阅读说明：本技术 气溶胶供给装置 (Aerosol supply device ) 是由 稻垣道弘 阿部裕树 若松美纪 菅沼辰矢 于 2020-03-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：气溶胶供给装置(1)具备：容纳部(储液盒(4)),其容纳液体(10)；雾化单元(5),其对液体(10)进行雾化而生成气溶胶(11)；雾化量调节部(47)(陀螺传感器(40)和控制部(12a)),其对雾化单元(5)的雾化量进行调节。该气溶胶供给装置(1)的特征在于,雾化量调节部(47)(陀螺传感器(40)和控制部(12a))不受气溶胶供给装置(1)的至少一定范围内的姿态的限制而使雾化量稳定。(An aerosol supply device (1) is provided with: a storage unit (liquid storage box (4)) that stores liquid (10); an atomizing unit (5) that atomizes a liquid (10) to generate an aerosol (11); and an atomization amount adjustment unit (47) (a gyro sensor (40) and a control unit (12a)) that adjusts the atomization amount of the atomization unit (5). The aerosol supply device (1) is characterized in that the atomization amount adjusting part (47) (the gyro sensor (40) and the control part (12a)) stabilizes the atomization amount without being limited by the posture of the aerosol supply device (1) within at least a certain range.)

1. An aerosol supply device is provided with:

a containing section that contains a liquid;

an atomizing unit that atomizes the liquid to generate an aerosol;

an atomization amount adjusting part which adjusts the atomization amount of the atomization unit;

the aerosol provision device is characterised in that,

the atomization amount adjusting part is not limited by the posture of the aerosol supply device within at least a certain range, so that the atomization amount is stable.

2. The aerosol provision device of claim 1,

the atomization amount adjusting part comprises:

a posture detection sensor that detects a posture of the aerosol supply device;

and a control unit that adjusts the electric power necessary for atomization supplied to the atomization unit based on a signal received from the attitude detection sensor.

3. The aerosol provision device of claim 1 or 2,

the atomization amount adjusting part comprises:

a posture detection sensor that detects a posture of the aerosol supply device;

and a control unit that adjusts the amount of the liquid supplied to the atomizing unit based on a signal received from the attitude detection sensor.

4. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 3,

further comprises:

a built-in unit including at least the atomizing unit;

a frame body covering the built-in unit;

the atomization amount adjusting unit includes an attitude maintaining unit that maintains the attitude of the built-in unit without being restricted by the attitude of the aerosol supply device within at least a certain range.

5. The aerosol provision device of claim 4,

the atomization unit is provided with:

a retention section that retains the liquid;

a vibrating member that vibrates the liquid stored in the storage portion to form the aerosol;

a vibration source configured to vibrate the vibration member by being supplied with electric power; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the center of gravity of the built-in unit is located lower than the storage part,

the attitude maintaining section maintains the attitude of the built-in unit in an attitude in which the storage section is horizontally arranged.

6. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 3,

further comprises a discharge port for discharging the aerosol to the outside,

the atomizing unit has a reservoir for the liquid to be atomized,

the discharge port is oriented in a direction intersecting a normal direction of an extension plane on which the storage portion extends.

7. The aerosol provision device of claim 6,

further comprises a holding part for the user to hold,

the discharge port is provided at a position separated from the grip portion in a normal direction of an extension surface extending from the storage portion.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device, and more particularly to an aerosol supply device for supplying an aerosol to the outside.

Background

In recent years, aerosol supply devices such as flavor extractors that can provide flavor without burning a flavor source such as a cigarette have been widely used.

Further, as an aerosol supply device, an inhaler which atomizes a liquid using ultrasonic waves and can supply the liquid to a user is known.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a smoking device in which a liquid aerosol-forming substrate supplied from a reservoir to an atomization region is atomized by vibration of a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) generated by a transducer.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: specification of U.S. Pat. No. 2017/0280771

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, in the smoking device (aerosol supply device) of patent document 1, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate (liquid) is affected by gravity due to the posture of the aerosol supply device, and the amount of supply of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomizing part to which vibration is applied is changed, and the amount of atomization is changed. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of stabilizing the supply amount of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the atomizing area to which the vibration is applied and stabilizing the atomizing amount without being restricted by the posture of the aerosol supply device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an aerosol supply device capable of stabilizing an atomization amount without being restricted by an attitude.

