EP4663045A1

EP4663045A1 - Component for an aerosol generating apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP4663045A1
Application number: EP24181182.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Original assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd Great Britain
Current assignee: Imperial Tobacco Group Ltd
Priority date: 2024-06-10
Filing date: 2024-06-10
Publication date: 2025-12-17
Also published as: WO2025256862A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a component for an aerosol generating apparatus, an aerosol generating apparatus and a method of cleaning at least one further part of an aerosol generating. A drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses is part of the aerosolised aerosol precursor may not leave the aerosol generating apparatus but may deposit itself on surfaces or structures within the aerosol generating apparatus, requiring periodic cleaning of said surfaces or structures. Accordingly, there is provided component (200) of an aerosol generating apparatus (1) for cleaning at least one further part (206) of the aerosol generating apparatus (1), wherein the component (200) comprises a cleaning element (202) which, in use, forms a region of surface contact (216) with the further part (206), wherein the component (200) is slidingly movable relative to the further part (206), thereby maintaining the surface contact, in a first direction (208a) and an opposite second direction (208b), wherein the cleaning element (202) in the region of surface contact (216) with the further part (206) comprises a first edge (210a) which forms a leading edge in the first direction of movement and a second edge (210b) which forms a leading edge in the second direction of movement, wherein the first edge (210a), when the component (200) is moved in the first direction (208a), is arranged to slide over deposits (204) on the surface of the structural element (206) between the cleaning element (202) and the structural element (206), and wherein the second edge (210b), when the component (200) is moved in the second direction (208b), is arranged to scrape off said deposits (204) from the surface of the further part (206).

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a component for an aerosol generating apparatus, an aerosol generating apparatus and a method of cleaning at least one further part of an aerosol generating.

BACKGROUND

A typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
A drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses is part of the aerosolised aerosol precursor may not leave the aerosol generating apparatus but may deposit itself on surfaces or structures within the aerosol generating apparatus, requiring periodic cleaning of said surfaces or structures.
In spite of the effort already invested in the development of aerosol generating apparatuses/systems further improvements are desirable.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a component of an aerosol generating apparatus for cleaning at least one further part of the aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the component comprises a cleaning element which, in use, forms a region of surface contact with the further part, wherein the component is slidingly movable relative to the further part, thereby maintaining the surface contact, in a first direction and an opposite second direction. The cleaning element in the region of surface contact with the further part comprises a first edge which forms a leading edge in the first direction of movement and a second edge which forms a leading edge in the second direction of movement. In some examples, the first edge, when the component is moved in the first direction, is arranged to slide over deposits on the surface of the structural element between the cleaning element and the structural element, and wherein the second edge, when the component is moved in the second direction, is arranged to scrape off said deposits from the surface of the further part.
In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a component according to the present disclosure.
In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of cleaning at least one further part of an aerosol generating apparatus by using a component according to the present disclosure. In some examples, the method comprises the steps of moving the cleaning element in the first direction to compress and/or let pass dirt, deposits or debris deposited on the surface of the further part with the first edge, and moving the cleaning element in the second direction to remove and/or scrape off said dirt, deposits or debris from the surface of the further part with the second edge.
A typical aerosol generating apparatus generates aerosol from a consumable for inhalation by a user. Said aerosol may comprise particles or other forms of substances within the airstream to be inhaled by the user. While inhaling generates a preferred flow direction of the aerosol generated by e.g. a heating element, from the interior to the outside of the aerosol generating apparatus, it normally cannot be avoided that some part of the aerosol is distributed to some extent within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus. E.g., cavities or voids in the vicinity of the consumable cavity are prone to receiving aerosol between puffs or even during a puff, e.g., because the generated aerosol cannot be immediately and or completely drawn out of the aerosol generating apparatus by the inhalation. Alternatively, or additionally, It is also conceivable that debris is accumulated within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g., from the aerosol forming substrate (like stray aerosol generating material).
