Test system for aerosol provision devices

Abstract

There is provided a test system for aerosol provision devices, comprising: a multi-layered holder, the holder having a test area configured to place a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested; a plurality of communication modules, arranged on the holder, each of the communication modules being configured to connect to a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested; a control module, configured to control the carrying out of a corresponding operation test on a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested simultaneously through the communication modules; and a charging module, arranged on the holder, and configured to supply power to the entire test system and aerosol provision devices to be tested. The disclosure addresses the technical problem of how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of durability performance test of aerosol provision devices.

Description

[0001] TEST SYSTEM FOR AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICES

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to the field of test technology for aerosol provision devices, particularly to a test system for aerosol provision devices.

[0004] Technical Background

[0005] Aerosol provision devices / systems require extensive tests before leaving the factory. Among them, the durability, i.e. service life, of the device / system / equipment needs to be checked by simulating different scenarios and undergoing hundreds of charge and discharge cycles or special operating curve tests. The existing test method is to directly connect the sample to be tested to the host computer and charging module through a data cable for test. This test method can only connect a single test sample at a time, which is inefficient, time-consuming, and unstable due to the repeated connection and mixing of too many samples. At the same time, it is easy to cause confusion and system failure, which affects the test efficiency and effectiveness.

[0006] Summary

[0007] In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a test system for aerosol provision devices, to solve the technical problem of how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of durability performance test of aerosol provision devices.

[0008] The present application provides a test system for aerosol provision devices, comprising : a multi-layered holder, the holder having a test area configured to place a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested; a plurality of communication modules, arranged on the holder, each of the communication modules being configured to connect to a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested; a control module, configured to control the carrying out of a corresponding operation test on a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested simultaneously through the communication modules; and a charging module, arranged on the holder, and configured to supply power to the entire test system and aerosol provision devices to be tested.

[0009] In one embodiment of the test system for aerosol provision devices, there is a supporting member mounted in the test area, and the supporting member is configured to support aerosol provision devices to be tested; the supporting member is provided with a groove, which can clamp the aerosol provision devices to be tested; the groove comprises a first groove and a second groove, and the first groove and the second groove are configured to clamp aerosol provision devices of different sizes to be tested.

[0010] Based on the design of the supporting member, the test position of each aerosol provision device to be tested can be fixed to make the test area uncluttered and ensure the stability of the device and its connection during the test. Due to the different grooves in the supporting member, aerosol provision devices of different sizes can be placed, allowing the test system to simultaneously place different types of aerosol provision devices to be tested, providing a hardware foundation for simultaneous large-scale measurement of different products.

[0011] Specifically, on the supporting member, the first groove and the second groove may have different clamping widths, such that the first groove and the second groove may clamp aerosol provision devices of different sizes to be tested in their width directions through the different clamping widths. The aerosol provision device can be directly placed in the groove, and a groove of appropriate width should be selected for placement. The clamping in the width direction will not affect the normal wiring connection of the aerosol provision device, which is more conducive to operation. Further, the clamping width of the first groove may be greater than that of the second groove. The size of the aerosol provision device that can be placed in the first groove may be defined to be greater than the size of the aerosol provision device that can be accommodated in the second groove. In order to save space for the supporting member and the test area, more test samples to be tested can be placed. The second groove may be opened on the bottom of the first groove. There may be at least two supporting members mounted in the test area, and the at least two supporting members may be parallel to and spaced from each other and configured to support the same aerosol provision devices to be tested. With two supporting members supporting the same sample, leaving the middle part empty, the heat dissipation area of the sample after placement can be increased, and the material of the supporting member can be saved at the same time.

[0012] In one embodiment of the test system for aerosol provision devices, there may be partitions between the layers of the holder, and the partitions may be provided with several wire slots, and the wire slots may be arranged corresponding to the supporting member(s). Based on the wire slots design, after the aerosol provision device to be tested is placed on the supporting member, its connecting wires can be routed through corresponding wire slots to avoid confusion and make the entire system neat, efficiently organised and aesthetically attractive.

