AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM AND ARTICLE FOR USE THEREWITH

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating article (1), the aerosol-generating article comprising a single metered dose of an aerosol-forming substrate; an airflow pathway (108) arranged between an air inlet (110) and an air outlet (112); an aerosolisation chamber (116) arranged at a location along the airflow pathway (108) such that the airflow pathway passes through at least a portion of the aerosolisation chamber (116); and a flow controller (122, 124) for selectively controlling the flow of air through the airflow pathway (108), the flow controller (122, 124) having an open configuration in which air can flow into and out of the aerosolisation chamber (116) and a closed configuration in which air is substantially prevented from flowing into and out of the aerosolisation chamber (116); wherein the aerosolisation chamber (116) is configured to open to receive only one aerosol-generating article (1) at a time; wherein the aerosolisation chamber (116) is configured to close to contain the aerosol-generating article (1); the aerosol-generating system further comprising a heating element (118, 120) arranged to heat the aerosolisation chamber (116) when an aerosol-generating article (1) is received within the aerosolisation chamber (116); wherein the aerosol-generating system is configured to heat the aerosolisation chamber (116) containing the aerosol-generating article (1) only when the flow controller (122, 124) is in the closed configuration.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. An aerosol-generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating article comprising a single metered-dose of an aerosol-forming substrate, the metered-dose comprising an amount of the aerosol-forming substrate sufficient for generating an amount of aerosol for only a single puff; an airflow pathway arranged between an air inlet and an air outlet; an aerosolisation chamber arranged at a location along the airflow pathway such that the airflow pathway passes through at least a portion of the aerosolisation chamber; and a flow controller for selectively controlling the flow of air through the airflow pathway, the flow controller having an open configuration in which air can flow into and out of the aerosolisation chamber and a closed configuration in which air is substantially prevented from flowing into and out of the aerosolisation chamber; wherein the aerosolisation chamber is configured to open to receive only one aerosol-generating article at a time; wherein the aerosolisation chamber is configured to close to contain the aerosol-generating article; the aerosol-generating system further comprising a heating element arranged to heat the aerosolisation chamber when an aerosol-generating article is received within the aerosolisation chamber; wherein the aerosol-generating system is configured to heat the aerosolisation chamber containing the aerosol-generating article only when the flow controller is in the closed configuration.

19. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein the metered-dose of aerosol-forming substrate comprises about 2 to 30 mg of tobacco, more particularly about 3 to 20 mg of tobacco, more particularly about 3 to 9 mg of tobacco, and yet more particularly about 4 to 8 mg of tobacco.

20. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein the metered-dose of aerosol-forming substrate comprises about 100 μg of nicotine, a nicotine derivative or a nicotine analogue.

21. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein the metered-dose of aerosol-forming substrate further comprises about 300 to 1250 μg of an aerosol-former and more particularly about 675 to 875 μg of an aerosol-former.

22. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein the aerosolisation chamber is sized to accommodate only one aerosol-generating article.

23. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein a cross-sectional area of the aerosol-generating article is less than a cross-sectional area of the aerosolisation chamber such that air can flow around the aerosol-generating article and through the aerosolisation chamber.

24. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 23, wherein the cross-sectional area of the aerosol-generating article is between about 60 percent and 90 percent of the cross-sectional area of the aerosolisation chamber.

25. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein the aerosolisation chamber comprises an aperture through which the aerosol-generating article can be loaded into the aerosolisation chamber, the system further comprising a closure for closing the aperture during heating of the aerosol-generating article.

26. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein the system further comprises a delivery mechanism for delivering the aerosol-generating article into the aerosolisation chamber.

27. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, further comprising a guard for preventing the aerosol-generating article from leaving the aerosolisation chamber via the airflow pathway.

28. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 27, wherein the guard comprises a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the airflow pathway at the point the aerosolisation chamber is joined to the remainder of the airflow pathway.

29. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 27, wherein the guard comprises a mesh or a plate having at least one hole formed therethrough for preventing the aerosol-generating article from leaving the aerosolisation chamber via the airflow pathway whilst still permitting air to flow through the airflow pathway, wherein the mesh or plate is arranged across at least a portion of the airflow pathway.

30. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 18, wherein the system further comprises a storage unit for storing a plurality of single-use aerosol-generating articles.

31. A method of generating an aerosol, wherein the method is configured to generate the aerosol from an aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating article comprising a single metered dose of an aerosol-forming substrate, the metered-dose comprising an amount of the aerosol-forming substrate sufficient for generating an amount of aerosol for only a single puff; the method comprising: providing an airflow pathway between an air inlet and an air outlet; providing an aerosolisation chamber arranged at a location along the airflow pathway such that the airflow pathway passes through at least a portion of the aerosolisation chamber; opening the aerosolisation chamber; placing one aerosol-generating article within the aerosolisation chamber; closing the aerosolisation chamber to contain the aerosol-generating article; closing the airflow pathway to substantially prevent air from flowing into and out of the aerosolisation chamber; heating the aerosolisation chamber containing the aerosol-generating article such that the aerosol-forming substrate is aerosolised whilst the airflow pathway is closed, opening the airflow pathway such that a user can puff on the generated aerosol via the air outlet.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the method further comprises raising the temperature within the aerosolisation chamber to a predetermined temperature prior to placing the aerosol-generating article within the aerosolisation chamber.

