FLAVOR INHALER AND FLAVOR INHALER MANUFACTURING METHOD
Provided is a flavor inhaler comprising a casing, an atomizer that is housed in the casing and that generates heat, a temperature sensor that is located near the atomizer, and a wire that is electrically connected to the temperature sensor, wherein the wire extends from the temperature sensor so as to be away from the atomizer.
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The present application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2021/017038, filed on Apr. 28, 2021.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a flavor inhaler and a method for manufacturing the flavor inhaler.
BACKGROUND ARTIn the field of flavor inhalers, temperature sensors have been used to monitor a temperature. PTL 1, for example, describes a flavor inhaler in which a temperature sensor is disposed at a location separated from a heating coil.
In a flavor inhaler including a heating device, it is desirable to accurately measure a temperature of a casing of the device so that a user does not experience discomfort when the device is used. In particular, the temperature of the casing is preferably monitored at a location close to the heating device at which the temperature is significantly influenced by heat from the heating device.
CITATION LIST Patent LiteraturePTL 1: Japanese Patent No. 6335251
SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical ProblemThe present disclosure provides a flavor inhaler capable of accurately sensing a temperature of a casing at a location close to a heating device and a method for manufacturing the flavor inhaler.
Solution to ProblemAccording to a first aspect of present disclosure, a flavor inhaler includes a casing; an atomizer that is accommodated in the casing and that produces heat; a temperature sensor disposed at a location close to the atomizer; and a wire electrically connected to the temperature sensor. The wire extends from the temperature sensor such that the wire extends away from the atomizer.
According to the above-described first aspect, the temperature sensor is provided at the location close to the atomizer that produces heat, and the wire connected to the temperature sensor extends away from the atomizer. Therefore, according to the first aspect, the temperature of the casing can be measured at the location that is close to the atomizer and to which heat produced by the atomizer is easily transmitted, and the influence of heat produced by the atomizer on the wire can be reduced. Accordingly, the temperature can be accurately measured.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the first aspect, the location close to the atomizer is a region in which the temperature sensor is influenced by temperature variation of the atomizer.
According to the above-described second aspect, the temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the casing is disposed in the region in which the temperature sensor is influenced by the temperature variation of the atomizer. Therefore, according to the second aspect, a temperature that appropriately reflects the temperature variation of the atomizer can be measured.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the first and second aspects, a region through which the wire extends is a region in which a temperature is lower than a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
According to the above-described third aspect, the wire connected to the temperature sensor extends toward a region in which the temperature is lower than the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, which is disposed at the location close to the atomizer. Therefore, according to the third aspect, the influence of heat produced by the atomizer on the wire can be reliably reduced.
According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the first to third aspects, the wire extends from the temperature sensor in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the atomizer extends.
According to the above-described fourth aspect, the wire extends from the temperature sensor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the atomizer that produces heat extends. Therefore, according to the fourth aspect, the wire can be reliably disposed to extend away from the atomizer, and noise in the temperature measurement can be reduced.
According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the flavor inhaler of the first to fourth aspects further includes an additional member accommodated in the casing, and at least a portion of the wire is sandwiched and held between a first inner wall of the casing and a surface of the additional member facing the first inner wall.
According to the above-described fifth aspect, the additional member is disposed in the casing, and the wire is sandwiched and held between the first inner wall of the casing and the surface of the additional member facing the first inner wall. Thus, according to the fifth aspect, the wire extending from the temperature sensor is held on the surface of the additional member. Therefore, the wire can be more reliably disposed to extend away from the atomizer, and noise in the temperature measurement can be further reduced.
According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the fifth aspect, a first wiring supporter including an adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the additional member facing the first inner wall, and at least a portion of the wire is fixed to the first wiring supporter by adhesion.
According to the above-described sixth aspect, the first wiring supporter including the adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the additional member, and the wire is fixed to the first wiring supporter by adhesion. Therefore, according to the sixth aspect, the direction in which a portion of the wire extends can be fixed, and the wire can be reliably disposed to extend away from the atomizer.
According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the first to sixth aspects, the temperature sensor is disposed in contact with a first inner wall of the casing.
According to the above-described seventh aspect, the temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the casing is disposed in contact with the first inner wall of the casing. Therefore, according to the seventh aspect, the temperature of the inner surface of the casing can be directly measured, and the temperature sensor can be held at an appropriate position.