Technical solution for solving technical problem

An aerosol supply device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a containing section that contains a liquid; an atomizing unit that atomizes the liquid to generate an aerosol; an atomization amount adjusting part which adjusts the atomization amount of the atomization unit; wherein the atomization amount adjusting part is not limited by at least a certain range of postures of the aerosol supply device so as to stabilize the atomization amount.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the aerosol supply device of the present invention, the atomization amount can be stabilized without being limited by the posture.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing the configuration of an aerosol supply device according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a state where liquid is atomized and discharged to the outside of the aerosol supply device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the atomizing unit.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an aerosol supply device according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the aerosol supply device is tilted by 90 degrees from the state of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a structure around a discharge pipe of an aerosol supply device according to a third embodiment.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention. That is, the shapes, sizes, arrangements, and the like of the components described below may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it is obvious that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

< summary >

First, an outline of the aerosol supply device 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a configuration of an aerosol supply device 1 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the atomization of the liquid 10 and the discharge thereof to the outside of the aerosol provision device 1. However, in fig. 2, fig. 4, fig. 5, fig. 6, and the like described below, the illustration thereof is partially omitted for ease of understanding.

Note that, in fig. 2 and fig. 4 and 5 and the like of the second embodiment described below, the power supply board 13 and the battery 14 described below are not illustrated, but the arrangement thereof is arbitrary. For example, the power supply board 13 and the battery 14 may be disposed below the liquid storage case 4, or may be disposed on the back side of the vertical paper surface of the drawing of the liquid storage case 4.

The aerosol supply device 1 of the present embodiment is characterized by including: a containing portion (liquid cartridge 4) that contains liquid 10; an atomizing unit 5 that atomizes a liquid 10 to generate an aerosol 11; and an atomization amount adjusting unit 47 that adjusts the atomization amount of the atomizing unit 5 (the gyro sensor 40 and the control unit 12 a).

The atomization amount adjusting unit 47 (the gyro sensor 40 and the control unit 12a) stabilizes the atomization amount without being restricted by the posture of the aerosol supply device 1 within at least a certain range.

According to the above configuration, since the aerosol supply device 1 includes the atomization amount adjusting unit 47 (the gyro sensor 40 and the control unit 12a), the atomization amount can be stabilized without being limited by the posture of the aerosol supply device 1.

The "atomization amount adjusting unit" includes a "power adjusting unit" that adjusts power supplied to the atomizing unit 5 (electrode 5c), the pump 9, and the like, and a "posture adjusting unit" that adjusts the posture of the built-in unit 41 described below including the atomizing unit 5 so that the storage unit 5b described below storing the liquid 10 is in a horizontal state, as described below.

The "atomization amount adjustment portion" may be a member for adjusting the atomization amount in accordance with the application of vibration, and may include a "vibration adjustment portion" for suppressing or allowing vibration by changing or separating a position where the member physically contacts the vibration member (piezoelectric element substrate 5 a).

The "power adjusting unit" includes an "amplitude adjusting unit" that adjusts the power supplied to the electrode 5c described below in accordance with the posture of the aerosol supply device 1 to adjust the vibration amplitude (vibration energy) of the vibration member (piezoelectric element substrate 5a), and also includes a "liquid amount adjusting unit" that adjusts the power supplied to the pump 9 or the like described below to adjust the amount of liquid 10 supplied to the atomizing unit 5. The power adjusting unit also includes a "temperature adjusting unit" not shown that adjusts the power supplied to the heater to adjust the temperature of the atomizing area.

The "stabilization of the atomization amount" specifically means that when the surface of the liquid 10 remaining in the storage part 5b is in a horizontal plane, the state where the liquid 10 is stored without being deflected and the vibration energy of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a can be widely transmitted is taken as a reference state, the adjustment of the atomization amount may be closer to the reference state than the case where the adjustment of the atomization amount is not performed.

< first embodiment >

< composition of each part >

Next, the structure of each part of the aerosol supply device 1 will be described with reference to fig. 3 in addition to fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the atomizing unit 5.

(atomizing unit)

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the atomizing unit 5 includes: the piezoelectric element includes a substrate (piezoelectric element substrate 5a) including a storage section 5b for storing the liquid 10 and a piezoelectric body, and an electrode 5c arranged in contact with the piezoelectric element substrate 5a and configured to supply surface acoustic waves to the stored liquid 10 by the storage section 5b on the piezoelectric element substrate 5 a.

(piezoelectric element substrate)

As shown in fig. 3, the storage portion 5b provided in the piezoelectric element substrate 5a of the present embodiment is a bottomed groove formed on the upper surface of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a and formed into an elliptical shape in a plan view. The storage part 5b is provided at least two locations, and the electrode 5c is disposed between the two locations. A through hole 5d formed to penetrate through the piezoelectric element substrate 5a in the thickness direction is formed in the center of the storage portion 5 b. The liquid 10 is supplied from the reservoir 4 to the reservoir 5b through the first flow path 6 (tube 6a) and the through hole 5d by a pump 9 described below.

(electrode)

The electrode 5c is formed of a comb-shaped electrode (IDT). The high-frequency power input from the power supply substrate 13 to the electrode 5c via the control substrate 12 is converted into Surface Acoustic Waves (SAW) by utilizing the piezoelectric phenomenon of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a, and propagates on the Surface of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a to both sides in the arrangement direction of the comb teeth.