[0013] In one embodiment of the test system for aerosol provision devices, the holder may comprise at least three layers of benches arranged up and down, with the bench in the middle layer arranged as the test area, and the upper and lower benches adjacent to the middle layer arranged with the communication modules and the charging module respectively.

[0014] Based on the middle layer being the test area, the communication modules and the charging modules may be respectively arranged on the adjacent upper and lower layers, which can avoid wiring confusion. The aerosol provision device to be tested can be connected to the communication module on one side and the charging module on the other side uniformly.

[0015] In one embodiment of the test system for aerosol provision devices, the communication modules may comprise a communication hub with a plurality of communication ports, such that the aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected one-to-one to the communication ports and connected to the control module through the communication hub. Based on the communication hub with a plurality of communication ports, multiple aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected simultaneously, so that multiple samples can be tested at the same time, thereby improving the test efficiency. Further, in order to facilitate wiring and prevent confusion, at least one layer of the holder may be mounted with a plurality of the communication hubs, such that the aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected to the communication hubs nearest to them respectively.

[0016] In one embodiment of the test system for aerosol provision devices, the charging module may comprise a main power connector and a charging hub with a plurality of charging ports, such that the aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected one-to-one to the charging ports and connected to the main power connector through the charging hub.

[0017] Based on the charging hub with a plurality of charging ports, it can simultaneously provide one-on-one power supply to multiple aerosol provision devices to be tested, providing conditions for simultaneous charging and discharging tests and improving test efficiency. Further, in order to facilitate wiring and prevent connection confusion, at least one layer of the holder may be mounted with a plurality of the charging hubs, such that the aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected to the charging hubs nearest to them respectively.

[0018] In one embodiment of the test system for aerosol provision devices, the main power connector and the control module may be arranged on the top layer of the holder. It allows for easy access to test control operations without interfering with wiring connections to the aerosol provision device to be tested.

[0019] In one embodiment of the test system for aerosol provision devices, the system may further comprise a heat dissipation module, which is mounted on the holder corresponding to the test area, and configured to dissipate heat from aerosol provision devices to be tested within the test area. Based on the heat dissipation module, the aerosol provision device to be tested can dissipate heat quickly during test, ensuring the safety of the test environment. Further, the heat dissipation module may comprise a plurality of fans which are mounted on both sides of the test area to quickly reduce the temperature generated by all test samples and improve test stability.

[0020] The above one or more technical solutions of the present application have at least one or more beneficial effects as follows:

[0021] In the implementation of the technical solution of the present application, the test system based on the multi-layered holder and the separate module design can accommodate multiple aerosol provision devices for test simultaneously. The communication module in the test system connects multiple aerosol provision devices to be tested, and cooperates with the control module and charging module to achieve the test of multiple samples at the same time, which greatly improves the test efficiency of aerosol provision devices. At the same time, due to the separate modular design of the holder platform, the structure is clear, not chaotic, and the overall cleanliness is convenient for connecting each module, so that the connection of the aerosol provision device to be tested is stable, thereby improving the stability effect of the test.

[0022] Additional aspects and advantages of the application will be described in the following description, some will become apparent from the following description, and others will be learned through the practice of the application.

[0023] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the disclosed content of the present application will become more understandable. It is easily understood by those skilled in the art that these drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. Moreover, similar numbers in the figures are used to represent similar components, among which: Figure 1 is a schematic structure diagram of the structure of a test system for aerosol provision devices according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 2 is a schematic structure diagram of a supporting member according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 3 is a schematic structure diagram of the supporting member according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the application structure of the supporting member and aerosol provision device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the placement structure of the supporting member according to an embodiment of the present application; and

[0029] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the connection principle of the test system for aerosol provision devices according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] The references in the figures are as follows: 100 - holder; 101 - supporting member; 1011 - first groove; 1012 - second groove; 102 - partition; 1021 - wire slot; 200 - communication module; 300 - charging module; 301 - main power connector; 400 - aerosol provision device to be tested; 500 - fan.

[0031] Detailed Description

[0032] The following describes some embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only for explaining the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] As used herein, the term "delivery system" is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user in use, and includes: combustible aerosol provision systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material); noncombustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials; and aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

[0034] According to the present disclosure, a "combustible" aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is combusted or burned during use in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0035] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo and a cigar.

