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(11) | EP 4 449 916 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A PISTON AND A VALVE AND AN ASSOCIATED AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM |
| (57) A cartridge for an aerosol generating device, the cartridge comprising a cartridge
body (24) delimiting a cylinder (26) extending along a central axis (A), a chamber
(30) for storing a vaporizable material delimited within the cylinder (26) between
a front wall (32) and a piston (34) slidably received in the cylinder (26) such that
sliding of the piston (34) forces vaporizable material out of the chamber (30) via
a dispensing opening (38), the piston (34) being operable by an actuator (40) of the
aerosol generating device, and a valve (60) configured for selectively closing or
opening the dispensing opening (38).
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns a cartridge and an aerosol generating system associated to such a cartridge.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Consumable cartridges, also known as pods, are used in aerosol generating devices such as electronic cigarettes and vaping devices to provide a vaporizable material that is heated to generate an aerosol or vapour for inhalation by a user.
[0003] The consumable cartridge includes generally a wick that ensures liquid transmission from a reservoir to a heating element where it is vaporized and mixed with an airflow coming from the exterior of the cartridge. However, in some case, vaporization of the vaporizable material and/or its mixing with the airflow is not optimal. This can cause leakages, wick clogging, under-heating or over-heating of the vaporizable material, pressure drops, undesirable draw resistance, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An aim of the present invention is to improve vaporization of the vaporizable material and/or its mixing with an airflow to avoid the above-mentioned issues.
[0005] For this purpose, the invention proposes a cartridge for an aerosol generating device, the cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body delimiting a cylinder extending along a central axis,
- a chamber for storing a vaporizable material delimited within the cylinder between a front wall and a piston slidably received in the cylinder such that sliding of the piston forces vaporizable material out of the chamber via a dispensing opening, the piston being operable by an actuator of the aerosol generating device, and
- a valve arranged for selectively closing or opening the dispensing opening.
[0006] The piston operable by an actuator allows forcing the vaporizable material out of the cylinder via the dispensing opening in a controlled manner. The valve provided in the dispensing opening further increases the control of the flow of the vaporizable material via the dispensing opening. The valve mitigates the risk of leak of vaporizable material. The vaporizable material is provided to a heater thus allowing a controlled heating with limited risk of under-heating or over-heating of the vaporizable material.
[0007] The cartridge may be inserted in a corresponding cartridge housing of an aerosol generating device provided with an actuator configured for pushing the piston of the cartridge received in the cartridge housing.
[0008] According to some embodiments, the dispensing opening is located on the front wall, the dispensing opening being preferably centered on the central axis.
[0009] This positioning of the dispensing opening has the advantage of easing the manufacture of cartridge with an appropriate sealing thus avoiding any leak or defect of the cartridge.
[0010] According to some embodiments, a rear wall of the cartridge opposite to the front wall defines an actuator opening configured to receive an effector of the actuator of the aerosol generating device to operate the piston.
[0011] The provision of the rear wall of the cartridge allows reinforcing the cartridge whilst allowing actuation of the piston via the actuator opening.
[0012] According to some embodiments, the front wall is delimited by a lid attached to the cartridge body in a sealed manner.
[0013] The front wall formed by a lid distinct from the cartridge body and attached to the cartridge body in a sealed manner has the advantage of allowing manufacturing a cartridge body in a cost efficient manner, for example with sequentially fitting the piston in the cylinder, filling the cylinder with the vaporizable product and then attaching the lid to the cartridge body to close the cylinder.
[0015] According to some embodiments, the piston is slidable within the cylinder until contact with the front wall.
[0016] This feature allows maximizing the amount of vaporizable material that can be forced out of the chamber, thus increasing the rate of use of the vaporizable material contained in the cartridge.
[0017] According to some embodiments, a rear face of the front wall and a front face of the piston facing the rear face of the front wall have complementary shapes.
[0018] This allows minimizing the space between the front wall and the piston when the piston is pushed proximate to with the front wall or in contact with the front wall, and thus promote the expulsion of the whole vaporizable material out of the cartridge.
