Patent Description:
Several different tobacco products are currently on the market including, for instance, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, vapor pens or e-cigarettes, etc. Recently, heat-not-burn tobacco products have been under development. See, for example, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>. Such tobacco products heat the tobacco sufficiently to produce vapors, but do not burn or ignite the tobacco within the tobacco product.

Some testing systems for generally testing tobacco products have been developed. Some testing systems may measure the temperature of a heat source for determining successful ignition (or burning) of tobacco. See, for example, <CIT>. Some testing systems may simulate puffing for analyzing the smoke product produced thereby.

<CIT> discloses a testing system comprising a heater, a thermocouple and a puffing simulator, wherein the thermocouple is inserted into the tobacco product. While various testing systems for different tobacco products are known, no known testing system provides for sequential or serial testing of tobacco products for simulating a heat-not-burn tobacco product. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system for more easily and efficiently simulating a heat-not-burn tobacco product for optimizing arrangements of the heat-not-burn tobacco product.

The above and other needs are met by aspects of the present disclosure which, in a first aspect, provides a lightability and temperature profile testing system. The testing system includes a system body defining a tobacco product placement region for testing a tobacco product. The testing system includes a heater carrier movable with respect to the tobacco placement region and configured to heat a first end of a tobacco product. The testing system includes a puffing simulator configured to fluidically couple to a second end of the tobacco product within the tobacco product placement region. The puffing simulator is configured to draw air through the tobacco product thereby simulating a puff of the tobacco product. The testing system includes a thermocouple placement rig configured to selectively position one or more thermocouples in or along the tobacco product located within the tobacco product placement region. The testing system includes a drill configured extend into the system body and selectively drill one or more holes at positions within the tobacco product located within the tobacco product placement region. The testing system includes a controller communicably coupled to the heater carrier, the puffing simulator, the thermocouple placement rig and the drill. The controller is configured to execute instructions to identify, based on a configuration of the thermocouple placement rig, at least one position for drilling a hole in the tobacco product. The controller is further configured to control the drill to drill the hole at the at least one position in the tobacco product. The controller is further configured to position, via the thermocouple placement right, the one or more thermocouples in or along the tobacco product. The controller is further configured to control the puffing simulator to draw air through the tobacco product. While the puffing simulator draws air through the tobacco product, the controller is further configured to generate, based on temperature data from the thermocouples, a temperature profile for the tobacco product.

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure are set forth in more detail in the following description.

The present disclosure now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all aspects of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, the disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the aspects set forth herein; rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art, and will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Various embodiments described herein relate to a lightability and temperature profile testing system for testing a heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco product. A system body defines a tobacco product placement region for testing a tobacco product. A heater carrier may be movable with respect to the tobacco product placement region and configured to heat a first end of a tobacco product when the tobacco product is located in the tobacco product placement region. A puffing simulator is configured to fluidically couple to a second end of the tobacco product within the tobacco product placement region. The puffing simulator is configured to draw air through the tobacco product thereby simulating a puff of the tobacco product. A thermocouple placement right is configured to selectively position one or more thermocouples in or along the tobacco product located within the tobacco product placement region. A drill is configured to extend into the system body and selectively drill one or more holes at positions within the tobacco product. The thermocouple(s) are positioned on or within the tobacco product and generate data corresponding to detected temperatures of the tobacco product as the puffing simulator simulates one or more puffs. The testing system described herein may be used for optimizing a heating temperature and location of a heater with respect to the tobacco product in a HNB tobacco product, as described in greater detail below.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a testing system <NUM> is shown. The testing system <NUM> may be used for testing lightability and generating a temperature profile corresponding to a HNB tobacco product. The testing system <NUM> includes a system body <NUM>. In some embodiments, the system body <NUM> may carry, support, house, or otherwise include a heater carrier <NUM>, a puffing simulator <NUM>, a drill <NUM>, and a thermocouple placement rig <NUM>. The system body <NUM> may include or otherwise define a tobacco product placement region <NUM> for supporting a tobacco product being tested by or with the testing system <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the system body <NUM> may include a hopper <NUM>. The hopper <NUM> stores tobacco products to be tested via the testing system <NUM>. An agitator motor <NUM> coupled to an agitator <NUM> located beneath a chute <NUM> for the hopper <NUM> may rotate the agitator <NUM> to drop a tobacco product <NUM> from the chute <NUM> into a track <NUM> beneath the agitator <NUM>. A pusher motor <NUM> coupled to a pusher <NUM> may push the tobacco product <NUM> along the track <NUM> into the tobacco product placement region <NUM>. The thermocouple placement rig <NUM> positions one or more thermocouples <NUM> along or within the tobacco product <NUM> in the tobacco product placement region <NUM>. Where thermocouple(s) <NUM> are positioned within the tobacco product <NUM>, the drill <NUM> drills a hole in the tobacco product <NUM> for positioning the thermocouples <NUM> in the hole within the tobacco product <NUM>. The thermocouples <NUM> generate data corresponding to detected temperatures of the tobacco product <NUM> at various locations. The heater carrier <NUM> may be positioned at a distance from the tobacco product <NUM>, and the puffing simulator <NUM> may draw air through the tobacco product <NUM>, simulating a puff of the tobacco product <NUM>. The thermocouples <NUM> may generate data corresponding to the temperature of the tobacco product <NUM>, which may be used for analyzing various characteristics of the tobacco product <NUM>.

