HK1262377A1 - Cartridge for aerosol inhaler, aerosol inhaler provided with same, and heat-generating sheet for aerosol inhaler - Google Patents

Description

Aerosol-absorber cartridge, aerosol absorber provided with aerosol-absorber cartridge, and aerosol-absorber heating sheet

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cartridge for an aerosol inhaler, an aerosol inhaler provided with the cartridge for an aerosol inhaler, and a heat generating sheet for an aerosol inhaler.

Background

An aerosol inhaler is known which generates an aerosol in accordance with a user's inhaling action and supplies the aerosol to the user. As an example of such an aerosol inhaler, there is an electronic cigarette in which aerosol-generating liquid is atomized (aerosolized) in an atomizing unit by electric heating using an electric heating coil or the like. The aerosol-generating liquid is a liquid for generating an aerosol, and glycerin (G), Propylene Glycol (PG), and the like can be given as examples.

For example, aerosol-generating liquid is immersed in and held by a reservoir made of cotton or the like, and a wick made of glass fiber or the like sucks the aerosol-generating liquid from the reservoir by capillary effect and sends the aerosol-generating liquid to the vicinity of an electric heating coil. The electric heating coil is generally made of nichrome wire or the like, and is wound around a core rope made of glass fiber. However, in the related embodiment, the resistance value may be changed depending on the degree of winding of the electrothermal coil with respect to the core wire, which may easily cause variation in quality, and increase the cost required for inspection and the like.

In this connection, for example, a technique of providing the liquid absorbing ability by making the heater material itself of the atomizing area porous is proposed. For example, patent document 1 discloses a technique of applying an aerosol suction device such as a fabric structure, a fiber structure having open pores, a sintered structure having open pores, a foam having open pores, a precipitation structure having open pores, or the like as a heater having a capillary structure.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 5612585

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, the technique described in patent document 1 has room for improvement in terms of heat generation characteristics required for a heater used in an aerosol suction device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for reducing local heat generation of a heater by providing a sufficient resistance value required for the heater used in an aerosol inhaler in a heat generating sheet of the aerosol inhaler used for atomizing an aerosol-generating liquid.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an aerosol inhaler cartridge comprising: a liquid storage unit that stores an aerosol-generating liquid; a heat generating sheet provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode and generating heat when a current is passed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to atomize the aerosol-generating liquid supplied from the liquid storage unit; the heat generating sheet is made of a porous material, and has a slit formed therein to suppress localization of a current density of a current flowing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a meandering circuit portion formed in a meandering shape.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for reducing local heat generation of a heater by providing a sufficient resistance value required for the heater used in an aerosol inhaler in a heat generating sheet of the aerosol inhaler used for atomizing an aerosol-generating liquid.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an electronic cigarette as an example of an aerosol inhaler according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an electronic cigarette as an example of the aerosol inhaler according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the cartridge according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing a structure of the porous heat generating sheet according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a heater unit in the porous heat generating sheet according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 6 is a view showing electric wires in a case where electricity is applied to the heater portion of the porous heat generating sheet according to embodiment 1 in phantom lines.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a heater unit of the porous heat generating sheet according to modification 1 of embodiment 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a heater unit of the porous heat generating sheet according to modification 2 of embodiment 1.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a heater unit of the porous heat generating sheet according to modification 3 of embodiment 1.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a heater unit of the porous heat generating sheet according to modification 4 of embodiment 1.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a heater unit of the porous heat generating sheet according to modification 5 of embodiment 1.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a cartridge according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a cartridge according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a cartridge according to embodiment 4.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a cartridge according to embodiment 5.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a cartridge according to modification 1 of embodiment 5.

Fig. 17 is a view showing a porous heat generating sheet according to modification 2 of embodiment 5.

Fig. 18A is a diagram showing an electronic cigarette according to embodiment 6.

Fig. 18B is a diagram showing a cartridge according to embodiment 6.

Fig. 19A is a diagram showing an electronic cigarette according to a modification of embodiment 6.

Fig. 19B is a diagram showing a cartridge according to a modification of embodiment 6.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of an aerosol inhaler, a cartridge applied to the aerosol inhaler, and a porous heat generating sheet according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the constituent elements described in the present embodiment are not intended to limit the technical scope of the invention unless otherwise specified.

< embodiment 1 >

Fig. 1 and 2 are schematic views of an electronic cigarette 1 as an example of an aerosol inhaler (flavor inhaler) according to embodiment 1. The electronic cigarette 1 includes a main body 2 and a mouthpiece portion 4. The main body 2 has a main body side case 20, and a battery 21, an electronic control unit 22, and the like are housed in the main body side case 20. The battery 21 may be a so-called rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery.

The electronic control unit 22 is a computer that controls the whole electronic cigarette 1. The electronic control unit 22 may be a microcontroller having a circuit board (not shown) on which a processor, a memory, and the like are mounted, for example.

The main body case 20 is, for example, a bottomed cylindrical case, and the battery 21 and the electronic control unit 22 are disposed from the bottom surface 20a side. A hollow storage chamber 23 for storing the cartridge 3 is formed on the side of the open end 20b located at the upper end of the body-side case 20. The cartridge 3 is a unit in which a liquid tank (liquid storage section) that stores an aerosol-generating liquid that generates aerosol by being atomized by electrical heating and a porous heat-generating sheet that heats and atomizes the aerosol-generating liquid are integrated, and will be described in detail later. In the electronic cigarette 1 of the present embodiment, the electronic control unit 22 and the battery 21 may be provided from the bottom surface 20a side, or a display device such as an LED or a display may be provided at any position of a bottomed cylindrical case.

