ATOMIZER

Abstract

 The present application relates to an atomizer adapted to heat and atomize an aerosol-generating substrate (300). The atomizer includes a main body (120, 210) having an accommodating cavity (160, 250), and the accommodating cavity (160, 250) has an open end and a closed end opposite to each other. A substrate section (320) and a hollow section (340) of the aerosol-generating substrate (300) are adapted to be inserted in the accommodating cavity (160, 250). A gap is to be defined between the aerosol-generating substrate (300) and the side wall of the accommodating cavity (160, 250), forming a first airflow channel (1632, 2541) that is in communication with a first air inlet (341) of the aerosol-generating substrate (300) and a second airflow channel (1634, 2543) that is in communication with the first airflow channel (1632, 2541) and a second air inlet (321) of the aerosol-generating substrate (300).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of atomization, and particularly to atomizers.

BACKGROUND

[0002] An aerosol is a colloidal dispersion system formed by dispersing and suspending small solid or liquid particles in a gas medium. The aerosol can be absorbed by the human body through the respiratory system, providing users with a new alternative absorption method. An atomizer refers to a device that is adapted to form an aerosol from a stored atomizable medium by means of heating or ultrasound treatment.

[0003] A heat-not-burn aerosol-generating substrate is a new kind of substrate that is to be heated by a special heat source and substrate (the heating temperature is below 500°C or even lower), and various substances in the substrate atomized in heating are volatilized to produce an aerosol to meet the needs of smokers. The heat-not-burn aerosol-generating substrate does not produce flames and soot during the suction process, which is friendly to the environment and can provide the users with a good experience while reducing harmful substances that are produced by pyrolysis of conventional substrates during combustion, and thus is less harmful to the users.

[0004] The existing atomizer used for atomizing the heat-not-burn aerosol-generating substrate includes a heating chamber. After the aerosol-generating substrate is inserted in the heating chamber, an external airflow enters the aerosol-generating substrate from the bottom of the substrate. The airflow and the effective substances such as aroma generated from the heated aerosol-generating substrate are mixed and then inhaled by the user. However, the airflow flowing into the bottom of the aerosol-generating substrate reduces the temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate, not allowing the substances in the aerosol-generating substrate to be thoroughly baked, so that the effective substances cannot be completely released, which leads to a decreased amount of the effective substances contained in the aerosol output from the atomizer, and thus reduces the user experience of the atomizer.

SUMMARY

[0005] In view of this, aiming to address the problem that the aerosol-generating substrate cannot be fully baked, there is a need to provide an atomizer, and the amount of the effective substances in the aerosol formed by baking the aerosol-generating substrate by the atomizer can be increased.

[0006] An aspect of the present application provides an atomizer, which is adapted to heat and atomize an aerosol-generating substrate. The aerosol-generating substrate includes a substrate section, a hollow section, and a filter section connected in sequence. A side wall of the hollow section is provided with a first air inlet, and a side wall of the substrate section at an end adjacent to the hollow section is provided with a second air inlet. The atomizer includes a main body having an accommodating cavity, and the accommodating cavity has an open end and a closed end opposite to each other. The substrate section and the hollow section of the aerosol-generating substrate are adapted to be inserted in the accommodating cavity. A gap is adapted to be defined between the aerosol-generating substrate and the side wall of the accommodating cavity, forming a first airflow channel that is in communication with the first air inlet and a second airflow channel that is in communication with the first airflow channel and the second air inlet.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first airflow channel is in communication with the open end of the accommodating cavity.

[0008] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate is adapted to abut against a bottom wall of the accommodating cavity forming the closed end.

[0009] In some embodiments, the atomizer further includes at least two supports, each of which protrudes from the side wall of the accommodating cavity and is located in the second airflow channel, wherein an airflow passage is defined between two adjacent supports.

[0010] In some embodiments, an end of the side wall of the accommodating cavity adjacent to the open end is provided with a first air outlet in communication with the first airflow channel.

[0011] In some embodiments, a bottom wall of the accommodating cavity forming the closed end is provided with a second air outlet.

[0012] In some embodiments, the atomizer further includes an atomization assembly, wherein the atomization assembly is located in the main body, and the main body defines an air outflow channel therein, one end of the air outflow channel is in communication with the atomization assembly, and another end of the air outflow channel is in communication with the first air outlet and the second air outlet.