The testing system <NUM> may include a transfer assembly <NUM>, a testing assembly <NUM>, and a puffing simulator assembly <NUM>. In some embodiments, the transfer assembly <NUM>, the testing assembly <NUM>, and the puffing simulator assembly <NUM> are mounted, attached, fastened, or otherwise coupled to the system body <NUM>.

The transfer assembly <NUM> may include the hopper <NUM>, the agitator <NUM>, and the pusher <NUM> (and corresponding motors <NUM>, <NUM>). The hopper <NUM> stores tobacco products <NUM> to be tested. The agitator <NUM> moves tobacco products <NUM> from the hopper <NUM> (e.g., through the chute <NUM>) to the track <NUM>. The pusher <NUM> pushes a tobacco product <NUM> along the track <NUM> to the tobacco product placement region <NUM>.

The testing assembly <NUM> may include the heater carrier <NUM>, the drill <NUM>, and the thermocouple placement rig <NUM>. The heater carrier <NUM> receives energy (e.g., electrical energy, chemical energy, etc.) from an energy supply <NUM>, which is converted to heat. The heater carrier <NUM> may be selectively positioned (e.g., automatically or manually) at various distances from the tobacco product <NUM> (e.g., an end of the tobacco product <NUM> closest to tobacco contained therein). The heater carrier <NUM> thus heats the tobacco within the tobacco product <NUM>.

The thermocouple placement rig <NUM> may include a number of tracks <NUM> for positioning thermocouples <NUM>. The thermocouples <NUM> slide along the tracks <NUM> at selected positions. The thermocouples <NUM> may detect temperatures corresponding to the tobacco product <NUM>. In some instances, the thermocouples <NUM> may detect temperatures along the surface of the tobacco product <NUM> (e.g., the external surface). In some instances, the thermocouples <NUM> may detect temperatures inside the tobacco product <NUM>. Hence, some tracks <NUM> may correspond to internal temperatures, and some tracks <NUM> may correspond to external temperatures.

The drill <NUM> may selectively drill holes in the tobacco product <NUM> when a thermocouple <NUM> is located on a track <NUM> corresponding to an internal temperature. The drill <NUM> may be automatically controlled (e.g., by a controller, as described in further detail below) to drill holes in the tobacco product <NUM> at locations where the thermocouple(s) <NUM> measuring internal temperature(s) are to be positioned. The thermocouple(s) <NUM> may then be positioned inside the holes drilled by the drill <NUM> and thus measure internal temperatures of the tobacco product <NUM>.

The puffing simulator assembly <NUM> includes the puffing simulator <NUM>. The puffing simulator <NUM> may include a puffing cylinder <NUM> and a piston <NUM> disposed within the puffing cylinder <NUM>. The piston <NUM> may be controlled by a piston motor <NUM>. The piston <NUM> may move up and down within the puffing cylinder <NUM>. As the piston <NUM> moves up in the puffing cylinder <NUM>, air is drawn into the puffing cylinder <NUM>. The puffing cylinder <NUM> may be fluidically coupled to the tobacco product <NUM> in the tobacco product placement region <NUM>. The tobacco product <NUM> (which is heated by the heater carrier <NUM>) may be tested by simulating a puff of the tobacco product <NUM> by drawing air through the tobacco product <NUM>. The thermocouples <NUM> may detect temperatures of the tobacco product <NUM> inside or along the external surface of the tobacco product <NUM>.

