AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE AND AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0046265, filed on Apr. 4, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to an aerosol generating article capable of increasing the amount of volatile flavorings delivered to a user and an aerosol generating system including the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for an alternative method of overcoming disadvantages of general cigarettes. For example, there has been an increasing demand for a system that generates an aerosol by heating a cigarette (or “an aerosol-generating article”) by using an aerosol-generating device, other than a method of generating an aerosol by burning the cigarette.

Aerosol generating articles may include flavorings that provide a taste of a flavor to users. Such flavorings may be included in aerosols that pass through aerosol generating articles and are delivered to the users.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure provide an aerosol generating article capable of increasing the amount of volatile flavorings delivered to a user and an aerosol generating system including the same.

In addition, embodiments of the disclosure provide an aerosol generating article capable of reducing the possibility of leakage of volatile flavorings and an aerosol generating system including the same.

The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned description, and other technical problems may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the attached drawings.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating article includes a tobacco rod including an aerosol generating material, a cooling rod located downstream of the tobacco rod and including a hollow, and a filter rod including a volatile flavoring. The filter rod includes a first filter portion connected upstream of the tobacco rod and a second filter portion disposed between the tobacco rod and the cooling rod. A first content of the volatile flavoring included in the first filter portion is greater than a second content of the volatile flavoring included in the second filter portion.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating system includes an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment, a cartridge including an accommodation portion configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article, a chamber configured to communicate with the accommodation portion, a storage storing an aerosol generating material and connected to the chamber, and a heating portion disposed in the chamber and configured to receive and heat the aerosol generating material, and an aerosol generating device main body including a battery configured to supply power to the heating portion of the cartridge, and a control unit configured to control the power supplied from the battery to the heating portion, and to which the cartridge is separably coupled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a comparative example of an aerosol generating article;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article inserted thereinto according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article inserted thereinto according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Regarding the terms in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like. In addition, in certain cases, terms which can be arbitrarily selected by the applicant in particular cases. In such a case, the meaning of the terms will be described in detail at the corresponding portion in the description of the present disclosure. Therefore, the terms used in the various embodiments of the present disclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the descriptions provided herein.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

As used herein, when an expression such as “at least any one” precedes arranged elements, it modifies all elements rather than each arranged element. For example, the expression “at least any one of a, b, and c” should be construed to include a, b, c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

In an embodiment, an aerosol generating device may be a device that generates aerosols by electrically heating a cigarette accommodated in an interior space thereof.

The aerosol generating device may include a heater. In an embodiment, the heater may be an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater may be heated when currents flow through the electrically conductive track.

The heater may include a tube-shaped heating element, a plate-shaped heating element, a needle-shaped heating element, or a rod-shaped heating element, and may heat the inside or outside of a cigarette according to the shape of a heating element.

A cigarette may include a tobacco rod and a filter rod. The tobacco rod may be formed of sheets, strands, and tiny bits cut from a tobacco sheet. Also, the tobacco rod may be surrounded by a heat conductive material. For example, the heat conductive material may be, but is not limited to, a metal foil such as aluminum foil.

The filter rod may include a cellulose acetate filter. The filter rod may include at least one segment. For example, the filter rod may include a first segment configured to cool aerosols, and a second segment configured to filter a certain component in aerosols.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a device that generates aerosols by using a cartridge containing an aerosol generating material.

The aerosol generating device may include a cartridge that contains an aerosol generating material, and a main body that supports the cartridge. The cartridge may be detachably coupled to the main body, but is not limited thereto. The cartridge may be integrally formed or assembled with the main body, and may also be fixed to the main body so as not to be detached from the main body by a user. The cartridge may be mounted on the main body while accommodating an aerosol generating material therein. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. An aerosol generating material may also be injected into the cartridge while the cartridge is coupled to the main body.

The cartridge may contain an aerosol generating material in any one of various states, such as a liquid state, a solid state, a gaseous state, a gel state, or the like. The aerosol generating material may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material.

The cartridge may be operated by an electrical signal or a wireless signal transmitted from the main body to perform a function of generating aerosols by converting the phase of an aerosol generating material inside the cartridge into a gaseous phase. The aerosols may refer to a gas in which vaporized particles generated from an aerosol generating material are mixed with air.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may generate aerosols by heating a liquid composition, and generated aerosols may be delivered to a user through a cigarette. That is, the aerosols generated from the liquid composition may move along an airflow passage of the aerosol generating device, and the airflow passage may be configured to allow aerosols to be delivered to a user by passing through a cigarette.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a device that generates aerosols from an aerosol generating material by using an ultrasonic vibration method. At this time, the ultrasonic vibration method may mean a method of generating aerosols by converting an aerosol generating material into aerosols with ultrasonic vibration generated by a vibrator.

The aerosol generating device may include a vibrator, and generate a short-period vibration through the vibrator to convert an aerosol generating material into aerosols. The vibration generated by the vibrator may be ultrasonic vibration, and the frequency band of the ultrasonic vibration may be in a frequency band of about 100 kHz to about 3.5 MHZ, but is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device may further include a wick that absorbs an aerosol generating material. For example, the wick may be arranged to surround at least one area of the vibrator, or may be arranged to contact at least one area of the vibrator.

As a voltage (for example, an alternating voltage) is applied to the vibrator, heat and/or ultrasonic vibrations may be generated from the vibrator, and the heat and/or ultrasonic vibrations generated from the vibrator may be transmitted to the aerosol generating material absorbed in the wick. The aerosol generating material absorbed in the wick may be converted into a gaseous phase by heat and/or ultrasonic vibrations transmitted from the vibrator, and as a result, aerosols may be generated.

For example, the viscosity of the aerosol generating material absorbed in the wick may be lowered by the heat generated by the vibrator, and as the aerosol generating material having a lowered viscosity is granulated by the ultrasonic vibrations generated from the vibrator, aerosols may be generated, but is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device is a device that generates aerosols by heating an aerosol generating article accommodated in the aerosol generating device in an induction heating method.

The aerosol generating device may include a susceptor and a coil. In an embodiment, the coil may apply a magnetic field to the susceptor. As power is supplied to the coil from the aerosol generating device, a magnetic field may be formed inside the coil. In an embodiment, the suspector may be a magnetic body that generates heat by an external magnetic field. As the suspector is positioned inside the coil and a magnetic field is applied to the suspector, the suspector generates heat to heat an aerosol generating article. In addition, optionally, the suspector may be positioned within the aerosol generating article.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may further include a cradle.

