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EP-4498851-B1 - A CLEANING SYSTEM FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE

EP4498851B1EP 4498851 B1EP4498851 B1EP 4498851B1EP-4498851-B1

Inventors

  • BOUCHUIGUIR, Layth Sliman
  • MONTICONE, Pier Paolo

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230323

Claims (13)

  1. A cleaning system (10, 100) for an aerosol generating device (12), the cleaning system (10, 100) comprising: a cleaning tool (14) receivable in a heating compartment (16) of the aerosol generating device (12); an actuation mechanism (18), wherein the actuation mechanism (18) is configured to activate to cause movement of a cleaning tool (14) received in the heating compartment (16) for mechanically cleaning the heating compartment (16); and a closure member (20) for closing the heating compartment (16), wherein the actuation mechanism (18) is configured to activate based on a cleaning tool (14) being received in the heating compartment (16) and the heating compartment (16) being closed by the closure member (20).
  2. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to claim 1, wherein the actuation mechanism (18) is configured to mechanically clean the heating compartment (16) according to a predefined cleaning cycle.
  3. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuation mechanism (18) is configured to automatically activate.
  4. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuation mechanism (18) is configured to activate based on a user command.
  5. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, in use, activation of the actuation mechanism (18) causes back and forth linear movements of the cleaning tool (14) in the heating compartment (16) and/or rotational movement of the cleaning tool (14) in the heating compartment (16).
  6. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuation mechanism (18) comprises a coil (22) arranged around the heating compartment (16), wherein, in use, the actuation mechanism (18) is activated by energising the coil (22) to create a magnetic field which causes linear movement of the cleaning tool (14) in the heating compartment (16).
  7. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to claim 6, wherein the cleaning tool (14) comprises a permanent magnet.
  8. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the coil (22) is provided by an induction coil of an induction heating assembly (48) of the aerosol generating device (12).
  9. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the actuation mechanism (18) comprises an electric motor (24), wherein, in use, the actuation mechanism (18) is activated by powering the electric motor (24) which causes rotational movement of the cleaning tool (14) in the heating compartment (16).
  10. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to claim 9, wherein the electric motor (24) carries a first permanent magnet (26) and the cleaning tool (14) comprises a second permanent magnet (28), wherein the first and second permanent magnets (26, 28) are spaced apart and arranged to magnetically attract one another when the cleaning tool (14) is received in the heating compartment (16), wherein, in use, activating the actuation mechanism (18) by powering the electric motor (24) rotates the first permanent magnet (26) which causes rotational movement of the cleaning tool (14) in the heating compartment (16) based on the magnetic attraction between the first and second permanent magnets (26, 28).
  11. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to claim 10, wherein the first permanent magnet (26) is arranged outside the heating compartment (16).
  12. A cleaning system (10, 100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning tool (14) comprises a central shaft (30), wherein bristles (32) extend from the central shaft (30).
  13. An aerosol generating device (12) useable with the cleaning system (10, 100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generating device (12) comprises: a heating compartment (16); an actuation mechanism (18), wherein the actuation mechanism (18) is configured to activate to cause movement of a cleaning tool (14) received in the heating compartment (16) for mechanically cleaning the heating compartment (16); and a closure member (20) for closing the heating compartment (16), wherein the actuation mechanism (18) is configured to activate based on a cleaning tool (14) being received in the heating compartment (16) and the heating compartment (16) being closed by the closure member (20).

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to a cleaning system, and more particularly to a cleaning system for an aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol generating substrate to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user. An example of a cleaning system for an aerosol generating device is described in WO 2021/029611 A1. Technical Background The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices (also known as vaporisers) has grown rapidly in recent years as an alternative to the use of traditional tobacco products. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm, rather than burn, an aerosol generating substrate to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user. A commonly available reduced-risk or modified-risk device is an aerosol generating device, or so-called heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate an aerosol or vapour by heating an aerosol generating substrate, for instance comprised in an aerosol generating article such as a heated tobacco stick, to a temperature typically in the range 150°C to 300°C, in a heating compartment. Heating the aerosol generating substrate to a temperature within this range, without burning or combusting the aerosol generating substrate, generates a vapour which typically cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user of the device. The heating compartment should be regularly cleaned, for instance to remove accumulated debris, to maintain an optimum sensory experience during use of the aerosol generating device. Typically, a user carries out a manual cleaning operation to clean the heating compartment using a cleaning tool, such as a brush. This may be an unpleasant experience for the user and therefore undesirable. Furthermore, the heating compartment may not be manually cleaned by a user consistently to a required standard to maintain an optimum sensory experience during use of the aerosol generating device. There is, therefore, a need to provide a cleaning system which mitigates these drawbacks. Summary of the Disclosure According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cleaning system for an aerosol generating device, the cleaning system comprising: a cleaning tool receivable in a heating compartment of the aerosol generating device;an actuation mechanism, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to activate to cause movement of a cleaning tool received in the heating compartment for mechanically cleaning the heating compartment; anda closure member for closing the heating compartment, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to activate based on a cleaning tool being received in the heating compartment and the heating compartment being closed by the closure member. The cleaning system enables cleaning of the heating compartment, for instance to remove accumulated debris, without an undesirable manual cleaning operation by a user. The cleaning operation is therefore simplified. Furthermore, the cleaning system cleans the heating compartment consistently to a required standard to maintain an optimum sensory experience during use of the aerosol generating device. The cleaning operation is therefore improved. The actuation mechanism may be configured to mechanically clean the heating compartment according to a predefined cleaning cycle. The cleaning operation is therefore controlled and executed by the actuation mechanism and not by a user thus providing a more consistent an improved cleaning operation. In some examples, the actuation mechanism may be configured to automatically activate. A user command to start the cleaning operation is not therefore required. In other examples, the actuation mechanism may be configured to activate based on a user command. Possibly, in use, activation of the actuation mechanism causes back and forth linear movements of the cleaning tool in the heating compartment and/or rotational movement of the cleaning tool in the heating compartment. Possibly, the actuation mechanism comprises a coil arranged around the heating compartment, wherein, in use, the actuation mechanism is activated by energising the coil to create a magnetic field which causes linear movement of the cleaning tool in the heating compartment. In such examples, the cleaning tool may comprise a permanent magnet. The coil may be provided by an induction coil of an induction heating assembly of the aerosol generating device. This construction simplifies the arrangement. Alternatively, possibly the actuation mechanism comprises an electric motor wherein, in use, the actuation mechanism is activated by powering the electric motor which causes rotational movement of the cleaning tool in the heating compartment. Possibly, the electric motor carries a first permanent magnet and the cleaning tool comprises a second permanent magnet, wherein the first and second permanent magnets are spaced apart and arranged to magnetically attract one another when the cleaning tool is receive