Systems, devices, and methods for refilling an aerosol provision device

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a system comprising: an aerosol provision device comprising an aerosol generating material storage portion for storing aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device being arranged to aerosolise aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage portion; and a refill device comprising a transfer mechanism for transferring aerosol generating material from the refill device to the aerosol generating material storage portion when the aerosol provision device is coupled to the refill device. The transfer mechanism comprises: a housing comprising a rotatable impeller; an inlet coupled to the housing and to the refill device; and an outlet coupled to the housing and for coupling to the aerosol generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device when the refill device is coupled to the aerosol provision device. When the rotatable impeller is rotated in a first direction, aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing via the inlet and expelled from the housing via the outlet, thereby refilling the aerosol generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device with aerosol generating material. The present disclosure also describes a refill device and a method for refilling.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to systems for providing aerosols to users, including electronic aerosol supply systems, such as nicotine delivery systems (e.g., electronic cigarettes). Background Technology

[0002] Electronic aerosol delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes, are used by some people as an alternative to cigarettes, for example, for those seeking to reduce their nicotine intake.

[0003] Electronic aerosol supply systems, such as electronic cigarettes, typically include a reservoir that receives a source liquid containing a formulation, typically nicotine, from which an aerosol is generated, for example, by vaporization through heating. The aerosol source for the aerosol supply system can therefore include a heater having a heating element arranged, for example, to receive the source liquid from the reservoir via wicking / capillary action. When a user inhales on the device, electrical energy is supplied to the heating element to vaporize the source liquid in the vicinity of the heating element, thereby generating an aerosol for the user to inhale. Such devices typically have one or more air inlets located remotely from the mouthpiece end of the system. When a user inhales on the mouthpiece connected to the mouthpiece end of the system, air is drawn in through the inlets and passes through the aerosol source. A flow path exists connecting the aerosol source to the opening in the mouthpiece, allowing the air drawn in through the aerosol source to continue along the flow path to the mouthpiece opening, carrying some aerosol from the aerosol source. Air carrying aerosols exits the aerosol supply system through the mouthpiece opening and is inhaled by the user.

[0004] To help reduce material waste and / or discarding in such electronic aerosol supply systems, some systems are equipped with refillable reservoirs that can be refilled with aerosol-generating materials and reused multiple times without disposal. However, there are challenges in implementing this refilling process in a way that avoids leakage or exposure of aerosol-generating materials to the user's skin, and in a convenient, easy-to-use, and energy-efficient manner.

[0005] Several methods are described that are designed to help solve some of these problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to a first aspect of certain embodiments, a system is provided, comprising: an aerosol supply device including an aerosol generating material storage section for storing aerosol generating material, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage section; and a refilling device including a conveying mechanism for conveying the aerosol generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol generating material storage section when the aerosol supply device is coupled to the refilling device. The conveying mechanism includes: a housing including a rotatable impeller; an inlet coupled to the housing and coupled to the refilling device; and an outlet coupled to the housing and for coupling to the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device when coupled to the refilling device. When the rotatable impeller rotates in a first direction, the aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing via the inlet and discharged from the housing via the outlet, thereby refilling the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material.

[0007] In some examples, the rotatable impeller includes a body and a plurality of blades extending from the body, wherein the body and the plurality of blades are located inside the housing of the conveying mechanism.

[0008] In some examples, the multiple blades of the rotatable impeller are arranged to facilitate the flow of aerosol-generating material from the inlet of the housing to the outlet of the housing.

[0009] In some examples, the inlet of the housing is in fluid communication with the reservoir of the refill device, wherein the reservoir of the refill device is configured to store aerosol-generating materials.

[0010] In some examples, the inlet is set coaxially with the axis of rotation of the rotatable impeller.

[0011] In some examples, when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refill device, the outlet of the housing is in fluid communication with the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device via the aerosol generating material supply path.

[0012] In some examples, the aerosol generating material supply path is formed by a first portion extending from the outlet of the housing to the aerosol supply device interface of the refill device, and a second portion extending from the refill device interface of the aerosol supply device to the aerosol generating material storage portion, wherein when the aerosol supply device is coupled to the refill device, the refill device interface and the aerosol supply device interface engage with each other to fluidly connect the first and second portions of the aerosol generating material supply path.

[0013] In some examples, the refilling device includes a power source and a motor, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to a rotatable impeller and configured to rotate the rotatable impeller when power is drawn from the power source.

[0014] In some examples, the refill device is configured to detect when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refill device and, in response to the detection result, to rotate a rotatable impeller to deliver aerosol generating material to the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device.

[0015] In some examples, the refill device is configured to stop the operation of the rotatable impeller in response to monitoring parameters indicating that the aerosol generating material storage section contains a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material, or after a predetermined time period has elapsed since the rotatable impeller started operating.

[0016] In some examples, the refill device includes a longitudinal axis, and the reservoir of the refill device is offset from the conveying mechanism along the longitudinal axis, such that the aerosol generating material can flow from the reservoir of the refill device to the conveying mechanism under the influence of gravity.

[0017] According to a second aspect of certain embodiments, a refilling apparatus is provided for refilling an aerosol generating material storage section of an aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage section. The refilling apparatus includes a conveying mechanism for conveying the aerosol generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol generating material storage section when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling apparatus. The conveying mechanism includes a housing including a rotatable impeller; an inlet connected to the housing and connected to the refilling apparatus; and an outlet connected to the housing and for connection to the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device when connected to the refilling apparatus. When the rotatable impeller rotates in a first direction, the aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing through the inlet and discharged from the housing through the outlet, thereby refilling the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material.

[0018] According to a third aspect of certain embodiments, a method is provided for refilling an aerosol generating material storage portion of an aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage portion. The method includes: connecting the aerosol supply device to a refilling device, the refilling device including a conveying mechanism for conveying aerosol generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol generating material storage portion when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device. The conveying mechanism includes: a housing including a rotatable impeller; an inlet connected to the housing and connected to the refilling device; and an outlet connected to the housing and connected to the aerosol generating material storage portion of the aerosol supply device when connected to the refilling device; and rotating the rotatable impeller in a first direction to draw aerosol generating material from the refilling device into the housing via the inlet and discharge it from the housing via the outlet, thereby refilling the aerosol generating material storage portion of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect of certain embodiments, a system is provided, comprising: an aerosol supply device including an aerosol generating material storage device for storing aerosol generating material, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage device; and a refilling device including a conveying device for conveying aerosol generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol generating material storage device when the aerosol supply device is coupled to the refilling device. The conveying device includes: a housing including a rotatable impeller; an inlet coupled to the housing and coupled to the refilling device; and an outlet coupled to the housing and for coupling to the aerosol generating material storage device of the aerosol supply device when coupled to the refilling device. When the rotatable impeller rotates in a first direction, aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing via the inlet and discharged from the housing via the outlet, thereby refilling the aerosol generating material storage device of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material.

[0020] It should be understood that the features and aspects of the invention described above with respect to the first and other aspects of the invention are equally applicable to and can be combined with embodiments of other aspects of the invention as appropriate, and are not limited to the specific combinations described above. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 A system for providing aerosols to a user is schematically illustrated, the system including an aerosol supply device, an aerosol modifier release component, and a refilling and recharging device according to one aspect of the present disclosure; Figure 2A cross-section is shown schematically in more detail. Figure 1 The system's aerosol supply device; Figure 3 A cross-section is shown schematically in more detail. Figure 1 Consumables of the system; Figure 4 A cross-section is shown schematically in more detail. Figure 1 The system's refill and recharge device; Figure 5 According to this disclosure, cross-sections are schematically shown in more detail. Figure 4 The conveying mechanism of the refill and recharge device; Figure 6 According to this disclosure, a cross-section is schematically shown. Figure 5 An alternative view of the conveying mechanism, and this view is taken along the axis of rotation of the impeller; Figure 7 A cross-section is shown schematically in more detail. Figure 1 A variation of the system's refill and recharge device, wherein the refill and recharge device includes a cover; and Figure 8 The use of aspects according to this disclosure is illustrated. Figure 5 and Figure 6 A flowchart of a method for refilling and / or recharging an aerosol supply device by means of a refilling and recharging device of a conveying mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0022] This document discusses / describes aspects and features of certain examples and implementations. Some aspects and features of certain examples and implementations can be implemented in a conventional manner, and for the sake of brevity, these aspects and features are not discussed / described in detail. Therefore, it should be understood that aspects and features of the devices and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail can be implemented according to any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

[0023] According to this disclosure, a non-flammable aerosol supply system is a system in which the component aerosol generating material of the aerosol supply system (or its components) can deliver at least one substance to a user without being burned or ignited.

[0024] In some implementations, the delivery system is a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as a powered non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0025] In some implementations, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaporizer or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol generating material is not a necessary requirement.

[0026] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system is a mixed system that generates aerosols by combining multiple aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which can be heated. Each aerosol-generating material may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the mixed system includes aerosol-generating materials in liquid or gel form and solid aerosol-generating materials. Solid aerosol-generating materials may include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.

[0027] Typically, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include a non-flammable aerosol supply device and consumables used with the non-flammable aerosol supply device.

[0028] In some embodiments, this disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating materials configured for use with non-flammable aerosol supply devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0029] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as its non-flammable aerosol supply device, may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, a power supply.

[0030] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include an area for receiving consumables, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, nozzles, filters, and / or aerosol modifiers.

[0031] In some embodiments, consumables used with a non-flammable aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, aerosol generating material storage area, aerosol generating material delivery assembly, aerosol generating area, housing, wrapping material, filter, nozzle and / or aerosol modifier.

[0032] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material. Where appropriate, any material may include one or more active ingredients, one or more flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming agent materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0033] Aerosol-generating materials are materials capable of generating aerosols, for example, when heated, irradiated, or otherwise stimulated. Aerosol-generating materials may be in the form of, for example, solids, liquids, or gels, and may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings. In some embodiments, aerosol-generating materials may include “amorphous solids,” which may also be referred to as monolithic solids (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, amorphous solids may be dried gels. Amorphous solids are solid materials that can retain some fluid (such as liquid) within them. In some embodiments, aerosol-generating materials may, for example, comprise about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% of amorphous solids to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% of amorphous solids.

[0034] Aerosol-generating materials may include one or more active substances and / or flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming agent materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0035] An aerosol modifier is a substance typically located downstream of an aerosol generation zone, configured to modify the generated aerosols, for example, by altering their taste, flavor, acidity, or other properties. The aerosol modifier may be disposed in an aerosol modifier release component, operable to selectively release the aerosol modifier. The aerosol modifier may be, for example, an additive or an adsorbent. It may include, for example, one or more of active substances, flavoring agents, coloring agents, water, and carbon adsorbents. The aerosol modifier may be, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel. It may be in powder, filament, or granular form. The aerosol modifier may not contain filter material.

[0036] Aerosol forming agent materials may include one or more components capable of forming aerosols. In some embodiments, aerosol forming agent materials may include one or more of the following: glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillin, ethyl laurate, diethyl sebacate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a mixture of diacetins, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, glyceryl tribocylate, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0037] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material and / or aerosol modifier includes an active substance.

[0038] The active substances used in this article may be physiologically active materials, i.e., materials designed to achieve or enhance physiological responses. Active substances may be, for example, selected from nutritional supplements, nootropics, and psychoactive substances. Active substances may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. Active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theophylline, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, or components, derivatives, or combinations thereof. Active substances may include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts from tobacco or another plant source.

