DISPENSING MECHANISM

Abstract

A dispensing mechanism for an aerosol-generating article is provided, including an expandable buffering reservoir with an inlet and an outlet; a dispensing reservoir of constant volume with an inlet and an outlet; an inlet valve connected to the inlet of the expandable buffering reservoir and being configured to be connected to a liquid storage portion filled with pressurized liquid such that liquid can only flow from the liquid storage portion to the expandable buffering reservoir; an outlet valve connecting the outlet of the expandable buffering reservoir to the inlet of the dispensing reservoir such that the liquid can only flow from the expandable buffering reservoir to the dispensing reservoir; and a volume modifier configured to modify a volume of the expandable buffering reservoir.

Claims

1.-19. (canceled)

20. A dispensing mechanism for an aerosol-generating article, comprising: an expandable buffering reservoir with an inlet and an outlet; a dispensing reservoir of constant volume with an inlet and an outlet; an inlet valve connected to the inlet of the expandable buffering reservoir and being configured to be connected to a liquid storage portion filled with pressurized liquid such that liquid can only flow from the liquid storage portion to the expandable buffering reservoir; an outlet valve connecting the outlet of the expandable buffering reservoir to the inlet of the dispensing reservoir such that the liquid can only flow from the expandable buffering reservoir to the dispensing reservoir; and a volume modifier configured to modify a volume of the expandable buffering reservoir, wherein expanding a current volume of the expandable buffering reservoir to an expanded volume causes a drawing of liquid from the liquid storage portion to the expandable buffering reservoir until the expanded volume of the expandable buffering reservoir is filled up with the liquid, wherein compressing the expanded volume of the expandable buffering reservoir causes an expelling of the liquid from the expandable buffering reservoir to the dispensing reservoir until the dispensing reservoir is filled up with the liquid, and wherein the dispensing reservoir is configured to release a content of the liquid during one puff of a user.

21. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, wherein the expandable buffering reservoir has a minimum volume that is expandable up to a maximum volume, and wherein the expandable buffering reservoir and the dispensing reservoir are configured such that a difference between the maximum volume and the minimum volume of the expandable buffering reservoir is greater than or equal to the constant volume of the dispensing reservoir.

22. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, further comprising a biasing member configured to apply a compressive force onto the volume modifier such that the expanded volume of the expandable buffering reservoir is compressed.

23. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, further comprising a dispenser connected to the outlet of the dispensing reservoir, wherein the dispenser is configured to open when mechanically pressed and otherwise to stay closed.

24. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, wherein the volume modifier comprises a piston configured to define, together with a housing in which the dispensing mechanism is arranged, a moving chamber, and wherein the expandable buffering reservoir is coupled to one side of the piston and arranged in the moving chamber such that moving the piston longitudinally relative to the housing causes modifying the volume of the expandable buffering reservoir.

25. The dispensing mechanism of claim 24, wherein the dispensing reservoir is coupled to another side of the piston opposite to the moving chamber, causing the dispensing reservoir to be moved together with the piston longitudinally in the housing.

26. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, wherein the dispensing reservoir comprises a deformable opening configured as a flexible baby bottle teat valve or as a flexible duckbill valve.

27. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, wherein the dispensing reservoir is configured to be deformable.

28. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, wherein the dispensing reservoir is made from silicon.

29. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, wherein the dispensing reservoir has a volume of 0.4 microliters to 0.5 microliters.

30. The dispensing mechanism of claim 24, wherein the piston comprises the outlet valve connecting the outlet of the expandable buffering reservoir to the inlet of the dispensing reservoir.

31. The dispensing mechanism of claim 22, wherein the wherein the volume modifier comprises a piston, and wherein the biasing member is a compression spring attached to the piston.

32. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, wherein the expandable buffering reservoir is accordion-shaped, and wherein modifying a volume of the expandable buffering reservoir comprises adjusting a length of the expandable buffering reservoir.

