EP4676838A2 - Dispositif de recharge - Google Patents

Dispositif de recharge

Info

Publication number
EP4676838A2
EP4676838A2 EP24713693.0A EP24713693A EP4676838A2 EP 4676838 A2 EP4676838 A2 EP 4676838A2 EP 24713693 A EP24713693 A EP 24713693A EP 4676838 A2 EP4676838 A2 EP 4676838A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
aerosol
generating material
refill reservoir
article
amount
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP24713693.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Mohammed Al-Amin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Original Assignee
Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nicoventures Trading Ltd filed Critical Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Publication of EP4676838A2 publication Critical patent/EP4676838A2/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/26—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled
    • B65B3/30—Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled by volumetric measurement
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F15/00—Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor
    • A24F15/01—Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor specially adapted for simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor
    • A24F15/015—Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor specially adapted for simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor with means for refilling of liquid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/51—Arrangement of sensors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/53—Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/70—Manufacture

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to refilling devices for refilling a reservoir of an article for use with an aerosol provision system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to controlling the refilling operation.
  • Electronic aerosol provision systems which are often configured as so-called electronic cigarettes, can have a unitary format with all elements of the system in a common housing, or a multi-component format in which elements are distributed between two or more housings which can be coupled together to form the system.
  • a common example of the latter format is a two-component system comprising a device and an article.
  • the device typically contains an electrical power source for the system, such as a battery, and control electronics for operating elements in order to generate aerosol.
  • the article also referred to by terms including cartridge, cartomiser, consumable and clearomiser, typically contains a storage volume or area for holding a supply of aerosol-generating material from which the aerosol is generated, and in some instances an aerosol generator such as a heater operable to vaporise the aerosol-generating material.
  • an aerosol generator such as a heater operable to vaporise the aerosol-generating material.
  • a similar three-component system may include a separate mouthpiece that attaches to the article.
  • the article is designed to be disposable, in that it is intended to be detached from the device and thrown away when the aerosol-generating material has been consumed. The user obtains a new article which has been prefilled with aerosol-generating material by a manufacturer and attaches it to the device for use.
  • the device in contrast, is intended to be used with multiple consecutive articles, with a capability to recharge the battery to allow prolonged operation.
  • An alternative design of article is therefore known, which is configured to be refilled with aerosol-generating material by the user. This reduces waste, and can reduce the cost of electronic cigarette usage for the user.
  • the aerosol-generating material may be provided in a bottle, for example, from which the user squeezes or drips a quantity of material into the article via a refilling orifice on the article.
  • the act of refilling can be awkward and inconvenient, since the items are small and the volume of material involved is typically low. Alignment of the juncture between bottle and article can be difficult, with inaccuracies leading to spillage of the material. This is not only wasteful, but may also be dangerous. Aerosol-generating material frequently contains liquid nicotine, which can be poisonous if it makes contact with the skin.
  • refilling units or devices which are configured to receive a bottle or other reservoir of aerosol-generating material plus a refillable cartridge, and to automate the transfer of the material from the former to the latter.
  • Mechanisms and approaches for controlling the transfer of the material from the bottle or other reservoir to the cartridge in such refilling units are of interest.
  • a refilling unit for refilling an article with aerosol-generating material, wherein the article is for use with an aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol for user inhalation from the aerosol generating material in the article.
  • the refilling unit includes: an aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism configured to transfer aerosol-generating material from a refill reservoir to the article; an aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism arranged so as to be able to sense a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir; and control circuitry.
  • the control circuitry is configured to control the aerosolgenerating material transfer mechanism on the basis of an output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism.
  • a refill reservoir comprising a storage area for storing aerosol-generating material, the refill reservoir for use with a refilling unit for supplying aerosol-generating material from the refill reservoir to a refillable article.
  • the refill reservoir includes: a housing, including a movable surface; a storage area, the storage area defined within the housing, and wherein movement of the movable part of the housing alters the volume of the storage area; and a level identification component.
  • the level identification component is configured to give an indication of the position of the movable part of the housing for identifying the amount of aerosol-generating material within or expelled from the refill reservoir.
  • a method of refilling an article with aerosol-generating material wherein the article is for use with an aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol for user inhalation from the aerosol generating material in the article, using a refilling unit.
  • the method includes: engaging an article with the refilling unit; controlling an aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism to transfer aerosol-generating material from a refill reservoir to the article; sensing a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir; and ceasing the transfer of aerosol-generating material on the basis of an output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism.
  • refilling means for refilling an article with aerosol-generating material, wherein the article is for use with an aerosol-generating means to generate aerosol for user inhalation from the aerosol generating material in the article.
  • the refilling means includes: aerosol-generating material transfer means configured to transfer aerosol-generating material from a refill reservoir to the article; aerosol-generating material amount sensing means arranged so as to be able to sense a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir; and control means.
  • the control means is configured to control the aerosol-generating material transfer means on the basis of an output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing means.
  • Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic cross-section through an example electronic aerosol provision system to which embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable;
  • Figure 2 shows a simplified schematic representation of a refilling device in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented
  • Figure 3a shows an example method for operating a refilling device, in accordance with the present disclosure, whereby the refilling device is arranged to determine the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir and control the aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism on the basis of the determined amount;
  • Figure 3b shows a modification to the method of Figure 3a where the refilling device is arranged to determine the amount of aerosol-generating material transferred from the refill reservoir and control the aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism on the basis of the determined amount;
  • FIG. 4a schematically shows a first example of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism, in accordance with the present disclosure, whereby the aerosolgenerating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a pair of parallel capacitive plates;
  • Figure 4b schematically shows a second example of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism, in accordance with the present disclosure, whereby the aerosolgenerating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of pairs of parallel capacitive plates;
  • Figure 5a schematically shows a third example of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism, in accordance with the present disclosure, whereby the aerosolgenerating material amount sensing mechanism comprises magnetic strip and a reader for sensing linear displacement of the reader along the magnetic strip; and
  • Figure 5b schematically shows a fourth example of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism, in accordance with the present disclosure, whereby the aerosolgenerating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a mark on a rotating element and a reader for sensing rotational motion of the mark during operation of the transfer mechanism.
  • system and “delivery system” are intended to encompass systems that deliver a substance to a user, and include non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, and articles comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used within one of these non-combustible aerosol provision systems.
  • a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance of the aerosol-generating material to a user.
  • the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.
  • the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery (END) system, although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.
  • the systems are intended to generate an inhalable aerosol by vaporisation of a substrate (aerosol-generating material) in the form of a liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine.
  • the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not- burn system.
  • An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.
  • the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated.
  • Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine.
  • the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol generating material and a solid aerosol generating material.
  • the solid aerosol generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a nontobacco product.
  • the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a noncombustible aerosol provision device and an article (consumable) for use with the noncombustible aerosol provision device.
  • the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with noncombustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.
  • articles which themselves comprise a means for powering an aerosol generator or aerosol generating component may themselves form the non-combustible aerosol provision system.
  • the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise a power source and a controller.
  • the power source may, for example, be an electric power source.
  • the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise an aerosolgenerating material, an aerosol-generating component (aerosol generator), an aerosolgenerating area, a mouthpiece, and/or an area for receiving and holding aerosol-generating material.
  • the aerosol-generating component or aerosol generator comprises a heater capable of interacting with the aerosol-generating material so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol.
  • a heater capable of interacting with the aerosol-generating material so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol.
  • the disclosure is not limited in this regard, and applies also to systems that use other approaches to form aerosol, such as a vibrating mesh.
  • the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material or an area for receiving aerosol-generating material.
  • the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise a mouthpiece.
  • the area for receiving aerosol-generating material may be a storage area for storing aerosol-generating material.
  • the storage area may be a reservoir which may store a liquid aerosol-generating material.
  • the area for receiving aerosol-generating material may be separate from, or combined with, an aerosol generating area (which is an area at which the aerosol is generated).
  • the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent through which generated aerosol is passed before being delivered to the user.
  • the term “component” may be used to refer to a part, section, unit, module, assembly or similar of an electronic cigarette or similar device that incorporates several smaller parts or elements, possibly within an exterior housing or wall.
  • An aerosol provision system such as an electronic cigarette may be formed or built from one or more such components, such as an article and a device, and the components may be removably or separably connectable to one another, or may be permanently joined together during manufacture to define the whole system.
  • the present disclosure is applicable to (but not limited to) systems comprising two components separably connectable to one another and configured, for example, as an article in the form of an aerosol-generating material carrying component holding liquid or another aerosol-generating material (alternatively referred to as a cartridge, cartomiser, pod or consumable), and a device having a battery or other power source for providing electrical power to operate an aerosol generating component or aerosol generator for creating vapour/aerosol from the aerosol-generating material.
  • a component may include more or fewer parts than those included in the examples.
  • liquid liquid
  • gel solid
  • fluid source liquid
  • source gel source fluid
  • substrate material substrate material
  • aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way.
  • aerosol may be used interchangeably with “vapour”.
  • Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants.
  • the aerosol-generating material may comprise an “amorphous solid”, which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous).