[0039] In some embodiments, the active ingredient includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active ingredient includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0040] As described herein, active substances may include one or more plants or their components, derivatives, or extracts, or derived therefrom. As used herein, the term "plant" includes any material derived from plants, including but not limited to extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, pericarps, shells, etc. Alternatively, materials may include naturally occurring active compounds found in plants or obtained through synthesis. Materials may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, powders, dust, fragments, granules, pellets, strips, strips, sheets, etc. Exemplary plants include tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, fennel, lemongrass, mint, spearmint, rooibos tea, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay leaf, licorice (licorice root), matcha, yerba mate, orange peel, papaya, rose, sage, tea (such as green or black tea), thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, star anise, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, and saffron. Lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, holly, perilla, turmeric, turmeric root, sandalwood, coriander, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, allspice, nutmeg peel, salvia, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, fennel, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theophylline, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab, or any combination thereof. Mint may be selected from the following mint varieties: field mint, cultivated mint, Nile mint, peppermint, lemon peppermint cultivar, peppermint cultivar, wrinkled spearmint, heartleaf mint, European mint, variegated pineapple mint, lip mint, spearmint cultivar, and apple mint.

[0041] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises one or more plants or their components, derivatives or extracts or derived therefrom, and the plant is tobacco.

[0042] In some embodiments, the active substance includes one or more plants selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, or components, derivatives, or extracts thereof, or derived therefrom.

[0043] In some embodiments, the active substance includes one or more plants selected from rooibos tea and fennel, or components, derivatives or extracts thereof, or derived therefrom.

[0044] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material and / or aerosol modifier includes flavoring agents.

[0045] As used herein, the terms flavoring agents and seasonings refer to materials that, where permitted by local regulations, may be used in products intended for use by adult consumers to create a desired taste, aroma, or other sensory experience. These may include naturally occurring flavoring ingredients, plants, plant extracts, synthetic materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, licorice (licorice root), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, star anise, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, vanilla, wintergreen, cherry, berries, red berries, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, mandarin orange, lemon, lime, tropical fruits, papaya). Rhubarb, grapes, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, liqueur, bourbon whiskey, Scotch whiskey, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, mint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, sage, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, kata leaf, naswa, hookah, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage Fennel, wasabi, allspice, ginger, coriander, coffee, peppermint oil from any species of the peppermint genus, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos tea, flax, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay leaf, mate tea, orange peel, rose, tea (such as green or black tea), thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, perilla, turmeric, coriander, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, allspice, dried nutmeg skin. Salvia miltiorrhiza, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, fennel, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor blockers, sensory receptor activators or stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath fresheners. They may be imitation, synthetic, or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, such as liquids like oils, solids like powders, or gases.

[0046] In some embodiments, the flavoring agent includes menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavoring agent includes flavoring components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits, and / or red berries. In some embodiments, the flavoring agent includes succinate. In some embodiments, the flavoring agent includes flavoring components extracted from tobacco.

[0047] In some embodiments, the flavoring agent may include a sensory agent intended to achieve a somatosensory sensation typically induced by chemicals and perceived through stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), which is other than or substitutes for aroma or taste nerves, and these may include substances that provide heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effects. Suitable heat-sensing agents may be, but are not limited to, vanillyl ether, and suitable cooling agents may be, but are not limited to, eucalyptol and WS-3.

[0048] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material and / or aerosol modifier includes aerosol-forming agent materials. Examples of aerosol-forming agent materials are provided above. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material and / or aerosol modifier includes one or more other functional materials, which may include one or more of pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0049] An aerosol generator is a device configured to generate aerosols from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, an aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to thermal energy, thereby releasing one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, an aerosol generator is configured to generate aerosols from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, an aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0050] A sensor is a material that can be heated by being penetrated by a changing magnetic field (such as an alternating magnetic field). The sensor can be a conductive material, so that the penetration of the sensor by a changing magnetic field induces inductive heating of the heating material. The heating material can be a magnetic material, so that the penetration of the heating material by a changing magnetic field induces hysteresis heating of the heating material. The sensor can be both conductive and magnetic, so that the sensor can be heated by both heating mechanisms. The device configured to generate a changing magnetic field is referred to herein as a magnetic field generator.

[0051] According to this disclosure, a system is provided that includes an aerosol supply device and a refilling device for refilling a reservoir of the aerosol supply device. The refilling device includes a conveying mechanism for conveying aerosol-generating material from the refilling device to the reservoir of the aerosol supply device when the aerosol supply device is coupled to the refilling device. The conveying mechanism includes a housing comprising a rotatable impeller, an inlet coupled to the housing and the refilling device, and an outlet coupled to the housing and for coupling to the reservoir of the aerosol supply device. When the rotatable impeller rotates, aerosol-generating material is drawn into the housing through the inlet and discharged from the housing through the outlet, thereby allowing refilling of the reservoir of the aerosol supply device. The conveying mechanism described above is simple in construction and operation, thus providing a simple and relatively inexpensive refilling device.

[0052] Figure 1 According to aspects of this disclosure, a system 1 for providing aerosols to a user is schematically illustrated. System 1 includes a refill and recharge device 10 (sometimes referred to herein as a refill / recharge pack 10), an aerosol supply device 20, and an aerosol modifier release component 30 (sometimes referred to herein as a consumable or article).

[0053] Figure 1 These components are schematically shown as being separate from each other. Each of these components will be described in more detail below. However, as a general overview, the aerosol supply device 20 is arranged to engage with the consumable 30 (e.g., the aerosol supply device 20 may include a receiving section 21 for receiving at least a portion of the consumable 30), and the consumable 30 and the aerosol supply device 20 are operable together to deliver aerosol to a user. The combination of the aerosol supply device 20 and the consumable 30 may be referred to herein as an aerosol supply system. The refill / recharge pack 10 is arranged to engage with the aerosol supply device 20 (e.g., the refill / recharge pack 10 may include a receiving section 11 for receiving at least a portion of the aerosol supply device 20), and the refill / recharge pack 10 is operable to recharge and / or refill the aerosol supply device 20 when the aerosol supply device 20 is engaged with the refill / recharge pack 10.

[0054] Figure 2 A schematic representation of the aerosol supply device 20 and consumables 30 is shown in more detail according to one aspect of this disclosure. It should be understood that... Figure 2 Shown not to any particular scale, and the various components are shown schematically only. Furthermore, it should be understood that certain features of the aerosol supply device 20 are not identical to those shown elsewhere. Figure 2 The term is omitted, for example, various wiring and electrical connections between certain components.

[0055] The aerosol supply device 20 includes a housing 20a, a receiving part 21 (formed by the housing 20a in this example), a power supply 22, a control circuit 23, an aerosol generating material storage area (referred to herein as a reservoir) 24, an aerosol generating material transfer element 25, an aerosol generator 26, an airflow path formed by an air inlet 27a, a vapor generation chamber 27b, an air passage 27c, and an outlet 27d, a reservoir refilling mechanism 28, and electrical contacts 29a and 29b.

[0056] In the described example, the aerosol supply system (i.e., the combination of consumable 30 and aerosol supply device 20) is configured to have the shape and size of a cigarette. Specifically, the aerosol supply system may be generally cylindrical, with a total dimension in the length direction L (i.e., along its longitudinal axis) between 13 cm and 6 cm, or between 12 cm and 7 cm, or between 9 cm and 8 cm, and a total width dimension W (i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) between 5 and 10 mm, or between 7 and 9 mm. However, it should be understood that in other implementations, the size and / or shape of the aerosol supply system may differ.

[0057] Reference Figure 2 It can be seen that the width of the consumable 30 is smaller than the width of the aerosol supply device 20, thereby providing a stepped profile at the relevant end of the consumable 30 extending from the receiving portion 21 in the aerosol supply system. In some implementations, the consumable 30 may be configured such that the protruding section has a similar width to the aerosol supply device 20. When the two are engaged, the protruding section of the consumable 30 extending from the receiving portion 21 forms a flush outer surface with the outer surface of the aerosol supply device 20. In other implementations, the consumable 30 may be coupled to the aerosol supply device 20 in different ways and may have the same width dimension as the aerosol supply device 20 (e.g., when the consumable 30 is attached to the end of the aerosol supply device 20).

[0058] In the described example, the aerosol delivery system is designed to be held by the user during use and used in a manner similar to that of a cigarette. In this respect, providing the aerosol delivery system with a size similar to that of a cigarette increases familiarity for users transitioning from cigarettes to electronic aerosol delivery systems, and may therefore help ease this transition. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery system may also have a weight similar to that of a cigarette for substantially similar reasons.

[0059] In the described implementation, the outer casing 20a has an overall cylindrical shape. The outer casing 20a defines a proximal or mouthpiece end 20b and a distal end 20c opposite to the proximal end 20b, with the receiving part 21 and the consumable 30 (if present) located at the proximal or mouthpiece end. The outer casing 20a may be formed, for example, from plastic or metal. In some implementations, the outer casing 20a may be at least partially covered by paper or cellulose material. Multiple components of the aerosol supply device 20, such as a power supply 22 and a control circuit 23, are disposed inside the outer casing 20a.

[0060] In this implementation, the power source 22 is a battery 22. The battery 22 is rechargeable and can be of the type commonly used in aerosol supply systems and other applications requiring the delivery of relatively high current over relatively short periods. The battery 22 can be, for example, a lithium-ion battery, but other battery chemistry systems are also contemplated. The battery 22 can be recharged by an external source, such as the refill / recharge pack 10 described below. In this example, the aerosol supply device 20 includes a first electrical contact 29a located at the distal end 20c of the housing 20a and a second electrical contact 29b located at the proximal end 20b of the housing 20a, the second contact being positioned on the inner surface of the receiving portion 21. The first and second electrical contacts 29a and 29b can be annular and extend accordingly around the outer surface of the housing 20a and the inner surface of the receiving portion 21. Generally, the first electrical contact 29a is configured to connect to the positive terminal of an external power source (or alternatively, the negative terminal of ground), and the second electrical contact 29b is configured to connect to the negative terminal of an external power source (or alternatively, the positive terminal of ground). The electrical contacts 29a and 29b are electrically connected to the terminals of the battery 22 (directly or via a suitable recharging circuit) and facilitate the recharging of the battery 22. However, in other implementations, the electrical contacts 29a and 29b may be arranged differently (e.g., at the same end of the housing 20a), or they may be omitted if, for example, the battery 22 will be inductively recharged using a suitable wireless recharging circuit disposed in the housing 20a.

[0061] Control circuitry 23 is appropriately configured / programmed to control the operation of the aerosol supply system. Control circuitry 23 can be considered to logically include various sub-units / circuit elements associated with different aspects of the operation of the aerosol supply system, and can be implemented by providing a control chip of the form of a (micro)controller, processor, ASIC, or similar. Control circuitry 23 can be arranged to control any functions associated with the aerosol supply system. By way of non-limiting example only, these functions may include charging or recharging battery 22, discharging battery 22 (e.g., for supplying power to aerosol generator 26), and other functions such as controlling visual indicators (e.g., LEDs) / displays, communication functions for communicating with external devices, etc. Control circuitry 23 can be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB). It should also be noted that the functions provided by control circuitry 23 may be distributed across multiple circuit boards and / or components not mounted on a PCB, and these additional components and / or PCBs may be appropriately positioned within the aerosol supply device 20. For example, the function of the control circuit 23 for controlling the (re)charging function of battery 23 can be provided separately from the function for controlling the discharging of battery 22 (e.g., on different PCBs).