[0036] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a component for use in a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a filter, a filter rod, a filter segment, a tobacco rod, a spill, an aerosol-modifying agent release component such as a capsule, a thread, or a bead, or a paper such as a plug wrap, a tipping paper or a cigarette paper.

[0037] According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustible" aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0038] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0039] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not- burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0040] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosolgenerating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0041] Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.

[0042] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0043] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosolgenerating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosolmodifying agent.

[0044] In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosol-modifying agent.

[0045] In some embodiments, the delivery system is an aerosol-free delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

[0046] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosolgenerating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolised. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0047] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance. The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

[0048] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

[0049] As noted herein, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

[0050] As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like.

[0051] Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.

[0052] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.

[0053] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.

[0054] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises a flavour. As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, Wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

[0055] In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and / or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from cannabis.

[0056] In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol, WS-3.

[0057] Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and / or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an "amorphous solid", which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

[0058] The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and / or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

[0059] The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0060] The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0061] The material may be present on or in a support, to form a substrate. The support may, for example, be or comprise paper, card, paperboard, cardboard, reconstituted material, a plastics material, a ceramic material, a composite material, glass, a metal, or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, the support comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.

[0062] A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

[0063] A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

[0064] An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.

[0065] An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0066] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems (which may also be referred to as vapour delivery systems) such as nebulisers or e- cigarettes. Throughout the following description the term "e-cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery system / device and electronic aerosol delivery system / device. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms "aerosol" and "vapour", and related terms such as "vaporise", "volatilise" and "aerosolise", may generally be used interchangeably.

[0067] Aerosol delivery systems (e-cigarettes) often, though not always, comprise a modular assembly comprising a reusable device part and a replaceable (disposable / consumable) cartridge part. Often, the replaceable cartridge part will comprise the aerosol generating material and the vaporiser (which may collectively be called a "cartomizer") and the reusable device part will comprise the power provision (e.g. rechargeable power source) and control circuitry. It will be appreciated these different parts may comprise further elements depending on functionality. For example, the reusable device part will often comprise a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status characteristics, and the replaceable cartridge device part in some cases comprises a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature. Cartridges are electrically and mechanically coupled to the control unit for use, for example using a screw thread, bayonet, or magnetic coupling with appropriately arranged electrical contacts. When the aerosol generating material in a cartridge is exhausted, or the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge having a different aerosol generating material, the cartridge may be removed from the reusable part and a replacement cartridge attached in its place. Systems and devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systems / devices. It is common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure will be taken to comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part system employing disposable cartridges. However, it will be appreciated that the underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for different configurations, for example single-part systems or modular systems comprising more than two parts, refillable devices and single-use disposables, as well as other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a boxier shape. More generally, it will be appreciated certain embodiments of the disclosure are based on aerosol delivery systems which are operationally configured to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and the constructional aspects of systems configured to provide the functionality in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure is not of primary significance.

[0068] As described in the technical background, durability test, also known as equipment life test, requires running some operational tests such as charge and discharge cycles by simulating different scenarios. The existing test methods directly connect the host computer and the charger for test, which has limited test capabilities and cannot simultaneously complete a large number of test samples and cannot simultaneously test different products. Moreover, too many samples always cause confusion in the test area, low test efficiency, and poor test results. Based on this, the present application proposes a test system for aerosol provision devices that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sample test.

[0069] Referring to Figure 1, FIG. 1 shows an example of test system for aerosol provision devices. The test system for aerosol provision devices comprises a multi-layered holder 100, a plurality of communication modules 200, a charging module 300, and a control module (not shown in the figure). The holder 100 has a test area A, and the test area A is configured to place multiple aerosol provision devices 400 to be test, providing basic placement conditions for simultaneously test multiple aerosol provision devices 400 to be test. The communication module 200 is arranged on the holder 100, and each communication module 200 is configured to connect multiple aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested. Through the communication module 200, multiple or different aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested can be connected simultaneously. The charging module 300 is arranged on the holder 100 and configured to supply power to the entire test system and the aerosol provision device 400 for durability test. The control module controls multiple aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested to perform corresponding operational tests simultaneously by connecting to the communication module 200. The present application aims to improve the test efficiency by designing separate modules on a multi-layer support 100, so that multiple aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested or different types of aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested can be simultaneously tested. At the same time, the module partition and the placement and wiring of the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested are convenient and easy to distinguish, without the need for repeated plugging and unplugging, thereby ensuring the stability of the connection and thus ensuring the effectiveness of the test.

