Aerosol-generating system with manual refilling pump

Abstract

The invention relates to an aerosol-generating system (100). The system (100) comprises a hybrid aerosol-generating device (102) comprising a cavity (116) and a cartridge portion (126). The cavity (116) is configured for receiving a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge portion (126) is configured for receiving a liquid-containing cartridge (104). The system (100) comprises a cartridge (104) comprising a liquid storage portion (128). The cartridge (104) comprises at least one liquid inlet (146) configured to be fluidly connected with the liquid storage portion (128). The cartridge (104) comprises at least one airflow channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the cavity (116) of the device (102). The cartridge (104) comprises at least one heating element (130). The system (100) comprises a refilling pump (152) for pumping liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the liquid storage portion (128) of the cartridge (104) by manual actuation. The refilling pump (152) comprises a chamber (160) configured for temporarily holding liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The refilling pump (152) comprises a liquid outlet (156) configured to be fluidly connected to the chamber (160). The liquid outlet (156) is configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid inlet (146) of the cartridge (104).

Description

[0001] AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM WITH MANUAL REFILLING PUMP

[0002] The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating system and a method for transferring liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0003] It is known to provide an aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable vapor. Such devices may heat aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature at which one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate are volatilised without burning the aerosolforming substrate. Aerosol-forming substrate may be provided as part of an aerosolgenerating article. The aerosol-generating article may have a rod shape for insertion of the aerosol-generating article into a cavity, such as a heating chamber, of the aerosol-generating device, heating element may be arranged in or around the heating chamber for heating the aerosol-forming substrate once the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device. Liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be contained in a disposable cartridge.

[0004] It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system comprising a refillable cartridge. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system with a reduced risk of spillage. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system with a reduced risk of leakage. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system with enhanced flexibility to tailor the user experience to the individual preferences of the user. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system having improved sustainability. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system having a reduced energy consumption. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system for which components can be more easily manufactured. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating system with improved portability.

[0005] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating system. The system comprises a hybrid aerosol-generating device comprising a cavity and a cartridge portion. The cavity is configured for receiving a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The cartridge portion is configured for receiving a liquid-containing cartridge. The system comprises a cartridge comprising a liquid storage portion. The cartridge comprises at least one liquid inlet configured to be fluidly connected with the liquid storage portion. The cartridge comprises at least one airflow channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the cavity of the device. The cartridge comprises at least one heating element. The system comprises a refilling pump for pumping liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge by manual actuation. The refilling pump comprises a chamber configured for temporarily holding liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The refilling pump comprises a liquid outlet configured to be fluidly connected to the chamber. The liquid outlet is configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid inlet of the cartridge.

[0006] In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating system. The system may comprise a hybrid aerosol-generating device. The device may comprise a cavity and a cartridge portion. The cavity may be configured for receiving a solid aerosolforming substrate. The cartridge portion may be configured for receiving a liquid-containing cartridge. The system may comprise a cartridge comprising a liquid storage portion. The cartridge may comprise at least one liquid inlet configured to be fluidly connected with the liquid storage portion. The cartridge may comprise at least one airflow channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the cavity of the device. The cartridge may comprise at least one heating element. The system may comprise a refilling pump for pumping liquid aerosolforming substrate to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge by manual actuation. The refilling pump may comprise a chamber configured for temporarily holding liquid aerosolforming substrate. The refilling pump may comprise a liquid outlet configured to be fluidly connected to the chamber. The liquid outlet may be configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid inlet of the cartridge.

[0007] The aerosol-generating system may provide a refillable cartridge. The aerosolgenerating system may provide a reduced risk of spillage of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating system may provide a reduced risk of leakage liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating system may allow the user experience to be adapted with enhanced flexibility. The aerosol-generating system may allow the user experience to be tailored the user experience to the individual preferences of the user. The aerosol-generating system may provide improved sustainability. The aerosol-generating system may provide a reduced energy consumption. Components of the aerosol-generating system may be more easily manufactured. The aerosol-generating system may provide an improved portability. The aerosol-generating system may provide reduced risk of leakage and spillage in and after the refilling process. Providing the system with a refillable cartridge may improve sustainability of the system. The system may provide a refilling process of enhanced control.

[0008] The hybrid device may provide improved flexibility of the user experience as the cartridge may be exchanged with a cartridge having a different aerosol-forming substrate. The hybrid device may provide improved flexibility of the user experience as the cartridge may be refilled with different aerosol-forming substrates. Using the hybrid device may reduce that size of the system.

[0009] By providing the manually actuated pump, control of the refilling process may be enhanced. By providing the manually actuated pump, the reliability of the refilling process may be improved. By providing a manually actuated pump, energy consumption may be decreased. Maintenance requirements of the pump may be improved by using the manually actuated pump.

[0010] By providing a refillable cartridge, the size of the cartridge may be reduced

[0011] A hybrid aerosol-generating device may be a device that is configured to provide a user experience using a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a solid aerosol-forming substrate. A hybrid aerosol-generating device may be a device configured to receive a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0012] Manual actuation of the pump may refer to the operation of the pump without the provision of power from a power supply of the hybrid device. Manual actuation of the pump may refer to the operation of the pump without provision of electrical power. Manual actuation of the pump may refer to the operation of the pump without external electrical power supply. Manual actuation of the pump may refer to the operation of the pump with mechanical means. Manual actuation of the pump may refer to the operation of the pump using power directly provided by the user. Manual actuation of the pump may refer to the operation of the pump by the user’s hands.

[0013] The liquid storage portion may be configured to hold the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The liquid storage portion may comprise a casing. The casing may be flexible. The casing may be collapsible. The casing may be made from a polymeric material.

[0014] The cartridge may comprise a housing. The housing of the cartridge may enclose the liquid storage portion of the cartridge. The housing of the cartridge may be a rigid housing. The liquid inlet of the cartridge may be arranged in the housing of the cartridge. The liquid inlet of the cartridge may be arranged at an opposite end to the heating element of the cartridge. The liquid inlet of the cartridge may be configured to be fluidly connected with a headspace of the liquid storage portion.

[0015] The cartridge may comprise a liquid inlet channel. The liquid inlet channel of the cartridge may be arranged in the housing of the cartridge. The liquid inlet channel of the cartridge may be configured to be fluidly connected to the liquid inlet of the cartridge. The liquid inlet channel may be configured to be fluidly connected to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge. The liquid inlet channel of the cartridge may be configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid outlet of the pump. The liquid inlet channel of the cartridge may be configured to abut the liquid inlet of the cartridge. The liquid inlet channel of the cartridge may be configured to abut the liquid outlet of the pump.

[0016] Liquid may be pumped from the liquid outlet of the pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge via the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge. The cartridge may comprise a gas outlet configured to be fluidly connected with the liquid storage portion. The gas outlet of the cartridge may be fluidly connected with the headspace of the liquid storage portion.

[0017] The gas outlet of the cartridge may be arranged adjacent to the liquid inlet of the cartridge. The gas outlet of the cartridge may be arranged parallel to the liquid inlet of the cartridge.

[0018] The gas outlet of the cartridge may be arranged in the housing of the cartridge. The gas outlet of the cartridge may be arranged at an end of the cartridge opposite to the heating element of the cartridge.

[0019] The cartridge may comprise a gas outlet channel. The gas outlet channel of the cartridge may be fluidly connected to the gas outlet of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the cartridge may be fluidly connected to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the cartridge may be arranged parallel to the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge. The gas outlet of the cartridge may be arranged in the housing of the cartridge.

[0020] Gas may flow from the liquid storage portion to the surroundings via the gas outlet of the cartridge. Gas many flow from the liquid storage portion to the surroundings via the gas outlet channel of the cartridge. Gas flow may be driven by liquid flowing into the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.

[0021] The aerosol-generating device may comprise a liquid inlet channel. The liquid inlet channel of the device may be configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid inlet of the cartridge. The liquid inlet channel of the device may be configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid outlet of the refilling pump.

[0022] The liquid inlet channel of the device may be configured to abut the liquid inlet of the cartridge. The liquid inlet channel of the device may be configured to abut the liquid outlet of the pump. The downstream end of the liquid inlet channel of the device may be fluidly connected to the liquid inlet of the cartridge. The upstream end of the liquid inlet channel of the device may be fluidly connected to the liquid outlet of the pump.

[0023] The liquid inlet channel of the device may be configured to abut the liquid in the channel of the cartridge. The liquid inlet channel of the device may be configured to abut the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge. The downstream end of the liquid inlet channel of the device may be fluidly connected to the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge.

[0024] Liquid may be pumped from the outlet of the pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge via the liquid inlet of the device.

[0025] The device may comprise a housing. The liquid inlet channel of the device may be arranged in the housing of the device. Refilling the cartridge via the liquid inlet channel of the device may reduce the risk of spillages and leakages as the cartridge may have not removed less frequently from the device.

[0026] One or more of the device and the refilling pump may comprise a gas outlet channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the gas outlet of the cartridge.