At least a portion of the generated aerosol that is unintentionally present in cavities or voids within the aerosol generating apparatus may remain within said hollow spaces and may in particular be not removed by a subsequent puff. Particles within the aerosol may comprise some adhesive properties thereby sticking to surfaces of the hollow spaces within the aerosol generating apparatus. In other words, it is conceivable that aerosol that is unintentionally present in cavities or voids within the aerosol generating apparatus may facilitate deposit of at least a part of its particles onto surfaces of said hollow spaces. During the repeated use, each smoking session may contribute to the additional depositing of suspended particles within the aerosol so that deposits within the hollow spaces in the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus so that the amount of deposited material may build up and increase with each consumable consumed.
The present disclosure is concerned with providing means to facilitate removing unintentionally or undesirably deposited material from cavities or voids within the aerosol generating apparatus thereby allowing cleaning of the aerosol generating apparatus or at least parts thereof, which may not be readily accessible from the outside to allow a manual cleaning by the user.
In order to facilitate such cleaning, the present disclosure provides an exemplary disclosure of a component, e.g., a cleaning mechanism, which uses a cleaning element in surface contact with elements or regions, e.g. surfaces within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus to access and/or remove dirt, deposits or debris, generally referred to as deposits.
The component or the cleaning mechanism comprises a cleaning element that is movable relative to an element to be cleaned, e.g., a surface in the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, and thereby allows manipulating any dirt, deposits or debris by which the surface may be impacted. The cleaning element is in surface contact with the element to be cleaned, so that such dirt, deposits or debris may be removed from the surface. To facilitate removal e.g., by scraping off dirt, deposits or debris, the cleaning element provides a directional manipulating of dirt, deposits or debris. Directional manipulation may be understood as a non-symmetrical manipulation considering the direction of movement of the cleaning element relative to an element to be cleaned/its surface. E.g., the cleaning element may be moved into different directions relative to the element to be cleaned. While moving the cleaning element in a first direction, dirt, deposits or debris may be reshaped in place, e.g., may be compressed or otherwise prepared for removal without actually removing, while the cleaning element is sliding over the deposits, while moving the cleaning element in a second direction, which may be opposite or 180° relative to the first direction, the dirt, deposits or debris may be removed, e.g., scraped off of the surface of the element to be cleaned.
In order to provide said two different ways of manipulating the dirt, deposits or debris, the cleaning element may have a different geometrical shape at a respective edge of the cleaning element leading in the direction of movement, i.e., in the first direction and in the second direction, respectively. The geometrical shape of the leading edge of the cleaning element in the first direction may provide or facilitate manipulation of dirt, deposits or debris without their removing, while the leading edge of the cleaning element in the second direction may provide or facilitate manipulation dirt, deposits or debris by at least partly removing dirt, deposits or debris.
The movement of the cleaning element relative to the element to be cleaned may be actuated by the user from outside of the aerosol generating apparatus. E.g., the user may actuate or move a part of the aerosol generating apparatus, for example, a part of the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus, which movement translates to or actuates the movement of the cleaning element within the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus relative to the element to be cleaned. The outside movement by the user may coincide in movement direction with the first direction and the second direction of the cleaning element within the housing relative to the element to be cleaned. Alternatively, the outside movement may be translated, e.g., by a lever arrangement or the like, so that the outside movement is transferred to the cleaning element while the outside movement does not coincide, i.e., is parallel to, the first and second direction.
For example, the movement of the component may correspond to the outside movement by the user so that its movement may coincide with the movement of the cleaning element. By moving the component, the user may be enabled to remove at least part of dirt, deposits or debris accumulated within interior cavities or voids from their respective surfaces. A movement in the second direction may extract the dirt, deposits or debris removed from the surface of the element to be cleaned from within the interior of the housing. E.g., the removed dirt, deposits or debris may be conveyed in a direction where the housing comprises an opening so that the accumulated dirt, deposits or debris may be moved to said opening and removed through the opening from the aerosol generating apparatus.