The aerosol generating device may configure a system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle may charge a battery of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, the heater may be heated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device are coupled to each other.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown such that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily work the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be implemented in a form that can be implemented in the aerosol generating devices of the various embodiments described above or may be implemented in various different forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating article 5 may include a tobacco rod 51, a filter rod 52, and a cooling rod 53. The filter rod 52 may include a first filter portion 521, a second filter portion 522, and a third filter portion 523.

The tobacco rod 51, the filter rod 52, and the cooling rod 53 may be disposed in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 5. Specifically, the first filter portion 521, the tobacco rod 51, the second filter portion 522, the cooling rod 53, and the third filter portion 523 may be sequentially disposed in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating article 5.

The tobacco rod 51 may include an aerosol generating material. The tobacco rod 51 may include an aerosol generating material including nicotine. In addition, the tobacco rod 51 may include a tobacco material. The tobacco material may be in the form of a tobacco strand, a tobacco particle, a tobacco sheet, a tobacco bead, a tobacco granule, tobacco powder, or tobacco extract, but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the tobacco rod 51 may include a plurality of tobacco granules. The tobacco granule may be a particle having a diameter of about 100 μm to about 2,000 μm. The tobacco granule may be prepared by extruding a mixture of tobacco leaf powder, a pH adjuster, and a solvent.

The pH adjuster may convert nicotine salt present in the tobacco rod 51 in a salt state into freebase nicotine by alkalizing the tobacco rod 51.

The freebase nicotine may mean neutral nicotine that has not been protonated. For example, when a strong base, such as ammonia, is added to positively charged nicotine salt, the strong base is converted into a cation, and the nicotine salt may become freebase nicotine, which is in a neutral state.

In nature, nicotine exists as nicotine salt such as nicotine malate and nicotine citrate, and because the nicotine salt has a relatively high boiling point, the nicotine salt needs to be heated to a temperature of at least 120° C. or higher to generate nicotine vapor.

On the other hand, the freebase nicotine has a relatively low boiling point and high volatility compared to the nicotine salt. Therefore, when the content of freebase nicotine in a tobacco medium is high, the freebase nicotine may generate nicotine vapor under heating conditions at a relatively low temperature.

Therefore, as hot aerosol vapor generated in an aerosol generating device described below passes through the tobacco rod 51, nicotine vapor may be generated in the tobacco rod 51 including the freebase nicotine converted from nicotine.

According to an embodiment, the tobacco rod 51 may include an empty space 51a (hollow) to include a plurality of tobacco granules. Accordingly, because the volatile flavoring included in the first filter portion 521 may easily pass through the tobacco rod 51 including the empty space 51a, a large amount of flavorings may be delivered to the user. In the disclosure, the empty space 51a is a space formed inside the tobacco rod 51 and may be referred to as a granular cavity.

The tobacco rod 51 may be manufactured in various ways. As an embodiment, the tobacco rod 51 may be manufactured in a form including a tubular structure such as a paper tube. However, the scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto, and the tobacco rod 51 may be manufactured in any way as long as the tobacco rod 51 may be filled with tobacco granules.

The tobacco rod 51 may be extended to have a length of 12 mm or more and 16 mm or less in a longitudinal direction. However, the length of the tobacco rod 51 is not limited thereto, and the length of the tobacco rod 51 may be appropriately adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The first filter portion 521 is a filter segment connected to the tobacco rod 51 and may be located upstream of the tobacco rod 51. The first filter portion 521 may perform a function of preventing the tobacco granules from being separated from the tobacco rod 51. In addition, when the aerosol generating article 5 is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the first filter portion 521 may allow the tobacco rod 51 to be disposed in an appropriate position in the aerosol generating device. In addition, the first filter portion 521 may prevent the tobacco rod 51 from escaping to the outside, and may prevent a liquefied aerosol from the tobacco rod 51 from flowing into the aerosol generating device during smoking.

In the disclosure, “upstream” may be a direction from the cooling rod 53 toward the tobacco rod 51, and “downstream” may be a direction from the tobacco rod 51 toward the cooling rod 53.

The first filter portion 521 may be manufactured to generate flavor. In an embodiment, a volatile flavoring may be included in the first filter portion 521, and a separate fiber including the volatile flavoring may be inserted into the first filter portion 521. Accordingly, when the user inhales an aerosol, the volatile flavoring included in the first filter portion 521 may pass through the tobacco rod 51, the second filter portion 522, the cooling rod 53, and the third filter portion 523 to be delivered to the user.

In an embodiment, the volatile flavoring may include at least one of menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, or a moisturizer, but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the first filter portion 521 may be a cellulose acetate filter. For example, a filter material may include a fiber bundle in which cellulose acetate fiber strands are aggregated.

The first filter portion 521 may include a material suitable for a heating type aerosol generating device. The first filter portion 521 may include a paper material. In other words, the first filter portion 521 may include a paper filter. A heat-resistant paper material may melt or contract when in contact with an internal heating element of the aerosol generating device, which may greatly alleviate separation of tobacco granules.

The paper material may be disposed in the longitudinal direction to secure a smooth airflow path. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In addition, the first filter portion 521 may include a water-resistant or oil-resistant paper material. In this case, a problem of a visible reduction in the amount of atomization may be greatly alleviated.

Meanwhile, physical properties of the paper material included in the first filter portion 521 may vary.

The first filter portion 521 may be extended to have a length of 3 mm or more and 12 mm or less in the longitudinal direction. However, the length of the first filter portion 521 is not limited thereto, and the length of the first filter portion 521 may be appropriately adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by one of skill in the art.

There is no limitation on the shape of the first filter portion 521. For example, the first filter portion 521 may be a cylinder type rod or a tube type rod including a hollow inside. Alternatively, the first filter portion 521 may be a recess type rod including a hollow having an open end.

The second filter portion 522 is a filter segment connected to the tobacco rod 51 and may be located downstream of the tobacco rod 51. The second filter portion 522 may perform a function of preventing the tobacco granules from being separated from the tobacco rod 51. In addition, when the aerosol generating article 5 is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the second filter portion 522 may allow the tobacco rod 51 to be disposed in an appropriate position in the aerosol generating device. In addition, the second filter portion 522 may prevent the tobacco rod 51 from escaping to the outside, and may prevent a liquefied aerosol from the tobacco rod 51 from flowing into the aerosol generating device during smoking.

