WO2023175864A1

WO2023175864A1 - Aerosol generation system

Info

Publication number: WO2023175864A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/012431
Authority: WO
Inventors: 健太郎山田
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2022-03-17
Filing date: 2022-03-17
Publication date: 2023-09-21

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a system which can lessen environmental burdens. [Solution] An aerosol generation system in which an aerosol source is heated to generate an aerosol and which comprises: an electric power part; an electromagnetic induction source which generates an alternating magnetic field using electric power supplied from the electric power part; and a support part whereby a susceptor is detachably supported, the susceptor, upon penetration of the alternating magnetic field, generating heat to thereby heat the aerosol source.

Description

Aerosol generation system

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation system.

Inhalation devices, such as electronic cigarettes and nebulizers, that produce substances that are inhaled by a user are widespread. For example, a suction device generates an aerosol to which a flavor component has been added using a base material that includes an aerosol source for generating an aerosol, a flavor source for imparting a flavor component to the generated aerosol, and the like. The user can taste the flavor by inhaling the aerosol to which the flavor component is added, which is generated by the suction device. The action of the user inhaling an aerosol will also be referred to below as a puff or a puff action.

Until now, resistance heating type suction devices using resistance heating elements have been the mainstream. However, in recent years, induction-heating suction devices that generate aerosol by induction-heating a susceptor using an electromagnetic induction source have attracted attention. For example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses an induction heating type suction device that induction heats a susceptor contained in a base material.

Patent No. 6077145

According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the susceptor is discarded every time the base material is consumed, resulting in an excessive burden on the environment.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that can reduce the environmental load.

In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generation system that generates aerosol by heating an aerosol source, the system comprising: a power supply section; and an electric power supplied from the power supply section. An aerosol generation system is provided that includes an electromagnetic induction source that generates a fluctuating magnetic field, and a support that removably supports a susceptor that generates heat and heats the aerosol source when the fluctuating magnetic field enters.

The aerosol generation system has an internal space and a first opening that opens the internal space to the outside, and includes a housing section that accommodates a base material containing the aerosol source inserted from the first opening, and the electromagnetic The induction source may be placed at a position where the generated fluctuating magnetic field is superimposed on the internal space, and the support section may support the susceptor while the susceptor is located in the internal space of the housing section. .

The support portion may be disposed at a bottom portion of the accommodating portion facing the first opening, and may support an end portion of the susceptor in a state where the susceptor protrudes from the bottom portion of the accommodating portion into the internal space. good.

The support portion may support the susceptor by holding the susceptor at a plurality of spaced apart positions.

An end of the electromagnetic induction source in a direction closer to the bottom of the accommodating part may be separated from the bottom of the accommodating part.

The aerosol generation system includes a first unit having the electromagnetic induction source, and a second unit having the power supply section and the support section, and the first unit and the second unit are configured to be detachable. It's okay.

The first unit is a cylindrical body having both ends at the first opening and a second opening opposite to the first opening, and the first unit and the second unit are arranged so that the second unit The accommodating portion is configured to be connected to the first unit so as to close the second opening of the unit, and the support portion is disposed in a portion of the second unit that constitutes the bottom of the accommodating portion. may be done.

One of the first unit or the second unit has an electrode electrically connected to the electromagnetic induction source or the power source, and the other of the first unit or the second unit is capable of inserting the electrode. The first unit and the second unit are connected to each other, the first unit and the second unit having a hole exposing a contact to the power source or the electromagnetic induction source, and with the electrode inserted into the hole and in contact with the contact. may be done.

The first unit is electrically conductive and has a first threaded portion that is electrically connected to the electromagnetic induction source, and the second unit is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the power source. The first unit and the second unit are connected by the first screw part and the second screw part being screwed together, and the first unit The electromagnetic induction source and the power supply section may be electrically connected via the first threaded part and the second threaded part in a state where the electromagnetic induction source and the second unit are connected.

The aerosol generation system includes a locking mechanism that switches whether or not the first unit and the second unit can be separated, and a control section that controls the operation of the locking mechanism according to the temperature of the susceptor, and the control section The locking mechanism may be controlled so that the susceptor can be separated when the temperature of the susceptor is below a predetermined threshold, and the locking mechanism cannot be separated when the susceptor temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold.

The support portion may be made of a material whose conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold.

A supported part made of a material whose conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold may be provided at an end of the susceptor that is supported by the support part.

The susceptor may be configured in a plate shape or a rod shape.

The susceptor may be configured as a cylindrical body.

The aerosol generation system may further include the base material.

As explained above, according to the present invention, a mechanism that can reduce environmental load is provided.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the basic configuration of a suction device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a susceptor is removed from a suction device in a separated state. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a susceptor is connected to a suction device in a separated state. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a suction device in a completed state. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a stick-type base material inserted into a completed suction device. It is a flow chart which shows an example of the flow of processing performed by the suction device concerning the 1st modification. It is a figure for explaining the suction device concerning the 2nd modification. It is a figure for explaining the suction device concerning the 3rd modification. It is a figure for explaining the suction device concerning the 4th modification. It is a figure for explaining the suction device concerning the 4th modification. It is a figure for explaining the suction device concerning the 5th modification. It is a figure for explaining the suction device concerning the 6th modification. It is a figure for explaining the suction device concerning the 6th modification. It is a figure for explaining the suction device concerning the 7th modification.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that, in this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configurations are designated by the same reference numerals and redundant explanation will be omitted.

<1. Basic configuration example>
Hereinafter, the basic configuration of the suction device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the basic configuration of a suction device 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the suction device 100 according to the present embodiment includes a power supply section 111, a sensor section 112, a notification section 113, a storage section 114, a communication section 115, a control section 116, a housing section 140, an electromagnetic induction source 11, and a susceptor 30. With the stick-type base material 150 housed in the housing section 140, suction is performed by the user. Each component will be explained in order below.