The electronic control unit 22 and the battery 21 are connected via an electric wiring, and the electronic control unit 22 controls the supply of electric power from the battery 21 to the porous heat generating sheet as the atomizing unit of the cartridge 3. For example, a puff switch (not shown) operated by the user may be provided on the main body side housing 20. The smoke switch is connected to the electronic control unit 22 via an electric wiring, and when the electronic control unit 22 detects that the smoke switch is operated to be in an on state, the electronic control unit 22 controls the battery 21 to transmit electric power to the porous heat generating sheet of the cartridge 3 from the battery 21.

Next, the mouthpiece portion 4 will be described. The mouthpiece portion 4 is hinged relative to the main body portion 2 via a hinge 5. Fig. 1 shows the mouthpiece section 4 in an open position so that the cartridge 3 can be replaced (housed and taken out) from the housing cavity 23 of the main body section 2. In a state where the mouthpiece portion 4 is disposed at the open position, the housing chamber 23 is opened to the outside.

On the other hand, fig. 2 shows a state in which the mouthpiece section 4 is arranged at a closed position rotated by about 90 ° from the open position. In a state where the mouthpiece 4 is disposed at the closed position, the upper portion of the housing cavity 23 and the cartridge 3 housed in the housing cavity 23 is covered with the mouthpiece 4. However, in the electronic cigarette 1 of the present embodiment, the mouthpiece portion 4 and the main body portion 2 (battery pack) may be detachable. The engaging means between the mouthpiece portion 4 and the body portion 2 in this case is not particularly limited, and a known connecting method such as a screw connection or a connection via a sleeve member, for example, a fitting connection, may be used.

The mouthpiece section 4 has a housing 41. The housing 41 of the mouthpiece section 4 is tapered toward the distal end side so as to be easily held by a user, and a suction port 42 is formed on the distal end side. Further, the housing 41 of the mouthpiece portion 4 is provided with an air intake port 43. Further, a cylindrical baffle partition wall 44 connected to the suction port 42 is provided in the housing 41 of the mouthpiece portion 4, and an internal passage 45 is formed by the baffle partition wall 44. The internal passage 45 of the mouthpiece section 4 communicates with the suction port 42 and the air intake port 43. When a user takes a cigarette, the outside air sucked into the housing 41 from the outside through the air intake port 43 reaches the suction port 42 through the internal passage 45. In the internal passage 45, an atomizing chamber 45a is formed near the upper surface of the cartridge 3. The cartridge 3 is configured to vaporize the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid tank by electric heating, and to generate an aerosol by mixing the vaporized aerosol-generating liquid with air in the atomizing chamber 45 a. The generated aerosol is introduced into the suction port 42 via the atomizing chamber 45a and the internal passage 45, and the user can suck the aerosol through the suction port 42.

In the electronic cigarette 1, instead of the smoking switch, a suction sensor (not shown) may be provided in the main body side housing 20, and the suction (draw) of the user into the suction port 42 may be detected by the suction sensor, thereby detecting the smoking request of the user. In this case, the suction sensor may be connected to the electronic control unit 22 via an electric wire, and when the suction sensor detects suction (withdrawal) of the suction port 42 by the user, the electronic control unit 22 may control the battery 21 so that the battery 21 supplies power to a porous heat generating sheet, which will be described later, of the cartridge 3. In the present invention, as the suction sensor, a pressure-sensitive sensor or a thermal flowmeter (e.g., a MEMS flow sensor) that detects a negative pressure generated by suction of a user can be used. Further, although the atomization chamber 45a is provided in the mouthpiece portion 4, the atomization chamber 45a may be provided in the main body portion 2 by making the housing chamber 23 on the main body portion 2 (battery pack) side deeper. In this case, the air intake port 43 is also preferably provided in the main body 2 (see fig. 18A, 19A, and the like).

Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration of the cartridge 3 according to the present embodiment. The upper view shows the upper surface of the cartridge 3 and the lower view shows a longitudinal section of the cartridge 3. In the present embodiment in which the cartridge 3 has a liquid tank 31 for storing the aerosol-generating liquid therein, the liquid tank 31 is, for example, a cylindrical bottle-shaped case having a circular bottom portion 31a, a lid portion 31b, and a cylindrical side wall portion 31c, but the shape thereof is not particularly limited. A liquid storage space 31d for storing the aerosol-generating liquid is formed inside the liquid tank 31, and the aerosol-generating liquid is stored in the liquid storage space 31 d. The aerosol-generating liquid may be a mixed liquid of glycerin (G), Propylene Glycol (PG), nicotine liquid, water, perfume, and the like, for example. The mixing ratio of the materials contained in the aerosol-generating liquid may be appropriately changed. In the present invention, the aerosol-generating liquid may be free of nicotine liquid.

Further, a liquid supply member 32 for supplying aerosol-generating liquid to a porous heat generating sheet described later is disposed on the upper side of the liquid storage space 31d of the liquid tank 31. The liquid supply member 32 may be, for example, cotton fiber. In the present embodiment, the liquid supply member 32 may be fixed to, for example, the back surface of the lid portion 31b of the liquid tank 31. In the present invention, the liquid supply member 32 may not be provided. The mark 7 shown in fig. 3 is a porous heat generating sheet which is atomized by heating the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid tank 31. Note that the symbol Lv in fig. 3 is a symbol illustrating an initial liquid level of the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid tank 31 (liquid storage space 31 d). When the electronic cigarette 1 is manufactured, a predetermined amount of aerosol-generating liquid is stored in the liquid tank 31 (liquid storage space 31d), whereby the liquid level of the aerosol-generating liquid is adjusted to the initial liquid level Lv. The initial liquid level Lv is set to be higher than the liquid supply member 32, in other words, the aerosol-generating liquid is filled to be higher than the lower end of the liquid supply member 32, whereby the aerosol-generating liquid can be stably supplied to the porous heat-generating sheet.