The testing system <NUM> may include a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be or include a component or group of components configured to perform various functions for the testing system <NUM>. For instance, the controller <NUM> may include a processor and memory. The processor may be a general purpose single- or multi-chip processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or, any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor also may be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. In some embodiments, particular processes and methods may be performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.

The memory (e.g., memory, memory unit, storage device) may include one or more devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, flash memory, hard disk storage, or any other medium) for storing data and/or computer code for completing or facilitating the various processes, layers and modules described in the present disclosure. The memory may be or include volatile memory or non-volatile memory, and may include database components, object code components, script components, or any other type of information structure for supporting the various activities and information structures described in the present disclosure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the memory is communicably connected to the processor via a processing circuit and includes computer code for executing (e.g., by the processing circuit or the processor) the one or more processes described herein.

As described in greater detail below, the controller <NUM> may include a motor control system <NUM>, a guidance and control system <NUM>, and a temperature profiler <NUM>. Briefly, the motor control system <NUM> may control the various motors (e.g., agitator motor <NUM>, pusher motor <NUM>, piston motor, <NUM>, etc.). The motor control system <NUM> may sequentially control the various motors to transport the tobacco product <NUM> from the hopper <NUM> into the tobacco product placement region <NUM>, and may control the piston motor <NUM> to simulate a puff of the tobacco product <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may move the drill <NUM> into various locations to drill holes in the tobacco product <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may move the heater carrier <NUM> into various positions with respect to the tobacco product <NUM>. The temperature profiler <NUM> may receive data from the thermocouple(s) <NUM> for generating a temperature profile. The temperature profiler <NUM> may determine various characteristics for the tobacco product <NUM> and heating arrangement based on the temperature profile.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the transfer assembly <NUM> is shown in greater detail. The hopper <NUM> may include a hopper opening <NUM> at the top of the hopper <NUM>. The hopper <NUM> may include a first side plate <NUM>, a second side plate <NUM>, a front plate <NUM>, a back plate <NUM>, and the chute <NUM>. The first side plate, <NUM>, second side plate <NUM>, front plate <NUM>, back plate <NUM>, and chute <NUM> may together define a receiving compartment <NUM> for storing tobacco products <NUM>. The agitator <NUM> may be exposed to the chute <NUM> of the hopper <NUM>. The agitator <NUM> may prevent tobacco products <NUM> from exiting the receiving compartment <NUM>. Rather, the agitator <NUM> may carry tobacco products <NUM> from the receiving compartment <NUM> to the track <NUM>. The agitator <NUM> may include an exterior surface <NUM> having ridges <NUM>. The ridges <NUM> may be sized to receive a tobacco product <NUM> within the hopper <NUM>. Hence, the tobacco product <NUM> may be sandwiched between the ridges <NUM> of the agitator <NUM>.

The agitator <NUM> may be rotated by the agitator motor <NUM>. The agitator motor <NUM> may in some instances be a stepper motor, but any type of motor may be acceptable. The agitator motor <NUM> may rotate to agitator <NUM>. As the agitator rotates <NUM>, tobacco products sandwiched between the ridges <NUM> may rotate with the agitator <NUM>. The motor control system <NUM> may control the agitator motor <NUM>. In some embodiments, the motor control system <NUM> may communicate a signal to rotate the agitator motor <NUM>. For instance, the signal may be a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal. The motor control system <NUM> may communicate the signal responsive to, for instance, a user selecting an initiate testing command (e.g., on a computer communicably coupled to the controller <NUM>, on a button or other input device for the testing system <NUM>, etc.). The signal generated by the motor control system <NUM> may correspond to an amount of rotation of the agitator <NUM> for dropping a tobacco product from the hopper <NUM> into the track. For instance, the amount of rotation may be <NUM> degrees. The motor control system <NUM> may communicate the signal to the agitator motor <NUM>, and the agitator motor <NUM> may correspondingly rotate the agitator <NUM>. The agitator <NUM> may provide a tobacco product <NUM> from the hopper <NUM> to the track <NUM>. The tobacco product <NUM> may extend longitudinally with respect to (e.g., parallel to the direction of ) the track <NUM>.