The power supply unit 111 stores power. The power supply unit 111 supplies power to each component of the suction device 100. The power supply unit 111 may be configured with a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery, for example. The power supply unit 111 may be charged by being connected to an external power supply via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like. Further, the power supply unit 111 may be charged using wireless power transmission technology without being connected to a power transmitting device. Alternatively, only the power supply section 111 may be able to be removed from the suction device 100, or may be replaced with a new power supply section 111.

The sensor unit 112 detects various information regarding the suction device 100. The sensor unit 112 then outputs the detected information to the control unit 116. As an example, the sensor unit 112 is configured by a pressure sensor such as a condenser microphone, a flow rate sensor, or a temperature sensor. When the sensor unit 112 detects a numerical value associated with suction by the user, it outputs information indicating that suction has been performed by the user to the control unit 116. As another example, the sensor unit 112 is configured with an input device such as a button or a switch that receives information input from the user. In particular, the sensor unit 112 may include a button for instructing start/stop of aerosol generation. The sensor unit 112 then outputs the information input by the user to the control unit 116. As another example, the sensor unit 112 is configured with a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the susceptor 30. Such a temperature sensor may detect the temperature of the susceptor 30 based on the electrical resistance value of the electromagnetic induction source 11, for example.

The notification unit 113 notifies the user of information. As an example, the notification unit 113 is configured with a light emitting device such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). In that case, the notification unit 113 emits light in different light emission patterns when the power supply unit 111 requires charging, when the power supply unit 111 is charging, when an abnormality occurs in the suction device 100, etc. . The light emission pattern here is a concept that includes color, timing of turning on/off, and the like. The notification unit 113 may be configured with a display device that displays an image, a sound output device that outputs sound, a vibration device that vibrates, etc. together with or in place of the light emitting device. In addition, the notification unit 113 may notify information indicating that suction by the user is now possible. Information indicating that suction by the user is now possible can be notified when the temperature of the stick-shaped base material 150 that generates heat due to electromagnetic induction reaches a predetermined temperature.

The storage unit 114 stores various information for the operation of the suction device 100. The storage unit 114 is configured by, for example, a nonvolatile storage medium such as a flash memory. An example of the information stored in the storage unit 114 is information regarding the OS (Operating System) of the suction device 100, such as control details of various components by the control unit 116. Another example of information stored in the storage unit 114 is information related to suction by the user, such as the number of suctions, the time of suction, and the cumulative suction time.

The communication unit 115 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving information between the suction device 100 and other devices. The communication unit 115 performs communication based on any wired or wireless communication standard. Such communication standards include, for example, wireless LAN (Local Area Network), wired LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), NFC (Near Field Communication), or LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). Standards etc. may be adopted.

The control unit 116 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls overall operations within the suction device 100 according to various programs. The control unit 116 is realized by, for example, an electronic circuit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a microprocessor. In addition, the control unit 116 may include a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs to be used, calculation parameters, etc., and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores parameters that change as appropriate. The suction device 100 executes various processes based on control by the control unit 116. Power supply from the power supply unit 111 to each other component, charging of the power supply unit 111, detection of information by the sensor unit 112, notification of information by the notification unit 113, storage and reading of information by the storage unit 114, and communication unit 115 Transmission and reception of information is an example of processing controlled by the control unit 116. Other processes performed by the suction device 100, such as inputting information to each component and processing based on information output from each component, are also controlled by the control unit 116.

The accommodating part 140 has an internal space 141, and holds the stick-type base material 150 while accommodating a part of the stick-type base material 150 in the internal space 141. The accommodating part 140 has an opening 142 that communicates the internal space 141 with the outside, and accommodates the stick-shaped base material 150 inserted into the internal space 141 from the opening 142. For example, the accommodating portion 140 is a bottomed cylindrical body having an opening 142 and a bottom portion 143 at both ends, and defines a columnar internal space 141 . The accommodating part 140 is configured such that its inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the stick-shaped base material 150 in at least a portion of the height direction of the cylindrical body, and the accommodating part 140 is configured to have an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the stick-shaped base material 150 inserted into the internal space 141. The stick-type base material 150 can be held by pressing from the outer periphery. The accommodating portion 140 also has the function of defining an air flow path through the stick-shaped substrate 150. An air inlet hole, which is an entrance of air into the flow path, is arranged, for example, at the bottom portion 143. On the other hand, the air outlet hole, which is the outlet of the air from the flow path, is the opening 142.

The stick-shaped base material 150 is a stick-shaped member. Stick type base material 150 includes a base material part 151 and a mouthpiece part 152.

The base member 151 includes an aerosol source. The aerosol source is heated and atomized to produce an aerosol. The aerosol source may further include a flavor source that imparts a flavor component to the aerosol. The aerosol source may be derived from tobacco, such as a processed product formed from shredded tobacco or tobacco raw material into granules, sheets, or powder. Aerosol sources may also include non-tobacco sources made from plants other than tobacco, such as mint and herbs. As an example, the aerosol source may include a flavoring ingredient such as menthol. If the suction device 100 is a medical inhaler, the aerosol source may include a medicament for inhalation by the patient. Note that the aerosol source is not limited to solids, and may be, for example, polyhydric alcohols such as glycerin and propylene glycol, and liquids such as water. At least a portion of the base material part 151 is accommodated in the internal space 141 of the accommodating part 140 while the stick-shaped base material 150 is held in the accommodating part 140.