The porous heating sheet 7 is folded inward in a substantially C-shape in side view. When not in use, at least a part of the porous heat-generating sheet 7 is in direct contact with the aerosol-generating liquid in the liquid tank 31 (liquid storage space 31d) or in indirect contact with the aerosol-generating liquid via the liquid supply member 32. The porous heat-generating sheet 7 is a wick-dual-purpose heater having both a function as a wick for directly or indirectly drawing and holding the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid tank 31 and a function as a heater for electrically heating and atomizing the aerosol-generating liquid held in advance when a user smokes. The porous heat generating sheet 7 includes: a flat plate-like heater portion 71 disposed to face the surface of the lid portion 31b of the liquid tank 31, and a first pull-up portion 72a and a second pull-up portion 72b folded downward from the heater portion 71. Hereinafter, the first raised part 72a and the second raised part 72b will be collectively referred to as "raised part 72".

An insertion hole 31e for inserting the drawer 72 into the liquid tank 31 is formed in the lid portion 31b of the liquid tank 31, and the drawer 72 is inserted into the liquid storage space 31d through the insertion hole 31 e. In the present embodiment, the pair of drawn-out portions 72 is provided in series with the heater portion 71 by folding both sides of the heater portion 71, but the number of drawn-out portions 72 is not particularly limited. As shown in fig. 3, the tip of the drawer 72 may extend into the liquid supply member 32 made of cotton fiber, for example, or may extend toward the liquid storage space 31d in a state of being inserted into the liquid supply member 32. In the present invention, each member may be disposed so that a part of the pumping part 72 abuts on the surface of the liquid supply member 32. The contact area between the pumping part 72 and the liquid supply member 32 or the contact surface of the pumping part 72 with the liquid supply member 32 (for example, the upper end surface, the side peripheral surface, etc. of the liquid supply member 32) can be changed as appropriate.

The porous heat-generating sheet 7 can hold the aerosol-generating liquid at least temporarily. The material for the porous heat-generating sheet 7 is not particularly limited as long as it can be used as a wick-serving heater for electrically heating and atomizing the aerosol-generating liquid held in advance when the user smokes. The porous heat generating sheet 7 may be a porous metal body containing nickel, nickel chromium, stainless steel (SUS), or the like, for example. In addition, if the conductive material is a conductive material that can generate heat when power is applied, a ceramic such as silicon carbide (SiC) can be used. The porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment has a three-dimensional network structure. The three-dimensional network structure contains voids and has a structure in which at least a part of the voids are communicated with each other, i.e., an open pore structure. The porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment configured as described above has a function of drawing up liquid by utilizing capillary action. As an example of the porous metal body having such an open pore structure, Celmet (trade name) manufactured by sumitomo electric corporation is given. Celmet (trade name) is a porous metal body containing nickel (Ni), or a porous metal body containing an alloy of nickel and chromium (Cr).

The thickness of the porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment is preferably 0.1 to 3.0mm, and more preferably 0.2 to 1.0 mm. In addition, in the porous heating sheet 7, the total area of the part functioning as the heater is preferably 1 to 250mm²More preferably 3 to 150mm². When the porous heat generating sheet 7 is rectangular, the aspect ratio (long side: short side) of the portion functioning as a heater is preferably 1:1 to 3:1, and more preferably 1:1 to 2: 1. The number of linear circuit portions provided in the porous heat-generating sheet 7 is preferably 2 to 20, and more preferably 5 or more and 15 or less. The number of the bent circuit portions of the serpentine circuit provided in the porous heat-generating sheet 7 is preferably 1 to 19, more preferably 4 to 14.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a planar structure of the porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment. Fig. 4 shows a state in which the porous heat generating sheet 7 is unfolded, that is, a state before the pull-up portion 72 is folded into the heater portion 71. The dotted line in the figure indicates the boundary line between the heater portion 71 and the drawn portion 72.

In the example shown in fig. 4, the porous heat generating sheet 7 has a rectangular planar shape. The shape of the porous heat generating sheet 7 is not particularly limited, and may be a shape having a parallelogram shape, a rhombus shape, or the like. The marks 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d are the left, right, top, and bottom of the porous heat generating sheet 7. The porous heat generating sheet 7 is provided with a plurality of slits 8 extending in parallel along the upper side 7c and the lower side 7 d. Hereinafter, the direction along the upper side 7c and the lower side 7d of the porous heat generating sheet 7 is referred to as the lateral width direction of the porous heat generating sheet 7. The directions of the left side 7a and the right side 7b of the porous heat generating sheet 7 are referred to as the vertical directions of the porous heat generating sheet 7.

The slit 8 is a cut penetrating the porous heat generating sheet 7 in the thickness direction. The slit 8 can be formed by, for example, laser dicing, but is not particularly limited thereto, and can also be formed by punching. Laser cutting is particularly advantageous for making slits. For example, it can be applied by YAG laser or CO₂The porous heat generating sheet 7 is formed with a slit 8 by laser or the like. The width of the slit 8 is not particularly limited. The width dimension of the slit 8 is a dimension in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension of the slit 8 extending in the lateral width direction of the porous heat generating sheet 7.