The pusher <NUM> may push the tobacco product <NUM> along the track <NUM>. The pusher <NUM> may push the tobacco product <NUM> from beneath the hopper <NUM>/agitator <NUM> into the tobacco product placement region <NUM>. The pusher <NUM> may be, for instance, a linear motor, a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, etc. The pusher motor <NUM> may drive the pusher <NUM>. The pusher motor <NUM> may be controlled by the motor control system <NUM>. The motor control system <NUM> may generate a signal for the pusher motor <NUM> to drive the pusher <NUM>. In some embodiments, the motor control system <NUM> may generate the signal for the pusher motor <NUM> following generating the signal for the agitator motor <NUM>. For instance, the motor control system <NUM> may generate the signal for the pusher motor <NUM> a predetermined duration following the motor control system <NUM> generating the signal for the agitator motor <NUM>. The predetermined duration may be, at least, a duration for the agitator motor <NUM> to rotate the agitator <NUM> sufficiently to provide the tobacco product <NUM> in the track <NUM>. In some embodiments, a sensor (not shown) may be located beneath the track <NUM> for detecting when a tobacco product <NUM> is located in the track <NUM>. The sensor may be a pressure or weight sensor, a camera sensor, etc. In each of these embodiments, the motor control system <NUM> may generate a signal for the pusher motor <NUM> to drive the pusher <NUM>. The pusher <NUM> may push the tobacco product <NUM> along the track <NUM> into the tobacco product placement region <NUM>. The pusher <NUM> may extend along the track <NUM>. Referring briefly to <FIG>, the pusher <NUM> may push the tobacco product <NUM> into a receiver <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> may be connected to the puffing simulator <NUM>. When the tobacco product <NUM> engages the receiver <NUM>, the tobacco product <NUM> may be located within the tobacco product placement region <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the thermocouple placement rig <NUM> is shown in greater detail. The thermocouple placement rig <NUM> is shown to include a plurality of tracks <NUM>. As can be best seen in <FIG>, the tracks <NUM> may extend along an upper interior surface <NUM> and a lower interior surface <NUM>. The tracks <NUM> for the upper interior surface <NUM> may be aligned with corresponding tracks <NUM> in the lower interior surface <NUM>. Each track <NUM> may correspond to a particular location of a thermocouple <NUM> with respect to the tobacco product <NUM>. The thermocouples <NUM> may have ridges <NUM> in the upper and lower facing surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> (e.g., surfaces facing the upper interior surface <NUM> and lower interior surface <NUM>). The ridges <NUM> may be sized to engage the tracks <NUM>. As shown, the thermocouple placement rig <NUM> includes <NUM> tracks <NUM>. However, in some embodiments, the thermocouple placement rig <NUM> may include more or less tracks <NUM> than shown in <FIG>. Some tracks may correspond to measuring internal temperatures of the tobacco product <NUM>, and some tracks may correspond to measuring external (or surface) temperatures of the tobacco product <NUM>. The thermocouple placement rig <NUM> may have an interior thermocouple passage <NUM> defined by the upper interior surface <NUM>, lower interior surface <NUM>, and side walls <NUM>, <NUM>. The passage <NUM> may be sized to receive a thermocouple <NUM>. The passage <NUM> may include a first opening <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and a second opening <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The thermocouples <NUM> may extend outwardly from the second opening <NUM>, as can be best seen in <FIG>. The thermocouples <NUM> may extend over, onto, or into the tobacco product <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the drill <NUM> may be communicably coupled to the controller <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may generate commands or signals for the drill <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may generate signals for moving the drill <NUM> and for activating the drill <NUM>. In some embodiments, the drill <NUM> may be attached, mounted to, or otherwise coupled to various actuators. The guidance and control system <NUM> may control the various actuators to move the drill <NUM>. The actuators may provide various degrees of freedom for the drill <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may communicate control signals for the actuators to move the drill <NUM> into various locations. The guidance and control system <NUM> may move the drill <NUM> based on positions of the thermocouple(s) <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may detect the position of the various thermocouples <NUM> within the thermocouple placement rig <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may determine, based on the position of the thermocouples <NUM>, whether the thermocouples <NUM> are located in slots corresponding to internal temperatures. The guidance and control system <NUM> may detect the locations of the thermocouples <NUM> based on user-supplied settings, based on sensors within the thermocouple placement rig <NUM>, etc. The guidance and control system <NUM> may control the actuators to move the drill <NUM> for drilling holes in the tobacco product <NUM> at locations where the thermocouples <NUM> are positioned for measuring interior temperatures of the tobacco product <NUM>. When the drill <NUM> is properly positioned, the guidance and control system <NUM> may control the drill <NUM> to rotate a drill bit having a size corresponding to the temperature sensitive end <NUM> of the thermocouple <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may control the drill <NUM> to drill a hole in the tobacco product <NUM>. The guidance and control system <NUM> may push the drill bit into the tobacco product <NUM> to a depth corresponding to the temperature sensitive end <NUM> of the thermocouple <NUM>, and retract the drill bit from the tobacco product <NUM>.

