RU2816299C1 - Heater assembly and aerosol-generating device containing thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: smoking accessories.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to a heater assembly and an aerosol-generating device containing such a heater. Heater assembly for accommodating and heating an aerosol-generating product containing a tobacco rod and a filter rod, comprises a receiving space in which an aerosol-generating article is inserted, a winding surrounding at least a portion of the receiving space and configured to generate an induced magnetic field, a current collector located in the receiving space and configured to generate heat depending on the induced magnetic field, and a heat-insulating part comprising a material different from the current collector, connected to the current collector and the bottom of the receiving space and configured to absorb heat generated by the current collector. In the state in which the aerosol-generating article is completely inserted into the receiving space, the distal end part of the current collector is located upstream of the boundary between the tobacco rod and the filtering rod inside the aerosol-generating article.

EFFECT: preventing rapid increase in temperature in the lower part of the current collector by combining the heat-insulating part with the current collector and the lower surface of the receiving space.

12 cl, 14 dwg

Description

[Technical field]

Embodiments of the invention relate to a heater assembly and an aerosol generating device containing the heater assembly, and more particularly, to a heater assembly capable of reducing the temperature of the main stream of smoke at the beginning of a heating period, and an aerosol generating device containing the heater assembly.

[Prior Art]

Recently, the demand for alternative ways to overcome the disadvantages of traditional cigarettes has increased. For example, there is growing demand for an aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by heating the aerosol generating material in cigarettes or liquid containers without combustion. So, the source WO 2019/030363 can be considered as the closest analogue.

New heating methods have been proposed that differ from the traditional method using a resistor type electric heater. In particular, research is being actively carried out on the method of heating cigarettes using the induction heating method.

[Description of the invention]

[Technical problem]

Unlike most aerosol generating devices that use a resistor type electric heater, an aerosol generating device that uses an induction heating method is capable of uniformly heating the tobacco rod of an aerosol generating product (eg, a cigarette). Thus, a different approach is needed to position the heater in an aerosol generating device that uses an induction heating method.

The problems solved by the embodiments of the invention are not limited to those described above, and problems not described will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the embodiments pertain from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[Technical solution]

According to one embodiment of the invention, a heater assembly for housing and heating an aerosol generating article comprising a tobacco rod and a filter rod comprises a receiving space into which the aerosol generating article is inserted, a winding surrounding at least a portion of the receiving space and configured to generate an induced magnetic field , and a susceptor located in the receiving space and configured to generate heat depending on the induced magnetic field generated by the winding, and in a state in which the aerosol-generating product is completely inserted into the receiving space, the distal end portion of the susceptor is located upstream of the boundary between the tobacco rod and filter rod at a predetermined distance.

According to another embodiment of the invention, an aerosol generating device includes a heater assembly, a power supply that supplies power to the heater assembly, and a controller that controls power supplied to the heater assembly.

The technical solutions are not limited to the foregoing statements and may include a variety of objects that may be understood by those skilled in the art as the present description of the invention proceeds.

[Beneficial Effects of the Invention]

Depending on the heater assembly and the aerosol generating device including the heater assembly, according to embodiments of the invention, the temperature of the main stream of smoke can be reduced at the beginning of the heating period, and a constant taste of the cigarette can be maintained throughout the heating period.

The effects of the embodiments of the invention are not limited to the above statements and may include all effects that can be understood from the configurations disclosed below.

[Description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device using an induction heating method.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of an aerosol generating article.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a heater assembly and an aerosol generating article inserted into the heater assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A to 4C are views illustrating the change of the tobacco rod around the current collector according to the passage of time.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the arrangement of the current collector in the aerosol generating article.

FIG. 6 illustrates the temperature of the main stream of smoke in accordance with the location of the current collector in the heater assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a heater in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled heater in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled heater in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a pantograph and a heat insulating portion of a heater assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, as well as a graph showing an example of the temperature distribution of the pantograph and a heat insulating portion.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a pantograph and a heat insulating portion of a heater assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, and a graph showing an example of the temperature distribution of the pantograph and a heat insulating portion.

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a pantograph and a heat insulating portion of a heater assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, and a graph showing an example of the temperature distribution of the pantograph and a heat insulating portion.