A user of the aerosol generating apparatus may thus maintain cleanliness of interior cavities or voids by performing a cleaning by movement of the cleaning element, e.g. by movement of the component or a further suitable outside movement of a part of the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus, in the first direction and in the second direction. Such a cleaning may be performed after each smoking session, after a defined number of smoking sessions or on demand, e.g., indicated by the aerosol generating apparatus, once it has been determined that a noteworthy amount of dirt, deposits or debris has accumulated.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first edge may be formed by a rounded or chamfered surface of the component, e.g., have one of a rounded edge, a bevelled edge, a chamfered edge and an obtuse edge.
Such a first edge may allow that the cleaning element is moved relative to deposited dirt, deposits or debris while avoiding the moving or removing of the dirt, deposits or debris. Rather, an according first edge allows a forming, compressing or reshaping of deposited dirt, deposits or debris, while essentially retaining the deposits generally in their position, in particular if said deposits are pliable. Thereby, said deposits may be prepared for removal while reducing the risk for accidental removal when moving the cleaning element in the first direction. Such may be particularly beneficial in case deposits would be moved in the first direction, the aerosol generating apparatus is not so arranged to allow a subsequent removal of said deposits when they have accidentally been moved in the first direction.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second edge may be a blade edge, e.g., have one of a sharp edge, straight edge, a bevelled edge, a rectangular edge, an acute edge, a blade-type edge and a chisel-type edge.
Such a second edge may allow that the cleaning element removes deposits from the further part in a way that the majority of deposits is removed. An according second edge may avoid that the deposits pass the cleaning element when moving the same in the second direction. Such may be particularly beneficial in case that deposits moved in the second direction may subsequently be removed from the aerosol generating apparatus.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the component, when moved in the first direction, may expose a heating element and/or may open an access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus to allow cleaning of the heating element and/or a consumable cavity by the user.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise exposing a heating element and/or opening an access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus to allow cleaning of the heating element and/or a consumable cavity by the user when moving the component in the first direction.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the component may be a cap of an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein, in use, the cap when moved in the first direction, may expose a heating element and/or opens an access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus to allow cleaning of the heating element and/or a consumable cavity by the user, and when moved in the second direction, may cover the heating element and/or closes the access to the consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the component, when moved in the second direction, may cover a heating element and/or may close the access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise covering a heating element and/or closing an access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus when moving the component in the second direction.
Exposing the heating element and/or providing access to the consumable cavity may facilitate the subsequent cleaning of said elements in that a user may introduce an appropriate cleaning tool through an opening generated by the movement of the component. Further, a cleanliness state of the heating element and/or the consumable cavity may be readily inspected by the user through the generated opening. Thereby, not only may the cleaning of the heating element and/or the consumable cavity be facilitated but the user may subsequently verify whether the cleaning process has yielded the desired results. In case the user determines that the heating element and/or the consumable cavity have not been sufficiently cleaned, a manual cleaning operation may be prolonged or repeated.
Closing the access to the consumable cavity and/or the heating element may prevent direct access by the user separate from, e.g., an opening intended for insertion of the consumable. Thereby, both the heating element and the user are protected. A resulting position of the component that has been moved in the second direction, in particular in a way that no further movement in the second direction is possible, may correspond to the position when using the aerosol generating apparatus, i.e., when consuming a consumable.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the deposits may be transported into the consumable cavity by the movement of the component in the second direction.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise transporting the deposits into the consumable cavity by the movement of the cleaning element in the second direction.
The dirt, deposits or debris, generally deposits, removed and/or scraped off from the further part may be moved in the direction of the consumable cavity and may be collected within the consumable cavity for subsequent removal. Since the consumable cavity provides an internal volume within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, it provides sufficient room for collecting the removed deposits. Thus, it may not be required to provide a further internal volume specifically dedicated for the collection of removed deposits to be removed from the aerosol generating apparatus. The consumable cavity may thus provide the volume for accommodating a consumable for consumption or alternatively may provide the volume for collecting the removed deposits.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the deposits transported into the consumable cavity may be removable from the consumable cavity via at least one the consumable opening and/or access to the consumable cavity after moving the component in the first direction.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise removing deposits from the consumable cavity via at least one of the opening into the consumable cavity and/or access to the consumable cavity after moving the cleaning element in the first direction.
