JPH11178563A - Heater unit for noncombustible-type flavor-emissive article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the subject heater unit having a simple constitution and equipped with an inexpensive heating source. SOLUTION: This heater unit has an ignition burning section 14 set up on a unit casing 10, a fuel tank section 12 for combustible gas, and an ignition button 36; wherein the ignition burning section 14 is equipped with a temperature-raising chamber 25 and a tube holder 42 for a flavor-emissive article A. This heater unit works as follows: as the ignition button 36 is pushed down, a combustible gas is ignited in the chamber 25, and the resulting heated air is guided onto the outer peripheral surface of a flavor-emissive article A inside the tube holder 42, heating the article A without its combustion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heater unit for a non-combustion type flavor product for heating a flavor product to be used for flavor suction or simulated smoking without burning.

[0002]

2. Related Background Art A heater unit of this type for a non-burning type flavor producing product is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-84627. This known heater unit heats a simulated cigarette containing a tobacco flavor by an electric heating element and supplies the cigarette flavor, smell and other components from the cigarette into the smoker's mouth in the form of vapor or aerosol. It is something to do.

According to such a heater unit, since the cigarette itself is not burned, there is no generation of sidestream smoke or ash from the cigarette, which is suitable for maintaining the surrounding environment.

[0004]

However, since the above-mentioned heater unit heats a cigarette by an electric heating element, its heating source becomes structurally complicated,
In addition, in consideration of the portability of the heater unit, a rechargeable storage battery is required to energize the electric heating element. Generally, this type of storage battery is suitable for energizing an electric device with low power consumption, but is not suitable for energizing an electric heating element. Therefore, the storage battery must be dedicated, and a dedicated charger is required for charging the storage battery, and the cost required for smoking per cigarette is very high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object a simple and inexpensive configuration which is suitable for heating a flavor-generating product such as a simulated cigarette. An object of the present invention is to provide a product heater unit.

[0006]

The above object has been achieved by the present invention. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heater unit for a non-burning type flavor product, wherein a heating chamber and a fuel chamber are provided in a unit casing, and a unit casing is provided. Provided with a tube holder for holding a non-combustible flavor product, and
When the ignition button is operated, a combustion heating means for burning fuel in the combustion chamber in the heating chamber is provided.

According to the above-described heater unit, fuel is burned in the heating chamber only when the ignition button of the combustion heating means is operated by the user. Is heated, and the non-burning type flavor product in the tube holder is heated without burning using the heated air. Therefore, the user can inhale the flavor of the flavor product in the form of vapor or aerosol from the end of the mouth.

On the other hand, when the operation of the ignition button is released,
The combustion of the fuel in the heating chamber is stopped, and the heating of the non-combustible flavor product is also stopped. Does the tube holder have a structure capable of guiding heated air from the heating chamber also to the outer peripheral surface of the non-burning type flavor product (claim 2), or can guide heated air only to the outer peripheral surface thereof It has a structure (claim 3). In these cases, when air is suctioned from the end of the flavor product during the ignition and combustion of the fuel in the temperature-raising chamber, the heated air in the temperature-raising chamber is guided over the outer peripheral surface of the flavor product. As a result, the flavor product is satisfactorily heated, and the flavor is sucked into the user's mouth from the mouth end of the flavor product together with air in the form of steam or aerosol.

The tube holder is inclined upward with respect to the longitudinal axis of the unit casing.
In this case, when the user of the heater unit holds the unit casing with one hand, the mouth end of the flavor-producing product is directed upward, and the mouth end is easily gripped. Further, the heater unit may further include heat exchange means for exchanging heat with heated air in the temperature increasing chamber, and the heat exchange means can supply the outside air heated by the heat exchange to the flavor product. (Claim 5) In this case, the combustion gas generated in the heating chamber is not guided to the flavor product side, and the outside air obtained by heat exchange is supplied to the flavor product side.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a non-burning type flavor production product heater unit includes a unit casing 10. The unit casing 10 has a longitudinal axis extending vertically and has a shape that can be easily gripped with one hand. This unit casing 10 is vertically
The lower part is a fuel tank part 12, and the upper part is an ignition combustion part 14.

The fuel tank section 12 has a tank shell 16. The tank shell 16 is made of, for example, a heat-resistant synthetic resin, and forms a lower portion of the unit casing 10. The inside of the tank shell 16 is formed as a fuel chamber, in which a combustible gas is stored in a liquefied state as fuel. A supply / discharge tube assembly 18 is housed in the tank shell 16. The supply / discharge tube assembly 18 supplies the combustible gas from the tank shell 16 and refills the tank shell 16 with the liquefied combustible gas. It has a function to make. That is, the upper end of the supply / discharge tube assembly 18 protrudes into the ignition combustion part 14 to constitute a gas delivery head 20, and the lower end thereof serves as a gas injection end 22
And is exposed on the bottom surface of the tank shell 16.