[0070] It should be noted that, in order to illustrate the present application, Figure 1 only shows a partial structural diagram of the test system for aerosol provision devices, and is not intended to convey the specific positions and fixed structural modes of various components. For example, test area A can be the position shown in the figure, and can be designed to occupy the entire floor, with communication module 200 and charging module 300 located on adjacent sides of test area A. It is also possible to occupy a portion of the area on a certain floor as test area A without being limited to the position and the arrangement shown in the diagram, as long as it can accommodate multiple aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested. It should also be understood that the test system for aerosol provision devices may include other components not shown in Figure 1, such as a control module and a corresponding fixed structure of each module. The control module may be arranged on the holder 100 or separately connected for use. The control module may include one or more processors and associated memories for executing simulations of different scenarios and controlling the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested to run some tests through the communication module 200 and the charging module 300. The control module may also include communication interface(s) and other devices (for example, a host device or a user interface device). For the convenience of operation, the control module can be arranged on the top layer of the holder 100 or at other positions of holder the 100 as needed.

[0071] In one embodiment, since the existing test method does not have a specific fixture to fix the sample in the existing test method, the cable and sheath are loose without fixation, which makes the connection easily interrupted due to accidental and unintentional movement or hand touch. Based on this, in the present application, a supporting member 101 is mounted in the test area A to support the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested. Using the supporting member 101 to support the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested can improve the stability of the placement of the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested, and also make it more regularly placed, which is convenient for connection and wiring and prevents confusion.

[0072] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the supporting member 101 is provided with a groove, and the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested is fixed by clamping the groove. The groove comprises a first groove 1011 and a second groove 1012, which can be used to clamp different sizes of aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested. In this embodiment, the first groove 1011 and the second groove 1012 have different clamping widths. The first groove 1011 and the second groove 1012 clamp the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested of different sizes in its width direction through different clamping widths. It should be understood that the specific width of the groove is not limited in the middle of the present application, and it can be designed according to the actual width of the product. For example, the first groove 1011 is used to place a wider non-combustible aerosol provision system, and the second groove 1012 is used to place a relatively narrower combustible aerosol provision system. Meanwhile, the position and direction of the groove can also be adjusted as needed. It should also be understood that the first groove 1011 and the second groove 1012 can be on the same supporting member 101 or on different supporting member 101, and the number of supporting members 101 in test area A is not specifically limited. In one embodiment of the supporting member 101, as shown in Figure 3, the grooves include a first groove 1011 and a second groove 1012. The first groove 1011 and the second groove 1012 can be used to clamp different sizes of aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested. The clamping width of the first groove 1011 is greater than that of the second groove 1012, and the second groove 1012 is opened on the bottom of the first groove 1011, so that aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested of different widths can be placed in the same spatial position without the need for other auxiliary fixtures or adjustments, thereby greatly improving the compatibility of different test requirements. Further, as shown in Figure 4, each aerosol provision device 400 to be tested is configured with at least two supporting members 101 to support it. The two supporting members 101 are parallel to and spaced from each other, which is beneficial to the heat dissipation of the product and saving the material of the supporting members 101. In this embodiment, one side of the supporting member 101 with a groove is arranged at a certain angle to the horizontal plane, so that the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested is horizontally tilted when placed, which can fix the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested while saving the space occupied by the supporting member 101. This allows more supporting members 101 to be placed in the test area A, that is, more aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested can be placed.