Moving the component in the first direction a further time provides again access to the consumable cavity, so that the removed debris, now present in the consumable cavity, to be removed by the opening provided when the component has been moved in the first direction. The collected deposits of removed dirt, deposits or debris may thus be removed from the consumable cavity by the user, e.g., by shaking the aerosol generating apparatus and/or by using a dedicated cleaning tool. At the same time, the component may be ready to remove additional dirt, deposits or debris, which a first cleaning movement of moving the component first in the first direction and second and in the second direction was unable to remove. As such, a repetition of the cleaning movement may allow to successively increase the degree of cleanliness, as the dirt, deposits or debris may be repeatedly removed/scraped off.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at least two cleaning elements may be provided, and may be located on opposite sides of the cap.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the further part to be cleaned may be a structural element or support element of the aerosol generating apparatus.
The further part may thus be a structural element, an element supporting and/or guiding the movement of the component, thereby realizing the movement of the cleaning element relative to the further part and thus its cleaning. The further part may be a bar, a column or a rodlike element with a defined longitudinal extension along which the component may be moved, while being supported and/or guided in its movement.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the dirt, deposits or debris may be a deposit from aerosol generated when using the aerosol generating apparatus.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the or each further part to be cleaned may be a structural element of the aerosol generating apparatus supporting and/or guiding the movement of the cap.
An aerosol generated within the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g., by a consumable, may unintentionally or undesirably propagate within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g., through cavities or voids within the structure of the aerosol generating apparatus. In case such aerosol is trapped within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus, i.e., it is not removable by a sufficiently constant airflow, particles within the aerosol may deposit themselves on further parts, their surface, and may build up over time. Thus, providing a component to remove said deposits maintains the aerosol generating apparatus in a usable condition thereby prolonging its usable life.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the component may be movable in the first direction up to an end stop, and/or the component, when having been moved in the in the first direction up to an end stop may be retained on the aerosol generating apparatus.
The component, and/or the cleaning element may be movable in the first direction up to a certain point. Said point represents an end stop to the travel in the first direction, so that the component is not movable beyond said end stop, at least not without excessive force and/or destroying the component, the cleaning mechanism and/or the cleaning element. Thus, the movement up to the end stop may be seen as the intended maximum movement, as envisioned by the manufacturer. Therefore, the component may be considered to be non-removable, at least not without excessive force and/or destroying the component, the cleaning mechanism, the cleaning element and/or the aerosol generating apparatus. It may be attached to or fitted in.
The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and/or proceeding examples may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements.

Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus.
Figs. 2A to 2C is a schematic operation of the cleaning element according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 3 is an exemplary embodiment of the cleaning element according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 4 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 4.
Figs. 6A , 6B is a schematic movement of a part of the aerosol generating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Fig. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a method 300 of cleaning at least one further part of an aerosol generating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein could be embodied differently and/or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.
Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.
Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concept(s). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.
The use of the term "a" or "an" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one," as well as "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." As such, the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.
The use of the term "or" in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising, "having," "including," or "containing" (and any forms thereof, such as "comprise" and "comprises," "have" and "has," "includes" and "include," or "contains" and "contain," respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an "ex post facto" benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase "in one embodiment," "according to an embodiment," and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to 'an,' 'one,' or 'some' embodiment(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and/or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.
The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by "or" may be used interchangeably:
As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or "electronic(e)-cigarette") may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally/alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible "smoking article" may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and/or pyrolysis). A n aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and/or an airflow sensor.
Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength/duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).
The aerosol generating apparatus may be portable. As used herein, the term "portable" may refer to the apparatus being for use when held by a user.