According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the flavor inhaler of the seventh aspect further includes a support member that is accommodated in the casing and that supports the atomizer. The temperature sensor is sandwiched and held between the first inner wall of the casing and the support member.
According to the above-described eighth aspect, the support member that supports the atomizer is disposed in the casing, and the temperature sensor is sandwiched and held between the first inner wall of the casing and the support member. Therefore, according to the eighth aspect, the temperature sensor can be held at the location close to the atomizer, and the temperature of the casing can be stably measured at the location close to the atomizer.
According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the eighth aspect, the temperature sensor is in contact with the support member with a heat insulating member disposed therebetween.
According to the above-described ninth aspect, the temperature sensor is in contact with the support member with the heat insulating member disposed therebetween. Therefore, according to the ninth aspect, the influence of heat produced by the atomizer on the temperature sensor through the support member can be reduced.
According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the ninth aspect, the heat insulating member includes an adhesive layer, and the temperature sensor is fixed to the heat insulating member by adhesion.
According to the above-described tenth aspect, the heat insulating member that is in contact with the temperature sensor includes the adhesive layer. Therefore, according to the tenth aspect, the temperature sensor can be held at the location close to the atomizer, and the temperature of the casing can be stably measured at the location close to the atomizer.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the eighth to tenth aspects, the support member is provided with a second wiring supporter that supports the wire that extends.
According to the above-described eleventh aspect, the support member accommodated in the casing is provided with the second wiring supporter that supports the wire extending from the temperature sensor. Therefore, according to the eleventh aspect, the wire can be guided to extend in a predetermined direction so that the wire reliably extends away from the atomizer.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, in the flavor inhaler of the first to eleventh aspects, a third wiring supporter is provided on a first inner wall of the casing, the third wiring supporter supporting the wire such that the wire extends away from the atomizer.
According to the above-described twelfth aspect, the third wiring supporter is provided on the first inner wall of the casing that is in contact with the temperature sensor. The third wiring supporter supports the wire extending from the temperature sensor such that the wire extends away from the atomizer. Therefore, according to the twelfth aspect, the wire can be guided to extend in a predetermined direction so that the wire reliably extends away from the atomizer.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, a method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler includes: preparing a first casing element and a second casing element that are to be positioned to face each other to form a casing; arranging an atomizer that produces heat, a temperature sensor, and a wire electrically connected to the temperature sensor at predetermined positions with respect to the second casing element; placing the wire such that the wire extends from the temperature sensor so as to extend away from the atomizer; and forming the casing by positioning the first casing element with respect to the second casing element such that the temperature sensor is at a location close to the atomizer. According to the above-described thirteenth aspect, the wire is placed such that the wire extends from the temperature sensor so as to extend away from the atomizer that produces heat, and the casing is formed by positioning the first casing element with respect to the second casing element such that the temperature sensor is at a location close to the atomizer. Therefore, according to the thirteenth aspect, the temperature of the casing can be measured at the location that is close to the atomizer and to which heat produced by the atomizer is easily transmitted, and the influence of heat produced by the atomizer on the wire can be reduced. Thus, a flavor inhaler capable of accurately measuring the temperature can be produced.
According to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, in the method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler of the thirteenth aspect, the location close to the atomizer is a region in which the temperature sensor is influenced by temperature variation of the atomizer.
According to the above-described fourteenth aspect, the temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the casing is disposed in the region in which the temperature sensor is influenced by the temperature variation of the atomizer. Therefore, according to the fourteenth aspect, a flavor inhaler capable of measuring a temperature that appropriately reflects the temperature variation of the atomizer can be provided.
According to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, the method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect further includes: placing an additional member at a predetermined position with respect to the second casing element; and positioning the first casing element with respect to the second casing element so that the wire is sandwiched and held between an inner wall of the first casing element and the additional member.
According to the above-described fifteenth aspect, the additional member is disposed in the casing, and the wire is sandwiched and held between the first inner wall of the first casing element and the additional member. Thus, according to the fifteenth aspect, the wire extending from the temperature sensor is held on the surface of the additional member. Therefore, a flavor inhaler in which the wire is more reliably disposed to extend away from the atomizer and in which noise in the temperature measurement is further reduced can be provided.
An embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or corresponding structural elements are denoted by the same reference signs, and redundant description is omitted.
