WO2022129332A1

WO2022129332A1 - Heat not burn filament system

Info

Publication number: WO2022129332A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/086194
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel Lickefeld
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2020-12-16
Filing date: 2021-12-16
Publication date: 2022-06-23

Abstract

Electronic smoking device comprising a battery and a mouth piece, the mouth piece being in a fluid connection to a vaporizing section, wherein the vaporizing section comprises a substance cartridge with at least one vaporizable substance, a transport mechanism and a heating section, whereas the vaporizable substance is transportable with the transport mechanism from the cartridge to the heating section and heatable in the heating section. According to the invention the vaporizable substance is provided as a continuous filament, wherein the electronic smoking device further comprises a deposit section whereas the filament is decomposable with heat into incontinuous parts of residues and vapour and the residues are releaseable into the deposit section.

Description

Heat not burn filament system

Description

The invention relates to an electronic smoking device comprising a battery and a mouth piece, the mouth piece being in a fluid connection to a vaporizing section, wherein the vaporizing section comprises a substance cartridge with at least one vaporizable substance, a transport mechanism and a heating section, whereas the vaporizable substance is transportable with the transport mechanism from the cartridge to the heating section and heatable in the heating section.

Such electronic smoking devices are known from the state of the art. They are preferably used to heat a smokable substance, preferably a liquid, which thereby generates an inhalable vapour. Electronic smoking devices have become more popular in the last few years, as they are seen as a healthy alternative to conventional smoking and, because of their longitudinal shape, are much more compact and easier to handle than conventional cigarette packets. Usually the liquid which is vapoured by such electronic smoking articles is a mixture of various fluids and nicotine. Accordingly the vapour has the same effect for the user in case of the nicotine consumption, but it does not taste similar to ordinary cigarette smoke. Further, the used liquids are usually quite sticky and it can be difficult to refill the electronic smoking device with such fluids.

For consumers who prefer the taste of conventional tobacco, there is a wide range of electronic cigarettes on the market which belong to the so called “heat not burn” (HNB) products. These seem to deliver a comparable taste to conventional smoking products while at the same time they also seem to be healthier than conventional cigarette smoke. However, these HNB products still require the consumer to carry a supply of tobacco portions around, wherein the tobacco portions look similar to a conventional shortened cigarette and are placed at least partially inside the HNB product. This however does not solve the need to carry around cylindrical shaped tobacco portions inside a box. A variation of an HNB cigarette is the following WO201912181 1 A1 . This electronic smoking device contains a quantity of tobacco inside the electronic cigarette. However, this option heats all the containing tobacco at once which requires a regular exchange of the tobacco inside the device.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an electronic smoking device with a vaporizable substance which does not heat all the vaporizable substance inside the device at the same time and thereby brings the benefit of a compact device without the need of regularly changing a tobacco portion as it is known from conventional HNB systems from the state of the art. This object is achieved by the smoking articles box of claim 1 . Preferred embodiments of the invention are object of the depending claims.

According to the invention the vaporizable substance is provided as a continuous filament and the electronic smoking device further comprises a deposit section whereas the filament is decomposable with heat into incontinuous parts of residues and vapour and the residues are releaseable into the deposit section.

Preferably the filament is at least made of tobacco particles and/or a different vaporizable substance as a main ingredient. Further the inclusion of various other components is possible, preferably binder agents and/or flavours are added to the filament. Very preferably the tobacco particles have an average particle size from 10 micrometres to 30 micrometres.

Preferably the filament is a homogeneous mixture without any material on which it is arranged. It is conceivable that the filament thereby does not include any additional carrier material. Preferably the filament thereby is only made from tobacco particles, a binder material and/or a different vaporizable substance without any carrier material. Thereby the filament preferably gets fully decomposed into incontinuous parts of residues in the heating section, whereby the incontinuous parts can comprise a powdery and/or dusty form. Preferably thus also the binder material decomposes into the incontinuous parts in the heating section.

Particle sizes of the residues might be smaller than 5 mm, preferably smaller than 2 mm and more preferably smaller than 1 mm in diameter.