  • the amorphous solid may be a dried gel.
  • the active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained.
  • the active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof.
  • the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.
  • the terms "flavour” and “flavourant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof.
  • the aerosolformer material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol.
  • the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.
  • the one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.
  • Figure 1 is a highly schematic diagram (not to scale) of an example electronic aerosol/vapour provision system 10, presented for the purpose of showing the relationship between the various parts of a typical system and explaining the general principles of operation. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to a system configured in this way, and features may be modified in accordance with the various alternatives and definitions described above and/or apparent to the skilled person.
  • the aerosol provision system 10 has a generally elongate shape in this example, extending along a longitudinal axis indicated by a dashed line, and comprises two main components, namely an aerosol provision device 20 (control or power component, section or unit), and an article or consumable 30 (cartridge assembly or section, sometimes referred to as a cartomiser, clearomiser or pod) carrying aerosol-generating material and operable to generate vapour/aerosol.
  • the aerosol provision system 10 is configured to generate aerosol from a liquid aerosol-generating material (source liquid), and the foregoing disclosure will explain the principles of the present disclosure using this example.
  • the present disclosure is not limited to aerosolising a liquid aerosol-generating material, and features may be modified in accordance with the various alternatives and definitions described above and/or apparent to the skilled person in order to aerosolise different aerosol-generating materials, e.g., solid aerosol-generating materials or gel aerosolgenerating materials as described above.
  • the article 30 includes a reservoir 3 (as an example of an aerosol-generating material storage area) for containing a source liquid from which an aerosol is to be generated, for example containing nicotine.
  • the source liquid may comprise around 1% to 3% nicotine and 50% glycerol, with the remainder comprising roughly equal measures of water and propylene glycol, and possibly also comprising other components, such as flavourings. Nicotine-free source liquid may also be used, such as to deliver flavouring.
  • a solid substrate (not illustrated), such as a portion of tobacco or other flavour imparting element through which vapour generated from the liquid is passed, may also be included.
  • the reservoir 3 may have the form of a storage tank, being a container or receptacle in which source liquid can be stored such that the liquid is free to move and flow within the confines of the tank.
  • the reservoir 3 may comprise absorbent material (either inside a tank or similar, or positioned within the outer housing of the article) that substantially holds the aerosol-generating material.
  • the reservoir 3 may be sealed after filling during manufacture so as to be disposable after the source liquid is consumed.
  • the present disclosure is relevant to refillable articles that have an inlet port, orifice or other opening (not shown in Figure 1) through which new source liquid can be added to enable reuse of the article 30.
  • the article 30 also comprises an aerosol generator 5, which in this example has the form of an electrically powered heating element or heater 4 and an aerosol-generating material transfer element 6 designed to transfer aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 3 to the aerosol generator.
  • the heater 4 is located externally of the reservoir 3 and is operable to generate the aerosol by vaporisation of the source liquid by heating.
  • the aerosol-generating material transfer element 6 is a transfer or delivery arrangement configured to deliver aerosolgenerating material from the reservoir 3 to the heater 4. In some examples, it may have the form of a wick or other porous element.
  • a wick 6 may have one or more parts located inside the reservoir 3, or otherwise be in fluid communication with liquid in the reservoir 3, so as to be able to absorb source liquid and transfer it by wicking or capillary action to other parts of the wick 6 that are adjacent or in contact with the heater 4.
  • the wick may be formed of any suitable material which can cause wicking of the liquid, such as glass fibres or cotton fibres. This wicked liquid is thereby heated and vaporised, and replacement liquid is drawn, via continuous capillary action, from the reservoir 3 for transfer to the heater 4 by the wick 6.
  • the wick 6 may be thought of as a conduit between the reservoir 3 and the heater 4 that delivers or transfers liquid from the reservoir to the heater.
  • the heater 4 and the aerosol-generating material transfer element 6 are unitary or monolithic, and formed from a same material that is able to be used for both liquid transfer and heating, such as a material which is both porous and conductive.
  • the aerosol-generating material transfer element 6 may operate other than by capillary action, such as by comprising an arrangement of one or more valves by which liquid may exit the reservoir 3 and be passed onto the heater 4.
  • a heater and wick (or similar) combination, referred to herein as an aerosol generator 5, may sometimes be termed an atomiser or atomiser assembly, and the reservoir 3 with its source liquid plus the atomiser may be collectively referred to as an aerosol source.
  • the parts may be differently arranged compared with the highly schematic representation of Figure 1.
  • the wick 6 may be an entirely separate element from the heater 4, or the heater 4 may be configured to be porous and able to perform at least part of the wicking function directly (a metallic mesh, for example).
  • the system is an electronic system
  • the heater 4 may comprise one or more electrical heating elements that operate by ohmic/resistive (Joule) heating.
  • the article 30 may comprise electrical contacts (not shown) at an interface of the article 30 which electrically engage to electrical contacts (not shown) at an interface of the aerosol provision device 20. Electrical energy can therefore be transferred to the heater 4 via the electrical contacts from the aerosol provision device 20 to cause heating of the heater 4.
  • the heater 4 may be inductively heated, in which case the heater comprises a susceptor in an induction heating arrangement (which may comprise a suitable drive coil, e.g., located in the aerosol provision device 20, and through which an alternating electrical current is passed).
  • an aerosol generator in the present context can be considered as one or more elements that implement the functionality of an aerosol-generating element able to generate vapour by heating source liquid (or other aerosol-generating material) delivered to it, and a liquid transport or delivery element able to deliver or transport liquid from a reservoir or similar liquid store to the vapour-generating element by a wicking action I capillary force or otherwise.
  • An aerosol generator is typically housed in an article 30 of an aerosol generating system, as in Figure 1 , but in some examples, at least the heater part may be housed in the device 20. Embodiments of the disclosure are applicable to all and any such configurations which are consistent with the examples and description herein.
  • the article 30 also includes a mouthpiece or mouthpiece portion 35 having an opening or air outlet through which a user may inhale the aerosol generated by the heater 4.
  • the aerosol provision device 20 includes a power source such as a cell or battery 7 (referred to hereinafter as a battery, and which may or may not be re-chargeable) to provide electrical power for electrical components of the aerosol provision system 10, in particular to operate the heater 4.
  • a power source such as a cell or battery 7 (referred to hereinafter as a battery, and which may or may not be re-chargeable) to provide electrical power for electrical components of the aerosol provision system 10, in particular to operate the heater 4.
  • control circuitry 8 such as a printed circuit board and/or other electronics or circuitry for generally controlling the aerosol provision system 10.
  • the control circuitry 8 may include a processor programmed with software, which may be modifiable by a user of the system.
  • the user inhales on the system 10 via the mouthpiece 35, and air A enters through one or more air inlets 9 in the wall of the device 20 (air inlets may alternatively or additionally be located in the article 30).
  • the heater 4 When the heater 4 is operated, it vaporises source liquid delivered from the reservoir 3 by the aerosol-generating material transfer component 6 to generate the aerosol by entrainment of the vapour into the air flowing through the system, and this is then inhaled by the user through the opening in the mouthpiece 35.
  • the aerosol is carried from the aerosol generator 5 to the mouthpiece 35 along one or more air channels (not shown) that connect the air inlets 9 to the aerosol generator 5 to the air outlet when a user inhales on the mouthpiece 35.
  • control circuitry 8 is suitably configured I programmed to control the operation of the aerosol provision system 10 to provide conventional operating functions of the aerosol provision system in line with established techniques for controlling such devices, as well as any specific functionality described as part of the foregoing disclosure.
  • the control circuitry 8 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units I circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the aerosol provision system’s operation in accordance with the principles described herein and other conventional operating aspects of aerosol provision systems, such as display driving circuitry for systems that may include a user display (such as an screen or indicator) and user input detections via one or more user actuatable controls 12.
  • control circuitry 8 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computers and/or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuits I circuitry I chips I chipsets configured to provide the desired functionality.
  • the device 20 and the article 30 are separate connectable parts detachable from one another by separation in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, as indicated by the doubleheaded arrows in Figure 1.
  • the components 20, 30 are joined together when the system 10 is in use by cooperating engagement elements 21 , 31 (for example, a screw or bayonet fitting) which provide mechanical and in some cases electrical connectivity between the device 20 and the article 30.
  • Electrical connectivity may be present if the heater 4 operates by ohmic heating, so that current can be passed through the heater 4 when it is connected to the battery 5. In systems that use inductive heating, electrical connectivity can be omitted if no parts requiring electrical power are located in the article 30.
  • An inductive work coil I drive coil can be housed in the device 20 and supplied with power from the battery 5, and the article 30 and the device 20 shaped so that when they are connected, there is an appropriate exposure of the heater 4 to flux generated by the coil for the purpose of generating current flow in the material of the heater.
  • Figure 1 design is merely an example arrangement, and the various parts and features may be differently distributed between the device 20 and the article 30, and other components and elements may be included.
  • the two sections may connect together end-to-end in a longitudinal configuration as in Figure 1 , or in a different configuration such as a parallel, side-by-side arrangement.