In the example shown in fig. 4, the slits 8 extend in parallel from the left side 7a and the right side 7b of the porous heat generating sheet 7 toward the widthwise center side of the heater portion 71. Hereinafter, the slit 8 extending from the left side 7a of the porous heat generating sheet 7 is referred to as "first slit 8A", and the slit 8 extending from the right side 7B of the porous heat generating sheet 7 is referred to as "second slit 8B". As shown in fig. 4, in the porous heat generating sheet 7, the first slits 8A and the second slits 8B extend differently from each other. The tip of the first slit 8A extends to the right side 7b beyond the widthwise center position of the heater portion 71. On the other hand, the front end of the second slit 8B extends to the left 7a side beyond the widthwise center position of the heater portion 71. As a result, the tip sides of the first slit 8A and the second slit 8B overlap each other in the slit extending direction.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the heater unit 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7 according to embodiment 1. The reference numeral 71a in the figure denotes a first end edge of the bent boundary portion between the heater portion 71 and the first raised portion 72 a. The reference numeral 71b in the figure denotes a second end edge of the bent boundary portion between the heater portion 71 and the second raised portion 72 b. As shown in fig. 5, the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B are provided in the heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7. The positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B of the heater portion 71 are connected to the battery 21 disposed in the main body portion 2 by a lead wire or the like. When electric power is supplied from the battery 21 to the porous heat generating sheet 7 based on a control signal of the electronic control unit 22, the electric circuit 10 connecting the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B of the heater unit 71 is energized, and the heater unit 71 generates heat.

As shown in fig. 5, the electric circuit 10 connecting the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B of the heater portion 71 is formed in a meandering shape by the slit 8. More specifically, the circuit 10 includes: a meandering circuit portion 11 formed in a meandering shape by sequentially connecting a linear circuit portion 110 having a straight line shape and a folded circuit portion 120 obtained by folding back the linear circuit portion 110, a positive electrode installation circuit portion 12 connected (connected) to one end 11a of the meandering circuit portion 11, and a negative electrode installation circuit portion 13 connected (connected) to the other end 11b of the meandering circuit portion 11. Here, the positive electrode 9A is disposed in the positive electrode installation circuit portion 12, and the negative electrode 9B is disposed in the negative electrode installation circuit portion 13. The positive electrode installation circuit portion 12 may be substantially equal to the area occupied by the positive electrode 9A, and the positive electrode 9A may be disposed in a part of the positive electrode installation circuit portion 12. The negative electrode installation circuit 13 may occupy substantially the same area as the negative electrode 9B, and the negative electrode 9B may be disposed in a part of the negative electrode installation circuit 13.

The meandering circuit portion 11 is formed into a meandering shape by sequentially and alternately connecting the linear circuit portion 110 and the folded circuit portion 120 as described above. The number of the linear circuit portions 110 and the folded circuit portions 120 constituting the serpentine circuit portion 11 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of ensuring the circuit length of the serpentine circuit portion 11 and improving the electrical resistance, it is preferable that the number of the linear circuit portions 110 and the folded circuit portions 120 included in the serpentine circuit portion 11 is large.

In fig. 5, the straight circuit portion 110 of the meandering circuit portion 11 is hatched with diagonal lines, and the folded circuit portion 120 is hatched with dot-like lines. The positive electrode installation circuit portion 12 and the negative electrode installation circuit portion 13 are hatched with wavy lines. In fig. 5, the meandering circuit portion 11 is formed of 5 straight circuit portions 110 indicated by diagonal hatching and 4 folded circuit portions 120 indicated by dotted hatching. In the example shown in fig. 5, the meandering circuit portion 11 includes a plurality of linear circuit portions 110, and the linear circuit portions 110 are separated from each other by the slits 8 (the first slit 8A and the second slit 8B). As is apparent from fig. 5, the heater portion 71 of the present embodiment is provided with the slits 8 (first slit 8A and second slit 8B) extending in the extending direction of the linear circuit portion 110 of the serpentine circuit portion 11.

In the example shown in fig. 5, one end 11a of the meandering circuit portion 11 is formed by the linear circuit portion 110, and the positive electrode installation circuit portion 12 is connected to the linear circuit portion 110 located on the side of the one end 11 a. However, the one end 11a side of the meandering circuit portion 11 may be formed by the folded circuit portion 120, and the positive electrode installation circuit portion 12 may be connected to the folded circuit portion 120 located on the one end 11a side. In the example shown in fig. 5, the other end 11b of the meandering circuit portion 11 is formed by the linear circuit portion 110, and the negative electrode installation circuit portion 13 is connected to the linear circuit portion 110 located on the other end 11b side. However, the other end 11b side of the meandering circuit portion 11 may be formed by the folded circuit portion 120, and the negative electrode installation circuit portion 13 may be connected to the folded circuit portion 120 located on the other end 11b side.

Since the porous heat generating sheet 7 configured as described above has a function of drawing up the liquid by utilizing the capillary phenomenon, the drawing-up portion 72 inserted into the liquid storage space 31d of the liquid tank 31 draws up the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid storage space 31d directly from the liquid storage space 31d or indirectly from the liquid supply member 32 (see fig. 3). The aerosol-generating liquid drawn from the liquid storage space 31d by the drawing portion 72 is also transferred from the drawing portion 72 to the heater portion 71, and is held by the porous heat-generating sheet 7.