[0027] The gas outlet channel of the device may be arranged in the housing of the device. The gas outlet channel of the device may be arranged parallel to the liquid inlet channel of the device.

[0028] The gas outlet channel of the device may be fluidly connectable to the gas outlet of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the device may be configured to abut the gas outlet of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the device may be fluidly connectable to the gas outlet channel of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the device may be configured to abut the gas outlet channel of the cartridge.

[0029] Gas may flow from the liquid storage portion of the cartridge to the surroundings via gas outlet channel of the device.

[0030] The gas outlet channel of the pump may abut the gas outlet of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the pump may abut the gas outlet channel of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the pump may abut the gas outlet channel of the device. The gas outlet channel of the pump may be configured to be fluidly connectable to the gas outlet of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the pump may be configured to be fluidly connectable to the gas outlet channel of the cartridge. The gas outlet channel of the pump may be configured to be fluidly connectable to the gas outlet channel of the device.

[0031] Gas may flow from the liquid storage portion to the surroundings via the gas outlet channel of the pump. Gas may flow from liquid storage portion to the pump via the gas outlet channel of the pump.

[0032] Gas may be transferred to the surroundings or the pump in order to balance the increased pressure caused by the transferral of liquid into the liquid storage portion of the cartridge. Provision of one or both of the gas outlet of the pump and the gas outlet channels of the pump, device and pump may reduce the risk of liquid leakage as increased pressures in the cartridge may be avoided.

[0033] The liquid outlet of the refilling pump may be configured to be directly connectable to the liquid inlet of the cartridge.

[0034] The liquid outlet of the pump may be in contact with the liquid inlet of the cartridge. The liquid outlet of the pump may be in contact with the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge. When the liquid outlet of the refilling pump is directly connected to the liquid in the left of the cartridge, liquid may not flow through the device. The heating element of the cartridge may be configured for heating liquid aerosolforming substrate supplied from the liquid storage portion.

[0035] The heating element may be configured to be in contact with liquid aerosol-forming substrate supplied from the liquid storage portion. The heating element may be configured to volatize at least a portion of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The volatized aerosolforming substrate may flow to the cavity of the device via the airflow channel of the cartridge.

[0036] The heating element of the cartridge may be a resistive heating element. The heating element of the cartridge may be a mesh heater. The heating element may be heating coil.

[0037] The cartridge may comprise a wick. The cartridge may comprise a capillary wick. The cartridge may comprise a ceramic wick. A part of a capillary wick may extend into the liquid storage portion containing liquid to be volatilized. Another part of the wick may be arranged in contact with the heating element. Another part of the week may be arranged in proximity to the heating element. Another part of the wick may be wound with a coil of heating wire. Upon application of an electric current, the heating element may volatize the liquid comprised in the wick.

[0038] The system may comprise an aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosolforming substrate. The cavity may be configured to receive the aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosol-forming substrate may be inserted into the cavity of the device.

[0039] The device may comprise a heating arrangement configured for heating the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The heating arrangement may be configured to volatize at least a portion of the solid aerosol-forming substrate. Volatized liquid aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge and volatized solid aerosol-forming substrate of the article inserted into the cavity of the device may mix in the cavity of device. The aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge may enrich the user experience. The aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge may enrich the aerosol provided to the user.

[0040] The heating arrangement may comprise a heating element. The heating arrangement may be a resistive heating arrangement. The heating arrangement may comprise a resistive heating element. The resistive heating element may be configured to heat the solid aerosolforming substrate to volatize at least a portion of the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0041] The heating arrangement may be an induction heating arrangement. The heating arrangement may comprise an induction coil. The heating element may comprise a susceptor. The susceptor may be arranged in the aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The susceptor may be arranged in the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The induction heating coil may be configured to generate an alternating magnetic field in the cavity of the device. The induction heating coil may be configured to heat the susceptor. The susceptor may be configured to heat the solid aerosol-forming substrate to volatize at least a portion of the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0042] The device may comprise a controller. The device may comprise a power supply. The controller may be configured to supply power from the power supply of the device to one or both of the heating element of the cartridge and the heating arrangement of the device. The power supply to the heating element of the cartridge may be independent from the power supply to the heating arrangement of the device. The power supply may provide a first heating profile to the heating arrangement of the device. The power supply may provide a second heating profile to the heating element of the cartridge. The first heating profile may be adapted in dependence of the characteristics of one or both of the solid aerosol-forming substrate and the aerosol-generating article. The second heating profile may be adapted in dependence of the characteristics of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge.

[0043] In an optional embodiment, the heating arrangement of the device may comprise the heating element for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge.

[0044] The cartridge portion may be configured to removably receive the cartridge.

[0045] The cartridge may be removably mounted at the cartridge portion. When the cartridge is received in the cartridge portion, the gas outlet of the cartridge may align with the gas outlet channel of the device. When the cartridge is received in the cartridge portion, the liquid inlet of the cartridge may align with the liquid inlet channel of the device. When the cartridge is received in the cartridge portion, the gas outlet of the cartridge may be fluidly connected to the gas outlet channel of the device. When the cartridge is received in the cartridge portion, the liquid inlet of the cartridge may be fluidly connected to the liquid inlet channel of the device. When the cartridge is received in the cartridge portion, the airflow channel of the cartridge may be fluidly connected to the cavity of the device.

[0046] The chamber of the refilling pump may comprise liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0047] The refilling pump may be a pouch.

[0048] The pouch may be flexible. The pouch may be a collapsible pouch. The pouch may comprise a liner. The liner may be made from a flexible material. The liner may comprise a layered material. The layered material may comprise an outer layer. The layered material may comprise an inner layer. One or both of the outer layer and the inner layer may be made of low-density polyethylene. The layered material may comprise one or more of a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer. The layered material may comprise one or more of a first layer of metallized polyethylene terephthalate and a second layer of metallized polyethylene terephthalate. The layered material may be made of a stack of an outer layer of low-density polyethylene, first layer of adhesive, the first layer of metallized polyethylene terephthalate, a second layer of adhesive, as second layer of metallized polyethylene terephthalate and an inner layer of low-density polyethylene.

[0049] The liner may enclose the chamber. The chamber may hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0050] The pouch may comprise one or both of the liquid outlet and the liquid outlet channel of the pump. One or both of the liquid outlet and the liquid outlet channel of the pouch may comprise a one-way valve. The one-way valve may be configured to open when the chamber of the pouch is compressed by the manual actuation.

[0051] In use, the user may connect the liquid outlet or a liquid outlet channel of the pouch to the liquid inlet of the cartridge. The user may connect the liquid outlet or a liquid outlet channel of the pouch to the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge. The user may connect the liquid outlet or a liquid outlet channel of the pouch to the liquid inlet channel of the device. The user may squeeze the pouch to transfer liquid from the chamber of the pouch to the cartridge. The pressure inside the chamber may be increased by the squeeze. The one-way valve of the liquid outlet of the pouch may be opened by the squeeze of the user. Liquid may be pumped through the opened valve from the pouch to liquid storage portion of the cartridge. The pouch may partially collapse when liquid aerosol-from substrate is removed from the pouch.

[0052] The pouch may be a constructively simple embodiment of the pump. The pouch may be cost-efficiently produced.

[0053] The refilling pump may comprise a liquid outlet channel configured to be fluidly connected with the chamber of the refilling pump and the liquid outlet of the refilling pump.

[0054] Liquid may be pumped from the chamber of the pump to the liquid storage portion of the device via the liquid outlet channel of the pump.

[0055] The liquid outlet channel of the pump may be configured to be flexible. The liquid outlet channel of the pump may be made from a polymeric material, preferably a polymer of ethylene propylene dimer monomers.

[0056] The liquid outlet channel of the pump may be configured to be fluidly connectable to the one or more of the fluid inlet of cartridge, the fluid inlet channel of the cartridge and the fluid inlet channel of the device. The liquid outlet channel of the pump may be configured to abut one or more of the fluid inlet of cartridge, the fluid inlet channel of the cartridge and the fluid inlet channel of the device. The liquid outlet channel of the pump be made from silicone.

[0057] The aerosol-generating system may comprise a docking station configured to removably receive the aerosol-generating device. The docking station may be configured for receiving the refilling pump. The docking station may be configured for removably receiving the refilling pump. The docking station may be configured for removably receiving the refilling pump.

[0058] The liquid outlet channel of the pump may be arranged in the docking station.

[0059] The docking station may comprise an interface configured for supplying power to a rechargeable power supply of the aerosol-generating device.

[0060] The aerosol-generating device may comprise an interface. The interface of the docking station may be connected to an external power supply. The interface of the device may be configured to be connectable to the interface of the docking station. The interface of the device may be connected to the power supply of the device. The docking station may be configured to recharge the power supply of the aerosol-generating device. The power supply of the aerosol-generating device may be recharged by the external power supply when the device is received by the docking station.