[0073] Based on the above embodiment, through the design of the supporting member 101, it is possible to simultaneously meet the requirements of fixedly supporting multiple types of aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested, and ensure the stability of the aerosol provision devices 400 during the test process, thereby improving the test effect. Further, the supporting members 101 can be neatly arranged in the test area A to facilitate the identification and connection of each aerosol provision device 400 to be tested. For example, as shown in Figure 5, at least one layer of the holder 100 is arranged as the test area A, and multiple supporting members 101 are connected end to end and arranged in sequence in the test area A. The groove surfaces of the supporting members 101 in two adjacent columns are arranged in opposite directions, which is more conducive to wiring and heat dissipation. Each supporting member 101 can also be assigned a product number for easy searching and connection.

[0074] Further, in order to facilitate wiring and make the entire system neat and beautiful, specific wire slots are designed between layers, as shown in Figure 1. A partition 102 is provided between layers of the holder 100, and several wire slots 1021 are arranged on the edges of the partition 102. The wire slots 1021 are arranged corresponding to the supporting member 101 one by one. When the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested is placed on the supporting member 101, the charging wire and communication wire used for the test connections can be connected to other modules above and below through the wire slots 1021.

[0075] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the holder 100 comprises at least three layers of benches arranged up and down. The bench in the middle layer is arranged as the test area A. The communication module 200 and the charging module 300 are respectively arranged on the upper and lower benches adjacent to the middle layer. The aerosol provision device 400 to be tested placed in the test area A is uniformly connected to the communication module 200 on one side and the charging module 300 on the other side, so as to avoid connection confusion.

[0076] Specifically, the connection method is shown in Figure 1 and Figure 6. Each communication module 200 comprises a communication hub with a plurality of communication ports, and the aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested are connected one-to-one to the communication ports and connected to the control module through the communication hub, so that multiple aerosol supply devices 400 to be tested can be controlled and tested through the same communication module 200. In this embodiment, four communication modules 200 are provided and arranged in the middle layer of test area A on both sides. Based on the same principle, the charging module 300 may also comprise a charging hub with a plurality of charging ports. The aerosol provision device 400 to be tested is connected to the charging ports one by one, enabling the same charging module 300 to charge different aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested. In this embodiment, the charging module 300 may be a multi-port USB charger arranged on the upper or lower layer of the test area A. The charging module 300 also comprises a main power connector 301, which is used to connect to the charging hub and provide main power supply. To facilitate external connection to the mains or power supply equipment, the main power connector 301 is arranged on the top layer of the holder 100, or can be arranged in other positions of the holder 100 as needed. Further, in order to facilitate connection and be neat and clear, the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested is connected to the nearest charging hub and communication hub. It should be understood that the specific number of communication modules 200 and charging modules 300 and the number of ports in the present application are not limited, and can be adjusted according to actual needs and conditions.

[0077] In one embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the system further comprises a heat dissipation module, which is mounted on the holder 100 corresponding to the test area A, to dissipate heat from the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested within the test area A and to improve the test effect. In this embodiment, the heat dissipation module comprises a plurality of fans 500, which are mounted on both sides of the test area A. For example, if the test area A is a whole layer, the plurality of fans 500 are placed on both sides of the holder 100, facing the test area A, to exhaust hot air, so that when all the aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested are running software simultaneously for test, they can be taken out and cooled. In this embodiment, the fan 500 is mounted through a fan mounting plate, and there is no specific structural restriction, and it is sufficient to fix the fan 500 on the holder 100.

[0078] Based on the above embodiments, as shown in Figure 6, the control module can be equipped with a graphical user interface (GUI) on a PC tool, in which test operation software is installed for controlling the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested, and for monitoring, collecting, and exporting data. The communication module 200 can facilitate seamless data transmission between samples and graphical user interface. Through the monitoring channel added by the communication module 200, the number of aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested can be increased to, for example, 40, achieving maximum test capacity. The charging module 300 can serve as the power source for the entire system, providing necessary power for all aerosol provision devices 400 to be tested. The heat dissipation module plays an important role in maintaining the optimal operating temperature of the test area A. It blows high-speed airflow directly onto the surface of the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested to effectively dissipate heat and ensure rapid cooling. When test is required, placing the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested into the supporting member 101 (select the corresponding product groove), connecting the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested to the communication module 200 and the charging module 300 (the module with the closest connection distance), where the communication module 200 needs to be connected to the control module and the charging module 300 needs to be connected to the main power connector 301, turning on fan 500, turning on the corresponding communication module 200 and charging module 300, opening the PC test software to start the corresponding test, and after completion, exporting the logs for analysis. These modules collectively achieve comprehensive control, data management, data communication, thermal management, and power supply functions, ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of the test for the aerosol provision device 400 to be tested.