33. The dispensing mechanism of claim 20, further comprising a chained arrangement of one or more expandable drawing reservoirs, wherein the one or more expandable drawing reservoirs are arranged between the expandable buffering reservoir and the dispensing reservoir.

34. The dispensing mechanism of claim 33, wherein each of the one or more expandable drawing reservoirs is connected to a neighboring reservoir by a one-way valve in such a way that the liquid only flows from the expandable buffering reservoir to the dispensing reservoir.

35. An aerosol-generating article, comprising: a liquid storage portion configured to store pressurized liquid; a vaporizer configured to vaporize liquid; a dispensing mechanism connecting the liquid storage portion to the vaporizer, the dispensing mechanism comprising: an expandable buffering reservoir with an inlet and an outlet; a dispensing reservoir of constant volume with an inlet and an outlet; an inlet valve connected to the inlet of the expandable buffering reservoir and being configured to be connected to the liquid storage portion filled with pressurized liquid such that liquid can only flow from the liquid storage portion to the expandable buffering reservoir; an outlet valve connecting the outlet of the expandable buffering reservoir to the inlet of the dispensing reservoir such that the liquid can only flow from the expandable buffering reservoir to the dispensing reservoir; and a volume modifier configured to modify a volume of the expandable buffering reservoir, wherein expanding a current volume of the expandable buffering reservoir to an expanded volume causes a drawing of liquid from the liquid storage portion to the expandable buffering reservoir until the expanded volume of the expandable buffering reservoir is filled up with the liquid, wherein compressing the expanded volume of the expandable buffering reservoir causes an expelling of the liquid from the expandable buffering reservoir to the dispensing reservoir until the dispensing reservoir is filled up with the liquid, and wherein the dispensing reservoir is configured to release a content of the liquid during one puff of a user; and a housing having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, wherein the vaporizer is further configured to receive the liquid from the outlet of the dispensing reservoir.

36. The aerosol-generating article of claim 35, wherein the volume modifier is further configured to expand the current volume of the expandable buffering reservoir to the expanded volume upon the user drawing air into the housing.

37. The aerosol-generating article of claim 36, wherein the housing comprises at least one housing stop configured to press or squeeze a dispenser connected to the outlet of the dispensing reservoir when the dispensing reservoir moves longitudinally relative to the housing towards the at least one housing stop upon the volume modifier expanding the volume of the expandable buffering reservoir.

38. An aerosol-generating system, comprising: an aerosol-generating article, comprising: a liquid storage portion configured to store pressurized liquid; a vaporizer configured to vaporize liquid; a dispensing mechanism connecting the liquid storage portion to the vaporizer, the dispensing mechanism comprising: an expandable buffering reservoir with an inlet and an outlet; a dispensing reservoir of constant volume with an inlet and an outlet; an inlet valve connected to the inlet of the expandable buffering reservoir and being configured to be connected to the liquid storage portion filled with pressurized liquid such that liquid can only flow from the liquid storage portion to the expandable buffering reservoir; an outlet valve connecting the outlet of the expandable buffering reservoir to the inlet of the dispensing reservoir such that the liquid can only flow from the expandable buffering reservoir to the dispensing reservoir; and a volume modifier configured to modify a volume of the expandable buffering reservoir, wherein expanding a current volume of the expandable buffering reservoir to an expanded volume causes a drawing of liquid from the liquid storage portion to the expandable buffering reservoir until the expanded volume of the expandable buffering reservoir is filled up with the liquid, wherein compressing the expanded volume of the expandable buffering reservoir causes an expelling of the liquid from the expandable buffering reservoir to the dispensing reservoir until the dispensing reservoir is filled up with the liquid, and wherein the dispensing reservoir is configured to release a content of the liquid during one puff of a user; and a housing having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, wherein the vaporizer is further configured to receive the liquid from the outlet of the dispensing reservoir; and a mouthpiece configured to deliver vaporized liquid from the vaporizer to the user that draws into the mouthpiece.

