Heater assembly and container

Inventors

Yamada, Manabu • Takeuchi, Manabu • Inoue, Yasunobu • UCHII, Kimitaka • SUMII, Tateki

Assignees

Japan Tobacco Inc

Abstract

A heater assembly comprises a container including a cylindrical portion that forms a chamber in which a flavor generating article is contained, and a heater arranged in a peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. The container includes a first channel extending along a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion and located adjacently to the chamber in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion, and a second channel extending through the chamber along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion. The first channel is in communication with the second channel.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a flavor inhaler including a heater assembly/container for a flavor generating article. A cylindrical container forms a chamber configured to contain the flavor generating article and includes a heater on the container’s peripheral surface, thereby enabling heating of the flavor generating article within the chamber.

The container integrates airflow channels configured to communicate with the chamber through multiple channel pathways. A first channel is provided adjacent to the chamber, and a second channel extends through the chamber, with communication via a third channel/path, and variants specify channel geometry and heater placement, including excluding regions adjacent the first channel.

The invention also incorporates temperature sensing and associated control-related structure. A temperature sensor is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion and is covered by a heat shrinkable tube, and heat insulating members surround the cylindrical portion; described variations include thermally emissive inner surfaces, thermal-conductivity films, and insulating layers to influence heat transfer and airflow behavior. Additional airflow and heating-flow control features include backward-flow blocking implemented by a partition wall or lid functioning as a blocking member, and optional ring-gap/base structures to support more uniform airflow and flavor aerosol generation.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim family covers a flavor inhaler having a cylindrical portion for a flavor generating article, temperature sensing on an outer peripheral surface covered by a heat shrinkable tube, a heat insulating member around the cylindrical portion, and a control unit powered by a battery to control heating using the temperature sensor. Dependent claims further refine the inhaler with additional structural and control limitations.

Across the independent-claim coverage and its refinements, the key inventive aspects are heating control of a flavor generating article using a temperature sensor placed on an outer peripheral surface and covered by a heat shrinkable tube, with a surrounding heat insulating member, and refinements including stopping behavior based on measured temperature or puffing count, and structural heat-transfer features such as higher thermal emissivity inner peripheral area and aerogel insulation.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications