WO2025073847A1

WO2025073847A1 - Heating oven for an aerosol generating device configured for operating a consumable article

Info

Publication number: WO2025073847A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/077861
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tilen CEGLAR; Jaakko MCEVOY
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2023-10-06
Filing date: 2024-10-03
Publication date: 2025-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-06

Abstract

Heating oven for an aerosol generating device configured for operating a consumable article The heating oven comprises a heating chamber (32) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and an opening (36) for insertion of the consumable article (36) into the heating chamber (32), the heating oven comprising two heating walls (36) facing each other with delimiting the heating chamber (32) between them, wherein one or each heating wall (36) is arched transversely and inwardly in at least one portion of the heating chamber (32).

Description

Heating oven for an aerosol generating device configured for operating a consumable article

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of aerosol generating devices and in particular to a heating oven for an aerosol generating device configured to operate a consumable article.

A consumable article comprises an aerosol substrate containing a vaporizable material such as to form aerosol when the aerosol substrate is heated by a heating oven of the aerosol generating device. Hence, aerosol generating devices of this type, also known as “heat-not-burn devices”, are adapted to heat, rather than burn to generate aerosol for inhalation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers) has grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm vaporizable materials as opposed to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.

A commonly available reduced-risk or modified-risk device is the heated substrate aerosol generation device or so called “heat-not-burn device”. Aerosol generation devices of this type generate aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol substrate that is usually comprised in a consumable article separate from the aerosol generation devices. Typically, such aerosol substrate comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable vaporizable material that vaporizes at a temperature typically in the range of 150°C to 350°C. Heating an aerosol substrate, without combusting or burning it, releases aerosol that comprises the components sought by the user but not by-products of combustion and burning. Furthermore, the aerosol produced by heating the vaporizable material contained in the aerosol substrate does not comprise the typical burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning that can be unpleasant for the user and the smoke that can be irritating and polluting for the surroundings. Consumable articles usable with such type of aerosol generating devices can take various shapes. Some of them can exhibit the shape of an elongated stick or any other suitable shape, like for example a plate shape. Generally, such a consumable article is received at least partially in a heating chamber of a heating oven of the aerosol generating device which comprises one or several heaters to heat the consumable article.

In some cases, the heating of the consumable article is not completely efficient and the user can experience difficulties when inhaling the aerosol, with the need for example to inhale longer to obtain the required amount of aerosol, thus rendering the user experience less pleasant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is to propose a consumable article which can provide a satisfactory experience to the user.

The invention thus proposes a heating oven for an aerosol generating device configured for operating a consumable article, the heating oven comprising a heating chamber extending along a longitudinal axis and an insertion opening for insertion of the consumable article into the heating chamber, the heating oven comprising two heating walls facing each other with delimiting the heating chamber between them, wherein one or each heating wall is arched transversely and inwardly.

Due to the provision of each transversely and inwardly arched heating wall, the heating walls are closer to one another in a first region than in second region. The first region is for example a central region and the second region are for example lateral regions. This favors a contact of the heating walls with the consumable article for an efficient heat transfer without hindering ease of insertion of the consumable article. The efficient heat transfer is beneficial for appropriate heating and generation of the aerosol, thus offering a satisfying experience to the user.

According to some examples, each arched heating wall is configured to deform elastically outwardly upon insertion into the heating chamber of a consumable article having a transverse dimension greater than a minimal spacing between the two heating walls, for example a thickness greater than the minimal spacing between the two heating walls, in particular in case of a plate-shaped consumable article, or a diameter greater than the minimal spacing between the two heating walls, in particular in case of a stick-shaped consumable article.

This allows providing a tight fit between the heating walls and the consumable article received between the heating walls, such that the heating walls contact opposed faces of the consumable article for a good heat transfer. The heating walls deform elastically outwardly upon insertion of the consumable article to allow insertion and deform elastically inwardly upon extraction of the consumable article to return to the initial shape until insertion of another consumable article.

According to some examples, each arched heating wall is arched in a narrow portion of the heating oven, the heating walls being substantially parallel in an inlet portion of the heating oven, the inlet portion being adjacent the insertion opening.

The insertion of the consumable article in the heating chamber is thus started in the inlet portion with a reduced or minimal interference with the heating walls and the insertion of the consumable article is continued in the narrow portion with a greater interference with the heating walls ensuring an appropriate contact of the heating walls with the consumable article. The inlet portion allows guiding the consumable article at the beginning of the insertion of the consumable article into the heating chamber. The insertion of the consumable article into the heating chamber is thus made easy.