Description

[0072] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0073] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through an aerosol-generating article for use in a system or device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0074] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of another aerosol-generating article for use in a system or device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0075] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0076] FIG. 4A is a flow chart showing a method of generating an aerosol in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0077] FIG. 4B is a flow chart showing a method of generating an aerosol in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

[0078] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the aerosolisation chamber of the device of FIG. 3 showing the airflow around an aerosol-generating article located within the aerosolisation chamber.

[0079] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the device of FIG. 3 showing an aperture for delivering an aerosol-generating article into the aerosolisation chamber.

[0080] FIG. 7A is a schematic side view of a device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention having a drawer mechanism for delivering an aerosol-generating article into the aerosolisation chamber of the device.

[0081] FIGS. 7B and 7C are schematic cross-sectional views taken along the line A-A in FIG. 7A showing the drawer mechanism in an open and closed configuration respectively.

[0082] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blister pack for storing aerosol-generating articles for use in a system or device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0083] FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C are schematic cross-sectional side views of an injector-type dispenser for storing and delivering aerosol-generating articles for use in a system or device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention in three different stages of operation respectively.

[0084] FIG. 10 is a plan cross-sectional view of a device in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention having an integral store and delivery mechanism for respectively storing a plurality of aerosol-generating articles and delivering an aerosol-generating article to an aerosolisation chamber of the device.

[0085] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view through an aerosol-generating article for use in an aerosol-generating system or device. The aerosol-generating article comprises a substantially spherical or ball-shaped bead or pellet 1 having a core 2 which is coated with an aerosol-forming substrate 4. The core 2 is made from glass which is an inert material and therefore does not produce unwanted by-products when the bead 1 is heated. Glass also has a high melting temperature and therefore is able to withstand the temperatures (generally less than 500° C.) typically encountered during heating without losing its structural integrity. The glass core 2 is also smooth and impermeable or non-porous so that the aerosol-forming substrate 4 is only located on its surface. This makes it easier to accurately control the amount of aerosol-forming substrate 4 being deposited on the surface of the core 2 and reduces variability between beads.

[0086] Being substantially spherical, the bead 1 has a central symmetry which results in a repeatable amount of aerosol being generated regardless of the bead's position in an aerosolisation chamber. A spherical shape also permits movement within the aerosolisation chamber. Furthermore, an impermeable or non-porous core means that air can only flow around the outside of the bead 1 rather than through it. This helps to reduce variability in the amount of generated aerosol caused by, for example, the air carrying the aerosol leaving a portion of the aerosol inside the pellet or condensation of the aerosol in cooler internal parts of the bead 1.

[0087] Other suitable materials for the core 2 could be used, for example, a ceramic or a thermosetting plastic. For aerosol-generating articles which are intended to be inductively heated, the core 2 could comprise a susceptor material, such as stainless steel.

[0088] The bead 1 is a single-use aerosol-generating article and comprises a metered-dose of aerosol-forming substrate 4. The metered-dose constitutes an amount of aerosol-forming substrate 4 sufficient for generating an amount of aerosol for only a single puff or inhalation. The aerosol-forming substrate 4 comprises 100 μg of nicotine, which has been found to be an amount of nicotine suitable for only a single puff. During a typical session, a user may take 10 to 12 puffs on an aerosol-generating device and therefore will use 10 to 12 beads 1 and receive approximately 1.0 to 1.2 mg of nicotine. However, a user does not need to use each of the 10 to 12 beads during a single session but can simply take puffs as and when desired to take a metered-dose. In the described embodiment, the aerosol-forming substrate 4 comprises: 20% to 47% cellulose (dry weight basis); 8% carboxymethyl cellulose; 3% fibre; 35% glycerine and 2% nicotine lactate.

[0089] The aerosol-forming substrate 4 is formed as a slurry and coated around the glass core 2 before being cured. The bead 1 is approximately 5 mm in overall diameter with the core 2 having a diameter of around 3 to 3.5 mm and the aerosol-forming substrate 4 having a thickness of approximately 0.75 to 1 mm.