As used herein, an "aerosol generating system" may be a system that includes an aerosol generating apparatus and optionally other circuitry/components associated with the function of the apparatus, e.g. one or more external devices and/or one or more external components (here "external" is intended to mean external to the aerosol generating apparatus).
As used herein, an "external device" and "external component" may include one or more of a: a charging device, a mobile device (which may be connected to the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. via a wireless or wired connection); a networked-based computer (e.g. a remote server); a cloud-based computer; any other server system.
An example aerosol generating system may be a system for managing an aerosol generating apparatus. Such a system may include, for example, a mobile device, a network server, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus.
As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.
As used herein, a "precursor" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and/or glycerine. The term "flavouring" may refer to a component that provides a taste and/or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active components; a carrier; a flavouring.
As used herein, a "storage portion" may be a portion of the apparatus adapted to store the precursor. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the precursor as defined above.
As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.
As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.
As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user.
As used herein, a "puff" (or "inhale" or "draw") by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and/or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.
As used herein, an "aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.
As used herein, a "heating system" may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.
As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. The consumable may include an information carrying medium. With liquid or gel implementations of the precursor, e.g. an e-liquid, the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable". The capsule/pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a "stick" or "package" or "heat-not-burn consumable". In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.
As used herein, an "information carrying medium" may include one or more arrangements for storage of information on any suitable medium. Examples include: a computer readable medium; a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder; codes encoding information, such as optical (e.g. a bar code or QR code) or mechanically read codes (e.g. a configuration of the absence or presents of cutouts to encode a bit, through which pins or a reader may be inserted).
As used herein "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated precursor") may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).
Referring to Figure 1, an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and/or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
Electrical circuitry (not shown in Figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.
In variant examples, which are not illustrated, the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.
Figures 2A to 2C show a schematic operation of the cleaning element according to the present disclosure.
Figures 2A to 2C schematically show a component 200, to remove deposit 204 from a void 214 within the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. It is to be understood that while the following description refers to deposits only, reference to all types of dirt, deposits or debris that may accumulate in the interior of an aerosol generating apparatus originating from the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating apparatus is intended, as well as other types of dirt or foreign objects unintentionally being present or introduced into voids of the aerosol generating apparatus.
The component 200 comprises a cleaning element 202, schematically depicted as having an L shape. This L shape is only used to visualize the underlying technical concept of the component 200 according to the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting and/or constituting an essential feature for the cleaning element 202.
The cleaning element 202 comprises a first edge 210a and a second edge 21 0b. The region 216 of the cleaning element 202 with its first edge 210a and second edge 210b is in the vicinity of an element to be cleaned 206. In region 216, the cleaning element 202 may be in surface contact with the element to be cleaned 206. Such as surface contact may include a minor distance between the cleaning element 202 and the element to be cleaned 206, so that deposit 204 may remain or pass between the cleaning element 202 and the element to be cleaned 206, when the cleaning element 202 is moved relative to the element to be cleaned 206, possibly, dependent on the shape of the first edge 210a and the second edge 210b. The cleaning element 202 may be considered to be in the vicinity of the element to be cleaned 206
The first edge 210a, intended for manipulation of deposit 204 without removal, is exemplarily arranged as a rounded edge that facilitates deformation of deposit 204, without significant removal. In Figures 2A to 2C, the first edge 210a is exemplarily depicted as a rounded edge. It is conceivable that deposit 204 is still relocated to some extent relative to the element to be cleaned 206 due to the manipulation and/or the deformation by the first edge 210a.
The second edge in Figures 2A to 2C, intended for removal of deposit 204, is exemplarily arranged a as a sharp edge, e.g., an edge having substantially a 90° angle. Different edges, having a different angles or shapes are conceivable, as long as removal of at least a part of deposit 204 is achieved. For example, the first edge may be a stepped edge instead of a rounded edge, e.g., having two 45°, or similar angles, for example a 50° angle and a 40° angle or a 60° angle and a 30° angle for manipulating and/or deforming deposit 204. Likewise, the second edge may be embodied as a blade type edge or chisel type edge to scrape off or remove deposit 204.