According to some examples, the heating oven comprises a transition portion extending between the inlet portion and the narrow portion, the cross-section of the transition portion transitioning from the cross-section of the inlet portion to the cross-section of the narrow portion.

The transition portion allows for a smooth transition between the inlet portion and the narrow portion for ease of insertion of the consumable article into the heating chamber.

According to some examples, the two heating walls are made of a single piece of material.

According to some examples, the heating oven is a tube. The tubular shape of the heating oven is beneficial for the manufacture of the heating oven and the reliability of the heating oven. The heating oven of tubular shape is manufactured easily and assembled easily in the aerosol generating device with exhibiting an appropriate mechanical strength.

According to some examples, the heating oven has a four sided cross-section delimited by the two opposed heating walls facing each other and two opposed side walls extending between the two heating walls.

According to some examples, the two side walls are parallel to each other, preferably along the entire length of the heating oven.

This structure imparts an appropriate mechanical strength to the oven and allows easy insertion of the consumable article. The parallel side walls can have a minimal interference with the consumable article, such that the side walls dot not hinder insertion of the consumable article in the heating chamber.

According to some examples, the two heating walls and the two side walls are made of a single piece of material.

According to some examples, the heating walls are made of metal, for example aluminum or steel, in particular stainless steel.

The heating walls made of metal have an appropriate heat conductivity whereby heat is transmitted efficiently to the consumable article via the heating walls.

According to some examples, the thickness of each heating wall is comprises between 50 pm and 2 mm.

According to some examples, the heating oven has a length comprised between 10 mm and 40 mm, in particular between 20 mm and 30 mm, a width comprised between 5 mm and 25 mm, in particular between 10 and 20 mm, and/or a height comprised between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 1 mm and 2 mm.

These ranges of dimensions are appropriate for manufacturing the heating oven, with at least one heating wall being arched transversely and inwardly, the heating walls being preferably elastically deformable to accommodate the consumable article, and for an appropriate heat transfer via the heating walls.

The spacing between the heating walls varies transversely, the spacing being for example smaller in a middle region and grated in side regions adjacent to the side edges of the heating walls.

Preferably, the minimal spacing between the heating walls is strictly smaller than a transverse dimension of the consumable article, for example smaller than a thickness of the consumable article, in particular in case of a plate-shaped consumable article, or a diameter of the consumable article, in particular in case of a stick-shaped consumable article.

This ensure that the heating walls will contact opposed faces of the consumable article when the latter is inserted in the heating chamber between the two heating walls.

According to some examples, the ratio of the minimum spacing between the heating walls to the maximum spacing between the heating walls is comprises between 0.8 and 0.9.

Such a ratio allows forming a heating oven with a good contact between the heating walls and the consumable article with an easy insertion of the consumable article into the heating chamber.

According to some examples, the heating oven is configured for receiving a plateshaped consumable article and/or a stick-shaped consumable article.

By “plate shape” of the consumable article, it is understood that the consumable article extends between two parallel first planes and two parallel second planes perpendicular to the first planes, the first planes and the second planes being parallel to a article axis, the distance between the second planes being at least 3 times, advantageously 5 times and preferably 10 times, greater than the distance between the first planes.

Such shape is particularly advantageous to ensure a fast preheating phase of the consumable article. Thus, the consumable article can be ready to generate aerosol only a few seconds (for example 5 s or 15 s or 20 s) after activating the heating. By “stick shape” of the consumable article, it is understood that the consumable article is of cylindrical shape extending along an article axis, preferably with a circular base or a polygonal base.

The invention also relates to an aerosol generating device comprising a heating oven as defined above.