[0090] FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of another aerosol-generating article 10 for use in an aerosol-generating system or device. The aerosol-generating article 10 comprises a length of paper strip 14 which is spooled on to a reel 12. The paper strip 14 acts as an absorbent carrier material which is impregnated with a liquid or gel aerosol-forming substrate (not shown). The paper strip 14 is provided with a series of markings or perforations 16 across its width at regularly spaced apart intervals to define a series of paper sections 18. Each paper section 18 contains an amount of aerosol-forming substrate sufficient for generating an amount of aerosol for only a single puff. In use, a user can tear off one paper section 18 at the next set of markings or perforations 16 and insert the paper section 18 into an aerosol-generating device or system to generate an aerosol for a single puff. The aerosol-forming substrate comprises a nicotine salt and an aerosol-former. The reel 12 comprises a cover (not shown) for covering the reel 12 when not in use to prevent evaporation or degradation of the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0091] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of an aerosol-generating device 100 comprising a housing 102 having a main body portion 102a and a mouthpiece portion 102b. The main body portion 102a comprises a battery 104, which acts a power source, and control circuitry 106 for controlling the operation of the device 100. The mouthpiece portion 102b comprises an air inlet 110 arranged in an upper part of the housing 102 and an air outlet 112 arranged in a mouthpiece 114 at a mouth-end of the mouthpiece portion 102b. An airflow pathway 108 is arranged between the air inlet 110 and the air outlet 112. The airflow pathway is in the form a conduit or passage which passes through the mouthpiece portion 102b. An aerosolisation chamber 116 is arranged at a location along the airflow pathway 108. At least a portion of the airflow pathway 108 passes through the aerosolisation chamber 116. In other words, the aerosolisation chamber 116 is part of the airflow pathway 108.

[0092] In the described embodiment, a first heating element 118 is arranged in an upper part of the aerosolisation chamber 116 and a second heating element 120 is arranged in a lower part of the aerosolisation chamber 116. However, in some embodiments, the aerosolisation chamber could be heated by a single heating element which lines the walls of the aerosolisation chamber. The heating elements 118 and 120 are resistive heating elements and are electrically connected to the battery 104 via the control circuitry 106. The heating elements 118 and 120 are arranged to heat an aerosol-generating article located within the aerosolisation chamber 116. The aerosolisation chamber 116 has an aperture or opening (not shown) so that the aerosolisation chamber can receive an aerosol-generating article. The opening can be closed to contain the aerosol-generating article. FIG. 3 shows a bead 1, such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, located within the aerosolisation chamber. The aerosolisation chamber 116 also comprises a temperature sensor (not shown) for determining the temperature within the aerosolisation chamber 116.

[0093] The aerosol-generating device 100 further comprises a first valve 122 arranged at a point along the airflow pathway 108 upstream of the aerosolisation chamber 116 and a second valve 124 arranged at a point along the airflow pathway 108 downstream of the aerosolisation chamber 116. The valves 122 and 124 are electrically operated and are connected to and can be controlled by the control circuitry 106. The valves 122 and 124 act as a flow controller for selectively controlling the flow of air through the airflow pathway 108, in particular through the aerosolisation chamber 116. When valves 122 and 124 are open, air can flow into and out of the aerosolisation chamber 116 and when valves 122 and 124 are closed air is substantially blocked from flowing into and out of the aerosolisation chamber 116. The valves 122 and 124 are therefore able to isolate the aerosolisation chamber 116 such that the bead 1 can be heated in a closed system, that is aerosol is inhibited from leaking out of the aerosolisation chamber 116 when the valves 122 and 124 are closed.

[0094] A switch 126 is provided to enable a user to indicate to the device 100 when they wish to take a puff. The switch 126 is arranged on an outer upper surface of the housing 102 and is connected to the controlled circuitry 106. When the switch 126 is depressed, a signal is sent to the control circuitry 106 that the user wishes to take a puff. An indicator in the form of light emitting diode (LED) 128 is provided on an outer upper surface of the housing 102 to indicate to a user when aerosol has been generated in the aerosolisation chamber 116 and the device 100 is ready for a puff to be taken.

[0095] FIG. 4A shows a flow chart setting out a method 200a of generating an aerosol from a single use aerosol-generating article as described herein and in which the aerosol-generating article comprises a predetermined amount of an aerosol-forming substrate. The method may be performed by an aerosol-generating system or device as described herein.

[0096] The method starts at step S1, where a user requests a puff. A puff may be requested on demand, for example: [0097] by a user pressing a switch; or by a user activating a mechanism to deliver a pellet into the aerosolisation chamber; or [0098] by detecting a user placing a mouthpiece of the device to their lips, e.g. by using a capacitive sensor located in the mouthpiece; or [0099] by puff detection, i.e. using a flow sensor to detect a user puffing on the device.

[0100] Alternatively, the puff may be requested as part of a planned program, for example, as part of a medical program. In which case, when the scheduled time for a puff is reached, the method may indicate to the user, for example, using a visual or audible alert, and the user can decide whether to validate (or not) the start of the process, for example, by pressing a switch. In the device 100 of FIG. 3, a puff is requested by pressing switch 126.

[0101] The next step S2 is to close the airflow pathway. This substantially blocks air from flowing into and out of the aerosolisation chamber so that aerosol can be generated within the aerosolisation chamber to retain the aerosol until the user takes a puff. In the device 100 of FIG. 3, this is achieved by closing valves 122 and 124.