The number of teeth of the electrode 5c is not limited to the illustrated one, but is determined based on the atomization efficiency of the aerosol 11, and the atomization efficiency of the aerosol 11 is determined by the surface elastic wave. The width and spacing of the teeth are determined by the frequency based on the particle size of the atomized aerosol 11.

Since control of the frequency of the electric power and the like is important in the surface acoustic wave, a resonance frequency monitoring sensor for monitoring the resonance frequency or a temperature sensor, not shown, capable of detecting the temperature of the liquid 10 just before atomization may be provided.

In terms of appearance, the aerosol supply device 1 of the present embodiment is mainly composed of a device main body 2 and an air nozzle 3 attached to an upper portion of the device main body 2 and configured to supply and discharge an aerosol 11.

(air tap)

The air nozzle 3 of the present embodiment is formed to have a tapered portion in which the lower end thereof extends widely in front view, and the width thereof is narrower as the outlet 3a is closer to the outside of the aerosol 11 at the upper end.

As shown in fig. 2, the air nozzle 3 is provided with a flow path (second flow path 7) through which the aerosol 11 generated by the atomizing unit 5 passes. Two flow paths (second flow paths 7) are independently provided for passing the aerosol 11 generated from the liquid 10 in the at least two storage portions 5b, and the two flow paths are formed to be symmetrical with respect to a virtual plane passing through the discharge port 3 a. The two second flow paths 7 are merged into one before reaching the discharge port 3a at the upper end.

In addition, the independently provided flow paths (second flow paths 7) may be formed in different lengths. That is, the two second flow paths 7 are not limited to being formed symmetrically with respect to the virtual plane passing through the discharge port 3a, and may be formed asymmetrically. For example, when the aerosol 11 containing different components passes through the two second flow paths 7, flow paths having corresponding lengths or shapes may be provided.

It is particularly preferable that, for example, the two independently provided second flow paths 7 have asymmetric portions formed with different bending ratios.

According to the above configuration, the aerosol 11 is brought into contact with the wall surface defining the asymmetric portion having different bending ratios in the two second flow paths 7, whereby particles contained in the aerosol can be deposited and reduced, and the particle diameter can be adjusted. Therefore, the user can smoothly suck the aerosol 11 without feeling discomfort in the throat due to the components contained in the aerosol 11.

The term "bent" is not limited to a sharp bend, and includes a concept of a gentle bend. The two second flow paths 7 having different bending ratios are not limited to the case where both are formed by bending, and include the case where one of them is formed straight.

(device body)

The apparatus body 2 of the present embodiment is provided with: the liquid storage tank 4, the atomizing unit 5, the solenoid valve 8a, the pump 9, the control board 12 having the control unit 12a, the power supply board 13 and the battery 14 shown in fig. 1, and a part of the power switch 15.

In the apparatus main body 2, a flow path (first flow path 6) for the liquid 10 is formed between a housing (liquid cartridge 4) and the atomizing unit 5, which will be described below. A flow path (second flow path 7) for the aerosol 11 is formed between the atomizing unit 5 and the outside within the range of the apparatus main body 2 and the below-described air nozzle 3.

(liquid storage case)

The liquid storage case 4 of the present embodiment is composed of a main body 4a, a bottom plate 4b integrally formed at the bottom of the main body 4a, and a slider 4d which is arranged inside and is arranged in watertight relation to the inner wall surface of the main body 4a and is slidable in the main body 4 a.

A through hole 4c penetrating in the thickness direction is formed in the bottom plate 4b, and a press rod 9b of a pump 9 described below is inserted thereinto.

In the present embodiment, the liquid 10 can be supplied from the two liquid containers 4 to the two storage portions 5b of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a provided in the atomizing unit 5, independently one by one.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the liquid 10 may be supplied from one liquid cartridge 4 to two storage portions 5 b. With this configuration, the number of the solenoid valves 8a described below can be reduced. That is, the solenoid valve 8a may be provided in the pipe portion 6a on the side of the liquid cartridge 4 before being branched toward the two storage portions 5 b.

With this configuration, the supply and stop of the supply of the liquid 10 to the two reservoirs 5b can be regulated by one solenoid valve 8 a.

The aerosol supply device 1 may further include a plurality of liquid containers 4. In the case where two or more liquid containers 4 are used, the liquid containers 4 may contain liquids 10 having different components such as taste and flavor.

The storage unit of the present invention is not limited to the detachable liquid storage cartridge 4, and may be a container (refillable type) provided in the apparatus main body 2. When such a container is used, another channel communicating with the container and the outside may be formed so that the liquid 10 can be injected into the container through the other channel to fill the container with the liquid 10.

With such a configuration, when replenishing the liquid 10, it is not necessary to detach and reattach the solenoid valve 8a, the reservoir 4, and the tube 6a connecting these, which are provided on the user side.