The invention also relates to an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device as defined above and a consumable article, the aerosol generating device being configured for operating the consumable article with heating the consumable article in the heating oven for generating an aerosol to be inhaled by the user, wherein the heating oven is configured such that upon insertion of the consumable article into the heating chamber, each transversely arched heating wall is elastically deformed outwardly to accommodate the consumable article inside the heating oven.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given by way of non-limiting examples and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of an aerosol generating assembly comprising an aerosol generating device and a consumable article;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the consumable article of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the consumable article of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a heating oven of aerosol generating device;

- Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the heating oven of Figure 4, taken along line V-V on Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heating oven of Figure 4, taken along line VI-VI on Figure 4; - Figure 7 illustrates longitudinal sectional views of the heating oven of Figure 4 during insertion of the consumable article;

- Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of another consumable article;

- Figure 9 illustrates a transverse sectional view of a heating oven with the consumable article of Figure 8 received therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of a heating oven as explained in further detail below. The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate aerosol, e.g. by activating the heating oven for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button. The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heating oven and/or the heated vaporizable material (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of vaporizable material as liquid droplets and/or gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. Aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material.

As used herein, the term “vaporizable material” or “precursor” may refer to a smokable material which may for example comprise nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former. Tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco. Suitable aerosol formers include: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin or vegetable glycerin. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The substrate may also comprise at least one of a gelling agent, a binding agent, a stabilizing agent, and a humectant.

As illustrated on Figure 1 , an aerosol generating assembly 10 comprises an aerosol generating device 12 and a consumable set 14. The consumable set 14 comprises a consumable article 16 and a mouthpiece 18. The mouthpiece 18 may be exchangeable or be a re-usable part removably attached to the device. The consumable article 16 is configured to operate with the aerosol generating device 12.

The aerosol generating device 12 comprises a device body 20 extending along a device axis Y between a first end 22, or mouth end and a second end 24 or bottom end. The device body 20 is configured for receiving the consumable article 16 in a removable manner such as to operate the aerosol generating device 12 with the consumable article 16 for generating an aerosol. The device body 20 delimits an internal space of the aerosol generating device 12 receiving various elements designed to carry out different functionalities of the aerosol generating device 12. The device body 20 houses for example a battery 26 for powering the device aerosol generating 12, an electronic control module 28 for controlling the operation of the aerosol generating device 11 , and a heating oven 30 comprising a heating chamber 32 for receiving and heating the consumable article 16.

The heating chamber 32 is designed to receive at least partially the consumable article 16. As illustrated on Figure 1 , the heating chamber 32 opens for example at the first end 22 of the device body 20 via an insertion opening 34 for insertion of the consumable article 16 into the heating chamber 32. The mouthpiece 18 may for instance be slidably connected or pivotally attached to the device body 20 to allow the heating oven 30 to be opened for insertion of the consumable article. The heating chamber 32 extends for example along a longitudinal axis A which is parallel or coincides for example with the device axis Y.

The heating oven 30 is configured to receive and heat at least a part of the consumable article 16 inserted in the heating chamber 32. The heating oven 30 comprises a pair of heating walls 36 delimiting the heating chamber 32 with facing each other. The heating walls 36 extend along the longitudinal axis A of the heating chamber 32 with facing each other.

The consumable article 16 received in the heating chamber 32 is received between the two heating walls 36. The two heating walls 36 are designed to heat two opposite faces of the consumable article 16 as it will be explained below.

As illustrated on Figure 2 and 3, the consumable article 16 extends along an article axis X and comprises a tubular wrapper 40 extending along the article axis X between an inlet end 42 and an outlet end 44 of the consumable article 16, with forming a substrate portion 46, which receives an aerosol substrate 48, and, optionally, a cooling portion 50.

The wrapper 40 defines the external envelope of the consumable article 16.

The aerosol substrate 48 contains the vaporizable material. The vaporizable material is configured for vaporizing when the substrate portion 46 is heated, e.g. by the heating oven 30 of the aerosol generating device 12 in which the consumable article 16 is received. The aerosol substrate 48 is configured for allowing air to flow through the aerosol substrate 48.

When provided, the cooling portion 50 is configured for the circulation of the aerosol from the substrate portion 46 to the outlet end 44 with cooling of the aerosol. The cooling of the aerosol in the cooling portion 50 avoids the unpleasant sensation of hotness in the mouth or throat of the user.

In such case, the substrate portion 46 and the cooling portion 50 are respective axial sections or axial length portions of the wrapper 40. The substrate portion 46 extends from the inlet end 42 to the cooling portion 50 and the cooling portion 50 extends from the substrate portion 46 to the outlet end 44 of the consumable article 16.

The consumable article 16 exhibits for example a plate shape. The consumable article 16 is for example in the shape of parallelepiped, in particular a rectangular parallelepiped. The consumable article 16 has a cross-section taken perpendicularly to the article axis X, i.e. in a plane perpendicular to the article axis X. The cross-section of the consumable article 16 is preferably constant along the article axis X.