[0102] The next step S3 is to raise the temperature in the aerosolisation chamber to a predetermined temperature. In this embodiment, the predetermined temperature is the aerosolisation temperature required to aerosolise the aerosol-forming substrate. Preheating the aerosolisation chamber to the aerosolisation temperature allows any variability in the starting temperature of the aerosolisation chamber to be reduced when the aerosol-generating article is inserted. The aerosolisation temperature depends on the type of aerosol-forming substrate being used and also a user's taste preferences and in this embodiment is between 160 and 350° C. inclusive. An aerosol-generating system or device will know that type of aerosol-generating article it has to heat, either because it is adapted to heat a certain type of article or it will be able to determine the type of article which has been inserted into the aerosolisation chamber based on attributes of the article, such as its shape or colour or because a user has input such information, for example, via a user interface (not shown). It will therefore know the type of aerosol-forming substrate comprised in the article, the thickness of the aerosol-forming substrate on the core 2 or a carrier material and the geometry of the aerosol-generating article. The device can therefore determine to what aerosolisation temperature the device is required to heat the aerosol-generating article. Alternatively, a user can control the aerosolisation temperature via a user interface according to their taste preferences.

[0103] In the device 100 of FIG. 3, the temperature sensor (not shown) located within the aerosolisation chamber 116 sends a signal to the control circuitry 106 that the aerosolisation chamber 116 has reached the aerosolisation temperature. The LED 128 may indicate that the aerosolisation chamber 116 has reached the aerosolisation temperature, for example, by flashing or displaying a certain colour. Once the aerosolisation chamber 116 has reached the aerosolisation temperature, it is ready to receive an aerosol-generating article such as bead 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. The device may prevent a bead from being inserted into the aerosolisation chamber until the aerosolisation temperature has been reached.

[0104] Step S3 is not essential to the method 200a of generating an aerosol. Instead of heating the aerosolisation chamber to a predetermined temperature, the method could detect the starting temperature of the aerosolisation chamber, for example, using the temperature sensor of the device 100 of FIG. 1, and account for any deviation from an ideal starting temperature as part of the heating process, i.e. in step S5 discussed below. An algorithm to account for such deviations could be stored in a memory, for example, in a microcontroller forming part of the control circuitry 106 of the device 100 of FIG. 1.

[0105] The next step S4 is to insert one aerosol-generating article into the aerosolisation chamber. Only one aerosol-generating article is inserted at a time and there is only one article in the aerosolisation chamber at any one time to deliver a single metered-dose. Therefore, an article is inserted into the aerosolisation chamber only after, or at the same time as, the previous expended article is evacuated from the aerosolisation chamber. A number of ways of inserting the aerosol-generating article are discussed below.

[0106] The next step S5 is to heat the aerosol-generating article for a predetermined amount of time in order to generate an aerosol. The aerosolisation temperature is already at the aerosolisation temperature. An aerosol-generating device will know that type of aerosol-generating article it has to heat, either because it is adapted to heat a certain type of article or it will be able to determine the type of article which has been inserted into the aerosolisation chamber based on attributes of the article, such as its shape or colour or because a user has input such information, for example, via a user interface (not shown). It will therefore know the type of aerosol-forming substrate comprised in the article, the thickness of the aerosol-forming substrate on the core 2 or a carrier material and the geometry of the aerosol-generating article. The device can therefore determine how long to heat the aerosol-generating article at the aerosolisation temperature to aerosolise the aerosol-forming substrate. Again, a heating algorithm or a look-up table containing heating parameters can be stored in a memory, for example, in a microcontroller forming part of the control circuitry 106 of the device 100 of FIG. 1. The aerosol-generating article is heated such that substantially all the aerosol-forming substrate is aerosolised and so that a user knows how much aerosol and aerosol components they are receiving. Once all the aerosol-forming substrate has been aerosolised, the method has reached a point at which a puff can be taken.

[0107] The next step S6 is to provide an indication that a puff can be taken. By indicating to a user when they can take a puff, variability in the amount of aerosol deliverable to the user may be reduced because a user is prevented from taking a puff whilst the aerosol is still being generated. Indication can be provided by sending a visual or audible signal to the user or via some other signal, for example, haptic feedback. In the device 100 of FIG. 3, the indication is provided by the LED 128, for example, by changing from a flashing state to a continuous state or by changing colour, for example, from amber to green.

[0108] The next step S7 is to detect the start of the puff. The start of the puff could be detected in a number of different ways, for example: [0109] by detecting a switch being pressed following the indication being provided that a puff can be taken; or [0110] by providing a secondary airflow pathway, having a smaller cross-sectional area so as to not disturb the primary airflow pathway flowing through the aerosolisation chamber, and using a flow sensor or puff sensor to detect a flow of air through the secondary airflow pathway caused by a user taking a puff; or [0111] by detecting a user placing a mouthpiece of the device to their lips, e.g. by using a capacitive sensor located in the mouthpiece.

[0112] In the device 100 of FIG. 3, the start of the puff is detected by a user pressing switch 126 following the indication being provided that a puff can be taken.

[0113] The next step S8 is to open the airflow pathway so that the generated aerosol can leave the aerosolisation chamber and a user can puff on the aerosol. In the device 100 of FIG. 3, this is achieved by opening the valves 122 and 124.