[0061] The docking station may be configured to removably receive the cartridge. The docking station may be configured to hold the cartridge in an upright position when received by the docking station.

[0062] The docking station may be configured to removable receive the device and cartridge received in the device. The docking station may be configured such that cartridge received in the device is held in an upright position when the device is received by the docking station.

[0063] The docking station may be configured to allow the refilling pump received by the docking station to be connected to the device received by the docking station. The docking station may be configured to allow the refilling pump received by the docking station to be connected to the cartridge received by the docking station. The docking station may be configured to allow the refilling pump received by the docking station to be connected to the cartridge received by the cartridge portion of the device received by the docking station.

[0064] The liquid outlet channel of the pump may be arranged in the docking station.

[0065] The refilling pump received by the docking station may be fluidly connected to one or both of the liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel of the cartridge. The refilling pump received by the docking station may be fluidly connected to the liquid inlet channel of the device. Liquid may be transferred from the pump received by the docking station directly to the cartridge received by the docking station. Liquid may be transferred from the pump received by the docking station to the cartridge received by the docking station via the liquid inlet channel of the device.

[0066] The aerosol-generating system may comprise a liquid reservoir for holding liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The liquid reservoir may be configured to be fluidly connectable with the refilling pump. The liquid reservoir may hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Liquid of the liquid reservoir may be used to refill the chamber of the pump. The liquid reservoir may configured to be reusable. Liquid reservoir may hold a relatively large amount of liquid compared to the maximum level of liquid receivable in the liquid storage portion of the cartridge was chamber of the pump. Usage of a liquid reservoir may improve convenes of use for user. Usage of liquid reservoir may improve sustainability of the system.

[0067] The liquid reservoir may comprise a flexible casing. The liquid reservoir may comprise a collapsible casing. Provision of a collapsible casing may reduce the risk of leakage and spillage of liquid.

[0068] The liquid reservoir may comprise a liquid outlet. The liquid reservoir may comprise a liquid outlet channel. The liquid outlet of the reservoir may be configured to be fluidly connected with liquid of the liquid reservoir. The liquid outlet channel of the reservoir may be configured to be fluidly connected with liquid of the liquid reservoir. The liquid outlet channel of the reservoir may be configured to be fluidly connected with the liquid outlet of the reservoir.

[0069] The docking station may be configured to removably receive the liquid reservoir.

[0070] The refilling pump may comprise one or more of a liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid reservoir. The liquid inlet of the pump may be configured to be fluidly connected to the liquid inlet channel of the pump. The liquid inlet of the pump may be fluidly connectable with one both of the liquid outlet of the reservoir and the liquid outlet channel of the reservoir. The liquid inlet channel of the pump may be fluidly connectable with one both of the liquid outlet of the reservoir and the liquid outlet channel of the reservoir. The refilling pump may be configured for pumping liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid reservoir into the chamber of the refilling pump.

[0071] One or more of the liquid outlet of the refilling pump, the liquid outlet channel, the liquid inlet and the liquid inlet channel may comprise a valve. The valve may be a one-way valve.

[0072] One or more of the liquid outlet of the reservoir, the liquid outlet channel of the reservoir, the liquid inlet of the pump, the liquid inlet channel of the pump, the liquid outlet of the pump, the liquid outlet channel of the pump, the liquid inlet channel of the device, the gas outlet channel of the device, the liquid inlet of the cartridge, the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge, the gas outlet of the cartridge and the gas outlet channel of the cartridge may comprise a at least one valve. The valve may be a one-way valve. The valve may be an electro valve. The valve may be a flapper valve.

[0073] The valve may be arranged at an upstream end of one or more of the liquid outlet channel of the reservoir, the liquid inlet channel of the pump, the liquid outlet channel of the pump, the liquid inlet channel of the device, the gas outlet channel of the device, the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge and the gas outlet channel cartridge. The valve may be arranged at a downstream end of one or more of the liquid outlet channel of the reservoir, the liquid inlet channel of the pump, the liquid outlet channel of the pump, the liquid inlet channel of the device, the gas outlet channel of the device, the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge and the gas outlet channel cartridge.

[0074] As used herein, a “one-way valve” may be a valve that allows fluid to flow through it in only one direction. The one-way valve may be operated in dependence of a pressure difference across the one-way valve. The one-way valve may be operated using an actuating means. The actuating means may be part of a component which gets connected to the oneway valve or component comprising the one-way valve. As used herein, an “electro valve” may be an electronically operated valve. The electro valve may be operated as a one-way valve. The operation of electro valves of the invention may be controlled by the controller of the device. The operation of the electro valves may be controlled by a controller of the pump. When fluid flow through the electro valve is desired, the controller may open the electro valve. When fluid flow through the electro valve is not desired, the controller may close the electro valve

[0075] The valve may be made of low-density polyethylene.

[0076] The valves may be used in the invention to control the flow direction of fluid pumped between or from components of the system. The valves may be used in the invention to reduce the risk of spillage or and leakage of liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0077] The valve may be configured to be movable between an open and a closed position.

[0078] The one-way valve may be moved between the open and the closed position by pressure difference across the one-way valve. In the open position, fluid may be pumped through the valve. In the opposition, components attached to either end of the valve may be fluidly connected. In the closed position, fluid flow through the valve may be blocked. In the closed position, components attached to either end of the valve may be fluidly disconnected.

[0079] The refilling pump may be configured to open the valve of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump when liquid aerosol-forming substrate is to be pumped from the refilling pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge. The refilling pump may be configured to close the valve of one or more of the liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel of the refilling pump.

[0080] The refilling pump may be configured to close the valve of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump. The refilling pump may be configured to open the valve of one or more of the liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel of the refilling pump when liquid aerosol-forming substrate is to be pumped from the liquid reservoir to the chamber of the cartridge.

[0081] One or more components of the refilling pump may be moved between a compression position and a decompression position. One or more components of the docking station may be moved between a compression position and a decompression position. The one or more components may be moved between the compression position and the decompression position by manual actuation. By moving from the compression position to the decompression position, liquid may be pumped from the liquid reservoir to the chamber of the pump. The chamber may be loaded with liquid. By moving from the decompression position to the compression position, liquid may be pump from the chamber of the pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge. Liquid may be ejected from the chamber.

[0082] The pump may be attached to the liquid reservoir via one or both of the liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel of the pump when the transfer of liquid from the reservoir to the chamber pump is desired.

[0083] The pump may be attached to the cartridge via one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the pump when the transfer of liquid from the chamber of the pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge is desired. The pump may be attached to the liquid inlet channel of the device via one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the pump when the transfer of liquid from the chamber of the pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge is desired.

[0084] Movement from the compression position to the decompression position, may decrease the pressure of the chamber of the pump. Movement from the compression position to the decompression position may decompress the chamber of the pump. Movement from the compression position to the decompression position may increase the volume of the chamber of the pump. Movement from the compression position to the decompression position may close the valves of one or more of the liquid outlet of the pump and the liquid outlet channel of the pump. Movement from the compression position to the decompression position may open the valves of one or more of the liquid inlet of the pump, the liquid inlet portion of the pump, the liquid outlet of the reservoir and the liquid outlet channel of the reservoir. Movement from the compression position to the decompression position may pump liquid from the reservoir to the chamber of the pump. Movement from the compression position to the decompression position may suck liquid into the chamber of the pump from the reservoir.

[0085] Movement from the decompression position to the compression position may increase the pressure of the chamber of the pump. Movement from the decompression position to the compression position may compress the chamber of the pump. Movement from the decompression position to the compression position may reduce the volume of the chamber of the pump. Movement from the decompression position to the compression position may close the valves of one or more of the liquid inlet of the pump, the liquid inlet channel of the pump, the liquid outlet of the reservoir and the liquid outlet channel of the reservoir. Movement from the compression position to the decompression position may open the valves of one or more of the liquid outlet of the pump, the liquid outlet channel of the pump, the liquid inlet channel of the device, the liquid inlet of the cartridge and the liquid inlet channel of the cartridge. Movement from the decompression position to the compression position may pump liquid from the chamber of the pump into the liquid storage portion of the cartridge. Movement from the decompression position to the compression position may push liquid into the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.

[0086] The refilling pump may comprise a piston. The piston may be configured to be movable between the compression position and the decompression position by manual actuation. In the compression position, the valves of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump may be open. In the decompression position, the valves of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump may be closed.

[0087] The piston may be arranged in the chamber of the pump. The piston may seal at least a portion of the chamber of the pump. The piston may be configured to be movable between the compression position and the decompression position in the chamber of the pump. The volume of the portion of the chamber sealed by the pump in the decompression position may be smaller than the volume of the portion of the chamber sealed by the pump in the compression position.

[0088] The chamber of the pump may comprise a wall. The wall may comprise a first portion and a second portion. One or both of the first wall portion and the second wall portion may be configured to be movable between the compression position and the decompression position by manual actuation. In the compression position, the refilling pump may be configured to pump liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the chamber of the refilling pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.

[0089] The wall of the pump may enclose the chamber.