Without going into detail into a possible internal structure of the aerosol generating apparatus 1, deposit 204 is arranged within a void 214 in the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
Figure 2B shows a position of the cleaning element 202, in a situation where cleaning element 202 has been moved in the first direction 208a and has thereby passed by deposit 204. As may be seen in Figure 2B, deposit 204 has been deformed, here, flattened, by the passing over of the first edge 210a. In other words, the cleaning element 202 passed by deposit 204 without removing the same from the element to be cleaned 206, but may have changed its shape due to a force acting on the deposit 204 by the first edge 210a or the cleaning element 202 in general. The first direction 208a is indicated by the upwards pointing arrow, and in the first direction 208a, the first edge 210a, is leading in the direction of movement. The shape of the first edge 210a facilitates a passing of deposit 204 between the cleaning element 202 and the element to be cleaned 206.
Now referring to Figure 2C, which shows a movement of the cleaning element 202 in the second direction 208b, as indicated by the downwards pointing arrow. In the second direction 208b, the second edge 210b is leading in the direction of movement. The second edge 210b in Figure 2C is embodied as a sharp edge, exemplarily as an edge having a 90° angle between its sides. The shape of the second edge 210b prevents or hinders a passing of deposit 204, at least the majority thereof, between the cleaning element 202 and the element to be cleaned 206. Thereby, deposit 204 is moved in the second direction 208b along the surface of the element to be cleaned 206. In other words, deposit 204 is removed from the surface of the element to be cleaned 206 by the sharp edge 210b.
While the upper cavity depicted in Figures 2A to 2C may be seen as a void 214, in the interior of the aerosol generating apparatus 1, the lower cavity depicted in Figures 2A to 2C may correspond to, or may open up into, the interior of the consumable cavity 72. Since a consumable cavity regularly has at least one opening, i.e., an opening for inserting a consumable 70, debris 204 scraped off of the element to be cleaned 206 and accumulated within the consumable cavity 72 or a cavity in connection therewith may be removed from the consumable cavity 72, at least via said opening for inserting a consumable 70.
In summary, a first movement of the cleaning element 202 in the first direction 208a with a subsequent second movement of the cleaning element 202 in the second direction 208b relative to the element to be cleaned 206 facilitates moving debris 204 from an interior void 214 of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 into the consumable cavity 72, or a cavity in connection therewith, for subsequent removal from the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the cleaning element according to the present disclosure.
In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3, a cleaning element 202 is depicted, which does not feature an L shape. Essentially, the cleaning element 202 of Figure 3 is a straight element comprising the first edge 210a and the second edge 210b at one side, here the bottom side, possibly slightly protruding from the otherwise flat surface of the cleaning element 202. The first and second edges may be positioned against an element to be cleaned 206, so that deposit 204 on the surface of the element to be cleaned 206, in particular on the surface facing in the direction of the cleaning element 202, may be removed as depicted in Figures 2A to 2C. Thereby, deposit 204 arranged on the void 214 side of the first edge 210a and the second edge 210b on the surface of the element to be cleaned 206 may be removed and moved towards the consumable cavity 72 side of the first edge 210a and the second edge 210b. Thereby, deposit 204, not specifically depicted in Figure 3, may be removed from void 214 and moved into consumable cavity 72 and further removed from the aerosol generating apparatus 1, at least by the opening for receiving a consumable.
Figure 4 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Figure 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.
In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.
In this example, the body 50 includes the power supply 4 and a heating system 52. The heating system 54 includes at least one heating element 54. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.
The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.
The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.
The other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and/or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Figure 5).
The body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable. In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the heating system 52 of the body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.
Figure 5 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Figure 4.
As depicted in Figure 5, the consumable 70 is implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the body 50, which causes the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 to penetrate into the solid precursor 6.
The consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the body 50, and a filter distal to the body 50. The filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole. The solid precursor 6 may be a reconstituted tobacco formulation.
