JP7684429B2 - FILTER SEGMENT, AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLES AND SYSTEMS INCLUDING SAME - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to filter segments, aerosol-generating articles, and systems including the same.

Aerosol generating devices have been developed that generate aerosols from an aerosol-generating article (e.g., a cigarette) in a non-combustion manner. For example, Published Patent Application No. 10-2019-0119465 discloses an aerosol generating device. The background art described above was retained or acquired in the process of deriving this disclosure, and cannot necessarily be considered publicly known technology that was disclosed to the general public prior to the filing of this disclosure.

One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a filter segment and an aerosol-generating article that distributes heat evenly across the filter.

According to one embodiment, the filter segment is a filter segment for an aerosol-generating article and can include an outer portion including a filter and an inner portion including an airflow barrier located inside the outer portion and surrounded by the filter and configured to slow or block airflow.

In one embodiment, the airflow barrier can be located at the center of the filter segment.

In one embodiment, the airflow barrier can extend along the length of the filter segment.

In one embodiment, the airflow barrier may include a solid material.

In one embodiment, the solid material may include at least one or a combination of paper threads, silicone threads, paper filters, or acetate tow.

In one embodiment, the diameter of the airflow barrier may be substantially equal to or less than half the diameter of the filter segment.

In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating article includes a first segment including a medium and a second segment downstream of the first segment, the second segment including a filter segment, the filter segment including an outer portion including a filter and an inner portion including an airflow barrier inside the outer portion and surrounded by the filter, the inner portion configured to slow or block airflow.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating system may include an aerosol generating article including a first segment including a medium and a second segment downstream of the first segment, the second segment including a filter segment, the filter segment including an outer portion including a filter and an inner portion inside the outer portion and including an airflow barrier surrounded by the filter and configured to slow or block airflow; and an aerosol generating device including a first housing, a second housing located within the first housing and configured to contain the aerosol generating article, and a heater located around the second housing and configured to heat the first segment.

According to one embodiment, it is possible to reduce or prevent bias in the airflow within the filter segment. According to one embodiment, it is possible to increase the contact area between the airflow and the filter within the filter segment. The effects of the filter segment and the aerosol-generating article according to one embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and different effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of particular embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an aerosol generation system according to one embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram of an aerosol-generating article according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a filter segment according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a filter segment according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the specific structural or functional description disclosed in this specification is merely an example for the purpose of describing the embodiments, and the embodiments may be implemented in various different forms, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives to the embodiments are included in the scope of the rights.

The terms used in the embodiments are merely used for the purpose of explanation and are not to be construed as limiting. The singular term includes the plural term unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "include" and "have" indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms commonly used and predefined should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless expressly defined in this specification.

In addition, in the description with reference to the attached drawings, the same components will be given the same reference symbols regardless of the drawing numbers, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the description of the embodiments, if a detailed description of related publicly known technology is deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the embodiments, the detailed description will be omitted.

In addition, in describing components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are used to distinguish the components from other components, and do not limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components. When a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it will be understood that the component is directly coupled or connected to the other component, but that other components may be "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" between each component.

Components that have functions common to components included in any of the embodiments will be described using the same names in the other embodiments. Unless otherwise stated, the description of any of the embodiments will also apply to the other embodiments, and specific descriptions will be omitted to the extent that they overlap.

"Aerosol-generating material" as described in this document means a material capable of generating an aerosol. The aerosol comprises a volatile compound. The aerosol-generating material may be in solid or liquid phase. For example, solid aerosol-generating materials include solid materials based on tobacco raw materials, such as sheet tobacco, cut tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, etc., and liquid aerosol-generating materials may include liquid-phase compositions based on nicotine, tobacco extracts, and/or various flavoring agents. The aerosol-generating material may include an aerosol-forming agent to stably form visible smoke and/or aerosol.

As used herein, an "aerosol generating device" means a device that uses an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that can be inhaled directly into a user's lungs through the user's mouth.

As used herein, "upstream" or "upstream direction" means a direction away from the mouth of the user, and "downstream" or "downstream direction" means a direction toward the mouth of the user. The terms upstream and downstream are used to describe the relative positions of elements that make up an aerosol-generating article.

As used in this document, "puff" refers to inhalation by a user. Inhalation refers to the situation in which a gas is inhaled through the user's mouth or nose into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs.