[0090] The liquid outlet channel of the pump may be attached to the first wall portion. The liquid outlet portion of the pump may be in contact with liquid of the chamber.

[0091] In the decompression position, the refilling pump may be configured to pump liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid reservoir to the chamber of the cartridge. The chamber of the refilling pump may comprise a biasing means configured to move one or both of the first wall portion and the second wall portion from the compression position to the decompression position. The biasing means may be a spring. The biasing means may bias the chamber towards the decompression position. The biasing means may be arranged between the first wall portion of the pump in the second wall portion of the pump.

[0092] The docking station may comprise a housing comprising a wall. The wall may enclose the docking station. The wall may comprise a first wall portion. The wall may comprise a second wall portion. The first wall portion may be configured to be movable between the compression position and the decompression position. The first wall portion may be configured to actuate the refilling pump. The first wall portion may be configured to be manually actuated. The first wall portion may be moved from the decompression position to the compression position by manual actuation.

[0093] The pump may be arranged inside the space enclosed by the wall. The liquid reservoir may be arranged within the space enclosed by the wall. The wall may enclose a compression chamber. The pump may be arranged in the compression chamber of the docking station.

[0094] Movement of the first wall portion of the docking station from compression position to the decompression position, may move first wall portion of the pump from the compression position to the decompression position. Movement of the first wall portion of the docking station from the decompression position to the compression position, may move the first wall portion of the pump from the decompression position to the compression position.

[0095] The first wall portion of the docking station may comprise pump actuating means. The pump actuating means may be a projection on the first wall portion. The pump actuating means may be arranged to be engageable with the first wall portion of the pump. Alternatively, the first wall portion of the pump may be attached to the first wall portion of the docking station. The first wall portion of the docking station may comprise the first wall portion of the pump. The first wall portion of the pump may be integrally formed with the first wall portion of the docking station.

[0096] The first wall portion of the docking station may be configured to receive the device. The first wall portion of the docking station may comprise the outlet of the pump. The first wall portion of the docking station may comprise an opening configured to receive at least a portion of the liquid outlet channel of the pump.

[0097] The first wall portion of docking means may be manually actuated by pushing on the first wall portion. The first wall portion of the docking means may be manually actuated by pushing on the device attached to the docking station. The docking means may comprise one or more biasing means. The biasing means may be arranged between the first wall portion of the docking station and the second portion of this docking station. The biasing means may be configured to move the first wall portion from the compression position to the decompression position. The biasing means may be a spring. The second wall portion may comprise one or more cavities. Each cavity may be configured to receive at least a portion of the first wall portion. The biasing means may be arranged in each cavity.

[0098] The pump may comprise a diaphragm. The diaphragm may be flexible. The diaphragm may seal the chamber of the pump. The diaphragm may seal the first wall portion and the second wall portion. The diaphragm may be made of a layered material. The layered material may be made of a stack of an outer layer of low-density polyethylene, first layer of adhesive, the first layer of metallized polyethylene terephthalate, a second layer of adhesive, as second layer of metallized polyethylene terephthalate and an inner layer of low-density polyethylene.

[0099] The system may comprise a cartridge securing means configured to removably engage the cartridge with the device.

[0100] The cartridge portion may comprise a first portion of the cartridge securing means. The cartridge may comprise a complimentary second portion of the cartridge securing means. The cartridge securing means may be configured to attach the cartridge to the cartridge portion. The first portion of the cartridge securing means may comprise one or more of a snap and latch. The second portion of the cartridge securing means may be configured to engage with the first portion of the cartridge securing means. The second portion of the cartridge securing means may be configured to engage with the first portion of the cartridge securing by one or more form fit and a snap fit.

[0101] The device may comprise a pogo pin configured to be electrically connectable with the heating element of the cartridge.

[0102] The cartridge may comprise at least one valve. The valve may be configured to seal the liquid storage portion. The cartridge may comprise an electro valve.

[0103] The chamber of the pump may be a rigid chamber. The chamber of the pump may be flexible chamber. The chamber of the pump may comprise a flexible casing. The liquid reservoir may comprise a casing. The liquid reservoir may comprise a collapsible casing.

[0104] The device may have a length of between 86 millimeters and 130 millimeters.

[0105] The liquid reservoir may have a length of between 100 millimeters and 150 millimeters, preferably of between 70 millimeters and 120 millimeters. The liquid reservoir may have the width of between 100 millimeters and 150 millimeters, preferably of between 70 millimeters and 120 millimeters. The liquid reservoir may have a height of between 50 millimeters and 100 millimeters, preferably of between 50 millimeters and 70 millimeters.

[0106] The air flow channel of the cartridge may comprise a nozzle. The nozzle may be arranged to direct the flow of volatized liquid aerosol-forming substrate of the cartridge towards the device. The nozzle may be configured to align the flow channel in the device.

[0107] During the refilling of the cartridge, the cartridge may be received in the cartridge portion. During the refilling of the cartridge, the cartridge may be disconnected from the cartridge portion. By receiving the cartridge in the cartridge portion during the refilling of the cartridge, the orientation of the cartridge may be well-defined such that one or both of the liquid inlet and gas outlet of the cartridge abut the headspace of the liquid storage portion.

[0108] The cartridge may comprise a window. The cartridge may be configured to allow a user to monitor the liquid level in the liquid storage portion of the cartridge through the window.

[0109] The refilling pump may be part of the aerosol-generating device. The refilling pump may be separated to the aerosol-generating device. The refilling pump may be a stand-alone unit of the system.

[0110] The device may comprise a notification means. The notification means may comprise a display. The notification means may comprise an LED. The notification means may alert the consumer to low liquid levels in the liquid storage portion. The notification means may comprise a liquid level sensor. The liquid levels sensor may be configured to detected the liquid level of the liquid storage portion. The notification means may alert the user to the cartridge being fully filled.

[0111] One or more of the cartridges, the pump and the reservoir may comprise pressure regulating valves. The valves may be configured to regulate the pressure of one or more of the reservoir, pump, cartridge and device in response to liquid transferal between components of the system.

[0112] One or more of the liquid outlet of the reservoir, liquid outlet channel of the reservoir, liquid inlet of the pump, liquid inlet channel of the pump, liquid outlet of the pump, liquid outlet channel of the pump, liquid inlet channel of the device, gas outlet channel of the device, liquid inlet of the cartridge, liquid inlet channel of the cartridge, gas outlet of the cartridge and gas outlet channel of the cartridge may be provided with threaded connectors. Threaded connectors may tightly hold connecting components together.

[0113] Components of the device may be fitted with sealing components, such as O-rings, rubbers seals and sliding collars. Such sealing components may effectively seal components of the device from each other. The device may comprise an air inlet. The air inlet may be fluidly connected to the cavity of the device. The air inlet may be fluidly connectable with the airflow channel of the cartridge. The user may pull air into the device via the air inlet of the device.

[0114] The cartridge may comprise an air inlet. The air inlet of the cartridge may be fluidly connected to the heating element of the cartridge. When the cartridge is attached to the device, the user may pull in air into the cartridge through the air inlet of the cartridge.

[0115] In use, first user experience may be provided from one both of first liquid aerosolforming substrate of the cartridge and the solid aerosol-forming substrate of the article. Once the liquid aerosol-from substrate is depleted, the user may refill the cartridge using the pump of the system of the invention. The user may select to refill the cartridge with the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate or a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate configured differently from the first aerosol-forming substrate. After refilling the cartridge, a second user experience may be provided to the user.

[0116] In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for transferring liquid aerosol-forming substrate using an aerosol-generating system as described herein comprising the following steps:

[0117] • connecting the refilling pump with the cartridge, and

[0118] • manually actuating the refilling pump, such that liquid aerosol-forming substrate is pumped from the refilling pump to the cartridge.

[0119] In an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for transferring liquid aerosol-forming substrate using an aerosol-generating system as described herein, which may comprise one or more of the following steps:

[0120] • connecting the refilling pump with the cartridge, and

[0121] • manually actuating the refilling pump, such that liquid aerosol-forming substrate is pumped from the refilling pump to the cartridge.

[0122] As used herein, the terms ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘downstream’ and ‘upstream’ may be used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating system in relation to the direction of a fluid flow.

[0123] As used herein, the terms ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘downstream’ and ‘upstream’ may be used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating device in relation to the direction in which a user draws on the aerosolgenerating device during use thereof.

[0124] As used herein, the terms ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘downstream’ and ‘upstream’ may be used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating system in relation to the direction in which liquid aerosol-forming substrate flows. As used herein, the terms ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘downstream’ and ‘upstream’ may be used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating system in relation to the direction in which gas flows.