The second filter portion 522 may further perform filtration and cooling functions on an aerosol.

The second filter portion 522 may be manufactured to generate flavor. In an embodiment, a volatile flavoring may be included in the second filter portion 522, and a separate fiber including the volatile flavoring may be inserted into the second filter portion 522. Accordingly, when the user inhales the aerosol, the volatile flavoring included in the second filter portion 522 may pass through the cooling rod 53 and the third filter portion 523 to be delivered to the user.

In an embodiment, the volatile flavoring may include at least one of menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, or a moisturizer, but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the second filter portion 522 may be a cellulose acetate filter. For example, a filter material may include a fiber bundle in which cellulose acetate fiber strands are aggregated.

The second filter portion 522 may include a material suitable for a heating type aerosol generating device. The second filter portion 522 may include a paper material. In other words, the second filter portion 522 may include a paper filter. A heat-resistant paper material may melt or contract when in contact with an internal heating element, which may greatly alleviate separation of tobacco granules.

The paper material may be disposed in the longitudinal direction to secure a smooth airflow path. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In addition, the second filter portion 522 may include a water-resistant or oil-resistant paper material. In this case, a problem of a visible reduction in the amount of atomization may be greatly alleviated.

Meanwhile, physical properties of the paper material included in the second filter portion 522 may vary.

The second filter portion 522 may be extended to have a length of 3 mm or more and 8 mm or less in the longitudinal direction. However, the length of the second filter portion 522 is not limited thereto, and the length of the second filter portion 522 may be appropriately adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by one of skill in the art.

There is no limitation on the shape of the second filter portion 522. For example, the second filter portion 522 may be a cylinder type rod or a tube type rod including a hollow inside. Alternatively, the second filter portion 522 may be a recess type rod including a hollow having an open end.

The third filter portion 523 may filter some components included in an aerosol passing through the third filter portion 523. The third filter portion 523 may include a filter material. For example, the third filter portion 523 may be a cellulose acetate filter. The third filter portion 523 may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow.

The third filter portion 523 may be manufactured to generate flavor. In an embodiment, a volatile flavoring may be included in the third filter portion 523, and a separate fiber including the volatile flavoring may be inserted into the third filter portion 523. Accordingly, when the user inhales the aerosol, the volatile flavoring included in the third filter portion 523 may be delivered to the user.

In an embodiment, the volatile flavoring may include at least one of menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, or a moisturizer, but is not limited thereto.

In addition, at least one capsule may be included in the third filter portion 523. Here, the capsule may generate a flavor or an aerosol. For example, the capsule may have a structure in which a liquid including a fragrance is wrapped with a film. The capsule may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

The third filter portion 523 may be extended to have a length of 10 mm or more and 16 mm or less in the longitudinal direction. The third filter portion 523 may extend to have a length of 13 mm in the longitudinal direction. However, the length of the third filter portion 523 is not limited thereto, and the length of the third filter portion 523 may be appropriately adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by one of skill in the art.

There is no limitation on the shape of the third filter portion 523. For example, the third filter portion 523 may be a cylinder type rod or a tube type rod including a hollow inside. Alternatively, the third filter portion 523 may be a recess type rod including a hollow having an open end. When the third filter portion 523 includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may be manufactured in a different shape.

The cooling rod 53 may cool the aerosol generated in the tobacco rod 51. The cooling rod 53 may include a biodegradable polymer material and may have a cooling function. For example, the cooling rod 53 may include a polylactic acid (PLA) fiber, but is not limited thereto.

Alternatively, the cooling rod 53 may include a cellulose acetate filter. However, the cooling rod 53 is not limited to the above-described examples, and a material that performs the function of cooling an aerosol may correspond to this without limitation.

The cooling rod 53 may be connected to the tobacco rod 51. In an embodiment, the cooling rod 53 may be connected to the tobacco rod 51 through the second filter portion 522.

In an embodiment, the cooling rod 53 may be a tube filter including a hollow 53a or a paper tube including paper.

At least one hole (not shown) may be formed in an outer surface of the cooling rod 53. The at least one hole may be formed in a circumferential direction of the cooling rod 53 to form one or more columns. The at least one hole may allow external air to be introduced into the cooling rod 53. The external air introduced into the cooling rod 53 may be mixed with a high-temperature aerosol generated in the tobacco rod 51 to cool the aerosol.

The cooling rod 53 may be extended to have a length of 10 mm or more and 14 mm or less in the longitudinal direction. The cooling rod 53 may extend to have a length of 12 mm in the longitudinal direction. However, the length of the cooling rod 53 is not limited thereto, and the length of the cooling rod 53 may be appropriately adjusted within a range that may be easily changed by one of skill in the art.

Although not shown, the aerosol generating article 5 may be packaged by using at least one wrapper. The wrapper may have at least one hole through which external air may be introduced or internal gas may be discharged. As an example, the aerosol generating article 5 may be packaged by one wrapper. As another example, the aerosol generating article 5 may be overlappingly packaged by two or more wrappers. For example, the tobacco rod 51 may be packaged by a first wrapper, the first filter portion 521, the second filter portion 522, and the third filter portion 523 may be packaged by second to fourth wrappers, and the cooling rod 53 may be packaged by a fifth wrapper. In addition, the entire aerosol generating article 5 may be repackaged by a single wrapper.

Hereinafter, to improve the amount of flavorings delivered to the user, a structure of a segment of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and experimental examples. First, a structure of an aerosol generating article according to the comparative example will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a comparative example of an aerosol generating article 7.

Referring to FIG. 2, the aerosol generating article 7 may include a tobacco rod 71 and a filter rod 72. In addition, the filter rod 72 may include a first filter portion 721 and a second filter portion 722.

The tobacco rod 71 may include a plurality of tobacco granules. The tobacco granule may be prepared by extruding a mixture of tobacco leaf powder, a pH adjuster, and a solvent. The pH adjuster may convert nicotine salt present in the tobacco rod 71 in a salt state into freebase nicotine by alkalizing the tobacco rod 71.