It is conceivable that the residues are brittle compared to the filament which is inserted in the heating section. This might be the result of moisture decreasing while vaping due to the applying of heat.

It is conceivable that the consumer can adjust the heat by which the filament is decomposed. It is conceivable that due to different decomposing temperatures the taste experience can be adjusted. Preferably different filament types are usable which comprise different ingredients and thereby also different tastes. Further it is conceivable that the usage of different types of filaments with different temperatures allow an even bigger range of possible tastes.

In a preferred embodiment the deposit section is accessible from the outside of the electronic smoking device and emptyable.

It is conceivable that the disposed section functions as an ash tray, wherein the residues of the heated filament are preferably deposed in the ash tray in form of small pieces. Preferably the inlet to the ash tray is a one way hole and/or mechanism which allows the residues to move only towards and/or into the deposit section, but not in the opposite direction, out of the deposit section. Preferably the deposit section comprises a sensor which measures the filling level inside the ash tray. Very preferably the sensor gives an optical and/or haptic feedback to the consumer when the deposit section is full. It is conceivable that the deposit section can be removed from the electronic smoking device and is thereby attachable and detachable to the device. In a detached state from the device it might be possible to empty and/or clean the deposit section.

This would allow to reuse the deposit section multiple times which further also reduces possible waste production.

In a preferred embodiment the transport mechanism comprises at least one rotatable unit which feeds the filament to the heating section. It is conceivable that also a linear transport mechanism can be used which is similar to a textile transport mechanism in sewing machines as, for example, described in EP2025790A. It is conceivable that a rotatable transport mechanism allows a constant feeding rate. It is also conceivable that in comparison to a rotatable transport mechanism, a linear transport takes up less space inside the electronic smoking device.

In a preferred embodiment the transport mechanism comprises at least one drive gear and/or roller unit for transporting the filament towards the heating section. It is conceivable that the drive gears are especially designed for transporting the filament. Preferably two drive gears transport the filament wherein the drive gears are preferably arranged at opposite sides of the filament in its diameter direction. It is also conceivable that the filament is transported via a worm gear.

In a preferred embodiment the transport mechanism is manually driven by the consumer and/or electrically driven. It is conceivable that a consumer can turn and/or move an interface, preferably a small gear arranged at the outside of the electronic smoking device, wherein the gear is attached to the transport mechanism in the inside of the electronic smoking device via a shaft. It is conceivable that the shaft runs through a hole in the outer hull of the device and thereby connects inner mechanical parts to the gear outside the hull. Preferably the consumer thereby can directly and manually adjust the feeding rate of the filament which in turn affects the intensity of the smoke and/or vapour which is released. It is thus possible to operate the transport mechanism by turning the gears.

It is also conceivable that the transport mechanism is electrically driven. In this embodiment the gears for transporting the filament are driven by small electric motors inside the device. It is conceivable that thereby the need of an interaction of the consumer and the mechanical gears is redundant. Further it is conceivable that the transport mechanism is triggered by a consumer trying to smoke. In such an embodiment it is conceivable that the electronic smoking device comprises a pressure sensor which is preferably arranged in an area of the device which is in a fluid connection to the mouthpiece. Preferably a pressure sensor then measures the pressure inside the device and when a consumer starts to inhale the pressure sensor triggers the transport mechanism as well as the heating section. ln a preferred embodiment the fluid connection comprises at least one channel for fluids between an outer hull of the electronic smoking device and the vaporizing section, wherein the outer hull encloses the fluid channel and the vaporizing section. Preferably the fluid section guides vapour and/or smoke from the heating section to the mouthpiece. Preferably a hole in the outer hull functions as an air intake to provide fresh air supply from the outside of the device and thereby to provide a continuous flow of vapour from the heating section to the mouthpiece through the fluid section. Very preferably the air intake lets air from outside of the device into a further fluid section which connects the air intake to the heating section. Preferably this further channel guides the air from outside of the device into the heating section to transport vapour and/or smoke away from the heating section, through the first fluid section towards the mouthpiece. It is conceivable that the fluid section comprises at least one heatsink which cools down the smoke and/or vapour on its way from the heating section to the mouth piece. Also preferably at least one of the channels is a tube which is arranged between the vaporizing section and the outer hull. Preferably the smoke and/or vapour from the heating section is then guided directly into the tube, and preferably exits the tube at the mouth piece.

