An Aerosol-Generating Device Comprising a Gripping Element

Abstract

The invention, relates to an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber arranged to receive a consumable, a heater configured to heat the consumable in order to release an aerosol and a gripping element configured to grip and eject the consumable from the heating chamber when required.

1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber arranged to receive a consumable, a heater configured to heat the consumable in order to release an aerosol, and a gripping element configured to selectively grip the consumable, and selectively eject the consumable from the heating chamber. 
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripping element is a claw device comprising a drive member and jaws attached to said drive member, said drive member being configured to move the jaws inwards so that said jaws come towards one another and outwards so that the jaws move away from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the drive member is a telescopic cylinder configured to extend thereby moving the jaws outwards, and configured to shorten thereby moving the jaws inwards. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 3 , wherein each jaw is hingedly connected to the drive member at a first point and a second point different from the first point, each jaw being articulated at said first point to the telescopic cylinder by a connecting rod and at said second point by a ring attached to an end of the telescopic cylinder, said ring being configured to move in a direction of extension and shortening of the telescopic cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the telescopic cylinder is configured to extend on ejection of the consumable thereby moving the jaws outwards and the ring against the consumable. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the telescopic cylinder is configured to shorten during heating of the consumable thereby moving the jaws inwards and the ring away from the consumable. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim, 3  wherein the telescopic cylinder is configured to extend at an end of heating of the consumable thereby moving the jaws outwards so as to release the consumable. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a micro-controller configured to automatically move the drive member depending whether to heat the consumable, stop heating the consumable or ejecting the consumable from the heating chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a housing within which the heating chamber, the heater and the gripping element are housed, the housing comprising a through hole through which extends the drive member such that a part of the drive member protrudes from the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a housing within which the heating chamber, the heater and the gripping element are housed, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a slide extending on an external wall of the housing, said slide being mounted to the drive member of the gripping element such that the drive member is driven by a movement of the slide. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the heater and the gripping element are positioned with respect to one another such that the jaws are conductively heated by the heater, and the gripping element is configured to compress the consumable when it is being heated. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 11 , wherein the gripping element is configured to stop compressing the consumable when the heating is stopped. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the heater comprises resistive heating elements fitted on the jaws of the gripping element. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a stationary heater extending over a wall of the heating chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber comprises slots shaped so as to receive the gripping element, and the gripping element is configured to move within the slots to compress or release the consumable.