[0114] The next step S9 is to determine the end of the puff. The end of a puff can be determined by, for example: [0115] by allowing a certain amount of elapsed time since the start of the puff for the puff to be completed; or [0116] by detecting a loss of a puff sensor signal at a time T1 during a predetermined time period T, which puff sensor signal was activated at the start of the puff, e.g. if T1<T then this would indicate that the user interrupted a puff before it was finished and therefore did not receive the full amount of aerosol but if T1>T then this would indicate that the puff was completed and the method can reset for a new puff; or [0117] by detecting removal of a user's lips from the mouthpiece of device, for example, using a capacitive sensor; or [0118] a combination of the above.

[0119] A puff sensor for detecting the end of a puff can be placed on the primary airflow pathway, i.e. the pathway flowing through the aerosolisation chamber, because this will be open whilst the puff is being taken. The puff sensor could monitor the flow of air drawn through the airflow pathway during a puff and any variation can be evaluated to determine whether the quantity of air drawn through the aerosolisation chamber during a puff was sufficient to take all the aerosol in the aerosolisation chamber. The amount of aerosol generated and any variation in the amount of aerosol taken can be stored in a memory, for example, in a memory of a microcontroller forming part of the control circuitry 106 of the device 100 of FIG. 3, and provide information about the amount of aerosol and aerosol components received by a user. The final step S10 in the method 200a is to evacuate the used aerosol-generating article and any remaining air or aerosol in the aerosolisation chamber. This could be achieved by, for example: [0120] by providing an evacuation mechanism such as a piston for pushing the aerosol-generating article out of the device or system or toward a reservoir of used articles. This would also evacuate any remaining aerosol in the aerosolisation chamber; or [0121] by making the evacuation of the aerosol-generating article part of the step of inserting a new article such that the evacuation is carried out automatically, e.g. the mechanism for inserting a new article could simultaneously evacuate a used article from the aerosolisation chamber as well as expel any remaining aerosol.

[0122] Any remaining aerosol in the aerosolisation chamber could be expelled via the main airflow pathway or via a dedicated evacuation pathway. Any aerosol remaining in the aerosolisation chamber following a puff will cool and condense or its properties otherwise change undesirably. Therefore having a dedicated evacuation pathway could be useful to prevent the remaining aerosol contaminating the main airflow pathway.

[0123] FIG. 4B shows a flow chart setting out another method 200b of generating an aerosol from a single use aerosol-generating article as described herein and in which the aerosol-generating article comprises a predetermined amount of an aerosol-forming substrate. Again, the method may be performed by an aerosol-generating system or device as described herein.

[0124] In FIG. 4B, method steps S1, S2, S4 and S5 to S10 of method 200b are identical to the corresponding method steps set out in method 200a of FIG. 4A.

[0125] Method step S3 of method 200b involves raising the temperature in the aerosolisation chamber to a first predetermined temperature. The first predetermined temperature is lower than an aerosolisation temperature used to aerosolise the aerosol-forming substrate. The first predetermined temperature is higher than a maximum ambient temperature typically encountered. The predetermined temperature in the described embodiment is approximately 90° C., although this can be varied as required. The first predetermined temperature is also generally higher than the temperature the aerosolisation chamber or heating elements reduce to following a heating cycle when they are not being supplied with power, i.e. due to heat loss between puffs. This allows any variability in the starting temperature of the aerosolisation chamber to be reduced when the aerosol-generating article is inserted. In the device 100 of FIG. 3, the temperature sensor (not shown) located within the aerosolisation chamber 116 sends a signal to the control circuitry 106 that the aerosolisation chamber 116 has reached the first predetermined temperature. The LED 128 may indicate that the aerosolisation chamber 116 has reached the first predetermined temperature, for example, by flashing or displaying a certain colour. Once the aerosolisation chamber 116 has reached the predetermined temperature, it is ready to receive an aerosol-generating article such as bead 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. The device may prevent a bead from being inserted into the aerosolisation chamber until the first predetermined temperature is reached.

[0126] In step S4 of method 200b an aerosol-generating article is inserted into the aerosolisation chamber in the same way as in method 200a.

[0127] Method 200b of FIG. 4B then comprises an additional step compared to method 200a of FIG. 4A, that is step S4a which involves detecting the aerosol-generating article within the aerosolisation chamber. This may be done with a sensor, for example, a light sensor or micro-switch which is triggered as the aerosol-generating article is inserted.

[0128] Method 200b of FIG. 4B then comprises a further additional step S4b of raising the temperature within the aerosolisation chamber to a second predetermined temperature. The second predetermined temperature is the aerosolisation temperature required to aerosolise the aerosol-forming substrate. The determination of the aerosolisation temperature in method 200b is the same as for method 200a.