[0079] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various components in the device can be adaptively disassembled or merged. The splitting or merging of specific components will not cause the technical solution to deviate from the principles of the present application. Therefore, the technical solutions after splitting or merging will fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0080] In the description of this specification, the referential terminology "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" means that specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are comprised in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the indicative expression of the above-mentioned terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the described specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable way in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0081] Moreover, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used merely for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the characteristics defined as "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly comprise at least one such characteristic. In the description of the present application, the term "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0082] In the present application, unless explicitly defined and limited, terms such as "mounting," "connecting," "connection," "fixing," etc., should be understood broadly. For instance, the connection can be a fixed connection or a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediary medium, it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless explicitly defined otherwise. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of these terms in the context of the application based on the circumstances.

[0083] Although the embodiments of the application have been shown and described above, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and should not be considered as limiting the application. Those skilled in the art within the scope of the application can make variations, modifications, replacements, and variations to the abovedescribed embodiments.

Claims

Claims1. A test system for aerosol provision devices comprising: a multi-layered holder, the holder having a test area configured to place a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested; a plurality of communication modules, arranged on the holder, each of the communication modules being configured to connect to a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested; a control module, configured to control the carrying out of a corresponding operation test on a plurality of aerosol provision devices to be tested simultaneously through the communication modules; and a charging module, arranged on the holder, and configured to supply power to the entire test system and aerosol provision devices to be tested.

2. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to claim 1, wherein there is a supporting member mounted in the test area, and the supporting member is configured to support aerosol provision devices to be tested; the supporting member is provided with a groove, which can clamp the aerosol provision devices to be tested; the groove comprises a first groove and a second groove, and the first groove and the second groove are configured to clamp aerosol provision devices of different sizes to be tested.

3. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to claim 2, wherein the first groove and the second groove have different clamping widths, and the first groove and the second groove are configured to clamp aerosol provision devices of different sizes to be tested in their width directions through the different clamping widths.

4. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to claim 3, wherein the clamping width of the first groove is greater than that of the second groove.

5. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the second groove is opened on the bottom of the first groove.

6. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein there are at least two supporting members mounted in the test area, and the at least two supporting members are parallel to and spaced from each other and configured to support the same aerosol provision device to be tested.

7. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein there are partitions between the layers of the holder, and the partitions are provided with several wire slots, and the wire slots are arranged corresponding to the supporting member(s).

8. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the holder comprises at least three layers of benches arranged up and down, with the bench in the middle layer arranged as the test area, and the upper and lower benches adjacent to the middle layer arranged with the communication modules and the charging module respectively.

9. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to claim 8, wherein the communication modules comprise a communication hub with a plurality of communication ports, such that the aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected one-to-one to the communication ports and connected to the control module through the communication hub.

10. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to claim 9, wherein at least one layer of the holder is mounted with a plurality of the communication hubs, such that the aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected to the communication hubs nearest to them respectively.

11. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the charging module comprises a main power connector and a charging hub with a plurality of charging ports, such that the aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected one-to-one to the charging ports and connected to the main power connector through the charging hub.

12. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to claim 11, wherein at least one layer of the holder is mounted with a plurality of the charging hubs, such that the aerosol provision devices to be tested can be connected to the charging hubs nearest to them respectively.

13. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the main power connector and the control module are arranged on the top layer of the holder.

14. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to any of claims 1 - 13, wherein the system further comprises a heat dissipation module which is mounted on the holder corresponding to the test area and configured to dissipate heat from aerosol provision devices to be tested within the test area.

15. The test system for aerosol provision devices according to claim 14, wherein the heat dissipation module comprises a plurality of fans which are mounted on both sides of the test area.

Images