Description

[0044] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating article with a dispensing mechanism according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating article with a dispensing mechanism according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device with power supply, electronics, and a dispensing mechanism according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0048] FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device with power supply, electronics, and a dispensing mechanism according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows an aerosol-generating device embodied as an e-cigarette according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The e-cigarette comprises an expandable buffering reservoir 16 of accordion shape attached to a volume modifier 4. The volume modifier 4 is embodied as a moving chamber in which the expandable buffering reservoir 16 is located. The volume modifier 4 is movable along the longitudinal axis of the e-cigarette. A biasing member 5 embodied as a compression spring is arranged between housing stops 12 and the volume modifier 4 to hold the volume modifier 4 in an initial position away from the housing stops 12. The expandable buffering reservoir 16 is connected with one-way valves 18, 8, with at one end a liquid storage portion 6 embodied as an e-liquid cartridge and at the other end a dispensing reservoir 2 with an opening, being able to move according to the moving of the moving chamber.

[0050] When a user draws air into the e-cigarette with a drawing force that exceeds the compression force of the biasing member 5, the air flow from the air inlet 9 to the air outlet 10 causes a moving of the volume modifier 4 towards the housing stops 12. Due to this movement, also the dispensing reservoir 2 is moved towards the housing stops 12, thereby compressing the biasing member 5. The opening of the dispensing reservoir 2 is pressed against the housing stops 12. Due to the mechanically squeezing of the opening of the dispensing reservoir 2 against the housing stops 12, the dispensing reservoir 2 releases its content on a vaporiser 13, directly or indirectly through a host material. The vaporiser 13 functions as a heat source for vaporising the released liquid. Simultaneously, due to the movement of the volume modifier 4 towards the housing stops 12, the length of the accordion-shaped expandable buffering reservoir 3 extends, and therefore increases its volume, which draws e-liquid from the liquid storage portion 6 via the one-way valve 8.

[0051] Once the user stops drawing air, the biasing member 5 pushes back the volume modifier 4 to its initial position. By doing so, the length, and therefore also the volume, of the accordion-shaped expandable buffering reservoir 3 decreases, forcing the expandable buffering reservoir 3 to expel its extra e-liquid drawn previously from the liquid storage portion 6 into the dispensing reservoir 2 via the one-way valve 7, filling anew the dispensing reservoir 2. Due to this movement, also the dispensing reservoir 2 moves away from the housing stops 12 so that the opening of the dispensing reservoir 2 is closed.

[0052] In this embodiment, the quantity of e-liquid that is released per puff on the vaporiser 13 is approximately equal to the quantity of e-liquid released from the dispensing reservoir 2. The quantity of e-liquid, and therefore of nicotine, may be accurately determined in advance, as well as the number of puffs that can be made per e-liquid cartridge. The number of puffs per e-liquid cartridge is approximately equal to the volume of the liquid storage portion 6 divided by the volume of the dispensing reservoir 2.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows an aerosol-generating device embodied as an e-cigarette according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The e-cigarette comprises an expandable buffering reservoir 16 of accordion shape attached to a volume modifier 4. The volume modifier 4 is embodied as a moving chamber in which the expandable buffering reservoir 16 is located. The volume modifier 4 is movable along the longitudinal axis of the e-cigarette. A biasing member 5 embodied as a compression spring is arranged between housing stops 12 and the volume modifier 4 to hold the volume modifier 4 in an initial position away from the housing stops 12. The expandable buffering reservoir 16 connected with one-way valves 18, 17, with at one end a liquid storage portion 6 embodied as an e-liquid cartridge and at the other end an expandable drawing reservoir 3 of accordion shape. The expandable drawing reservoir 3 is connected with one-way valves 17, 7, with at one end the expandable buffering reservoir 16 and at the other end a dispensing reservoir 2 with an opening, being able to move according to the moving of the moving chamber.