  • the system may or may not be generally cylindrical and/or have a generally longitudinal shape. Either or both sections or components may be intended to be disposed of and replaced when exhausted, or be intended for multiple uses enabled by actions such as refilling the reservoir and recharging the battery.
  • the system 10 may be unitary, in that the parts of the device 20 and the article 30 are comprised in a single housing and cannot be separated. Embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are applicable to any of these configurations and other configurations of which the skilled person will be aware.
  • the present disclosure relates to the refilling of a storage area for aerosol generating material in an aerosol provision system, whereby a user is enabled to conveniently provide a system with fresh aerosol generating material when a previous stored quantity has been used up. It is proposed that this be done automatically, by provision of apparatus which is termed herein a refilling device, refilling unit, refilling station, or simply dock.
  • the refilling device is configured to receive an aerosol provision system, or more conveniently, the article from an aerosol provision system having an aerosol-generating material storage area which is empty or only partly full, plus a larger reservoir holding aerosol generating material.
  • a fluid communication flow path is established between the larger reservoir and the storage area, and a controller in the refilling device controls a transfer mechanism (or arrangement) operable to move aerosol-generating material along the flow path from the larger reservoir in the refilling device to the storage area.
  • the transfer mechanism can be activated in response to user input of a refill request to the refilling device, or activation may be automatic in response to a particular state or condition of the refilling device detected by the controller. For example, if both an article and a larger reservoir are correctly positioned inside or otherwise coupled to the refilling unit, refilling may be carried out.
  • the transfer mechanism is deactivated, and transfer ceases.
  • the transfer mechanism may be configured to automatically dispense a fixed quantity of aerosol generating material in response to activation by the controller, such as fixed quantity matching the capacity of the storage area.
  • FIG. 2 shows a highly schematic representation of an example refilling device.
  • the refilling device is shown in a simplified form only, to illustrate various elements and their relationship to one another. More particular features of one or more of the elements with which the present disclosure is concerned will be described in more detail below.
  • the refilling device 50 will be referred to hereinafter for convenience as a “dock”. This term is applicable since a reservoir and an article are received or “docked” in the refilling device during use.
  • the dock 50 comprises an outer housing 52.
  • the dock 50 is expected to be useful for refilling of articles in the home or workplace (rather than being a portable device or a commercial device, although these options are not excluded). Therefore, the outer housing, made for example from metal, plastics or glass, may be designed to have a pleasing outward appearance such as to make it suitable for permanent and convenient access, such as on a shelf, desk, table or counter. It may be any size suitable for accommodating the various elements described herein, such as having dimensions between about 10 cm and 20 cm, although smaller or larger sizes may be preferred.
  • Inside the housing 50 are defined two cavities or ports 54, 56.
  • a first port 54 is shaped and dimensioned to receive and interface with a refill reservoir 40.
  • the first or refill reservoir port 54 is configured to enable an interface between the refill reservoir 40 and the dock 50, so might alternatively be termed a refill reservoir interface.
  • the refill reservoir interface is for moving aerosol-generating material out of the refill reservoir 40, but in some cases the interface may enable additional functions, such as electrical contacts and sensing capabilities for communication between the refill reservoir 40 and the dock 50 and determining characteristics and features of the refill reservoir 40.
  • the refill reservoir 40 comprises a wall or housing 41 that defines a storage space (or storage area) for holding aerosol-generating material 42.
  • the volume of the storage space is large enough to accommodate many or several times the storage area I reservoir 3 of an article 30 intended to be refilled in the dock 50.
  • a user can therefore purchase a filled reservoir 40 of their preferred aerosol generating material (flavour, strength, brand, etc.), and use it to refill an article 30 multiple times.
  • a user could acquire several reservoirs 40 of different aerosol generating materials, so as to have a convenient choice available when refilling an article.
  • the refill reservoir 40 includes an outlet orifice or opening 44 by which the aerosol generating material 42 can pass out of the refill reservoir 40.
  • the outlet orifice 44 may include any suitable cap, valve, semipermeable membrane, septum, etc. to allow aerosol-generating material to selectively exit the refill reservoir 40 through the orifice 44.
  • a second port 56 is shaped and dimensioned to receive and interface with an article 30.
  • the second or article port 56 is configured to enable an interface between the article 30 and the dock 50, so might alternatively be termed an article interface.
  • the article interface is for receiving aerosol-generating material into the article 30, but in some cases the interface may enable additional functions, such as electrical contacts and sensing capabilities for communication between the article 30 and the dock 50 and determining characteristics and features of the reservoir 30.
  • the article 30 itself comprises a wall or housing 31 that has within it (but possibly not occupying all the space within the wall 31) a storage area 3 for holding aerosol-generating material.
  • the volume of the storage area 3 is many or several times smaller than the volume of the refill reservoir 40, so that the article 30 can be refilled multiple times from a single refill reservoir 40.
  • the article 30 also includes an inlet orifice or opening 32 by which aerosolgenerating material can enter the storage area 3.
  • the inlet orifice 32 may include any suitable cap, valve, semipermeable membrane, septum, etc. to allow aerosol-generating material to selectively enter the article 30 through the orifice 32.
  • Various other elements may be included with the article 30, as discussed above with regard to Figure 1.
  • the housing also accommodates a fluid conduit 58, being a passage or flow path by which the reservoir 40 and the storage area 3 of the article 30 are placed in fluid communication, so that aerosol-generating material can move from the refill reservoir 40 to the article 30 when both the refill reservoir 40 and the article 30 are correctly positioned in the dock 50.
  • Placement of the refill reservoir 40 and the article 30 into the dock 50 locates and engages them such that the fluid conduit 58 is connected between the outlet orifice 44 of the reservoir 40 and the inlet orifice 32 of the article 30.
  • all or part of the fluid conduit 58 may be formed by parts of the refill reservoir 40 and the article 30, so that the fluid conduit 58 is created and defined only when the refill reservoir 40 and/or the article 30 are placed in the dock 50.
  • the fluid conduit 58 may be a flow path defined within the housing 52 of the dock 50, to each end of which the respective orifices are engaged.
  • Access to the reservoir port 54 and the article port 56 can be by any convenient means. Apertures may be provided in the housing 52 of the dock 50, through which the refill reservoir 40 and the article 30 can be placed or pushed.
  • the refill reservoir 40 and/or the article 30 may be completely contained within the respective apertures or may partially be contained such that a portion of the refill reservoir 40 and/or the article 30 protrude from the respective ports 54, 56.
  • doors or the like may be included to cover the apertures to prevent dust or other contaminants from entering the apertures.
  • the doors or the like might require to be placed in closed state to allow refilling to take place.
  • Doors, hatches and other hinged coverings, or sliding access elements such as drawers or trays, might include shaped tracks, slots or recesses to receive and hold the refill reservoir 40 or the article 30, which bring the refill reservoir 40 or the article 30 into proper alignment inside the housing 52 when the door, etc. is closed.
  • the housing of the dock 50 may be shaped so as to include recessed portions into which the article 30 or refill reservoir 40 may be inserted.
  • the dock 50 also includes an aerosol generating material transfer mechanism, arrangement, or apparatus 53, operable to move or cause the movement of fluid out of the refill reservoir 40, along the conduit 58 and into the article 30.
  • the transfer mechanism 53 may comprise a collapsible or movable wall (e.g., a plunger) such that the volume of the refill reservoir 40 can be adjusted (reduced) and the aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism 53 comprises a suitable push rod or the like for actuating the collapsible or movable wall of the refill reservoir 40 to supply aerosol-generating material along the conduit 58.
  • the transfer mechanism 53 may comprise a fluid pump, such as a peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump may be arranged to rotate and compress parts of the conduit 58 to force source liquid along the length of the conduit towards the inlet orifice 32 of the article 30 in accordance with the conventional techniques for operating a peristaltic pump.
  • a controller 55 (or control circuitry) is also included in the dock 50, which is operable to control components of the dock 50, in particular to generate and send control signals to operate the transfer mechanism 53. As noted, this may be in response to a user input, such as actuation of a button or switch (not shown) on the housing 52, or automatically in response to both the refill reservoir 40 and the article 30 being detected as present inside their respective ports 54, 56.
  • the controller 55 may therefore be in communication with contacts and/or sensors (not shown) at the ports 54, 56 in order to obtain data from the ports and/or the refill reservoir 40 and article 30 that can be used in the generation of control signals for operating the transfer mechanism 53.
  • the controller 55 may comprise a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or any configuration of circuitry, hardware, firmware or software as preferred; various options will be apparent to the skilled person.
  • the dock 50 includes a power source 57 to provide electrical power for the controller 55, and any other electrical components that may be included in the dock, such as sensors, user inputs such as switches, buttons or touch panels, and, if present, display elements such as light emitting diodes and/or display screens to convey information about the dock’s operation and status to the user.
  • the transfer mechanism 53 may be electrically powered.
  • the power source 57 may comprise a socket for connection of an electrical mains cable to the dock 50, so that the dock 50 may be “plugged in” to mains electricity. Any suitable electrical converter to convert mains electricity to a suitable operational supply of electricity to the dock 50 may be provided, either on the mains cable or within the dock 50.