(liquid)

The liquid 10 may contain a solvent such as water, glycerin, propylene glycol, or ethanol, or may contain a solute including a component such as a taste or flavor. For example, the solute is volatile components such as tobacco extract, camphor, linalool, limonene, vanillin, or nonvolatile components such as saccharides such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, or lactose, acids such as malic acid or citric acid, or salts.

The liquid 10 may be emulsified with an emulsifier or suspended with a dispersant.

(volatilization prevention part)

A volatilization prevention unit 8 (solenoid valve 8a) is connected to a tube 6a connecting the liquid storage tank 4 and the atomizing unit 5 in the apparatus main body 2.

The volatilization prevention unit 8 (the electromagnetic valve 8a) includes an opening/closing unit (not shown) that can open and close the flow path (the first flow path 6) of the liquid 10.

According to the above configuration, the controller 12a operates the opening/closing portion of the solenoid valve 8a to close the first flow path 6, thereby preventing the liquid 10 in the housing portion (liquid storage cartridge 4) from volatilizing. Further, the controller 12a operates the opening/closing portion of the solenoid valve 8a to open the first flow path 6, thereby supplying the liquid 10 to the atomizing unit 5 and the aerosol 11 to the user.

The duckbill valve 8b of the present embodiment is a valve made of a soft resin material and composed of opposing flat plates, and is a valve in which the opposing distance between the flat plates narrows toward the downstream (suction) side. The duckbill valve 8b closes the flow path by the contact of the plates with each other in a natural state, and opens the flow path by separating the plates from each other by suction pressure from the downstream side.

By the duckbill valve 8b functioning as a small check valve, the flow path of the aerosol 11 can be made narrow, the air nozzle 3 can be made small, and the aerosol supply device 1 can be made small. The duckbill valve 8b is preferably opened by a weak suction force without being affected by the direction of gravity, and the opening/closing portion is naturally closed by an elastic restoring force when the suction is stopped. A duckbill valve 8b is provided between the retention portion 5b and the discharge opening 3 a.

(Pump)

The aerosol supply device 1 further includes a pump 9 capable of supplying the liquid 10 to the atomizing unit 5. The pump 9 of the present embodiment is a syringe pump capable of drawing the liquid 10 from the atomizing unit 5 to the accommodating portion (the liquid cartridge 4) side.

Specifically, the pump 9 includes a motor 9a and a pressure rod 9b that can move forward and backward by the rotational operation of the motor 9 a. When the pressing rod 9b pushes the slider 4d upward through the through hole 4c by the operation of the pump 9, the liquid 10 is pushed by the slider 4d and supplied to the atomizing unit 5.

However, the pump of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a piezoelectric pump, not shown. The piezoelectric pump can provide a product with low power consumption.

(atomization amount adjusting section)

The atomization amount adjusting unit 47 includes an attitude detection sensor (gyro sensor 40) that detects the attitude of the aerosol supply device 1, and a control unit 12a that adjusts the electric power necessary for atomization supplied to the atomizing unit 5 based on a signal received from the attitude detection sensor.

According to the above configuration, by adjusting the electric power supplied to the atomizing unit 5 (electrode 5c) according to the posture, the vibration amplitude is adjusted according to the magnitude of the electric power, and the atomizing amount can be stabilized in a state in which the variation of the atomizing amount is small in the normal posture with respect to the aerosol supply device 1.

That is, the atomization amount adjusting unit 4 is a power adjusting unit that adjusts the power supplied to the electrode 5c in relation to the amplitude of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a in accordance with the posture of the aerosol supply device 1, and is also an amplitude adjusting unit that adjusts the amplitude (vibration energy) of the piezoelectric element substrate 5 a.

(attitude detecting sensor)

The gyro sensor 40 is a member for detecting the posture (inclination) of the aerosol supply device 1 (atomizing unit 5), and is mounted on the control board 12. The gyro sensor 40 of the present embodiment is of a "vibrating type", and includes an unillustrated vibrator on an unillustrated silicon substrate and an unillustrated electrode around the vibrator inside. The gyro sensor 40 detects a change in capacitance due to a coriolis force generated between the vibrator and the electrode when the vibrator swings, and detects a shake (tilt) by detecting an electrical difference.

The gyro sensor 40 is not limited to a capacitive type, and may be a piezoelectric type, or may be an optical type other than a vibration type.

The posture detection sensor is not limited to the gyro sensor 40, and may be, for example, a liquid amount sensor, not shown, including a plurality of electrodes.

For example, the liquid amount sensor is configured such that when the aerosol supply device 1 is tilted, a part of the electrodes comes into contact with the liquid 10. When the pair of electrodes is brought into contact with the liquid 10 and energized, the controller 12a receiving an electric signal from the pair of electrodes determines that the liquid 10 is present at the position of the pair of electrodes, and determines the posture of the aerosol supply device 1 from the position of the liquid 10.

