Described herein is a heating device for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The heating device comprises a heating element, and smokable material bonded to the heating element. The heating element comprises a layer of electrically-conductive material, a first layer of polyimide, and a second layer of polyimide. The layer of electrically-conductive material is located between the first and second layers of polyimide. Also described are cartridges comprising the heating device, apparatus comprising the heating device and methods of manufacturing the heating device.

A stabilizing upper tray for stabilizing cartridges during automated filling operations includes fill ports matching cartridge support locations in a lower support tray. Each fill port includes a bore, a circular recess to engage the upper rim of a cartridge, and an inwardly tapered needle-engaging surface adapted to be engaged by a fluid injection needle; a counterbore extends between the bore and the circular recess. As the upper tray is lowered over the cartridges, the enlarged recess of each fill port engages a corresponding cartridge and guides it into a vertical orientation within the counterbore. During filling operations, a mis-aligned fluid injection needle engages the inwardly tapered needle-engaging surface of the stabilizing upper tray and is guided through the fill port toward the cartridge. A method is also disclosed to form such a stabilizing upper tray through conversion of a conventional lower support tray.

A stabilizing upper tray for stabilizing cartridges during automated filling operations includes fill ports matching cartridge support locations in a lower support tray. Each fill port includes a bore, a circular recess to engage the upper rim of a cartridge, and an inwardly tapered needle-engaging surface adapted to be engaged by a fluid injection needle; a counterbore extends between the bore and the circular recess. As the upper tray is lowered over the cartridges, the enlarged recess of each fill port engages a corresponding cartridge and guides it into a vertical orientation within the counterbore. During filling operations, a mis-aligned fluid injection needle engages the inwardly tapered needle-engaging surface of the stabilizing upper tray and is guided through the fill port toward the cartridge. A method is also disclosed to form such a stabilizing upper tray through conversion of a conventional lower support tray.

An insulation sleeve for an aerosol generation device, and used therein for a heating assembly therein, includes natural organic fibres. The natural material comprised in the insulation sleeve is easily available and eco-friendly; it also increases the sustainability of the component and devices including it. The cost of manufacturing the insulation sleeve with the natural material is very low.

An insulation sleeve for an aerosol generation device, and used therein for a heating assembly therein, includes natural organic fibres. The natural material comprised in the insulation sleeve is easily available and eco-friendly; it also increases the sustainability of the component and devices including it. The cost of manufacturing the insulation sleeve with the natural material is very low.

The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

The invention relates to a sonotrode for the ultrasonic welding of plastic components of an electronic cigarette.

The sonotrode comprises: a body comprising a first end which can be connected to an ultrasound generator, and a second end; a cavity that develops from the second end towards the first end, for receiving at least partially a plastic component of an electronic cigarette to be welded. The cavity defines an opening at the second end of the body, communicating with the outside of the sonotrode.

In particular, at the opening, the cross section of the cavity has an outline comprising: a first portion that has the shape of a first arc of a reference circumference, which comprises a first end and a second end, opposite each other; and a second portion, that has the shape of a second arc of said reference circumference, which comprises a first end and a second end, opposite each other.

The aforementioned outline further comprises: a third portion, connected to the first end of the first portion and to the first end of the second portion, which develops externally with respect to the reference circumference; and a fourth portion, connected to the second end of the first portion and to the second end of the second portion, which develops externally with respect to said reference circumference.

A cartridge for an aerosol-generating system may comprise a liquid storage portion, which includes a housing holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The housing has a first and a second opening. The cartridge may further comprise a first and a second permeable planar heater assembly, wherein the first permeable planar heater assembly is fixed to the housing and extends across the first opening of the housing, and the second permeable planar heater assembly is fixed to the housing and extends across the second opening of the housing. The first and second permeable planar heater assemblies are arranged opposite each other such that they face each other and form an airflow channel in between.

An aerosol-generating article for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the article including: an open-ended hollow-cylindrical reservoir body including a tubular outer wall and an inner partition wall extending between two opposing inner portions of the outer wall so as to partition an inner void of the body into first and second compartments, which are laterally arranged adjacent to each other along a longitudinal axis of the body; a first end cap attached to a first end of the body that sealingly closes at least the first compartment at the first end; and a second end cap attached to a second end of the body that sealingly closes the first and the second compartments at the second end, the second end cap including a fluid passage providing a fluid communication between the first and the second compartments.

An aerosol-generating article for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the article including: an open-ended hollow-cylindrical reservoir body including a tubular outer wall and an inner partition wall extending between two opposing inner portions of the outer wall so as to partition an inner void of the body into first and second compartments, which are laterally arranged adjacent to each other along a longitudinal axis of the body; a first end cap attached to a first end of the body that sealingly closes at least the first compartment at the first end; and a second end cap attached to a second end of the body that sealingly closes the first and the second compartments at the second end, the second end cap including a fluid passage providing a fluid communication between the first and the second compartments.