In a preferred embodiment the fluid connection is accessible via an access in the outer hull and/or by detaching the vaporizing section. Preferably the fluid section is accessible to be cleaned. Very preferably the channel is also rinsable with preferably water, which would provide a better cleaning accuracy. Preferably a tube which is arranged inside the fluid connection is also accessible and/or detachable from the device to be cleaned. Very preferably the vaporizing section is completely detachable from the device which would allow to rinse all fluid connections in the device with preferably water.

In a preferred embodiment the outer hull encloses the vaporizing section with a respective distance between the inner surface of the outer hull and the outer surface of the vaporizing section which creates a space in between the outer hull and the vaporizing section through which fluids can pass. This fluid connection comprises a channel from the heating section to the mouthpiece and thus allows the vapour to flow from the heating section to the mouthpiece on a predefined path. Preferably this path is at least one tube-like construct. It is conceivable that the vaporizing section and the outer hull comprise a round shape, and that the outer diameter of the vaporizing section is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the outer hull. Preferably the vaporizing section is then hold in the middle of the inside of the outer hull by a support structure, wherein the space between the vaporizing section and the outer hull thereby is the fluid connection from the heating section to the mouthpiece. It is conceivable that by detaching the vaporizing section one could easily clean the outer surface of the vaporizing section as well as the inner surface of the outer hull.

In a preferred embodiment the heating section comprises a heat resistant material which is porous and/or comprises at least one through hole from the outside to the inside of the heating section where the filament is heated. Preferably, the heating section is made of a material that is porous enough to allow the steam generated in the inside of the heating section to escape from the inside of heating section to the outside. Very preferably this material is a ceramic and/or semiconductor material. It is conceivable that materials such as molybdenium disilicide, silicon carbide and silicon nitride can be used for such purpose. Further PTC ceramic elements can be use which, due to their positive thermal coefficient of resistance, function as their own thermostat. It is conceivable that also devices such as quartz halogen heaters can be used for heating the filament. Preferably, also a metallic material can be used for the heating section, whereby this then preferably comprises small holes through which the smoke can flow.

Preferably, the heating section consists of a longitudinal hollow cylinder, whereby the tobacco filament is passed through the cylinder in the longitudinal direction and the vapour and/or smoke emitted from the filament by heat can pass out of the side of the cylinder through the porous structure and/or the holes. Preferably the filament is introduced as a continuous piece into the heating section and is heated there, thereby causing the filament to produce steam and decompose, and the remains of the filament that have not been converted to steam are led out of the heating section at the other end of the longitudinal cylinder of the heating section. If the envelope of the heating section is made of a porous material, the holes in this porous material are preferably large enough to allow the vapour and/or smoke produced in the heating section to escape from the inside of the heating section through the holes.

In a preferred embodiment the material used in the heating section is ceramic and/or a semiconductor material which can withstand at least temperatures up to 350 °C. It is conceivable that this material in particular must withstand constant heating and cooling periods. Due to that it is also conceivable that the heating section comprises a material that has a smallest possible temperature-dependent coefficient of expansion, which would prevent heat related stress inside the material.

In a preferred embodiment the vaporizing section further comprises the deposit section, whereas the vaporizing section is exchangeable and by that mountable and demountable from the electronic smoking device. It is conceivable that the electronic smoking device has a modular design, whereby each component of the unit can be replaced individually. Preferably the vaporizing section is detachable from the outer hull in one piece. Very preferably the deposit section is detachable alone to be able to be cleaned and/or emptied.

In another preferred embodiment all components of the vaporizing section are individually exchangeable and by that mountable and demountable from the electronic smoking device. Very preferably all components of the electronic smoking device are individually exchangeable and by that mountable and demountable from the device. It is conceivable that the fluid connections inside the device may consist of all parts due to the assembly of the unit. This would mean that the parts required for the appliance would replace parts that would have to be additionally installed in the appliance and could thus be avoided.