(control substrate)

The aerosol supply device 1 includes a pump 9, an electromagnetic valve 8a, and a control board 12 having a control unit 12a for controlling each electronic device such as a power conditioner not shown.

The control unit 12a of the present embodiment changes the electromagnetic valve 8a from the closed state, which is the normal state, to the open state when receiving a signal from the power supply board 13 that the user operates the power switch 15 to put the aerosol supply device 1 into the operating state.

The control unit 12a controls the atomizing unit 5 to supply electric power to the electrode 5c, thereby generating surface acoustic waves on the surface of the piezoelectric element substrate 5 a.

The control unit 12a operates the motor 9a of the pump 9 to press the slide block 4d in a direction (upward) in which the volume of the liquid cartridge 4 is reduced by the pressure bar 9 b. Thus, by supplying the liquid 10 to the reservoir 5b through the first channel 6, the liquid 10 resonates with the surface acoustic wave and is atomized on the surface of the piezoelectric element substrate 5 a.

In this state, the user inhales the internal air of the aerosol supply device 1 through the discharge port 3a, and thus the discharge port 3a side of the duckbill valve 8b becomes a negative pressure. Thereby, the duckbill valve 8b is opened so that the user can inhale the aerosol 11 passing through the duckbill valve 8 b.

In addition, the control unit 12a operates the electromagnetic valve 8a (opening/closing unit) to close the flow path of the liquid 10 when the aerosol supply device 1 is not in use, for example, when the power switch 15 is closed.

The control unit 12a determines whether the aerosol supply device 1 (piezoelectric element substrate 5a) is tilted or not based on a signal from the gyro sensor 40 mounted on the control substrate 12. When the control unit 12a determines that the aerosol supply device 1 is tilted, the control unit 12a performs control so that the electric power supplied to the atomizing unit 5 (electrode 5c) is larger than that in the normal posture.

As described above, in the aerosol supply device 1 of the present embodiment, even if the amount of the liquid 10 transmitted by the vibration of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a is reduced due to the inclination of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a, the atomization amount of the liquid 10 can be stabilized. Specifically, the aerosol supply device 1 can stabilize the atomization amount of the liquid 10 by increasing the vibration energy transmitted to the liquid 10 by the control of the atomizing unit 5 (electrode 5c) by the control unit 12 a.

The atomization amount adjustment unit 47 may further include a control unit 12a that adjusts the supply amount of the liquid 10 to the atomization unit 5 based on a signal received from the posture detection sensor (gyro sensor 40).

According to the above configuration, the supply amount of the liquid 10 to the atomizing unit 5 can be adjusted according to the posture, and the atomizing amount can be stabilized.

That is, the atomization amount adjusting portion 47 is a power adjusting portion that adjusts the power supplied to the pump 9 and the like according to the posture of the aerosol supply device 1, and is also a liquid amount adjusting portion that adjusts the supply amount of the liquid 10 supplied to the atomizing unit 5.

For example, when the control unit 12a determines that the aerosol supply device 1 (piezoelectric element substrate 5a) is inclined based on a signal from the gyro sensor 40 mounted on the control substrate 12, the control unit 12a controls the pump 9 so that the supply amount of the liquid 10 to the atomizing unit 5 (storage unit 5b) is larger than that in the normal posture.

In this way, when the piezoelectric element substrate 5a is tilted and the amount of the liquid 10 transmitted by the vibration of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a decreases, the supply amount of the liquid 10 to the atomizing unit 5 can be increased by the control of the pump 9 by the control unit 12 a. Whereby the atomized amount of the liquid 10 becomes stable.

The control target of the control unit 12a for adjusting the supply amount of the liquid 10 is not limited to the pump 9, and may be other electronic devices such as an electromagnetic valve 8a for contracting or expanding a flow path.

The atomization amount adjusting unit 47 may adjust the amount of the liquid 10 and the electric power supplied to the atomizing unit 5 individually or simultaneously according to the atomization amount.

For example, the aerosol supply device 1 may further include a heater, not shown, that heats the liquid 10 to increase the atomization amount, and the atomization amount may be adjusted by adjusting the power supplied to the heater.

< second embodiment >

Next, an aerosol supply device 1A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference mainly to fig. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an aerosol supply device 1A according to a second embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a state in which the aerosol supply device 1A is tilted by 90 degrees from the state of fig. 4.

In the aerosol supply device 1A, as shown in fig. 4, the second flow path 7 is not provided with the duckbill valve 8b, but the duckbill valve 8b may be provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

The aerosol supply device 1A of the present embodiment further includes an internal unit 41 including at least the atomizing unit 5, and a frame 42 covering the internal unit 41.