The first filter portion 721 and the second filter portion 722 may be disposed with the tobacco rod 71 disposed therebetween. Each of the first filter portion 721 and the second filter portion 722 may be manufactured to generate flavor.

Meanwhile, in the comparative example, the tobacco rod 71 may include a fiber bundle in which cellulose acetate fiber strands are aggregated, and the fiber bundle may increase the transfer amount of nicotine by allowing the freebase nicotine released from tobacco granules to be located on the tobacco rod 71.

In this regard, the fiber bundle of the tobacco rod 71 may filter a volatile flavoring included in the first filter portion 721, thereby reducing the amount of the flavorings delivered to a user. In particular, when direct heating of the aerosol generating article 7 is not achieved, the fiber bundle of the tobacco rod 71 may significantly reduce the amount of flavorings delivered to the user.

According to an embodiment, the tobacco rod 51 may include the empty space 51a, and tobacco granules may be filled in the empty space 51a. Accordingly, the volatile flavoring included in the first filter portion 521 may easily pass through the tobacco rod 51 including the empty space 51a, and thus the user may inhale a large amount of flavorings.

In addition, compared to the comparative example, the aerosol generating article 5 further includes the cooling rod 53 having the hollow 53a, thereby increasing the transfer amount of volatile flavorings through the hollow 53a.

The effect described above may be proved by Experiment 1 which compares the transfer amount of volatile flavorings using the aerosol generating article 5 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the transfer amount of volatile flavorings using the aerosol generating article 7 according to the comparative example shown in FIG. 2.

[Experiment 1]

First, the aerosol generating article 5 according to an embodiment in which a certain amount of menthol is included in a filter rod and the aerosol generating article 7 according to the comparative example are prepared.

Next, the transfer amounts of menthol generated in the aerosol generating article 5 according to an embodiment and the aerosol generating article 7 according to the comparative examples are measured using the aerosol generating device 1 shown below in FIG. 3.

Next, the experiment is repeated by changing the amount of menthol included in the filter rod, and the transfer amount of menthol is recorded.

	TABLE 1
	Total content of	Transfer amount of	Menthol
	menthol per article	menthol per certain puff	transfer
	(mg/article)	(mg/14puff)	rate (%)

Comparative	7.80	0.42	5.4
example
Embodiment	7.00	0.77	11.0

	TABLE 2
	Total content of	Transfer amount of	Menthol
	menthol per article	menthol per certain puff	transfer
	(mg/article)	(mg/14puff)	rate (%)

Comparative	8.53	0.51	6.0
example
Embodiment	8.12	0.99	12.2

	TABLE 3
	Total content of	Transfer amount of	Menthol
	menthol per article	menthol per certain puff	transfer
	(mg/article)	(mg/14puff)	rate (%)

Comparative	11.80	0.90	7.6
example
Embodiment	11.00	1.43	13.0

	TABLE 4
	Total content of	Transfer amount of	Menthol
	menthol per article	menthol per certain puff	transfer
	(mg/article)	(mg/14puff)	rate (%)

Comparative	13.00	1.04	8.0
example
Embodiment	12.00	1.62	13.5

	TABLE 5
	Total content of	Transfer amount of	Menthol
	menthol per article	menthol per certain puff	transfer
	(mg/article)	(mg/14puff)	rate (%)

Comparative	13.70	0.96	7.0
example
Embodiment	13.00	1.82	14.0

In Tables 1 to 5 above, the total content of menthol per article means the total content of menthol included in the aerosol generating article 5 according to the embodiment and the aerosol generating article 7 according to the comparative example. That is, the total content of menthol per article means the total content of menthol included in the filter rod 52 of the aerosol generating article 5 according to the embodiment and the filter rod 72 of the aerosol generating article 7 according to the comparative example.

In Tables 1 to 5 above, the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff means the total transfer amount of menthol delivered to the user when the user inhales an aerosol generating article by a certain number of times (14 times).

In addition, the transfer rate of menthol in Tables 1 to 5 above means that a ratio of the total content of menthol included in an article to the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff is described as a percentage. In other words, in the embodiment, the transfer rate of the menthol is expressed as, in a percentage, a value obtained by dividing the amount of volatile flavorings that have passed through the third filter portion 523 by the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 52, and in the comparative example, the transfer rate of the menthol is expressed as, in a percentage, a value obtained by dividing the amount of volatile flavorings that have passed through the second filter portion 722 by the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 72.

It may be seen in Tables 1 to 5 above that, although the total content of menthol included in the aerosol generating article 7 according to the comparative example is greater than the total content of menthol included in the aerosol generating article 5 according to the embodiment, the transfer amount of menthol and the transfer rate of menthol are greater the embodiment. This is because, as described above, the volatile flavoring included in the first filter portion 521 may easily pass through the tobacco rod 51 including the empty space 51a and the cooling rod 53 having the hollow 53a.

In addition, the first filter portion 521 and the second filter portion 522 may be disposed with the tobacco rod 51 including the empty space 51a disposed therebetween such that the freebase nicotine released from the tobacco granules is located on the tobacco rod 71. That is, unlike before, because the tobacco rod 51 includes the empty space 51a filled with the tobacco granules, the empty space 51a have no configurations for allowing the freebase nicotine to be located, but because the first filter portion 521 and the second filter portion 522 perform such a function, the transfer amount of nicotine may also be guaranteed.

Hereinafter, to improve the amount of flavorings delivered to the user, various embodiments of the content of volatile flavorings included in the aerosol generating article according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the experimental examples.

According to an embodiment, a first content of volatile flavorings included in the first filter portion 521 may be greater than a second content of volatile flavorings included in the second filter portion 522. Accordingly, compared to the comparative example in which the first content is less than the second content, the transfer amount of menthol may be improved. The effect may be proven in Experiment 2 below.

[Experiment 2]

First, an aerosol generating article (embodiment) having the first content greater than the second content and an aerosol generating article (comparative example) having the first content less than the second content are prepared. In this regard, in the embodiment and the comparative example, the total content of menthol may be the same as 12 mg/article, and the total content of menthol included in the third filter portion 523 may be the same as 2 mg.

Next, the transfer amount of menthol generated from the prepared aerosol generating article is measured using the aerosol generating device 1 shown below in FIG. 3.