  • the power source 57 may comprise one or more batteries, which might be replaceable or rechargeable, and in the latter case the dock 50 may also comprise a socket connection for a charging cable adapted to recharge the battery or batteries while housed in the dock.
  • the fluid conduit 58 is arranged so as to be in fluid communication with the reservoir 40 and the article 30 to allow source liquid to be transferred to the storage area of the article 30 from the refill reservoir 40.
  • the article 30 is suitably configured to be able to be refilled by the dock 50, e.g., via inlet opening 32.
  • the article 30 is arranged so as to, on the one hand, provide a relatively easy engagement between the fluid conduit 58 (or other component(s) linked to the fluid conduit 58) so as to facilitate refilling of the article 30, and on the other hand, is arranged so as to prevent or reduce source liquid exiting the article 30 (for example, when the (full) article 30 is transitioned between the dock 50 and the aerosol provision device after the dock 50 has refilled the article 30 with source liquid).
  • the dock 50 is therefore configured to facilitate the supply of aerosol-generating material (e.g., a source liquid) from the refill reservoir 40 to the reservoir 3 of the article 30.
  • the refill reservoir 40 is adapted to store a greater volume of aerosol-generating material than the reservoir 3 of the article 30, meaning that the refill reservoir 40 is capable of refilling the reservoir 3 of the article 30 with aerosol-generating material multiple times.
  • the dock 50 is provided with an aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism which is configured or suitably arranged to sense a parameter indicative of an amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir 40. Based on the output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism, the controller 55 is configured to control the transfer mechanism 53 accordingly.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may comprise any suitable mechanism which is capable of sensing the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir 40, either directly or indirectly.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may be configured to directly sense the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40. That is to say, the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism senses the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40. Such sensing may be achieved in a number of ways.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may comprise one or more optical sensors configured to sense a level of aerosolgenerating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • an acoustic sensor may be used to sense the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may include capacitive plates arranged such that the reservoir 3 or a part thereof is located between the capacitive plates, wherein a measured capacitance or voltage can be indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 (where the capacitance is a function of the material between the capacitive plates).
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may include a weight sensor or the like for measuring the weight of the refill reservoir 40 to determine the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may be configured to indirectly sense the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40. That is to say, the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism senses a parameter which may be used to infer the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40. Such sensing may be achieved in a number of ways.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may comprise any mechanism capable of sensing movement or operation, e.g., of the or a part of the transfer mechanism 53.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may include an optical or magnetic sensor for sensing an amount of movement of the transfer mechanism 53 (e.g., such as an amount of movement of a motor or of a push-rod) and from this movement infer an amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • an optical or magnetic sensor for sensing an amount of movement of the transfer mechanism 53 (e.g., such as an amount of movement of a motor or of a push-rod) and from this movement infer an amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • Figure 3a depicts a first example of a method of operation of the dock 50 utilising the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism.
  • step S2 the dock 50 is configured to perform a refilling operation.
  • the dock 50 may be configured to perform a refilling operation automatically when both the article 30 and the refill reservoir 40 are engaged with the respective ports 54, 56 of the dock 50.
  • the dock 50 performs step S2 in response to receiving an instruction from a user to initiate the refilling process (e.g., via a button press of a button on the dock 50 or via a user input received from a remote device, such as a smartphone, communicatively coupled to the dock 50).
  • the dock 50 is configured to cause the transfer mechanism 53 to operate to transfer aerosol-generating material from the refill reservoir 40 to the article 30 via the fluid conduit 58.
  • the way in which the controller 55 causes the transfer mechanism 53 to operate will depend in part on the structure of the transfer mechanism 53 used. As described above, the nature of the transfer mechanism 53 is not specific to the general principles of the present disclosure, but the transfer mechanism 53 is provided with at least a mechanism to start the transfer of aerosol-generating material (e.g., such as release of a valve, movement of a motor or pump, etc.) and a mechanism to stop the transfer of aerosol-generating material (e.g., such as closing of a valve, stopping movement of a motor or pump, etc.).
  • step S3 the dock 50 I controller 55 is configured to determine the amount of aerosol-generating material in refill reservoir 40 during the refill operation.
  • the controller 55 is configured to cause the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism to operate so as to sense a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir 40.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may take may different forms and as such the way in which the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism is operated and the parameter that is sensed will depend on the specifics of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism used in a given implementation.
  • the controller 55 is configured to supply a current to the capacitive plates and subsequently measure a voltage from the capacitive plates.
  • the measured voltage is indicative of a capacitance which is dependent in part on the material between the capacitive plates (more particularly, the capacitance will vary depending on the proportion of air and aerosolgenerating material between the capacitive plates owing to the different dielectric constants of these two materials).
  • the capacitance is therefore indicative of the amount of aerosolgenerating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a mechanism configured to sense the movement of a push-rod or the like for moving a moveable wall (e.g., a plunger) of the refill reservoir 40
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may be configured to sense the position (or a specific position) of the moveable wall. The position of the moveable wall is indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the controller 55 is configured to determine the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 on the basis of the sensed parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the determination of the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 may determine the amount of aerosol-generating material across a range of possible values or may determine the amount of aerosol-generating material in a binary fashion. For example, taking the capacitive plates example, the capacitance may vary between a value indicative of a full refill reservoir 40 and an empty refill reservoir 40.
  • the method proceeds to step S4 where the controller 55 is configured to determine whether the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 is equal to or below a threshold.
  • the threshold may be set in advance and correspond to a certain (minimum) amount of aerosol-generating material that is to be contained in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the refill reservoir 40 predominately is a vessel for containing the aerosolgenerating material and, unlike the article 30, does not contain elements such as the aerosol generator 5 which may need a constant supply of aerosol-generating material in order to function correctly or without causing damage. Therefore, the threshold may be set to be relatively low.
  • the threshold may be set to be zero or close thereto, thereby implying that the majority of the aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 is able to exit the refill reservoir 40.
  • the threshold may be slightly higher to ensure there is a buffer of aerosol-generating material remaining in the refill reservoir 40, which may be useful in implementations where the operation of the transfer mechanism 53 may be impacted if any air of the like finds its way into the fluid conduit 58 (e.g., such as with a pump or the like). It should be appreciated, however, that the smaller the threshold, the smaller the amount of aerosol-generating material left in the refill reservoir 40 once the threshold is surpassed.
  • Step S4 includes the controller 55 comparing the determined amount of aerosolgenerating material in the refill reservoir 40 obtained at step S3 to the threshold.
  • the controller 55 may in effect perform step S4 at the same time as step S3.
  • Step S4 If it is determined that the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 is not equal to or below the threshold, i.e., a NO at step S4, then the method proceeds back to step S2 where the refilling operation continues. Steps S2 to S4 may be repeated periodically until the refilling operation is completed.
  • the refilling operation may be completed when the reservoir 3 of the article 30 is full, which may be determined by the controller 55 using a suitable sensor in the article 30 1 article port 56.
  • step S4 If it is determined that the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 is equal to or below the threshold, i.e., a YES at step S4, then the method proceeds to step S5 where the controller 55 is configured to cause the refilling operation to cease.
  • the method described by Figure 3a enables the dock 50 to refill the reservoir 3 of the article 30 up until a moment in time where there is insufficient aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism senses a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir 40 and the controller 55 of the dock 50 is configured to control the aerosolgenerating material transfer mechanism 53 on the basis of the output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism.
  • the controller 55 is configured to control the transfer mechanism 53 to allow a refilling operation to start and/or continue when the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir 40 is above a threshold and to cease (or not start) the refilling operation when the amount of aerosol-generating material is equal to or below a threshold.
  • the dock 50 is able to suitable control the refilling operation.
  • step S3 includes comparing the amount of aerosol-generating material to a threshold
  • the controller 55 may compare the parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating in the refill reservoir 40 to a suitable threshold. That is, for example, the controller 55 may compare an obtained value of the parameter (e.g., capacitance) to a threshold based on that parameter (e.g., a threshold capacitance).
  • step S3 encompasses determining an amount of aerosol-generating material via obtaining a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material, and subsequently comparing this parameter to a suitable threshold at step S4.
  • step S4 when the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 is equal to the threshold at step S4, the method step is answered in the negative and the method proceeds back to step S2.
  • the controller 55 of the dock 50 may implement additional control steps as part of the refilling procedure of the article 30.
  • the refill reservoir 40 and/or the article 30 may comprise data containing elements (such as electronically readable memories or optically readable barcodes or the like) which are capable of being read by a suitable reader of the dock 50.
  • the data containing elements may include information regarding the aerosol-generating material stored in the refill reservoir 40 and/or in the article 30 (or aerosol-generating material previously stored in the article 30).
  • the controller 55 may obtain this information and only permit the refilling operation of step S2 to be performed if the aerosol-generating material stored in the refill reservoir 40 is compatible with the aerosol-generating material stored in (or previously stored in) the article 30 - for example, if they are of the same or compatible flavours or strengths of active ingredient.
  • Other control steps may be implemented as appropriate.