The heater carrier <NUM> is configured to heat the tobacco product <NUM>. Specifically, the heater carrier <NUM> may heat a first end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM>. The first end <NUM> may be the end of the tobacco product including tobacco. The heater carrier <NUM> may be located a distance from the first end <NUM>. In some embodiments, a user may manipulate the heater carrier <NUM> to change the distance from the first end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM>. In some embodiments, the guidance and control system <NUM> may control the heater carrier <NUM> to change the distance from the first end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM> (e.g., in a manner similar to the guidance and control system <NUM> controlling the drill <NUM> described above). The distance may correspond to a distance of a heater from a tobacco product in a heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco product. In such products, tobacco is heated by a heater to an elevated temperature (e.g., a temperature sufficient to produce vapors), but less than the temperature for burning the tobacco. The heater carrier <NUM> may be manipulated to change the distance from the first end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM>. As the distance from the first end <NUM> increases, less heat is radiated from the heater carrier <NUM> onto the first end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM>. Correspondingly, as less heat is radiated onto the first end <NUM>, the less the heater heats the tobacco within the tobacco product <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the puffing simulator <NUM> may simulate one or more puffs of the tobacco product <NUM>. As briefly described above, the puffing simulator <NUM> may include a puffing cylinder <NUM> and a piston <NUM>. The puffing cylinder <NUM> may include an interior portion <NUM>. The interior portion <NUM> may include an inner diameter <NUM>. The piston <NUM> may be sized to engage the inner diameter <NUM> of the interior portion <NUM> of the puffing cylinder <NUM>. The piston <NUM> may move upwardly and downwardly within the interior portion <NUM> of the puffing cylinder <NUM>. For instance, the piston motor <NUM> may control movement of the piston <NUM> within the interior portion <NUM> of the puffing cylinder <NUM>. The piston <NUM> may be coupled to a linear shaft <NUM>. The piston motor <NUM> may rotate a gear <NUM> which engages the linear shaft <NUM>. As the gear <NUM> rotates, the linear shaft <NUM> (and the piston <NUM>) may move upwardly and downwardly within the interior portion <NUM> of the puffing cylinder <NUM>. As the piston <NUM> moves upwardly within the puffing cylinder <NUM>, air may be drawn into the puffing cylinder <NUM>. As the piston <NUM> moves downwardly within the puffing cylinder <NUM>, air may be pushed out of the puffing cylinder <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the puffing simulator <NUM> may include a diverter valve <NUM>. The diverter valve <NUM> may be fluidically coupled to the puffing cylinder <NUM>, the receiver <NUM> (of <FIG>) and an outlet. The diverter valve <NUM> may form a passage between the receiver <NUM> and the puffing cylinder <NUM> as the piston <NUM> moves upwardly within the puffing cylinder <NUM>. The diverter valve <NUM> may form a passage between the puffing cylinder <NUM> and outlet when the piston <NUM> moves downwardly within the puffing cylinder <NUM>. In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> may control the diverter valve <NUM>. The motor control system <NUM> may control the diverter valve <NUM> with the piston motor <NUM>. For instance, when the motor control system <NUM> controls the piston motor <NUM> to move the piston <NUM> upwardly within the puffing cylinder <NUM>, the motor control system <NUM> may control the diverter valve <NUM> to open the passage between the puffing cylinder <NUM> to the receiver <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> may form a seal with a second end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM>. Accordingly, as the piston <NUM> moves upwardly within the puffing cylinder <NUM>, air may be drawn through the tobacco product <NUM>, through the receiver <NUM>, and into the puffing cylinder <NUM> (e.g., via various conduits). When the motor control system <NUM> controls the piston motor <NUM> to move the piston <NUM> downwardly within the puffing cylinder <NUM>, the motor control system <NUM> may control the diverter valve <NUM> to open the passage between the puffing cylinder <NUM> to the outlet. The motor control system <NUM> may correspondingly seal off the opening to the receiver <NUM> such that air is not pushed through the tobacco product <NUM>.