[The best option]

According to one embodiment of the invention, a heater assembly for housing and heating an aerosol generating article comprising a tobacco rod and a filter rod comprises a receiving space into which the aerosol generating article is inserted, a winding surrounding at least a portion of the receiving space and configured to generate an induced magnetic field , and a susceptor located in the receiving space and configured to generate heat depending on the induced magnetic field generated by the winding, wherein in a state in which the aerosol-generating article is fully inserted into the receiving space, the distal end portion of the susceptor is located upstream of the interface between a tobacco rod and a filter rod within the aerosol generating article.

In addition, the distal end portion of the pantograph may be spaced from the boundary by about 0.3 to about 0.7 mm.

In addition, the pantograph may include a cylindrical base portion and a pointed portion formed at one end of the base portion.

In addition, the pantograph can generate heat that is equivalent to about 270°C to about 350°C.

In addition, the heater assembly may further comprise a heat insulating portion comprising a material other than the pantograph, connected to the pantograph and the bottom of the receiving space, and configured to absorb heat generated by the pantograph.

In this case, the heat-insulating part can be formed by laying a variety of elements, including various materials.

In this case, a first cavity can be formed inside the current collector in such a way that the heat-insulating part faces the first cavity.

In this case, the heater assembly may additionally contain a temperature sensor configured to come into contact with the heat-insulating part in the first cavity.

In this case, a second cavity can be formed inside the heat-insulating part in such a way that the current collector faces the second cavity.

In this case, the heater assembly may additionally contain a temperature sensor configured to come into contact with the current collector in the second cavity.

In this case, the heat-insulating part may contain an opening that serves to communicate with the second cavity with the possibility of transferring a fluid, and at least a part of the current collector can be inserted into the second cavity through said opening.

In this case, the heater assembly may additionally contain a temperature sensor configured to come into contact with a part of the current collector in the second cavity.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the aerosol generating device includes a heater assembly, a power supply that supplies power to the heater assembly, and a controller that controls power supplied to the heater assembly.

[Principle of invention]

With regard to the terms used to refer to the various embodiments of the invention, the general terms that are currently and widely used are chosen in view of the functions of the structural elements in the various embodiments of the present invention. However, the meanings of the terms are subject to change depending on the purpose, judicial precedent, the emergence of new technologies, etc. However, in some cases a term may be chosen that is not commonly used. In such a case, the meaning of the term will be described in detail in the relevant part of the description of the present invention. Therefore, the terms used in various embodiments of the present invention should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and statements given herein.

In addition, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “contains” or “comprising” will be understood to mean the inclusion of the stated elements and not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “controller,” “sensor,” and “module,” as used in the specification, mean units for performing at least one function and operation and may be implemented by hardware components or software components, or combinations thereof.

As used herein, expressions such as “at least one of,” whenever preceding a list of elements, vary the list of elements as a whole and do not modify individual elements of the list. For example, the expression “at least one of a, b and c” is meant to include only a, only b, only c, a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b and c.

The term "cigarette" may refer to a consumable article that can be loaded into an aerosol generating device to serve as a mouthpiece for a user. The cigarette may have a shape and design similar to that of a traditional combustible cigarette. The cigarette may contain an aerosol-generating material that generates an aerosol when the aerosol-generating device is operated (eg, heated). Alternatively, the cigarette may not contain aerosol-generating material and delivers an aerosol derived from another article (eg, a cartridge) mounted in the aerosol-generating device to the user's mouth.

The term "downstream" refers to the direction in which the aerosol moves toward the user's mouth in an aerosol-generating article (eg, a cigarette) during smoking, and the term "upstream" refers to its opposite direction. The terms "downstream" and "upstream" may be used to indicate the relative positions of the components of the aerosol-generating article. For example, the portion of the cigarette that is placed in the user's mouth corresponds to the downstream end of the cigarette.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the present invention are shown so that any one skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an aerosol generating device using an induction heating method.

As shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 may include a current collector 110, a receiving space 120, a winding 130, a power supply 140, and a controller 150. However, the aerosol generating device 100 is not limited to this and may also include general purpose components in addition to the components shown in FIG. . 1.

The aerosol generating device 100 can generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol generating article (200 in FIG. 2) using an induction heating method. The induction heating method may include a method of generating heat from a magnetic material using an alternating magnetic field.