Here, when the user smokes, the user performs an operation of pressing a smoking switch, not shown. When the electronic control unit 22 detects that the smoking switch is in the on state, the electronic control unit 22 outputs a control signal to the battery 21, and supplies power from the battery 21 to the porous heat generating sheet 7 of the cartridge 3. As a result, the porous heat generating sheet 7 is energized to generate heat by passing a current through the electric circuit 10 connecting the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B of the heater portion 71. At this time, according to the heater portion 71 of the present embodiment, since the meandering circuit portion 11 is formed by the slit 8 provided in the flat heater portion 71, the circuit length of the circuit 10 connecting the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B can be appropriately extended, and the resistance between the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B can be increased. Further, according to the porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment, the resistance per unit area of the porous heat generating sheet functioning as a circuit can be increased as compared with the case where no slit is provided. As a result, when the heater portion 71 is energized, the amount of heat generated in the heater portion 71 can be sufficiently ensured. This enables the aerosol-generating liquid to be sufficiently heated by the heater portion 71 and to be smoothly atomized.

In particular, according to the heater portion 71 of the porous heat-generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment, the meandering circuit portion 11 includes the plurality of linear circuit portions 110, and the linear circuit portions 110 are separated from each other by the slits 8 (the first slit 8A and the second slit 8B), and the slits 8 are provided so as to extend in the extending direction of the linear circuit portions 110 of the meandering circuit portion 11. This can more effectively ensure the circuit length, and therefore, the effect of increasing the resistance between the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B of the heater portion 71 can be more easily obtained.

Here, fig. 6 is a view showing the electric wire 14 in phantom lines when the electric current is applied to the heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7. As shown in fig. 6, according to the heater section 71 of the present embodiment, since the folded circuit sections 120 are discontinuous from each other, and the linear circuit sections 110 are connected to each other in the folded circuit sections 120 (in other words, since the folded circuit sections 120 and the linear circuit sections 110 are connected in sequence and alternately), the circuit length can be increased, and abrupt direction change of the electric wire 14 can be reduced. This can increase the resistance per unit volume of the heater portion 71 and make it difficult to generate uneven distribution of electric field intensity. As a result, the amount of heat generated by the porous heat generating sheet 7 when the heater portion 71 is energized can be sufficiently ensured, and localized heat generation by the heater portion 71 is less likely to occur. That is, the porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment is provided with the slits 8 so as to form the meandering circuit portion 11 having a meandering shape while suppressing localization of the current density of the current flowing between the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B. This allows the heater portion 71 to have a sufficient resistance value, and local heat generation of the heater portion 71 can be reduced.

Here, a mark Ls shown in fig. 6 is a length of a repetition section (hereinafter, referred to as "slot repetition length") in which the first slot 8A and the second slot 8B adjacent to each other in the slot 8 repeat each other in their extending direction. Note that the mark Ws is an inner dimension of the gap between the first slit 8A and the second slit 8B adjacent to each other among the slits 8 (hereinafter, referred to as "slit gap"). The slot spacing Ws corresponds to the circuit width of the linear circuit portion 110 sandwiched between the adjacent first slot 8A and second slot 8B. Note that reference Wa denotes a circuit width of the folded circuit portion 120 of the meandering circuit portion 11. Note that We is the electrode effective width of the positive electrode 9A. The effective electrode width We of the positive electrode 9A is the width dimension of the positive electrode 9A in the direction orthogonal to the direction of current flowing from the positive electrode 9A to the circuit 10 (positive electrode installation circuit portion 12). In the porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, the electrode effective width We is designed to be smaller than or equal to the circuit width of the circuit width minimum portion where the circuit width is the narrowest in the circuit 10 connecting the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B. The circuit width of the circuit 10 is a dimension in a direction substantially perpendicular to the current flowing direction in the circuit 10. In the example shown in fig. 6, the gap Ws and the circuit width Wa of the folding circuit section 120 are set to be equal in size, and the size of these corresponds to the circuit width of the circuit width minimum section where the circuit width is the narrowest in the circuit 10. That is, in the present embodiment, the circuit width Wa and the slit spacing Ws of the folding circuit portion 120 are set to be relatively larger than the electrode effective width We of the positive electrode 9A.

Here, if the width dimension of the circuit 10 cannot be sufficiently secured with respect to the electrode effective width We, that is, if there is a portion of the circuit where the width dimension is smaller than the electrode effective width We, localization of the current density tends to occur in the portion where the width dimension is small. In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the circuit width of the minimum circuit width portion of the circuit 10 (the circuit width Wa of the folding circuit portion 120, and the gap spacing Ws) is set to be relatively larger than the electrode effective width We of the positive electrode 9A, the porous heat generating sheet 7 can suppress localization of the current density of the current flowing between the electrodes, and can more effectively reduce the local heat generation of the heater portion 71.

The porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment is configured such that, as shown in fig. 6, the positive electrode 9A extends in the plane thereof in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the electrode effective width We (i.e., a direction in which current flows from the positive electrode 9A to the circuit 10 (positive electrode mounting circuit portion 12)), and the tip of the slit 8 extending from the edge of the porous heat generating sheet 7 to the inside of the plane of the porous heat generating sheet 7 is not included in a virtual band region Ab (shaded region in fig. 6) having a band shape having a width equal to the electrode effective width We. If the slit tip is included in the virtual band region, a region in which the flow of current is blocked by the slit and the current is deformed, and a region in which the above-described influence by the slit is not received are generated. That is, uneven heat generation is caused by wire disorder. In contrast, in the present embodiment, since the front end of the slit 8 extending inward from the edge of the porous heat-generating sheet 7 is not included in the virtual band region Ab, it is possible to suppress the disturbance of the electric field lines of the heater portion 71 and to facilitate uniform heat generation of the heater portion 71.