[0054] When a user draws air into the e-cigarette with a drawing force that exceeds the compression force of the biasing member 5, the air flow from the air inlet 9 to the air outlet 10 causes of a moving of the volume modifier 4 towards the vaporiser 13, thereby compressing the biasing member 5. The movement of the volume modifier 4 also moves the expandable drawing reservoir 3 and the dispensing reservoir 2 towards the housing stops 12. The dispensing reservoir 2 is then blocked by and its opening pressed against the housing stops 12. The opening of the dispensing reservoir 2 is pressed against the housing stops 12. Due to the mechanically squeezing of the opening of the dispensing reservoir 2 against the housing stops 12, the dispensing reservoir 2 releases its content on a vaporiser 13, directly or indirectly through a host material. The vaporiser 13 functions as a heat source for vaporising the released liquid. The expandable drawing reservoir 3, pressed by the moving chamber 4 and blocked by the dispensing reservoir 2, is compressed, decreasing its length, and therefore its volume, which presses its e-liquid content out of it, towards the dispensing reservoir 2 and the housing stops 12, via the one-way valve 7. Simultaneously, the length of the expandable buffering reservoir 16 extends, and therefore does its volume, which draws e-liquid from the liquid storage portion 6 via the one-way valve 18, refilling the expandable buffering reservoir 16. In this embodiment, the expandable drawing reservoir 3 will be compressed as long as the user draws air, and its content will flow into the dispensing reservoir 2 and then, due to the fact that the opening of the dispensing reservoir 2 is still open, to the vaporiser 13.

[0055] Once the user stops drawing air, the spring 5 pushes back the volume modifier 4 in its initial position. By doing so, the length, and therefore the volume, of the expandable drawing reservoir 3 increases, drawing e-liquid from the expandable buffering reservoir 16 which in turn is compressed by the action of the biasing member 5, making the expandable buffering reservoir 16 to expel e-liquid to the expandable drawing reservoir 3.

[0056] In this embodiment, the quantity of e-liquid that is released on the vaporiser 13 depends on the duration of the air drawn by the user, but has a maximum quantity which is the volume of the dispensing reservoir 2 added to the volume of the expandable drawing reservoir 3. This embodiment allows the user to easily adjust the amount of e-liquid to be vaporised per puff. The more the user draws on the e-cigarette, the bigger the puff, while at the same time, setting a fully determined maximum quantity of e-liquid, and thus a maximum amount of nicotine is vaporised per puff.

[0057] FIG. 3A shows an aerosol-generating device embodied as an e-cigarette with power supply, electronics, and a dispensing mechanism according to FIG. 1.

[0058] FIG. 3B shows an aerosol-generating device embodied as an e-cigarette with power supply, electronics, and a dispensing mechanism according to FIG. 2.

[0059] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific examples of dispensing mechanisms and aerosol-generating articles, devices, and systems have been described for the purposes of illustration, but various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit of the present disclosure. The features of embodiments described herein may be used in combination with features of other embodiments. Embodiments described herein may be implemented without all of the features ascribed to them herein. Such variations on described embodiments that would be apparent to the skilled person, including variations that are based on a mixing of features from different embodiments, are within the scope of this invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0060] 1 housing [0061] 2 dispensing reservoir [0062] 3 expandable drawing reservoir [0063] 4 volume modifier [0064] 5 biasing member [0065] 6 liquid storage portion [0066] 7 one-way valve between drawing reservoir 3 and dispensing reservoir 2 [0067] 8 one-way valve between buffering reservoir 16 and dispensing reservoir 2 [0068] 9 air inlet [0069] 10 air outlet [0070] 11 opening [0071] 12 housing stops [0072] 13 vaporiser [0073] 14 liquid [0074] 15 power supply and electric circuitry [0075] 16 expandable buffering reservoir [0076] 17 one-way valve between buffering reservoir 16 and drawing reservoir 3 [0077] 18 one-way valve between cartridge 6 and buffering reservoir 16