  • step S2 may only be permitted if the refill reservoir 40 is within a certain time period from a manufacture date (to ensure the aerosol-generating material is not beyond a certain usable lifetime) or does not belong to a certain batch of refill reservoirs 40 (to ensure the aerosol-generating material is not part of a recall action or the like).
  • Data from the data containing element of the refill reservoir 40 and/or the article 30 may be read when the refill reservoir 40 or article 30 are engaged with the respective ports 54, 56 (e.g., as part of step S1) or prior to step S2 being initiated.
  • control processes e.g., related to the user, may be implemented by the controller 55 (such as requiring a user to login or provide other details, that may verify the user).
  • the method of Figure 3a may therefore be adapted and modified accordingly to take account of other such control operations performed by the controller 55.
  • Figure 3b shows a modification to the method of Figure 3a.
  • the method of Figure 3b includes the steps of Figure 3a in addition to steps S1a, S3a and S4a as will be described below.
  • the method of Figure 3b provides steps to determine an amount of aerosol-generating material transferred to the reservoir 3 of the article 30 based on the output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism, and to subsequently stop further transfer of the aerosol-generating material from the refill reservoir 40 when it is determined that the amount of aerosol-generating material transferred from the refill reservoir 40 to the reservoir 3 of the article 30 reaches a predetermined threshold.
  • Step S1a the controller 55 is configured to determine an amount of aerosolgenerating material in the refill reservoir 40 before the refilling operation is performed. This may be referred to as an initial amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the controller 55 causes the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism to sense a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir 40 prior to the refilling operation commencing.
  • Step S1a may include converting the obtained parameter into an amount of aerosol-generating material, or the controller 55 may instead be configured to use the obtained parameter without conversion as an indicator of the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 prior to performing the refilling operation.
  • step S1a the method proceeds to steps S2 and S3 as described above in relation to Figure 3a.
  • step S3b the method proceeds to step S3a.
  • the controller 55 is configured to determine an amount of aerosol-generating material transferred to the reservoir 3 of the article 30.
  • the controller 55 is configured to use the determined amounts of aerosol generating material in the refill reservoir prior to the refilling operation starting (at step S1a) and during the refilling operation (step S3) to determine the amount of aerosol generating material transferred.
  • the amount may be explicitly calculated in terms of a conversion of the parameters obtained by the aerosolgenerating material amount sensing mechanism to quantities of aerosol-generating material, or the amount may be inferred from the obtained parameters.
  • the controller 55 is in effect configured to calculate a difference between the parameters (or amounts) determined at steps S1a and S3.
  • step S4 the method of Figure 3b proceeds to step S4.
  • step S4 is answered in the affirmative, the method proceeds to step S5 as described in Figure 3a.
  • step S4 is answered in the negative (that is, the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 is equal to or below a threshold)
  • the method proceeds to step S4a.
  • the controller 55 is configured to determine whether the amount of aerosol-generating material transferred to the reservoir 3 of the article from the refill reservoir 40 is equal to or exceeds a second threshold.
  • the second threshold is set in dependence of the article 30.
  • the second threshold is set in dependence of the maximum or typical capacity of the reservoir 3 of the article 30.
  • the reservoir 3 may have a maximum capacity (volume) of 2 ml.
  • the reservoir 3 of each article 30 to be used with the dock 50 may have the same capacity and therefore the controller 55 of the dock 50 may be preprogramed with a second threshold corresponding to the capacity of the reservoir 3.
  • the capacity of the reservoir 3 may vary from article 30 to article 30.
  • the article 30 may include a data containing element comprising data regarding the capacity of the reservoir 3, with this data being obtained by the controller 55 using a suitable data reader. Consequently, the controller 55 is able to determine a suitable second threshold corresponding to the obtained capacity of the article 30.
  • the article 30 may be placed into the dock 50 with a partially depleted reservoir 3. That is, the available capacity of the reservoir 3 is less than the maximum capacity of the reservoir 3 owing to the fact that some aerosol-generating material remains in the reservoir 3. In such instances, the dock 50 is provided with an indication of the amount of aerosol-generating material in the reservoir 3.
  • This may be stored in a data containing element of the article 30 (which e.g., may be estimated based on the use, such as number of activations of the aerosol generator 5, of the article) or the dock 50 may comprise a suitable mechanism to determine the amount of aerosol-generating material in the article 30 (e.g., such as a pair of capacitive plates provided in the article port 56). In either case, the controller 55 is able to determine a suitable second threshold based on the amount of aerosol-generating material in the article 30 and the maximum capacity of the article 30.
  • the second threshold may either be a threshold of an amount of aerosol-generating material, e.g., 2 ml, or it may be a threshold indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material, e.g., a value representing a change in capacitance that corresponds to an amount of aerosol-generating material, such as 2 ml.
  • the controller 55 may be configured to convert the obtained parameters from the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism into an amount of aerosol-generating material and determine a corresponding second threshold accordingly, or the controller 55 may be configured to operate based on the obtained parameters and determine a second threshold based on the parameter.
  • step S4a acts to determine whether a certain amount of aerosolgenerating material from the refill reservoir 40 has been transferred to the reservoir 3 of the article 30. If the amount of aerosol-generating material transferred to the reservoir 3 of the article 30 is not equal to or exceeds the second threshold (i.e. , a NO at step S4a), which is indicative of the reservoir 3 of article 30 being partially full, the method proceeds back to step S2 where the refilling operation is continued. Steps S2 to S4a may then be repeated periodically until the refilling operation is complete and/or the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 drops below a certain amount.
  • the second threshold i.e. a NO at step S4a
  • step S4a If the amount of aerosolgenerating material transferred to the reservoir 3 of the article 30 is equal to or exceeds the second threshold (i.e., a YES at step S4a), which is indicative of the reservoir 3 of article 30 now being full, the method proceeds to step S5 where the refilling operation is ceased.
  • the second threshold i.e., a YES at step S4a
  • the output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism is used not only for the purposes of determining whether the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 drops below a certain amount, but is also used for determining the end of the refilling operation (i.e., once the reservoir 3 of the article 30 is refilled with aerosol-generating material).
  • the controller 55 is configured to determine a parameter indicative of an amount of aerosol-generating material transferred from the refill reservoir 40 to the article 30 on the basis of the output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism, and when the determined parameter indicative of an amount of aerosol-generating material transferred reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold (the second threshold), the controller 55 is configured to cease further transfer of aerosol-generating material to the article 30.
  • the controller 55 is configured to determine a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir 40 prior to starting a refill operation as an initial value of the parameter indicative of an amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40, and the controller 55 is configured to monitor the parameter indicative of an amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 during a refill operation.
  • the controller 55 is configured to cease further transfer of aerosol-generating material to the article 30.
  • the dock 50 implementing the method of Figure 3b is capable of controlling the refilling operation based on monitoring the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • monitoring the refill reservoir 40 may offer the advantage of increased consistency in the obtained parameters and thereby reduced error (as opposed to monitoring the reservoir 3 of the article 30).
  • step S3a is shown between step S3 and S4, step S3a may instead be performed after step S4 (when step S4 is answered in the negative) and prior to step S4a.
  • step S3 and S4 of Figure 3b may be omitted in some implementations, particularly where it may not be necessary to determine whether the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 does not fall below a minimum amount.
  • some transfer mechanism 53 may be configured to operate up to a point at which the transfer mechanism 53 naturally stops once the refill reservoir 40 is empty (e.g., when the refill reservoir 40 includes a plunger, the travel of the plunger is defined by the dimensions of the refill reservoir 40, and thus naturally the plunger stops when it reaches its maximum travel).
  • the methods of Figure 3a and 3b may be adapted to utilise the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism to determine whether there is sufficient aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 to fill the reservoir 3 of the article 30 prior to performing the refilling operation.
  • the controller 55 may be configured to determine whether the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 is sufficient to refill the reservoir 3 of the article 30.
  • the controller 55 may have or otherwise obtain an indication of the total capacity of the reservoir 3 of the article 30 (e.g., of say 2 ml) or the controller 55 may be configured to obtain an indication of the available capacity of the reservoir 3 of the article 30 (e.g., by measuring the amount of aerosol-generating material in the reservoir 3 of the article 30). If it is determined that the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 prior to the refilling operation starting minus the capacity (or available capacity) of the reservoir 3 of the article 30 (and optionally minus a buffer amount of aerosol-generating material) is positive, then the controller 55 may permit the refilling operation to start at step S2.
  • the controller 55 is configured to prevent the transfer mechanism 53 from operating (that is, step S2 is not permitted to be performed).
  • the dock 50 may provide a notification to the user that there is insufficient aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 to fill the article 30.
  • the user may be required to replace the refill reservoir 40 in order to refill the article 30.
  • the dock 50 may be configured to have an override allowing the refilling operation to commence even if there is an insufficient amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the refilling operation may proceed until the refill reservoir 40 is depleted and/or the threshold of step S4 is reached.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism is configured to determine a level of the aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 as the parameter indicative of an amount of aerosol generating material in the refill reservoir 40. That is to say, rather than identifying an amount (e.g., in millilitres or grams) of aerosolgenerating material, the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may sense the level of the aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40. This may particularly be the case where the aerosol-generating material is a liquid. For example, the aerosolgenerating material amount sensing mechanism may sense that the level of the liquid is at a height of X mm from the bottom of the refill reservoir 40 or the level of the liquid is at 75% or 50% of the height of the refill reservoir 40.