Here, the slit repetition length Ls of the heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7 is preferably set to be equal to or greater than the slit interval Ws. The slot repetition length Ls is substantially equal to the length of the linear circuit portion 110. Therefore, by ensuring that the slit repetition length Ls exceeds at least the slit interval Ws, the circuit length of the meandering circuit portion 11 can be easily ensured. In the heater portion 71, it is preferable that the plurality of linear slits 8 that separate the linear circuit portions 110 from each other are arranged in parallel at a constant interval. That is, it is preferable that the slits 8 are arranged in parallel and the slit interval Ws is constant. In this way, the circuit width of the meandering circuit portion 11 of the heater portion 71 can be made substantially constant (see fig. 5, 6, and the like). As a result, the heater portion 71 is less likely to generate heat locally in the meandering circuit portion 11, and the heater portion 71 can be easily caused to generate heat uniformly as a whole.

In the heater portion 71 of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the electrical path length of the meandering electrical path portion 11 is set to a length equal to or longer than the linear dimension connecting the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B of the heater portion 71. With such a configuration, the effect of increasing the resistance per unit volume of the heater portion 71 can be more easily obtained. In the present invention, it is more preferable that the total value (Σ Ls) of the slit repetition length Ls is set to be equal to or larger than the linear dimension connecting the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B of the heater portion 71. Further, according to the porous heat-generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment, the amount of the aerosol-generating liquid that can be held by the porous heat-generating sheet 7 and the amount of heat generated when the porous heat-generating sheet 7 generates heat by applying a standard electric power can be balanced.

< modification example >

Next, a modified example of the porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment will be described. Hereinafter, the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Fig. 7 to 11 are plan views of the heater unit 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7 according to modifications 1 to 5.

In modification 1 shown in fig. 7, the positions of the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B disposed in the positive electrode installation circuit portion 12 and the negative electrode installation circuit portion 13 are different from those in the configuration example shown in fig. 5. That is, in modification 1 shown in fig. 7, the positive electrode 9A of the positive electrode installation circuit portion 12 is disposed at a position close to the one end 11a of the meandering circuit portion 11. The negative electrode 9B of the negative electrode installation circuit portion 13 is disposed at a position close to the other end 11B of the meandering circuit portion 11. However, as in the configuration example shown in fig. 5, it is preferable that the positive electrode 9A is disposed at an end portion opposite to one end portion connected to one end 11a of the meandering circuit portion 11 in the positive electrode installation circuit portion 12, and by such a configuration, the length of the circuit 10 of the heater portion 71 can be made longer. Similarly, it is preferable that the negative electrode 9B is disposed at an end opposite to the end of the negative electrode installation circuit portion 13 connected to the other end 11B of the meandering circuit portion 11, and the length of the circuit 10 of the heater portion 71 can be made longer by such a configuration.

As in modification examples 2 to 4 shown in fig. 8 to 10, the meandering circuit portion 11 of the heater portion 71 may be formed by a slit 8 including, in addition to the first slit 8A and the second slit 8B, a vertical slit 8C extending in the vertical direction of the porous heat generating sheet 7 (heater portion 71), a horizontal slit 8D extending in the lateral width direction of the heater portion 71 from the vertical slit 8C, or the like. In this way, various deformation patterns can be used for the circuit 10 of the heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7.

The embodiments of the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B disposed in the positive electrode installation circuit portion 12 and the negative electrode installation circuit portion 13, respectively, may be variously modified. For example, the shape and size of the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B may be appropriately changed. The positive electrode 9A may be provided on the surface of the heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7, or may be provided on the back surface. Similarly, the negative electrode 9B may be provided on the surface of the heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7, or may be provided on the back surface. In fig. 8, the hatched area indicates Ab in the virtual band area. In the porous heat generating sheet 7 shown in fig. 8, the front end of the slit 8 (vertical slit 8C in the example of fig. 8) extending from the edge of the porous heat generating sheet 7 to the inner side of the plane thereof is not included in the virtual band region Ab. The heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7 may be provided with the slit 8 to form the meandering circuit portion 11 so as to suppress localization of the current density of the current flowing between the positive electrode 9A and the negative electrode 9B. Therefore, the meandering circuit portion 11 does not necessarily have to include the linear circuit portion 110, and the meandering circuit portion 11 is formed by continuously connecting the folded circuit portions 120 to each other as in modification 5 shown in fig. 11, for example.

The porous heat generating sheet 7 of the present embodiment described with reference to fig. 3 to 5 and the like is not limited to this, but the drawn-up portion 72 and the heater portion 71 are provided continuously by folding both sides of the heater portion 71. For example, the porous heat generating sheet 7 may not include the pull-up portion 72. Alternatively, the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid tank 31 may be pumped up and supplied to the heater portion 71. For example, the aerosol-generating liquid in the liquid tank 31 may be supplied to the porous heat-generating sheet 7 (heater portion 71) through the porous heat-generating sheet 7 (heater portion 71) and the liquid supply member 32 in the liquid tank 31.

< embodiment 2 >

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a cartridge 3A according to embodiment 2. In the cartridge 3A shown in fig. 12, the liquid supply member 32 may not be provided in the liquid tank 31 (liquid storage space 31 d). The porous heat-generating sheet 7A according to embodiment 2 is configured such that the pull-up portion 72 extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the liquid tank 31, and the pull-up portion 72 directly pulls up the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid storage space 31 d.