[0062] In the described implementation, reservoir 24 (which is an example of an aerosol-generating material storage area) is provided as part of aerosol supply device 20, for example, within housing 20a. In the described implementation, reservoir 24 may be integrally formed with aerosol supply device 20. Reservoir 24 may not be removable from aerosol supply device 20. However, in other implementations, reservoir 24 may be removable from aerosol supply device 20 (e.g., provided as a separate but connectable component to aerosol supply device 20). Reservoir 24 may include one or more walls defining a volume within which aerosol-generating material can be stored. In this example, reservoir 24 is configured to store aerosol-generating material in liquid form, and therefore can be configured to reduce or prevent leakage of aerosol-generating material from reservoir 24. Reservoir 24 may take any suitable shape, such as a cylindrical shape.

[0063] In this example, at one end of the reservoir 24 (e.g., the end closest to the distal end 20c of the housing 20a), the reservoir 24 is in fluid communication with the aerosol generating material transport element 25 and the aerosol generator 26. For example, the reservoir 24 may include an opening through which the aerosol generating material transport element 25 is located or extends.

[0064] The aerosol generating material transport element 25 is configured to transport aerosol generating material from the reservoir 24 to the aerosol generator 26. The specific mechanism by which the aerosol generating material transport element 25 functions may depend on the aerosol generating material stored in the reservoir 24. In some implementations, where the aerosol generating material is a liquid or other flowable material, the aerosol generating material transport element 25 may be configured to transport the aerosol generating material via capillary action. In some implementations, the aerosol generating material transport element 25 may comprise a porous material (e.g., ceramic) or a bundle of fibers (e.g., glass or cotton fibers) defining a plurality of pores or gaps capable of drawing liquid from the reservoir 24 to supply the aerosol generator 26. Any suitable aerosol generating material transport element 25 may be utilized, taking into account the specific aerosol generating material stored in the reservoir 24 and / or the type of aerosol generator 26 used.

[0065] Aerosol generator 26 is a device configured to generate aerosols from aerosol-generating materials. In the described implementation, aerosol generator 26 is a heater or heating element. The heating element is configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to thermal energy, thereby releasing one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. There are no particular limitations on the form of the heating element. In some implementations, the heating element may be a planar structure. As an example, the heating element may take the form of a conductive plate or sheet, for example, made of titanium or other resistive materials such as nickel-chromium alloys. However, in other implementations, the heating element may take other forms, such as resistance wires or traces. The precise form of the heating element is not specific to this disclosure; however, it should be noted that some techniques may currently be more suitable for implementation in the aerosol supply device 20 having the dimensional requirements specified above. In some implementations, the heating element is electrically connected to the control circuit 23 and the battery 22, and heating of the heating element is achieved by allowing current to pass between positions on the heating element. In other implementations, the heating element may be a sensor element intended to generate heat when exposed to an alternating magnetic field (generated by a suitable magnetic field generator disposed in the aerosol supply device 20 and controlled by the control circuit 23).

[0066] In the described implementation, the aerosol generator 26 is a heating element. However, in other implementations, the aerosol generator 26 may be configured to generate aerosols from the aerosol generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator 26 may be configured to subject the aerosol generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0067] In the described implementation, the aerosol generator 26 is integrally formed with the aerosol supply device 20. However, in other implementations, the aerosol generator 26 and / or the aerosol generating material transport element 25 may be removed from the aerosol supply device 20. In an implementation where the reservoir 24 is removable, the aerosol generator 26 and the aerosol generating material transport element 25 may be removed together with the reservoir 24 (e.g., the reservoir 24, the aerosol generating material transport element 25, and the aerosol generator 26 may form a replaceable single component).

[0068] In some implementations, the aerosol generating material transport component 25 may be integrated with the aerosol generator 26 to form a combined aerosol generator and aerosol generating material transport component. For example, in some implementations, the aerosol generator 26 may include a porous conductive plate or multiple sintered steel fibers forming a planar structure.

[0069] In other implementations, the aerosol generating material transport component 25 may be omitted; for example, the aerosol generating material in the reservoir 24 can be transported to the configuration of the aerosol generator 26 without using the aerosol generating material transport component 25. However, it should also be acknowledged that the aerosol generating material transport component 25 may not only be provided to facilitate the transport of the aerosol generating material to the aerosol generator 26, but may also be provided to regulate the transport of the aerosol generating material to the aerosol generator 26 (e.g., to provide a defined aerosol generating material flow).

[0070] The aerosol supply device 20 also includes an airflow path formed by an air inlet 27a, a vapor generation chamber 27b, an air passage 27c, and an outlet 27d. Optionally, a pressure sensor 27e (or other suitable sensor) is provided in the airflow path. The air inlet 27a includes one or more openings provided in the housing 20a. The air inlet 27a is in fluid communication with the vapor generation chamber 27b, which is the area around the aerosol generator 26 where vapor is initially generated and aerosols are initially formed. Figure 2 In the diagram, the vapor generation chamber 27b is shown as an area extending the width of the reservoir 24, but it should be understood that the vapor generation chamber 27b may take any suitable size or shape. The vapor generation chamber 27b is in fluid communication with the aerosol generator 26, enabling it to receive the generated vapor from the aerosol generator 26. The vapor generation chamber 27b is also in fluid communication with an air passage 27c. The air passage 27c extends in the region between the reservoir 24 and the housing 20a, passing through either side of the reservoir 24, to an outlet 27d located at the base of the receiving section 21. Therefore, it should be understood that the air passage in the aerosol supply device 20 extends from the air inlet 27a via the vapor generation chamber 27b to the outlet 27d at the base of the receiving section 21.

[0071] During use of the aerosol supply system, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece end of the aerosol supply system (e.g., the mouthpiece end of consumable 30 / proximal end 20b of housing 20a), air is drawn into the aerosol supply device 20 via air inlet 27a, passes through vapor generation chamber 27b (in which vaporized aerosol generating material is entrained in the air), and then through air passage 27c to air outlet 27d. As will be discussed in more detail below, the aerosol then passes through consumable 30 to impart at least one of an aerosol flavoring agent and an active substance (e.g., nicotine) before being delivered to the user.

[0072] It should be understood that the specific form / arrangement of the airflow path is not specific to the principles of this disclosure, and any suitable arrangement of the airflow path relative to the reservoir 24 may be utilized. For example, air inlet 27a may be arranged relative to... Figure 2 Different locations are shown, for example, at the distal end 20c of housing 20a. In other implementations, reservoir 24 may be an annular chamber with a central opening, for example, through which a single air passage 27c passes.

[0073] The aerosol supply device 20 also includes a reservoir refill mechanism 28. The reservoir refill mechanism 28 is in fluid communication with the reservoir 24 and is configured to allow the reservoir 24 to be refilled with aerosol-generating material, for example, from the refill / recharge pack 10. For example, some aerosol-generating material in the reservoir 24 is consumed as the aerosol generator 26 is activated. The reservoir refill mechanism 28 is any suitable mechanism that allows the reservoir 24 to be refilled with aerosol-generating material. Refilling the reservoir 24 with aerosol-generating material allows the aerosol supply device 20 to be used multiple times, thereby extending the service life of the aerosol supply device 20 and reducing material waste. Furthermore, the reservoir refill mechanism 28 is configured to provide a suitable seal (depending on the nature of the aerosol-generating material) to prevent the aerosol-generating material from escaping from the reservoir 24. For example, in some implementations, the reservoir refill mechanism 28 may be a valve, such as a spring-loaded ball valve, which is biased to a closed position but can be actuated to an open position when engaged with a suitable refill mechanism (e.g., in refill / recharge pack 10) for refilling reservoir 24 with aerosol-generating material. In other implementations, the reservoir refill mechanism 28 may include a diaphragm pierceable by a suitable needle or the like of a suitable refill mechanism (e.g., in refill / recharge pack 10). The reservoir refill mechanism 28 is configured to allow aerosol-generating material to pass through it.

[0074] In the described example, the refill mechanism 28 can be accessed through the receiving portion 21. That is, the refill mechanism 28 is arranged such that a suitable refill mechanism (e.g., in the refill / recharge pack 10) can pass through an opening in the base of the receiving portion 21 and interact with the refill mechanism 28. In this example, the air outlet 27d serves as an opening in the base of the receiving portion 21 that allows aerosol (when the consumable is installed in the receiving portion 21) to pass through the consumable 30 and also allows a suitable refill mechanism (e.g., in the refill / recharge pack 10) to engage with the refill mechanism 28 (when the consumable 30 is not installed in the receiving portion 21). However, it should be understood that in other implementations, the refill mechanism 28 may be arranged in an alternative location, such as on the side of the housing 20a.

[0075] In summary, it should be understood that Figure 2 The aerosol supply device 20 represents an exemplary aerosol supply device 20. The precise arrangement of components (such as aerosol generator 26, reservoir 24, air passage, etc.) within the housing 20a may vary depending on the implementation.

[0076] Figure 3 Consumable 30 is illustrated in more detail according to one aspect of this disclosure.

[0077] The consumable 30 includes a housing 30a, a first distal retaining element 31, a second proximal retaining element 32, and an aerosol modifier 33.

[0078] The housing 30a of the consumable 30 can take any suitable shape, but in this example it is cylindrical. The consumable 30 is sized to be received at least partially within the receiving portion 21 of the aerosol supply device 20; therefore, in this example, the receiving portion 21 is also similarly cylindrical. The housing 30a can be formed from any suitable material, such as plastic. In some implementations, the housing 30a can be formed from paper or a similar material such as cardboard. Forming the housing 30a with paper or cardboard reduces the manufacturing cost of the consumable 30.

[0079] Figure 3The housing 30a is shown as a tubular member with openings at both ends. Retaining elements 31, 32 are provided at each end. The retaining elements 31, 32 are positioned to extend across the openings of the tubular housing 30a. Thus, the retaining elements 31, 32 and the housing 30a define a volume between them. An aerosol modifier 33 is disposed within this volume. Therefore, it should be understood that the retaining elements 31, 32 help to retain the aerosol modifier 33 within the consumable 30. Furthermore, the retaining elements 31, 32 are configured to allow air (and aerosol from the aerosol supply device 20) to pass through the retaining elements 31, 32. Therefore, the retaining elements 31, 32 can take any suitable configuration that allows both the retaining elements 31, 32 to retain the aerosol modifier within the volume between the retaining elements 31, 32 and to allow air to pass through it. For example, in some implementations, the retaining elements 31, 32 comprise a planar mesh or a porous substrate. In some implementations, the retaining elements 31, 32 (particularly the retaining element 32 located near the end of the housing 30a) may be formed of a filter material (e.g., cellulose acetate). In such implementations, the retaining elements 31, 32 may also function as filters to filter certain components from the airflow passing through the retaining elements 31, 32.

[0080] The aerosol modifier 33 can be any suitable aerosol modifier, such as any of the aerosol modifiers listed above. More broadly, the aerosol modifier 33 is configured to modify one or more properties of an aerosol passing through or through the aerosol modifier 33. According to certain aspects of this disclosure, the aerosol modifier 33 contains an active substance. For example, in one implementation, the aerosol modifier 33 contains nicotine. According to certain aspects of this disclosure, the aerosol modifier 33 contains a flavoring agent or seasoning. For example, in one implementation, the aerosol modifier 33 contains a tobacco flavoring agent.

