Patent ID: 12201155

FIG.1shows an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises a cavity10for receiving an aerosol-generating article12comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The cavity10is configured as a heating chamber. The cavity10has a cylindrical shape. The aerosol-generating article12can be inserted into the cavity10at a proximal end of the aerosol-generating device.

The aerosol-generating device further comprises a heating arrangement14. The heating arrangement14comprises an induction coil16and a susceptor. The susceptor can be configured as an internal susceptor having a pin or blade shape. An internal susceptor is arranged centrally within the cavity10and configured for penetrating into the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article12, when the aerosol-generating article12is inserted into the cavity10. Alternatively or additionally, the susceptor can be configured as an external susceptor surrounding the cavity10. In any case, the susceptor is arranged within the induction coil16such that the induction coil16can generate an alternating magnetic field for heating the susceptor.

The aerosol-generating device further comprises a first sliding arrangement18and a second sliding arrangement20. The individual sliding arrangements can be seen in more detail inFIGS.3and4. The first sliding arrangement18comprises a first contact22. The first contact22is configured to enable supply of alternating current to the induction coil16. The first contact22establishes an electrical contact point to the induction coil16. The second sliding arrangement20comprises a second contact24. The second contact24is configured to enable supply of alternating current to the induction coil16. The second contact24establishes an electrical contact point to the induction coil16.

The first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20may be configured to be moved together. For this reason, the first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20may be fixed together. As can be seen inFIG.1, in this case the first contact22at the second contact24have a certain distance to each other. As can be seen inFIG.2, if the first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20slide, both the first contact22and the second contact24are moved together and remain distanced from each other with the same distance.

The distance between the first contact22and the second contact24establishes the longitudinal distance of a heating zone26. The heating zone26is the area of the cavity10surrounded by the portion of the induction coil16between the first contact22at the second contact24. This portion of the induction coil16is operated, when alternating current is supplied between the first contact22at the second contact24. As a consequence, this portion of the induction coil16generates an alternating magnetic field to heat the susceptor that is surrounded by this portion of the induction coil16.

Alternatively or additionally, the first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20may be configured movable independently from each other. In this embodiment, the distance between the first contact22at the second contact24can be chosen as appropriate. As a consequence, the longitudinal length of the heating zone26can be chosen as appropriate.

The aerosol-generating device further comprises a controller28. The controller28is configured to control the supply of alternating current between the first contact22and the second contact24. The controller28is electrically connected with the first contact22and the second contact24. The first sliding arrangement18is electrically connected with the first contact22and with the controller28or the first sliding arrangement18comprises an electrically conductive portion electrically connected with the first contact22and with the controller28. The second sliding arrangement20is electrically connected with the second contact24and with the controller28or the second sliding arrangement20comprises an electrically conductive portion electrically connected with the second contact24and with the controller28. The aerosol-generating device further comprises a battery30. The controller28is configured to control the supply of DC current from the battery30to a DC/AC converter that is connected to the first and second contact24s. Hereby the controller operates the heating arrangement14by controlling the supply of alternating current to the coil16. The DC/AC converter is preferably a separate unit.

FIG.2shows operation of the heating arrangement14in more detail. FromFIG.2A to2D, the sliding arrangement slides the first contact22and the second contact24from a distal end of the induction coil16to a proximal end of the induction coil16. As a consequence, the heating zone26travels in a proximal direction. In the embodiment shown inFIG.2, the distance between the first contact22and the second contact24remains the same. As a consequence, the longitudinal length of the heating zone26remains the same.

FIG.3shows the first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20. The first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20are elongate. The first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20are mounted on a sliding rod32. The sliding rod32is arranged in the aperture of a mounting element34. This arrangement of the first sliding arrangement18and of the second sliding arrangement20enables an independent sliding movement of the first sliding arrangement18and of the second sliding arrangement20. As a consequence, the distance between the first contact22at the second contact24can be controlled by the controller28. The distance between the first contact22at the second contact24determines the longitudinal length of the heating zone26. Thus, independently controlling the first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20enables control of the size of the heating zone26.

FIG.4shows an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device with a different arrangement of the first sliding arrangement18and the second sliding arrangement20. In contrast to the embodiment shown inFIG.1, the first sliding arrangement18is arranged on one side of the cavity10in the embodiment shown inFIG.4, and the second sliding arrangement20is arranged on the opposite side of the cavity10. As a consequence, the first contact22is arranged opposite of the second contact24on an opposite side of the cavity10.