A sensor apparatus may include a conduit structure including an inner surface defining a conduit extending through an interior of the conduit structure, an inlet structure coupled to an end of the conduit structure, and a plurality of sensor devices in hydrodynamic contact with the conduit. The inlet structure may couple with an outlet end of an external tobacco element to hold the outlet end of the external tobacco element in fluid communication with an inlet opening of the conduit structure, such that the conduit structure may receive a generated aerosol from the external tobacco element at the inlet opening, and draw an instance of aerosol through the conduit towards an outlet opening. The instance of aerosol may include at least a portion of the generated aerosol. Each sensor device may generate sensor data indicating a pressure of the instance of aerosol through a separate portion of the conduit.

A sensor apparatus may include a channel structure configured to couple with an external element and a fluid conduit, such that the channel structure may receive a fluid, at least partially drawn through the external element from an ambient environment, and direct the fluid through the fluid conduit. A sensor may generate sensor data indicating a flow rate of the fluid through the fluid conduit based on monitoring a variation in a pressure at a location in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and in relation to an ambient pressure of the ambient environment. The sensor apparatus may enable generation of improved topography information associated with flows of fluid drawn from the external element based on measuring a local pressure at the location in hydrodynamic contact with the fluid conduit and determining the ambient pressure based on monitoring the local pressure over time.

A method for authenticating an aerosol-generating article includes the steps of imaging and processing at least one consumable section of the aerosol-generating article, correlating a current digitalized image with a reference image registered during production of the article, and determining, based on correlation results and a predetermined correlation criterium, if the article is a genuine product. An aerosol-generating system includes an aerosol-generating device having a 2D and/or 3D imager that includes image processing and image correlation means for imaging and analysing the stochastic arrangement of the individual substrate parts of the aerosol-generating article. A machine for producing aerosol-generating articles includes an in-line imaging system.

A method for authenticating an aerosol-generating article includes the steps of imaging and processing at least one consumable section of the aerosol-generating article, correlating a current digitalized image with a reference image registered during production of the article, and determining, based on correlation results and a predetermined correlation criterium, if the article is a genuine product. An aerosol-generating system includes an aerosol-generating device having a 2D and/or 3D imager that includes image processing and image correlation means for imaging and analysing the stochastic arrangement of the individual substrate parts of the aerosol-generating article. A machine for producing aerosol-generating articles includes an in-line imaging system.

The technology described herein generally relates to an automated packaging apparatus and system that packages loose particles into a conical container as well as the final packed containers. More specifically, loose plant matter, such as crumbled dried leaves, are supplied to successive paper cones. The apparatus provides a system for reliably and accurately depositing or injecting a fluid into a cone packed with loose particulate.

An apparatus and method for automatically preparing a mixture of particles of two or more substances such as but not limited to raw tobacco and raw medical cannabis flowers in one or more receptacle where the mixture proportion is predefined, is disclosed. The apparatus of the invention can be used for mixing any types of herbal substances. Moreover, the apparatus of the invention can be used for mixing one or more kinds of the same substance, for example mixing two or more kinds of marijuana strains. The apparatus includes one or more compartments for inserting each of the substances separately. In some variations of the present invention the size of at least one of the compartments is smaller for predefined smaller quantities of raw herbal material for example, a single marijuana flower.

A tube loading, filling and sealing system that includes a tube loading apparatus, a tube filling apparatus, a tube sealing apparatus configured to receive and seal a plurality of tubes, and a weighing apparatus configured to weigh a plurality of filled tubes. A method of filling tubes with a herb mixture using a tube loading, filling, and sealing system. The method including loading the tubes into a tube filling apparatus using a tube loading apparatus, filling the tubes loaded into the tube filling apparatus with a herb mixture, sealing the filled tubes using a tube sealing apparatus, and weighing the sealed tubes using a weighing apparatus.

An apparatus is provided, including: a housing; a first assessment section defining a first airflow pathway and including a first conduit including inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end to receive a mouth end of an aerosol-generating system or a smoking article, a first pump in fluid communication with the first conduit outlet end and to draw fluid through the first conduit from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a first cover arranged on the housing; and a second assessment section defining a second airflow pathway and including a second conduit including inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end to receive a mouth end of an aerosol-generating device or a smoking article, a second pump in fluid communication with the second conduit outlet end and to draw fluid through the second conduit from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a second cover arranged on the housing.

An apparatus is provided, including: a housing; a first assessment section defining a first airflow pathway and including a first conduit including inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end to receive a mouth end of an aerosol-generating system or a smoking article, a first pump in fluid communication with the first conduit outlet end and to draw fluid through the first conduit from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a first cover arranged on the housing; and a second assessment section defining a second airflow pathway and including a second conduit including inlet and outlet ends, the inlet end to receive a mouth end of an aerosol-generating device or a smoking article, a second pump in fluid communication with the second conduit outlet end and to draw fluid through the second conduit from the inlet end to the outlet end, and a second cover arranged on the housing.

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the diameter of an elongated rod, said method comprising: providing an elongated rod having a preliminary diameter; selecting a desired final diameter of the elongated rod; providing a diameter adjusting device including a first tubular element having an inlet and an outlet and a channel connecting the inlet and the outlet; adjusting the diameter of the outlet as a function of the desired final diameter of the elongated rod, wherein the diameter of the inlet is bigger than the diameter of the outlet when adjusted; and inserting the elongated rod in the diameter adjusting device from the inlet and outputting it from the outlet so that said elongated rod is compressed to the desired final diameter when outputted from the outlet of the first tubular element.