[0019] According to some embodiments, the rear face of the front wall is provided with a depression and the front face of the piston is provided with a protrusion configured to fit in the depression when sliding the piston towards the front wall, and the dispensing opening is located in the depression.
[0020] When a little amount of vaporizable material remains in the chamber, the provision of the depression and the protrusion allows the remaining amount of the vaporizable material to be pushed into the depression wherein it can be pushed more efficiently outside the cartridge via the dispensing opening located in the depression, in particular at a bottom of the depression.
[0021] According to some embodiments, the valve is configured to be actuated as a function of the pressure inside the chamber.
[0022] The pressure-actuated valve has the advantage of a simple operation of the cartridge as the displacement of the piston towards the front wall under action of the actuator of the aerosol generating system increases the pressure of the vaporizable material inside the chamber and the vaporizable material can exit the cartridge via the valve once the pressure is sufficient to open the valve.
[0023] According to some embodiments, the valve comprises a flexible membrane extending across the dispensing opening, the membrane being provided with a valve opening, the membrane having a closed configuration in which the valve opening is closed and an open configuration in which the valve opening is opened.
[0024] The valve opening allows the vaporizable product pressurized by the piston to exit the cartridge. The provision of a valve comprising a flexible membrane allows defining a pressure-actuated valve in a simple, cost-effective and reliable manner.
[0025] According to some embodiments, the valve further comprises a sealing material provided on the membrane such as to seal the valve opening in the closed configuration of the valve.
[0026] The addition of the sealing material allows improving the tightness of the valve opening in the closed configuration of the valve.
[0027] According to some embodiments, the valve comprises a layer of sealing material deposited on an outer face of the membrane and/or a layer of sealing material deposited on an inner face of the membrane.
[0028] The deposition of the sealing material as a layer on an outer face of the membrane or as a layer an inner face of the membrane eases manufacturing of the valve by allowing manufacturing the valve as a multi-layer laminate product.
[0029] According to some embodiments, the membrane of the valve is made as of heat shrinkable material.
[0030] This feature allows shaping the valve with a closed configuration favoring tightness and an open configuration easing the controlled flow of the vaporizable product through the valve opening.
[0031] According to some embodiments, the cartridge body is made of a first material and the piston is made of a second material different from the first material, the second material having a hardness, in particular a shore hardness, higher than that the first material.
[0032] This allows providing an appropriate sealing between the outer periphery of the piston the inner lateral surface of the cartridge body delimiting cylinder. In particular, the piston is preferably fitted into the cylinder with a tight fit between the outer periphery of the piston and the inner lateral surface of the cartridge body. A side wall of the cartridge body defining the cylinder may be slightly deformed by the piston upon sliding of the piston along said side wall.
[0033] The invention also concerns an aerosol generating system, comprising the cartridge as defined above, and an aerosol generating device configured to operate with said cartridge, the aerosol generating device comprising an actuator operable to push the piston toward the end wall for dispensing vaporizable material via the dispensing opening.
[0034] According to some embodiments, the aerosol generating system further comprises a controller configured to operate the actuator to dispense a predetermined quantity of vaporizable material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting example and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device and a consumable cartridge received in the aerosol generating device;
- Figure 2 is an assembled perspective view of the cartridge of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge of Figure 1;
- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of Figure 1;
- Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a valve assembly of the cartridge of Figure 1, a valve of the valve assembly being in a closed configuration;
- Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the valve assembly of the cartridge of Figure 1, the valve of the valve assembly being in an open configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.
[0037] As used herein, the term "aerosol generating device" or "device" may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of a heater element explained in further detail below. The device may be designed and configured to be hand held by a user, i.e. held and used within one hand of the user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating the heater element for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as by a manual actuator located on an outer surface of the device (button or switch) and/or by means of an airflow or inhalation sensor arranged in the airflow path of the device. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the velocity of an airflow passing across the sensor during an inhalation by a user as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapour to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.). The device may include a temperature regulation control to adjust the temperature of the heater and/or of the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol precursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.