The suction part 152 is a member that is held in the user's mouth during suction. At least a portion of the mouthpiece 152 protrudes from the opening 142 when the stick-shaped base material 150 is held in the accommodating part 140. Then, when the user holds the suction port 152 protruding from the opening 142 and sucks it, air flows into the housing section 140 from an air inflow hole (not shown). The inflowing air passes through the internal space 141 of the housing part 140, that is, passes through the base material part 151, and reaches the user's mouth together with the aerosol generated from the base material part 151.

The susceptor 30 is a member that generates heat by electromagnetic induction. That is, the susceptor 30 is a member that generates heat when a fluctuating magnetic field enters. The susceptor 30 is made of a conductive material such as metal. Furthermore, it is desirable that the susceptor 30 has magnetism. As an example, susceptor 30 is a piece of metal. The susceptor 30 is arranged so as to protrude from the bottom 143 of the housing section 140 into the internal space 141 of the housing section 140 . The tip of the susceptor 30 may have a sharp shape. Therefore, when the stick-type base material 150 is inserted into the accommodating part 140, the susceptor 30 is inserted into the stick-type base material 150 so as to pierce the base material part 151 of the stick-type base material 150. Then, when the susceptor 30 is heated by induction and generates heat, the aerosol source included in the stick-type base material 150 is heated and atomized to generate an aerosol.

The electromagnetic induction source 11 heats the susceptor 30 by induction. The electromagnetic induction source 11 generates a fluctuating magnetic field using the power supplied from the power supply unit 111. Specifically, the electromagnetic induction source 11 generates a fluctuating magnetic field (more specifically, an alternating magnetic field) when supplied with an alternating current. The electromagnetic induction source 11 is arranged at a position where the internal space 141 of the housing section 140 overlaps with the generated fluctuating magnetic field. The electromagnetic induction source 11 is composed of, for example, a coiled conducting wire, and is arranged so as to be wound around the outer periphery of the housing section 140 . Therefore, the fluctuating magnetic field generated from the electromagnetic induction source 11 enters the susceptor 30 arranged in the internal space 141. As a result, eddy currents are generated in the susceptor 30 and Joule heat is generated. When the susceptor 30 has magnetism, the susceptor 30 is further heated by magnetic hysteresis heating. Then, the heat generated in the susceptor 30 heats the aerosol source included in the stick-type base material 150 and atomizes it, producing an aerosol. As an example, when the sensor unit 112 detects that a predetermined user input has been performed, power may be supplied and an aerosol may be generated. Thereafter, when the sensor unit 112 detects that a predetermined user input has been performed, the power supply may be stopped. As another example, power may be supplied and aerosol may be generated during a period in which the sensor unit 112 detects that the user has performed suction.

Note that the combination of the suction device 100 and the stick-type base material 150 may be regarded as an aerosol generation system. This is because their cooperation makes it possible to generate an aerosol.

<2. Technical issues>
Induction heating type suction devices have attracted particular attention in recent years because they have higher heating efficiency than resistance heating type suction devices. There are two types of induction heating type suction devices: one in which the susceptor is built into the base material, and one in which the susceptor is provided in the suction device. In the method in which the susceptor is built into the base material, the susceptor is discarded every time the base material is consumed, resulting in an excessive burden on the environment. On the other hand, in a method in which the susceptor is provided in a suction device, it takes time and effort to clean the susceptor, such as removing the contents of the stick-type base material adhering to the susceptor. Therefore, in this embodiment, a mechanism is provided in which the susceptor is removably installed in the suction device. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the burden on the environment and reduce the effort required to clean the susceptor.

<3. Technical features>
The detailed configuration of the suction device 100 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which the susceptor 30 is removed from the suction device 100 in a separated state. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing how the susceptor 30 is connected to the suction device 100 in a separated state. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the suction device 100 in a completed state. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the stick-type base material 150 inserted into the completed suction device 100. In these figures, the direction from the bottom 143 to the opening 142 is defined as an upward direction, and the direction from the opening 142 to the bottom 143 is defined as a downward direction. The up-down direction corresponds to the insertion/extraction direction of the stick-type base material 150. The vertical direction may coincide with the longitudinal direction of the suction device 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the suction device 100 includes a first unit 10, a second unit 20, and a susceptor 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are configured to be detachable. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second unit 20 and the susceptor 30 are configured to be detachable. Attachment and detachment between the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 is realized by an arbitrary mechanism such as insertion and removal using unevenness or attachment and detachment using magnetic force. The same applies to the attachment and detachment of the second unit 20 and the susceptor 30. The state in which the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are connected and the second unit 20 and the susceptor 30 are connected is also referred to as a completed state. On the other hand, the state in which the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are separated is also referred to as a separated state.

In the completed state, the suction device 100 heats the stick-shaped base material 150 using a button press or the like as a trigger. On the other hand, in the separated state, the susceptor 30 is attached and detached or the susceptor 30 is cleaned. In particular, as shown in FIG. 3, by separating the first unit 10 and the second unit 20, the susceptor 30 can be exposed. This allows the susceptor 30 to be easily attached/detached or cleaned. On the other hand, by connecting the susceptor 30 to the second unit 20 and further connecting the first unit 10, the suction device 100 can be easily completed.