"Longitudinal" as used herein means the direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an aerosol generating system according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of an aerosol generating article according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a filter segment according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a filter segment according to one embodiment.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4, the aerosol generating system 10 includes an aerosol generating article 100 containing an aerosol generating substance, and an aerosol generating device 200 configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol generating article 100.

In one embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 100 includes a plurality of segments 110, 120, 130, and 140. For example, the aerosol-generating article 100 includes, from upstream to downstream, a first segment 110, a second segment 120, a third segment 130, and a fourth segment 140.

In one embodiment, the first segment 110 may include a filter. In one embodiment, the first segment 110 may include a cellulose acetate tow filter. In one embodiment, the first segment 110 may include a cavity 112. The cavity 112 may be at least partially surrounded by the cellulose acetate tow filter. The cavity 112 extends along the length of the first segment 110. The cavity 112 may contact the second segment 120. The first segment 110 may have a length of about 7 mm.

In one embodiment, the second segment 120 may include a medium 122. The medium 122 may include an aerosol generating material, a scent material, and/or any other material suitable for generating an aerosol. The medium 122 may extend between the first segment 110 and the third segment 130. The medium 122 may be in at least partial contact with the first segment 110 and/or the third segment 130. The second segment 120 may have a length of about 15 mm.

In one embodiment, the third segment 130 includes a filter. For example, the third segment 130 may include a cellulose acetate filter. In one embodiment, the third segment 130 may include a paper sleeve 132 configured to cool the aerosol and/or airflow. The paper sleeve 132 may be at least partially surrounded by a cellulose acetate tow filter. The paper sleeve 132 may extend between the second segment 120 and the fourth segment 140. The paper sleeve 132 is in contact with the second segment 120 and/or the fourth segment 140. The third segment 130 may have a length of about 12 mm.

In one embodiment, the fourth segment 140 includes a filter 142. For example, the filter 142 may include a cellulose acetate filter. The filter 142 may be disposed on an exterior portion (e.g., on the outside) of the fourth segment 140. The filter 142 includes a first end 142A (e.g., a left end in FIG. 3 ) facing (e.g., in contact with) the third segment 130, a second end 142B (e.g., a right end in FIG. 3 ) opposite the first end 142A, and a first extension 142C between the first end 142A and the second end 142B. The fourth segment 140 may have a length of about 14 mm.

In one embodiment, the fourth segment 140 includes an airflow barrier 144 configured to slow or block airflow flowing from upstream to downstream through the fourth segment 140. The airflow barrier 144 may be located in an interior portion (e.g., on the inside) of the fourth segment 140 and at least partially surrounded by the filter 142. The airflow barrier 144 may be located in a central portion of the fourth segment 140.

In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may extend along the length of the fourth segment 140. In any embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may include a first end 144A located on one end (e.g., first end 142A) of the fourth segment 140, a second end 144B located on the other end (e.g., second end 142B) of the fourth segment 140, and an extension 144C between the first end 144A and the second end 144B.

In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may have a cylindrical shape with a substantially circular or elliptical cross-section. In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may have a substantially constant diameter along its length.

In any embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may have a diameter that is substantially equal to or smaller than half the diameter of the aerosol-generating article 100 (e.g., the diameter of the fourth segment 140). For example, the diameter of the aerosol-generating article 100 (e.g., the diameter of the fourth segment 140) may be about 7 mm, and the airflow barrier 144 may have a diameter of about 1 mm to 3.5 mm. The airflow barrier 144 having the above dimensions increases the volume through which the airflow contacts the filter 142.

In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may have a variable diameter along its length. For example, the airflow barrier 144 may have a tapered shape having a first diameter upstream of the fourth segment 140 and a second diameter downstream of the fourth segment 140 that is smaller than the first diameter. The tapered shape may have, for example, a linear profile or a nonlinear profile (e.g., an exponential profile).

In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may include a solid material. For example, the solid material may include paper threads, silicone threads, paper filters, cellulose acetate tow, and/or other solid materials. The thread-based solid materials, including paper threads and silicone threads, may have a substantially occluded structure that blocks airflow. The filter-based solid materials, including paper filters and acetate tow, are designed to have a greater resistance to draw than the filter 142, reducing airflow through the solid material relative to the filter 142.

In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 can reduce the temperature of the airflow in contact with the user's mouth by increasing the contact area between the airflow and the filter 142 and increasing the thermal dispersion of the fourth segment 140. The airflow barrier 144 can disperse the airflow biased around the airflow barrier 144 between the first end 142A and the second end 142B of the filter 142 in the radial direction of the airflow barrier 144.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 200 includes a first housing 210, a second housing 220, a heater 230, and a controller 240.