Generally speaking, the heater carrier <NUM> may heat the first end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM>. The puffing simulator <NUM> may simulate one or more puffs of the tobacco product <NUM> by drawing air through the tobacco product <NUM>. The thermocouple(s) <NUM> may generate data corresponding to detected temperatures on, along, or within the tobacco product <NUM>. The thermocouple(s) <NUM> may communicate the generated data to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may include a temperature profiler <NUM>. The temperature profiler <NUM> may plot the data from the thermocouple(s) <NUM> over time.

In some embodiments, the puffing simulator <NUM> may simulate a series of puffs. Referring now to <FIG>, an example temperature profile generated using the testing system <NUM> is shown, according to an exemplary embodiment. In the example temperature profile shown in <FIG>, three thermocouples <NUM> are used for generating temperature data. A first thermocouple <NUM> is positioned in track <NUM>, a second thermocouple <NUM> is positioned in track <NUM>, and a third thermocouple <NUM> is positioned in track <NUM>. In the example shown in <FIG>, track <NUM> and track <NUM> may correspond to interior temperatures, and track <NUM> may correspond to an exterior (or surface) temperature. Track <NUM> may correspond to the temperature sensitive end <NUM> being near the second end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM>. Track <NUM> may correspond to the temperature sensitive end <NUM> being inside and towards the middle of the tobacco product <NUM>. Track <NUM> may correspond to the temperature sensitive end <NUM> being inside and towards the first end of the tobacco product <NUM> (e.g., closest to the heater carrier <NUM>). The puffing simulator <NUM> may simulate puffs, which are shown as vertically extending highlighted portions of the temperature profile.

As shown, the puffing simulator <NUM> may simulate a first series of puffs separated by a first interval (e.g., a short duration, such as one to three seconds, between puffs). The first series of puffs may simulate initial puffs for starting the tobacco product <NUM>. The puffing simulator <NUM> may then simulate a second series of puffs separate by a second interval (e.g., a longer duration, such as <NUM> - <NUM> seconds, between puffs). The second series of puffs may simulate puffs for smoking the tobacco product <NUM>. The thermocouple(s) <NUM> may generate data corresponding to temperatures in, along, or within the tobacco product <NUM>. The temperature profiler <NUM> may generate a temperature profile for the tobacco product <NUM> based on data from the thermocouple(s) <NUM> as the puffs are simulated. As can be seen, the temperature detected by the temperature sensitive end <NUM> for the thermocouple <NUM> in track <NUM> shows the temperature increasing with every puff, which corresponds to the tobacco being heated by the heater carrier <NUM>. The temperature sensitive end <NUM> for the thermocouple <NUM> in track <NUM> shows the temperature increasing, but tapering off to a steady state temperature. The temperature sensitive end <NUM> for the thermocouple <NUM> in track <NUM> shows the temperature being relatively constant throughout the puffs.