The flavor inhaler 100 is configured to generate flavored aerosol when, for example, a stick-shaped consumable including a flavor source including an aerosol source is heated.
As illustrated in
The outer housing 101 has a first through hole (not illustrated) for receiving a consumable. The slide cover 102 is slidably attached to the outer housing 101 such that the slide cover 102 covers the first through hole. More specifically, the slide cover 102 is movable along an outer surface of the outer housing 101 between a closed position (position illustrated in
In
The switch 103 is used to turn on and off the operation of the flavor inhaler 100. For example, as described below, when the user operates the switch 103 after the consumable is inserted into the flavor inhaler 100, a power supply 21 supplies electric power to a heater 40 to heat the consumable without burning the consumable. The switch 103 may include a switch provided on the exterior of the outer housing 101 or a switch disposed on the interior of the outer housing 101. When the switch is disposed on the interior of the outer housing 101, the switch is indirectly depressed when the switch 103 on the surface of the outer housing 101 is depressed. In the present disclosure, it is assumed that the switch of the switch 103 is disposed on the interior of the outer housing 101.
The flavor inhaler 100 may additionally include a terminal (not illustrated). The terminal may be an interface that connects the flavor inhaler 100 to, for example, an external power supply. When the power supply included in the flavor inhaler 100 is a rechargeable battery, the power supply can be charged by supplying a current thereto from the external power supply by connecting the external power supply to the terminal. The flavor inhaler 100 may also be capable of transmitting data related to the operation of the flavor inhaler 100 to an external device through a data transmission cable connected to the terminal.
The consumable used in the flavor inhaler 100 will now be described.
The smokable substance 111 may include, for example, a flavor source, such as tobacco, and an aerosol source. The first wrapping paper 112 with which the smokable substance 111 is wrapped may be an air-permeable sheet member. The cylindrical member 114 may be a paper tube or a hollow filter. Although the consumable 110 includes the smokable substance 111, the cylindrical member 114, the hollow filter 116, and the filter 115 in the example illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next, the internal structure of the flavor inhaler 100 will be described.
As illustrated in
The circuit unit includes, for example, a microprocessor, and is capable of controlling supply of electric power from the power supply unit 20 to the atomizer 30. Thus, the circuit unit is capable of controlling heating of the consumable 110 by the atomizer 30.
The power supply unit 20 includes the power supply 21 electrically connected to the circuit unit (not illustrated). The power supply 21 may be, for example, a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. The power supply 21 is electrically connected to the atomizer 30 by the circuit unit. Thus, the power supply 21 is capable of supplying electric power to the atomizer 30 to appropriately heat the consumable 110. The power supply unit 20 is an example of an additional member according to the present disclosure.
As illustrated in
The heat insulator 32 is disposed to surround the chamber 50 and the heater 40. The heat insulator 32 may include, for example, an aerogel sheet. The insertion guide member 34 may be formed of a resin material, such as PEEK, PC, or ABS, and is disposed between the slide cover 102 at the closed position and the chamber 50. When the slide cover 102 is at the open position, the insertion guide member 34 communicates with the outside of the flavor inhaler 100. When the consumable 110 is inserted into the insertion guide member 34, the insertion guide member 34 guides insertion of the consumable 110 into the chamber 50.
The flavor inhaler 100 also includes a first support 35 and a second support 38 that support the ends of each of the chamber 50 and the heat insulator 32. The first support 35 is disposed to support end portions of the chamber 50 and the heat insulator 32 adjacent to the slide cover 102 (in the positive Z-axis direction). The first support 35 is provided with an O-ring 37 that supports the insertion guide member 34. The second support 38 is disposed to directly or indirectly support end portions of the chamber 50 and the heat insulator 32 in the negative Z-axis direction. In addition, as illustrated in
The chamber 50 and the heater 40 will now be described in detail.
As illustrated in
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The position and manner in which the atomizer 30 is disposed in the inner housing 10 will now be described.
The insertion guide member 34 has a second through hole 34A and a first engagement claw 34B formed on an outer periphery of the insertion guide member 34. The insertion guide member 34 is inserted into the outer housing 101 from the outside through the first through hole formed in the outer housing 101 to receive the consumable. The first engagement claw 34B engages with an engagement portion (not illustrated) of the inner housing 10 so that the insertion guide member 34 is not removable from the flavor inhaler 100 and that a portion around the second through hole 34A is exposed to the outside of the flavor inhaler. The second through hole 34A in the insertion guide member 34 has a size such that a first gap 67A is formed between the insertion guide member 34 and the outer periphery of the consumable 110 when the consumable 110 is inserted into the second through hole 34A.