Since the supply / discharge tube assembly 18 has the same structure as the supply / discharge tube assembly incorporated in a general filling type gas lighter, illustration and description of its internal structure are omitted. On the other hand, the ignition combustion section 14 includes a top shell 24 having heat resistance. The top shell 24 forms an upper portion of the unit casing 10 and is connected to, for example, an upper end of the tank shell 16 by being fitted thereto. ing. The top shell 24 has an exhaust port on the upper surface, and a slit lid 26 is mounted on the exhaust port. A plurality of air supply holes 27 are formed through the outer peripheral wall of the top shell 24 at a lower portion thereof.
Are distributed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the top shell 24.

The inside of the top shell 24 is formed as a heating chamber 25, in which a flame hood 28 is arranged. The flame hood 28 has a cylindrical shape with an open upper end, and extends upward from the center of the bottom wall of the top shell 24. Except for a part, a large number of holes (not shown) are formed in a distributed manner on the outer peripheral wall of the flame hood 28, and a net 30 is mounted on the upper end thereof.

In the flame hood 28, a gas ejection nozzle 32 projects toward an inner wall portion not having the hole, and the gas ejection nozzle 32 is connected to the gas delivery head 20 of the supply / discharge tube assembly 18 described above. It is connected.
When the combustible gas is ejected from the gas ejection nozzle 32,
Due to the gas jet, the inside of the flame hood 28 becomes negative pressure,
This negative pressure sucks outside air through the air supply hole 27, thereby creating a mixed gas flow of combustible gas and air in the flame hood 28.

When the holes are distributed over the entire outer peripheral wall of the flame hood 28, it is preferable that the above-described air supply holes 27 be located in a region on the back side of the gas ejection nozzle 32. Further, an ignition electrode 34 is provided in the flame hood 28.
The ignition electrode 34 is positioned near the gas ejection nozzle 32.

On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the top shell 24, an ignition button 36 is mounted on an upper portion thereof, and the ignition button 36 is supported to be vertically movable with respect to the top shell 24. Within the top shell 24, the ignition button 36 and the aforementioned gas delivery head 20 are connected via a telescopic ignition rod assembly 38. The ignition rod assembly 38 constantly urges the ignition button 36 upward, and against the urging force, presses down the ignition button 36 and contracts, thereby pressing the gas delivery head 20. This pressing opens a valve (not shown) in the gas delivery head 20, which causes the tank shell 16
The combustible gas in the inside is ejected into the flame hood 28 through the supply / discharge tube assembly 18 and the gas ejection nozzle 32.

The ignition rod assembly 38 has a built-in piezoelectric element (not shown), and this piezoelectric element is electrically connected to the ignition electrode 34 described above. When the ignition rod assembly 38 contracts, the piezoelectric element is pressurized to generate a high electromotive force, which generates a spark discharge between the ignition electrode 34 and the gas ejection nozzle 32. As a result, the combustible gas ejected from the gas ejection nozzle 32 is ignited by the spark discharge, and the combustion of the combustible gas continues while the ignition button 36 is pressed down. The configuration of the ignition rod assembly 38 is the same as that of a general gas lighter, so that specific illustration and description are omitted.

Further, a heat shield cover 40 can be disposed in the temperature raising chamber 25 as needed. This heat shield cover 4
Numeral 0 has heat resistance and has a half tubular shape interposed between the member on the ignition button 36 side and the flame hood 28. In this case, the gas ejection nozzle 32 and the ignition electrode 34 are mechanically or electrically connected to the gas delivery head 20 and the piezoelectric element via the heat shield cover 40 in addition to the flame hood 28, respectively.

A tube holder 42 extends from the outer peripheral wall of the top shell 24. The tube holder 42 is made of a heat-resistant material and communicates with the above-mentioned temperature raising chamber 25. The tube holder 42 is formed integrally with the top shell 24 or is connected to the top shell 42 by screwing. The tube holder 42 has an inner diameter that allows the stick-like flavor product A to be inserted in a substantially adhered state, and has a plurality of vertical grooves 44 formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. These vertical grooves 44 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the tube holder 42, and extend in the axial direction thereof, leaving the distal end of the tube holder 42. Therefore, when the flavor product A is inserted and held in the tube holder 42, as shown in FIG.
, A plurality of axial passages will be formed.

Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the tube holder 42,
A stopper 46 protrudes from the outer peripheral wall of the top shell 24. The stopper 46 limits the insertion length of the flavor product A, and the tip of the flavor product A is
5 and prevents the end of the mouthpiece from immersing into the tube holder 42. The distal end opening of the tube holder 42 is formed to have a tapered peripheral edge, thereby facilitating insertion of the flavor product A.

1 and 2, the axis of the tube holder 42 is inclined upward, and the tube holder 4 is viewed in the circumferential direction of the top shell 24.
2 and the ignition button 36 are diametrically separated from one another. The inclination angle α (see FIG. 1) of the tube holder 42 with respect to the cross section of the unit casing 10 is, for example, 10
範 囲 60 °.

Here, the flavor producing product A will be described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. The flavor product A in FIG.
A rod B is formed by wrapping a base material B containing an aerosol-generating substance with a wrapping paper C having air permeability, and a cylindrical filter plug D is connected to one end of the rod via a winding of a tip paper E. The base material B is made of chopped recycled tobacco, chopped tobacco or tobacco paper,
The aerosol-generating substance is glycerin, tobacco extract, flavor and the like carried on the base material. This type of flavor product A is exemplified in detail in, for example, JP-A-6-189733.

In the flavor product A of FIG. 5, a non-breathable plug F is arranged at the tip of the flavor product of FIG. 4, and this plug F and the rod are connected by a wrapping paper G having permeability. Thereafter, the filter plug D is connected in the same manner. The flavor product A is described in
The cigarette as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-184627 may be used, and the specific configuration is not limited.

According to the above-described heater unit, the user first inserts, for example, the flavor producing product A of FIG. Add mouth end of mouth. In this state, the ignition button 36 is depressed with the thumb of one hand to ignite the combustible gas in the flame hood 28, and the combustion of the combustible gas causes
The air in the heating chamber 25 is heated. Simultaneously with this heating, if the user inhales air from the mouth end of the flavor product A,
Since the distal end of the tube holder 42 and the outer peripheral surface of the flavor producing product A are in close contact over the entire periphery thereof, the temperature rising chamber 2
The heated air heated in 5 is not only in the front end face of the flavor product A, but also in the vertical groove 44 of the tube holder 42, that is,
It is guided into the axial passage, flows into the flavor producing product A also from the outer peripheral surface of the flavor producing product A, and heats the base material and the aerosol generator to a predetermined temperature. As a result, the flavor of the flavor product A is generated in the form of steam or aerosol, and flows into the user's mouth from the mouth end of the flavor product A together with the heated air. Here, the combustion of the combustible gas in the flame hood 28 is adjusted so that the temperature of the heated air flowing into the mouth of the user is in a range of normal temperature to 40 ° C.
This allows the user to enjoy the same taste as ordinary cigarette smoking, and does not give the user a sense of discomfort.

If the user releases the pushing of the ignition button 36 after the above-mentioned suction of the flavor producing product A once, the combustion in the flame hood 28 is stopped. Therefore,
The top shell 24, the tube holder 42 and the flavor product A are not overheated. Combustible gas as fuel is cheaper than electric heating, and the tank shell 1
Even if only the amount of the liquefied combustible gas charged in 6, the number of times of combustion can be sufficiently ensured.

The mechanism required for supplying the combustible gas and igniting the same can employ a mechanism similar to a general gas lighter, so that the mechanism can be simplified and can be provided at low cost. Further, since the tube holder 42 is inclined upward, it is easy to hold the mouth end of the flavor product A while holding the unit casing 10 vertically, and thus the unit casing 10 is vertically In the posture, the pushing operation of the ignition button 36 can be easily performed. If the inclination angle α of the tube holder 42 exceeds 60 °, the user is likely to receive the heat exhausted from the exhaust port of the unit casing 10, that is, the slit lid 27 when the flavor product A is sucked. Inclination angle α
Is smaller than 10 °, the gripping level of the unit casing 10 with respect to the mouth of the user at the time of inhalation becomes too high, and the burden on the user increases.

In the above-described embodiment, the liquefiable combustible gas in the tank shell 16 is refillable. However, the tank shell 16 itself may be replaced with a new tank shell. In addition, the ignition of the combustible gas is not limited to the ignition method of the combination of the piezoelectric element and the ignition electrode, and may be of the flint type, and the ignition button 36 is not only of the push-down type but also of the push-in type. There may be.