[0013] In some embodiments, the atomizer further includes a sealing support, wherein the sealing support is protrudes from the end of the side wall of the accommodating cavity adjacent to the open end to seal the accommodating cavity.

[0014] In some embodiments, the gap between the aerosol-generating substrate and the side wall of the accommodating cavity is 0.3 mm to 1 mm.

[0015] In some embodiments, the accommodating cavity includes a heating section adjacent to the closed end and an accommodating section adjacent to the open end, wherein the substrate section of the aerosol-generating substrate is adapted to be located in the heating section, and the hollow section is adapted to be located in the accommodating section.

[0016] An aspect of the present application provides an aerosol-generating system including the atomizer and the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0017] In the atomizer, since the main flow path of the airflow does not pass through the heating section of the accommodating cavity and the bottom of the substrate section which is away from the hollow section, the heating temperature in the heating section is relatively stable, and the baking degree of the aerosol-generating substrate will not be affected due to significant changes in the heating temperature, so that the aerosol-generating substrate can be fully baked in the accommodating cavity and the effective substances therein can be fully released, improving the taste of the generated aerosol, and thereby effectively improving the user experience of the atomizer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of a first embodiment of an atomizer of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of a second embodiment of the atomizer of the present application.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of an aerosol-generating substrate of the present application.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the aerosol-generating substrate inserted in the atomizer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the aerosol-generating substrate inserted in the atomizer shown in FIG. 2.

Reference signs:

[0019] 

100, atomizer; 120, main body; 140, heating tube; 160, accommodating cavity; 161, heating section; 163, accommodating section; 1632, first airflow channel; 1634, second airflow channel; 180, support;

200, atomizer; 210, main body; 230, heating tube; 250, accommodating cavity; 252, heating section; 254, accommodating section; 2541, first airflow channel; 2543, second airflow channel; 270, sealing support; 290, atomization assembly;

300, aerosol-generating substrate; 320, substrate section; 321, second air inlet; 340, hollow section; 341, first air inlet; 360, filter section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to make the above objectives, features and advantages of the present application more clear and understandable, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are described to make the present disclosure fully understandable. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the connotation of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0021] In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the terms "central", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial" , "radial", "circumferential", etc. indicate the orientations or positional relationships on the basis of the drawings. These terms are only for describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the related devices or elements must have the specific orientations, or be constructed or operated in the specific orientations, and therefore cannot be understood as limitations of the present disclosure.

[0022] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used merely as labels to distinguish one element having a certain name from another element having the same name, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying any priority, precedence, or order of one element over another, or indicating the quantity of the element. Therefore, the element modified by "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly includes at least one of the elements. In the description of the present disclosure, "a plurality of' means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0023] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms "installed", "connected", "coupled", "fixed" and other terms should be interpreted broadly. For example, an element, when being referred to as being "installed", "connected", "coupled", "fixed" to another element, unless otherwise specifically defined, may be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrated to the other element, may be mechanically connected or electrically connected to the other element, and may be directly connected to the other element or connected to the other element via an intermediate element. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above-mentioned terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0024] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise specifically defined, an element, when being referred to as being located "on" or "under" another element, may be in direct contact with the other element or contact the other element via an intermediate element. Moreover, the element, when being referred to as being located "on", "above", "over" another element, may be located right above or obliquely above the other element, or merely located at a horizontal level higher than the other element; the element, when being referred to as being located "under", "below", "beneath" another element, may be located right below or obliquely below the other element, or merely located at a horizontal level lower than the other element.

[0025] It should be noted that an element, when being referred to as being "fixed" or "mounted" to another element, may be directly fixed or mounted to the other element or via an intermediate element. Such terms as "vertical", "horizontal", "up", "down", "left", "right" and the like used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to be the only ways for implementing the present disclosure.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present application provides an atomizer 100, 200, which is adapted to heat and atomize an aerosol-generating substrate 300. The aerosol-generating substrate 300 has a columnar structure, including a substrate section 320, a hollow section 340, and filter section 360 connected in sequence along an axial direction of the aerosol-generating substrate 300. The substrate section 320 can generate an aerosol and other effective substances under the heating of the atomizer 100, 200. The aerosol and other effective substances produced by the substrate section 320 are merged in the hollow section 340 and filtered in the filter section 360, and flow out for inhalation by the user.