	TABLE 6
	First	Second	Transfer amount of	Menthol
	content	content	menthol per certain	transfer
	(mg/article)	(mg/article)	puff (mg/14puff)	rate (%)

Comparative	4.0	6.0	1.12	9.3
example
Embodiment	6.0	4.0	1.62	13.5

In Table 6 above, the first content refers to the total content of menthol included in the first filter portion 521, and the second content refers to the total content of menthol included in the second filter portion 522.

In Table 6 above, the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff refers to the total transfer amount of menthol delivered to the user when the user inhales the aerosol generating article by a certain number of times (14 times).

In addition, the transfer rate of menthol in Table 6 above means that a ratio of the total content of menthol included in the article to the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff is described as a percentage. That is, the transfer rate of the menthol is expressed as, in a percentage, a value obtained by dividing the amount of volatile flavorings that have passed through the third filter portion 523 by the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 52.

It may be seen in Table 6 above that, although the filter rod 52 includes the same amount of menthol in the comparative example and the embodiment, the transfer rate of menthol is greater in the embodiment in which the first content is greater than the second content. That is, the more the volatile flavorings included in an upstream of the tobacco rod 51, the greater the amount of menthol passing through the third filter portion 523.

In general, a volatile flavoring in a region far from a part where the user's mouth contacts tends to volatilize before reaching the user rather than a volatile flavoring in a region close to a part where the user's mouth contacts. Therefore, according to an embodiment, a large amount of volatile flavorings is included in the upstream of the tobacco rod 51 which is a region far from a part where the user's mouth contacts, and thus the overall transfer rate of volatile flavorings may be increased.

In an embodiment, the volume of the first filter portion 521 may be greater than the volume of the second filter portion 522. Accordingly, a larger amount of volatile flavorings may be included in the first filter portion 521.

According to an embodiment, the second content of the volatile flavorings included in the second filter portion 522 may be greater than the third content of the volatile flavorings included in the third filter portion 523. Accordingly, compared to the comparative example in which the second content is less than the third content, the transfer amount of menthol may be improved. The effect may be proven in Experiment 3 below.

[Experiment 3]

First, an aerosol generating article (embodiment) having the second content greater than the third content and an aerosol generating article (comparative example) having the second content less than the third content are prepared. In this case, in the embodiment and the comparative example, the total content of menthol may be the same as 12 mg/article, and the total content of menthol included in the first filter portion 521 may be the same as 6 mg.

Next, the transfer amount of menthol generated from the prepared aerosol generating article is measured using the aerosol generating device 1 shown below in FIG. 3.

	TABLE 7
	Second	Third	Transfer amount of	Menthol
	content	content	menthol per certain	transfer
	(mg/article)	(mg/article)	puff (mg/14puff)	rate (%)

Comparative	2.0	4.0	1.19	9.9
example
Embodiment	4.0	2.0	1.62	13.5

In Table 7 above, the second content refers to the total content of the menthol included in the second filter portion 522, and the third content refers to the total content of the menthol included in the third filter portion 523.

In Table 7 above, the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff refers to the total transfer amount of menthol delivered to the user when the user inhales the aerosol generating article by a certain number of times (14 times).

In addition, the transfer rate of menthol in Table 7 above means that a ratio of the total content of menthol included in the article to the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff is described as a percentage. That is, the transfer rate of the menthol is expressed as, in a percentage, a value obtained by dividing the amount of volatile flavorings that have passed through the third filter portion 523 by the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 52.

It may be seen in Table 7 above that, although the filter rod 52 includes the same amount of menthol in the comparative example and the embodiment, the transfer rate of menthol is greater in the embodiment in which the second content is greater than the third content. That is, the more the volatile flavorings included in an upstream of the cooling rod 53, the greater the amount of menthol passing through the third filter portion 523.

In addition, compared to the comparative example of Table 7 above with the comparative example of Table 6, it may be seen that the more the volatile flavorings included in the upstream of the tobacco rod 51, the greater the amount of menthol passing through the third filter portion 523.

In general, a volatile flavoring in a region far from a part where the user's mouth contacts tends to volatilize before reaching the user rather than a volatile flavoring in a region close to a part where the user's mouth contacts. Therefore, according to an embodiment, a large amount of volatile flavorings is included in the upstream of the tobacco rod 51 which is a region far from a part where the user's mouth contacts, and thus the overall transfer rate of volatile flavorings may be increased.

According to an embodiment, the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 52 may be 11.1 mg or more and 13.0 mg or less. In this regard, the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 52 may be 1.3 mg/mm or more and 1.52 mg/mm or less with respect to the length of the filter rod 52. The total content of volatile flavorings included in filter rod 52 may be 10 mg or 1.4 mg/mm.

In an embodiment, the first content may be in a range of 5.7 mg or more and 6.5 mg or less. In this case, the first content may be in a range of 0.55 mg/mm to 0.65 mg/mm with respect to the length of the first filter portion 521. For example, the first content may be 6.0 mg or 0.60 mg/mm.

In the range of the first content, the transfer rate of volatile flavorings included in the first filter portion 521 may increase, the taste of flavor may be improved, and the possibility of leakage of volatile flavorings included in the first filter portion 521 may decrease. This may be proved by Experiment 4 below.

[Experiment 4]

First, aerosol generating articles 5 each including the first filter portion 521 having different contents of menthol are prepared.

Next, the transfer rate of menthol, the taste of flavor, and whether leakage from the first filter portion 521 occurs are recorded using the aerosol generating device 1 shown below in FIG. 3 while changing the aerosol generating articles 5.

In this regard, the contents of the menthol included in the second filter portion 522 and the third filter portion 523 are maintained at 4 mg and 2 mg, respectively.