In this example, the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile. Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g., the at least one heating element may be blade-shaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).
In this example, the body 50 includes a cap 51. In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50. Although not apparent from Figure 5, the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.
The body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.
The body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and/or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.
The body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.
In this example, the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.
In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.
Figures 6A, 6B show a schematic movement of a part of the aerosol generating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
Figure 6A is an enlarged view of the top part of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 depicted in Figure 5. Top end 53 of aerosol generating apparatus 1 features a cap 51 and an opening for consumable cavity 72. Two cleaning element 202 at opposite sides of the consumable cavity 72 are indicated schematically. The cap 51 may be moved in a first direction 208a and in a second direction 208b. The position in which the cap 51 is depicted in Figure 6A, does not allow any further movement in the second direction 208b, though. With the movement of the cap 51 in the first direction 208a and in a second direction 208b, a component 200, not further depicted in Figures 6A, 6B, may be actuated. In other words, with the movement of the cap 51 in the first direction 208a and in a second direction 208b, the cleaning element 202 may first be moved in the first direction 208a relative to an element to be cleaned 206, not visible in Figures 6A, 6B, and subsequently moved in the second direction 208b, for removal of debris 204 from the element to be cleaned 206.
Any debris 204 removed from the element to be cleaned 206, may subsequently accumulate within the consumable cavity 72, and may be removed therefrom via the opening of the consumable cavity 72. E.g., a user may orient the aerosol generating apparatus upside down and may perform a tapping motion, tapping the top end 53 against a surface, so that any accumulated debris 204 within the consumable cavity 72, leaves the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
Alternatively, or additionally, as depicted in Figure 6B, the movement of the cap 51 in the first direction 208a may open at least one further access 212 or opening into the consumable cavity 72, here, arranged in one or both sides of the main body 50 of the housing of the aerosol generating apparatus 1. Thereby, accumulated debris 204 scraped off the element to be cleaned 206 may not only be removed via the opening for inserting a consumable, but also by the one or more accesses 212 in the sides of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 opening after moving the cap 51 and thus the component 200/the cleaning element 202 in the second direction 208a. Such an access 212 may further facilitate the use of dedicated cleaning tools to clean the consumable cavity 72 and/or the heating element 54.
Cap 51 in Figure 6B may be considered to be in a position after being moved in the first direction 208a. Thus, it is conceivable that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 for cleaning the same moved the cap 51 at least once in the first direction 208a and in the second direction 208b, and then one further time in the first direction 208a, so to open the access 212 for cleaning the element to be cleaned 206, the consumable cavity 72 and/or the heating element 54. It is likewise conceivable that the user performs a plurality of repetitions of movement in the first direction 208a and in the second direction 208b, thereby successively removing accumulated debris 204 on the surface of the element to be cleaned 206. Providing at least two openings, one opening for insertion of the consumable 70, as well as one access 212 allows for an easy cleaning of the consumable cavity 72, even without tools, e.g., by the user blowing into the opening, so that accumulated debris 204 is blown out of the at least one other access 212. Having two accesses 212 at opposite sides of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 allows the use of a cleaning tool that reaches into and possibly through the consumable cavity 72 for cleaning to facilitate the cleaning of the consumable cavity 72 and/or the heating element 54.
Figure 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method of cleaning at least one further part of an aerosol generating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
The method 300 of cleaning at least one further part of an aerosol generating apparatus by using a component comprises the steps of moving 310 the cleaning element in the first direction to compress and/or let pass dirt, deposits or debris deposited on the surface of the further part with the first edge, and moving 320 the cleaning element in the second direction to remove and/or scrape off said dirt, deposits or debris from the surface of the further part with the second edge.