[0125] The aerosol-generating device may comprise a mouth end through which in use an aerosol exits the aerosol-generating device and is delivered to a user. The mouth end may also be referred to as the proximal end. In use, a user draws on the proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device in order to inhale an aerosol generated by the aerosolgenerating device. Alternatively, a user may directly draw on the aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosol-forming substrate inserted into an opening of the cavity of the device at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device. The cavity may be configured to receive the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device comprises a distal end opposed to the proximal or mouth end. The proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device may also be referred to as the downstream end and the distal end of the aerosolgenerating device may also be referred to as the upstream end. Components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating device may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on their relative positions between the proximal, downstream or mouth end and the distal or upstream end of the aerosol-generating device.

[0126] As used herein, an ‘aerosol-generating device’ relates to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article, for example part of a smoking article. An aerosolgenerating device may be a smoking device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs thorough the user's mouth. An aerosol-generating device may be a holder. The device may be an electrically heated smoking device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a housing, electric circuitry, a power supply, a heating chamber and a heating arrangement.

[0127] As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term ‘smoking’ with reference to a device, article, system, substrate, or otherwise does not refer to conventional smoking in which an aerosol-forming substrate is fully or at least partially combusted. The aerosol-generating device of the present invention is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below a combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, but at or above a temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosolforming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol.

[0128] The aerosol-generating device may comprise electric circuitry. The electric circuitry may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of the controller. The electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heating arrangement configured for heating the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heating element of the cartridge. Power may be supplied to one or more of the heating arrangement of the device and the heating element of the cartridge continuously following activation of the aerosol-generating device or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff-by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the one or more of the heating arrangement of the device and the heating element of the cartridge in the form of pulses of electrical current. The electric circuitry may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the one or more of the heating arrangement of the device and the heating element of the cartridge, and preferably to control the supply of power to the one or more of the heating arrangement of the device and the heating element of the cartridge dependent on the electrical resistance of the one or more of the heating arrangement of the device and the heating element of the cartridge.

[0129] The aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply, typically a battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device. In one embodiment, the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, or a Lithium based battery, for example a Lithium-Cobalt, a Lithium-lron-Phosphate, Lithium Titanate or a Lithium-Polymer battery. As an alternative, the power supply may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor. The power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that enables to store enough energy for one or more usage experiences; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period of a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heating element.

[0130] The cavity of the aerosol-generating device may have an open end into which the aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosol-forming substrate is inserted. The open end may be a proximal end. The cavity may have a closed end opposite the open end. The closed end may be the base of the cavity. The closed end may be closed except for the provision of air apertures arranged in the base. The apertures in the base may be configured to be fluidly connected to the airflow channel of the cartridge. The apertures in the base may be configured to be fluidly connected to the air inlet of the device. The base of the cavity may be flat. The base of the cavity may be circular. The base of the cavity may be arranged upstream of the cavity. The open end may be arranged downstream of the cavity. The cavity may have an elongate extension. The cavity may have a longitudinal central axis. A longitudinal direction may be the direction extending between the open and closed ends along the longitudinal central axis. The longitudinal central axis of the cavity may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device. The cavity may be configured as a heating chamber. The cavity may have a cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosol-forming substrate to be received in the cavity. The cavity may have a circular crosssection. The cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular cross-section. The cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0131] An airflow channel may run through the cavity. Ambient air may be drawn into the aerosol-generating device, into the cavity and towards the user through the airflow channel. Downstream of the cavity, a mouthpiece may be arranged or a user may directly draw on the aerosol-generating article. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece. The airflow channel of cavity may be fluidly connected to the airflow channel of cartridge.

[0132] In any of the aspects of the disclosure, the heating element of one or both of the heating arrangement of the device and the cartridge may comprise an electrically resistive material. Suitable electrically resistive materials include but are not limited to: semiconductors such as doped ceramics, electrically "conductive" ceramics (such as, for example, molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys and composite materials made of a ceramic material and a metallic material. Such composite materials may comprise doped or undoped ceramics. Examples of suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbides. Examples of suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum platinum, gold and silver. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel-, cobalt-, chromium-, aluminium- titanium- zirconium-, hafnium-, niobium-, molybdenum-, tantalum-, tungsten-, tin-, gallium-, manganese-, gold- and iron-containing alloys, and super-alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, Timetai® and iron-manganese-aluminium based alloys. In composite materials, the electrically resistive material may optionally be embedded in, encapsulated or coated with an insulating material or vice-versa, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer and the external physicochemical properties required.

[0133] The heating arrangement of aerosol-generating device may comprise an internal heating element or an external heating element, or both internal and external heating elements, where "internal" and "external" refer to the solid aerosol-forming substrate. An internal heating element may take any suitable form. For example, an internal heating element may take the form of a heating blade. Alternatively, the internal heater may take the form of a casing or substrate having different electro-conductive portions, or an electrically resistive metallic tube. Alternatively, the internal heating element may be one or more heating needles or rods that run through the center of the solid aerosolforming substrate. Other alternatives include a heating wire or filament, for example a Ni-Cr (Nickel-Chromium), platinum, tungsten or alloy wire or a heating plate. Optionally, the internal heating element may be deposited in or on a rigid carrier material. In one such embodiment, the electrically resistive heating element may be formed using a metal having a defined relationship between temperature and resistivity. In such an exemplary device, the metal may be formed as a track on a suitable insulating material, such as ceramic material, and then sandwiched in another insulating material, such as a glass. Heaters formed in this manner may be used to both heat and monitor the temperature of the heating elements during operation.

[0134] An external heating element may take any suitable form. For example, an external heating element may take the form of one or more flexible heating foils on a dielectric substrate, such as polyimide. The flexible heating foils can be shaped to conform to the perimeter of the substrate receiving cavity. Alternatively, an external heating element may take the form of a metallic grid or grids, a flexible printed circuit board, a molded interconnect device (MID), ceramic heater, flexible carbon fibre heater or may be formed using a coating technique, such as plasma vapour deposition, on a suitable shaped substrate. An external heating element may also be formed using a metal having a defined relationship between temperature and resistivity. In such an exemplary device, the metal may be formed as a track between two layers of suitable insulating materials. An external heating element formed in this manner may be used to both heat and monitor the temperature of the external heating element during operation.

[0135] As an alternative, the heating arrangement of the device may be configured as an induction heating arrangement. The induction heating arrangement may comprise an induction coil and a susceptor. In general, a susceptor is a material that is capable of generating heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is conductive, then typically eddy currents are induced by the alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is magnetic, then typically another effect that contributes to the heating is commonly referred to hysteresis losses. Hysteresis losses occur mainly due to the movement of the magnetic domain blocks within the susceptor, because the magnetic orientation of these will align with the magnetic induction field, which alternates. Another effect contributing to the hysteresis loss is when the magnetic domains will grow or shrink within the susceptor. Commonly all these changes in the susceptor that happen on a nanoscale or below are referred to as “hysteresis losses”, because they produce heat in the susceptor. Hence, if the susceptor is both magnetic and electrically conductive, both hysteresis losses and the generation of eddy currents will contribute to the heating of the susceptor. If the susceptor is magnetic, but not conductive, then hysteresis losses will be the only means by which the susceptor will heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. According to the invention, the susceptor may be electrically conductive or magnetic or both electrically conductive and magnetic. An alternating magnetic field generated by one or several induction coils heat the susceptor, which then transfers the heat to the solid aerosolforming substrate, such that an aerosol is formed. The heat transfer may be mainly by conduction of heat. Such a transfer of heat is best, if the susceptor is in close thermal contact with the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0136] As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-generating article’ refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. For example, an aerosol-generating article may be a smoking article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs through the user's mouth. An aerosolgenerating article may be disposable.

[0137] As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-forming substrate’ relates to a substrate capable of releasing one or more volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-forming substrate may conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating article or smoking article.

[0138] The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol former that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerine and propylene glycol.

[0139] The aerosol-generating substrate preferably comprises homogenised tobacco material, an aerosol-former and water. Providing homogenised tobacco material may improve aerosol generation, the nicotine content and the flavour profile of the aerosol generated during heating of the aerosol-generating article. Specifically, the process of making homogenised tobacco involves grinding tobacco leaf, which more effectively enables the release of nicotine and flavours upon heating.

[0140] The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol former, such as glycerin and propylene glycol. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise nicotine. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a flavor.

[0141] The device may comprise a puff detection system. The puff detection system may comprise a puff sensor. The puff sensor may be a pressure sensor. Operation of one or both of the heating element of the cartridge and the heating arrangement of the device may be triggered by the puff detection system. The initiation of the puff may be detected by the puff sensor when the airflow exceeds a predetermined threshold. The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non- exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

[0142] Example 1 : An aerosol-generating system comprising a hybrid aerosol-generating device comprising a cavity and a cartridge portion, wherein the cavity is configured for receiving a solid aerosol-forming substrate, and wherein the cartridge portion is configured for receiving a liquid-containing cartridge, a cartridge comprising a liquid storage portion, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one liquid inlet configured to be fluidly connected with the liquid storage portion, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one airflow channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the cavity of the device, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one heating element, and a refilling pump for pumping liquid aerosolforming substrate to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge by manual actuation, wherein the refilling pump comprises a chamber configured for temporarily holding liquid aerosolforming substrate, wherein the refilling pump comprises a liquid outlet configured to be fluidly connected to the chamber, wherein the liquid outlet is configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid inlet of the cartridge.