In some embodiments, the temperature profiler <NUM> may render the plotted data (e.g., the temperature profile) on a display to a user. The controller <NUM> may be communicably coupled to a display, and the temperature profiler <NUM> may communicate the temperature profile to the display for rendering. The temperature profiler <NUM> may output the temperature profile to the display for each thermocouple <NUM>. Hence, the display may display a temperature profile for each thermocouple <NUM> at each location in the thermocouple placement rig <NUM>. As stated above, some locations along the tobacco product <NUM> may correspond to measuring internal temperatures of the tobacco product <NUM>. For instance, locations near the second end (e.g. where a user wraps their lips around the tobacco product <NUM> for inhalation) may correspond to external (or surface) temperatures, and locations near the first end and middle of the tobacco product <NUM> may correspond to internal temperatures. The thermocouples <NUM> generate temperature data corresponding to inside the tobacco product <NUM> or along the external surface of the tobacco product <NUM> depending on the location of the thermocouples <NUM>. In some embodiments, the temperature profiler <NUM> generates a temperature profile for each thermocouple <NUM>, with some corresponding to internal temperatures, and some corresponding to external temperatures. The temperature profiler <NUM> may communicate data corresponding to the temperature profiles to a display for displaying the plots.

The temperature profiler <NUM> may identify various characteristics for the tobacco product <NUM> based on the temperature profile and/or temperature data. In some embodiments, the temperature profiler <NUM> may compare various detected temperatures to a threshold. The temperature profiler <NUM> may store such thresholds on memory. In some embodiments, the temperature profiler <NUM> may store a vapor producing threshold, a tobacco burning threshold, and a burn injury threshold. The vapor producing threshold may be a temperature of tobacco which causes the tobacco to produce vapors (or smoke). The vapor producing threshold may be, for instance, between <NUM> and <NUM>. The tobacco burning threshold may be a temperature at which tobacco burns. The tobacco burning threshold may be, for instance, approximately <NUM>. The burn injury threshold may be a temperature of the tobacco product which may cause injury to a user. The burn injury threshold may correspond to a temperature of a surface of the tobacco product which, if exposed to skin of a user for an extended duration, may burn the skin of the user. The burn injury threshold may be, for instance, less than <NUM>.

The temperature profiler <NUM> may determine, based on the temperature profile, whether the tobacco product being tested satisfies various thresholds. For instance, the temperature profiler <NUM> may compare the detected temperatures to the various thresholds. The temperature profiler <NUM> may determine whether the particular configuration of the heater carrier <NUM> in relation to the first end <NUM> of the tobacco product <NUM> sufficiently heats the tobacco. The heater carrier <NUM> may sufficiently heat the first end <NUM> when the temperature profile satisfies the various thresholds. For instance, the heater carrier <NUM> may sufficiently heat the first end <NUM> when the heater carrier <NUM> heats the tobacco to a temperature that is less than the tobacco burning threshold, but falling within the vapor producing threshold. The heater carrier <NUM> may sufficiently heat the first end <NUM> when the temperature of a surface of the tobacco product <NUM> in contact with a person is less than the burn injury threshold.

Where the temperature profiler <NUM> determines that the tobacco product <NUM> does not satisfy various thresholds, the distance between the heater carrier <NUM> and first end <NUM> may be changed (e.g., the heater carrier <NUM> may be moved closer to or further from the first end <NUM>). In some embodiments, particularly those where the energy supply <NUM> provides electrical energy to the heater carrier <NUM>, the temperature of the heater carrier <NUM> may be changed. In each of these embodiments, the relationship between the heater carrier <NUM> and first end <NUM> may be modified to change various characteristics until the tobacco product <NUM> satisfies various thresholds. In this regard, the arrangements described herein may provide for optimization of the configuration of the tobacco product <NUM> and heater carrier <NUM>. Once the configuration is optimized, a corresponding heat-not-burn tobacco product may be produced according to the specifications (e.g., distance between heater carrier <NUM> and first end of the tobacco product <NUM>, temperature of the heater carrier <NUM>, etc.) generated via the optimization from the testing system <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the invention described herein relates to a method of simulating a heat-not-burn tobacco product (e.g., through the testing system <NUM> described above with respect to <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG>, a flow diagram of a method <NUM> of simulating a heat-not-burn tobacco product is shown according to an example embodiment. The method <NUM> may be performed by the various components of the testing system <NUM> described above in detail. In some embodiments, various steps may be added to or removed from the method <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Hence, the present disclosure is not limited to the particular steps in <FIG>.

Method <NUM> begins when a tobacco product <NUM> is transported from the hopper <NUM> to a tobacco product placement region <NUM> adjacent to a thermocouple placement rig <NUM> for testing at <NUM>. A motor control system <NUM> may control an agitator motor <NUM> to rotate an agitator <NUM>, which may transport tobacco products from the hopper <NUM> to a track <NUM>. The motor control system <NUM> may control the pusher motor <NUM> to cause the pusher <NUM> to push the tobacco product along the track <NUM> into the tobacco product placement region <NUM>.

One or more thermocouples <NUM> are positioned in or along an outer surface of the tobacco product <NUM> in accordance with a configuration of the thermocouple placement rig <NUM> at <NUM>. The thermocouple placement rig <NUM> may include a number of tracks which correspond to locations of the thermocouple(s) <NUM> in or along the tobacco product <NUM>. Where a thermocouple <NUM> is located at a position within the tobacco product <NUM>, the guidance and control system <NUM> may control the drill <NUM> to drill a hole at a location of the tobacco product <NUM> such that the temperature sensitive end of the thermocouple <NUM> may be situated within the tobacco product <NUM>.

The heater carrier <NUM> is positioned a distance from a first end of the tobacco product <NUM> at <NUM>. The heater carrier <NUM> may be controlled to move to the distance from the first end of the tobacco product <NUM> (e.g., by the guidance and control system <NUM>). In some embodiments, a user may control the heater carrier <NUM>. The heater carrier <NUM> may heat the first end of the tobacco product <NUM>.

The puffing simulator <NUM> is controlled to simulate a series of puffs separated by an interval while the heater carrier <NUM> heats the first end of the tobacco product <NUM> at <NUM>. The puffing simulator <NUM> may draw air through the tobacco product <NUM> to simulate a puff of the tobacco product <NUM>. The puffing simulator <NUM> may simulate a initial puffs of the tobacco product <NUM> for starting the tobacco product <NUM>, and the puffing simulator <NUM> may simulate subsequent puffs of the tobacco product <NUM> for smoking the tobacco product <NUM>. Such puffs may be separated by different intervals.

A temperature profile is generated for the tobacco product <NUM> based on data from the thermocouples <NUM> at <NUM>. The thermocouples <NUM> may generate temperature data as the puffing simulator <NUM> simulates puffs of the tobacco product <NUM>. The temperature sensitive ends <NUM> of the thermocouples <NUM> may detect the temperature of inside the tobacco product <NUM> at various locations, and along the external surface of the tobacco product <NUM> (depending on the configuration of the thermocouple placement rig <NUM>). The thermocouples <NUM> may provide the temperatures to the controller <NUM>, and a temperature profiler <NUM> may plot the temperatures over time to generate a temperature profile for the tobacco product <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A lightability and temperature profile testing system, comprising:
a system body (<NUM>) defining a tobacco product placement region (<NUM>) for testing a tobacco product;
a heater carrier (<NUM>) movable with respect to the tobacco placement region (<NUM>) and configured to heat a first end of a tobacco product (<NUM>);
a puffing simulator (<NUM>) configured to fluidically couple to a second end of the tobacco product (<NUM>) within the tobacco product placement region (<NUM>), the puffing simulator (<NUM>) configured to draw air through the tobacco product (<NUM>) thereby simulating a puff of the tobacco product (<NUM>);
a thermocouple placement rig (<NUM>) configured to selectively position one or more thermocouples (<NUM>) in or along the tobacco product (<NUM>) located within the tobacco product placement region (<NUM>);
a drill (<NUM>) configured to extend into the system body (<NUM>) and selectively drill one or more holes at positions within the tobacco product (<NUM>) located within the tobacco product placement region (<NUM>); and
a controller (<NUM>) communicably coupled to the heater carrier (<NUM>), the puffing simulator (<NUM>), the thermocouple placement rig (<NUM>) and the drill (<NUM>), the controller (<NUM>) executing instructions to:
identify, based on a configuration of the thermocouple placement rig (<NUM>), at least one position for drilling a hole in the tobacco product (<NUM>);
control the drill (<NUM>) to drill the hole at the at least one position in the tobacco product (<NUM>);
position, via the thermocouple placement rig (<NUM>), the one or more thermocouples (<NUM>) in or along the tobacco product (<NUM>);
control the puffing simulator (<NUM>) to draw air through the tobacco product (<NUM>); and
while the puffing simulator (<NUM>) draws air through the tobacco product (<NUM>), generate, based on temperature data from the thermocouples (<NUM>), a temperature profile for the tobacco product (<NUM>).