  • Figures 4a and 4b schematically show two implementations of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism in the dock 50, whereby the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of capacitive plates 59.
  • the transfer mechanism 53 may comprise a pump or the like provided on the fluid conduit 58 which is activated by the controller 5 to cause aerosol-generating material to be transferred from the refill reservoir 40.
  • Figure 4a represents a first example where the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a pair of capacitive plates 59 that substantially extend the height of the refill reservoir 40 (or more particularly, the height of the void within the outer housing 41 of the refill reservoir 40 in which the aerosol-generating material is held).
  • the refill reservoir 40 is shown installed in the refill port 54 of the dock 50.
  • the refill reservoir 40 comprises an outer housing 41 that includes a space or volume where the aerosol-generating material (source liquid) 42 is located.
  • the aerosolgenerating material 42 is able to exit the refill reservoir 40 via the outlet orifice 44 provided in the housing 41.
  • the refill reservoir 40 of Figure 4a further shows an optional nozzle 44a provided in fluid communication with the outlet orifice 44.
  • the nozzle 44a is provided to help facilitate connection with the fluid conduit 58 (not shown in Figure 4a) and thereby to provide a pathway for the aerosol-generating material to pass once it has left the outlet orifice 44.
  • the nozzle 44a may be separately formed and attached to housing 41 as shown in Figure 4a, or may be formed as part of the housing 41. Other mechanisms for establishing a connection with the fluid conduit 58 are possible and may be implemented in other implementations.
  • the refill reservoir port 54 is shown in Figure 4a as being a cavity in which the refill reservoir 40 is received.
  • the refill reservoir port 54 further comprises a pair of capacitive plates 59 which form (at least a part of) the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism.
  • the capacitive plates 59 are arranged such that they face one another and such that the refill reservoir 40 is positioned between the capacitive plates 59. That is, the refill reservoir 40 when installed in the refill reservoir port 54 occupies at least some of the space between the capacitive plates 59.
  • the capacitive plates 59 are positioned at opposite sides of the refill reservoir port 54 as shown in Figure 4a.
  • the capacitive plates 59 may be exposed (that is, the outer surface of the capacitive plates 59 forms the inner surface of the refill reservoir port 54) or the capacitive plates 59 may be provided effectively embedded in the walls of the refill reservoir port 54.
  • the capacitive plates 59 in this example are communicatively coupled to the controller 55 of the dock 50 (although only the connection of the leftmost capacitive plate 59 is shown in Figure 4a).
  • the controller 55 is configured to apply a known current to one of the capacitive plates 59 and subsequently monitor an electrical parameter, such as voltage, in response to the applied current.
  • the capacitance as measured between two capacitor plates is a function, in part, of the material between the capacitor plates (otherwise known as the dielectric).
  • A the overlapping area of the plates of the capacitors
  • d the distance between the capacitor plates
  • £ the permittivity of the dielectric between the capacitor plates.
  • the space between the capacitor plates 59 is occupied with the aerosol-generating material, which has a different dielectric constant from air.
  • the capacitance as measured by the capacitance plates 59 is different for a full refill reservoir 40 compared to an empty refill reservoir 40.
  • the capacitance as measured between the capacitor plates 59 acts as an indication of the amount of aerosol generating material within the refill reservoir 40.
  • the capacitive plates 59 extend the length I height of the refill reservoir 40. More particularly, in normal use, the capacitive plates 59 have a dimension that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the direction along which gravity acts. In Figure 4a, the direction gravity acts is from the top to the bottom of the Figure, and it can be seen that the capacitive plates 59 also have a dimension that extends from the top to the bottom of Figure 4a. It should be appreciated that this need not be the greatest dimension of extent of the capacitive plates 59.
  • the capacitive plates 59 are arranged such that as the aerosol-generating material exits the refill reservoir 40, the level of the aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir 40 effectively drops in a direction parallel to the direction along which gravity acts, and hence along a direction of extent of the capacitive plates 59. Accordingly, as the level of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 drops, the capacitance measured by the capacitive plates 59 also changes.
  • the controller 55 is therefore capable of determining the amount I level of the aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 (which may be dependent on the resolution I accuracy of the capacitance measurements).
  • the pair of capacitance plates 59 are capable of measuring a variable capacitance which may subsequently be mapped to an amount of I the level of the aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • Figure 4b represents a second example where the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism includes a plurality of pairs of capacitive plates 59a to 59d.
  • the aerosol-generating amount sensing mechanism comprises a plurality of pairs of capacitive plates.
  • Each of the pairs of capacitive plates 59a to 59d are arranged such that a part of the refill reservoir 40, when installed in the refill reservoir port 54, is located between the pairs of capacitive plates, the In the example of Figure 4b, four pairs of capacitive plates are shown, labelled 59a to 59d (where capacitive plates having the same letter identifier are considered as a pair of capacitive plates).
  • the controller 55 is communication with each pair of capacitive plates, although as with Figure 4a, only the communication with the capacitive plates on the left-hand side of the Figure are shown.
  • the operation of the aerosol-generating material sensing mechanism of Figure 4b is broadly similar to that in Figure 4a. That is, when the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism is operated to obtain a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosolgenerating material in the refill reservoir 40, the controller 55 is configured to apply a known current to one of the pairs of capacitive plates 59a to 59d and subsequently monitor an electrical parameter, such as voltage, in response to the applied current. As above, the capacitance value for any given pair of capacitive plates 59a to 59d will vary as a function of the material located between the capacitive plates.
  • each pair of the capacitive plates 59a to 59d can be used to estimate an amount I level of the aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the capacitance may take one value when there is aerosolgenerating material located between the plates (by way of convenience, this value is referred to as a high value) and a different value when there is no aerosol-generating material located between the plates (by of convenience, this value is referred to as a low value).
  • Each pair of capacitive plates 59a to 59d is provided at a different position in the direction along which gravity acts.
  • plates 59d are provided at the top of the refill reservoir 40 while plates 59a are provided at the bottom and plates 59b and 59c are located therebetween.
  • all four pairs of capacitive plates output a respective high value (which may not necessarily be the same value for each pair of plates).
  • the pairs of capacitive plates output instead a low value when the material between the respective pairs of capacitive plates is predominately air.
  • the controller 55 may recognise this as indicating that the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir is at most 75 % of the capacity of the refill reservoir 40. Subsequently, when the next pair of capacitive plates 59c of the refill reservoir 40 output a low value, the controller 55 may recognise this as indicating that the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir is at most 50 % of the capacity of the refill reservoir 40. When the next pair of capacitive plates 59b of the refill reservoir 40 output a low value, the controller 55 may recognise this as indicating that the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir is at most 25 % of the capacity of the refill reservoir 40.
  • the controller 55 may recognise this as indicating that the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir is approximately 0 % of the capacity of the refill reservoir 40.
  • the controller 55 is capable of estimating the amount of aerosol-generating material based on whether the output from each of the pairs of capacitive plates 59a to 59d indicates a high or low value. Accordingly, lower cost circuitry and/or lower resolution circuitry may be used as the controller 55 is predominately concerned with whether the output is high or low and not the specific capacitance value of the capacitive plates. Thus provided the circuitry is capable of distinguishing between the high and low outputs, that circuitry may be sufficient for use in the implementation of Figure 4b.
  • the pairs of capacitive plates are capable of sensing the level of aerosol generating material in the refill reservoir 40 and subsequently the controller 55 is capable of determining the amount and/or level of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • Figures 4a and 4b show arrangements of pair(s) of capacitive plates 59 arranged either side of the refill reservoir port 54, the pairs of capacitive plates may be configured differently in other implementations.
  • the refill reservoir may be configured differently in other implementations.
  • the refill reservoir 40 may be configured so as to have an opening or hollow channel through the centre of the refill reservoir 40 (e.g., along the longitudinal axis thereof) and the refill reservoir port 54 may include a protrusion (such as a rod) that includes one or more capacitive plates arranged to extend into the opening or hollow channel. Accordingly, a capacitance may be measured between the central capacitive plate and one or more capacitive plates positioned at or on the outer walls of the refill reservoir port 59. Other arrangements of the pairs of capacitive plates will be apparent to the skilled person.
  • Figures 4a and 4b are schematic representations of the respective implementations of the capacitive plates as the aerosolgenerating material amount sensing mechanism.
  • the dock 50 may comprise suitable shielding, such as around the wiring connecting the capacitive plates 59 to the controller 55, so as to reduce noise and/or cross-talk between the wires, or alternatively, the dock 50 may be provided with circuitry configured to compensate for or remove any noise or cross-talk on the wires. Other components or circuitry may be provided as desired.
  • Figure 5a schematically shows a further implementation of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism in the dock 50.
  • Figure 5a will be understood from Figures 4a and 4b and like components are indicated with similar reference signs.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a position sensor capable of sensing the position of a moveable element of the refill reservoir 40 and/or a moveable element of the transfer mechanism 53.
