangement 14 may correspond or may be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article 12. The aerosol-generating article 12 may be held by the susceptor arrangement 14 after insertion of the aerosol-generating article 12 into the cavity 10. Alternatively, the inner diameter of the susceptor arrangement 14 may be larger than the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article 12. The susceptor arrangement 14 may have a tubular shape.

[0094] The susceptor arrangement 14 is part of an induction heating arrangement. The induction heating arrangement comprises an induction coil 16. The induction coil 16 is arranged at least partly surrounding the cavity 10. Alternatively, the induction coil 16 may be arranged within the cavity 10. The induction coil 16 surrounds the full circumference of the cavity 10. The induction coil 16 is arranged surrounding the susceptor arrangement 14. The induction coil 16 surrounds the part of the cavity 10, in which a substrate portion 18 of the aerosol-generating article 12 is received. A filter portion 20 of the aerosol-generating article 12 sticks out of the cavity 10 after insertion of the aerosol-generating article 12 into the cavity 10. A user draws on the filter portion 20.

[0095] The induction coil 16 only surrounds a part of the cavity 10. This part of the cavity 10 surrounded by the induction coil 16 is referred to as a heating zone. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the induction coil 16 surrounds a downstream part of the cavity 10. The induction coil 16 surrounds a first susceptor 22. The first susceptor 22 is arranged surrounding the downstream part of the cavity 10. The first susceptor 22 is arranged surrounding a first heating zone corresponding to the space of the cavity 10 surrounded by the first susceptor 22.

[0096] The susceptor arrangement 14 comprises multiple susceptors in FIG. 1, in which three susceptors are depicted. Apart from the first susceptor 22, a second susceptor 30 and a third susceptor 34 are depicted. The induction coil 16 is configured movable between different heating positions. Each heating position of the induction coil 16 corresponds to a position surrounding a susceptor 22, 30, 34. Between each individual susceptor 22, 30, 34, an electrically insulating element 36 is arranged. The electrically insulating element 36 is ring shaped. The electrically insulating element 36 is tubular. At the upstream end of the susceptor arrangement 14, an electrically insulating element 36 is provided between the last susceptor 34 and a base 28 of the cavity 10. This upstream electrically insulating element 36 prevents electrical contact between the last susceptor 34 and the base 28 of the cavity 10. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, three susceptors 22, 30, 34 are shown. However, this number is chosen for illustrative reasons. Depending upon the desired number of heating zones, a higher or lower number of susceptors may be provided. Preferably, the number of positions of the induction coil 16 corresponds to the number of susceptors being provided.

[0097] The aerosol-generating device comprises further elements not shown in the figures such as a controller for controlling the induction heating arrangement. The controller is configured to separately control individual coils, if the induction heating arrangement comprises more than one induction coil 16. The aerosol-generating device comprises a power supply such as a battery. The controller is configured to control the supply of electrical energy from the power supply to the induction coil 16 or to the individual induction coils 16.

[0098] In the base 28 of the cavity 10, an air aperture is provided. The air aperture has an elongate extension parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device. The air aperture allows air to enter into the cavity 10 at an upstream end 32 of the cavity 10. A thermally insulating element is provided surrounding the sidewall of the cavity 10 or forming the sidewall of the cavity 10. The thermally insulating element prevents air from entering into the cavity 10 in a lateral direction.

[0099] An air inlet is provided to enable ambient air to enter the cavity 10. The air inlet is arranged at the downstream end of the housing 24. Alternatively, the air inlet is placed in the outer circumference of the housing 24 of the aerosol-generating device.

[0100] In FIG. 1, a resilient sealing element 38 is shown at the downstream end of the cavity 10. The resilient sealing element 38 is arranged surrounding the downstream end of the cavity 10. The resilient sealing element 38 has a circular shape. The resilient sealing element 38 has a funnel shape facilitating insertion of the aerosol-generating article 12. The resilient sealing element 38 applies pressure to the aerosol-generating article 12 after insertion of the aerosol-generating article 12 to hold the aerosol-generating article 12 in place. The resilient sealing element 38 is air impenetrable to prevent air from escaping the cavity 10 except for escaping through the aerosol-generating article 12.