[0081] In the described implementation, the aerosol modifier 33 is tobacco or contains tobacco, such as shredded tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, and / or processed tobacco. By using tobacco as the aerosol modifier 33, tobacco flavoring and nicotine can be imparted to the aerosol passing through the consumable 30 and the aerosol modifier 33. Furthermore, the aerosol produced and modified by such a tobacco aerosol modifier 33 has a flavor / taste similar to that produced by cigarettes, thereby helping to promote the switching of cigarette users to the aerosol supply system by increasing the familiarity of the aerosol supply system to cigarette users.

[0082] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3When the consumable 30 is engaged with the aerosol supply device 20, specifically when the consumable 30 is inserted into the receiving part 21, the consumable 30 is inserted in such a way that the distal end (i.e., the end including the retaining element 31) is inserted into the receiving part 21 first. That is, when the consumable 30 is inserted into the receiving part 21, the first distal retaining element 31 is closer to the distal end 20c of the aerosol supply system 20.

[0083] During use of the aerosol supply system (i.e., the combination of consumable 30 and aerosol supply device 20), the user places their mouth near the proximal end of consumable 30, including retaining element 32. When the user inhales, air is drawn into aerosol supply device 20 through air inlet 27a. In some implementations, aerosol supply device 20 includes a pressure sensor 27e (or a similar sensor, such as a flow sensor) capable of sensing a depressurization or airflow in the airflow path caused by the user's inhalation. When pressure sensor 27e senses the airflow generated by the user's inhalation (e.g., a pressure drop), control circuitry 23 detects this drop and subsequently supplies power (from battery 22) to aerosol generator 26 to activate it, i.e., to heat and generate vapor. In other implementations, aerosol supply device 20 may include a user input mechanism, such as a button (not shown), on the housing 20a of aerosol supply device 20, which can be actuated by the user to activate aerosol generator 26. When the aerosol generator 26 is activated, the aerosol generating material supplied to the aerosol generator is vaporized / aerosolized and released into the vapor generation chamber 27b. As described above, the vapor is entrained in the airflow and forms an aerosol before being conveyed along the air passage 27c and exiting through the outlet 27d. Once the aerosol exits the outlet 27d, it passes through the holding element 31 of the consumable 30, through or through the aerosol modifier 33, and exits the consumable 30 via the holding element 32 to be delivered to the user's mouth.

[0084] Therefore, it should be understood that the aerosol modifier 33 is used to modify at least one property of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 26. In the described implementation, these properties include at least one of the following: the presence of active substances (such as nicotine) and flavoring. However, it should be understood that other properties (such as the temperature of the aerosol) may also be affected by the aerosol modifier 33.

[0085] Consumable 30 is detachable from aerosol supply device 20. During use, when the aerosol modifier in consumable 30 is depleted (i.e., it no longer imparts flavor and / or nicotine to the aerosol at acceptable levels), consumable 30 can be removed from aerosol supply device 20, and a replacement consumable 30 can be installed on device 20 to take its place. The aerosol supply system can continue to generate aerosols via aerosol generator 26 as long as the reservoir 24 contains sufficient aerosol-generating material. If the aerosol-generating material in reservoir 24 is insufficient, reservoir 24 can be refilled with aerosol-generating material via reservoir refill mechanism 28. Therefore, it should be understood that aerosol supply device 20 is generally considered reusable and can be used with multiple consumables 30 (e.g., sequentially), which can be considered disposable.

[0086] The aerosol-generating material can be any suitable aerosol-generating material, as described above. For example, the aerosol-generating material can be a liquid aerosol-generating material, which may be referred to herein as a source liquid, e-cigarette liquid, or liquid. The source liquid can be generally conventional and may contain nicotine and / or other active ingredients, and / or one or more flavorings, as described above. In some implementations, the source liquid may not contain nicotine.

[0087] In some implementations, the aerosol-generating material stored in reservoir 24 does not contain active ingredients (such as nicotine) and / or flavorings. Not wishing to be bound by theory, when the aerosol-generating material is heated, it is vaporized / aerosolized, and it acts as a transport medium for components such as active ingredients and / or flavorings, which in some implementations may not be directly vaporized by the aerosol generator 26 during use. While some active ingredients and / or flavorings are expected to be transported from the aerosol generator 26 via the vaporized aerosol-generating material, it has been found that some active ingredients / flavorings may remain in contact with the aerosol generator 26. This may result in residues forming on the aerosol generator 26. These residues can accumulate on the aerosol generator 26 over time and may subsequently affect the performance of the aerosol generator 26 in providing aerosols to the user. By using aerosol-generating materials that do not contain active ingredients (such as nicotine) and / or flavorings, when the aerosol-generating material is aerosolized by the aerosol generator 26 (e.g., via heating), it has been found that the amount of aerosol-generating material residue remaining on the aerosol generator 26 is relatively low (e.g., after vaporization), thus extending the operating life of the aerosol generator 26. For example, it has been found that in systems where aerosol-generating materials containing, for example, nicotine are aerosolized, the performance of the aerosol generator 26 (e.g., in terms of the mass of aerosol produced for a given pump) begins to decline after approximately 5,000 pumps (or discrete activations of the aerosol generator 26). Conversely, in systems where aerosol-generating materials, for example, do not contain nicotine are aerosolized, the performance of the aerosol generator 26 does not begin to decline until approximately 20,000 pumps. Therefore, by using such aerosol-generating materials, the lifespan of the aerosol generator 26, and thus the aerosol supply device 20, can be relatively extended.

[0088] In some implementations, the aerosol-generating material is free of any active ingredients and / or flavorings. As used herein, “free of” means that the aerosol-generating material does not contain any active ingredients and / or flavorings, or contains active ingredients and / or flavorings in amounts no greater than negligible or trace amounts. More specifically, the aerosol-generating material includes an active ingredient in an amount no greater than 0.01 wt% of the weight of the aerosol-generating material (such as a liquid aerosol-generating material), and / or the aerosol-generating material includes one or more flavorings in an amount no greater than 0.01 wt% of the weight of the aerosol-generating material (such as a liquid aerosol-generating material).

[0089] In some implementations, the aerosol-generating material includes, is composed of, or is substantially composed of an aerosol-forming material. As described above, the aerosol-forming material may include one or more components capable of forming aerosols. In some implementations, the aerosol-forming material may include one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillin, ethyl laurate, diethyl sebacate, triethyl citrate, glyceryl triacetate, a mixture of glyceryl diacetate, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, glyceryl tribolicate, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. In some implementations, the aerosol-generating material may contain water.

[0090] In some implementations, the aerosol-generating material is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, (vegetable) glycerin, and water, or consists of the same. The aerosol-generating material may include or consist of any one or combination of the above. In the aerosol supply device 20 of the described implementation, the aerosol generator 26 is configured as an integral part of the aerosol supply device 20. As mentioned above, the aerosol supply device 20 is intended for use with multiple consumables 30, therefore the aerosol generator 26 is intended for multiple uses over an extended period of use. Furthermore, the aerosol generator 26 can be used for a longer period than an aerosol supply system having a disposable integrated reservoir and heater (e.g., in the form of a disposable vapor cartridge). Therefore, the aerosol generator 26, being integrated with the aerosol supply device 20, may more easily accumulate residue over time, which may affect performance if used with aerosol-generating materials containing other ingredients (e.g., flavorings or active substances). Therefore, by using aerosol generating materials that do not contain active ingredients and / or flavorings, aerosol generator 26 can be used for longer periods with relatively low residual accumulation levels, thereby maintaining acceptable performance for a longer period of time.

[0091] However, while using aerosol-generating materials that do not contain active ingredients and / or flavorings has certain advantages in such implementations, the aerosols generated are typically unflavored and free of active substances (such as nicotine). Especially for consumers transitioning from cigarettes or similar products to aerosol delivery systems, the presence of flavorings and / or active substances may be the quality of aerosols these consumers desire, and the lack of these qualities could lead such users back to cigarettes or similar products. Therefore, as described above, consumable 30 includes an aerosol modifier 33 positioned along the airflow path (e.g., at the air outlet 27d of the aerosol delivery device 20) such that the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 26 passes through or through the aerosol modifier 33 to modify the aerosol's properties. In the described implementation, aerosol modifier 33 is capable of imparting (tobacco) flavoring and / or active substances (nicotine) (as described above, which may be tobacco or a tobacco-containing substance or a substance containing tobacco or a tobacco-containing substance) to the aerosol generated by aerosol generator 26 as the aerosol passes through or is processed by aerosol modifier 33. In this way, although the aerosol generating material does not contain any flavoring agents (at least more than any flavoring carried by propylene glycol / (vegetable) glycerin) and / or active substances, aerosol modifier 33 is still capable of providing flavoring and / or active substances to the aerosol delivered to the user.

[0092] However, it should be understood that in other implementations, the aerosol-generating material may contain active substances and / or flavoring agents. In such implementations, the consumable 30 may be configured to modify additional or alternative properties of the aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating material. For example, the consumable 30 may impart additional flavoring agents, and / or reduce the temperature of the aerosol, and / or impart additional active substances.

[0093] In the example above, the receiving part 21 provides a position for the consumable 30 to be coupled or otherwise engaged with the aerosol supply device 20. In this example, the consumable 30 is held in place in the receiving part 21 by a friction fit. That is, the diameter of the receiving part 21 may be the same as (or slightly smaller, for example, 0.1 mm or less) the diameter of the consumable 30. However, in other implementations, the consumable 30 may engage with the receiving part 21 in other ways, such as based on threads, latching mechanisms, bayonet fastening, or magnetic coupling. Furthermore, it should be understood that the receiving part 21 represents only one example of a suitable interface for mating and engaging with the consumable 30. In other implementations, the consumable 30 may engage with the aerosol supply device 20 in any suitable manner.

[0094] In the described example, during use, the user places their mouth on the outer casing 30a of the consumable 30 (at its proximal end). However, it should be understood that in some implementations, the consumable 30 may be completely received within the aerosol supply device 20. Therefore, a portion of the outer casing 20a (e.g., a removable cap providing access to the receiving portion 21) may alternatively form the mouthpiece of the aerosol supply system.

[0095] In other implementations, consumable 30 can be omitted, and instead, the aerosol supply device 20 is equipped with a nozzle through which aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 26 from the aerosol generating material in the reservoir 24 can be delivered to the user.

[0096] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating a more detailed structure of the refill / recharge pack 10 and the aerosol supply device 20 according to one aspect of this disclosure is shown. It should be understood that... Figure 4 It is not shown to any particular scale, and the various components are shown only schematically. Furthermore, it should be understood that certain features of the refill / recharge pack 10 are not shown in the provided text. Figure 4 The term is omitted, for example, various wiring and electrical connections between certain components.

[0097] The refill / recharge pack 10 includes a housing 10a, a receiving part 11 for receiving the aerosol supply device 20, a power supply 12, a control circuit 13, a storage device 14, a conveying mechanism 15, aerosol generating material conduits 16a, 16b and 16c, an aerosol supply device engagement mechanism 17, and electrical contacts 18a and 18b.

[0098] The refill / recharge pack 10 is configured to have the shape and size of a cigarette box. That is, the refill / recharge pack 10 may be generally rectangular, and have a length dimension L (i.e., along its longitudinal axis) between 14 cm and 6 cm, or between 13 cm and 7 cm, or between 10 cm and 8 cm; a total width dimension W (i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis) between 8 cm and 5 cm, or between 7 cm and 5.5 cm; and a total depth dimension (not shown in the original text). Figure 4 As shown, but both perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the width direction) are between 3 cm and 1 cm, or between 2.5 cm and 1.5 cm. The dimension in the length direction L may depend on the length of the aerosol supply device 20.

[0099] exist Figure 4In the example, the refill / recharge pack 10 includes a receiving portion 11, sized to receive the aerosol supply device 20. For example, the receiving portion 11 may define a cylindrical recess having a width / diameter and length similar to that of the aerosol supply device 20. The receiving portion 11 has a longitudinal axis parallel to the length dimension of the refill / recharge pack 10. Figure 4 In this configuration, when the aerosol supply device 20 is fully inserted, its distal end extends from the receiving portion 11. This facilitates removal of the aerosol supply device 20 from the refill / recharge pack 10 by providing an area for the user to hold (e.g., with their thumb and forefinger). In some implementations, the aerosol supply device 20 may be completely contained within the receiving portion 11. In such implementations, a mechanism may be implemented to assist in lifting the aerosol supply device 20 from the receiving portion 11 for removal from the refill / recharge pack 10.

[0100] The refill / recharge pack 10 is designed to receive the aerosol supply device 20 between uses of the aerosol supply device 20 / system, to charge the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20 and refill the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20. When the user removes the aerosol supply device 20 from the refill / recharge pack 10 after recharging and refilling, the operation is similar to removing a cigarette from a cigarette case. In this respect, providing the refill / recharge pack 10 with a size similar to a cigarette case increases the familiarity for users transitioning from cigarettes to an electronic aerosol supply system, thus helping to make this transition easier. In some implementations, the refill / recharge pack 10 may also have a weight similar to a cigarette case for largely similar reasons.

[0101] In the described implementation, the housing 10a has an overall cuboid shape, having a top surface (through which the receiving part 11 can be accessed), a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and one or more side surfaces extending therebetween and perpendicular to it. The housing 10a may be formed, for example, from plastic or metal. In some implementations, the housing 10a may be at least partially covered by paper or cellulose material. Various components of the refill / recharge pack 10, such as a power supply 12, control circuitry 13, etc., are positioned within the housing 10a.

[0102] In this implementation, the power source 12 is battery 12. Battery 12 can be rechargeable, such as a lithium-ion battery, although other battery chemistry systems are also considered. Battery 12 can be charged via an external source (such as by connection to a mains power source, not shown, via a suitable cable, or via inductive charging). In some implementations, battery 12 may not be rechargeable. In such an implementation, housing 10a may include a door or hatch that allows replacement of battery 12 with a new (i.e., charged) battery 12. Battery 12 is intended for charging battery 22 of aerosol supply device 20, and therefore its capacity is at least equal to the capacity of battery 22 of aerosol supply device 20. However, in some implementations, the capacity of battery 12 of refill / recharge pack 10 may be larger, for example, 5 times or more, 10 times or more, or 20 times or more larger than the capacity of battery 22 of aerosol supply device 20. This means that refill / recharge pack 10 can charge battery 22 of aerosol supply device 20 multiple times in a single charge.

[0103] Control circuitry 13 is appropriately configured / programmed to control the operation of refill / recharge pack 10. Control circuitry 13 can be considered as logically including various sub-units / circuit elements associated with different aspects of the operation of refill / recharge pack 10, and can be implemented by providing a control chip of the form of a (micro)controller, processor, ASIC, or similar. Control circuitry 13 can be arranged to control any functions associated with refill / recharge pack 10. By way of non-limiting example only, these functions may include charging or recharging battery 12 (e.g., from an external source), discharging battery 12 (e.g., for charging battery 22 of aerosol supply device 20), and the transfer of aerosol generating material from reservoir 14 to reservoir 24 of aerosol supply device 20. In some examples, other functions such as controlling visual indicators (e.g., LEDs) / displays of refill / recharge pack 10, communication functions for communicating with external devices, etc., may also be controlled by control circuitry 13. Control circuitry 13 may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). It should also be noted that the functions provided by the control circuit 13 may be distributed across multiple circuit boards and / or across components not mounted to the PCB, and these additional components and / or PCBs may be appropriately positioned within the refill / recharge pack 10.

[0104] The refill / recharge pack 10 also includes a reservoir 14 configured to store aerosol-generating material. In this example, the reservoir 14 is configured to store liquid aerosol-generating material and is therefore configured to reduce or prevent leakage of aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 14. The reservoir 14 may take any suitable shape, such as a cuboid.

[0105] The aerosol generating material in reservoir 14 is intended to be transferred to reservoir 24 of aerosol supply device 20 when aerosol supply device 20 is installed in receiving section 11. Reservoir 14 is intended for refilling reservoir 24 of aerosol supply device 20, and therefore in some implementations has a volume at least equal to that of reservoir 24 of aerosol supply device 20. However, in some implementations, the volume of reservoir 14 of refill / recharge pack 10 may be larger, for example, 5 times or more, 10 times or more, or 20 times or more larger than the volume of reservoir 24 of aerosol supply device 20. This means that refill / recharge pack 10 can refill reservoir 24 of aerosol supply device 20 multiple times from reservoir 14 of refill / recharge pack 10.

[0106] In some implementations, the reservoir 14 may be integrally formed with the refill / recharge pack 10 and may or may not be refilled. However, in other implementations, the reservoir 14 may be removed from the refill / recharge pack 10. In these implementations, once the reservoir 14 is depleted, it can be removed and replaced with a new (full) reservoir 14.

[0107] In this implementation, a engagement mechanism 17 for engaging with the aerosol supply device 20 is provided at the base of the receiving portion 11 of the refill / recharge pack 10. The engagement mechanism 17 is sized to be received within the receiving portion 21 of the aerosol supply device 20. That is, the aerosol supply device 20 is inserted into the receiving portion 11 with its proximal end 20b first, such that when the aerosol supply device 20 is lowered into the receiving portion 11, the engagement mechanism 17 aligns with and engages with the receiving portion 21 of the aerosol supply device 20.

[0108] As previously described, the refill mechanism 28 can be accessed via the base of the receiving portion 21. The engagement mechanism 17 is configured to engage with the refill mechanism 28 to facilitate the refilling of the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20. Specifically, the engagement mechanism 17 includes a protrusion 17a at one end, which is arranged to extend through the outlet 27d of the aerosol supply device 20 and engage with and actuate the refill mechanism 28 (e.g., to move the spring-loaded ball valve of the refill mechanism 28). The protrusion 17a can be suitably shaped to engage with the refill mechanism 28 and can take different forms depending on the specific refill mechanism 28 employed in the aerosol supply device 20. For example, if the refill mechanism 28 is a diaphragm, the protrusion 17a can take the form of a needle.

[0109] The refill / recharge pack 10 includes an aerosol generating material conduit formed of three parts: a first conduit 16a, in fluid communication with the reservoir 14 and extending to the input end of the delivery mechanism 15; a second conduit 16b, in fluid communication with the output end of the delivery mechanism 15 and extending to and in fluid communication with a third conduit 16c; and a third conduit extending through the engagement mechanism 17 and the extension 17a and terminating at an opening at the end of the extension 17a. The first, second, and third conduits 16a, 16b, and 16c are collectively referred to herein as aerosol generating material conduit 16. The aerosol generating material conduit 16 (or conduit 16) is configured to allow aerosol generating material from the reservoir 14 to pass along conduit 16 and through the reservoir refill mechanism 28 to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20. In other words, the conduit 16 is capable of supplying aerosol-generating material to the opening in the extension 17a, which, when the aerosol supply device 20 is installed in the receiving part 11, supplies aerosol-generating material to the reservoir 24 through an interface partially provided by the reservoir refilling mechanism 28 of the aerosol supply device 20 to refill the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20. In this example, the conduit 16 is configured to deliver liquid aerosol-generating material to the opening in the extension 17a.

[0110] The refill / recharge pack 10 also includes a conveying mechanism 15, in which the conveying mechanism is in fluid communication with the conduit 16. According to the principles of this disclosure, the conveying mechanism 15 includes a rotatable impeller 154. In summary, the conveying mechanism 15 is capable of driving the aerosol generating material from the reservoir 14 along the conduit 16 to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20.

[0111] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The conveying mechanism 15, including the rotatable impeller 154, is shown schematically in more detail. Figure 5 A cross-section of the conveying mechanism 15 is shown when viewed along the plane containing the rotatable impeller 154, while Figure 6 A cross section of the conveying mechanism 15 is shown when viewed along the axis of rotation of the impeller 154 (e.g., perpendicular to the plane in which the rotatable impeller 154 is located).

[0112] The conveying mechanism 15 includes a pump housing 151 defining an internal volume, an inlet 152 fluidly connected to the internal volume of the pump housing 151, an outlet 153 also fluidly connected to the internal volume of the pump housing 151, a rotatable impeller 154 including a plurality of blades 154a, and a spindle 156 connected at one end to the impeller 154 and at the other end to a motor 155.

[0113] The pump housing 151 has an outer surface or profile that generally defines a disc-shaped or cylindrical shape, the diameter of which is significantly larger than the depth or thickness of the housing 151 (see [reference]). Figure 5 and Figure 6However, the outer surface / shape of the pump housing 151 is not particularly limited and can take any suitable shape (e.g., cuboid). The pump housing 151 also defines an inner cavity or internal volume configured to receive liquid aerosol-generating material in use, or more generally, to receive flowable aerosol-generating material. This inner cavity is also shown as cylindrical. This inner cavity is configured to receive the impeller 154 and is therefore sized accordingly. In this implementation, the inner cavity is also slightly larger than the impeller 154 radially in relation to the impeller 154 / cylindrical inner cavity in order to receive additional aerosol-generating material around the impeller 154; however, this may not be the case in every implementation. The pump housing 151 can be formed of any suitable material, such as metal (e.g., aluminum) or plastic.

[0114] The pump housing 151 also includes an inlet 152 configured to supply aerosol-generating material into the interior cavity of the pump housing 151. The inlet 152 is configured such that the aerosol-generating material is supplied into the interior cavity of the pump housing 151 at or near the center of rotation of the impeller 154 (i.e., the axis of rotation of the impeller 154). Figure 5 In the diagram, inlet 152 is shown extending from pump housing 151 along a direction perpendicular to the plane containing impeller 154, and is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of impeller 154. However, it should be understood that inlet 152 may be radially offset from the axis of rotation of impeller 154, for example, located within 50% of the radius of impeller 154 from the axis of rotation. Furthermore, Figure 5 The aerosol-generating material is generally shown traveling along the inlet 152 in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the impeller 154 (see [reference]). Figure 5 (The arrow shown along the inlet 152). However, the direction in which the aerosol generating material is provided along the inlet 152 can be tilted relative to the axis of rotation of the impeller 154.

[0115] like Figure 5 As shown, inlet 152 is connected to the first conduit 16a, and therefore it can be understood that inlet 152 is in fluid communication with the reservoir 14 of the refill / recharge pack 10. Thus, inlet 152 can supply aerosol generating material from the reservoir 14 of the refill / recharge pack to the inner cavity of the pump housing 151 via the first conduit 16a.

[0116] The pump housing 151 also includes an outlet 153 configured to allow aerosol-generating material within the cavity of the pump housing 151 to exit the pump housing 151. The outlet 153 is disposed on one side of the pump housing 151 in the plane containing the impeller 154. That is, when the pump housing 151 is viewed along the axis of rotation of the impeller 154, the outlet 153 is disposed on the side of the pump housing 151 that is radially displaced from the axis of rotation by an amount greater than the radius of the impeller 154. The exact location of the outlet 153 is not important to the principles of this disclosure. However, generally speaking, the outlet 153 is arranged such that aerosol-generating material rotated within the pump housing 151 by the impeller 154 can exit the pump housing 151 via the outlet 153. Figure 5 In the diagram, outlet 153 is shown extending from pump housing 151 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of impeller 154, and in a direction parallel to the circumferential tangent of impeller 154 (see [reference]). Figure 5 (The arrow shown along outlet 153). However, the direction in which the aerosol-generating material is discharged along outlet 153 can be parallel to the tangential direction of the impeller 154 at outlet 153, or, as... Figure 6 As shown by the dashed line, outlet 153 can be tilted relative to the tangential direction of impeller 154.

[0117] like Figure 5 As shown, outlet 153 is connected to the second conduit 16b. Therefore, it can be understood that when the aerosol supply device 20 is connected to the refill / recharge pack 10, outlet 153 is in fluid communication with the third conduit 16c and the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20. Thus, outlet 153 can supply aerosol generating material from the cavity of the pump housing 151 to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 via the second conduit 16b and the third conduit 16c. The second conduit 16b and the third conduit 16c, together with the opening at the protrusion 17a, can form a first portion of the aerosol generating material supply path, which can supply aerosol generating material from outlet 153 of the pump housing 151 to the aerosol supply device interface of the refill / recharge pack 10 (this interface can be defined as the portion of the refill / recharge pack 10 that interfaces with the aerosol supply device 20 to supply aerosol generating material to the aerosol supply device 20). The second part of the aerosol generating material supply path extends from the refill / recharge pack 10 interface of the aerosol supply device 20 (which can be defined as the part of the aerosol supply device 20 that interfaces with the refill / recharge pack 10 for supplying aerosol generating material to the aerosol supply device 20) to the reservoir 24.

[0118] Impeller 154 can take any suitable form. In this implementation, impeller 154 includes a body formed of a disc and a plurality of blades 154a. Blades 154a are configured to extend upward from the surface of the disc-shaped body. Blades 154a can be attached to the disc by any suitable means (e.g., by welding or adhesive) or can be integrally formed with the disc-shaped body (e.g., by casting or injection molding). Impeller 154 can be formed of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic or metal. Blades (or fins) 154a are arranged about the axis of rotation of impeller 154 such that when impeller 154 rotates, aerosol-generating material exits the inner cavity of pump housing 151. For this purpose, blades 154a are typically configured to extend along a curved path from a position near the center of rotation of impeller 154 to a position at the outer edge of impeller 154 (e.g., ...). Figure 6 (As shown). The number, position, and shape of the blades 154a can vary depending on the implementation and can depend on the characteristics and properties of the conveying mechanism 15 (e.g., the location of inlets / outlets 152, 153, the properties of the aerosol generating material to be pumped, and the output of the conveying mechanism 15, e.g., flow rate). The position, shape, and number of blades 154a can be determined empirically or through computer simulation / modeling.

[0119] It should be understood that the above description is one specific implementation of an impeller 154 having a disc-shaped body and a plurality of blades 154a extending from that body. In other implementations, the impeller 154 may be formed having two disc-shaped bodies of the same relative size, with the blades 154a disposed between the two disc-shaped bodies (forming a so-called closed or enclosed impeller 154). In other implementations, the impeller 154 may be implemented by blades 154a attached to a spindle or a central hub attached to a spindle (forming a so-called open impeller 154). In these implementations, there is no disc-shaped body. The specific design of the impeller 154 is not important to the principles of this disclosure, and it should be understood that the design of the impeller 154 may vary depending on the application at hand.

[0120] As described above, the impeller 154 is designed to rotate about an axis of rotation. For this purpose, the conveying mechanism 15 is provided with a motor 155 and a spindle 156 extending from the motor 155 and connected to the impeller 154. Thus, when the motor 155 is controlled to operate, for example, under the control of the control circuit 13, the motor 155 can drive the impeller 154 to rotate via the spindle 156. To control the motor 155, the control circuit 13 can, in response to determining that refilling of the reservoir 24 is to be performed, supply electrical power from the battery 12 of the refill / recharge pack 10 to the motor 155.

[0121] exist Figure 5In the example, the motor 155 is shown as located outside the pump housing 151. However, in other implementations, the motor 155 may be disposed within the pump housing 151 (although separate from the inner cavity of the pump housing 151 that houses the impeller 154). The spindle 156 extends through the pump housing 151 via an opening to allow for the connection between the impeller 154 and the motor 155, and for the impeller 154 to rotate relative to the pump housing 151. The connection between the spindle 156 and the motor 155 is... Figure 5 The diagram is shown schematically. However, it should be understood that any suitable connection may be used.

[0122] The opening of the pump housing 151, which includes the spindle 156, may include a sealing element (such as an O-ring or the like) to seal the interior of the pump housing 151 from the external environment / other cavities of the pump housing 151. This sealing element is also configured to allow rotation of the spindle 156 while maintaining a fluid seal. However, in some implementations, to further reduce the possibility of fluid leakage, the spindle 156 may be entirely housed within the pump housing 151. In this implementation, the spindle 156 may be magnetically driven; for example, a motor 155 may be coupled to a housing disposed around one end of the spindle 156, the housing including a plurality of magnets disposed opposite to magnets located on the spindle 156. As the housing coupled to the motor 155 rotates, the rotating magnets of the housing cause the spindle 156 to rotate due to the interaction between the housing and the magnets of the spindle 156. This arrangement is generally more expensive, but because the spindle 156 is completely inside the pump housing 151 and does not protrude from the pump housing 151 or the cavity containing the motor 155, fluid leakage from the pump housing 151 can be reduced or even avoided.

[0123] In operation, when the control circuit 13 determines that the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 needs to be refilled (e.g., in response to detection of the aerosol supply device 20 in the receiving section 11 or in response to user input), the control circuit 13 supplies electrical power to the motor 155, causing the motor to start rotating and drive the impeller 154. The impeller 154 then rotates the aerosol generating material located in the cavity of the pump housing 151 (as the impeller 154 rotates). Without being bound by theory, as the aerosol generating material rotates with the impeller 154, the impeller 154 applies a force to the aerosol generating material through the blades 154a, which then guides the aerosol generating material outward (and perpendicular to) the axis of rotation of the impeller 154. This increases the fluid pressure within the cavity of the pump housing 151. The increased pressure causes the aerosol-generating material to be pumped out of the inner cavity of the pump housing 151 and along the outlet 153 and conduit 16b (and subsequently to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20). In addition, the rotation of the impeller 154 at or near the inlet 152 generates a suction force that draws the aerosol-generating material in the reservoir 14 into the pump housing 151 (via conduit 16a).

[0124] In this way, it can be seen that the conveying mechanism 15 is capable of pumping aerosol generating material from the reservoir 14 of the refill / recharge pack 10 to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20. As described above, the conveying mechanism 15 utilizes the rotational motion of the impeller 154 to increase the fluid pressure within the pump housing 151, so that the higher-pressure liquid is forced / pumped out along the outlet. Such pumps are sometimes referred to as centrifugal pumps.

[0125] This transfer mechanism 15 is particularly suitable for pumping low-viscosity fluids, such as water and some oils. When used with suitable fluids, impeller-based transfer mechanisms can exhibit a longer service life compared to some other types of transfer mechanisms, which may make its use in the refill / recharge pack 10 particularly suitable, as the refill / recharge pack 10 is designed to refill the aerosol supply device 20 multiple times. The construction of this transfer mechanism 15 is also relatively simple, requiring fewer parts, thus resulting in relatively low cost and ease of operation. Partly due to its simplicity, this transfer mechanism 15 can also be manufactured in a relatively compact manner, making it suitable for use in confined spaces (which may be appropriate depending on the size of the refill / recharge pack 10). In some implementations, the impeller-based transfer mechanism 15 can operate in a relatively horizontal configuration, which may be particularly suitable for refill / recharge packs 10 that may be held in the user's hand or otherwise located on the user (e.g., in a pocket). This impeller-based transfer mechanism can be configured to achieve specific flow rates (e.g., by designing the impeller 154 and / or operating the motor 155).

[0126] Therefore, overall, this transfer mechanism 15 is a suitable candidate for use in the refill / recharge pack 10 in terms of overall cost and size, as well as pumping performance and flexibility. Figure 4In the example, the conveying mechanism 15 is positioned below the reservoir 14. During normal use, the refill / recharge pack 10 is typically held such that its longitudinal axis is aligned with the direction of gravity, such that the base of the reservoir 14 (and therefore the conveying mechanism 15) is closer to the ground than the top of the reservoir 14. The conveying mechanism 15, including the impeller 154, operates more efficiently when fluid / liquid (e.g., aerosol-generating material) is supplied into the cavity of the pump housing 151. Without being bound by theory, when the pump housing 151 is filled with air or other gases, the impeller 154 may not generate sufficient (or in some cases any) pumping force out of the pump housing 151, and therefore may not be able to generate suction to draw the fluid to be pumped into the pump housing 151. However, by positioning the conveying mechanism 15 during normal use / orientation such that the inlet 152 of the pump housing 151 is below the reservoir 14, aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 14 can flow to the inlet 152 of the pump housing 151, allowing the inner cavity of the pump housing 151 to be filled with aerosol-generating material. In this way, when the impeller 154 rotates, the inner cavity of the pump housing 151 is filled (or mostly filled) with aerosol-generating material. Therefore, the conveying mechanism 15 can operate as described above.

[0127] In some implementations, the delivery mechanism 15 may not be positioned below the reservoir 14 (e.g., for design reasons), and / or the effect of gravity on the aerosol-generating material in the reservoir 14 may be insufficient to fill the cavity of the pump housing 151 with aerosol-generating material to a level sufficient to pump the aerosol-generating material to the aerosol supply device 20. In such implementations, the refill / recharge pack 10 may be provided with a prefilling mechanism (not shown) that can be actuated independently of the delivery mechanism 15 to pump aerosol-generating material into the cavity of the pump housing 151 through inlet 152. For example, the prefilling mechanism may be a volumetric pump, such as a compressible balloon disposed in a separate passage between the reservoir 14 and the delivery mechanism 15, such that when actuated (e.g., by a user squeezing the balloon at least partially exposed on the outer surface of the housing 10a), any aerosol-generating material in the balloon is pumped into the cavity of the pump housing 151. The above is merely an example of a pre-filling mechanism. Any suitable pre-filling mechanism can be used, which can be actuated, either manually by the user or automatically under the control of the control circuit 13, and can be implemented according to the principles of this disclosure.

[0128] It should be understood that the aerosol generating material supply path (i.e., the section extending from the outlet 153 of the fluid passage conveying mechanism 15 to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20) is formed by two parts; the first part includes conduits 16b, 16c, the opening of the protrusion 17a, and the aerosol supply device interface; the second part includes a refill / recharge pack interface, a reservoir refilling mechanism 28, and the reservoir 24. In use, after the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 has been refilled, the aerosol supply device 20 is removed from the receiving part 11. This disconnects the first and second parts of the aerosol generating material supply path. However, in some implementations, this may cause air to enter the first part of the aerosol generating material supply path through the opening at the protrusion 17a. In this implementation, to prevent air from flowing along conduits 16b and 16c through the pump housing 151, a first portion of the aerosol generating material supply path may be equipped with a one-way valve (e.g., in conduit 16c). This one-way valve allows the aerosol generating material to flow along conduit 16c toward the aerosol supply device 20, but prevents air (or aerosol generating material) from flowing in the opposite direction. This helps reduce the likelihood of the pump housing 151 becoming inefficient due to air accumulation or, as described above, failing to pump the aerosol generating material.

[0129] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the exemplary conveying mechanism 15 shown, the pump housing 151 employs a so-called volute-type housing design. However, the principles of this disclosure can be applied to other pump housing 151 designs, such as so-called vortex designs, where the outlet 153 can be described as extending spirally around the outer surface of the pump housing 151. In such applications, typically, the channel defining the outlet 153 increases (e.g., cross-sectional area / diameter) as the aerosol-generating material travels along the outlet 153. The choice of housing / pump housing 151 design can depend on the specific application at hand.

[0130] As described above, in some implementations, the conveying mechanism 15 can be electrically operated. For example, a motor 155 disposed in the refill / recharge pack 10 can be used to drive the impeller 154 under the control of the control circuit 13. In such implementations, the battery 12 can be used to power the conveying mechanism 15. Control of the motor can depend on a suitable detection process for detecting whether the aerosol supply device 20 is located in the receiving section 11; that is, when it is determined that the aerosol supply device 20 is present in the receiving section 11, the conveying mechanism 15 can be operated to convey the aerosol generating material from the reservoir 14. Alternatively, the conveying mechanism 15 can be operated mechanically and manually by the user; for example, by a rotatable arm, dial, or the like directly or indirectly coupled to the spindle 156 of the impeller 154 and disposed on the outer surface of the housing 10a. When the rotatable arm, dial, or the like is rotated by the user, the impeller 154 can rotate, thereby pumping the aerosol generating material from the outlet 153 of the conveying mechanism 15.

[0131] Therefore, generally speaking, when the aerosol supply device 20 is located in the receiving section 11, the refill / recharge pack 10 is configured to transfer the aerosol generating material disposed in the reservoir 14 to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20. Thus, the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 can be refilled with aerosol generating material by the refill / recharge pack 10.

[0132] Additionally, return to reference Figure 4 The refill / recharge pack 10 includes electrical contacts 18a and 18b. The electrical contacts 18a and 18b are arranged in the refill / recharge pack 10 such that they can be electrically connected to the electrical contacts 29a and 29b of the aerosol supply device 20 when the aerosol supply device 20 is located in the receiving section 11. More specifically, the first electrical contact 18a of the refill / recharge pack 10 is arranged to be electrically connected to the first electrical contact 29a of the aerosol supply device 20, and the second electrical contact 18b is arranged to be electrically connected to the second electrical contact 29b of the aerosol supply device 20.

[0133] exist Figure 4In this refill / recharge pack 10, a first electrical contact 18a is positioned facing the opening of the receiving portion 11, such that when the aerosol supply device 20 is inserted into the receiving portion 11, a first electrical contact 29a at the distal end 20c of the aerosol supply device 20 can electrically connect with the first electrical contact 18a of the refill / recharge pack 10. The first electrical contact 18a can take any suitable form; for example, the electrical contact 18a can be an annular ring extending coaxially with respect to the axis of the receiving portion 11. In other implementations, the electrical contact 18a may include one or more contact pads disposed on the surface of the receiving portion 11. In some implementations, the radial extent of the first electrical contact 29a of the aerosol supply device 20 around the longitudinal axis of the aerosol supply device 20 and the radial extent of the first electrical contact 18a of the refill / recharge pack 10 around the longitudinal axis of the receiving portion 11 allow the aerosol supply device 20 to be inserted at any rotatable position relative to the receiving portion 11 around the longitudinal axis of the aerosol supply device 20, while still providing electrical contact between the first electrical contacts 18a and 29a. For example, the electrical contact 29a may extend 360° around the longitudinal axis of the aerosol supply device 20, and the electrical contact 18a may extend 1° to 360° around the longitudinal axis of the receiving portion 11.

[0134] exist Figure 4 In this configuration, the second electrical contact 18b of the refill / recharge pack 10 is positioned on the outer surface of the engagement mechanism 17. In this case, when the aerosol supply device 20 is inserted into the receiving portion 11, and when the engagement mechanism 17 engages with the receiving portion 21, the second electrical contact 29b located within the receiving portion 21 of the aerosol supply device 20 can electrically connect with the second electrical contact 18b of the refill / recharge pack 10. The second electrical contact 18b can take any suitable form; for example, the electrical contact 18b can be an annular ring extending coaxially with respect to the axis of the engagement mechanism 17. In other implementations, the electrical contact 18b may comprise one or more contact pads disposed on the surface of the engagement mechanism 17. In some implementations, the radial extent of the second electrical contact 29b of the aerosol supply device 20 about the longitudinal axis of the receiving portion 21 and the radial extent of the second electrical contact 18b of the refill / recharge pack 10 about the longitudinal axis of the engagement mechanism 17 allow the aerosol supply device 20 to be inserted relative to the receiving portion 11 about the longitudinal axis of the aerosol supply device 20 at any rotational position, while still providing electrical contact between the second electrical contacts 18b and 29b. For example, the electrical contact 29b may extend 360° about the longitudinal axis of the receiving portion 21, and the electrical contact 18b may extend 1° to 360° about the longitudinal axis of the engagement mechanism 17.

[0135] When the aerosol supply device 20 is installed in the receiving portion 11 of the refill / recharge pack 10, the refill / recharge pack 10 is configured to charge the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20. The battery 12 of the refill / recharge pack 10 is electrically connected (possibly via a charging circuit of the control circuit 13) to a first electrical contact 18a and a second electrical contact 18b. When the aerosol supply device 20 is inserted into the receiving portion 11, and the first electrical contact 29a of the aerosol supply device 20 is electrically connected to the first electrical contact 18a of the refill / recharge pack 10 and the second electrical contact 29b of the aerosol supply device 20 is electrically connected to the second electrical contact 18b of the refill / recharge pack 10, the refill / recharge pack 10 is configured to charge the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20 by applying appropriate power from the battery 12 of the refill / recharge pack 10. Although Figure 4 Not shown, but the refill / recharge pack 10 and / or aerosol supply device 20 may have suitable circuitry to control and / or monitor the charging of the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20, for example to help ensure that charging is performed safely and accurately.

[0136] Therefore, in this example, when the aerosol supply device 20 is located in the receiving section 11, the refill / recharge pack 10 is also configured to transfer the power supplied in the battery 12 of the refill / recharge pack 10 to the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20. Thus, the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20 can be charged by the power supplied by the refill / recharge pack 10.

[0137] In the described embodiments, the refill / recharge pack 10 is configured to both refill the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 and charge the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20. However, in some embodiments, the refill / recharge pack 10 may be configured to refill only the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20. That is, the charging circuit and electrical contacts 29a, 29b may be omitted. Furthermore, depending on the operation of the conveying mechanism 15, especially whether the conveying mechanism 15 requires electricity to operate, the battery 12 of the refill / recharge pack 10 may be omitted. In embodiments where the refill / recharge pack 10 is configured only to refill the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20, the refill / recharge pack 10 may be referred to as the refill pack 10 or the refilling device 10.

[0138] like Figure 4 The configuration of the refill / recharge pack 10 shown should be understood as an example of the refill / recharge pack 10; however, in other embodiments, the refill / recharge pack 10 may be configured in a different manner. For example, the positions of the electrical contacts 18a, 18b may be... Figure 4The configurations shown may differ. Furthermore, the conduit 16 and the connection mechanism 17 may differ from those shown. Various aspects of the refill / recharge pack 10 may also depend on the configuration of the aerosol supply device 20 (and vice versa).

[0139] exist Figure 4 In the example shown, the reservoir 14 is located next to the receiving portion 11 of the refill / recharge pack 10. This configuration helps to achieve an overall size of the refill / recharge pack 10 consistent with the cigarette case described above. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the position of the reservoir 14 relative to the receiving portion 11 may differ from that shown.

[0140] exist Figure 4 In the example shown, the conduit 16 extends from the base of the reservoir 14 and is actually fed toward the opening of the receiving portion 11 as it passes along the engagement mechanism 17. However, in other embodiments, the conduit 16 and the engagement mechanism 17 can be configured differently. For example, if the reservoir refilling mechanism 28 is located on the side of the aerosol supply device 20 / reservoir 24, the engagement mechanism 17 can similarly extend from the side of the receiving portion 11. In such embodiments, the engagement mechanism 17 can be configured to move between a retracted position (in which the engagement mechanism 17 moves out of the receiving portion 11, thus not affecting the ability to position the aerosol supply device 20 in the receiving portion 11) and an extended position (in which the engagement mechanism 17 moves into the receiving portion 11 to engage with the reservoir refilling mechanism 28 of the aerosol supply device 20). The conduit 16 can be arranged accordingly, for example, extending from the side of the reservoir 14. Furthermore, the movable engagement mechanism 17 is not limited to the side of the receiving portion 11. For example, as Figure 4 The engagement mechanism 17 shown can alternatively be configured to extend / retract.

[0141] exist Figure 4In the example shown, the aerosol supply device 20 is inserted with its distal end 20c extending from the receiving portion 11 (or otherwise arranged near the opening of the receiving portion 11). In this orientation, the inlet of the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 (including the reservoir refill mechanism 28) is closer to the engagement mechanism 17 than the aerosol generator 26. In other words, if we assume that the surface of the refill / recharge pack 10 including the opening of the receiving portion 11 is the top surface, then the aerosol generator 26 is closer to the top surface than the reservoir refill mechanism 28. During refilling, as the aerosol generating material enters the reservoir 24 via the reservoir refill mechanism 28, any air in the reservoir 24 is replaced by the aerosol generating material from the refill / recharge pack 10 via the aerosol generator 26 / aerosol generating material delivery element 25. That is, the replaced air can leave the reservoir 24 by following a similar path that the aerosol generating material follows from the reservoir 24 to the aerosol generator 26 in normal operation. This configuration means that the pressure within the reservoir 24 can be balanced, and refilling can be performed without obstruction without the need for a separate vent valve or the like. Furthermore, it should be noted that when the aerosol supply system is in use, the consumable 30, when installed in the receiving section 21, serves to block or conceal the reservoir refilling mechanism 28 from view, thus providing the user with a smoother visual experience.

[0142] However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the refill / recharge pack 10 and / or aerosol supply device 20 may be configured differently. In some embodiments, the reservoir 24 may be provided with an exhaust valve.

[0143] In the described embodiment, the engagement mechanism 17 serves dually as a mechanism for refilling the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 and as a mechanism for charging the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20. However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the engagement mechanism 17 may be configured to perform only one of these functions, while the other function is implemented using different components and / or a second engagement mechanism.

[0144] Figure 7 schematically shown Figure 4 The modified form of the refill / recharge pack 10. Figure 7 Based on Figure 4 For clarity, similar components are indicated by similar reference numerals. For the sake of brevity, their description is omitted.

[0145] exist Figure 7In this refill / recharge pack 10, a cover 10b is included, selectively allowing access to a receiving portion 11 when the cover 10b is opened or removed. In some embodiments, the cover 10b is a separate component from the housing 10a, which can be removed and attached to the housing 10a. In other embodiments, the cover 10b is movably mounted to the housing 10a of the refill / recharge pack 10. In a particular embodiment, the cover 10b is arranged to rotate hingedly about an axis parallel to the width direction. The cover 10b is movable between a closed position and an open position, in which the opening of the receiving portion 11 is covered by the cover 10b, and in the open position, the opening of the receiving portion 11 is exposed, and the aerosol supply device 20 can be inserted therein. Cigarette boxes typically include a cover; therefore, providing a cover 10b on the refill / recharge pack 10 provides increased familiarity for users transitioning to non-flammable aerosol supply systems. Figure 7 As shown, when the cover 10b is present, the overall length dimension of the refill / recharge pack 10 includes the extent of the cover 10b's extension in the longitudinal direction.

[0146] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of refilling and / or recharging an aerosol supply device 20 using a conveying mechanism 15 including an impeller 154.

[0147] The method begins at step S1, in which the aerosol supply device 20 is connected to the refill / recharge pack 10. (See reference) Figures 1 to 4 This step may include ensuring that there are no consumables 30 in the receiving section 21, inserting the aerosol supply device 20 into the receiving section of the refill / recharge pack, and engaging the engagement mechanism 17 with the receiving section 21. Once the aerosol supply device 20 is in the receiving section 11, it should be understood that the conduit 16 and the reservoir 14 are fluidly connected to the reservoir refill mechanism 28 and the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20, and optionally, the electrical contacts 18a, 18b are electrically connected to the electrical contacts 29a, 29b.

[0148] At step S2, the method includes refilling the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 with aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 14 of the refill / recharge pack 10. As described above, the aerosol-generating material can flow from the reservoir 14 to the reservoir refilling mechanism 28 and then to the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 via the conduit 16 under the actuation of the transfer mechanism 15. In this disclosure, the actuation transfer mechanism 15 includes a rotating impeller 154 to increase the pressure within the pump housing 151, thereby allowing the aerosol-generating material to be discharged via the outlet 153 of the pump housing 151.

[0149] In some implementations, the refilling process begins automatically when the aerosol supply device 20 is detected in the receiving section 11 (e.g., by using a suitable sensor located in the receiving section 11 to sense when the aerosol supply device 20 is present in the receiving section 11). In other implementations, the refilling process begins upon receiving an instruction to do so (e.g., from a user).

[0150] The refilling process continues until the reservoir 24 is filled with aerosol generating material. At step S3, the conveying mechanism 15 is stopped, thereby halting the refilling operation of the reservoir 24 of the aerosol supply device 20 (stopping the delivery of aerosol generating material to the reservoir 24). In some implementations, the control circuit 13 may be configured to stop the refilling operation after a predetermined time period elapsed since the start of the refilling operation. The predetermined time period may be set to help ensure that a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material has been delivered to the reservoir 24, taking into account the expected or estimated flow rate of the conveying mechanism 15. In other implementations, the refill / recharge pack 10 may include a sensor or the like (which may or may not be integrated with the control circuit 13) configured to monitor parameters of the conveying mechanism 15 and determine, based on the monitored parameters, whether the delivery of aerosol generating material should be stopped. For example, the refill / recharge pack 10 may be provided with a flow sensor or the like located in conduits 16b or 16c, configured to measure the flow rate along conduits 16b, 16c. Based on the measured flow rate, control circuit 13 is configured to calculate or estimate the amount of aerosol-generating material that has been delivered to reservoir 24, and to stop delivery when the estimated amount of aerosol-generating material reaches a predetermined amount. In other implementations, control circuit 13 may monitor operating parameters such as impeller 154 speed or motor 155 current / power to determine whether refilling is complete. In this regard, as reservoir 24 is filled, the force required to pump more aerosol-generating material into reservoir 24 increases. In other words, as reservoir 24 approaches full, impeller speed may begin to decrease and / or motor current / power may begin to increase. Based on monitoring such operating parameters, control circuit 13 can determine that refilling is complete when the monitored parameter deviates from the predetermined amount relative to its expected value.

[0151] In step S4, the method includes recharging the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20 using power from the battery 12 of the refill / recharge pack 10. Step S4 can be performed simultaneously with steps S2 and S3. As described above, electrical power can be transferred from the battery 12 to the battery 22 of the aerosol supply device 20 via electrical contacts 18a, 18b on the refill / recharge pack 10 and electrical contacts 29a, 29b on the aerosol supply device 20. In some implementations, the recharging process starts automatically when the aerosol supply device 20 is detected to be in the receiving section 11. In other implementations, the recharging process starts upon receiving an instruction to do so (e.g., from a user). The recharging process continues until the battery 22 is recharged or until the reservoir 24 is filled with aerosol generating material.

[0152] After step S4, the aerosol supply device 20 is ready to be removed from the refill / recharge pack 10. The user can choose to remove the aerosol supply device 20 immediately after the refill / recharge operation is completed, or leave it in the refill / recharge pack 10 until a later time. After the aerosol supply device 20 is removed from the refill / recharge pack 10, the user inserts the consumable 30 into the receiving part 21 to form the aerosol supply system, which is then ready for use. When the aerosol supply device requires refilling and / or recharging, the user performs the procedure again. Figure 8 The method.

[0153] In the implementation described above, the aerosol-generating material comprises at least one of the following: propylene glycol, (vegetable) glycerin, and water. However, it should be understood that in other implementations, the aerosol-generating material may include other components; for example, one or more active substances and / or flavoring agents, one or more other aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0154] According to the principles of this disclosure, a system is also provided, comprising: an aerosol supply device (including an aerosol supply apparatus 20) including an aerosol generating material storage device (including a reservoir 24) for storing aerosol generating material, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage device; and a refill device (including a refill / recharge pack 10) including a conveying device (including a conveying mechanism 15) for conveying the aerosol generating material from the refill device to the aerosol generating material storage device when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refill device. The conveying device includes: a housing including a rotatable impeller; an inlet connected to the housing and connected to the refill device; and an outlet connected to the housing and for connection to the aerosol generating material storage device of the aerosol supply device when connected to the refill device. When the rotatable impeller rotates in the first direction, the aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing through the inlet and discharged from the housing through the outlet, thereby refilling the aerosol generating material storage device of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material.

[0155] Therefore, a system has been described comprising an aerosol supply device including an aerosol generating material storage section for storing aerosol generating material, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage section; and a refilling device including a conveying mechanism for conveying the aerosol generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol generating material storage section when the aerosol supply device is coupled to the refilling device. The conveying mechanism includes: a housing including a rotatable impeller; an inlet coupled to the housing and coupled to the refilling device; and an outlet coupled to the housing and for coupling to the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device when coupled to the refilling device. When the rotatable impeller rotates in a first direction, the aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing via the inlet and discharged from the housing via the outlet, thereby refilling the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material. A refilling device and a method for refilling are also described.

[0156] While the embodiments described above focus in some respects on specific exemplary aerosol supply systems, it should be understood that the same principles can be applied to aerosol supply systems using other technologies. That is, the specific ways in which various aspects of an aerosol supply system function are not directly related to the principles upon which the embodiments described herein are based.

[0157] The various embodiments described herein are presented only to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of implementation and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. It should be understood that the advantages, implementations, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, nor as limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and that other embodiments and modifications may be utilized without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. In addition to those specifically described herein, various embodiments of the invention may suitably include, constitute, or substantially constitute suitable combinations of, the disclosed elements, components, features, portions, steps, devices, etc. Furthermore, this disclosure may include other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. A system comprising: An aerosol supply device includes an aerosol generating material storage section for storing aerosol generating materials, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating materials stored in the aerosol generating material storage section; as well as The refilling device includes a conveying mechanism for conveying aerosol generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol generating material storage section when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device. The conveying mechanism includes: a housing comprising a rotatable impeller; an inlet connected to the housing and the refilling device; and an outlet connected to the housing and used to connect to the aerosol-generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device. When the rotatable impeller rotates in the first direction, the aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing through the inlet and discharged from the housing through the outlet, so as to refill the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The rotatable impeller includes a body and a plurality of blades extending from the body, wherein the body and the plurality of blades are located inside the housing of the conveying mechanism.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The plurality of blades of the rotatable impeller are arranged to facilitate the flow of aerosol-generating material from the inlet of the housing to the outlet of the housing.

4. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The inlet of the housing is configured to be in fluid communication with the reservoir of the refilling device, wherein the reservoir of the refilling device is configured to store aerosol-generating materials.

5. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The inlet is coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotatable impeller.

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, When the aerosol supply device is connected to the refill device, the outlet of the housing is configured to be in fluid communication with the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device via the aerosol generating material supply path.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein, The aerosol generating material supply path is formed by a first portion extending from the outlet of the housing to the aerosol supply device interface of the refilling device and a second portion extending from the refilling device interface of the aerosol supply device to the aerosol generating material storage portion, wherein when the aerosol supply device is coupled to the refilling device, the refilling device interface and the aerosol supply device interface engage with each other to fluidly connect the first portion and the second portion of the aerosol generating material supply path.

8. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The refilling device includes a power source and a motor, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the rotatable impeller and configured to rotate the rotatable impeller when powered by the power source.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein, The refill device is configured to detect when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refill device, and in response to the detection result, to rotate the rotatable impeller to deliver aerosol generating material to the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device.

10. The system according to claim 8 or 9, wherein, The refilling device is configured to stop the operation of the rotatable impeller in response to monitoring parameters indicating that the aerosol generating material storage section contains a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material, or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the rotatable impeller began operation.

11. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The refill device includes a longitudinal axis, and the reservoir of the refill device is configured to be offset relative to the conveying mechanism along the longitudinal axis, such that aerosol generating material can flow from the reservoir of the refill device to the conveying mechanism under the influence of gravity.

12. A refilling apparatus for refilling an aerosol generating material storage section of an aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage section, the refilling apparatus comprising: A conveying mechanism is provided for conveying aerosol generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol generating material storage section when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device. The conveying mechanism includes: a housing comprising a rotatable impeller; an inlet connected to the housing and the refilling device; and an outlet connected to the housing and used to connect to the aerosol-generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device. When the rotatable impeller rotates in the first direction, the aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing through the inlet and discharged from the housing through the outlet, so as to refill the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material.

13. A method for refilling an aerosol generating material storage section of an aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating material stored in the aerosol generating material storage section, the method comprising: The aerosol supply device is connected to a refilling device, the refilling device including a conveying mechanism for conveying aerosol generating material from the refilling device to an aerosol generating material storage section when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device, wherein the conveying mechanism includes: a housing including a rotatable impeller; an inlet connected to the housing and the refilling device; and an outlet connected to the housing and for connection to the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device; and The rotatable impeller is rotated in a first direction to draw aerosol generating material from the refilling device into the housing via the inlet and discharge the aerosol generating material from the housing via the outlet, so as to refill the aerosol generating material storage section of the aerosol supply device with the aerosol generating material.

14. A system comprising: An aerosol supply device includes an aerosol generating material storage device for storing aerosol generating materials, the aerosol supply device being arranged to aerosolize the aerosol generating materials stored in the aerosol generating material storage device. as well as A refilling device, including a conveying device, for conveying aerosol-generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol-generating material storage device when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device. The conveying device includes: a housing including a rotatable impeller; an inlet connected to the housing and the refilling device; and an outlet connected to the housing and used to connect to the aerosol-generating material storage device of the aerosol supply device when the aerosol supply device is connected to the refilling device. When the rotatable impeller rotates in the first direction, the aerosol generating material is drawn into the housing through the inlet and discharged from the housing through the outlet, so as to refill the aerosol generating material storage device of the aerosol supply device using the aerosol generating material.

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