[0027] Further, in order to fully release the effective substances in the aerosol-generating substrate 300, the side wall of the hollow section 340 is provided with a first air inlet 341. The airflow outside the aerosol-generating substrate 300 can enter the hollow section 340 through the first air inlet 341. Preferably, the side wall of the hollow section 340 is provided with a plurality of first air inlets 341, and the plurality of first air inlets 341 are arranged at intervals along a circumferential direction of the aerosol-generating substrate 300. The side wall of the substrate section 320 at an end adjacent to the hollow section 340 is provided with a second air inlet 321. The airflow outside the aerosol-generating substrate300 can enter the substrate section 320 through the second air inlet 321. Preferably, the side wall of the substrate section 320 is provided with a plurality of second air inlets 321, and the plurality of second air inlets 321 are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction.

[0028] The atomizer 100, 200 includes a main body 120, 210 and a heating tube 140, 230. The main body 120, 210 has an accommodation space with an opening at one end. The heating tube 140, 230 is a hollow tubular structure. The heating tube 140, 230 is accommodated in the accommodation space and located at an end away from the opening. The heating tube 140, 230 and the main body 120, 210 together define an accommodating cavity 160, 250. The accommodating cavity 160, 250 has an open end and a closed end opposite to each other. The shape of the accommodating cavity 160, 250 matches the shape of the aerosol-generating substrate 300, including a heating section 161, 252 defined by the heating tube 140, 230 and an accommodating section 163, 254 defined by the accommodating space. The heating section 161, 252 is adjacent to the closed end. The accommodating section 163, 254 is adjacent to the open end.

[0029] One end of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 is inserted in the accommodating cavity 160, 250. Specifically, the substrate section 320 is located in the heating section 161, 252. The end of the hollow section 340 connected with the substrate section 320 is located in the heating section 161, 252. The other end of the hollow section 340 and one end of the filter section 360 connected to the hollow section 340 are located in the accommodating section 163, 254. The other end of the filter section 360 protrudes from the open end of the accommodating cavity 160, 250. Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a gap is defined between the side wall of the accommodating cavity 160, 250 and the aerosol-generating substrate 300, forming a first airflow channel 1632, 2541 and a second airflow channel 1634, 2543. The first airflow channel 1632, 2541 is in communication with the first air inlet 341. The second airflow channel 1634, 2543 is in communication with the first airflow channel 1632, 2541 and the second air inlet 321. As a preferred embodiment, the gap between the aerosol-generating substrate 300 and the side wall of the accommodating cavity 160, 250 is 0.3 mm to 1 mm, so that the airflow can flow smoothly.

[0030] In this way, the airflow outside the aerosol-generating substrate 300 can first flow into the first airflow channel 1632, 2541. A part of the airflow flows from the first airflow channel 1632, 2541 to the hollow section 340 through the first air inlet 341. The other part of the airflow enters the substrate section 320 through the second airflow channel 1634, 2543 and the second air inlet 321, and then carries the aerosol and other effective substances generated in the substrate section 320 to the hollow section 340 to merge with the part of the airflow directly from the first airflow channel 1632, 2541 in the hollow section 340.

[0031] Since the main flow path of the airflow does not pass through the heating section 161, 252 of the accommodating cavity 160, 250 and the bottom of the substrate section 320 which is away from the hollow section 340, the heating temperature in the heating section 161, 252 is relatively stable, and the baking degree of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 will not be affected due to significant changes in the heating temperature, so that the aerosol-generating substrate 300 can be fully baked in the accommodating cavity 160, 250 and the effective substances therein can be fully released, improving the taste of the generated aerosol, and thereby effectively improving the user experience of the atomizer 100, 200.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a first embodiment of the present application provides an atomizer 100. The first airflow channel 1632 of the atomizer 100 is in communication with the external environment, and the airflow flowing into the first airflow channel 1632 comes from the air in the external environment.

[0033] Specifically, in the first embodiment, the first airflow channel 1632 surrounds the aerosol-generating substrate 300 in the circumferential direction, and extends in the axial direction of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 from the open end of the accommodating cavity 160 to the location of the first air inlet 341. The second airflow channel 1634 surrounds the aerosol-generating substrate 300 in the circumferential direction, and extends in the axial direction of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 from the location of the first air inlet 341 to the location of the second air inlet 321.