[0129] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the aerosolisation chamber 116 of the device 100 of FIG. 3. As in FIG. 3, an aerosol-generating article in the form the substantially spherical bead 1 of FIG. 1 is located in the aerosolisation chamber 116 between upper and lower heating elements 118 and 120. The aerosolisation chamber 116 is sized to received only one bead 1. Airflow pathway 108 enters the aerosolisation chamber 116 at the left of FIG. 5 and exits at the aerosolisation chamber 116 at the right of FIG. 5. The cross-sectional area of the bead 1 in a plane perpendicular to the direction of airflow through airflow pathway 108 is less than the cross-sectional area of the aerosolisation chamber 116 such that air can flow around the bead 1 and through the aerosolisation chamber 116. The smaller cross-sectional area of the bead 1 also allows the bead 1 to move with the aerosolisation chamber 116. Dashed arrows 140 in FIG. 5 schematically show an example airflow through the airflow pathway 108 and aerosolisation chamber 116. Upon entering the aerosolisation chamber 116 via the airflow pathway, the airflow is diverted around the bead 1 before exiting the aerosolisation chamber 116 via the airflow pathway 108 along substantially the same line as it entered. The flow of air around the bead 1 causes the bead to move with the aerosolisation chamber 116. This creates a rattling sound which provides an audible indication to a user that air is flowing through the aerosolisation chamber. The movement of the bead 1 within the aerosolisation chamber 116 also helps to entrain the generated aerosol within the airflow 140.

[0130] As shown in FIG. 5, the cross-sectional area of the airflow pathway 108 in a plane perpendicular to the direction of airflow through airflow pathway 108 is less than the cross-sectional area of the bead 1. The height or diameter of the airflow pathway 108 is less than the diameter of the bead 1 and the diameter of the core 2 of the bead 1. The reduced diameter of the airflow pathway 108 therefore acts as a guard which prevents the bead 1 from leaving the aerosolisation chamber 1 via the airflow pathway 108 both in the preheated and post-heated states of the bead 1. The bead 1 and core 2 simply will not fit into the airflow pathway 108. However, other forms of suitable guard may be used, for example, a physical member, such as a mesh, may be placed across at least a portion of the entrance and exit of the airflow pathway 108.

[0131] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of the device 100 of FIG. 3. The device 100 comprises an aperture 150 for delivering an aerosol-generating article into the aerosolisation chamber 116. The aperture 150 defines the opening of a conduit (not shown) which passes from aperture 150 to a similar aperture (not shown) in a side wall of the aerosolisation chamber 116. The conduit allows communication between an exterior of the device 100 and the interior of the aerosolisation chamber 116 so that an aerosol-generating article can be inserted into the aerosolisation chamber 116. The aperture 150 is circumscribed by a recessed rim 152 which is adapted to engage the end of an insertion device, such as the insertion pen shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C. The aperture 150 is closed by a slidable closure 154 which can move back and forth, as denoted by the double ended arrow in FIG. 6, between a closed position in which it closes aperture 150 and an open position in which the aperture 150 is available for inserting an aerosol-generating article. The closure 154 is biased towards the closed position by a spring (not shown). A similar aperture and closure (not shown) is provided on the opposing side of the device for allowing an aerosol-generating article to be removed from the aerosolisation chamber 116. When aerosol-generating article such as the bead 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is inserted through aperture 150, a used bead already in the aerosolisation chamber 116 would be pushed out of the opposing aperture such that only one bead can be present within the aerosolisation chamber 116 at any one time.

[0132] FIG. 7A shows a schematic side view of a device 300 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The features and principle of operation of the device 300 of FIG. 7A are the same as that of the device 100 of FIG. 3 with the exception that the device 300 has a drawer mechanism 360, which can extend from the housing 302 of the device 300 for delivering an aerosol-generating article into the aerosolisation chamber 316.

[0133] FIGS. 7B and 7C are enlarged schematic cross-sectional views taken along the line A-A in FIG. 7A and show the drawer mechanism 360 in greater detail. FIG. 7B shows the drawer mechanism 360 in an open configuration. The drawer mechanism 360 comprises a drawer 362 having a base 362a and a drawer wall 362b extending substantially transversely to the base 362a at an outer end of the drawer 362. The drawer wall 362b forms part of the housing 302 of the device 300 and conforms to the curved shape of the housing 302. The drawer wall 362b closes an aperture 350 formed in the side of the housing 302 when the drawer mechanism 360 is in the closed configuration (see FIG. 7C). The drawer base 362a slidably engages a pair of rails 364 located on each side of the aerosolisation chamber 316 so that the drawer 362 can slide into and out of the device 300. First 366 and second 368 uprights extend from the drawer base 362a and define between them a receiving zone 370 for receiving an aerosol-generating article. FIG. 7B shows a bead 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1 received in the receiving zone 370. The first 366 and second 368 uprights form part of the side walls of the aerosolisation chamber 316 and respectively close openings 372 and 374 formed in the side walls of the aerosolisation chamber 316 when the drawing mechanism 360 is in the closed configuration (see FIG. 7C) to prevent aerosol escaping from the aerosolisation chamber 316 during heating. The uprights 366 and 368 are joined by a pair of side walls (not shown) to define the lateral edges of the receiving zone and to prevent the bead 1 from rolling out from between the uprights 366, 368 when the drawer is in the open configuration. The side walls of the receiving zone 370 are inset from the sides of the drawer base 362a which engages the rails 364 to prevent them from interfering with the rails when the drawer 362 slides into the device 300.