When an alternating magnetic field is applied to a magnetic material, energy loss may occur in the magnetic material due to eddy current losses and hysteresis losses. The lost energy can be released from the magnetic material as thermal energy. As the amplitude or frequency of the alternating magnetic field acting on a magnetic material increases, the thermal energy released from the magnetic material also increases. The aerosol generating device 100 can heat the magnetic body by applying an alternating magnetic field to the magnetic body so that the aerosol generating device 200 is heated by the magnetic body.

A magnetic material that releases heat when subjected to an external magnetic field may be a current collector. The current collector 110 may be in the form of a piece, plate, strip, or the like, so as to be located in the aerosol generating device 100 instead of being included in the aerosol generating article.

The current collector 110 may comprise metal or carbon. The current collector 110 may comprise at least one of ferrite, ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and aluminum (Al). Alternatively, the current collector 110 may comprise at least one of a ceramic (such as graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, niobium, nickel alloy, plated metal, zirconium, etc.), a transition metal (such as nickel (Ni) or cobalt (Co)) and a non-metal (such as boron (B) or phosphorus (P)).

The aerosol generating device 100 may include a receiving space 120 for housing the aerosol generating article 200. The receiving space 120 may include an opening that extends to the outside of the receiving space 120 for housing the aerosol generating article 200 in the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating article 200 can be located in the aerosol generating device 100 in direction from the outside of the receiving space 120 to the inside of the receiving space 120 through the opening of the receiving space 120.

The susceptor 110 may be located at the bottom of the receiving space 120. The aerosol-generating article 200 may be pushed into the receiving space 120 such that the susceptor 110 is inserted into the aerosol-generating article 200 (eg, a cigarette).

The aerosol generating device 100 may include a winding 130 that applies an alternating magnetic field to the susceptor 110. The winding 130 may be wound around the receiving space 120 such that the winding 130 can be located around the susceptor 110. The winding 102 may be powered by a battery 140.

When power is applied to the winding 130, a magnetic field may be generated within the winding 130. If an alternating current is applied to the winding 130, the magnetic field generated in the winding 130 may periodically change direction. When the pantograph 110 is exposed to an alternating magnetic field generated within the winding 130, the pantograph 110 generates heat, thereby heating the aerosol generating article housed in the aerosol generating device 100.

When the amplitude or frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the winding 130 changes, the temperature of the pantograph 110, which heats the aerosol generating article 200, may also change. The controller 150 may regulate the amplitude or frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the winding 130 by controlling the power supplied to the winding 130. and thus the temperature of the pantograph 110 can be controlled.

For example, winding 130 may have an electromagnetic winding circuit. The winding 130 may be an electromagnetic winding wound around a side surface of the receiving space 120. The aerosol generating article 200 may be located in the interior space of the electromagnetic winding. The electromagnetic winding may contain copper (Cu), but is not limited to this. To provide high current flow at low resistivity, the electromagnetic winding may contain any of silver (Ag), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), tungsten (W), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni), or an alloy containing at least one of them.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an aerosol generating product.

As shown in FIG. 2, aerosol generating article 200 includes a tobacco rod 210 and a filter rod 220. FIG. 2 shows, but is not limited to, that the filter rod 220 includes one segment. In other words, the filter rod 220 may contain multiple segments. For example, the filter rod 220 may include a first segment configured to cool the aerosol and a second segment configured to filter certain components contained in the aerosol. In addition, as needed, the filter rod 220 may further comprise at least one segment configured to perform other functions.

The aerosol generating article 200 may be packaged using one or more wrappers 240. The wrapper 240 may have at least one opening through which external air can be introduced or internal air can be discharged. For example, the aerosol-generating article 200 may be packaged with a single wrapper 240. In another example, the aerosol-generating article 200 may be double-packaged with two or more wrappers 240. Specifically, the tobacco rod 210 may be wrapped in a first wrapper and the filter rod 220 may be wrapped with a second wrapper. The tobacco rod 210 and the filter rod 220, which are each individually wrapped, may be connected to each other, and the combined rods may be re-wrapped with a third wrapper.

The tobacco rod 210 may contain an aerosol generating material. For example, the aerosol-generating material may contain at least one of, but is not limited to, glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. In addition, the tobacco rod 210 may contain other additives, such as flavoring agents, humectants and/or organic acid. Also, the tobacco rod 210 may contain a flavored liquid, such as menthol or humectant, which is injected into the tobacco rod 210.

The tobacco rod 210 can be manufactured in various shapes. For example, tobacco rod 210 may be formed into a sheet or a bundle of fibers. In addition, the tobacco rod 210 may be formed into pipe tobacco that is formed from shreds cut from tobacco web.

Also, the tobacco rod 210 may be surrounded by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermal conductive material may be, but is not limited to, metal foil such as aluminum foil. For example, the thermally conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 210 can evenly distribute the heat transferred to the tobacco rod 210, and thus the thermal conductivity applied to the tobacco rod 210 can be increased and the taste of the aerosol can be improved.

The filter rod 220 may include a cellulose acetate filter. The filter rod 220 can be made in various shapes. For example, the filter rod 220 may include a cylindrical type rod or a tubular type rod having a cavity inside. Alternatively, filter rod 220 may also be a recessed type rod containing a cavity. If filter rod 220 contains multiple segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may have a different shape.

The filter rod 220 may be configured to generate flavoring agents. For example, flavor liquid may be introduced into filter rod 220, or additional fiber coated with flavor liquid may be inserted into filter rod 220.

In addition, the filter rod 220 may contain at least one capsule 230. In this case, the capsule 230 may generate a flavor or aerosol. For example, capsule 230 may have a structure in which a liquid containing a flavoring agent is wrapped in a shell. For example, capsule 230 may be spherical or cylindrical in shape, but is not limited to this.

If the filter rod 220 includes a segment configured to cool the aerosol, the cooling segment may comprise a polymeric material or a biodegradable polymeric material. For example, the cooling segment may contain pure polylactic acid as such, but the material for forming the cooling segment is not limited to this. In some embodiments, the cooling segment may include a cellulose acetate filter containing a plurality of holes. However, the cooling segment is not limited to the above example and is not limited as long as the cooling segment cools the aerosol.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a heater assembly and an aerosol generating article inserted into the heater assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heater assembly 101 may include a current collector 110, a receiving space 120, and a winding 130. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other general purpose elements may be further included in the heater assembly 101.

At least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 200 may be placed in the receiving space 120. The susceptor 110 may be inserted into the aerosol-generating article 200 when the aerosol-generating article 200 is placed in the receiving space 120. The susceptor 110 may be configured to extend in a longitudinal direction so as to be inserted into aerosol-generating product 200.

The current collector 110 may be placed within the receiving space 120 and generate heat depending on the alternating magnetic field induced by the winding. The current collector 110 may be positioned at the center of the receiving space 120 to be inserted into the center of the aerosol generating article 200. In FIG. 3, the pantograph 110 is shown as one piece, but is not limited to it, and the heater assembly 101 may include a plurality of pantographs 110 that extend longitudinally to be inserted into the aerosol generating article 200 and are arranged parallel to each other.

In the state in which the aerosol generating article 200 is fully inserted into the heater assembly 101 (i.e., when fully inserted into the receiving space 120), the distal end portion of the current collector 110 may be positioned away from the boundary between the tobacco rod 210 and the aerosol generating filter rod 220. 200 products at a predetermined distance. In other words, the distal end portion of the pantograph 110 may be located upstream of the interface between the tobacco rod 210 and the filter rod 220. Details of the location of the pantograph 110 in the aerosol generating article 200 are described below.

The winding 130 may surround at least a portion of the receiving space 120 and generate an induced magnetic field. The winding 130 may be wound around the receiving space 120 along the longitudinal direction of the receiving space 120. The winding 130 may be in a position corresponding to the pantograph 110. The winding 130 may be extended in the longitudinal direction to have a length corresponding to the pantograph 110 and be in a position corresponding to the pantograph. 110.

FIG. 4A, 4B and 4C are views showing the change of the tobacco rod around the current collector according to the passage of time.

As shown in FIG. 4A, at the first time when the aerosol generating article 200 is inserted, the winding 130 and the current collector 110 are not operating, and therefore the tobacco rod 410 has not yet been heated, and there is no change inside the tobacco rod 410.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the pantograph 110 generates heat by the winding 130 at a second time when the first time elapses from the first time, and thus the tobacco rod 410 can be heated by the pantograph 110. Specifically, the shredded tobacco 421 disposed around the pantograph 110 can shrink under heat. Accordingly, the density of the shredded tobacco 421 around the pantograph 110 can be reduced (ie, the porosity of the tobacco rod 410 around the pantograph 110 can be increased).