[0143] Example 2: The aerosol-generating system according to example 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a liquid inlet channel, wherein the liquid inlet channel is configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid inlet of the cartridge, and wherein the liquid inlet channel is configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid outlet of the refilling pump.

[0144] Example 3: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cartridge comprises a gas outlet configured to be fluidly connected with the liquid storage portion.

[0145] Example 4: The aerosol-generating system according to any example 3, wherein one or more of the device and the refilling pump comprises a gas outlet channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the gas outlet of the cartridge.

[0146] Example 5: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cartridge comprises a housing.

[0147] Example 6: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the liquid outlet of the refilling pump is configured to be directly connectable to the liquid inlet of the cartridge.

[0148] Example 7: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the heating element of the cartridge is configured for heating liquid aerosol-forming substrate supplied from the liquid storage portion. Example 8: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the system comprises an aerosol-generating article comprising the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0149] Example 9: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the device comprises a heating arrangement configured for heating the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0150] Example 10: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cartridge portion is configured to removably receive the cartridge.

[0151] Example 11 : The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the chamber of the refilling pump comprises liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0152] Example 12: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the refilling pump is a pouch.

[0153] Example 13: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples wherein the refilling pump comprises a liquid outlet channel configured to be fluidly connected with the chamber of the refilling pump and the liquid outlet of the refilling pump.

[0154] Example 14: The aerosol-generating system according to any preceding example, wherein the aerosol-generating system comprises a docking station configured to removably receive the aerosol-generating device, and wherein the docking station is configured for receiving the refilling pump, preferably wherein the docking station is configured for removably receiving the refilling pump.

[0155] Example 15: The aerosol-generating system according to 14, wherein the docking station comprises an interface configured for supplying power to a rechargeable power supply of the aerosol-generating device.

[0156] Example 16: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 14 and 15, wherein the docking station is configured to removably receive the cartridge.

[0157] Example 17: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating system comprises a liquid reservoir for holding liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the liquid reservoir is configured to be fluidly connectable with the refilling pump.

[0158] Example 18: The aerosol-generating system according to example 17, wherein the liquid reservoir comprises a flexible casing.

[0159] Example 19: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 17 and 18, wherein the docking station is configured to removably receive the liquid reservoir.

[0160] Example 20: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 17 to 19, wherein the refilling pump comprises one or more of a liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid reservoir, wherein the refilling pump is configured for pumping liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid reservoir into the chamber of the refilling pump.

[0161] Example 21 : The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein one or more of the liquid outlet of the refilling pump, the liquid outlet channel of example 13, the liquid inlet of example 20 and the liquid inlet channel of example 20 comprises a valve, preferably a one-way valve.

[0162] Example 22: The aerosol-generating system according to example 21 , wherein the valve is configured to be movable between an open and a closed position.

[0163] Example 23: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 21 and 22, wherein the refilling pump is configured to open the valve of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump when liquid aerosol-forming substrate is to be pumped from the refilling pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge and preferably to close the valve of one or more of the liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel of the refilling pump.

[0164] Example 24: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 21 to 23, wherein the refilling pump is configured to close the valve of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump, and wherein the refilling pump is configured to open the valve of one or more of the liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel of the refilling pump when liquid aerosol-forming substrate is to be pumped from the liquid reservoir to the chamber of the cartridge.

[0165] Example 25: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 21 to 24, wherein the refilling pump comprises a piston, wherein the piston is configured to be movable between a compression position and a decompression position by manual actuation, wherein in the compression position, the valves of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump is open and wherein in the decompression position, the valves of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump is closed.

[0166] Example 26: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 1 to 24, wherein the chamber of the pump comprises a wall, wherein the wall comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein one or both of the first wall portion and the second wall portion is configured to be movable between a compression position and decompression position by manual actuation, wherein in the compression position, the refilling pump is configured to pump liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the chamber of the refilling pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge Example 27: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 25 and 26, wherein in the decompression position, the refilling pump is configured to pump liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid reservoir to the chamber of the cartridge.

[0167] Example 28: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 26 and 27, wherein the chamber of the refilling pump comprises a biasing means, preferably a spring, configured to move one or both of the first wall portion and the second wall portion from the compression position to the decompression position.

[0168] Example 29: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the system comprises a cartridge securing means configured to removably engage the cartridge with the device.

[0169] Example 30: The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the device comprises a pogo pin configured to be electrically connectable with the heating element of the cartridge.

[0170] Example 31 : The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one valve, preferably an electro valve, wherein the valve is configured to seal the liquid storage portion.

[0171] Example 32: A method for transferring liquid aerosol-forming substrate using an aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 1 to 31 comprising the following steps:

[0172] • connecting the refilling pump with the cartridge, and

[0173] • manually actuating the refilling pump, such that liquid aerosol-forming substrate is pumped from the refilling pump to the cartridge.

[0174] Below, there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

[0175] Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.

[0176] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0177] Fig. 1 shows a hybrid aerosol-generating device of the invention;

[0178] Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1 with an inserted aerosol-generating article cartridge;

[0179] Fig. 3 shows two different configurations of a liquid inlet channel and gas outlet channel;

[0180] Fig. 4 illustrates a method of pumping liquid from a liquid reservoir using a refilling pump; Fig. 5. shows an embodiment of the refilling pump comprising a chamber with a wall comprising a movable first wall portion and second wall portion;

[0181] Fig. 6 a docking station of the invention;

[0182] Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of docking station;

[0183] Fig. 8, in the top drawing, shows an embodiment of docking station and, in the bottom drawing, an enlarged view of a portion of the refilling pump of the docking station.

[0184] Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the docking station of Fig. 8;

[0185] Fig. 10 shows the refilling pump configured as a pouch.

[0186] With regard to the embodiments shown in the Figures, valves may be provided in one or more of a liquid outlet of the reservoir, a liquid outlet channel of the reservoir, a liquid inlet of the pump, a liquid inlet channel of the pump, a liquid outlet of the pump, a liquid outlet channel of the pump, a liquid inlet channel of the device, a gas outlet channel of the device, a liquid inlet of the cartridge, a liquid inlet channel of the cartridge, a gas outlet of the cartridge and the gas outlet channel of the cartridge, but may not be always shown to improve legibility for the reader.

[0187] Fig. 1 shows a hybrid aerosol-generating device 102, a cartridge 104 and an aerosolgenerating article 106 of a system 100 of the invention. Aerosol-generating article 106 comprises solid aerosol-forming substrate (not shown).

[0188] Device 102 comprises a controller 108. Device 102 comprises a power supply 110. Device 102 comprises a housing 112. Device 102 comprises a heating arrangement 114. Device 102 comprises a cavity 116 configured to receive aerosol-generating article 106. Device 102 comprises an air inlet 118. Device 102 comprises a pogo pin 120. Device 102 comprises a first airflow channel 122. Device 102 comprises a second airflow channel 124. Device 102 comprises cartridge portion 126 configured to the receive cartridge 104.

[0189] Cartridge 104 comprises a liquid storage portion 128. Liquid storage portion 128 comprises a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Cartridge 104 comprises a heating element 130. Heating element 130 is a resistive mesh heating element. Heating element 130 is configured to volatize at least a portion of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Cartridge 104 comprises an airflow channel 132.

[0190] Aerosol-generating article 106 may be inserted into cavity 116 as indicated by an arrow. At least a portion of heating arrangement 114 is arranged in a side wall of the cavity 116. At least a portion of heating element 114 surrounds at least a portion of cavity 116. Heating arrangement 114 is configured to heat the solid aerosol-forming substrate of aerosol-generating article 106 to volatize at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate. Cartridge 104 may be connected with cartridge portion 126 is indicated by an arrow. When cartridge 104 is received in cartridge portion 126, airflow channel 132 of cartridge 104 aligns with first airflow channel 124 of device 102. Airflow channel 132 of cartridge 104 is fluidly connected with airflow channel 124 of device 102 when cartridge 104 is received in cartridge portion 126. Pogo pin 120 may be connected to heating element 130 of cartridge 104 when the cartridge is received in the cartridge portion.

[0191] Air inlet 118 may be fluidly connected to second airflow channel 124 via first airflow channel 122.

[0192] Controller 110 is configured to supply power to heating arrangement 114. Controller 110 is configured to supply power to heating element 130 of cartridge 104. Controller 110 is configured to supply power to the heating element 114 independently from supplying power to heating element 130.

[0193] Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig. 1 with aerosol-generating article 106 received in cavity 116 and cartridge 104 received in cartridge portion 126.