Note that a combination of a plurality of stick-type base materials 150 and susceptors 30 may be sold as one package. In that case, the user may replace the susceptor 30 each time a new package is opened, ie, each time a plurality of stick substrates 150 are consumed. According to this configuration, the susceptor 30 does not need to be disposed of every time one stick-type base material 150 is consumed, so it is possible to reduce the load on the environment. Moreover, even if the susceptor 30 deteriorates after being heated a plurality of times, it is possible to easily replace it with a new susceptor 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the susceptor 30 may be configured in a plate shape. As an example, the susceptor 30 may have a plate shape with a right-angled trapezoid shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the susceptor 30 may be supported by the supporting portion 21, which will be described later, with the side sandwiched between the obtuse angle and the acute angle facing upward, and the side sandwiched between the two right angles facing downward. Furthermore, the susceptor 30 may be configured such that the plate thickness becomes thinner toward the upper side. With this configuration, the upper end of the susceptor 30 can be made sharp, thereby reducing resistance when the susceptor 30 is inserted into the stick-type base material 150, and making it possible to prevent the susceptor 30 from breaking. Become. Alternatively, the susceptor 30 may be configured in any longitudinal shape, such as a rod shape. Even in that case, it is desirable that the upper end of the susceptor 30 be configured to have a sharp shape.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second unit 20 has a support portion 21, two electrode receiving holes 22 (22-1 and 22-2), and a circuit board 23. The circuit board 23 is an example of the control section 116. The second unit 20 includes at least a power supply section 111 in addition to the control section 116 . The sensor section 112, the notification section 113, the storage section 114, and the communication section 115 are also included in the second unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support portion 21 supports the susceptor 30. In particular, the support portion 21 removably supports the susceptor 30. For example, the support portion 21 may be configured as a groove to support the inserted susceptor 30. According to this configuration, the susceptor 30 can be easily replaced.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the completed state, the support section 21 supports the susceptor 30 with the susceptor 30 positioned in the internal space 141 of the housing section 140. Thereby, the fluctuating magnetic field generated from the electromagnetic induction source 11 can enter the susceptor 30, and the susceptor 30 can be heated by induction.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the completed state, the support part 21 is arranged at the bottom part 143 of the accommodating part 140 facing the opening 142. For example, the support portion 21 may be configured as a linear groove cut out of the top surface 20a of the second unit 20, which constitutes the bottom portion 143 of the storage portion 140 in the completed state. The support portion 21 supports the end portion of the susceptor 30 in a state where the susceptor 30 protrudes from the bottom portion 143 of the housing portion 140 into the internal space 141. For example, the support part 21 is disposed on the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 at a position corresponding to the center of the bottom part 143 in the completed state, and supports the susceptor 30 so that the susceptor 30 stands upright from the bottom part 143. According to this configuration, when the stick-type base material 150 is inserted into the accommodating portion 140, the susceptor 30 can be inserted into the stick-type base material 150 so that the susceptor 30 sticks inside the stick-type base material 150. becomes possible.

The support portion 21 is desirably made of a material whose conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold. According to this configuration, since the support portion 21 is not heated by induction, it is possible to prevent heat transfer to other components such as the circuit board 23 and prevent failures due to heat. Furthermore, it is desirable that the support portion 21 be made of a material whose thermal conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce heat transfer from the susceptor 30 to other components such as the circuit board 23, and to prevent failures due to heat. Examples of materials that can constitute the support portion 21 include resin materials such as PI (polyimide) or PEEK (poly ether ketone), glass materials, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first unit 10 has an electromagnetic induction source 11 and two electrodes 12 (12-1 and 12-2).

As shown in FIG. 2, the first unit 10 is a cylindrical body having a first opening 13 and a second opening 14 opposite to the first opening 13 at both ends. As an example, the first unit 10 may be configured as a cylinder with openings at both ends and having a cylindrical through hole surrounded by an inner wall 15. As shown in FIG. 4, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are connected to the first unit 10 so that the second unit 20 closes the second opening 14 of the

first unit

10, and 140. More specifically, the end of the first unit 10 on the second opening 14 side and the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 are joined, and the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are connected. As a result, the first opening 13 constitutes the opening 142 of the accommodating portion 140, and the portion of the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 that closes the second opening 14 constitutes the bottom portion 143 of the accommodating portion 140. The housing section 140 is configured by the inner wall 15 of the first unit 10 and the portion of the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 that closes the second opening 14. The internal space 141 is a space surrounded by the inner wall 15 of the first unit 10 and a portion of the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 that closes the second opening 14. The support portion 21 is disposed in a portion of the second unit 20 that constitutes the bottom portion 143 of the accommodating portion 140, that is, a portion of the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 that closes the second opening 14. According to this configuration, it is possible to attach and detach the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 while the susceptor 30 is connected to the second unit 20.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electromagnetic induction source 11 is a solenoid-type coil, and is arranged so as to wrap around the outside of the inner wall 15 of the first unit 10. Thereby, it is possible to generate a fluctuating magnetic field in the space inside the solenoid-type coil, that is, the internal space 141, and to heat the susceptor 30 located in the internal space 141 by induction.

The electrode 12 is a member that electrically connects the electromagnetic induction source 11 and the power supply section 111 in the completed state. As shown in FIG. 2, electrode 12 is electrically connected to electromagnetic induction source 11. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the upper end of the electrode 12 is connected to the electromagnetic induction source 11. On the other hand, the lower end of the electrode 12 protrudes downward from the first unit 10. The electrode 12 is made of, for example, a material whose conductivity is higher than a predetermined threshold. An example of a material constituting the electrode 12 is a metal material such as copper or aluminum. As an example, electrode 12 may be configured as a metal rod. The outer periphery of the electrode 12, except for the upper and lower ends of the electrode 12, may be covered with an insulating coating 12a (12a-1 or 12a-2). The insulating coating 12a is made of an insulator such as polyethylene or silicone resin.

The electrode receiving hole 22 is a hole into which the electrode 12 can be inserted. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode receiving hole 22 has an opening in the top surface 20a of the second unit 20, and the circuit board 23 is exposed at the innermost part of the electrode receiving hole 22. In particular, the electrode receiving hole 22 exposes a contact point of the circuit board 23 to the power supply section 111.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electrode 12-1 is inserted into the electrode receiving hole 22-1, the electrode 12-2 is inserted into the electrode receiving hole 22-2, and the electrode 12 is inserted into the power supply section 111 of the circuit board 23. The first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are connected in a state where they are in contact with the contact point. As a result, the electromagnetic induction source 11 and the power supply section 111 are electrically connected via the electrode 12. With this configuration, in the completed state, power can be supplied from the power supply section 111 to the electromagnetic induction source 11, that is, induction heating can be performed. On the other hand, in the separated state, the electrical connection between the electromagnetic induction source 11 and the power supply unit 111 can be released. As a result, it becomes impossible to supply power from the power supply unit 111 to the electromagnetic induction source 11, so that a situation where the susceptor 30 is heated by induction in an exposed state is prevented, and the safety of the user is ensured. becomes possible.

The configuration of the suction device 100 according to the present embodiment has been described above in detail.

As explained above, since the susceptor 30 is provided in the suction device 100, the susceptor 30 does not need to be disposed of every time the stick-shaped base material 150 is consumed, making it possible to reduce the environmental load. Furthermore, since the susceptor 30 and the stick-type base material 150 are separate bodies, it becomes possible to separate and dispose of the susceptor 30 and the stick-type base material 150. When the susceptor 30 is built into the stick-type base material 150, the susceptor 30 and the stick-type base material 150 are disposed of together without being separated. In this regard, according to this embodiment, it is possible to further reduce the environmental load.

Furthermore, by separating the first unit 10 and the second unit 20, the susceptor 30 is exposed and can be easily cleaned. Moreover, when the susceptor 30 deteriorates, it becomes possible to easily replace the susceptor 30.

<4. Supplement>
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can come up with various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. It is understood that these also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

(1) First Modification The suction device 100 may have a lock mechanism that switches whether or not the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 can be separated. Making the connected first unit 10 and second unit 20 impossible to separate is also called locking. On the other hand, enabling the connected first unit 10 and second unit 20 to be separated is also referred to as unlocking. The control unit 116 may control the operation of the locking mechanism. Specifically, the control unit 116 may lock or release the lock. As an example, the locking mechanism may be realized by a groove and a claw that can be inserted into and removed from the groove. The suction device 100 may further include an actuator for inserting and extracting the claw into the groove, and the control unit 116 may control the operation of the locking mechanism by operating the actuator.

In particular, the control unit 116 may control the operation of the locking mechanism according to the temperature of the susceptor 30. An example of control will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of processing executed by the suction device 100 according to the first modification. As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 116 determines whether the temperature of the susceptor 30 is less than a predetermined threshold (step S102). If it is determined that the temperature of the susceptor 30 is less than the predetermined threshold (step S102: YES), the control unit 116 controls the locking mechanism to release the lock (step S104). On the other hand, if it is determined that the temperature of the susceptor 30 is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold (step S102: NO), the control unit 116 controls the locking mechanism to lock (step S106). The predetermined threshold value is set to a temperature at which a user will not get burned even if he or she touches the susceptor 30 with a finger. According to this configuration, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are separated when the susceptor 30 is at a high temperature, and it is possible to prevent a situation where the user touches the susceptor 30 and suffers a burn.

The temperature sensor may be configured as a thermistor, for example, and may be provided in the second unit 20. The temperature detected by the temperature sensor may be used to control the temperature of the susceptor 30 in addition to controlling the operation of the lock mechanism. For example, the control unit 116 may control the power supply from the power supply unit 111 to the electromagnetic induction source 11 so that the temperature of the susceptor 30 detected by the temperature sensor changes at a desired temperature.

(2) Second Modified Example FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a suction device 100 according to a second modified example. FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of a cross section of the suction device 100 in a completed state, which is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the susceptor 30. As shown in FIG. 7, the support portion 21 supports the susceptor 30 in a state where at least a portion of the susceptor 30 is surrounded by the electromagnetic induction source 11. However, the end of the coil of the electromagnetic induction source 11 in the direction closer to the bottom 143 (ie, downward) may be separated from the bottom 143 by a distance L. As a result, among the parts of the susceptor 30 supported by the support part 21 provided on the bottom part 143 that protrude from the bottom part 143 into the internal space 141, the part at a distance L from the bottom part 143 is not surrounded by the electromagnetic induction source 11. You can do it like this. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of intrusion of the fluctuating magnetic field into the part, and reduce the amount of heat generated in the part. Therefore, it is possible to reduce heat transfer from the susceptor 30 to the second unit 20 and prevent failures caused by heat. Furthermore, when the stick-type base material 150 is heated, the tip of the stick-type base material 150 is less likely to be heated, so it is possible to reduce the risk of the contents spilling out from the tip of the stick-type base material 150 after heating. becomes.

(3) Third Modified Example FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a suction device 100 according to a third modified example. As shown in FIG. 8, a supported portion 30a may be provided at the end of the susceptor 30 that is supported by the support portion 21. The supported part 30a is a member supported by the support part 21. The supported portion 30a is made of a material whose conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold. According to this configuration, the supported portion 30a is not heated by induction, so that it is possible to prevent heat transfer to the second unit 20 and prevent failures due to heat. Furthermore, it is desirable that the supported part 30a be made of a material whose thermal conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold value. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce heat transfer from the susceptor 30 to the second unit 20 and prevent failures due to heat. Examples of materials that can constitute the supported portion 30a include resin materials such as PI (polyimide) or PEEK (poly ether ketone), or glass materials. For example, the supported portion 30a may be configured by coating the end portion of the susceptor 30 with a resin material.