[0038] As used herein, the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of vaporizable material as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. Aerosol may include one or more components of the vaporizable material.
[0039] As used herein, the term "vaporizable material" or "precursor" may refer to a material which may comprise nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former. Tobacco may take the form of various materials such as shredded tobacco, granulated tobacco, tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco or a liquid tobacco extract or solution. Suitable aerosol formers include: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin or vegetable glycerin. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The substrate may also comprise at least one of a gelling agent, a binding agent, a stabilizing agent, and a humectant.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
[0040] As illustrated on Figure 1, an aerosol generating system 2 comprises a cartridge 4 containing a vaporizable material 6 and an aerosol generating device 8 configured to operate with said cartridge 4 for producing an aerosol to be inhaled by a user.
[0041] The aerosol generating device 8 comprises a cartridge housing 10 configured for receiving the cartridge 4 and a heater 12 arranged for heating vaporizable material 6 delivered by the cartridge 4 to the heater 12. The aerosol generating device 8 comprises for example a battery 14 for powering the heater 12. The aerosol generating device 8 preferably comprises an electric controller 16 configured for controlling the battery 14 and the heater 12.
[0042] The aerosol generating device 8 comprises for example at least one air inlet 18 for feeding an airflow to the heater 12 and an aerosol outlet 20 for delivering the airflow containing the aerosol generated at the heater 12 to the user. The aerosol outlet 20 is for example provided in a mouthpiece 22 of the aerosol generating device 8. The aerosol generating device 8 is configured for the circulation of an air stream from the air inlet 18 to the aerosol outlet 20 with passing via the heater 12 for collecting the heated vaporizable material 6 in the air stream.
[0043] As illustrated on Figures 2-4, the cartridge 4 comprises a cartridge body 24 delimiting a cylinder 26 (Figure 4) extending along a central axis A. The cylinder 26 preferably has a circular cross-section centered on the central axis A. According to other examples, the cylinder 26 can have a rectangular cross-section or any other cross-sectional shape. The cylinder 26 designates a cylindrical volume defined in the cartridge body 24. The cylinder 26 is delimited by a lateral wall 28 of the cartridge body 24. The inner lateral surface is profiled along the central axis A. The lateral wall 28 exhibits preferably a circular cross-section centered on the central axis A.
[0044] The cartridge 4 comprises a chamber 30 for storing the vaporizable material 6, the chamber 30 being delimited within the cylinder 26 between a front wall 32 and a piston 34 slidably received in the cylinder 26 such that sliding of the piston forces the vaporizable material 6 out of the chamber 30 via a dispensing opening 32. The chamber 30 is filled with the vaporizable material 6. The chamber 30 is the section of the cylinder 26 that is located between the front wall 32 and the piston 34. The front wall 32 extends across the cylinder 26. The front wall 32 is immobile relative to the cartridge body 24. The piston 34 is slidable within the cylinder 26. As the piston 34 slides within the cylinder 26 towards the front wall 32, the volume of the chamber 30 diminishes.
[0045] Advantageously, the vaporizable material is a gel with viscosity comprised between 5,000 cps and 50,000 cps. The smoking gel could be achieved by increasing its viscosity and a propylene glycol to vegetable glycerin ratio (or "PG/VG ratio") or adding food-grade thickener to the liquid. The food-grade thickener can be Xanthan gum.
[0046] The cartridge 4 has advantageously an outer shape that is cylindrical with a circular profile along the central axis A.
[0047] The cartridge 4 is provided with a dispensing opening 38 arranged such that the movement of the piston 34 towards the front wall 32 forces the vaporizable material out of the chamber 30 via the dispensing opening 38.
[0048] The dispensing opening 38 is in fluid communication with the chamber 30. The dispensing opening 38 is for example located on the front wall 32, with being preferably centered on the central axis A.