The first support 35 has a third through hole 35A, a first rib 35B having an annular shape, and a circumferential portion 35C. The third through hole 35A in the first support 35 has a size such that the flange portion 52A (see
As described above, the chamber 50 includes the bottom portion 56 having the hole 56a (see
A spacer 39A is ring-shaped and has a hole at the central thereof. The bottom member 36 is inserted into the hole, and the second support 38 is fitted to the bottom member 36 that protrudes from the center hole, so that the spacer 39A is immovably disposed between the bottom member 36 and the second support 38. The outer surface of the spacer 39A faces the inner surface of the heat insulator 32 and positions the heat insulator 32.
The second support 38 includes a projection 39B (not illustrated) fitted to a hole formed in the inner housing 10, and is positioned with respect to the inner housing 10 when the projection 39B is fitted to this hole. A portion around the projection 39B is in contact with the inner housing 10 in a compressed state. In other words, the second support 38 is compressed and exerts a reaction force that urges the insertion guide member 34 through the spacer 39A and the bottom member 36. Therefore, an end portion of the insertion guide member 34 in the positive Z-axis direction and the flange portion 52A of the chamber 50 are in close contact with each other. Due to the above-described configuration, the first gap 67A, the second gaps 67B, and the third gap 67C form a connected space.
As described above, the airflow paths (second gaps 67B) are formed between the consumable 110 and the separated portions 66. Therefore, air that passes through the airflow paths absorb heat in the separated portions 66, and the separated portions 66 can be cooled.
As described above, the heating element 42 of the heater 40 is disposed such that the heating element 42 is not in contact with the separated portions 66 of the side wall 60 of the chamber 50 and heats the contact portions 62. In other words, the separated portions 66 are not directly heated by the heater 40, and therefore heating of the separated portions 66 by the heater 40 can be reduced.
As illustrated in
Sensing of the temperature of the inner surface (surface facing in the positive Y-axis direction) of the front casing element 10A of the inner housing 10 will now be described in detail. When the atomizer 30 is operated in the flavor inhaler 100, the atomizer 30 produces heat due to the operation of the heater 40, and the produced heat is transmitted to locations close to the atomizer 30 in the inner housing 10. In the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present disclosure, a thermistor 72 is disposed in contact with the inner surface of the front casing element 10A at a location close to the atomizer 30 to monitor heat transmitted from the atomizer 30 to the front casing element 10A. The inner surface of the front casing element 10A is an example of a first inner wall of a casing and an inner wall of a first casing element according to the present disclosure.
As illustrated in
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The two conductive wires included in the wire 72B of the thermistor 72 are made of a material having a high rigidity at least in a region close to the detector 72A. Therefore, the wire 72B formed in a predetermined shape is capable of maintaining the initial shape despite an external force, such as the earth's gravity, applied thereto. More specifically, the wire 72B shaped as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The flavor inhaler 100 according to the present disclosure is formed by sealing the structure illustrated in
As illustrated in
Although an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, specification, and drawings. Note that any shape or material not described directly in the specification and drawings is still within the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure insofar as the effects of the present disclosure are exhibited. For example, the flavor inhaler 100 according to the present disclosure includes an airflow path of a so-called counterflow type in which air that flows into the chamber 50 through the opening 52 is supplied to the end surface of the consumable 110. However, the flavor inhaler 100 is not limited to this, and may include an airflow path of a so-called bottom flow type in which air is introduced into the chamber 50 from the bottom portion 56 of the chamber 50. In addition, the heating element 42 is not limited to a resistance heating element, and may be an induction heating element. In such a case, the heating element 42 may heat the chamber 50 by induction heating. When the consumable 110 includes a susceptor, the heating element 42 may heat the susceptor of the consumable 110 by induction heating.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
-
- 10 inner housing
- 10A front casing element
- 10B rear casing element
- 10a first wall
- 10b second wall
- 10c side wall
- 12 projection
- 14 projection
- 20 power supply unit
- 21 power supply
- 24 wiring supporter
- 30 atomizer
- 32 heat insulator
- 34 insertion guide member
- 34A second through hole
- 34B first engagement claw
- 35 first support
- 35A third through hole
- 35B first rib
- 35C circumferential portion
- 36 bottom member
- 37 O-ring