TABLE 8
			Transfer
		Menthol	amount of
	First	Total	menthol per	Menthol
Experimental	content	content	certain puff	transfer	Taste	Occurrence
Example	(mg)	(mg)	(mg/14puff)	rate (%)	of flavor	of leakage

1	4.2	10.2	0.50	4.9	Low	No
						occurrence
2	5.0	11.0	0.75	6.8	Low	No
						occurrence
3	5.6	11.6	0.92	7.9	Medium	No
						occurrence
4	5.7	11.7	1.51	12.9	High	No
						occurrence
5	6.0	12	1.62	13.5	High	No
						occurrence
6	6.5	12.5	1.71	13.68	High	No
						occurrence
7	6.6	12.6	1.75	13.9	Medium	Occurrence
8	7.5	13.5	1.97	14.6	Low	Occurrence
9	8.5	14.5	2.22	15.3	Low	Occurrence
10	10.0	16	2.50	15.6	Low	Occurrence

In Table 8 above, the first content refers to the total content of menthol included in the first filter portion 521. In addition, the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff in Table 8 above refers to the total amount of menthol delivered to the user when the user inhales an aerosol generating article by a certain number of times (14 times). In addition, the transfer rate of menthol in Table 8 above means that a ratio of the total content of menthol included in an article to the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff is described as a percentage. That is, the transfer rate of the menthol is expressed as, in a percentage, a value obtained by dividing the amount of volatile flavorings that have passed through the third filter portion 523 by the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 52.

It may be seen in Table 8 above that the transfer rate of menthol gradually increases as the first content increases. In an embodiment, it may be seen that when the first content is 5.7 mg or more, the transfer rate of menthol increases rapidly from 7.9% to 12.9% as the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff increases rapidly from 0.92 mg to 1.51 mg.

In addition, it may be seen in Table 8 above that the taste of flavor felt by the user improves as the first content increases to 6.5 mg. However, it may be seen that when the first content exceeds 6.5 mg, the taste of flavor felt by the user is rather degraded. This is because when a predetermined or more amount of menthol is included in the first filter portion 521, a highly concentrated volatile flavoring is directly delivered to the user, which degrades the taste of flavor.

In addition, it may be seen in Table 8 above that when the first content exceeds 6.5 mg, leakage occurs in the first filter portion 521. This is because when a predetermined amount or more of menthol is included in the first filter portion 521, a menthol liquid is not completely absorbed into the fiber of the first filter portion 521.

According to an embodiment, as the first content is set in a range of 5.7 mg or more and 6.5 mg or less, as the transfer amount of volatile flavorings increases, the taste of flavor may be improved and the possibility of leakage of volatile flavorings in the first filter portion 521 may be reduced.

In an embodiment, the second content may be in a range of 3.7 mg or more and 4.3 mg or less. In this regard, the second content may be in a range of 0.62 mg/mm to 0.70 mg/mm with respect to the length of the second filter portion 522. For example, the second content may be 4.0 mg or 0.65 mg/mm.

In the range of the second content, the transfer rate of volatile flavorings included in the second filter portion 522 may increase, the taste of flavor may be improved, and the possibility of leakage of volatile flavorings included in the second filter portion 522 may decrease. This may be proved by Experiment 5 below.

[Experiment 5]

First, aerosol generating articles 5 each including the second filter portion 522 having different contents of menthol are prepared.

Next, the transfer rate of menthol, the taste of flavor, and whether leakage from the second filter portion 522 occurs are recorded using the aerosol generating device 1 shown below in FIG. 3 while changing the aerosol generating articles 5.

In this regard, the contents of the menthol included in the first filter portion 521 and the third filter portion 523 are maintained at 6 mg and 2 mg, respectively.

TABLE 9
			Transfer
		Menthol	amount of
	Second	Total	menthol per	Menthol
Experimental	content	content	certain puff	transfer	Taste of	Occurrence
Example	(mg)	(mg)	(mg/14puff)	rate (%)	flavor	of leakage

1	2.3	10.3	0.51	4.95	Low	No
						occurrence
2	2.8	10.8	0.73	6.76	Low	No
						occurrence
3	3.6	11.6	0.92	7.9	Medium	No
						occurrence
4	3.7	11.7	1.51	12.9	High	No
						occurrence
5	4.0	12.0	1.62	13.5	High	No
						occurrence
6	4.3	12.3	1.67	13.58	High	No
						occurrence
7	4.4	12.4	1.69	13.63	Medium	Occurrence
8	5.0	13.0	1.85	14.2	Low	Occurrence
9	5.2	13.2	1.89	14.3	Low	Occurrence
10	5.8	13.8	2.10	15.2	Low	Occurrence

In Table 9 above, the second content refers to the total content of menthol included in the second filter portion 522. In addition, the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff in Table 9 above refers to the total amount of menthol delivered to the user when the user inhales an aerosol generating article by a certain number of times (14 times). In addition, the transfer rate of menthol in Table 9 above means that a ratio of the total content of menthol included in an article to the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff is described as a percentage. That is, the transfer rate of the menthol is expressed as, in a percentage, a value obtained by dividing the amount of volatile flavorings that have passed through the third filter portion 523 by the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 52.

It may be seen in Table 8 above that the transfer rate of menthol gradually increases as the second content increases. In an embodiment, it may be seen that when the second content is 3.7 mg or more, the transfer rate of menthol increases rapidly from 7.9% to 12.9% as the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff increases rapidly from 0.92 mg to 1.51 mg.

In addition, it may be seen in Table 9 above that the taste of flavor felt by the user improves as the second content increases to 4.3 mg. However, it may be seen that when the second content exceeds 4.3 mg, the taste of flavor felt by the user is rather degraded. This is because when a predetermined or more amount of menthol is included in the second filter portion 522, a highly concentrated volatile flavoring is delivered to the user.

In addition, it may be seen in Table 9 above that when the second content exceeds 4.3 mg, leakage occurs in the second filter portion 522. This is because when a predetermined amount or more of menthol is included in the second filter portion 522, a menthol liquid is not completely absorbed into the fiber of the second filter portion 522.

According to an embodiment, as the second content is set in a range of 3.7 mg or more and 4.3 mg or less, as the transfer amount of volatile flavorings increases, the taste of flavor may be improved and the possibility of leakage of volatile flavorings in the second filter portion 522 may be reduced.

In an embodiment, the third content may be in a range of 1.7 mg or more and 2.3 mg or less. In this regard, the third content may be in a range of 0.13 mg/mm to 0.17 mg/mm with respect to the length of the third filter portion 523. The third content may be 2.0 mg or 0.15 mg/mm.

In the range of the third content, the transfer rate of volatile flavorings included in the third filter portion 523 may increase, the taste of flavor may be improved, and the possibility of leakage of volatile flavorings included in the third filter portion 523 may decrease. This may be proved by Experiment 6 below.

[Experiment 6]

First, aerosol generating articles 5 each including the third filter portion 523 containing different contents of menthol are prepared.