In a preferred embodiment the filament stored in the substance cartridge is winded and/or folded. Preferably, the filament is stored in the cartridge in a space-saving way. It is conceivable that the filament has a round and/or oval and/or rectangular shape in its cross sectional view. Preferably the filament can be shaped in various other geometrical forms. Preferably the filament can be wound preferably on a spool and/or folded inside the cartridge. Further it is conceivable that the smokable substance from which the filament is made comprises a paste-like consistency which would allow maximum space utilisation in the cartridge. Preferably the paste is then pressed out of the cartridge via a piston. And very preferably the paste is thereby pressed through a nozzle to form the filament. It is conceivable that the user thereby does not operate the transport mechanism, by interacting with the gear outside of the electronic smoking device, but he preferably pushes the piston inside the cartridge with his interaction. Method for manufacturing a cartridge with a filament for placing in an electronic smoking device, comprising the following steps:

First all ingredients of the filament, which are preferably tobacco particles and/or a different vaporizable substance, are mixed together to form a vaporizable substance which is then moulded and finally placed inside a cartridge.

Preferably the vaporizable substance is moulded into the form of a longitudinal filament which is then wound on a spool and wherein the spool is afterwards placed inside the cartridge. It is conceivable that the spool already functions as the cartridge and can be placed directly into the electronic smoking device without further casing. It is conceivable that after the filament is moulded, it is not wound on a spool, but folded inside the cartridge, wherein the cartridge would thereby preferably only comprise a case without spool. In this case the filament is preferably moulded into a flat, but still longitudinal form, similar to a flat band. The benefit of at least one of the aforementioned embodiments is that it would save at least one space-consuming component within the electronic smoking device and thereby allows to place more vaporizable substance into the device.

It is conceivable that the vaporizable substance is not moulded before it is placed inside the cartridge. In this embodiment, the cartridge would preferably comprise a piston to press the vaporizable substance out of the cartridge. The vaporizable substance would then preferably comprise a paste-like consistency to be formed to a filament while being pressed out of the cartridge. Very preferably the cartridge comprises a nozzle which forms the vaporizable substance by being pressed thorough the nozzle by the piston.

Preferably the paste-like vaporizable substance can be refilled into the cartridge via a refill device which comprises a refill container. Very preferably the piston is also pushed back in its initial position by refilling the cartridge and thereby allows to use the cartridge again.

In a preferred embodiment the tobacco particles have an average particle size from 10 micrometres to 30 micrometres. It is conceivable that the particles are smaller and/or larger. It is also conceivable that a mixture of different particle sizes be used for the filament. Further it is conceivable that the particle size depends on the used tobacco plant and by mixing different sorts of tobacco together, the particle size inside the filament also varies. This is preferably used to enhance the best possible taste by using each tobacco in a particle size that allows its flavour to come out in the best possible way.

Further advantages and embodiments according to the invention are illustrated in the attached drawing.

Herein show:

Fig. 1 electronic smoking device according to the invention

Figure 1 illustrates a two dimensional view into an electronic smoking device 1 according to the invention. The electronic smoking device 1 extends with its length direction in the longitudinal direction L, wherein it also extends with its width direction into the width direction B. At the bottom part of the electronic smoking device 16 at one end on the electronic smoking device 1 according to the longitudinal direction L, the battery 12 is arranged. On the top part of electronic smoking devicel 7 according to the longitudinal direction L, a mouth piece 2 is attached, wherein the mouth piece 2 is hollow and in a fluid connection 9 to the a channel 15 which is arranged in between the outer hull 14 of the device 1 and the vaporizing section 3. By drawing at the mouth piece 2 a consumer causes vapour 10 and/or smoke 10 to flow along a path V, wherein the path V ends by the vapour 10 and/or smoke exiting the mouth piece 2 into the mouth of the consumer. The path V starts in the heating section 5 of the vaporizing section 3, wherein the vaporizing section 3 is arranged in between the battery 12 and a substance cartridge 8. The vaporizing 3 section comprises a transport mechanism 4 with roller units 13, the heating section 5, a deposit section 6, a vaporizable substance in form of filament 7 and residues 11 inside the deposit section 6. The filament 7 is obtained from the substance cartridge 8 and transported in the transport section 4 with the roller units 13 towards the heating section 5. The filament 7 in the substance cartridge 8 preferably comprises a round and longitudinal shape and is preferably wound on a spool in a space saving way. Preferably the spool is placed inside the device 1 without further cartridge housing 8. It is conceivable that the filament 7 can also be folded and by that stacked in form of layers inside the cartridge 8. The filament 7 would then preferably comprise a flat, but still longitudinal shape, wherein the width of the filament 7 thus preferably corresponds to the inner width of the substance cartridge 8.