< embodiment 3 >

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a cartridge 3B according to embodiment 3. The porous heat-generating sheet 7B of the cartridge 3A shown in fig. 13 is constituted only by the heater portion 71 and does not have the drawn-up portion 72. In the cartridge 3B, for example, a liquid supply member 32 formed in a columnar shape is provided in the liquid tank 31, and a porous heat generating sheet 7B is placed on the upper surface of the liquid supply member 32. The heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7B has the same structure as the heater portion 71 of the porous heat generating sheet 7 of embodiment 1. The porous heat generating sheet 7B of the present embodiment can draw up and hold the aerosol-generating liquid from the back surface of the heater portion 71 in contact with the upper surface of the liquid supply member 32. The shape of the liquid supply member 32 is not limited to the above example.

< embodiment 4 >

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a cartridge 3C according to embodiment 4. The porous heat-generating sheet 7C of the cartridge 3C is different from the porous heat-generating sheet 7 of embodiment 1 folded into a substantially C-shape in side view in that it has a U-shape in side view, but the other configuration is the same.

< embodiment 5 >

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a cartridge 3D according to embodiment 5. The porous heat generating sheet 7D of the cartridge 3D has a single drawer 72 connected to the right side 71b of the heater portion 71. The other structure is the same as that of the porous heat generating sheet 7 of embodiment 1.

The porous heat generating sheet 7D has a flat plate shape as a whole, and the drawer 72 is inserted into the liquid storage space 31D through an insertion hole 31e formed in the lid portion 31b of the liquid tank 31. That is, in the cartridge 3D, the porous heat generating sheet 7D is provided in the liquid tank 31 such that the heater portion 71 of the flat porous heat generating sheet 7D is exposed to the outside of the liquid tank 31 and the pull-up portion 72 is inserted and provided outside the liquid tank 31.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a cartridge 3E according to modification 1 of embodiment 5. The porous heat generating sheet 7E provided in the cartridge 3E has the same configuration as the porous heat generating sheet 7D in fig. 15, except that a single drawer 72 is connected to the lower side 7D of the heater portion 71. The porous heat generating sheet 7E has a flat plate shape as a whole. The porous heat generating sheet 7E has a flat plate shape as a whole, and the drawer 72 is inserted into the liquid storage space 31d through an insertion hole 31E formed in the lid portion 31b of the liquid tank 31. That is, in the cartridge 3D, the porous heat generating sheet 7D is provided in the liquid tank 31 such that the heater portion 71 of the flat porous heat generating sheet 7D is exposed to the outside of the liquid tank 31 and the pull-up portion 72 is inserted and provided outside the liquid tank 31.

Fig. 17 is a view showing a porous heat generating sheet 7F according to modification 2 of embodiment 5. The porous heat generating sheet 7F is connected to the single pull-up portion 72 at the right side 7b of the heater portion 71, and the porous heat generating sheet 7F is rolled into a cylindrical shape. In the illustrated example, the insulating member 73 is provided between the upper side 7c and the lower side 7d of the heater portion 71, and the upper side 7c and the lower side 7d of the heater portion 71 are insulated by the insulating member 73. In fig. 17, the slit 8, the positive electrode 9A, the negative electrode 9B, and the like of the heater portion 71 are not illustrated. Further, instead of the structure in which the porous heat generating sheet 7F is interposed between the upper side 7C and the lower side 7d of the heater portion 71, the porous heat generating sheet 7F may be wound in a C shape so as to form a gap between the upper side 7C and the lower side 7 d.

< embodiment 6 >

Fig. 18A is a diagram showing an electronic cigarette 1G according to embodiment 6. Fig. 18B is a diagram showing a cartridge 3G according to embodiment 6. The cartridge 3G has a porous heat generating sheet 7 illustrated in fig. 4. The liquid tank 31 of the cartridge 3G has a ring shape, and a hollow through passage 33 is provided in the center portion thereof. As shown in the figure, the hollow through passage 33 of the liquid tank 31 of the cartridge 3G vertically penetrates the liquid tank 31. The porous heat generating sheet 7 is, as in embodiment 1, brought into contact with the aerosol-generating liquid by inserting the pull-up portion 72 into the liquid storage space 31d through the insertion hole 31e provided in the lid portion 31b of the liquid tank 31.

The cartridge 3G is housed in the housing chamber 23 such that the lid portion 31b of the liquid tank 31 faces the back side (inside) of the housing chamber 23. That is, the cartridge 3G of embodiment 6 is housed in the housing chamber 23 with the cartridge 3 of embodiment 1 upside down. That is, the cartridge 3G is disposed so that the bottom portion 31a side of the liquid tank 31 faces the mouthpiece portion 4. In the electronic cigarette 1G, the air intake port 43 is provided in the main body side casing 20 of the main body part 2, and the air taken into the main body side casing 20 from the outside through the air intake port 43 reaches the suction port 42 through the hollow through passage 33 and the internal passage 45 of the mouthpiece part 4 together with the aerosol generated in the porous heat generating sheet 7 of the cartridge 3G, so that the user can suck the aerosol from the suction port 42.