As shown in FIG. 4C, the tobacco rod 410 is further heated by the current collector 110 at a third time when the second time elapses from the second time. As a result, at the third time, heat is transferred upstream so that the shredded tobacco located above the current collector 110 can also be compressed by the heat. As a result, air flow openings 431 (i.e., air flow paths) through which air (and aerosol) can pass freely can be formed from the upstream end of the tobacco rod 410 to the boundary between the tobacco rod 410 and the filter rod 220 (t ie the downstream end of the tobacco rod 410).

Here, each of the air flow holes 431 allows air introduced through the tobacco rod 410 to pass through the tobacco rod 410 to enter the filter rod 220. The air flow holes 431 may be formed at a distance from the surface of the pantograph.

If the air flow holes 431 are formed too quickly, the temperature of the main smoke flow introduced into the filter rod 220 rises quickly. As used herein, the term “mainstream smoke” may refer to a mixture of air and aerosol that may be delivered to a user through an aerosol-generating product. Given the limited cooling capacity of the first segment of the filter rod 220, if the temperature of the main smoke stream is high, there is a high probability that an aerosol having particles smaller than the proper size is generated. In this case, there is a problem that the atomization rate is greatly reduced. In addition, the mainstream smoke at high temperatures increases the amount of tobacco material carried over, resulting in the user being more likely to experience an overly strong tobacco flavor.

In this regard, according to an embodiment of the invention, the pantograph 110 can be designed taking into account the characteristics of the air flow holes 431, such as formation time, size, and so on.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the arrangement of the current collector in the aerosol generating article.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the pantograph 110 is inserted into the aerosol generating article 200, the distal end of the pantograph 110 may be located distal (i.e., upstream) of the boundary 510 between the tobacco rod 210 and the filter rod 220.

When the predetermined distance d between the distal end of the pantograph 110 and the boundary 510 is set to less than 0.3 mm, the effect of reducing the temperature of the main stream of smoke can be significantly reduced. On the other hand, when the predetermined distance d is to be greater than 0.7 mm, it is difficult to form air flow holes in the tobacco rod 210, and therefore the desired atomization degree may not be obtained. Therefore, the predetermined distance d can be from 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm. In order to ensure a more consistent taste of the cigarette and a more suitable degree of atomization throughout the heating period, the preset distance d may be from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. For example, the preset distance d may be 0.5 mm.

FIG. 6 illustrates the temperature of the main stream of smoke in accordance with the location of the current collector in the heater assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.

More specifically, FIG. 6 shows a first mainstream smoke temperature 610 measured at the location of the filter rod 220 when the predetermined distance d is less than 0.3 mm, and a second mainstream smoke temperature 620 measured at the location of the filter rod 220 when the preset distance d equals 0.5 mm.

The total duration of time shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the heating period, and the first and second temperature graphs 610 and 620 in FIG. 6 depict the change in temperature of the main smoke stream over time during the heating period during which the heater assembly 101 heats one aerosol generating article 200.

During the entire heating period, the early stage, for example, the first half of the heating period including the heating start point, may correspond to the "early heating stage", and the rest of the heating period may correspond to the "late heating stage".

As shown in FIG. 6, at the beginning of the heating period, the first temperature 610 is higher than the second temperature 620. Due to the limited cooling capacity of the filter rod 220, the first temperature 610 may reduce the atomization rate. In addition, the first temperature 610 increases the amount of tobacco substance transfer and thus the user may experience an excessively strong tobacco taste.

In addition, in the late heating stage, the first temperature 610 is lower than the second temperature 620. Since the first temperature 610 is lower than the optimal temperature for generating aerosol, the atomization rate can be significantly reduced in the late heating stage. In addition, a large amount of tobacco substance may be consumed in the early heating stage, with the result that the flavor of the tobacco may be significantly reduced in the later heating stage.

In other words, if the predetermined distance d is set to less than 0.3 mm, the smoking sensation may not be inconsistent throughout the heating period. On the contrary, if the predetermined distance d is 0.5 mm, a constant smoking sensation can be achieved throughout the entire heating period.

In the prior art resistance heating type electric heater, an electric resistance wire is placed inside the heater to be heated by electricity. Accordingly, the temperature of the portion of the heater in which the electrical resistance wire is located may be different from the temperature of the other portion of the heater in which the electrical resistance wire is not located. Particularly, in the needle-shaped resistance heating type electric heater, the resistance electric wire cannot be located in the distal end portion of the heater due to its limited internal space. As a result, the temperature of the distal end portion of the heater is lower than the temperatures of other parts of the heater.