The atomization amount adjusting portion 48 includes a posture maintaining portion (universal ball 43) that maintains the posture of the built-in unit 41 without being restricted by the posture of the aerosol supply device 1A within at least a certain range.

The atomization amount adjustment unit 48 functions as a "posture adjustment unit" that adjusts the posture of the built-in unit 41 including the atomization unit 5 so that the storage unit 5b storing the liquid 10 is in a horizontal state.

The phrase "not limited by the posture of the aerosol supply device 1A" means that the present embodiment is not limited by the relative inclination of the housing 42 and the built-in unit 41. The phrase "maintaining the posture of the built-in unit 41 without being restricted by the posture of the aerosol supply device 1A" also includes a case where the posture of the built-in unit 41 is maintained only when the housing 42 is inclined in a certain range.

According to the above configuration, the built-in unit 41 including the atomizing unit is configured to be able to maintain its posture without being restricted by the posture of the aerosol supply device 1A by the universal ball 43, and thus the atomizing amount can be stabilized.

The built-in unit 41 includes: the atomizing unit 5, the solenoid valve 8a, the pump 9, the control board 12, the power supply board 13, and the battery 14, and the spherical (substantially spherical) case 41a covering these components, which are described with reference to fig. 1 and 2. However, as the shape of the case 41a, the shape of the outer surface connected to the frame 42 via the universal balls 43 described below may be spherical, and the shape of the inner surface may be arbitrary, and may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape or the like. The outer surface shape of the case 41a is not limited to a perfect sphere, and at least a part facing the frame 42 may be formed in a spherical shape.

In the upper portion of the case 41a, through-holes 41b penetrating in the vertical direction are formed at the same intervals as the two storage portions 5b provided in the piezoelectric element substrate 5 a. The through-hole 41b has a function of leading the aerosol 11 generated from the atomizing unit 5 to the second flow path 7 via a space 44 described below.

The frame 42 has a droplet shape, is formed to be one step larger than the built-in unit 41, and incorporates the built-in unit 41. The shape of the frame 42 may be a spherical shape on the inner surface of the case 41a connected via the ball bearings 43, and the outer surface may be any shape, such as a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The inner surface shape of the frame 42 is not limited to a perfect sphere, and at least a part facing the case 41a may be formed in a spherical shape.

The universal ball 43 is embedded in the inner surface of the frame 42. The built-in unit 41 is supported by the universal balls 43 of the frame 42 so as to be relatively rotatable in any direction.

The built-in unit 41 of the present embodiment is configured to be rotatable by 360 degrees with respect to the housing 42 even if it is rotated about any one of the roll axis, the pitch axis, and the pan axis.

As shown in fig. 5, even when the frame 42 is tilted, the user may suck air inside the aerosol supply device 1A from the discharge port 3a to apply a negative pressure, and the aerosol 11 may be discharged from the discharge port 3a through the space 4.

The aerosol supply device 1A of the present embodiment has a configuration partially similar to that of the aerosol supply device 1 of the above-described embodiment. Specifically, the aerosol supply device 1A is an aerosol supply device 1A that atomizes the liquid 10 by vibration to supply the aerosol 11. The atomizing unit 5 includes: the aerosol generator includes a storage part 5b that stores liquid 10, a vibrating member (piezoelectric element substrate 5a) that generates aerosol 11 by vibrating the liquid 10 stored in the storage part 5b, and comb-shaped electrodes 5c (vibration source that vibrates the vibrating member) that generate surface elastic waves on the surface of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a by supplying power. The storage portion 5b is provided in a pair and sandwiches the piezoelectric element substrate 5 a.

The built-in unit 41 has a center of gravity 46 in the normal direction with respect to the surface of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a below the midpoint of a virtual line segment 45 connecting the center points of the pair of storage portions 5b, that is, below the storage portions 5 b.

Since the load distribution is more dense in the center of gravity 46, a counterweight (not shown) may be further provided below the midpoint of an imaginary line segment 45 connecting the center points of the pair of storage units 5b (between the pair of motors 9a in the present embodiment). The counterweight may have a function of stabilizing the weight balance, and may have any other function.

With this configuration, the center of gravity 46 can be reliably positioned below the midpoint of the virtual line segment 45 connecting the center points of the pair of storage portions 5 b. With this configuration, the response of the posture correction of the built-in unit 41 can be improved by the self weight of the built-in unit 41 including the not-shown counterweight with respect to the change in the posture of the aerosol supply device 1A.

According to the above configuration, the built-in unit 41 can keep the pair of storage portions 5b on the horizontal plane due to the center of gravity thereof, and the atomization amount of the liquid 10 to be atomized from both can be stabilized even if the pair of storage portions 5b are provided.

