Abstract: The invention relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising a main unit and a replaceable mouthpiece. The main unit comprises a heating element for heating an aerosol-forming substrate. The mouthpiece comprising an outlet channel. The mouthpiece and the main unit have corresponding structural components with complementary geometrical shapes. When the mouthpiece is connected to the main unit, the corresponding structural components of the mouthpiece and the main unit define an inlet channel. The inlet channel and the outlet channel form an airflow path from an air inlet to an air outlet via the heating element.

Abstract: A cartridge for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the cartridge including: a cover defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, the inlet opening and the outlet opening being located on opposite ends of the cover; an aerosol-forming substrate within the chamber of the housing; and a heater embedded in the housing, the heater being at least partially positioned within the aerosol-forming substrate in the chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casting apparatus (100) to cast a sheet of a material containing alkaloids, the casting apparatus including: •a casting box (10) apt to contain a slurry (18) to be cast to form the sheet; •a slurry supply element (5) defining a feeding channel (15) apt to introduce the slurry into the casting box in a supply direction; •path diverting fins (19, 20) positioned within the feeding channel, the path diverting fins being apt to come into contact with the slurry inside the feeding channel; •a movable support (2); and •a casting blade (1) apt to cast the slurry contained in the casting box onto the movable support so as to form the cast sheet. The invention relates also to a method to cast a sheet of a material containing alkaloids.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating device includes a main housing having a cavity, a closure body engageable with the main housing to enclose a cartridge in the cavity, and a heater assembly. The heater assembly includes an elongate piercing assembly configured to extend into the open-ended passage of the cartridge and one or more electric heaters. The piercing assembly has a first hollow shaft portion connected to the main housing and a second hollow shaft portion connected to the closure body. The first and second hollow shaft portions have first and second piercing surfaces configured to breakthrough first and second frangible seals when the cartridge is enclosed in the cavity.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating device is configured for use with a consumable cartridge including a storage portion containing an aerosol-forming substrate and having a fluid permeable internal surface surrounding an open-ended passage extending through the cartridge. The device includes a housing having a cavity for receiving the cartridge and a heater assembly positioned in the cavity. The heater assembly includes an electrically conductive hollow shaft portion connected to the housing and an electric heater positioned along the hollow shaft portion and having at least one heating element for heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The hollow shaft portion defines an airflow passage forming part of an airflow pathway through the device and is arranged to extend into the open-ended passage of the cartridge. The hollow shaft portion comprises a plurality of apertures, and the heating element is one or more narrow regions of the hollow shaft portion between adjacent apertures.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating device includes a storage portion configured to contain an aerosol-forming substrate and having a fluid permeable internal surface surrounding an open-ended passage extending through the cartridge. The device includes a housing having a cavity for receiving the cartridge, and a heater assembly positioned in the cavity. The heater assembly includes an elongate support member connected to the housing and arranged to extend into the open-ended passage of a cartridge inserted in the cavity. The heater assembly also includes a plurality of electric heaters fixed to and spaced along the length of the elongate support member.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, a housing defining a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article, at least one electrical heater within the cavity, and/or a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply to the at least one electrical heater. The controller is configured to activate the at least one electrical heater for a total time period when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity. The aerosol-generating device may also comprise a segmented visual feedback device, wherein a plurality of segments of the segmented visual feedback device each correspond to a portion of the total time period. Each of the plurality of segments is configured to provide visual feedback when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity and when the corresponding portion of the total time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may include a housing having flexible portion along its length. The flexible portion is configured to transition between a relaxed or unloaded configuration and a flexed or deflected configuration. A flexible heating element and mouthpiece may also be disposed in the housing. When the housing is in a relaxed or unloaded configuration, the flexible heating element and the mouthpiece are at least partially longitudinally aligned with the flexible portion of the housing.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol by inductively heating an aerosol-forming substrate is provided, the device including: a device housing including a cavity to removably receive the substrate; an inductive heating arrangement including an induction coil configured to generate an alternating magnetic field within the cavity in a range between 500 kHz to 30 MHz, the coil being formed by a plurality of turns of a composite cable arranged around the cavity, the cable including a first side facing inward towards the cavity, a second side opposite to the first side facing outward away from the cavity, and an electrical conductor embedded in an insulating conductor encasement and including non-insulated wires in electrical contact with each other, and the conductor being arranged asymmetrically with regard to an outer cross-section of the cable to be closer to the first side than to the second side.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer including a heating element with an internal passage at least partially defined by a surface of the heating element, and a micro pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element, such that the vaporizer is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the internal passage to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The micro pump may be configured to deliver a particular amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the internal passage based on the micro pump performing an individual pump cycle.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-generating article including aerosol-forming substrate; a first air inlet fluidly connected with the cavity and configured to enable ambient air to be drawn into the cavity; a second air inlet fluidly connected with the cavity and configured to enable ambient air to be drawn into the cavity; and airflow controller for controlling one or both of airflow through the first air inlet and the second air inlet.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating device is configured for use with a consumable cartridge including a storage portion containing an aerosol-forming substrate and having a fluid permeable internal surface surrounding an open-ended passage extending through the cartridge. The device includes a housing having a cavity for receiving the cartridge and a heater assembly positioned in the cavity. The heater assembly includes an electrically conductive hollow shaft portion connected to the housing and an electric heater positioned along the hollow shaft portion and having at least one heating element for heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The hollow shaft portion defines an airflow passage forming part of an airflow pathway through the device and is arranged to extend into the open-ended passage of the cartridge. The hollow shaft portion comprises a plurality of apertures, and the heating element is one or more narrow regions of the hollow shaft portion between adjacent apertures.