The air flow holes formed by the distal end portion of the heater are located at a position adjacent to the interface between the tobacco rod and the filter rod and are formed relatively early in heating compared to the air flow holes formed by other parts of the heater. Therefore, the air flow holes formed by the distal end portion of the heater can significantly affect the atomization rate and taste of the cigarette in the early stage of heating. In the resistance heating type electric heater, formation of air flow holes near the distal end of the heater can be delayed at an early stage of heating due to the low temperature of the distal end of the heater described above. Accordingly, in some aerosol generating devices, the heater is positioned to extend across the interface between the tobacco rod and the filter rod such that air flow holes are mechanically formed to extend across the interface between the tobacco rod and the filter rod.

In contrast, the heater assembly according to an embodiment of the invention includes a heater that is uniformly heated by induction heating, whereby the temperature of the distal end portion of the susceptor is sufficiently high compared with a resistance heating type electric heater. Therefore, even if the distal end portion of the current collector is located upstream of the boundary between the tobacco rod and the filter rod, air flow holes can be quickly formed at an early stage of heating.

In this case, the number of air flow holes can be gradually increased throughout the heating period by heating the pantograph, so that a constant atomization rate and a suitable cigarette taste can be achieved throughout the heating period, compared with the case in which the air flow holes are formed mechanically.

Moreover, according to the prior art, in which the heater is in contact with the filter rod, the throughput of the filter rod can be reduced. In contrast, according to an embodiment of the invention, the susceptor is placed only in the tobacco rod, and therefore the structure of the filter rod is maintained without compromising the throughput of the filter rod.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a heater assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pantograph 110 may include a cylindrical base portion 112 and a pointed portion 113 formed at one end of the base portion 112. The structure of the pantograph 110 shown in FIG. 7 allows the air flow holes formed at the interface between the tobacco rod and the filter rod to gradually expand starting from a portion close to the top of the pointed portion 113. Thus, the pointed portion 113 can prevent the tobacco substance from being quickly consumed and can maintain uniform delivery tobacco substances throughout the entire heating period.

In this case, the current collector 110 can generate heat that is equivalent to about 270°C to about 350°C. When the current collector 110 generates heat below 270°C, a sufficient amount of tobacco substance may not be supplied due to the low temperature, resulting in the taste of the cigarette being unsatisfactory. On the other hand, if the current collector 110 generates heat above 350° C., airflow holes are formed too quickly, resulting in tobacco substance may not be supplied evenly throughout the entire heating period. In addition, aerosol particles may become smaller than their proper size due to the high temperature of the main stream of smoke. In order to provide a more consistent cigarette flavor and a more consistent degree of atomization throughout the heating period, the susceptor 110 can generate heat that is equivalent to about 280°C to 320°C.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled heater in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the heater assembly 101 may include a thermal insulating portion 170 that is connected to the pantograph 110 and the bottom of the receiving space 120. The thermal insulating portion 170 may be formed from a material different from the material of the pantograph 110.

The heat insulating portion 170 can absorb heat generated by the pantograph 110. The entire area of the pantograph 110 uniformly generates heat in accordance with the induced magnetic field generated by the winding 130. However, the heat of the bottom portion of the pantograph 110 in contact with the bottom of the receiving space 120 may not be dissipated to the outside, resulting in whereby the temperature of the bottom portion of the pantograph 110 may rise rapidly. Since the temperature of a certain portion of the pantograph 110 increases rapidly, there may be a problem where the taste of the cigarette may not be consistent throughout the heating period. In this regard, according to an embodiment of the invention, a heat insulating portion 170 containing a material other than that of the pantograph 110 is connected to the pantograph 110 and the bottom of the receiving space 120 to absorb heat from the bottom of the pantograph 110. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the temperature of a certain portion of the pantograph 110 from rapidly increasing .

For example, the thermal insulating portion 170 may include, but is not limited to, a tin-based alloy material having a lower thermal conductivity than the current collector 110, a non-metallic-based material such as glass or ceramic. In addition, the thermal insulating portion 170 may contain a material with a higher specific heat capacity than that of the current collector 110, or may have a larger mass than that of the current collector 110, so that the thermal insulating portion 170 has a larger thermal capacity than the current collector 110. As the heat capacity of the heat insulating portion 170, the heat insulating portion 170 can retain more heat generated by the pantograph 110, thereby preventing the temperature of a certain portion of the pantograph 110 from suddenly rising.