When the heater unit is applied to the flavor producing product A of FIG. 5, the heater unit can be provided with a heat-resistant stop disk 48 at the inner end of the tube holder 42 as shown in FIG. The stop disc 48 has a plurality of cutouts 50 communicating with the vertical grooves 44 of the tube holder 42 on the outer peripheral edge, and a center portion thereof is in close contact with the front end face of the flavor producing product A and closes the front end face. It has become. That is, as shown in FIG.
When the flavor product A is inserted into 2, the tip of the flavor product A comes into close contact with the stopper disc 48,
It functions as the stopper 46 described above. In this case, the air heated in the temperature raising chamber 25 is guided to the outer peripheral surface of the flavor product A through the vertical groove 44 of the tube holder 42, and can flow into the flavor product A only from this outer peripheral surface. . In this case, the flame due to the combustion of the combustible gas may directly heat the stop disk 48.

In the case of the heater unit shown in FIG. 7, this heater unit is provided in the heating chamber 25 of the top shell 24.
2 are provided separately. The heating chamber 52 is secured by a heat-resistant cover 54 fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the top shell 24. The cover 54 hermetically covers the inner end opening of the tube holder 42 facing the inside of the temperature raising chamber 25. I have.
In this case, a hollow cylindrical heat transfer cover 56 is provided instead of the above-described heat shield cover 40, and a plurality of thin tubes 58 are wound around the outer peripheral wall of the heat transfer cover 56. One end of each of the thin tubes 58 penetrates the outer peripheral wall of the top shell 24 and is connected to the outside air, and the other end thereof penetrates the cover 54 and communicates with the heating chamber 52. In this case, the above-described air supply hole 27 is connected to the inside of the heat transfer cover 56 via the communication pipe 60.

According to the heater unit shown in FIG.
It is possible to perform heat exchange between the heated air in 5 and the outside air guided into the heating chamber 52 through the thin tube 58, and the outside air heated by this heat exchange causes the front end surface of the flavor product A and its It is guided to at least one of the outer peripheral surfaces. Therefore,
When the user sucks in the flavor product A, the heated air in the heating chamber 25, that is, the combustion gas is not supplied to the flavor product A, and the flavor generated from the flavor product A is inhibited by the combustion gas. Never.

Finally, in implementing the present invention, it is of course possible to arbitrarily combine the configurations of the above-described embodiments.

[0032]

As described above, according to the heater unit for the non-burning type flavor product of the first aspect, the non-burning type flavor product is heated by utilizing the combustion of the fuel. In addition to simplifying the configuration of the heating source, the heating source can be provided at a low cost, and since the combustion of fuel is performed only when the ignition button is operated, a non-combustible flavor product is not required. It does not continue to be heated as desired, nor does the flavor product and the heater unit overheat.

According to the second and third heater units,
Since the heated air in the temperature raising chamber is guided to at least one of the front end surface and the outer peripheral surface of the flavor product, the flavor product can be effectively heated. According to the heater unit of the fourth aspect, since the tube holder is inclined upward, it is easy for the user to grip the flavor-producing product. There is no inhalation of combustion gas through the product.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heater unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heater unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a tube holder in the heater unit of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a flavor producing product.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a flavor product.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified example of the tube holder.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration for heat exchange in a heater unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Unit casing 12 Fuel tank part 14 Ignition combustion part 32 Gas ejection nozzle 34 Ignition electrode 36 Ignition button 42 Tube holder 44 Vertical groove 48 Stop disk 52 Heating chamber 58 Thin tube A Flavoring product

Claims (5)

[Claims] A unit casing having a vertical axis, a heating chamber provided in the unit casing, a fuel chamber provided in the unit casing for storing fuel, and a fuel guided from the fuel chamber. Combustion heating means for burning in the heating chamber and heating air in the heating chamber; and a non-burning type flavor product provided in the unit casing and heated by using the heating air in the heating chamber. And a tube holder for holding the combustion heater, wherein the combustion heating means includes an ignition button for igniting the fuel only during operation. 2. The heater for a non-combustion type flavor producing product according to claim 1, wherein the tube holder guides heated air in the heating chamber to an outer peripheral surface of the non-combustion type flavor production product. unit. 3. The heater for a non-combustion type flavor producing product according to claim 1, wherein the tube holder guides heated air in the heating chamber only to an outer peripheral surface of the non-combustion type flavor production product. unit. 4. The heater unit for a non-combustible flavor product according to claim 1, wherein the tube holder is inclined upward with respect to a longitudinal axis of the case. 5. A heat exchanging means for exchanging heat with heated air in the heating chamber, wherein the heat exchanging means directs outside air heated by the heat exchange to the non-burning type flavor producing product in the tube holder. The heater unit for a non-burning type flavor product according to claim 1, wherein the heater unit can be supplied by heating.