[0049] The piston 34 is movable or operable by an actuator 40 of the aerosol generating device 8. The actuator 40 is operable to move the piston 34 within the cylinder 26 towards the front wall 32 of the cartridge 4. The actuator 40 comprises for example an axially movable pushing member 42 configured for pushing the piston 34 axially within the cylinder 26 and a drive unit 44 configured for driving the pushing member 36 axially. The actuator 40 is preferably powered by the battery 14 and controlled by the controller 16.
[0050] The pushing member 42 and the drive unit 44 cooperate for example via a screw/nut assembly. In such case, the pushing member 42 comprises for example a threaded rod 46 and the drive unit 44 comprises a nut 46 engaged into the threaded rod 40 and a motor 48 for driving the nut 42 in rotation and thus driving the threaded rod 46 axially to push the piston 34 towards the front wall 32.
[0051] The cartridge 6 optionally comprises a rear wall 50 opposed to the front wall 32. The rear wall 50 closes the cylinder 26 at the axial end opposed to front wall 32. The cylinder 26 is delimited axially between the front wall 32 and the rear wall 50. The rear wall 50 allows reinforcing the cartridge body 24. The rear wall 50 is advantageously made in one single piece of material with the lateral wall 28 of the cartridge body 24.
[0052] The rear wall 50 defines an actuator opening 52 configured to receive the pushing member 42 of the actuator 40 of the aerosol generating device 8 to operate the piston 34. The actuator opening 52 allows the pushing member 42 to penetrate inside the cartridge 6 to push the piston 34 and to retract outside the cartridge 6, e.g. for removing the cartridge 6 from the aerosol generating device 8.
[0053] The rear wall 50 closing the rear axial end of the cylinder 26 makes the manufacturing of the cartridge 6 easy by inserting the piston 34 inside the cylinder 26 until contact with the rear wall 50 before filling the cartridge 4 with the vaporizable material 6.
[0054] According to some embodiments, the front wall 32 is formed of a lid 54 that is distinct (or separate) from the cartridge body 24 and attached to the cartridge body in a sealed manner. The lid 54 is preferably disc shaped. The dispensing opening 38 is preferably provided centrally in the lid 54. The lid 54 is preferably glued and/or welded to the cartridge body 24, e.g. by ultrasonic welding.
[0055] The lid 54 separate from the cartridge body 24 allows manufacturing the cartridge 6 easily by inserting the piston 34 inside the cylinder 26, then filling the chamber 30 with the vaporizable material 6 and then closing the front end of the cylinder 26 by attaching the lid 54 to the cartridge body 24.
[0056] The piston 34 is preferably slidable within the cylinder 26 until contact with the front wall 32. This allows maximizing the amount of vaporizable material 6 that can be forced out of the chamber 30, thus increasing the rate of use of the vaporizable material contained in the cartridge 6.
[0057] Advantageously, a rear face 32B of the front wall 32 and a front face 24A of the piston 24 facing the rear face 32B of the front wall 32 have complementary shapes. This allows minimizing the space between the front wall 32 and the piston 34 when the piston 34 is pushed into contact with the front wall 32, and thus promote the expulsion of the whole vaporizable material 6 out of the cartridge 4.
[0058] Advantageously, the rear face 32B of the front wall 32 is provided with a depression 56 and the front face 24A of the piston 24 is provided with a protrusion 58 configured to fit in the depression 56 when sliding the piston 24 towards the front wall 32, and the dispensing opening 38 is located in the depression 56, more particularly at the bottom of the depression 56.
[0059] When a little amount of vaporizable material 6 remains in the chamber 30, the provision of the depression 56 and the protrusion 58 allows the remaining amount of the vaporizable material to be pushed into the depression 56 wherein it can be pushed more efficiently outside the cartridge 6 via the dispensing opening 38 located in the depression 56, in particular at a bottom of the depression 56.
[0060] A peripheral edge 34C of the piston 34 is for example in sealing contact with the lateral wall of the cartridge body 24. Preferably, the piston 34 is in interference fit in the cylinder 26. More precisely, the peripheral edge 34C of the piston 34 is interference fit with the lateral wall 28 delimiting the cylinder 26. This improves the sealing between the piston 34 and the cylinder 26.