[0194] In use, the user may draw on aerosol-generating article 106 to pull in air through air inlet 118 as indicated by arrow 134. Power may be provided to heating arrangement 114 to volatize is at least a portion of the solid aerosol-forming substrate of aerosol-generating article 106. Power may be provided to heating element 130 of cartridge 104. Heating element 130 heats the liquid aerosol-forming substrate supplied from liquid storage portion 128 to heating element 130. Heating element 130 volatizes at least a portion of the liquid aerosolforming substrate delivered from the liquid storage portion 128. Volatized liquid aerosolforming substrate flows into second airflow channel 124 of device 102 via airflow channel 132. The airflow through air inlet 118 may flow into second airflow channel 124 via first airflow channel 122. Volatized liquid aerosol-forming substrate flows into cavity 116 and aerosol-generating article 106. Volatized liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the cartridge mixes with volatized solid aerosol-forming substrate of aerosol-generating article 106. An aerosol is formed and drawn in to the mouth of the consumer through a proximal end of aerosol-generating article 106.

[0195] Fig. 3 shows two different configurations of a liquid inlet channel 136 and a gas outlet channel 138 of cartridge 104. Cartridge 104 comprises a housing 140. Cartridge 104 comprises a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 142. Cartridge 104 comprises a headspace 144 comprising gas. Cartridge 104 comprises a liquid inlet 146. Cartridge 104 comprises gas outlet 148. Liquid inlet channel 136 abuts liquid inlet 146. Gas outlet channel 138 abuts gas outlet 148. Airflow inlet channel 136 is fluidly connected to liquid inlet 146. Gas outlet channel 138 is fluidly connected to gas outlet 148. Liquid inlet 146 is fluidly connected to headspace 144 of liquid storage portion 128. Gas outlet 148 is fluidly connected to headspace 144 of liquid storage portion 128.

[0196] Liquid inlet channel 136 of cartridge 104 on the left-hand side of Fig. 3 may be directly connected with a refilling pump. Gas outflow channel 138 may be fluidly connected to the surroundings or to a gas outlet channel of the pump. The refilling pump may transfer liquid aerosol-forming substrate into liquid storage portion 128 via liquid inlet channel 136. Simultaneously, gas from headspace 144 may flow out of liquid storage portion 128 via gas outflow channel 138 into the surroundings or the gas outlet channel of the pump. Liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be directly transferred from the pump to the cartridge.

[0197] Liquid inlet channel 136 of cartridge 104 on the right-hand side of Fig. 3 may be attached to a liquid inlet channel of the device. Liquid inlet channel 136 of cartridge 104 on the right-hand side of Fig. 3 may align with the liquid inlet channel of the device. Liquid inlet channel 136 of cartridge 104 on the right-hand side of Fig. 3 is at least partially arranged in housing 140 of cartridge 104. Gas outlet channel 136 of cartridge 104 on the right-hand side of Fig. 3 may be attached to a gas outlet channel of the device. Gas outlet channel 136 of cartridge 104 on the right-hand side of Fig. 3 may align with the gas outflow channel of the device. Gas outlet channel 136 of cartridge 104 on the right-hand side of Fig. 3 is at least partially arranged in housing 140 of cartridge 104. Liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be transferred from the pump to the cartridge via device 102.

[0198] Fig. 4 illustrates a method of transferring liquid aerosol-forming substrate from a liquid reservoir 150 using a refilling pump 152.

[0199] Reservoir 150 comprises liquid aerosol-forming substrate 142. Reservoir 150 comprises a one-way valve 154. One-way valve 154 is arranged in liquid outlet 156. Reservoir 150 comprises a liquid outflow channel 157.

[0200] Refilling pump 152 comprises a piston 158. Piston 158 is arranged in a chamber 160 of pump 152. Pump 152 comprises a liquid inlet channel 162. Pump 152 comprises a oneway valve 164 arranged in a liquid inlet of pump 152. Pump 152 comprises a one-way valve 166 arranged in a liquid outlet of pump 152. Pump 152 comprises liquid outflow channel 168. Liquid outflow channel 168 may be fluidly connected to cartridge 104 or the liquid inlet channel of device 102.

[0201] As shown on the top left, pump 152 may be connected to reservoir 150 by inserting liquid inlet channel 162 into liquid outlet channel 157. Liquid inlet channel 162 engages with one-way valve 154 to open one-way valve 154. Piston 158 is in a compression position.

[0202] As shown on the top right, liquid flows through open one-way valve 154 into liquid outlet channel 157. As shown on the bottom left and indicated by the arrows, piston 158 may be moved from the compression position to a decompression position. Piston 158 may be moved from the compression position to the decompression position by manual actuation. By moving piston 158 from the compression position to the decompression position, the pressure in chamber 160 is decreased. Valve 164 is opened as indicated by the black arrow. Liquid is pulled into chamber 160 through liquid inlet channel 162.

[0203] As shown on the bottom right and indicated by the arrows, piston 158 may be moved from the decompression position into the compression position. Piston 158 may be moved from the decompression position to the compression position by manual actuation. By moving piston 158 from the decompression position to the compression position, the pressure in chamber 160 is increased. One-way valve 164 is closed. One-way valve 166 is opened. Liquid is transferred from chamber 160 the attached cartridge or liquid inlet channel of device 106 as indicated by the black arrows.

[0204] Fig. 5. shows an embodiment of pump 152 comprising chamber 160 with a wall 170 comprising movable a first wall portion 172 and a second wall portion 174.

[0205] Pump 152 comprises liquid outflow channel 168. Pump 152 comprises one-way valve 176. Pump 152 comprises one-way valves 177. Refilling pump 152 comprises biasing means (not shown). Pump 152 holds liquid aerosol-substrate 142.

[0206] On the left-hand side, chamber 160 is shown in a decompression position. In the decompression position liquid is not transferred from chamber 160. Liquid outflow channel 168 is at least partially inserted into liquid aerosol-forming substrate 142.

[0207] On the right-hand side, chamber 160 is shown in a compression position. First wall portion 172 may be moved from the decompression position to the compression position by manual actuation. By moving first wall portion 172 relative to the second wall portion 174 as indicated by the arrow, the pressure inside chamber 160 is increased. The volume of chamber 160 may be decreased by moving the first wall portion into the compression position. One-way valve 176 may open by moving first wall portion 172 from the decompression position into the compression position. Liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be pushed out of chamber through opened one-way valve 176 via liquid outflow channel 168. Liquid outflow channel 168 may be fluidly connected to cartridge 104 or the liquid inlet channel of device 102 to transfer the liquid to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.

[0208] The biasing means may move first wall portion 172 into the decompression position once the manual actuation is removed. Air may be pulled into chamber 160 through valves 177

[0209] Fig. 6 shows a docking station 178 of the invention. Device 102 is connected to docking station 178. Docking station 178 may comprise an interface for connecting with device 102. As indicated by arrow 180, power supply 110 of device 102 may be charged by an external energy source connected to the interface of docking station 178.

[0210] Cartridge 104 is connected to docking station 178. Cartridge 104 disengaged from device 102. Refilling pump 152 is connected to docking station 178. Refilling pump 152 of Fig. 6 is a slightly modified embodiment of the piston refilling pump of Fig. 4. Refilling pump 152 comprises one-way valve 182. Refilling pump 152 is connected to liquid inlet channel 136 of cartridge 104. Refilling pump 152 comprises liquid inlet channel 162. As described above with regard to Fig. 4, reservoir 150 may be connected to pump 152 to manually transfer liquid from reservoir 152 to chamber 160 of pump 152 in a first step and transfer liquid from chamber 162 to the connected cartridge in a second step.

[0211] Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of docking station 178. Liquid reservoir 150 is removably inserted into docking station 178. Device 102 is inserted into docking station 178. Cartridge 104 is inserted into cartridge portion 126 of device 102.

[0212] Reservoir 150 comprises a one-way valve 184. Reservoir 150 comprises a liquid outlet channel 157. Pump 152 comprises one-way valve 186. Pump 152 comprises liquid outlet channel 168. Liquid outlet channel 168 comprises one-way valve 188 arranged at the downstream end of channel 168.

[0213] Device 102 comprises liquid inlet channel 190. Liquid inlet channel 190 comprises one-way valve 192 arranged at a distal end of channel 190. Cartridge 104 comprises liquid inlet channel 136. Liquid inlet channel 136 comprises one-way valve 194 arranged at a distal end of channel 136.

[0214] To refill the liquid storage portion of cartridge 104, pump 152 may transfer liquid aerosol-forming substrate 142 from liquid reservoir 150 to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge via channel 157, channel 168, channel 190 and channel 136.

[0215] Fig. 8, in the top drawing, shows an embodiment of docking station 178. The bottom drawing shows an enlarged view of a portion of refilling pump 152 of docking station 178.

[0216] Aerosol-generating device 102 may be connected to docking station 178 as indicated by the double-headed arrow. Device 102 may be brought into contact with docking station 178.