[0134] FIG. 7C shows the drawer mechanism 360 in the closed configuration. In the closed configuration, drawer wall 362b closes aperture 350 formed in housing 302 of the device 300 and uprights 366 and 368 respectively close apertures 372 and 374 formed in the side walls of the aerosolisation chamber 316. An aerosol-generating bead 1 is located within the aerosolisation chamber 316 and can be heated. Once the bead 1 has been heated the drawer mechanism 360 can be returned to the open configuration to remove the used bead 1. The drawer 362 has a push to open/push to close spring latch mechanism (not shown). A user can open the drawer 362 by pushing the drawer wall 362b inwardly a small distance to release the latch cause the drawer to spring open under the action of the spring. The drawer 362 can be closed by pushing the drawer wall 362 a small distance inward of the housing 302 to reengage the latch such that the drawer 362 is retained in the closed configuration under the action of the spring.

[0135] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blister pack 400 for storing a plurality of aerosol-generating articles for use in an aerosol-generating system or device. The blister pack 400 acts a storage unit for the articles. The blister pack 400 comprises a polymer layer 478 having a plurality of blisters or pockets 480 extending from a first surface 478a of the polymer layer 478. The blisters 480 can be used for storing aerosol-generating articles (not shown). A second opposing surface (not shown) of the polymer layer 478 is covered by a frangible laminate layer (not shown) which is hermetically sealed to the second surface to seal the articles with the blisters 480. In use, a user manually removes an aerosol-generating article from the blister pack 400 by rupturing the frangible laminate layer and then manually inserts the article into an aerosol-generating device, for example, via the aperture 150 of device 100 of FIG. 1 or via the drawer mechanism 360 of the device 300 of FIGS. 7A to 7C.

[0136] FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show schematic cross-sectional side views of an injector-type dispenser 500 or pen for storing and delivering aerosol-generating articles for use in an aerosol-generating system or with a device. The figures respectively show the dispenser 500 in three different stages of operation respectively.

[0137] The dispenser comprises a housing 582 containing a rod 583, a carriage 584 and two springs 585. Within the housing 582 there is a first storage zone 586 for storing a plurality of aerosol-generating beads 1 in axial alignment. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C, the dispenser 500 also comprises within the housing 582 a second storage zone 587 also for storing a plurality of aerosol-generating beads 1 in axial alignment. The dispenser 500 comprises an exit orifice 588 at a lower dispensing end of the housing 582. The exit orifice 588 is circumscribed by a protruding rim 594 which is adapted to engage an aperture, or in particular a recessed aperture rim, of an aerosol-generating device, for example, the aperture 150 or recess rim 152 of device 100 of FIG. 6. The dispenser 500 further comprises a loading zone 589 disposed between the two storage zones 586 and 587 and the exit orifice 588. The loading zone 589 is sized to accommodate a single aerosol-generating bead 1. The dispenser 500 further comprises first 591 and second 592 hard stops located at either side of a lower end of the loading zone 589.

[0138] The springs bias the carriage 584 towards the aerosol-generating beads 1 stored in the first 586 and 587 storage zones. The carriage 584 further comprises a first end face 595 and a second end face 597 which define the rear end of the first 586 and second 587 storage zones respectively. The first end face 595 is set further forwards, i.e. further towards the exit orifice 588, than the second end face 597. The distance in the longitudinal direction between the first 595 and the second 597 end faces is half the diameter of a single aerosol-generating bead 1.

[0139] The rod 583 can reciprocate along and through the central longitudinal axis of the housing 582 and through a central longitudinally extending passage 593 formed through the carriage 584. At its dispensing end, the rod 583 has an engagement face 596 for engaging an aerosol-generating bead 1, which engagement face 596 protrudes laterally such that it is wider than the main stem of the rod 583. The rod 583 is actuated by a button 590 located at an actuation end of the rod 583, i.e. at the end opposite to the engagement face 596. Either side of the rod 583 has a toothed section (not shown) which engages a respective rod engagement mechanism formed on each of the corresponding inside surfaces of the passage 593. The inner surface of the housing 582 also has a toothed section facing either side of the carriage 584 which engages a respective housing engagement mechanism on either side of the carriage 584.

[0140] In FIG. 9A, each storage zone 586 and 587 contains four axially aligned aerosol-generating beads 1 and the loading zone 589 contains a single aerosol-generating bead 1. At the stage shown in FIG. 9A, the button 590 has started to be depressed and the rod 583 has begun to advance towards the exit orifice 588. At this stage, the rod engagement mechanism of the carriage 584 engages with the toothed sections of the rod 583. As a result, the carriage 584 also advances towards the exit orifice 588. As it advances, the cartridge 584 pushes the rows of axially aligned aerosol-generating beads 1 in both the first and second storage zones 586 and 587 towards the exit orifice 588.