(4) Fourth Modification There are various possible configurations in which the support portion 21 supports the susceptor 30. An example will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a suction device 100 according to a fourth modification. FIG. 9 schematically shows an example of a cross section of the completed suction device 100 perpendicular to the width direction of the susceptor 30. As shown in FIG. 9, the support portion 21 may be configured as a groove that is embedded in the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 and has an inner wall that is uneven in a bellows shape. On the inner wall of the support portion 21, protrusions 21a-1 and 21a-2 facing each other and protrusions 21b-1 and 21b-2 facing each other are provided spaced apart. Therefore, the support part 21 supports the lower end of the susceptor 30 with the bottom part 21c, and supports two separated points of the susceptor 30 with the opposing protrusions 21a-1 and 21a-2 and the opposing protrusions 21b-1 and 21b. -2. In this way, the support section 21 may support the susceptor 30 by holding the susceptor 30 at a plurality of spaced apart positions. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the contact area between the susceptor 30 and the support portion 21. As a result, it is possible to reduce heat transfer from the susceptor 30 to the second unit 20 and prevent failures due to heat.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a suction device 100 according to a fourth modification. FIG. 10 schematically shows an example of a cross section of the completed suction device 100 perpendicular to the width direction of the susceptor 30. The support portion 21 may be constituted by two plate-like members 21d-1 and 21d-2 bent so as to warp with each other. The plate-like members 21d-1 and 21d-2 are arranged on the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 so that the distance between the opposing plane portions 21e-1 and 21e-2 is shorter than the thickness of the susceptor 30. spaced apart from each other. Then, when the susceptor 30 is inserted into the gap between the plate members 21d-1 and 21d-2, the opposing plane parts 21e-1 and 21e-2 are pushed apart, and the reaction force causes the susceptor 30 to Being pinched. In this way, the support section 21 may be configured in a clip shape and support the susceptor 30 on the top surface 20a.

(5) Fifth Modification FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a suction device 100 according to a fifth modification. As shown in FIG. 11, the suction device 100 does not need to have the electrode 12 and the electrode receiving hole 22. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the first unit 10 may have the first threaded portion 16 and the second unit 20 may have the second threaded portion 24. The first screw portion 16 and the second screw portion 24 are configured to be screwable with each other. For example, the second threaded portion 24 may be configured as a screw with a thread provided on the outer periphery, and may be provided at the upper end of the second unit 20. The first threaded part 16 is configured as a screw receiver capable of receiving a screw as the second threaded part 24, and may be provided at the lower end of the inner wall 15. By inserting the second screwing part 24 into the first screwing part 16 and rotating it, the first screwing part 16 and the second screwing part 24 are screwed together, and the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are screwed together. are connected. On the other hand, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are separated by rotating the second screwing portion 24 in the opposite direction to the screwing direction.

The first unit 10 and the second unit 20 constitute a housing section 140 in a connected state. More specifically, the first opening 13 constitutes an opening 142 of the accommodating portion 140, and the top surface 20a of the screw tip portion of the second unit 20 closes the second opening 14 and constitutes the bottom portion 143. Then, the inner wall 15 of the first unit 10 and the top surface 20a of the screw tip portion of the second unit 20 constitute a housing portion 140. The support portion 21 is arranged on the top surface 20a of the screw tip portion of the second unit 20. According to this configuration, while the susceptor 30 is connected to the second unit 20, the first screw portion 16 and the second screw portion 24 are screwed together or unscrewed, and the first unit 10 and the second screw portion 24 are screwed together. It becomes possible to attach and detach the two units 20.

Here, the first threaded portion 16 may have conductivity and be electrically connected to the electromagnetic induction source 11. On the other hand, the second threaded part 24 may have conductivity and be electrically connected to the power supply part 111. Then, in a state where the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are connected, the electromagnetic induction source 11 and the power supply part 111 are electrically connected via the first threaded part 16 and the second threaded part 24. It's okay. For example, the upper half and the lower half of the first threaded portion 16 and the second threaded portion 24 may be insulated, and one may function as the electrode 12-1 and the other may function as the electrode 12-2. According to this configuration, by screwing the first screwing part 16 and the second screwing part 24 together, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are connected, and the electromagnetic induction source 11 and the power supply part 111 are connected. and can be electrically connected. On the other hand, by releasing the screwing between the first screwing part 16 and the second screwing part 24, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are separated, and the electromagnetic induction source 11 and the power supply part 111 are separated. Electrical connections can be removed.

(6) Sixth Modification Example FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams for explaining a suction device 100 according to a sixth modification example. FIG. 12 schematically shows the suction device 100 in a separated state. FIG. 13 schematically shows how the stick-shaped base material 150 is inserted into the completed suction device 100.

As shown in FIG. 12, the susceptor 30 according to this modification may be configured as a cylindrical body. As an example, the susceptor 30 may have a cylindrical shape. The support portion 21 may be configured as a groove formed by hollowing out the top surface 20a of the second unit 20 in an annular shape, and the susceptor 30 may be inserted into the groove.

The outer diameter of the cylindrical susceptor 30 may be the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical first unit 10. In that case, as shown in FIG. 13, in the completed state, the susceptor 30 is supported by the support portion 21 with the outer wall 31 of the susceptor 30 in contact with the inner wall 15 of the first unit 10. The inner diameter of the cylindrical susceptor 30 may be the same as the outer diameter of the stick-shaped base material 150. In that case, when the stick-type base material 150 is housed in the housing section 140 in the completed state, the inner wall 32 of the susceptor 30 will come into contact with the outer periphery of the stick-type base material 150. Therefore, when the susceptor 30 is heated by induction, it becomes possible to heat the stick-shaped base material 150 from the outer periphery.