Preferably the transport mechanism 4 transports the filament 7 with at least one, but preferably two roller units 13, wherein in figure 1 the filament 7 is arranged in between the roller units 13 according to the width direction B. Preferably the roller units 13 comprise a rough and/or sticky surface to provide grip between the filament 7 and the roller units 13. When the roller units 13 rotate, preferably in the rotating direction R, the filament is transported towards the heating section 5. It is conceivable that the rotating axis 18 of one roller unit 13 is connected via a shaft to the gear (not shown here) outside the hull 1 of the device 1 . Thereby the roller unit 13 turns while a consumer is interacting with the gear. It is conceivable that both roller units 13 comprise a gear and thereby the turned roller unit 13 would turn the second roller unit 13 in the opposite direction. The filament 7 which is transported toward the heating section 5 enters the heating section 5 on the side of the heating section 5 which is arranged towards the transport mechanism 4.

In the heating section 5 the filament 7 is heated and thereby decomposed, wherein decomposing means the filament 7 to split up into vapour 10 and/or smoke 10 and incontinuous parts of residues 1 1 . Thereby incontinuous parts of residues preferably means that that the residues comprises the form of powder and/or dust. Preferably therefore all components of the filament get decomposed into the residues which thereby form the powdery and/or dusty form.

Preferably all components of the filament decompose with the heat which is applied at the smoking process.

Preferably splitting up the filament 7 means that the filament 7 is heated to a temperature at which the fluid parts and/or active ingredients inside the filament 7 start to evaporate. Preferably the temperature does not exceed a threshold value at which the active substances from the filament 7are evaporated, but the filament 7 is not burned. By heating the filament up to this threshold value preferably lets the filament 7 dry out and disintegrate into incontinuous parts of residues 1 1 These residues 1 1 are transportable from the heating section 5 into the deposit section 6. This means that the filament 7 enters the heating section 5 in one continuous piece at one end according to the direction L, and on the other end of the heating section 5, which is directed towards the deposit section 6, the filament exits the heating section 5 in incontinuous parts of residues 1 1. Preferably the deposit section 6 comprises a one way valve 19 through which the residues 1 1 can pass against the direction L from the heating section 5. Very preferably the force of gravity points at least partially against the direction L during the usage of the device 1 , wherein this would mean that the residues 1 1 fall into the deposit section 6 without further transport mechanism. Preferably the deposit section 6 is in normal use of the device 1 arranged below the heating section 5 according to the force of gravity. Very preferably also a transport mechanism is introduced to transport the residues 11 into the deposit section 6. The vapour 10 which is also released during the decomposing, is released from the heating section 5 into the channel 15 along the flow path V, wherein the channel 15 guides the vapour 10 along the flow path V towards the mouthpiece 2.

Preferably the vaporizing section 3 and the substance cartridge 8 are detachable on their own from the device 1 to be able to be exchanged individually. Preferably all parts from inside the device 1 are detachable on their own, wherein this includes the substance cartridge 8, the transport mechanism 4, the heating section 5 and the deposit section 6. It is conceivable that especially the deposit section 6 and the substance cartridge 8 are detachable on their own from the device to be able to empty the residues 11 out of the deposit section 6 and also to replace filament 7 inside the cartridge 8, when the filament is used up. Preferably by detaching all components from the electronic smoking device 1 , one can especially clean the channel 15 and preferably all other parts which are in direct contact with vapour 10 during the usage of the device 1.

