An Aerosol Generating Device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes a heating assembly with a heating compartment. The device further includes a gripper mechanism to engage an aerosol generating article including an aerosol generating substrate in the compartment based on the temperature of the compartment. The gripper mechanism includes a gripper moveable between disengaged and engaged positions based on the temperature of the compartment. In the disengaged position, an aerosol generating article can be received into and removed from the gripper and in the engaged position the gripper is configured to engage an aerosol generating article. The gripper includes a shape-memory alloy. Below a transition temperature the alloy has a first configuration defining the disengaged position and at or above the transition temperature the alloy has a second configuration defining the engaged position. The first configuration includes a first helical coil of greater diameter than a second helical coil of the second configuration.

1 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a heating assembly, wherein the heating assembly comprises a heating compartment arranged to receive an aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol generating substrate; and   a gripper mechanism configured to engage an aerosol generating article in the heating compartment based on the temperature of the heating compartment, wherein the gripper mechanism comprises a gripper moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position based on a temperature of the heating compartment, wherein in the disengaged position an aerosol generating article can be received into and removed from the gripper and in the engaged position the gripper is configured to engage an aerosol generating article, wherein the gripper comprises a shape-memory alloy, wherein below a transition temperature the shape-memory alloy has a first configuration defining the disengaged position and at or above the transition temperature the shape-memory alloy has a second configuration defining the engaged position, wherein the first configuration includes a first helical coil, and the second configuration includes a second helical coil, wherein the a diameter of the first helical coil is greater than the a diameter of the second helical coil.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the gripper is in the engaged position, the gripper is configured to engage a first section of the aerosol generating article, wherein the first section comprises the aerosol generating substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the gripper is in the engaged position, the gripper is configured to engage only the first section. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein, when the gripper is in the engaged position, the gripper is configured to engage the first section having a maximum first section volume and also to engage the first section having a minimum first section volume caused by most of, or all of, the aerosol generating substrate having been vapourised by a vaping session. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 3 , further comprising an aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol generating substrate, the aerosol generating article including a first section that comprises the aerosol generating substrate, wherein the diameter of the first helical coil is greater than a diameter of the first section of the aerosol generating article having a maximum first section volume; and wherein the diameter of the second helical coil is less than the diameter of the first section having the maximum first section volume. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the second helical coil is less than the diameter of the first section having a minimum first section volume caused by most of, or all of, the aerosol generating substrate having been vapourised by a vaping session. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device according to any of  claim 2 , wherein the heating assembly is configured such that, in use, only the first section of the aerosol generating article is received within the heating compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device according to any of  claim 2 , wherein the heating assembly is configured such that, in use, a second section of the aerosol generating article is outside the heating compartment, wherein the second section includes a vapour outlet channel. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein an axial length of the first helical coil is less than an axial length of the second helical coil. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripper provides a heater of the heating assembly of the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 10 , wherein the heater is a resistive heating element. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 10 , wherein the heater is an inductively heatable susceptor. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripper is separate and distinct from a heater of the heating assembly of the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripper is disposed inside the heating compartment at or towards a base of the heating compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol generating substrate, wherein the transition temperature is at least 50° C. and below a vaporisation temperature of the aerosol generating substrate.