(7) Seventh Modification FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a suction device 100 according to a seventh modification. FIG. 14 schematically shows an example of a cross section of the suction device 100 in a separated state perpendicular to the width direction of the susceptor 30. As shown in FIG. 14, the electromagnetic induction source 11 may be provided in the second unit 20 instead of the first unit 10. That is, the second unit 20 may include the electromagnetic induction source 11, the support section 21, and the circuit board 23 (and the power supply section 111). The electromagnetic induction source 11 and the circuit board 23 (more specifically, the power supply section 111) may be electrically connected by a conductive wire instead of the electrode 12.

As shown in FIG. 14, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are connected by a hinge 40 so that they can be opened and closed. The first unit 10 and the second unit 20 can be separated by opening the hinge 40, and the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 can be connected by closing the hinge 40. In this modification, the internal space 141 of the housing section 140 is realized as a space sandwiched between the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 that are connected.

In this modification, the electromagnetic induction source 11 is configured as a transverse coil. A transverse coil inductively heats an object to be heated by passing an alternating magnetic flux formed along the axial direction of the coil through the object to be heated, which is spaced apart in the axial direction of the coil. As shown in FIG. 14, the electromagnetic induction source 11 configured as a transverse coil is arranged with its axial direction facing the internal space 141. Therefore, the stick-shaped base material 150 housed in the housing section 140 can be heated by induction.

(8) Others In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the susceptor 30 is attached to and detached from the second unit 20 in a state where the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are separated, but the present invention is limited to such an example. Not done. The susceptor 30 may be attached to and detached from the second unit 20 while the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 are connected. Alternatively, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 may be configured to be non-removable. The susceptor 30 may be attached to and detached from the first unit 10 and the second unit 20, which are configured as one unit. For example, by inserting tweezers or the like into the internal space 141 through the opening 142, it is possible to attach and detach the susceptor 30 while keeping the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 connected.

Although the above embodiment describes an example in which the first unit 10 has the electrode 12 and the second unit 20 has the electrode receiving hole 22, the present invention is not limited to such an example. The second unit 20 may have an electrode electrically connected to the power supply section 111. On the other hand, the first unit 10 may have an electrode receiving hole into which an electrode can be inserted and which exposes the contact to the electromagnetic induction source 11. Then, the first unit 10 and the second unit 20 may be connected with the electrode inserted into the electrode receiving hole and in contact with the contact point to the electromagnetic induction source 11. According to this configuration, similarly to the above embodiment, the electromagnetic induction source 11 and the power supply section 111 are electrically connected in the completed state, and the electromagnetic induction source 11 and the power supply section 111 are electrically connected in the separated state. It becomes possible to cancel the release.

Note that the series of processes performed by each device described in this specification may be realized using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. A program constituting the software is stored in advance, for example, in a recording medium (specifically, a computer-readable non-temporary storage medium) provided inside or outside each device. For example, each program is read into the RAM when executed by a computer that controls each device described in this specification, and is executed by a processing circuit such as a CPU. The recording medium is, for example, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a flash memory, or the like. Furthermore, the above computer program may be distributed, for example, via a network, without using a recording medium. Further, the above-mentioned computer may be an application-specific integrated circuit such as an ASIC, a general-purpose processor that executes functions by loading a software program, or a computer on a server used for cloud computing. Furthermore, a series of processes performed by each device described in this specification may be distributed and processed by multiple computers.

Furthermore, the processes described using flowcharts and sequence diagrams in this specification do not necessarily have to be executed in the order shown. Some processing steps may be performed in parallel. Also, additional processing steps may be employed or some processing steps may be omitted.

Note that the following configurations also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.
(1)
An aerosol generation system that generates aerosol by heating an aerosol source, the system comprising:
power supply section,
an electromagnetic induction source that generates a fluctuating magnetic field using electric power supplied from the power supply unit;
a support portion that removably supports a susceptor that generates heat and heats the aerosol source when the fluctuating magnetic field enters;
An aerosol generation system comprising:
(2)
The aerosol generation system has an internal space and a first opening that opens the internal space to the outside, and includes a housing section that accommodates a base material containing the aerosol source inserted through the first opening,
The electromagnetic induction source is arranged at a position where the generated fluctuating magnetic field is superimposed on the internal space,
The support part supports the susceptor in a state where the susceptor is located in the internal space of the accommodating part.
The aerosol generation system according to (1) above.
(3)
The support portion is disposed at a bottom portion of the accommodating portion facing the first opening, and supports an end portion of the susceptor in a state where the susceptor protrudes from the bottom portion of the accommodating portion into the internal space.
The aerosol generation system according to (2) above.
(4)
The support part supports the susceptor by holding the susceptor at a plurality of spaced apart positions.
The aerosol generation system according to (3) above.
(5)
An end of the electromagnetic induction source in a direction closer to the bottom of the housing is spaced apart from the bottom of the housing.
The aerosol generation system according to (3) or (4) above.
(6)
The aerosol generation system includes:
a first unit having the electromagnetic induction source;
a second unit having the power supply section and the support section;
Equipped with
The first unit and the second unit are configured to be detachable.
The aerosol generation system according to any one of (2) to (5) above.
(7)
The first unit is a cylindrical body having both ends at the first opening and a second opening opposite to the first opening,
The first unit and the second unit constitute the accommodating part in a state where the second unit is connected to the first unit so as to close the second opening of the first unit,
The support part is arranged in a part of the second unit that constitutes a bottom part of the storage part,
The aerosol generation system according to (6) above.
(8)
One of the first unit or the second unit has an electrode electrically connected to the electromagnetic induction source or the power source,
The other of the first unit or the second unit has a hole into which the electrode can be inserted and exposes a contact to the power supply unit or the electromagnetic induction source,
The first unit and the second unit are connected with the electrode inserted into the hole and in contact with the contact.
The aerosol generation system according to (7) above.
(9)
The first unit has a first threaded portion that is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the electromagnetic induction source,
The second unit has conductivity and has a second screw portion electrically connected to the power source,
The first unit and the second unit are connected by the first screwing part and the second screwing part being screwed together,
In a state where the first unit and the second unit are connected, the electromagnetic induction source and the power supply section are electrically connected via the first threaded part and the second threaded part,
The aerosol generation system according to (7) above.
(10)
The aerosol generation system includes:
a locking mechanism that switches whether or not the first unit and the second unit can be separated;
a control unit that controls the operation of the locking mechanism according to the temperature of the susceptor;
Equipped with
The control unit controls the locking mechanism so that the susceptor can be separated when the temperature of the susceptor is less than a predetermined threshold, and the locking mechanism is not separable when the susceptor temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold.
The aerosol generation system according to any one of (6) to (9) above.
(11)
The support portion is made of a material whose conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold.
The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (10) above.
(12)
A supported part made of a material whose conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold is provided at an end of the susceptor supported by the support part.
The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (11) above.
(13)
The susceptor is configured in a plate shape or a rod shape,
The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (12) above.
(14)
The susceptor is configured as a cylindrical body,
The aerosol generation system according to any one of (1) to (12) above.
(15)
The aerosol generation system further includes the base material,
The aerosol generation system according to any one of (2) to (10) above.