The consumable article 16 exhibits for example a quadrangular cross-section, i.e. a cross section with four sides. The consumable article 16 exhibits for example a trapezoidal cross-section or preferably a rectangular cross-section.

The wrapper 40 comprises for example two wide peripheral walls 52, which are opposed and parallel to each other, and two opposed narrow peripheral walls 54. This allows imparting a plate shape to the consumable article 16.

The width of each peripheral wall (wide peripheral walls 52 or narrow peripheral walls 54) is the distance between the two edges of the peripheral wall which are parallel to article axis X. The width of each wide peripheral walls 52 is strictly higher than the width of each narrow peripheral wall 54.

The two wide peripheral walls 52 are spaced apart along a first transverse direction T1 perpendicular to the article axis X. The two narrow peripheral walls 54 are spaced apart along a second transverse direction T2 perpendicular to the article axis X and to the first transverse direction T 1 .

The two wide peripheral walls 52 are preferably flat. The two narrow peripheral walls 54 are for example flat. Preferably, the two narrow peripheral walls 54 are parallel to each other as illustrated on Figure 2. This imparts a rectangular parallepiped shape to the consumable article 16. In a variant, the two narrow peripheral walls 54 are for example inclined one relative to the other with a non-zero angle. This imparts a trapezoidal crosssection to the cooling section 50.

The consumable article 16 has external dimensions including a length L taken along the article axis X between the inlet end 42 and the outlet end 44, a width W taken perpendicularly to the article axis X between the narrow peripheral walls 54, and a depth D taken perpendicularly to the article axis X between the wide peripheral walls 52. The width W of the consumable article 16 is taken along the second transverse direction T2 and the depth D of the consumable article 16 is taken along the first transverse direction T1 . In one example, the length L of the consumable article 16 is comprised between 20 mm and 45 mm, the width W of the consumable article 16 is comprised between 7 mm and 17 mm and/or the depth D of the consumable article 16 is comprised between 0.7 mm and 2.0 mm. In a particular example, the length L of the consumable article 16 substantially equals to 33 mm, the width W substantially equals to 12.4 mm and/or the depth D of the consumable article 16 substantially equals to 1 .65 mm.

The width W of the consumable article 16 is for example at least three times the depth D of the consumable article 16, preferably at least five times the depth D of the consumable article 16, still preferably at least ten times the depth D of the consumable article 16. The width to depth ratio (W/D) of the consumable article 16 is for example equal or higher than three, in particular equal or higher than five, still in particular equal or higher than ten.

When provided, the cooling section 50 is for example void or provided with at least one reinforcement element received in the cooling section 50 for reinforcing the cooling section 50, in particular for preventing the peripheral walls of the wrapper 40 (wide peripheral walls 50 and narrow peripheral walls 52) to collapse inwardly.

The thickness of the peripheral walls of the wrapper (in all embodiments of the invention) may be preferably between 75 microns and 140 microns. In one example, the paper has a thickness of 125 microns. The wrapper may for instance be formed from a paper sheet having a basis weight of at least 70 g/m2, more preferably at least 75 g/m2, most preferably at least 78 g/m2. In one example, the paper has a basis weight of about 100 g/m2. The porosity of the paper may be less than 100 CU, preferably between 0 and 80 CU. In one example, the paper has a porosity of 40 CU.

The wrapper 40 comprises for example paper and/or non-woven fabric and/or aluminium foil. The wrapper 40 is preferably non-porous but in possible embodiments, the wrapper may be locally porous or perforated (e.g., by row(s) of through-holes) to allow air to enter in the cooling part.

The wrapper 40 preferably comprises paper. The paper can be similar to one used as a tipping paper in the conventional tobacco articles. In a variant, the paper is different from one of the conventional tobacco articles. The wrapper 40 comprises for example aluminium. The aluminium extends in the substrate portion 46 to prevent condensation leakage and/or vapour leakage. The aluminium extends for example only in the substrate portion 46 or extends in the substrate portion 46 and the cooling portion 50.

In one example, the wrapper 40 is a laminate of paper and aluminium which extends along the entire length of the consumable article 16, from the inlet end 42 to the outlet end 44.

As illustrated on Figure 4, the heating oven 30 comprises the heating chamber 32 which extends along a longitudinal axis A with being delimited between the two heating walls 36 facing each other.