For example, as shown in fig. 5, when the aerosol supply device 1A is tilted by 90 degrees from the state shown in fig. 4, only the housing 42 is tilted. At this time, the built-in unit 41 maintains its posture due to its center of gravity, and the universal balls 43 of the frame 42 rotate in contact with the outer surface of the built-in unit 41 to roll, so that only the frame 42 is inclined.

That is, the posture of the built-in unit 41 is maintained in the posture in which the storage part 5b is horizontally arranged by the rolling of the ball joint 43 without being restricted by the posture of the aerosol supply device 1A. In this way, the universal ball 43 functions as the atomization amount adjusting portion 48 (posture adjusting portion) that stabilizes the atomization amount by maintaining the horizontal state of the storage portion 5 b.

In the above configuration, the case where the atomizing unit 5 includes the pump 9 and the storage portion 5b, which are paired, has been described, but the atomizing unit of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pump 9 and the storage unit 5b may be provided separately.

In this case, the built-in unit 41 may have a center of gravity in the normal direction with respect to the surface of the piezoelectric element substrate 5a below the storage portion 5 b.

With such a configuration, the amount of the liquid 10 atomized can be stabilized by allowing the storage portion 5b to be held on a horizontal plane by the center of gravity of the built-in unit 41.

The ball transfer unit 43 may have a small ball smaller than the large ball, which rolls in contact with the large ball, in addition to the large ball as shown. According to such a configuration, the rolling property of the large beads is improved, and the necessity of using a lubricant for maintaining the rolling property of the large beads is reduced, which is preferable. In this case, the small beads may be contained in a part of the well holding the large beads.

In the above embodiment, the posture of the built-in unit 41 is maintained by the ball 43, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a liquid such as water may be contained in a part between the built-in unit 41 and the housing 42, and the built-in unit 41 may float in the liquid. In this case, it is preferable to increase the buoyancy of the built-in unit 41 by providing the built-in unit 41 with an air pocket or foamed styrene or the like having a density lower than that of the liquid.

The built-in unit 41 of the present embodiment is configured to be rotatable about any one of the roll axis, the pitch axis, and the translation axis by 360 degrees with respect to the housing 42, but is not limited thereto. For example, the built-in unit 41 may be a rotatable range in which only a partial angle, for example, only a 180-degree range in one direction, and only a hemispherical range in three dimensions.

In this case, for example, when the container is tilted beyond the rotatable range, that is, when the storage part 5b is not located on the horizontal plane, the control part 12a may perform the other control (control of the supplied electric power or control of the supply amount of the liquid 10) described above for stabilizing the atomization amount.

< third embodiment >

Finally, the aerosol supply device 1B according to the third embodiment will be described mainly with reference to fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration around the discharge tube 50 of the aerosol supply device 1B according to the third embodiment.

The aerosol supply device 1B of the present embodiment further includes a discharge portion (discharge pipe 50) having a discharge port 50a through which the aerosol 11 is discharged to the outside. In addition, the atomizing unit 5 has a storage part 5b for storing the liquid 10 to be atomized, as in the above-described embodiment.

The discharge port 3a is directed in a direction intersecting with a normal direction of an extension surface extending to the storage portion 5 b.

Specifically, the discharge pipe 50 has a shape bent at a right angle (including substantially a right angle), is inserted into the air faucet 3 vertically, and is fixed to the air faucet 3 by welding or the like.

The position of the user including the discharge port 3a and the position of the holding device body 2 of the aerosol supply device 1B are positions as long as the user does not lean out of the head. Therefore, if the discharge port 3a is oriented in the normal direction to the extension surface of the storage portion 5b, the atomizing unit 5 tends to be inclined.

Therefore, with the above configuration, the aerosol 11 is easily prevented from being sucked in a state where the storage part 5b (atomizing unit 5) is inclined by the discharge port 3a being directed in the direction intersecting the normal direction of the extending surface extending to the storage part 5 b. That is, it becomes easy to maintain the horizontal state of the reservoir 5b, and the atomization amount of the liquid 10 can be stabilized.

The discharge pipe 50 may extend on a horizontal plane including the storage portion 5b, and the flow path and the discharge port 3a may be provided on the horizontal plane.

The aerosol supply device 1B further includes a grip (an outer surface of the device main body 2) to be gripped by a user.

The discharge port 3a is provided at a position away from the grip portion (the outer surface of the apparatus body 2) in the normal direction of the extension surface extending to the storage portion 5 b.

According to the above configuration, since the discharge port 3a is provided at a position separated from the grip portion (the outer surface of the apparatus main body 2) in the normal direction of the extension surface extending to the storage portion 5b, the normal direction (i.e., the direction of the apparatus main body 2) can be easily and naturally set to the vertical direction in use.

Specifically, when the user grips the aerosol supply device 1B (device main body 2) and attempts to suck the aerosol 11 from the discharge port 3a, the orientation of the device main body 2 is easily made vertical, the storage portion 5B is easily kept horizontal, and the atomization amount is easily stabilized.

