An Aerosol-Generating Device Comprising a Compression Device and Method for Compressing an Aerosol-Generating Article

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device includes an oven having a first opening through which an aerosol-generating article could be inserted at least partially in the oven and a compression device which is arranged outside the oven and in front of the opening to compress the aerosol-generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven through the opening. Furthermore, A system includes such an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article. A method for inserting an aerosol-generating article at least partially in an oven of an aerosol-generating device by the steps of compressing the aerosol-generating article by a compression device which is arranged outside the oven and in front of an opening of the oven to compress the aerosol-generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven through the opening, and moving the compressed aerosol-generating article at least partially into the oven is disclosed, too.

1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising an oven having a first opening through which an aerosol-generating article can be inserted at least partially in the oven,
 wherein
 a compression device is arranged outside the oven and in front of the opening to compress the aerosol-generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven through the opening, and 
 the compression device comprising at least one roller that defines a gap, the at least one roller configured to apply a defined pressure in a direction towards the gap. 
   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the at least one roller comprises two compression rollers defining the gap therebetween, the two compression rollers configured to apply a defined pressure in a direction towards the gap.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the compression device defines a maximal width of the aerosol-generating article to be inserted in the oven.   
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the compression device is motor driven.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the compression device has a first opening facing in a direction of the oven and a second opening facing away from the oven, wherein a diameter of the first opening is at ≥5% and ≤75% smaller than a diameter of the second opening.   
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor for detecting insertion of the aerosol-generating article in the compression device.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a control device configured to control the compression device to compress the aerosol-generating article detected by the sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a volume of an internal cavity of the oven, in which the aerosol-generating article can be inserted or wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the internal cavity, perpendicular to the direction along which the aerosol-generating article can be inserted, is constant.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 ,
 where in walls of the oven comprise a heating element for actively heating an aerosol-generating article inserted in the oven.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1  and the aerosol-generating article, wherein the aerosol-generating article extends in a first direction, in a second and in a third direction, which are each perpendicular with respect to each other, wherein the extension in the first direction is greater than in the second and third direction, and wherein at least one of the second or third direction extends a width of the oven. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the aerosol-generating article is compressible at least in the second or third direction such that in a compressed state an extension of the aerosol-generating article in the second or third direction is smaller than a width of the oven.   
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein at least one of the aerosol-generating article or the oven has a circular cross section and a longitudinal extension in the axial direction greater than a diameter of the circular cross section.   
     
     
         13 . A method for inserting an aerosol-generating article at least partially in an oven of an aerosol-generating device comprising the steps of
 compressing the aerosol-generating article by a compression device arranged outside the oven and in front of an opening of the oven to compress the aerosol-generating device upon insertion thereof in the oven through the opening, and   moving the compressed aerosol-generating article at least partially into the oven.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the compressing the aerosol-generating article comprises compressing the aerosol-generating article by the compression device by ≥5%.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the moving the compressed aerosol-generating article comprises transporting the aerosol-generating article at least partially into the oven by a motor driven transport device.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the compression device comprises a transport device for accelerating the aerosol generating article in a direction towards the oven. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression device has a first opening facing in a direction of the oven and a second opening facing away from the oven, wherein a diameter of the first opening is at ≥7.5% than a diameter of the second opening. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression device has a first opening facing in a direction of the oven and a second opening facing away from the oven, wherein a diameter of the first opening is at ≥10% than a diameter of the second opening. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression device has a first opening facing in a direction of the oven and a second opening facing away from the oven, wherein a diameter of the first opening is ≤60% smaller than a diameter of the second opening. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression device has a first opening facing in a direction of the oven and a second opening facing away from the oven, wherein a diameter of the first opening is ≤50% smaller than a diameter of the second opening.