The heating chamber 32 is configured for receiving the consumable article 16 with the article axis X substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis A and the consumable article being received between the two heating walls 36.

Each heating wall 36 has to lateral edges 36A and extends transversely between its two lateral edges 36A. The lateral edges 36A extends along the longitudinal axis A, preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

The heating chamber 30 extends along the longitudinal axis A between a rear end 62 and a front end 64. Each heating wall 36 extend axially for example between the rear end 62 and the front end 64. The insertion opening 34 is located at the front end 64.

The heating oven 30 comprises for example sides walls 66 extending between the heating walls 36. Each side wall 66 extends between a lateral edge 36A of one of the heating walls 36 and a lateral edge 36A of the other heating wall 36.

The heating chamber 32 has for example a cross-section (taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A) with four sides defined by the two heating walls 36 and the two side walls 66. The heating chamber 32 has preferably a closed contour in a cross-section taken in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A.

With referring to the first transverse direction T1 and the second transverse direction T2, the heating walls 36 are spaced from each other along the first transverse direction T1 and extend along the second transverse direction T2. The sides walls 66 are spaced from each other the second transverse direction T2 and extend along the first transverse direction T 1 .

The heating walls 36 have a width which is strictly greater than that of the side walls 66. The heating walls 36 form opposed wide walls of the heating chamber 32 and the side walls 66 form opposed narrow walls of the heating chamber 32 of quadrangular crosssection.

The two side walls 66 are for example flat and parallel to each other, preferably along the entire length of the heating oven 30. This ensures that the heating oven 30 can be provided with a constant internal width adapted for accommodating the consumable article 16.

In the following, unless otherwise specified, it is referred to the heating oven 30 in a free state, in particular with no consumable article 16 inserter in the heating chamber 32.

One or each heating wall 36 is arched transversely and inwardly, for example in at least one length portion (or axial section) of the heating chamber 32 or along the entire length of the heating chamber 32.

In a cross-section in which one or each heating walls 36 are arched transversely and inwardly, the heating chamber 32 exhibits for example a contour which is generally rectangular with one or each of the wide sides (corresponding to heating walls) being arcuate inwardly.

Each arched heating wall 36 is arcuate between the lateral edges 36A of said heating wall 36 towards the inside of the heating chamber 32. Each arched heating wall 36 has a concavity on an outer face of said heating wall 36 opposite the heating chamber 32 and a convexity on an inner face of said heating wall 36 delimiting the heating chamber 32

As one or each heating wall 36 is arched inwardly, the two heating walls 36 are nonparallel with each other.

The middle regions 36B of the heating walls 36 are closer than the lateral edges 36A of the heating walls 36. The spacing between the heating walls 36 is smaller in the middle regions 36B of the heating walls 36 and greater at the lateral edges 36A of the heating walls 36.

The spacing between the heating walls 36 is in particular minimal between the middle regions 36B.

As illustrated on Figure 5, each heating wall 36 is arched transversely and inwardly. In a variant, only one of the two heating walls 36 is arched transversely and inwardly, the other heating wall 36 being flat.

When moving transversely across the heating chamber 32 from one lateral edge 36A of a heating wall 36 to the other lateral edge 36A of said heating wall 36, the spacing between the heating walls 36 decreases progressively from said lateral edge 36A to the middle region 36B of the heating wall 36 and increases progressively from the middle region 36B to the other lateral edge 36A.

The ratio of a minimum spacing SMIN between the heating walls 36 to a maximum spacing SMAX between the heating walls 36 is preferably comprises between 0.8 and 0.9.

The spacing between the heating walls 36 is preferably minimal in the middle region 36B of the heating walls 36 and/or maximum between the lateral edges 36A of the heating walls 36.

The minimal spacing SMIN between the heating walls 36 is preferably is strictly smaller than the thickness of the consumable article 16. This ensures that the consumable article 16 inserted in the heating oven 30 is pressed between the heating walls 36.

Advantageously, each arched heating wall 36 is configured to deform elastically outwardly upon insertion into the heating chamber 32 of the consumable article 16 having a thickness greater than the minimal spacing S IN between the two heating walls 36. This ensures that despite having a thickness greater than the minimal spacing SMIN, the consumable article 16 can easily be inserted in the heating chamber 32 by the user.