In addition, when the heat insulating portion 170 has a larger thermal capacity than the susceptor 110, heat generated from the bottom side of the susceptor 110 is distributed to the thermal insulating portion 170, and the thermal insulating portion 170 is not heated to a high temperature due to the large thermal capacity. Thus, by reducing the heat transferred to the power supply 140 and the controller 150, the aerosol generating device 100 including the heater assembly 101 according to an embodiment of the invention can prevent a decrease in performance and increase their service life. In addition, heat can be prevented from being transferred to a user who holds the aerosol generating device 100.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled heater in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the thermal insulation portion 170 can be formed by superimposing a plurality of members containing different materials. For example, the thermal insulation portion 170 may include a first element 171 having a surface in contact with the pantograph 110 and a second element 172 in contact with an opposing surface of the first element 171. If the thermal conductivity of the first element 171 is lower than the thermal conductivity of the second element 172, the thermal insulation portion 170 may be more effectively block heat transfer.

FIG. 9 shows a thermal insulation portion 170 comprising two elements, however, those skilled in the art to which the present embodiment relates will appreciate that the thermal insulation portion 170 may be constructed in which three or more elements are superimposed on each other.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a pantograph and a heat insulating portion of a heater assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, as well as a graph showing an example of the temperature distribution of the pantograph and a heat insulating portion.

As shown in FIG. 10, a first cavity 111 may be formed within the pantograph 110 such that the heat insulating portion 170 faces the first cavity 111. The first cavity 111 may serve to reduce the contact area between the pantograph 110 and the bottom of the receiving space of the pantograph 110, thereby more effectively preventing rapid increase temperature in the lower part of the pantograph 110.

In addition, the heater assembly 101 may further include a temperature sensor 180 configured to contact the thermal insulating portion 170 in the first cavity 111. That is, the temperature sensor 180 may be located at a point where the current collector 110 is in contact with the thermal insulating portion 170. Temperature sensor 180 may collect temperature data and transmit temperature data to controller 150. Controller 150 may receive temperature data and may induce uniform heating of pantograph 110 by adjusting power supplied to winding 130.

In the graph of FIG. 10, the origin may represent a surface of the heat insulating portion 170 that is not in contact with the pantograph 110. The x-axis may represent a distance from such a surface of the heat insulating portion 170 that is not in contact with the pantograph 110. The y-axis represents the temperature of the pantograph 110 or the heat insulating portion 170. When the pantograph 110 heats up, the heat generated by the pantograph 110 may move in the direction in which the x-axis coordinate value decreases.

If the thermal insulating portion 170 contains a material with low thermal conductivity, the temperature rise of the thermal insulating portion 170 can be reduced. Accordingly, the temperature of the heat insulating portion 170 may decrease as the x-axis coordinate value from the surface in contact with the pantograph 110 decreases.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a pantograph and a heat insulating portion of a heater assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, and a graph showing an example of the temperature distribution of the pantograph and a heat insulating portion.

As shown in FIG. 11, the second cavity 173 may be formed within the heat insulating portion 170 such that the pantograph 110 faces the second cavity 173. The second cavity 173 may allow heat generated by the pantograph 110 to be discharged into the second cavity 173 without being accumulated in the lower portion of the pantograph 110. whereby the temperature of the bottom portion of the pantograph 110 can be prevented from suddenly rising.

In addition, the contact area between the current collector 110 and the heat insulating portion 170 is reduced by the second cavity 173, as a result of which the amount of heat transferred to the heat insulating portion 170 can be reduced. Starting from a point on the x-axis corresponding to the contact region between the pantograph 110 and the second cavity 173, the temperature of the heat-insulating portion 170 may decrease as the x-axis coordinate value decreases.

The heater assembly 101 may further include a temperature sensor 180 that is in contact with the pantograph 110 in the second cavity 173. That is, the temperature sensor 180 may be located at the point at which the pantograph 110 is in contact with the second cavity 173.

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a pantograph and a heat insulating portion of a heater assembly according to another embodiment of the invention, and a graph showing an example of the temperature distribution of the pantograph and a heat insulating portion.