100 Suction device 111 Power supply section 112 Sensor section 113 Notification section 114 Storage section 115 Communication section 116 Control section 121 Heating section 140 Storage section 141 Internal space 142 Opening 143 Bottom section 150 Stick type base material 151 Base section 152 Mouthpiece section 10 First unit 11 Electromagnetic induction source 12 Electrode 13 First opening 14 Second opening 15 Inner wall 16 First threaded part 20 Second unit 20a Top surface 21 Support part 22 Electrode receiving hole 23 Circuit board 24 Second threaded part 30 Susceptor (30a: supported part, 31: outer wall, 32: inner wall)
40 Hinge

Claims

An aerosol generation system that generates aerosol by heating an aerosol source, the system comprising:
power supply section,
an electromagnetic induction source that generates a fluctuating magnetic field using electric power supplied from the power supply unit;
a support portion that removably supports a susceptor that generates heat and heats the aerosol source when the fluctuating magnetic field enters;
An aerosol generation system comprising:
The aerosol generation system has an internal space and a first opening that opens the internal space to the outside, and includes a housing section that accommodates a base material containing the aerosol source inserted through the first opening,
The electromagnetic induction source is arranged at a position where the generated fluctuating magnetic field is superimposed on the internal space,
The support part supports the susceptor in a state where the susceptor is located in the internal space of the accommodating part.
The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.
The support portion is disposed at a bottom portion of the accommodating portion facing the first opening, and supports an end portion of the susceptor in a state where the susceptor protrudes from the bottom portion of the accommodating portion into the internal space.
The aerosol generation system according to claim 2.
The support part supports the susceptor by holding the susceptor at a plurality of spaced apart positions.
The aerosol generation system according to claim 3.
An end of the electromagnetic induction source in a direction closer to the bottom of the housing is spaced apart from the bottom of the housing.
The aerosol generation system according to claim 3.
The aerosol generation system includes:
a first unit having the electromagnetic induction source;
a second unit having the power supply section and the support section;
Equipped with
The first unit and the second unit are configured to be detachable.
The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 2 to 5.
The first unit is a cylindrical body having both ends at the first opening and a second opening opposite to the first opening,
The first unit and the second unit constitute the accommodating part in a state where the second unit is connected to the first unit so as to close the second opening of the first unit,
The support part is arranged in a part of the second unit that constitutes a bottom part of the storage part,
The aerosol generation system according to claim 6.
One of the first unit or the second unit has an electrode electrically connected to the electromagnetic induction source or the power source,
The other of the first unit or the second unit has a hole into which the electrode can be inserted and exposes a contact to the power supply unit or the electromagnetic induction source,
The first unit and the second unit are connected with the electrode inserted into the hole and in contact with the contact.
The aerosol generation system according to claim 7.
The first unit has a first threaded portion that is electrically conductive and electrically connected to the electromagnetic induction source,
The second unit has conductivity and has a second screw portion electrically connected to the power source,
The first unit and the second unit are connected by the first screwing part and the second screwing part being screwed together,
In a state where the first unit and the second unit are connected, the electromagnetic induction source and the power supply section are electrically connected via the first threaded part and the second threaded part,
The aerosol generation system according to claim 7.
The aerosol generation system includes:
a locking mechanism that switches whether or not the first unit and the second unit can be separated;
a control unit that controls the operation of the locking mechanism according to the temperature of the susceptor;
Equipped with
The control unit controls the locking mechanism so that the susceptor can be separated when the temperature of the susceptor is less than a predetermined threshold, and the locking mechanism is not separable when the susceptor temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold.
The aerosol generation system according to claim 6.
The support portion is made of a material whose conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold.
The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.
A supported part made of a material whose conductivity is lower than a predetermined threshold is provided at an end of the susceptor supported by the support part.
The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.
The susceptor is configured in a plate shape or a rod shape,
The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.
The susceptor is configured as a cylindrical body,
The aerosol generation system according to claim 1.
The aerosol generation system further includes the base material,
The aerosol generation system according to claim 2.