Further, the method comprises the steps of exposing 330 a heating element and/or opening 340 an access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus to allow cleaning of the heating element and/or a consumable cavity by the user when moving the component in the first direction. Still further, the method comprises the steps of covering 350 a heating element and/or closing 360 the access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus when moving the component in the second direction. Yet further, the method comprises the step of transporting 370 dirt, deposits or debris into the consumable cavity by the movement of the cleaning element in the second direction. Even further, the method comprises the step of removing 380 dirt, deposits or debris from the consumable cavity via at least one the consumable opening and/or at least one access to the consumable cavity after moving the cleaning element in the first direction.

Claims

A component (200) of an aerosol generating apparatus (1) for cleaning at least one further part (206) of the aerosol generating apparatus (1),
wherein the component (200) comprises a cleaning element (202) which, in use, forms a region of surface contact (216) with the further part (206),
wherein the component (200) is slidingly movable relative to the further part (206), thereby maintaining the surface contact, in a first direction (208a) and an opposite second direction (208b),

wherein the cleaning element (202) in the region of surface contact (216) with the further part (206) comprises a first edge (210a) which forms a leading edge in the first direction of movement and a second edge (210b) which forms a leading edge in the second direction of movement,

wherein the first edge (210a), when the component (200) is moved in the first direction (208a), is arranged to slide over deposits (204) on the surface of the structural element (206) between the cleaning element (202) and the structural element (206), and

wherein the second edge (210b), when the component (200) is moved in the second direction (208b), is arranged to scrape off said deposits (204) from the surface of the further part (206).
The component according to the preceding claim,
wherein the first edge (208a) is formed by a rounded or chamfered surface of the component, and/or

wherein the second edge (208b) is a blade edge.
The component according to at least one of the preceding claims, which is a cap of an aerosol generating apparatus (1),
wherein, in use, the cap (200) when moved in the first direction (208a), exposes a heating element (54) and/or opens an access (212) to a consumable cavity (72) of the aerosol generating apparatus (1) to allow cleaning of the heating element (54) and/or a consumable cavity (72) by the user, and when moved in the second direction (208b), covers the heating element (54) and/or closes the access (212) to the consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus.
The cap according to the preceding claim,
wherein the deposits (204) are transported into the consumable cavity (72) by the movement of the component (200) in the second direction (208b).
The cap according to the preceding claim,
wherein the deposits (204) transported into the consumable cavity (72) are removable from the consumable cavity (72) via re-opened access (212) to the consumable cavity after moving the cleaning element (202) again in the first direction (208a).
The cap according to at least one of at least one of claims 3 to 5, having two cleaning elements located on opposite sides of the cap.
An aerosol generating apparatus (1) comprising a component (200) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6.
The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the component (200) is movable in the first direction (208a) up to an end stop, and/or wherein the component (200), when having been moved in the in the first direction (208a) up to an end stop is retained on the aerosol generating apparatus (1).
The aerosol generating apparatus according to the preceding claims, as dependent on of claims 3 to 6,
wherein the or each further part (206) to be cleaned is a structural element of the aerosol generating apparatus (1) supporting and/or guiding the movement of the cap.
The aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the deposits (204) are from aerosol generated when using the aerosol generating apparatus (1).
Method (300) of cleaning at least one structural element of an aerosol generating apparatus by using a component (200) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the steps of
moving (310) the component (200) in the first direction to compress and/or let pass deposits deposited on the surface of the structural element with the first edge,
and

moving (320) the component (200) in the second direction to remove and/or scrape off said deposits from the surface of the structural element with the second edge.
Method according to the preceding claim, further comprising the steps of
exposing (330) a heating element and/or opening (340) an access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus to allow cleaning of the heating element and/or a consumable cavity by the user when moving the component (200) in the first direction.
Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps of
covering (350) a heating element and/or closing (360) the access to a consumable cavity of the aerosol generating apparatus when moving the component in the second direction.
Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of
transporting (370) the deposits into the consumable cavity by the movement of the cleaning element in the second direction.
Method according to the preceding claim, further comprising the step of
removing (380) deposits from the consumable cavity via at least one the consumable opening and/or access to the consumable cavity after moving the cleaning element in the first direction.