  • Figure 5a shows the refill reservoir 40 installed in the refill port 54 of the dock 50.
  • the refill reservoir 40 of this implementation includes a moveable or deformable part.
  • the housing 41 is configured so as to comprise the moveable or deformable part.
  • the aerosol-generating material 41 includes a space or volume where the aerosol-generating material is located and the moveable or deformable part is configured to allow the volume storing the aerosol-generating material to change, and in particular, to decrease.
  • the aerosol-generating material is able to be forced or pushed out of the refill reservoir 40 via the outlet orifice 44 provided in the housing 41 .
  • the moveable or deformable part of the refill reservoir 40 is a plunger 41a.
  • the plunger 41a is a wall or part of the housing 41 that is configured to move (e.g., slide) with respect to the remaining walls of the housing 41. That is to say, the volume that stores the aerosol-generating material is bounded by a surface of the plunger 41a and the inner surfaces of the housing 41 , where the plunger 41a is moveable with respect to the rest of the housing 41 to change the size of the volume.
  • the housing 41 has parallel side walls (shown as vertical side walls in Figure 5a) between which the plunger 41a is arranged and may slide.
  • the plunger 41a may comprise any suitable sealing elements, for example such as O-rings around the outer circumference of the plunger 41 a, that are arranged to provide a seal between the plunger 41a and the parallel side walls of the housing 41 to prevent or reduce aerosol-generating material from passing between the plunger 41a and the side walls of the housing 41.
  • any suitable sealing elements for example such as O-rings around the outer circumference of the plunger 41 a, that are arranged to provide a seal between the plunger 41a and the parallel side walls of the housing 41 to prevent or reduce aerosol-generating material from passing between the plunger 41a and the side walls of the housing 41.
  • the transfer mechanism 53 includes a push rod 531 which includes a stem 532 and a disc 533 positioned at one end of the stem 532.
  • the stem 532 and disc 533 may be separately formed and coupled together, e.g., via a screwthread, adhesive, welding or any other form of attachment, or they may be integrally formed.
  • the push rod 531 is configured to be moveable in the direction of the arrow of Figure 5a (e.g., towards the outlet orifice 44 of the refill reservoir 40).
  • a motor or the like is provided in the dock 50 to facilitate the movement of the push rod 531 accordingly, along with suitable linkage, etc. which couples the motor to the stem 532.
  • the disc 533 is arranged to contact the plunger 41a of the refill reservoir 40 when the push rod 531 is moved in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5a. That is, when the refill reservoir 40 is installed in the refill reservoir port 54, the push rod 531 is configured to move towards the plunger 41a of the refill reservoir 40 and engage therewith.
  • the disc 533 therefore comprises an engagement surface 534 that engages with the plunger 41 a of the refill reservoir 40. Accordingly, the controller 55 is capable of actuating the motor to drive the push rod 531 towards and to engage with the plunger 41 a when the refilling operation is initiated, and subsequently to stop actuating the motor when the refilling operation is stopped.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a magnetic strip 46 provided along the inside of the housing 41 of the refill reservoir 40 and extending along the direction of travel of the plunger 41a (i.e., in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5a) and a magnetic reader 535 provided in the disc 533 of the push rod 531.
  • the magnetic reader 535 is communicatively coupled to the controller 55 directly or via intermediate circuitry and is configured to read the magnetic strip 46 and output a reading to the controller 55.
  • the magnetic reader 535 provided in the disc 533 is capable of reading the magnetic strip 46 of the refill reservoir 40.
  • the magnetic strip 46 is encoded (thereby providing an encoded magnetic strip or stripe).
  • the magnetic strip 46 is configured such that different positions along the length of the magnetic strip (and also along the direction of travel of the plunger 41a) output different codes when read by the magnetic reader 535. Accordingly, depending on the code that is read by the magnetic reader 535, the controller 55 is able to determine the position of the plunger 41a relative to the magnetic strip 46.
  • the controller 55 is able to determine an amount of aerosolgenerating in the refill reservoir 40.
  • This position of the plunger 41a may be obtained prior to the refilling operation starting (or, in some implementations, at the point at which the engagement surface 534 first engages with the plunger 41a) or during the refilling operation as the plunger 41a and the push-rod 531 are moving.
  • the magnetic strip 46 is provided as a continuous strip that extends along the length of the refill reservoir 40 and, in particular, along a direction of travel of the plunger 41a.
  • the magnetic strip 46 may comprise a plurality of magnetic strips positioned at different positions along the direction of travel of the plunger 41 a, whereby each magnetic strip 46 outputs a different code that can be interpreted by the controller 55 as indicating a different position of the plunger 41a relative to the housing 41 of the refill reservoir 40.
  • the magnetic strip 46 may be provided only at that location.
  • the magnetic strip 46 may be provided at the aforementioned position and extend only along a part of the length of the refill reservoir 40 I direction of travel of the plunger 41a.
  • the controller 55 may be configured to identify whether or not the magnetic reader 535 reads a signal, rather than necessarily identifying a particular code associated with the signal, and as a result the controller 55 is configured to determine whether the aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 is equal to or below the first threshold when a signal is detected.
  • the magnetic strip 46 is provided on the inside surface of the housing 41 of the refill reservoir 40, it should be appreciated that the magnetic strip may instead be embedded in the housing 41 or provided on an outer surface of the housing 41. In the event that the magnetic strip 46 is provided on the inside of the housing 41 , the magnetic strip 46 may be configured such that it does not interfere with, or is interfered by, the aerosolgenerating material in the refill reservoir 40.
  • the magnetic strip 46 may be formed of a suitable material and/or a protective film or the like may be disposed over the magnetic strip 46.
  • the magnetic strip 46 may be provided in the refill reservoir port 54 (for example, along a wall of the refill reservoir port 54). In other implementations, the magnetic strip 46 may be provided independent of the refill reservoir 40 or the refill reservoir port 54. For example, the magnetic strip 46 may be provided adjacent the stem 532 of the transfer mechanism 53, or at another location in the dock 50. In such cases, the magnetic reader 535 is provided at a corresponding location in the dock 50. However, it should be appreciated that the magnetic reader 535 is provided such that the magnetic reader 535 moves in association with the transfer mechanism 53 and relative to the magnetic strip 46. Thus, the magnetic reader 535 may be provided on a component that moves in conjunction with the transfer mechanism 53.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may comprise any suitable mechanism capable of detecting the position of the plunger 41a relative to the housing 41 of the refill reservoir 40.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprises an optical sensor in place of the magnetic reader 535 which may read a bar code or identify optically identifiable markings (e.g., on the inside of the refill reservoir 40).
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism includes a reader (such as a magnetic reader 535 or optical reader) configured to read a corresponding level identification component (e.g., a magnetic strip 46 or bar code) capable of outputting different signals corresponding to the position of the reader relative to the level identification component.
  • a reader such as a magnetic reader 535 or optical reader
  • a corresponding level identification component e.g., a magnetic strip 46 or bar code
  • Any suitable level identification component and any corresponding reader may be used in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, and the implementations described above are to be understood as examples of the level identification component and reader.
  • the transfer mechanism 53 as comprising a moveable push rod 531 which is controlled to move towards the plunger 41a while the refill reservoir 40 and refill reservoir port 54 are static.
  • the dock 50 may comprise a suitable movement mechanism to cause the refill reservoir 40 to move toward the push rod 531.
  • the aerosolgenerating material transfer mechanism 53 is described as comprising a pressing mechanism.
  • the pressing mechanism comprises a piston (which may be a static or moveable push-rod or other similar component) arranged to engage with a movable or deformable surface of the refill reservoir 40.
  • the pressing mechanism further comprises suitable components configured to cause relative movement of the refill reservoir 40 and the piston (either via a moveable piston and/or a moveable refill reservoir 40) such that the piston is capable of engaging with, and pressing on, a moveable or deformable surface of the refill reservoir 40.
  • FIG 5b schematically illustrates another example of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism in the dock 50.
  • Figure 5a will be understood from Figure 5a and like components are indicated with similar reference signs. Only the differences from Figure 5a will be explained in detail herein.
  • the dock 50 comprises a pressing mechanism (e.g., a moveable pushrod 531) and a corresponding aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprising a magnetic strip 46 and a magnetic reader 535 configured to sense the linear movement or position of the plunger 41 a of the refill reservoir 40.
  • a pressing mechanism e.g., a moveable pushrod 531
  • a corresponding aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprising a magnetic strip 46 and a magnetic reader 535 configured to sense the linear movement or position of the plunger 41 a of the refill reservoir 40.
  • Figure 5b also includes a pressing mechanism comprising a moveable push-rod 531
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism in this implementation comprises components suitable for detecting a rotational movement of a part of the transfer mechanism 53, such as a motor or linkage/gearing coupled to the motor, to infer a position of the moveable or deformable surface of the refill reservoir 40 based on the measured rotation.
  • Figure 5b includes a push-rod 531 as in the implementation of Figure 5a.
  • the push-rod 531 of Figure 5b includes a stem 532’ having a ridged outer profile at at least a part of the outer surface of the stem 532’.
  • the transfer mechanism 53 further comprises a motor (not shown) and a toothed-wheel 536 having a profile that engages with the ridged outer profile of the stem 532’. Rotation of the toothed-wheel 536 causes the stem 532’ to move toward or away from the plunger 41a depending on the direction of the rotation. Any suitable guiding mechanisms for guiding the stem 532’ along a linear path may be employed.
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism comprises a suitable reader 535’.
  • the reader 535’ is an optical reader 535’.
  • the optical reader 535’ is configured to sense or detect an optically-readable mark 536a provided on the toothed-wheel 536 of the transfer mechanism 53.
  • the optical reader 535’ is configured to detect rotations of the toothed-wheel 536 by detecting the mark 536a as it passes the optical reader 535’.
  • the mark 536a is detected once every complete rotation of the toothed-wheel 536.
  • there may be a plurality of marks for example arranged every 36° around the circumference of the toothed-wheel 536, whereby the detection of ten marks indicates one complete rotation of the toothed-wheel 536.
  • the optical reader 535’ may output a signal each time the, or a, mark 536a is detected to the controller 55.
  • the controller 55 can be programmed to associate the signal with (another) detection of the mark 536a signifying an amount of rotation since the previous detection of the mark 536a.
  • the controller 55 can interpret this as a degree of linear motion of the plunger 41a (e.g., one complete rotation may be equivalent to 10 mm of linear travel of the push-rod 531) and/or an amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 or that has been transferred from the refill reservoir 40. In order to determine the amount of aerosol-generating material transferred, the rotational movement for a given refill operation may be sufficient.
  • the controller 55 may be able to determine how much aerosol-generating material has been transferred (e.g., where one rotation or 10 mm of travel may indicate e.g., 2 ml of liquid has been transferred).
  • the controller 55 may be arranged to monitor the total rotational movement since the refill reservoir 40 has been installed in the refill reservoir port 54. In other words, the controller 55 may monitor the rotational movement (i.e.
  • the controller 55 may be provided with suitable memory or the like to facilitate the storage of this cumulative measure of the rotational movement, as well as suitable sensors I circuitry I software to cause the cumulative value to reset when the refill reservoir 40 is replaced.
  • the aerosolgenerating material amount sensing mechanism includes a suitable pressing mechanism comprising a piston (e.g., the push-rod 531) in addition to a motor configured to cause the pressing mechanism to engage and press the movable surface of the refill reservoir 40.
  • Rotational movement that causes the piston to engage with the moveable I deformable surface of the refill reservoir 40 can be monitored and translated either into linear movement of the pressing mechanism and/or an amount of aerosol-generating material in or transferred from the refill reservoir 40.
  • the arrangement of Figure 5b does not necessarily require the reader 535’ to move with movement of the plunger 41a / moveable surface of the refill reservoir 40. This may reduce the space required in the dock 50 for the various circuitry I components that are provided for the reader 535’, and also may allow more sensitive readers 535’ to be implemented (which may otherwise be affected by any movement of the reader).
  • an optical reader 535’ and a toothed-wheel 536 is an example of an implementation in which rotational movement is capable of being measured and used as a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosolgenerating material within the refill reservoir 40.
  • suitable readers and corresponding marks 536a may be used; for example, a magnetic reader and a magnetically- readable mark. In some implementations, a mark may not be required.
  • the teeth of the toothed-wheel 536 may be counted as they pass by the field of view of the optical reader 535’.
  • a reader 535’ may be omitted and instead the controller 55 may include suitable software for determining the rotational movement of a part of the transfer mechanism 53 (and subsequently the amount of aerosol-generating material in the refill reservoir 40 and/or transferred from the refill reservoir 40).
  • the controller 55 is responsible for causing the transfer mechanism 53 to operate (and hence the rotation of the motor).
  • the controller 55 may include software and/or any hardware components configured to monitor the operation of the motor based on the instructions from the controller 55.
  • the controller 55 may cause a current to be supplied to the motor, whereby the duration and/or magnitude of the current applied may be used to determine the rotation of the motor.
  • each rotational step of the stepper motor corresponds to an amount of aerosolgenerating material that exits the refill reservoir 40.
  • the controller 55 can be provided with information regarding the amount of aerosol-generating material either in the reservoir 40 (by monitoring the number of steps since the refill reservoir 40 is inserted in the refill reservoir port 54) or the amount transferred from the refill reservoir 40 (by monitoring the number of steps since the refilling operation is initiated).
  • the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism may include a further detector, such as the optical reader 535’ that is configured to identify a rotation of the toothed- wheel 536, and hence the controller 55 may use the input from both the current sensor and the optical reader 535’ to determine whether there is a genuine rotation. Accordingly, the controller 55 is configured to control the aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism 53, i.e. , whether the transfer mechanism 53 is stopped, on the basis of genuine rotational steps of the stepper motor.
  • a further detector such as the optical reader 535’ that is configured to identify a rotation of the toothed- wheel 536
  • the controller 55 may use the input from both the current sensor and the optical reader 535’ to determine whether there is a genuine rotation.
  • the controller 55 is configured to control the aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism 53, i.e. , whether the transfer mechanism 53 is stopped, on the basis of genuine rotational steps of the stepper motor.
  • the refilling device I dock 50 is provided to transfer source liquid from a refill reservoir 40 to an article 30, as discussed, other implementations may use other aerosol-generating materials (such as solids, e.g., tobacco).
  • aerosol-generating materials such as solids, e.g., tobacco.
  • the principles of the present disclosure apply equally to other types of aerosol-generating material, and suitable refill reservoirs 40 and articles 30 for storing I holding the aerosolgenerating materials, and a suitable transfer mechanism 53, may accordingly be employed by the skilled person for such implementations.
  • the refill reservoir 40 is a removable, separate component from the dock 50, it should be appreciated that in other implementations, the refill reservoir 40 may be integrally formed with the dock 50. In other words, the refill reservoir 40 may instead comprise a region or volume of the dock 50 which may be refilled with aerosol-generating material and subsequently supply the aerosolgenerating material to the article 30 (as broadly described above).
  • the refilling unit includes: an aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism configured to transfer aerosol-generating material from a refill reservoir to the article; an aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism arranged so as to be able to sense a parameter indicative of the amount of aerosol-generating material within the refill reservoir; and control circuitry.
  • the control circuitry is configured to control the aerosol-generating material transfer mechanism on the basis of an output of the aerosol-generating material amount sensing mechanism. Also described is a refill reservoir, and a method of refilling an article with aerosolgenerating material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)

Abstract

Est décrite une unité de recharge pour recharger un article avec un matériau de génération d'aérosol, l'article étant destiné à être utilisé avec un dispositif de génération d'aérosol pour générer un aérosol pour une inhalation par l'utilisateur à partir du matériau de génération d'aérosol dans l'article. L'unité de recharge comprend : un mécanisme de transfert de matériau de génération d'aérosol configuré pour transférer un matériau de génération d'aérosol d'un réservoir de recharge à l'article ; un mécanisme de détection de quantité de matériau de génération d'aérosol agencé de façon à pouvoir détecter un paramètre indiquant la quantité de matériau de génération d'aérosol à l'intérieur du réservoir de recharge ; et un ensemble de circuits de commande. L'ensemble de circuits de commande est configuré pour commander le mécanisme de transfert de matériau de génération d'aérosol sur la base d'une sortie du mécanisme de détection de quantité de matériau de génération d'aérosol. Sont également décrits un réservoir de recharge et un procédé de recharge d'un article avec un matériau de génération d'aérosol.
EP24713693.0A 2023-03-08 2024-03-08 Dispositif de recharge Pending EP4676838A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB2303356.6A GB202303356D0 (en) 2023-03-08 2023-03-08 Refilling device
PCT/GB2024/050624 WO2024184658A2 (fr) 2023-03-08 2024-03-08 Dispositif de recharge

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4676838A2 true EP4676838A2 (fr) 2026-01-14

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP24713693.0A Pending EP4676838A2 (fr) 2023-03-08 2024-03-08 Dispositif de recharge

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EP (1) EP4676838A2 (fr)
CN (1) CN121079249A (fr)
GB (1) GB202303356D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2024184658A2 (fr)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2018114163A1 (fr) * 2016-12-23 2018-06-28 Jt International Sa Système de recharge pour inhalateur d'aérosol
IL282184B2 (en) * 2018-10-12 2025-06-01 Ayr Ltd Electronic vaping system
GB202016761D0 (en) * 2020-10-22 2020-12-09 Nicoventures Trading Ltd Refilling device
WO2023281246A1 (fr) * 2021-07-05 2023-01-12 Nicoventures Trading Limited Appareil de recharge
GB202112586D0 (en) * 2021-09-03 2021-10-20 Nicoventures Trading Ltd Refilling device and method

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Publication number Publication date
WO2024184658A2 (fr) 2024-09-12
GB202303356D0 (en) 2023-04-19
CN121079249A (zh) 2025-12-05
WO2024184658A3 (fr) 2024-12-05

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