[0061] The piston 34 comprises advantageously a central region 34D surrounded by a peripheral region 34E ending at the peripheral edge 24C. The height of the peripheral edge 34C is preferably smaller than the height of the central region 34D. The height is the dimension taken along the central axis A. The peripheral region 34E is for example tapering radially outwardly from the central region 34D towards the peripheral edge 34C. This allows providing a robust central region 34D onto which the pushing member 42 of the actuator 40 bear and a thin peripheral edge 34C ensuring a reliable sealing contact with the lateral wall 28 with limited friction.
[0062] Preferably, the cartridge body 24 is made of a first material and the piston 34 - or at least the peripheral edge 34C of the piston 34 - is made of a second material different from the first material, the second material having a hardness, in particular a shore hardness, higher than that the first material. This allows the peripheral edge 34C of the piston 34 to slightly deform the lateral wall 28 of the cartridge body 24 for ensuring a reliable sealing between the piston 34 and the lateral wall 28. In one embodiment, the piston 34 is entirely made in a single piece of the second material (i.e. the piston 34 including the peripheral edge 34C).
[0063] As better illustrated on Figures 4-6, the cartridge 4 comprises a valve 60 configured for selectively closing or opening the dispensing opening 38.
[0064] The valve 60 is advantageously operated by pressure (or "pressure-operated"). The pressure-operated valve 60 is configured for staying closed when the pressure inside the chamber 26 is lower than a threshold pressure and for opening when the pressure inside the chamber 26 is higher than said threshold pressure.
[0065] As illustrated on Figures 5 and 6, the valve 60 comprises for example a flexible membrane 62 extending across the dispensing opening 38, the membrane 62 being provided with a valve opening 64, the membrane 62 having a closed configuration in which the valve opening 64 is closed (Figure 5) and an open configuration in which the valve opening 64 is opened (Figure 6). The valve opening 64 is for example located in a central region of the membrane 62.
[0066] The valve opening 64 allows the vaporizable material 6 contained inside the chamber 30 and pressurized above the threshold pressure under action of the piston 34 to exit the cartridge 4.
[0067] Advantageously, the valve 60 further comprises a sealing material 66 provided on the membrane 62 such as to seal the valve opening 64 in the closed configuration of the valve 60. The sealing material 66 is arranged to close the valve opening 64 in a tight manner in the closed configuration of the valve 60 to ensure that the vaporizable material 6 does not leak from the chamber 30.
[0068] The valve 60 comprises for example a layer of sealing material 66 deposited on an outer face of the membrane 62 and/or a layer of sealing material 66 deposited on an inner face of the membrane 62. The inner face of the membrane 62 is facing the inside of the chamber 30 and the outer face of the membrane 62 is facing outside the chamber 30. The deposition of the sealing material as a layer on an outer face of the membrane 62 or as a layer on inner face of the membrane 62 eases manufacturing of the valve 60 by allowing manufacturing the valve as a multi-layer laminate product. As illustrated on Figures 5 and 6, the valve 60 comprises a layer of sealing material 66 deposited on the outer face of the membrane 62. Alternatively or optionally, the valve 60 comprises a layer of sealing material 66 deposited on the inner face of the membrane 62.
[0069] As illustrated on Figure 5 and 6, the sealing material 66 is deposited on the membrane 62 as at least one layer, each layer of sealing material 66 covering an entire face of the membrane 62 among the inner face or the outer face of the membrane.
[0070] Alternatively or optionally, sealing material 66 is deposited locally on the inner face of the membrane 62 around the valve opening 64 and/or sealing material is deposited locally on the outer face of the membrane 62 around the valve opening 64. Sealing material 66 deposited "locally" around the valve opening 64 on the inner face or the outer face of the membrane 62 covers a fraction of the inner face or outer face of the membrane 62, without covering entirely the inner face or outer face of the membrane 62.