As shown in FIG. 12, the thermal insulating portion 170 may include an opening 174 for fluid transfer communication with the second cavity 173, and at least a portion of the pantograph 110 may be inserted into the second cavity 173 through the opening 174. The second cavity 173 functions to retain heat generated by the pantograph 110. That is, as the heat of the bottom portion of the pantograph 110 is released into the second cavity 173, an abnormal increase in the temperature of the bottom portion of the pantograph 110 can be prevented, and the heat can be delayed to be transferred to other parts.

As shown in FIG. 9 and 10, the x-axis defines the distance from the upstream end (i.e., the outer surface) of the thermal insulating portion 170 that is not in contact with the pantograph 110. The y-axis defines the temperature of the pantograph 110 or the thermal insulating portion 170. X1 denotes a point corresponding to the outer surface a heat insulating portion 170 facing the aerosol generating article when the aerosol generating article is inserted, and X2 denotes a point corresponding to the upstream end (i.e., bottom) of the pantograph 110, which is placed in the second cavity 173. X3 denotes correspondence to the bottom of the second cavity 173.

The portion having a larger x-axis coordinate value than X1 contains only the pantograph 110, and the portion from X1 to X2 contains the pantograph 110 and the heat insulating portion 170. When the x-axis coordinate value from X1 decreases, in the case where the pantograph 110 is in contact with heat insulating portion 170, the temperatures of the pantograph 110 and the heat insulating portion 170 may also be reduced. The temperature of the portion between X1 and X2 may be higher than the temperature from X2 and X3 due to the heat generated by the pantograph 110 inserted into the second cavity 173. From X3 to the end upstream (i.e., outer surface) of the heat insulating portion 170, the temperature may decrease as the x-coordinate value decreases.

The heater assembly 101 may further include a temperature sensor 180 that is in contact with the pantograph 110 in the second cavity 173. That is, the temperature sensor 180 may be located at a point where the pantograph 110 contacts the thermal insulating portion 170.

Those skilled in the art with respect to the present embodiments will appreciate that various changes in shape or details may be made without departing from the scope and features of the above. The disclosed methods are to be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and not by the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of its equivalents are to be considered as included in the present invention.

Claims (12)

1. A heater assembly for housing and heating an aerosol generating article comprising a tobacco rod and a filter rod, a heater assembly comprising a receiving space into which the aerosol generating article is inserted, a winding surrounding at least a portion of the receiving space and configured to generate an induced magnetic field , a pantograph located in the receiving space and configured to generate heat depending on the induced magnetic field, and a heat-insulating part containing a material other than the pantograph, connected to the pantograph and the bottom of the receiving space and configured to absorb heat generated by the pantograph, and in In the state in which the aerosol-generating article is fully inserted into the receiving space, the distal end portion of the current collector is located upstream of the interface between the tobacco rod and the filter rod within the aerosol-generating article. 2. Heater assembly according to claim 1, in which the distal end part of the pantograph is spaced from the boundary by 0.3 to 0.7 mm. 3. The heater assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pantograph comprises a cylindrical base portion and a pointed portion formed at one end of the cylindrical base portion. 4. The heater assembly according to claim 1, in which the pantograph generates heat that is equivalent to 270 to 350°C. 5. The heater assembly according to claim 1, in which the heat-insulating part is formed by superimposing a plurality of elements containing different materials on top of each other. 6. Heater assembly according to claim 1, in which the first cavity is formed inside the current collector in such a way that the heat-insulating part faces the first cavity. 7. Heater assembly according to claim 6, additionally containing a temperature sensor configured to come into contact with the heat-insulating part in the first cavity. 8. Heater assembly according to claim 1, in which the second cavity is formed inside the heat-insulating part in such a way that the current collector faces the second cavity. 9. Heater assembly according to claim 8, additionally containing a temperature sensor configured to come into contact with the current collector in the second cavity. 10. The heater assembly according to claim 8, in which the heat-insulating part contains an opening that serves to communicate with the second cavity with the possibility of transferring a fluid, and at least a part of the current collector is inserted into the second cavity through the specified opening. 11. Heater assembly according to claim 10, additionally containing a temperature sensor configured to come into contact with a part of the pantograph in the second cavity. 12. An aerosol-generating device comprising a heater assembly according to claim 1, a power supply configured to supply power to the heater assembly, and a controller configured to control power supplied to the heater assembly.

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