Next, the transfer rate of menthol, the taste of flavor, and whether leakage from the third filter portion 523 occurs are recorded using the aerosol generating device 1 shown below in FIG. 3 while changing the aerosol generating articles 5.

In this regard, the contents of the menthol included in the first filter portion 521 and the second filter portion 522 are maintained at 6 mg and 4 mg, respectively.

TABLE 10
			Transfer
		Menthol	amount of
	Second	Total	menthol per	Menthol
Experimental	content	content	certain puff	transfer	Taste of	Occurrence
Example	(mg)	(mg)	(mg/14puff)	rate (%)	flavor	of leakage

1	1.0	11.0	0.75	6.8	Low	No
						occurrence
2	1.5	11.5	0.90	7.8	Low	No
						occurrence
3	1.6	11.6	0.92	7.9	Medium	No
						occurrence
4	1.7	11.7	1.51	12.9	High	No
						occurrence
5	2.0	12.0	1.62	13.5	High	No
						occurrence
6	2.3	12.3	1.67	13.58	High	No
						occurrence
7	2.4	12.4	1.69	13.63	Medium	Occurrence
8	2.5	12.5	1.71	13.68	Low	Occurrence
9	3.0	13.0	1.85	14.2	Low	Occurrence
10	3.5	13.5	1.97	14.6	Low	Occurrence

In Table 10 above, the third content refers to the total content of menthol included in the third filter portion 523. In addition, the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff in Table 10 above refers to the total amount of menthol delivered to the user when the user inhales an aerosol generating article by a certain number of times (14 times). In addition, the transfer rate of menthol in Table 10 above means that a ratio of the total content of menthol included in an article to the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff is described as a percentage. That is, the transfer rate of the menthol is expressed as, in a percentage, a value obtained by dividing the amount of volatile flavorings that have passed through the third filter portion 523 by the total content of volatile flavorings included in the filter rod 52.

It may be seen in Table 10 above that the transfer rate of menthol gradually increases as the third content increases. In an embodiment, it may be seen that when the third content is 1.7 mg or more, the transfer rate of menthol increases rapidly from 7.9% to 12.9% as the transfer amount of menthol per certain puff increases rapidly from 0.92 mg to 1.51 mg.

In addition, it may be seen in Table 10 above that the taste of flavor felt by the user improves as the third content increases to 2.3 mg. However, it may be seen that when the third content exceeds 2.3 mg, the taste of flavor felt by the user is rather degraded. This is because when a predetermined or more amount of menthol is included in the third filter portion 523, a highly concentrated volatile flavoring is delivered to the user.

In addition, it may be seen in Table 10 above that when the third content exceeds 2.3 mg, leakage occurs in the third filter portion 523. This is because when a predetermined amount of menthol is included in the third filter portion 523, a menthol liquid is not completely absorbed into the fiber of the third filter portion 523.

According to an embodiment, as the third content is set in a range of 1.7 mg or more and 2.3 mg or less, as the transfer amount of volatile flavorings increases, the taste of flavor may be improved and the possibility of leakage of volatile flavorings in the third filter portion 523 may be reduced.

Hereinafter, an aerosol generating device using the aerosol generating article 5 according to an embodiment described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the aerosol generating device 5 and the aerosol generating article 5 inserted thereto according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment may include a cartridge 100, an aerosol generating device main body 200, and a cap 300. In the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment, some configurations and structures may be replaced, added or omitted within a range easily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art with reference to the following drawings and descriptions.

An aerosol generating material may be stored in the cartridge 100 and provided to a heating portion included in the cartridge 100. Accordingly, the aerosol generating material may be aerosolized by the heating portion in a chamber included in the cartridge 100. In the present specification, the term ‘aerosol’ may refer to particles generated from the mixture of air and vapor generated from a heated aerosol generating material, and the term may be used in the same meaning below. Specific descriptions of the heating portion and the chamber will be described below.

According to the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment, the aerosol generating article 5 according to an embodiment may be accommodated in the cartridge 100. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the cartridge 100 may include an accommodation portion accommodating the aerosol generating article 5, and the aerosol generated inside the cartridge 100 may pass through the aerosol generating article 5 accommodated in the accommodation portion and be discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1. In this regard, a user may contact the aerosol generating article 5 with his/her mouth and inhale the aerosol discharged to the outside of the aerosol generating device 1 through the aerosol generating article 5. The aerosol generating article 5 according to an embodiment has been described above, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The aerosol generating device main body 200 may be located in a lower portion (e.g., a portion facing-z direction) of the cartridge 100 and the cap 300 to support the cartridge 100 and the cap 300. Components for the operation of the aerosol generating device 1 may be disposed inside the aerosol generating device main body 200.

The cap 300 may be disposed to surround at least a part of the cartridge 100 and at least a part of the aerosol generating device main body 200. For example, the cap 300 may be coupled to the aerosol generating device main body 200 so as to surround the entire outer side of the cartridge 100. The cap 300 may protect the cartridge 100 and the aerosol generating device main body 200 from external impact or the introduction of external foreign substances.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the aerosol generating device 1 and the aerosol generating article 5 inserted thereto according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the aerosol generating device 1 may include the cartridge 100, the aerosol generating device main body 200, and an airflow passage 400. However, the components of the aerosol generating device 1 are not limited thereto, and at least one component may be added or at least one component (e.g., the cap 300 of FIG. 3) may be omitted according to an embodiment.

The cartridge 100 may be separably coupled to the aerosol generating device main body 200. The cartridge 100 may include a storage 110, an accommodation portion 120, and a chamber 130.

An aerosol generating material may be stored in the storage 110. The storage 110 may be connected to or fluid-connected to an inner space of a chamber 130 of the cartridge 100, and as a result, the aerosol generating material stored in the storage 110 may be introduced into the inner space of the chamber 130 of the cartridge 100.

In this regard, the aerosol generating material stored in the storage 110 may include a liquid composition including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a non-tobacco material.