[0071] The membrane 62 of the valve 60 is preferably made as of heat shrinkable material. This allows shaping the valve 60 with a closed configuration favoring tightness and an open configuration easing the flow of the vaporizable product through the valve opening 64. More particularly, the membrane 62 optionally provided with the sealing material 66, in particular with each layer of sealing material 66, is for example provided with the valve opening 64 and then heat shrinked. The heat shrinking of the membrane 62 tends to deform the membrane 62 such as closing the valve opening 64 thus obtaining the closed configuration of the valve. The sealing material is preferably not heat shrinkable. This favors the sealing of the valve opening 64 by the sealing material.
[0072] In an advantageous embodiment, as illustrated on Figure 5, the valve 60 is configured such that in the closed configuration, the central region of the membrane 62 protrudes towards the inside of the chamber 30 relative to a peripheral region of the membrane 62. The valve opening 64 is offset axially along the central axis A towards the inside of the chamber 30 relative to the periphery of the membrane 62. The center of the membrane 62 preferably points towards the inside of the chamber 30. This ensures a reliable closing of the valve opening 64 in the closed configuration, in particular in conjunction with the sealing material 66.
[0073] In an advantageous embodiment, as illustrated on Figure 6, the valve 60 is configured such that in the open configuration, the central region of membrane 62 protrudes towards the outside of the chamber 30 relative to the peripheral region of the membrane 62. The valve opening 64 is offset axially along the central axis A towards the outside of the chamber 30 relative to the periphery of the membrane 62. The center of the membrane 62 preferably points towards the outside of the chamber 30. This ensures a wide opening of the valve opening 64 in the open configuration easing the flow of the vaporizable material 6.
[0074] The valve 60 preferably comprises a mounting frame 68 configured for holding the membrane 62 and for mounting the valve 60 across the dispensing opening 38. The mounting frame 68 has for example the shape of a ring configured to be fitted inside the dispensing opening 68. The mounting frame 68 may be fixed in the dispensing opening 38 for example by gluing and/or force fitting. In a preferred embodiment, the peripheral region of the membrane 62 is embedded in the mounting frame 68. In this view, the mounting frame 68 is for example overmolded on the periphery of the membrane 62.
[0075] The heater 12 is preferably separate from the cartridge 4, i.e. not integrated in the cartridge 4. The cartridge 4 can be manufactured more easily and cost-effectively. This allows using several cartridges 4 with a same heater 12 which is more sustainable.
[0076] The heater 12 is either fixed in the aerosol generating device 8 or preferably replaceable. The replaceable heater 12 renders the use of the aerosol generating device 8 more sustainable.
[0077] As illustrated on Figure 1, the aerosol generating device 8 comprises the heater 12 received in a heating cavity 68 arranged to collect the vaporizable material 6 released from the cartridge 4 via the dispensing opening 38. In particular, the dispensing opening 38 opens into the heating cavity 68 when the cartridge 4 is received the cartridge housing 10. The aerosol generating device 8 comprises for example a replaceable heating assembly 70 comprising a heater tray 72 defining the heating cavity 68 and the heater 12 mounted on the heater tray 72 within the heating cavity 68.
[0078] In a method of manufacturing the cartridge 4 comprises provided the cartridge body 24, the piston 34 and the lid 54 provided with the valve 60, then inserting the piston 34 inside the cylinder 26 of the cartridge body 24, then filling the cylinder 26 with vaporizable material 6 and then attaching the lid 54 to the cartridge body 54 thus defining the chamber 30 filled with vaporizable material 6 between the fixed lid 54 and the slidable piston 34.
[0079] In use, the cartridge 6 is inserted in the cartridge housing 10 of the aerosol generating device 8. In view of generating aerosol, the controller 16 activates the actuator 40 for pushing the piston 34 towards the front wall 32, thus increasing the pressure inside the chamber 30.
[0080] When the pressure inside the chamber 30 exceeds the threshold pressure of the valve 60, vaporizable material 6 is push out of the cartridge 4 via the valve 60 and collected in the heating cavity 68.