[0217] Docking station 178 comprises a housing 196 comprising a wall. The wall comprises a first wall portion 198 and a second wall portion 200. Docking station 178 comprises a pump actuating means 202. Pump actuating means 202 is mounted to first wall portion 198. Pump actuating means 202 is configured to operate pump 152. Pump actuating means 202 is configured to transfer a movement of the first wall portion 198 of docking station 178 to first wall portion 172 of pump 152. Docking station 178 comprises a compression chamber 204. Refilling pump 152 is arranged at least partially in compression chamber 204. Docking station 178 comprises a biasing means 206. Biasing means 206 is arranged in a cavity of second wall portion 200. Biasing means 206 in contact with first wall portion 198. Biasing means 206 abuts first wall portion 198. Biasing means 206 is a set of two springs.

[0218] First wall portion 198 is movable between a compression position and a decompression position relative to second wall portion 200 by manual actuation. In the compression position, pump actuating means 202 is disengaged from pump 152. In the decompression position, pump actuating means 202 engages with pump 152. By moving first wall portion 198 from the compression position to the decompression position, first wall portion 172 of the pump may be moved from the compression position of the pump to the decompression position of the pump. By moving first wall portion 198 from the decompression position to the compression position, first wall portion 172 of the pump may be moved from the decompression position of the pump to the compression position of the pump.

[0219] The user may push first wall portion 198 towards second wall portion 200 to move first wall portion 198 from the decompression position to the compression position. The user may push first wall portion 198 towards second wall portion 200 to move first wall portion 198 from the decompression position to the compression position by pushing device 102 attached to first wall portion 198 towards second wall portion 200. Once the user stops pushing on first wall portion 198, biasing means 206 pushes against first wall portion 198 to move first wall portion 198 from the decompression position into the compression position.

[0220] By moving first wall portion 198 from the compression position to the decompression position, and accordingly first wall portion 172 from the compression position to the decompression position, liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be pulled from reservoir 150 into chamber 160 of pump 152 via opened one-way valve 208. By moving first wall portion 198 from the compression position to the decompression position, chamber 160 of pump 152 may be decompressed.

[0221] By moving first wall portion 198 from the decompression position to the compression position, and accordingly first wall portion 172 from the decompression position to the compression position, liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be pushed from r chamber 160 of pump 152 into the liquid storage portion of cartridge 104 via opened channel 168, opened valve 210 and channel 190. By moving first wall portion 198 from the decompression position to the compression position, chamber 160 of pump 152 may be compressed.

[0222] Docking station 178 comprises refilling pump 152. Docking station 178 comprises a liquid reservoir 150. Liquid reservoir 150 comprises a collapsible casing 212.

[0223] Refilling pump 152 comprises chamber 160 having a movable first wall 172 portion and second wall portion 174. First wall portion 172 may be moved between the compression position and the decompression position relative to second wall portion 174. By moving first wall portion 172 from the compression position to the decompression position, liquid may be pulled from reservoir 150 into chamber 160. By moving first wall portion 172 from the decompression position to the compression position, liquid may be pushed from chamber 160 into the liquid storage portion of cartridge 104.

[0224] Pump 152 comprises a biasing means 214. Biasing means 214 is a spring. Pump 152 may be moved from the decompression position to the compression position by manual actuation of the user. Biasing means 214 may move first wall portion 172 of pump 152 from the compression position to the decompression position once manual actuation of the user is removed.

[0225] First wall portion 172 comprises projection to 216. Second wall portion 174 comprises projection 218. Biasing means 214 may engage with projection 216 and 218. Biasing means 214 may be arranged between projection 216 and 218. Projections 216 and 218 may improve the alignment of biasing means 214 in chamber 160.

[0226] Pump 152 comprises a diaphragm 220. Diaphragm 220 is arranged at first wall portion 172. Diaphragm 220 is attached to second wall portion 174. Diaphragm 220 seals chamber 160. Diaphragm 220 is flexible. Diaphragm 220 may flex up and down depending on the position of first wall portion 172 relative to second wall position 174. Diaphragm 220 reduces the risk of liquid leaking from chamber 160.

[0227] In use, the user may push on first wall portion 198 directly or via connected device 102 to move first wall portion 198 from the decompression position to the compression position. Such movement correspondingly moves first wall portion 172 of pump 152 from the decompression position to the compression position. Once the push is released, first wall portion 198 and first wall portion 172 are moved from the compression position to the decompression position by biasing means 206 and biasing means 214, respectively, such that chamber 160 is loaded with liquid from reservoir 150. The collapsible casing of the reservoir 150 slightly collapses to compensate for the removed volume of liquid. Then, the user may push again on first wall portion 198 directly or via connected device 102 to move first wall portion 198 from the decompression position to the compression position, such that the liquid loaded into chamber 160 is ejected into the liquid storage portion of the device through channels 168 and 190.

[0228] Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of the docking station of Fig. 8. First wall portion 174 of pump 152 is integrally formed with first wall portion 198 of docking station 178. Liquid outlet channel 168 of the pump is arranged in first wall portion 198 of docking station 178. When the user manually actuates first wall portion 198 of docking station 178, first wall portion 174 of pump 152 is moved from the decompression position to the compression position as first wall portion 174 is directly linked to first wall portion 198. Once the manual actuation is released, biasing means 206 moves first wall portion 198 with first wall portion 172 into the decompression position.

[0229] Fig. 10 shows refilling pump 152 configured as a pouch. Pouch 152 may be collapsible. Pouch 152 comprises a flexible liner 222. Liner 222 may be made of a layerd material. Pouch 152 comprises one-way valve 224. Pouch 152 is filled with liquid aerosolforming substrate. In use, pouch 152 may be connected to cartridge 104, directly or via liquid inlet channel 190 of the device. The user may compress pouch 152 to eject liquid from pouch 152 of cartridge 104.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An aerosol-generating system comprising a hybrid aerosol-generating device comprising a cavity and a cartridge portion, wherein the cavity is configured for receiving a solid aerosol-forming substrate, and wherein the cartridge portion is configured for receiving a liquid-containing cartridge, a cartridge comprising a liquid storage portion, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one liquid inlet configured to be fluidly connected with the liquid storage portion, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one airflow channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the cavity of the device, wherein the cartridge comprises at least one heating element, and a refilling pump for pumping liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge by manual actuation, wherein the refilling pump comprises a chamber configured for temporarily holding liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the refilling pump comprises a liquid outlet configured to be fluidly connected to the chamber, wherein the liquid outlet is configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid inlet of the cartridge.

2. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosolgenerating device comprises a liquid inlet channel, wherein the liquid inlet channel is configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid inlet of the cartridge, and wherein the liquid inlet channel is configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid outlet of the refilling pump.

3. The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the liquid outlet of the refilling pump is configured to be directly connectable to the liquid inlet of the cartridge.

4. The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the refilling pump is a pouch.

5. The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol-generating system comprises a docking station configured to removably receive the aerosol-generating device, and wherein the docking station is configured for receiving the refilling pump, preferably wherein the docking station is configured for removably receiving the refilling pump.

6. The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol-generating system comprises a liquid reservoir for holding liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the liquid reservoir is configured to be fluidly connectable with the refilling pump.

7. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 6, wherein the refilling pump comprises one or more of a liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel configured to be fluidly connectable with the liquid reservoir, wherein the refilling pump is configured for pumping liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid reservoir into the chamber of the refilling pump.

8. The aerosol-generating system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the liquid outlet of the refilling pump, a liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump, the liquid inlet of claim 7 and the liquid inlet channel of claim 7 comprises a valve, preferably a one-way valve.

9. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 8, wherein the refilling pump is configured to open the valve of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump when liquid aerosol-forming substrate is to be pumped from the refilling pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge and preferably to close the valve of one or more of the liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel of the refilling pump.

10. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 8 and 9, wherein the refilling pump is configured to close the valve of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump, and wherein the refilling pump is configured to open the valve of one or more of the liquid inlet and liquid inlet channel of the refilling pump when liquid aerosol-forming substrate is to be pumped from the liquid reservoir to the chamber of the cartridge.

11. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the refilling pump comprises a piston, wherein the piston is configured to be movable between a compression position and a decompression position by manual actuation, wherein in the compression position, the valves of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump is open and wherein in the decompression position, the valves of one or both of the liquid outlet and liquid outlet channel of the refilling pump is closed.

12. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the chamber of the pump comprises a wall, wherein the wall comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein one or both of the first wall portion and the second wall portion isconfigured to be movable between a compression position and decompression position by manual actuation, wherein in the compression position, the refilling pump is configured to pump liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the chamber of the refilling pump to the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.

13. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 11 and 12, wherein in the decompression position, the refilling pump is configured to pump liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid reservoir to the chamber of the cartridge.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 12 and 13, wherein the chamber of the refilling pump comprises a biasing means, preferably a spring, configured to move one or both of the first wall portion and the second wall portion from the compression position to the decompression position.

15. A method for transferring liquid aerosol-forming substrate using an aerosolgenerating system according to any of claims 1 to 14 comprising the following steps:• connecting the refilling pump with the cartridge, and• manually actuating the refilling pump, such that liquid aerosol-forming substrate is pumped from the refilling pump to the cartridge.

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