[0141] In FIG. 9B, the carriage 584 is no longer able to advance as the aerosol-generating beads 1 in the first storage zone 586 are pushed against the first hard stop 591 by the first end face 595 of the carriage 584. At this point, the rod engagement mechanism disengaged and the rod 583 continued to advance independently of the carriage 584 has pushed the aerosol-generating bead 1, which was disposed in the loading zone 589 in FIG. 9A, through the exit orifice 588. The dispensing end of the rod 583 has passed though the exit orifice 588 and continues to push the aerosol-generating bead 1 until the rod reaches the fully extended position. At this point the aerosol-generating bead 1 would be within the aerosolisation chamber of an aerosol-generating device.

[0142] In FIG. 9C the rod 583 has been moved back to the fully retracted position. The housing engagement mechanism of the carriage 584 prevents the carriage 584 moving rearwards with the rod 583. As the engagement face 596 of the rod 583 passed the first 586 and second 587 storage zones, the protrusions at the engagement face 596 pushed the row of aligned aerosol-generating beads 1 in the second storage zone 587 rearwards towards the second end face 597 of the carriage 584. The protrusions at the engagement face 596 of the rod 583 also acted on the row of aligned aerosol-generating beads 1 in the first storage zone 586, however, since the first end face 595 of the carriage 584 is set further forwards than the second end face 597 of the carriage 584, there is no space into which the aerosol-generating beads 1 may move. As a result, the engagement face 596 of the rod 583 moved rearwards into the first storage zone 586 while the aerosol-generating beads 1 remain in place such that the engagement face 596 of the rod 583 moved rearward past the furthest forward aerosol-generating bead 1 in the first storage zone 586, which falls into the loading zone 589. There are now four axially aligned the aerosol-generating beads 1 in the second storage zone 587, three axially aligned the aerosol-generating beads 1 in the first storage zone 586 and the single the aerosol-generating bead 1 in the loading zone 589 is ready to be dispensed.

[0143] FIG. 10 shows a plan cross-sectional view of a device 600 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. The features and principle of operation of the device 600 of FIG. 10 are the same as that of the devices 100 and 300 of FIGS. 3 and 7A respectively with the exception that the device 600 has an integral first reservoir 642 and a delivery mechanism 660 for respectively storing a plurality of aerosol-generating beads 1 and delivering an aerosol-generating bead 1 to the aerosolisation chamber 616 of the device 600. The device 600 also has an integral second reservoir 644 for storing used aerosol-generating beads 1b which have been ejected from the aerosolisation chamber 616.

[0144] The first reservoir 642 is located within the housing 602 of the device 600 and extends longitudinally along one side of the device 600. The delivery mechanism 660 includes a slider 661 which is slidably engaged in a longitudinal groove (not shown) formed in the housing 602, which groove extends the length of the first reservoir 642. The slider 661 has a pusher part 663 which extends into the first reservoir 642 via the longitudinal groove and is arranged to engage the rearmost aerosol-generating bead 1 stored in the first reservoir 642. The portion of the pusher part 663 which extends into the first reservoir 642 is wider than the longitudinal groove to retain the pusher part 663 within the first reservoir 642.

[0145] To insert an aerosol-generating bead 1 into the aerosolisation chamber 616, a user manually pushes the slider 661 forward, i.e. towards the mouthpiece 614. The pusher part 663 is brought into engagement with the rearmost aerosol-generating bead 1 and the pushing force is transmitted along the plurality of beads to the foremost bead, i.e. the bead closest to the aerosolisation chamber 616. An aperture 674 is formed in the side wall of the aerosolisation chamber 616 adjacent the first reservoir 642 via which an aerosol-generating bead 1 may be inserted into the aerosolisation chamber 616. The aperture 674 is closeable by an inwardly opening door 668 hingedly attached to a side of the aperture 674. The door 668 is resiliently biased towards its closed configuration by a spring (not shown). If the force applied by a user to the slider 661 is sufficient to overcome the resilient force of the spring closing the door 668, the foremost aerosol-generating bead 1 will be pushed into the aerosolisation chamber 616. Once a bead 1 has been inserted into the aerosolisation chamber 616, the door 668 closes behind it under the action of the spring to prevent aerosol from escaping from the aerosolisation chamber 616. The front end wall of the first reservoir 642 is angled to direct the bead 1 into the aerosolisation chamber 616.

[0146] Following heating, a used bead 1b located within the aerosolisation chamber 616 remains in the aerosolisation chamber until a user is ready to insert the next bead 1. At which point, the user repeats the above-described process for inserting a bead 1. The action of inserting a new bead into the aerosolisation chamber 616 forces the used bead out of the aerosolisation chamber 616 via aperture 672 which is formed in an opposing side wall of the aerosolisation chamber 616 to aperture 674. Aperture 672 is closable by an outwardly opening door 666 hingedly attached to a side of the aperture 672. The door 666 is also resiliently biased towards its closed configuration by a spring (not shown). Once a bead has been ejected from the aerosolisation chamber 616, the door 666 closes behind it under the action of the spring to prevent aerosol from escaping from the aerosolisation chamber 616. Ejected beads 1b are stored in the second reservoir 644 which is also located within the housing 602 of the device 600 and extends longitudinally along an opposing side of the device 600 to the first reservoir 642. A closable opening (not shown) is provided in the second reservoir 644 to allow a user to empty the second reservoir once it is full of used beads 1b.