[0034] As such, the airflow from the external environment can flow into the first airflow channel 1632 from the open end of the accommodating cavity 160, and then a part of the airflow flows into the hollow section 340 of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 through the first air inlet 341, and the other part of the airflow continues flowing along the axial direction of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 until entering the substrate section 320 through the second air inlet 321.

[0035] Further, in order to prevent the airflow from entering the substrate section 320 from the bottom of the substrate section 320 of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 away from the hollow section 340, the end wall of the substrate section 320 away from the hollow section 340 abuts against the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 160 forming the closed end. In this way, the end of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 is sealed by the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 160, and the external airflow cannot enter the substrate section 320 through the bottom of the aerosol-generating substrate 300, thereby not affecting the temperature in the substrate section 320. In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 160 is gas-proofed with no openings, so as to seal the end of the aerosol-generating substrate 300. In some embodiments, the side wall of the substrate section 320 is gas-proofed except the second air inlet 321, so that the airflow enters the substrate section 320 only through the second air inlet 321.

[0036] In some embodiments, the atomizer 100 further includes at least two supports 180. Each support 180 protrudes from the side wall of the accommodating cavity 160 and is located in the second airflow channel 1634. An airflow passage is formed between two adjacent supports 180. In some embodiments, the airflow passage is a through groove. In this way, the supports 180 can limit the position of the aerosol-generating substrate 300, prevent the aerosol-generating substrate 300 from moving back and forth in the accommodating cavity 160, and prevent the aerosol-generating substrate 300 from being carried out during the suction process. Meanwhile, the airflow in the second airflow channel 1634 can flow through the airflow passage between the two adjacent supports 180, so the supports 180 will not hinder the airflow. It can be understood that the number, shape and location of the supports 180 are not limited, and can be set according to needs to meet different requirements.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the present application provides an atomizer 200. The atomizer 200 further includes an atomization assembly 290 located in the main body 210. The atomization assembly 290 is configured to atomize a liquid aerosol-generating substrate thereby generating an additonal aerosol. The airflow flowing into the first airflow channel 2541 comes from the atomizing assembly 290. The liquid aerosol-generating substrate is separate from the aerosol-generating substrate 300, such as stored in the atomization assembly 290.

[0038] Specifically, the side wall of the accommodating cavity 250 adjacent to the open end is provided with a first air outlet in communication with the first airflow channel 2541. The main body 210 defines an air outflow channel therein. One end of the air outflow channel is in communication with the atomization assembly 290, and the other end of the air outflow channel is in communication with the first air outlet. The first airflow channel 2541 surrounds the aerosol-generating substrate 300 in the circumferential direction, and extends in the axial direction of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 from the location of the first air outlet to the location of the first air inlet 341. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the first air outlet is in alignment with the first air inlet 341 in the radial direction. The second airflow channel 2543 surrounds the aerosol-generating substrate 300 in the circumferential direction, and extends in the axial direction of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 from the location of the first air inlet 341 to the location of the second air inlet 321.

[0039] In this way, the aerosol generated from the atomization assembly 290 can enter the first airflow channel 2541 through the air outflow channel and the first air outlet. Then a part of the aerosol flows into the hollow section 340 of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 through the first air inlet 341, and the other part of the aerosol continues to flow along the axial direction of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 until entering the substrate section 320 through the second air inlet 321.

[0040] In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the accommodating cavity 250 forming the closed end is provided with a second air outlet in communication with the air outflow channel. A part of the aerosol generated from the atomization assembly 290 can enter the substrate section 320 through the air outflow channel and the second air outlet, and then carries the aerosol and other effective substances generated in the substrate section 320 into the hollow section 340.

[0041] In some embodiments, the atomizer 200 further includes a sealing support 270. The sealing support 270 protrudes from an end of the side wall of the accommodating cavity 250 adjacent to the open end and surrounds the aerosol-generating substrate 300 in the circumferential direction to seal the accommodating cavity 250. Since the accommodating cavity 250 is sealed from the external environment, the airflow flowing into the aerosol-generating substrate 300 all comes from the atomizing assembly 290.