The discharge port 3a may be directed in a direction intersecting the normal direction, and the discharge pipe 50 is not limited to a shape bent at a right angle, and may be a shape bent in an arc shape.

In the aerosol supply device 1 of the above embodiment, in order to adjust the atomization amount, a configuration (the gyro sensor 40 and the control unit 12a) for adjusting the electric power supplied to the atomizing unit 5, the pump 9, and the like is necessary. In the aerosol supply device 1A, a structure (the universal ball 43) that can adjust the posture of the built-in unit 41 with respect to the housing 42 is necessary.

On the other hand, in the aerosol supply device 1B of the present embodiment, such a configuration is not necessary, and the increase in the number of components can be suppressed, and the product price can be reduced.

The aerosol supply device of the present invention is not limited to the device for atomizing by using SAW, and may be a device for atomizing by using a heater such as an electric heater, an ultrasonic oscillator, or the like.

The aerosol supply device may be an aspirator for ejecting liquid, a diffuser for diffusing flavor, or the like, in addition to the electronic cigarette.

In the above-described embodiment, the liquid 10 is supplied to the piezoelectric element substrate 5a from below by way of example, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the liquid 10 may be dropped from above onto the piezoelectric element substrate 5 a.

The various components in the aerosol supply device of the present invention do not need to be present independently of each other. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

This patent application claims priority based on japanese patent application having application number 2019, 4/9 and application number 2019-.

The above embodiment includes the following technical ideas.

(1) An aerosol supply device is provided with:

a containing section that contains a liquid;

an atomizing unit that atomizes the liquid to generate an aerosol;

an atomization amount adjusting part which adjusts the atomization amount of the atomization unit;

the aerosol provision device is characterised in that,

the atomization amount adjusting part is not limited by the posture of the aerosol supply device within at least a certain range, so that the atomization amount is stable.

(2) The aerosol provision device according to (1), wherein the atomization amount adjustment portion includes: a posture detection sensor that detects a posture of the aerosol supply device; and a control unit that adjusts the electric power necessary for atomization supplied to the atomization unit based on a signal received from the attitude detection sensor.

(3) The aerosol provision device according to (1) or (2), wherein the atomization amount adjustment portion includes: a posture detection sensor that detects a posture of the aerosol supply device; and a control unit that adjusts the amount of the liquid supplied to the atomizing unit based on a signal received from the attitude detection sensor.

(4) The aerosol supply device according to any one of (1) to (3), further comprising: a built-in unit including at least the atomizing unit; a frame body covering the built-in unit;

the atomization amount adjusting unit includes an attitude maintaining unit that maintains the attitude of the built-in unit without being restricted by the attitude of the aerosol supply device within at least a certain range.

(5) The aerosol provision device according to (4),

the atomization unit is provided with:

a retention section that retains the liquid;

a vibrating member that vibrates the liquid stored in the storage portion to form the aerosol;

a vibration source configured to vibrate the vibration member by being supplied with electric power; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the center of gravity of the built-in unit is located lower than the storage part,

the attitude maintaining section maintains the attitude of the built-in unit in an attitude in which the storage section is horizontally arranged.

(6) The aerosol provision device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein,

further comprises a discharge port for discharging the aerosol to the outside,

the atomizing unit has a reservoir for the liquid to be atomized,

the discharge port is oriented in a direction intersecting a normal direction of an extension plane on which the storage portion extends.

(7) The aerosol provision device according to (6), wherein,

further comprises a holding part for the user to hold,

the discharge port is provided at a position separated from the grip portion in a normal direction of an extension surface extending from the storage portion.

Description of the reference numerals

1. 1A, 1B aerosol supply means;

2a device body (grip portion);

3, air tap;

3a discharge port;

4 liquid storage box (accommodating part);

4a body portion;

4b a base plate;

4c through holes;

4d sliding blocks;

5 an atomizing unit;

5a piezoelectric element substrate (vibrating member);

5b a retention portion;

5c electrodes (vibration source);

5d, through holes;

6a first channel (channel of liquid);

6a tube portion;

7 a second flow path (path of the aerosol);

8a solenoid valve;

8b a duckbill valve;

9a pump;

9a motor;

9b, pressing a rod;

10 liquid;

11, aerosol;

12a control substrate;

12a control unit;

13 a power supply substrate;

14 batteries;

15 a power switch;

40 gyro sensors (attitude detection sensors);

41 built-in unit;

41a box body;

41b through-flow holes;

42 a frame body;

43 universal balls (attitude maintaining section, attitude adjusting section);

44 space;

45 imaginary line segments;

46 center of gravity;

47 atomization amount adjusting part (power adjusting part, amplitude adjusting part, liquid amount adjusting part);

48 an atomization amount adjusting part (posture adjusting part);

50 discharge pipe (discharge part);

50a is discharged.