[0101] To facilitate movement of the induction coil 16, a guiding element 42 is provided. The guiding element 42 is engaged with a guiding slot 44 of the housing 24 of the aerosol-generating device. The guiding element 42 partly surrounds the induction coil 16. The induction coil 16 is mounted on the guiding element 42. The guiding element 42 is movable within the guiding slot 44. Movement of the guiding element 42 within the guiding slot 44 results in a movement of the induction coil 16 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2.

[0102] FIG. 2 shows an illustration of the aerosol-generating device, in which an aerosol-generating article 12 is inserted into the cavity 10. The substrate portion 18 of the aerosol-generating article 12 is received in the cavity 10. A filter portion 20 of the aerosol-generating article 12 may stick out of the cavity 10 for a user to draw on the aerosol-generating article 12.

[0103] In addition to the inserted aerosol-generating article 12, FIG. 2 shows that the induction coil 16 has been moved to a second heating position. In the second heating position, the induction coil 16 surrounds the second susceptor 30 of the susceptor arrangement 14. The movement from the first heating position to the second heating position is facilitated automatically by a motor. Particularly, the movement from the first heating position to the second heating position is facilitated if the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article 12 in the first heating zone corresponding to the first heating position of the induction coil 16 is depleted. After depletion of this aerosol-forming substrate, the induction coil 16 is automatically moved by the multiple to the second heating position. Alternatively to movement of the induction coil 16 automatically by a motor, the movement may be conducted by a user. Particularly, a rotate the outer part of the guiding element 42 so that the guiding element 42 slides within the guiding slot 44. The aerosol-generating device may comprise means for indicating to user that the aerosol-forming substrate in the first heating zone is depleted. Exemplarily, the aerosol-generating device may comprise optical means to indicate to a user that the induction coil 16 should be moved.

[0104] FIG. 3 shows the guiding slot 44 in more detail. Preferably, the guiding slot 44 has a helical shape. Consequently, a rotational movement of the guiding element 42 results in an axial movement of the induction coil 16.

[0105] FIG. 4 shows operation of the induction coil 16 in the second heating position for heating the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-forming article 12 in the second heating zone.

[0106] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the susceptor arrangement 14. Particularly, the first susceptor 22, the second susceptor 30 and the third susceptor 34 are depicted in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the susceptor arrangement 14. Between the individual susceptors 22, 30, 34, the electrically insulating elements 36 may be arranged. The electrically insulating elements 36 are provided with slots 46 to enable airflow into the cavity 10 through the electrically insulating elements 36.

[0107] FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a different configuration of the susceptor arrangement 14. In this embodiment, the susceptor arrangement 14 is configured as blade shaped susceptors. The blade shaped susceptors are elongate and extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity 10. In this embodiment, gaps 40 are provided between the blade shaped susceptors to enable radial airflow into the aerosol-generating article between the individual blade shaped susceptors. The inner diameter of the blade shaped susceptors corresponds to or is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article 12 so that the susceptors hold the aerosol-generating article 12 in place after the aerosol-generating article 12 is received in the cavity 10.

[0108] More than one induction coil 16 may be provided. In addition to the induction coil 16, a second induction coil 48 is provided. Preferably, two induction coils 16, 48 or more than two induction coils are provided. The induction coils 16, 48 are part of the induction heating arrangement. The induction coils 16, 48 are separately controllable to enable heating of separate heating zones within the cavity 10. An embodiment of two induction coils 16, 48 is depicted in FIG. 7. Preferably, both induction coils 16, 48 are attached to the guiding element 42 so that both induction coils 16, 48 can be moved at the same time. The combination of providing multiple induction coils 16, 48 and configuring the induction coils 16, 48 movable enables a variety of potential heating regimes. Separately controlling the individual induction coils 16, 48 already enables separate heating of at least two heating zones. In addition, movement of the induction coils 16, 48 by means of movement of the guiding element 42 within the guiding slot 44 enables the induction coils 16, 48 to be moved to different heating zones. As desired, independent control of the individual induction coils 16, 48 as well as movement of the induction coils 16, 48 to different heating positions may be combined.