Reference signs

1 electronic smoking device

2 mouth piece

3 vaporizing section

4 transport mechanism

5 heating section

6 deposit section

7 filament

8 substance cartridge

9 fluid connection

10 vapour or smoke

11 residues

12 battery section

13 roller unit

14 outer hull of electronic smoking device

15 channel in between outer hull and vaporizing section

16 bottom part of electronic smoking device

17 top part of electronic smoking device

18 rotating axis of roller unit

19 one way valve of deposit section

L longitudinal direction

B width direction

V flow direction of smoke

R turning direction of roller units

Claims

1. Electronic smoking device (1) comprising a battery (12) and a mouth piece (2), the mouth piece (2) being in a fluid connection (9) to a vaporizing section (3), wherein the vaporizing section (3) comprises a substance cartridge (8) with at least one vaporizable substance (7), a transport mechanism (4) and a heating section (5), whereas the vaporizable substance (7) is transportable with the transport mechanism (4) from the cartridge (8) to the heating section (5) and heatable in the heating section (5), characterized in that, the vaporizable substance is provided as a continuous filament (7) and the electronic smoking device (1) further comprises a deposit section (6) whereas the filament (7) is decomposable with heat into incontinuous parts of residues (11) and vapour (10) and the residues (11) are releaseable into the deposit section (6).

2. The electronic smoking device according to claim 1 , characterized in that, the deposit section (6) is accessible from the outside of the electronic smoking device (1) and emptyable.

3. The electronic smoking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the transport mechanism (4) comprises at least one rotatable unit which feeds the filament (7) to the heating section (5).

4. The electronic smoking device according to claim 3, characterized in that, the transport mechanism (4) comprises at least one drive gear and/or roller unit (13) for transporting the filament (7) towards the heating section (5).

5. The electronic smoking device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the transport mechanism (4) is manually driven by the customer and/or electrically driven.

6. The electronic smoking device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the fluid connection (9) comprises at least one channel for fluids between an outer hull (14) of the electronic smoking device (1) and the vaporizing section (3) whereas the outer hull (14) encloses the fluid channel and the vaporizing section (3).

7. The electronic smoking device according to claim 6, characterized in that, the fluid connection (9) is accessible via an access in the outer hull (14) and/or by detaching the vaporizing section (3).

8. The electronic smoking device according to claim 6 and 7, characterized in that, the outer hull (14) enclosures the fluid connection (9) so that the fluid connection (9) comprises a channel from the heating section (5) to the mouthpiece (2) and thus allows the vapour (10) to flow from the heating section (5) to the mouthpiece (2) on a predefined path (V).

9. The electronic smoking device according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that, the heating section (5) comprises a heat resistant material which is porous and/or comprises at least one through hole from the outside to the inside of the heating section (5) where the filament (7) is heated.

10. The electronic smoking device according to claim 9, characterized in that, the material used in the heating section (5) is ceramic and/or a semiconductor material which can withstand at least temperatures up to 350 °C. - 15- The electronic smoking device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the vaporizing section (3) further comprises the deposit section (6), whereas the vaporizing section (3) is exchangeable and by that mountable and demountable from the electronic smoking device (1). The electronic smoking device according to claim 11, characterized in that, all components of the vaporizing section (3) are individually exchangeable and by that mountable and demountable from the electronic smoking device (1). The electronic smoking device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the filament (7) stored in the substance cartridge (8) is winded and/or folded. Method for manufacturing a cartridge comprising a filament (7) for placing in an electronic smoking device (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that, the filament (7) includes at least tobacco particles and/or a different vaporizable substance as a first component, wherein all used ingredients combined form a substance which is afterwards placed inside a cartridge (8). The method according to claim 14, characterized in that, tobacco particles have an average particle size from 10 micrometres to 30 micrometres.