According to an embodiment, the liquid composition may include any one component of water, solvents, ethanol, plant extracts, spices, flavorings, and vitamin mixtures, or a mixture of these components. The spices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit-flavored ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavorings may include ingredients capable of providing various flavors or tastes to the user. Vitamin mixtures may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, or vitamin E, but are not limited thereto. In addition, the liquid composition may include an aerosol forming substance, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

For example, the liquid composition may include any weight ratio of glycerin and propylene glycol solution to which nicotine salts are added. The liquid composition may include two or more types of nicotine salts. Nicotine salts may be formed by adding suitable acids, including organic or inorganic acids, to nicotine. Nicotine may be a naturally generated nicotine or synthetic nicotine and may have any suitable weight concentration relative to the total solution weight of the liquid composition.

Acid for the formation of the nicotine salts may be appropriately selected in consideration of the rate of nicotine absorption in the blood, the operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 1, the flavor or savor, the solubility, etc. For example, the acid for the formation of nicotine salts may be a single acid selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sorbic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, citric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phenylacetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharic acid, malonic acid or malic acid, or a mixture of two or more acids selected from the group, but is not limited thereto.

When an aerosol generating material stored in the storage 110 is depleted, a user may continue to smoke by replacing the existing cartridge 100 with a new cartridge 100. As another example, when a sufficient amount of aerosols is not generated due to the performance degradation of a component (e.g., a heating portion or a sealing portion) of the cartridge 100 or leakage of the aerosol generating material occurs, the user may replace the existing cartridge 100 with a new cartridge 100 to generate a sufficient amount of aerosols or prevent leakage of the aerosol generating material.

The aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment may enable replacement of the cartridge 100 through a structure in which the cartridge 100 is detachably coupled to the aerosol generating device main body 200. That is, the aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment may have a structure in which the storage 110 storing the aerosol generating material and the accommodation portion 120 accommodating the aerosol generating article 5 are replaced together through the replacement of the cartridge 100.

The accommodation portion 120 may accommodate the aerosol generating article 5. An inner space of the accommodation portion 120 may be spatially separated from the storage 110, and an aerosol generating material stored in the storage 110 may not be introduced into the inner space of the accommodation portion 120.

The chamber 130 may provide a space in which an aerosol is generated. The first chamber 131 may be connected to each of the storage 110 and the accommodation portion 120. A heating portion may be disposed inside the chamber 130. For example, the heating portion may include a wick that absorbs an aerosol generating material and a heating coil that heats the wick. However, the components of the heating portion are not limited thereto.

Components for the operation of the aerosol generating device 1 may be disposed inside the aerosol generating device main body 200. For example, a battery 210 and a processor 220 may be disposed in the aerosol generating device main body 200. However, the battery 210 and the processor 220 are only examples of the components disposed in the aerosol generating device main body 200, and other components (e.g., a user interface, a sensor, etc.) than the aforementioned components may be further disposed in the aerosol generating device main body 200.

The battery 210 supply power used for the operation of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the battery 210 may be electrically connected to the heating portion of the cartridge 100 and supply power to the heating portion to heat the heating portion. As another example, the battery 210 may supply power necessary for operations of other components (e.g., the processor, etc.) of the aerosol generating device 1.

The processor 220 may control general operations of the aerosol generating device 1. The processor 220 may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored, but is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the processor 220 may control the power supplied from the battery 210 to the heating portion of the aerosol generating device 1. For example, the processor 220 may control the amount and duration of the power supplied from the battery 210 to the heating portion so that the heating portion is heated to a certain temperature or maintained at a specified temperature.

The airflow passage 4600 may be path through which air and/or an aerosol moves. The airflow passage 400 may include an inlet through which external air is introduced and an outlet through which air and/or an aerosol is discharged. The airflow passage 400 may communicate the outside of the aerosol generating device 1 with the accommodation portion 120.

For example, the airflow passage 400 may be formed inside the cartridge 100. At this time, the airflow passage 400 may include a first portion extending in a direction in which the cartridge 100 extends and a second portion crossing the first portion. The first portion may communicate the outside of the aerosol generating device 1 with the chamber 130, and the second portion may communicate the chamber 130 and the accommodation portion 120.

As another example, the airflow passage 400 may be formed between the cartridge 100 and the aerosol generating device main body 200. At this time, the airflow passage 400 may extend in a direction crossing the direction in which the cartridge 100 extends.

According to an embodiment, the aerosol generated inside the cartridge 100 may transfer freebase nicotine present in the aerosol generating article 5 while passing through the accommodation portion 120 together with the external air introduced through the airflow passage 400. That is, even though a separate heating operation is not performed on the aerosol generating article 5, the freebase nicotine present in the aerosol generating article 5 may be easily delivered to a user by the flow of airflow inside the aerosol generating device 1.

In an embodiment, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a heater 500.

The heater 500 may heat the aerosol generating article 5 accommodated in the accommodation portion 120. At this time, the fluidity of nicotine and/or flavoring passing through the aerosol generating article 5 may be increased by the heat generated by the heater 500. Accordingly, at least one of a transfer amount, a transfer efficiency, or a transfer speed of the nicotine and/or the flavoring may be improved. Therefore, the amount of nicotine and/or flavoring delivered to the user may be increased.

The heater 500 may be disposed to surround the aerosol generating article 5 accommodated in the accommodation portion 120. To this end, the heater 500 may have a shape in an entirely hollow cylinder. However, the shape of the heater 500 is not limited thereto. For example, the heater 500 may include a tube-shaped heating element, a plate-shaped heating element, a needle-shaped heating element, or a rod-shaped heating element. At this time, the heater 500 may extend upward on the accommodation portion 120.

The descriptions of the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and equivalents thereof may be made. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should be defined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to those described in the claims will be construed as being included in the scope of protection defined by the claims.

The embodiments of the present disclosure described above, or other embodiments, are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. The embodiments of the present disclosure described above, or other embodiments, may be used in combination or have their respective configurations or functions integrated.

For example, this means that the A configuration described in a particular embodiment and/or drawing may be combined with the B configuration described in another embodiment and/or drawing. That is, even if a combination of configurations is not explicitly described, it means that the combination is possible unless it is explicitly stated that such a combination is impossible.

The above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in any way but should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by the reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the amount of volatile flavorings delivered to a user may be increased, and thus, a taste of flavorings given to a user may be improved.

In addition, the possibility of leakage of volatile flavorings may be reduced, and thus the cleanliness and ease of use of the aerosol generating system may be improved.

The effects of the embodiments are not limited to the aforementioned description, and other effects may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the embodiments to be described hereinafter.