In one embodiment, the first housing 210 may form the exterior of the aerosol generating device 200. The second housing 220 may be configured to be located within the first housing 210 and at least partially house the aerosol generating article 100.

In one embodiment, the heater 230 may be configured to heat the aerosol-generating article 100 located within the second housing 220. For example, the heater 230 may be configured to heat the first segment 110.

In one embodiment, the heater 230 may be configured to surround the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the heater 230 may be disposed in an upstream portion (e.g., the first portion) of the second housing 220 along the air flow stream direction.

In one embodiment, the heater 230 may include a resist. For example, the heater 230 may include an electrically insulating substrate (e.g., a substrate formed of polyimide) and an electrically conductive track, and a heating element that generates heat upon the passage of electrical current through the electrically conductive track.

In one embodiment, the heater 230 may include a coil. At least a portion of the second housing 220 may include a susceptor material, and the heater 230 may be electromagnetically coupled to the susceptor material of the second housing 220 to heat an area within the second housing 220.

In one embodiment, the controller 240 may be configured to control the operation of the heater 230. The controller 240 may control the temperature of the heater 230. The controller 240 may determine when the heater 230 begins to operate. The controller 240 may determine when the heater 230 ends to operate. The controller 240 is configured to control the operation of the heater 230 based on a received signal (e.g., a sensor signal).

In one embodiment, the controller 240 may be implemented by a processor. The controller 240 may be implemented by an array of logic gates, or may be implemented by a combination of a microprocessor and a memory that stores a program that can be executed by the microprocessor.

In an embodiment not shown, the aerosol generating device 200 may include sensors configured to detect various characteristics of the aerosol generating article 100. The sensors may be configured to detect whether the aerosol generating article 100 is positioned in the second housing 220 at a predetermined position. The sensors may be configured to detect the amount of aerosol generating substance (e.g., nicotine) in the aerosol generating article 100. The sensors may include a puff sensor configured to detect the number of puffs taken by the user. The sensors may include at least one temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the heater 230. The sensors may include at least one temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the first segment 110, the second segment 120, the third segment 130, and/or the fourth segment 140.

Any of the embodiments described herein may be used in combination with any other embodiment described herein.

Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to limited drawings, those skilled in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than described, and/or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, or may be replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents, and still achieve suitable results.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is defined by the scope of the claims and their equivalents.

Claims (8)

1. A filter segment for an aerosol-generating article, comprising:
an outer portion including a filter;
an interior portion including an airflow barrier positioned inside the exterior portion and surrounded by the filter and configured to slow or block airflow;
Including,
the airflow barrier has a tapered shape having a first diameter upstream of the filter segment and a second diameter downstream of the filter segment that is smaller than the first diameter.
Filter segments. The filter segment of claim 1, wherein the airflow barrier is located at a center portion of the filter segment. The filter segment of claim 1, wherein the airflow barrier extends along the length of the filter segment. The filter segment of claim 1, wherein the airflow barrier comprises a solid material. The filter segment of claim 4, wherein the solid material comprises at least one of or a combination of paper threads, silicone threads, paper filters, or acetate tow. The filter segment of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second diameter of the airflow barrier is substantially the same as or smaller than half the diameter of the filter segment. A first segment including a medium;
a second segment located downstream of the first segment;
Including,
the second segment includes a filter segment;
The filter segment comprises :
an outer portion including a filter ;
an interior portion including an airflow barrier positioned inside the exterior portion and surrounded by the filter and configured to slow or block airflow;
Including,
the airflow barrier has a tapered shape having a first diameter upstream of the filter segment and a second diameter downstream of the filter segment that is smaller than the first diameter.
Aerosol- generating items. an aerosol-generating article comprising a first segment including a medium and a second segment downstream of the first segment, the second segment including a filter segment, the filter segment including an outer portion including a filter, and an inner portion inward of the outer portion and surrounded by the filter, the inner portion including an airflow barrier configured to slow or block airflow;
an aerosol generating device including a first housing, a second housing located within the first housing and configured to contain the aerosol-generating article, and a heater located around the second housing and configured to heat the first segment;
Including,
the airflow barrier has a tapered shape having a first diameter upstream of the filter segment and a second diameter downstream of the filter segment that is smaller than the first diameter.
Aerosol generation systems.

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