Abstract: An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating device; an aerosol-forming cartridge including at least one aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-forming cartridge being at least partially received within the aerosol-generating device; at least one electric heater configured to heat the at least one aerosol-forming substrate; at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; and an air flow channel extending between the at least one air inlet and the at least one air outlet, the air flow channel being in fluid communication with the aerosol-forming substrate, the air flow channel having an internal wall surface on which one or more flow disturbing devices are disposed, the flow disturbing devices being arranged to create a turbulent boundary layer in a flow of air drawn through the air flow channel.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a heating arrangement including an induction coil, a first sliding arrangement including a first contact, the first sliding arrangement being arranged adjacent to the induction coil of the heating arrangement and being configured to slide parallel to a longitudinal axis of the induction coil, and the first contact being mounted on the first sliding arrangement and being arranged to contact the induction coil; and a second sliding arrangement including a second contact, the second sliding arrangement being arranged adjacent to the induction coil of the heating arrangement and being configured to slide parallel to a longitudinal axis of the induction coil, and the second contact being mounted on the second sliding arrangement and being arranged to contact the induction coil, in which alternating current is supplied to the induction coil between the first contact and the second contact.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device may comprise an electrical power supply, a housing defining a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article, at least one electrical heater within the cavity, and/or a controller configured to control a supply of electrical power from the electrical power supply to the at least one electrical heater. The controller is configured to activate the at least one electrical heater for a total time period when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity. The aerosol-generating device may also comprise a segmented visual feedback device, wherein a plurality of segments of the segmented visual feedback device each correspond to a portion of the total time period. Each of the plurality of segments is configured to provide visual feedback when an aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity and when the corresponding portion of the total time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An aerosol generating system includes a heater assembly and a manually operated pump. The pump includes a hollow member with an inlet portion and an outlet portion. The inlet portion of the hollow member is configured connectable with a liquid storage portion. The outlet portion of the hollow member is in fluid communication with a dispensing assembly. The pump is configured to dispense a liquid material onto the heater assembly. The pump is configured to pump the liquid material from the liquid storage portion via the dispensing assembly and onto the heater assembly.

Abstract: An electrically heated aerosol-generating device includes a storage portion configured to contain an aerosol-forming substrate and having a fluid permeable internal surface surrounding an open-ended passage extending through the cartridge. The device includes a housing having a cavity for receiving the cartridge, and a heater assembly positioned in the cavity. The heater assembly includes an elongate support member connected to the housing and arranged to extend into the open-ended passage of a cartridge inserted in the cavity. The heater assembly also includes a plurality of electric heaters fixed to and spaced along the length of the elongate support member.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer, and a pump. The liquid storage portion includes a movable wall and an outlet. The vaporizer includes a heating element having a structure that at least partially defines an internal passage. The pump may deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the outlet of the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element. The pump may include a micro stepper motor with a drive shaft that is configured to rotate a particular amount based on performing an individual step, a piston connected to the movable wall, and a lead screw connecting the drive shaft to the piston and configured to translate rotation of the drive shaft into axial movement of the piston and the movable wall. The vaporizer may at least partially vaporize the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer including a heating element with an internal passage at least partially defined by a surface of the heating element, and a micro pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element, such that the vaporizer is configured to heat the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the internal passage to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least a part of the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The micro pump may be configured to deliver a particular amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the internal passage based on the micro pump performing an individual pump cycle.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article for producing an aerosol upon heating is provided, the article including: a rod of aerosol-generating substrate including an aerosol former, the substrate having an aerosol former content of greater than 10 percent on a dry weight basis; a hollow tubular support element positioned immediately downstream of the rod; and an aerosol-cooling element downstream of the hollow tubular support element, the aerosol-cooling element extending all the way to a downstream end of the article and including a hollow tubular segment arranged immediately downstream of the hollow tubular support element and having a transverse wall at a location between upstream and downstream ends thereof, such that the hollow tubular segment defines a first cavity upstream of the transverse wall and a second cavity downstream of the transverse wall, and the transverse wall including one or more openings establishing a fluid communication between the first and the second cavities.