[0081] The controller 16 is configured to control the actuator 40 for delivering a predetermined quantity of the vaporizable material 6 via the valve 60 at each activation of the actuator 40. The predetermined quantity is delivered for example by activating the actuator 40 for moving the piston 34 of a predetermined stroke during each activation of the actuator 40. The quantity that is delivered is in principle proportional to the stroke of the piston 34.
[0082] Simultaneously, the controller 16 activate the heater 12 to heat the vaporizable material 6 received in the heating cavity 68. The use can thus inhale air via the mouthpiece 22, the air circulating from the air inlet 18 (Arrow R on Figure 1) to the aerosol outlet 20 (arrow R2) with passing via the heating cavity 68 for collecting the particles of vaporizable material 6 heated by the heater.
[0083] Owing to the invention, it is possible to improve vaporization of the vaporizable material and/or its mixing with an airflow. Indeed, the cartridge 6 provided with a piston 34 and a valve 60, in particular a pressure-operated valve 60, allows delivering a controlled amount of vaporizable material 6, thus avoiding under-heating or overheating of the vaporizable material 6 with the heater 12.
1. A cartridge for an aerosol generating device, the cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge body (24) delimiting a cylinder (26) extending along a central axis (A),
- a chamber (30) for storing a vaporizable material delimited within the cylinder (26) between a front wall (32) and a piston (34) slidably received in the cylinder (26) such that sliding of the piston (34) forces vaporizable material out of the chamber (30) via a dispensing opening (38), the piston (34) being operable by an actuator (40) of the aerosol generating device, and
- a valve (60) configured for selectively closing or opening the dispensing opening (38).
2. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing opening (38) is located
on the front wall (32), the dispensing opening (38) being preferably centered on the
central axis (A).
3. The cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rear wall (50) of the cartridge
opposite to the front wall (32) defines an actuator opening (52) configured to receive
a pushing member (46) of the actuator (40) of the aerosol generating device to operate
the piston (34).
4. The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front wall
(32) is formed by a lid (54) attached to the cartridge body (24) in a sealed manner.
5. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the lid (54) is glued and/or welded to
the cartridge body (24).
6. The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the piston (34)
is slidable until contact with the front wall (32).
7. The cartridge according to claim 6, wherein a rear face of the front wall (32) and
a front face of the piston (34) have complementary shapes.
8. The cartridge according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the front wall (32) is provided with
a depression (56), the piston (34) is provided with a protrusion (58) configured to
fit in the depression (56) when sliding the piston (34) towards the front wall (32),
and the dispensing opening (38) is located in the depression (58).
9. The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve (60)
is configured to be actuated as a function of the pressure inside the chamber (30).
10. The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve (60)
comprises a membrane (62) extending across the dispensing opening (38), the membrane
(62) being provided with a valve opening (64) which is closed in a closed configuration
of the valve (60) to retain the vaporizable material and opened in an open configuration
of the valve (60) to allow the exit of the vaporizable material .
11. The cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the valve further comprises a sealing
material (66) provided on the membrane (62) such as to seal the valve opening (64)
in the closed configuration of the valve (60).
12. The cartridge according to claim 11, wherein the valve (60) comprises a layer of sealing
material (66) deposited on an outer face of the membrane (62) and/or a layer of sealing
material (66) deposited on an inner face of the membrane (62).
13. The cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridge
body (24) is made of a first material and the piston (34) or at least a peripheral
edge of the piston (34) is made of a second material different from the first material,
the second material having a hardness, in particular a shore hardness, higher than
that the first material.
14. An aerosol generating system, comprising:
- the cartridge (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, and
- an aerosol generating device (8) configured to operate with said cartridge (4), the aerosol generating device (8) comprising an actuator (40) operable to push the piston (34) toward the end wall for dispensing vaporizable material via the dispensing opening (38).
15. The aerosol generating system, further comprising a controller (16) configured to
operate the actuator (40) to dispense a predetermined quantity of vaporizable material.