[0042] The atomizer 100, 200 and the aerosol-generating substrate 300 cooperatively define the first airflow channel 1632, 2541 and the second airflow channel 1634, 2543. The aerosol-generating substrate 300 defines the first air inlet 341 and the second air inlet 321. The first airflow channel 1632, 2541 is in communication with first air inlet 341. The second airflow channel 1634, 2543 is in communication with the second air inlet 321. This is different from the technical solution which the airflow entirely comes from the bottom of the substrate section 320 of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 away from the hollow section 340. In contrast, in the present application, the main flow path of the airflow does not pass through the substrate section 320, so the heating temperature is relatively stable, and thus the baking degree of the aerosol-generating substrate 300 is relatively stable. The effective substances in the aerosol-generating substrate 300 are continuously released and flow out under the negative pressure generated by the suction. A relatively large output of the aerosol with a better taste is achieved, so that the user experience is improved.

[0043] The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features are described in the embodiments. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, the combinations should be considered as in the scope of the present disclosure.

[0044] The above-described embodiments are only several implementations of the present disclosure, and the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, and all fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the patent protection of the present disclosure shall be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An atomizer adapted to heat and atomize an aerosol-generating substrate (300), the aerosol-generating substrate (300) comprising a substrate section (320), a hollow section (340), and a filter section (360) connected in sequence, a side wall of the hollow section (340) is provided with a first air inlet (341), and a side wall of the substrate section (320) at an end adjacent to the hollow section (340) is provided with a second air inlet (321), the atomizer is characterized in that

the atomizer comprises a main body (120, 210) having an accommodating cavity (160, 250), and the accommodating cavity (160, 250) has an open end and a closed end opposite to each other; and

the substrate section (320) and the hollow section (340) of the aerosol-generating substrate (300) are adapted to be inserted in the accommodating cavity (160, 250), and a gap is adapted to be defined between the aerosol-generating substrate (300) and a side wall of the accommodating cavity (160, 250), forming a first airflow channel (1632, 2541) that is in communication with the first air inlet (341) and a second airflow channel (1634, 2543) that is in communication with the first airflow channel (1632, 2541) and the second air inlet (321).

2. The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the first airflow channel (1632, 2541) is in communication with the open end of the accommodating cavity (160, 250).

3. The atomizer according to claim 2, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate (300) is adapted to abut against a bottom wall of the accommodating cavity (160, 250) forming the closed end.

4. The atomizer according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising at least two supports (180), each of which protrudes from the side wall of the accommodating cavity (160, 250) and is located in the second airflow channel (1634, 2543), wherein an airflow passage is defined between two adjacent supports (180).

5. The atomizer according to claim 1, wherein an end of the side wall of the accommodating cavity (160, 250) adjacent to the open end is provided with a first air outlet in communication with the first airflow channel (1632, 2541).

6. The atomizer according to claim 5, further comprising an atomization assembly (290), wherein the atomization assembly (290) is located in the main body (120, 210), and the main body (120, 210) defines an air outflow channel therein, one end of the air outflow channel is in communication with the atomization assembly (290), and another end of the air outflow channel is in communication with the first air outlet.

7. The atomizer according to claim 5, wherein a bottom wall of the accommodating cavity (160, 250) forming the closed end is provided with a second air outlet.

8. The atomizer according to claim 6, further comprising an atomization assembly (290), wherein the atomization assembly (290) is located in the main body (120, 210), and the main body (120, 210) defines an air outflow channel therein, one end of the air outflow channel is in communication with the atomization assembly (290), and another end of the air outflow channel is in communication with the first air outlet and the second air outlet.

9. The atomizer according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the first air outlet is in alignment with the first air inlet (341) in a radial direction.

10. The atomizer according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the atomization assembly (290) is configured to atomize a liquid aerosol-generating substrate separate from the aerosol-generating substrate (300).

11. The atomizer according to any one of claims 5 to 10, further comprising a sealing support (270), wherein the sealing support (270) is protrudes from the end of the side wall of the accommodating cavity (160, 250) adjacent to the open end to seal the accommodating cavity (160, 250).

12. The atomizer according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the gap between the aerosol-generating substrate (300) and the side wall of the accommodating cavity (160, 250) is 0.3 mm to 1 mm.

13. The atomizer according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the accommodating cavity (160, 250) comprises:

a heating section (161, 252) adjacent to the closed end; and

an accommodating section (163, 254) adjacent to the open end,

wherein the substrate section (320) of the aerosol-generating substrate (300) is adapted to be located in the heating section (161, 252), and the hollow section (340) is adapted to be located in the accommodating section (163, 254).

14. An aerosol-generating system comprising the atomizer according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and the aerosol-generating substrate (300).

Drawing