As illustrated on Figure 4 and 6, advantageously, each arched heating wall 36 is for example arched in a narrow portion 72 of the heating oven 30, the heating walls 36 being substantially parallel in an inlet portion 74 of the heating oven 30, the inlet portion 74 being adjacent the insertion opening 36.

The narrow portion 72 and the inlet portion 74 are respective axial sections or length portions of the heating chamber 32 along the longitudinal axis A. The narrow portion 72 is adjacent the rear end 62. The inlet portion 74 is adjacent the front end 64, i.e. adjacent the insertion opening 34.

The cross-section of the narrow portion 72 and the cross-section of the inlet portion 74 have different shapes. In the cross-section of the narrow portion 72, one or each of the two opposed sides corresponding to the heating walls 36 is arched inwardly and in the cross-section of the inlet portion 74, the two opposed sides corresponding to the heating walls 36 are parallel. In both the cross-section of the narrow portion 72 and the cross-section of the inlet portion 74, the two sides corresponding to the two side walls 66 are preferably straight and for example parallel to each other.

The cross-section of the inlet portion 74 is preferably of the same shape as the crosssection of the consumable article 16, and is in particular rectangular, with the two long sides corresponding to the heating walls 36 and the two short sides corresponding to the side walls 66.

Preferably, the heating oven 30 comprises a transition portion 76 extending between the inlet portion 74 and the narrow portion 72, the cross-section of the transition portion 76 transitioning from the cross-section of the inlet portion 74 to the cross-section of the narrow portion 72. The transition portion 76 avoids any hard point during insertion of the consumable article 16 and allows a progressive elastic deformation of the heating walls 36 for accommodating the consumable article 16 having a thickness greater than the minimal spacing SMIN between the heating walls 36.

The narrow portion 72 corresponds preferably to the length portion of the heating oven 30 receiving the substrate portion 46 of the consumable article 16 when the consumable article 16 is inserted in the heating chamber 32.

Having one or each heating wall 36 arched transversely and inwardly in the section of the heating chamber 32 receiving the substrate portion 46 of the consumable article 16 allows making a good contact between the heating walls 36 and the substrate portion 46. The two heating walls 36 are for example made in a single piece of material. In particular, the two heating walls 36 and the two side walls 66 are made in a single piece of material.

The heating oven 30 is preferably tubular. The heating oven 30 is for example made of a tube, in particular a tube shaped to define the four sided cross-section with the two heating walls 36 and the two side walls 66, with one or each heating wall 36 being arched inwardly and transversely.

The heating walls 36 and/or the side walls 66 are made of metal, for example aluminum or steel, in particular stainless steel.

The thickness of each heating wall 36 and/or each side wall 36 is for example comprised between 50 pm and 2 mm.

The heating oven 30 has dimensions allowing the heating oven 30 to accommodate the consumable article 16.

The heating oven 30 has for example a length LH comprised between 10 mm and 40 mm, in particular between 20 mm and 30 mm, a width WH comprised between 5 mm and 25 mm, in particular between 10 and 20 mm, and/or a height DH comprised between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 1 mm and 2 mm.

The height DH of the heating oven 30 is for example measured at the maximum spacing SMAX between the heating walls 36.

The heating oven 30 is configured for generating heat which is transferred from the heating walls 36 to the consumable article 16 received in the heating chamber 32.

In some examples, in case the heating walls 36 are made of metal, the heating oven 30 is for example connected to the battery 26 such as to generate heat by Joule effect in the heating walls 36.

Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, the heating oven 30 comprises on each heating wall 36 a respective heat generating electrical conductor configured to be electrically connected to the battery 26 such as to generate heat by Joule effect. The heat generating electrical conductor forms for example a resistor with a high impedance for increased heat generation.

In operation, as illustrated on Figure 7, the heating oven 30 is initially empty and a consumable article 16 is inserted in the heating chamber 32 via the insertion opening 34.

Upon insertion (from top to bottom of Figure 7), the heating walls 36 are progressively elastically deformed such that once the consumable article 16 is inserted in the heating chamber 32, the heating walls 36 make a good contact with consumable article 16, in particular with a substrate portion 46 of the consumable article 16.

The consumable article 16 is pressed between the two heating walls 36.

If an insertion section 74 is provided, upon insertion of the consumable article 16, the consumable article 16 first enters the inlet portion 74, preferably without deforming the heating walls 36, and then slides in the narrow portion 72 with elastically deforming the heating walls 36.