- 37A main portion
- 37B extending portion
- 38 second support
- 39A spacer
- 39B projection
- 40 heater
- 42 heating element
- 44 electrically insulating member
- 48 electrode
- 50 chamber
- 52 opening
- 52A flange portion
- 54 non-holding portion
- 56 bottom portion
- 56a hole
- 58 first guide portion
- 58a tapered surface
- 60 side wall
- 62 contact portion
- 62a inner surface
- 62b outer surface
- 66 separated portion
- 66a inner surface
- 66b outer surface
- 67A first gap
- 67B second gap
- 67C third gap
- 72 thermistor
- 72A detector
- 72B wire
- 72C bent portion
- 80 chassis
- 80A first holder
- 80B second holder
- 80C third holder
- 82 attachment portion
- 84 guide portion
- 90 heat insulating member
- 90A first surface
- 90B second surface
- 100 flavor inhaler
- 101 outer housing
- 101A front cover
- 101B rear cover
- 102 slide cover
- 103 switch
- 110 consumable
- 111 smokable substance
- 112 first wrapping paper
- 113 second wrapping paper
- 114 cylindrical member
- 115 filter
- 116 hollow filter
- 117 lip release agent
Claims
1. A flavor inhaler comprising:
- a casing;
- an atomizer that is accommodated in the casing and that produces heat;
- a temperature sensor disposed at a location close to the atomizer; and
- a wire electrically connected to the temperature sensor,
- wherein the wire extends from the temperature sensor such that the wire extends away from the atomizer.
2. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1,
- wherein the location close to the atomizer is a region in which the temperature sensor is influenced by temperature variation of the atomizer.
3. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1,
- wherein a region through which the wire extends is a region in which a temperature is lower than a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor.
4. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1,
- wherein the wire extends from the temperature sensor in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the atomizer extends.
5. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1, further comprising:
- an additional member accommodated in the casing,
- wherein at least a portion of the wire is sandwiched and held between a first inner wall of the casing and a surface of the additional member facing the first inner wall.
6. The flavor inhaler according to claim 5,
- wherein a first wiring supporter including an adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the additional member facing the first inner wall, and
- wherein at least a portion of the wire is fixed to the first wiring supporter by adhesion.
7. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1,
- wherein the temperature sensor is disposed in contact with a first inner wall of the casing.
8. The flavor inhaler according to claim 7, further comprising:
- a support member that is accommodated in the casing and that supports the atomizer,
- wherein the temperature sensor is sandwiched and held between the first inner wall of the casing and the support member.
9. The flavor inhaler according to claim 8,
- wherein the temperature sensor is in contact with the support member with a heat insulating member disposed therebetween.
10. The flavor inhaler according to claim 9,
- wherein the heat insulating member includes an adhesive layer, and
- wherein the temperature sensor is fixed to the heat insulating member by adhesion.
11. The flavor inhaler according to claim 8,
- wherein the support member is provided with a second wiring supporter that supports the wire that extends.
12. The flavor inhaler according to claim 1,
- wherein a third wiring supporter is provided on a first inner wall of the casing, the third wiring supporter supporting the wire such that the wire extends away from the atomizer.
13. A method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler, the method comprising:
- preparing a first casing element and a second casing element that are to be positioned to face each other to form a casing;
- arranging an atomizer that produces heat, a temperature sensor, and a wire electrically connected to the temperature sensor at predetermined positions with respect to the second casing element;
- placing the wire such that the wire extends from the temperature sensor so as to extend away from the atomizer; and
- forming the casing by positioning the first casing element with respect to the second casing element such that the temperature sensor is at a location close to the atomizer.
14. The method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler according to claim 13,
- wherein the location close to the atomizer is a region in which the temperature sensor is influenced by temperature variation of the atomizer.
15. The method for manufacturing a flavor inhaler according to claim 13, further comprising:
- placing an additional member at a predetermined position with respect to the second casing element; and
- positioning the first casing element with respect to the second casing element so that the wire is sandwiched and held between an inner wall of the first casing element and the additional member.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 18, 2023
Publication Date: Feb 8, 2024
Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc. (Tokyo)
Inventors: Yasunobu Inoue (Tokyo), Hiroki Nakaae (Tokyo), Manabu Yamada (Tokyo)
Application Number: 18/489,468