Fig. 19A is a diagram showing an electronic cigarette 1H according to a modification of embodiment 6. Fig. 19B is a diagram showing a cartridge 3H according to a modification of embodiment 6. In the cartridge 3H, the liquid tank 31 is formed in a ring shape having a hollow through passage 33 provided at the center side, as in the cartridge 3G. A liquid supply member 32 made of, for example, cotton fiber is disposed on the outer surface side of the lid portion 31b of the liquid tank 31 of the cartridge 3H. The liquid supply member 32 has a disk shape and has a vent hole 32a at a position corresponding to the hollow through passage 33 of the liquid tank 31. The cap 31b of the liquid tank 31 is provided with a liquid supply hole 33f for supplying the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid tank 31 (liquid storage space 31d) to the liquid supply member 32.

The cartridge 3G of the present embodiment has a porous heat generating sheet 7H constituted only by the heater portion 71 having the same configuration as the porous heat generating sheet 7B of embodiment 3. In the example shown in fig. 19B, the porous heat generating sheet 7H is fixed to the liquid supply member 32 in a state where the end face of the porous heat generating sheet 7H is in contact with the outer surface of the liquid supply member 32. In the electronic cigarette 1H configured as described above, the aerosol-generating liquid stored in the liquid tank 31 (liquid storage space 31d) of the cartridge 3H is supplied to the porous heat-generating sheet 7H (heater portion 71) by the liquid supply member 32 and is held by the heater portion 71. When electricity is passed between the electrodes of the heater portion 71, the aerosol-generating liquid held in the heater portion 71 is atomized to generate aerosol.

As shown in fig. 19A, the electronic cigarette 1H has an air intake port 43 in the main body side casing 20 of the main body 2, and the air taken into the main body side casing 20 from the outside through the air intake port 43 passes through the air vent 32a of the liquid supply member 32, the hollow through passage 33 of the liquid tank 31, and the internal passage 45 of the mouthpiece portion 4 to the suction port 42 together with the aerosol generated in the porous heat generating sheet 7H (heater portion 71), so that the user can suck the aerosol from the suction port 42.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is apparent that those skilled in the art can make various changes, modifications, combinations, and the like to the aerosol inhaler of the present invention, the cartridge and the porous heat generating sheet applied to the aerosol inhaler.

Description of the reference numerals

1 electronic cigarette

2 main body part

21 cell

22 electronic control unit

24 storage cavity

3 cigarette cartridge

31 liquid tank

32 liquid supply member

4 cigarette holder

42 suction port

5 hinge

7 porous heating sheet

71 Heater unit

72 pull-up part

8 gap

9A positive electrode

9B cathode

10 circuit

11 meandering circuit part

110 linear circuit part

120 foldback circuit part

12 positive electrode provided with circuit part

13 negative electrode installation circuit part

Claims (12)

1. An aerosol inhaler cartridge comprising:

a liquid storage unit that stores an aerosol-generating liquid;

a heat generating sheet provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode and generating heat when electricity is applied between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to atomize the aerosol-generating liquid supplied from the liquid storage unit;

the heat generating sheet is made of a porous material, and has a slit formed therein to suppress localization of a current density of a current flowing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a meandering circuit portion formed in a meandering shape.

2. The aerosol lifter cartridge of claim 1,

in the heat generating sheet, an effective electrode width of the positive electrode in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which a current flows from the positive electrode is relatively narrower than a circuit width of a circuit width minimum portion having a narrowest circuit width among circuits connecting the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

3. The aerosol lifter cartridge of claim 1 or 2,

the gap is linearly arranged on the heating sheet.

4. The cartridge for an aerosol absorber according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein,

the heating sheet is provided with a plurality of gaps.

5. The cartridge for an aerosol inhaler according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein,

in the heat generating sheet, the meandering circuit portion is formed by sequentially connecting a straight circuit portion having a straight shape and a folded circuit portion formed by folding back the straight circuit portion, the positive electrode is provided in a positive electrode installation circuit portion connected to one end of the meandering circuit portion, and the negative electrode is provided in a negative electrode installation circuit portion connected to the other end of the meandering circuit portion.

6. The aerosol lifter cartridge of claim 5,

the slit extends in the extending direction of the linear circuit portion.

7. The aerosol lifter cartridge of claim 5 or 6,

the plurality of slits are arranged in parallel at a constant interval on the heat generating sheet to separate the linear circuit portions from each other.

8. The aerosol lifter cartridge of claim 7,

the linear circuit sections are separated from each other by an overlap section in which the adjacent slits overlap each other in the extending direction of the slits, and the length dimension of the overlap section is set to a length equal to or longer than the gap dimension between the adjacent slits.

9. The aerosol lifter cartridge of claim 7 or 8,

the linear circuit portions are separated from each other by overlapping sections in which the adjacent slits overlap each other in the extending direction of the slits, and the total value of the length dimensions of the overlapping sections is set to a length equal to or greater than the linear dimension connecting the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

10. The aerosol lifter cartridge of claim 2,

the heat generating sheet is formed by extending the positive electrode in a direction orthogonal to the electrode effective width direction in a plane of the heat generating sheet, and does not include a leading end of the slit extending from an edge of the heat generating sheet to an inner side of the plane of the heat generating sheet in a virtual band region having a band shape having a width equal to the electrode effective width.

11. An aerosol inhaler provided with the cartridge for an aerosol inhaler according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A heat generating sheet for an aerosol absorber, which is provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode and generates heat when a current is passed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to atomize aerosol-generating liquid supplied from a liquid storage section of the aerosol absorber,

the heat generating sheet is made of a porous material, and has a slit formed therein to suppress localization of a current density of a current flowing between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a meandering circuit portion formed in a meandering shape.