If a transition portion 76 is provided, the consumable article 16 passes from the inlet portion 74 to the narrow portion 72 via the transition portion 76.

The invention is not limited to the examples discussed above. Other example may be contemplated.

For example, in a variant, one or each heating wall 36 is arched transversely and inwardly on the entire length of the heating chamber 32.

Besides, the heating oven 30 with the heating chamber 32 delimited by two facing heating walls 36 among which at least one is arched, may be configured for receiving a consumable articles 16 having shapes other than a plate shape.

In some examples, as illustrated on Figure 8, the consumable article 16 exhibits the shape of a stick. The consumable article 16 has the shape of a cylinder extending along the article axis X with a cross-section that is for example a circle, as in Figure 8, or a polygone. In the example illustrated on Figure 8, the consumable article 16 has a cross-section that is circular. In other examples, the consumable article 16 has a cross-section that is a regular polygon. As illustrated on Figure 9, upon insertion of the consumable article 16 into the heating chamber 2, the consumable article 16 is pressed between the two facing heating walls 36.

Each inwardly arched heating walls 36 (here both of them) is elastically deformed outwardly when the consumable article 16 is inserted in the heating chamber 32. The consumable article 16 is pressed between the two heating walls 36. This makes a good surface contact with the consumable article 16 thus allowing an efficient transfer of thermal energy.

Claims

1.- A heating oven for an aerosol generating device configured for operating a consumable article (16), the heating oven comprising a heating chamber (32) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and an opening (36) for insertion of the consumable article (36) into the heating chamber (32), the heating oven having a four sided cross-section delimited by two heating walls (36) facing each other with delimiting the heating chamber (32) between them and two side walls (66) extending between the two heating walls (36) with being parallel to each other, wherein one or each heating wall (36) is arched transversely and inwardly in at least one portion of the heating chamber (32).

2.- The heating oven as in claim 1 , wherein each arched heating wall (36) is configured to deform elastically outwardly upon insertion into the heating chamber (32) of a consumable article having a thickness greater than a minimal spacing between the two heating walls (36).

3.- The heating oven as in claim 1 or 2, wherein each arched heating wall (36) is arched in a narrow portion (72) of the heating oven, the heating walls (36) being substantially parallel in an inlet portion (74) of the heating oven, the inlet portion (74) being adjacent the insertion opening (36).

4.- The heating oven as in claim 3, wherein the heating oven comprises a transition portion (76) extending between the inlet portion (74) and the narrow portion (72), the crosssection of the transition portion (76) transitioning from the cross-section of the inlet portion (74) to the cross-section of the narrow portion (72).

5.- The heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating oven is tubular.

6.- The heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two side walls (66) are flat, preferably along the entire length of the heating oven (30).

7.- The heating oven as any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two side walls (66) are parallel to each other along the entire length of the heating oven and/or the heating oven (30) as a constant internal width between the two side walls (66), preferably along the entire length of the heating oven.

8.- The heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating walls (36) are made of metal, for example aluminum or steel, in particular stainless steel.

9.- The heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the thickness of each heating wall is comprises between 50 pm and 2 mm.

10.- The heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating oven has a length comprised between 10 mm and 40 mm, in particular between 20 mm and 30 mm, a width comprised between 5 mm and 25 mm, in particular between 10 mm and 20 mm, and/or a height comprised between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, in particular between 1 mm and 2 mm.

1 1 .- The heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacing between the heating walls (36) varies transversely, the ratio of the minimum spacing between the heating walls to the maximum spacing between the heating walls (36) is comprises between 0.8 and 0.9.

12.- The heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the minimal spacing between the heating walls (36) is strictly smaller than a transverse dimension of the consumable article.

13.- The heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims, configured for receiving a plate-shaped consumable article or a stick-shaped consumable article.

14.- Aerosol generating device comprising a heating oven as in any one of the preceding claims.

15.- Aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device as in claim 13 and a consumable article (16), the aerosol generating device being configured for operating the consumable article with heating the consumable article (16) in the heating oven for generating an aerosol to be inhaled by the user, wherein the heating oven is configured such that upon insertion of the consumable article (16) into the heating chamber (32), each transversely arched heating wall (36) is elastically deformed outwardly to accommodate the consumable article (16) inside the heating oven.