An aerosol-generating device having an actuator

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-generating article, the cavity including a first end and a second end; a first opening at the first end of the cavity and a second opening at the second end of the cavity, the aerosol-generating article being configured to be inserted into the cavity through each of the first opening and the second opening; and an actuator arranged to move the aerosol-generating article through the cavity. An aerosol-generating system including an aerosol-generating article and the aerosol-generating device is also provided. An aerosol-generating article is also provided.

1 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-generating article, wherein the cavity comprises a first end and a second end;   a first opening at the first end of the cavity and a second opening at the second end of the cavity, wherein the aerosol-generating article is configured to be inserted into the cavity through each of the first opening and the second opening; and   an actuator arranged to move the aerosol-generating article through the cavity.   
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , wherein the actuator comprises a wheel arranged to engage an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity. 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 20 , wherein the wheel is arranged so that a user may manually rotate the wheel to move the aerosol-generating article through the cavity. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 20 , further comprising an electric motor configured to drive the wheel to move the aerosol-generating article through the cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 22 , further comprising a user interface configured to provide user control of the electric motor. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an electric heater;   a power supply; and   a controller configured to supply power from the power supply to the electric heater.   
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 24 ,
 further comprising an electric motor configured to drive the wheel to move the aerosol-generating article through the cavity,   wherein the actuator comprises a wheel arranged to engage an outer surface of the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is received within the cavity, and   wherein the controller is further configured to supply power from the power supply to the electric motor.   
     
     
         26 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 25 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 supply power from the power supply to the electric heater for the duration of a first heating cycle to heat a first portion of the aerosol-generating article,   supply power from the power supply to the electric motor to move the aerosol-generating device through the cavity, and   supply power from the power supply to the electric heater for the duration of a second heating cycle to heat a second portion of the aerosol-generating article.   
     
     
         27 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 26 , wherein the controller is further configured to simultaneously supply power from the power supply to the electric heater and the electric motor to heat the aerosol-generating article as the aerosol-generating article is moved through the cavity. 
     
     
         28 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating article comprising at least one aerosol-forming substrate; and   an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 .   
     
     
         29 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 28 ,
 wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises:
 an electric heater, 
 a power supply, and 
 a controller configured to supply power from the power supply to the electric heater, 
   wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises a first end and a second end,   wherein the aerosol-generating article defines a first longitudinal direction extending between the first and the second ends,   wherein the at least one aerosol-forming substrate has a total length extending in the first longitudinal direction,   wherein the cavity defines a second longitudinal direction extending between the first and the second ends of the cavity,   wherein the electric heater defines a heating zone between a first end of the electric heater and a second end of the electric heater,   wherein the heating zone has a length extending in the second longitudinal direction, and   wherein the total length of the at least one aerosol-forming substrate is greater than the length of the heating zone.   
     
     
         30 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 29 ,
 wherein the cavity has a length extending in the second longitudinal direction, and   wherein the total length of the at least one aerosol-forming substrate is greater than the length of the cavity.   
     
     
         31 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 29 ,
 wherein the at least one aerosol-forming substrate comprises a plurality of aerosol-forming substrates,   wherein each aerosol-forming substrate of the plurality of aerosol-forming substrates has a length extending in the first longitudinal direction, and   wherein the total length of the at least one aerosol-forming substrate comprises the combined lengths of the plurality of aerosol-forming substrates.   
     
     
         32 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 31 ,
 wherein at least two adjacent aerosol-forming substrates of the plurality of aerosol-forming substrates are spaced apart from each other in the first longitudinal direction,   wherein each space between adjacent aerosol-forming substrates of the plurality of aerosol-forming substrates has a length extending in the longitudinal direction, and   wherein the total length of the at least one aerosol-forming substrate further comprises the combined lengths of the spaces between adjacent aerosol-forming substrates.   
     
     
         33 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 29 , wherein the aerosol-generating article further comprises:
 a wrapper wrapped around the at least one aerosol-forming substrate, and   a plurality of indicia on an outer surface of the wrapper, the plurality of indicia being spaced apart from each other in the first longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         34 . The aerosol-generating system according to  claim 33 ,
 wherein each of the indicia circumscribes a portion of the wrapper,   wherein said each of the indicia comprises at least one of a different size, a different shape, a different colour, and a different motif, and   wherein a spacing in the first longitudinal direction between adjacent indicia is between 5 millimetres and 10 millimetres.   
     
     
         35 . An aerosol-generating article, comprising:
 a first end and a second end, wherein the aerosol-generating article defines a longitudinal direction extending between the first end and the second end;   a first airflow pathway extending in the longitudinal direction;   a second airflow pathway extending in the longitudinal direction;   a first aerosol-forming substrate positioned within the first airflow pathway; and   a second aerosol-forming substrate positioned within the second airflow pathway,   wherein the second aerosol-forming substrate overlaps only part of the first aerosol-forming substrate in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         36 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 35 ,
 further comprising:
 a third airflow pathway extending in the longitudinal direction; and 
 a third aerosol-forming substrate positioned within the third airflow pathway, 
   wherein the third aerosol-forming substrate overlaps only part of the first aerosol-forming substrate in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         37 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 36 ,
 wherein the second aerosol-forming substrate does not overlap the third aerosol-forming substrate in the longitudinal direction, and   wherein the first aerosol-forming substrate comprises a portion that does not overlap the second aerosol-forming substrate or the third aerosol-forming substrate.   
     
     
         38 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 35 , further comprising a plug element defining the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway. 
     
     
         39 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 35 , further comprising:
 an outer wrapper; and   a plurality of indicia on an outer surface of the outer wrapper, the plurality of indicia being spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         40 . The aerosol-generating article according to  claim 35 ,
 wherein each of the indicia circumscribes a portion of the outer wrapper,   wherein said each of the indicia comprises at least one of a different size, a different shape, a different colour, and a different motif, and   wherein a spacing in the longitudinal direction between adjacent indicia is between 5 millimetres and 10 millimetres.   
     
     
         41 . An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device according to  claim 19 ; and   an aerosol-generating article comprising:
 a first end and a second end, wherein the aerosol-generating article defines a longitudinal direction extending between the first end and the second end, 
 a first airflow pathway extending in the longitudinal direction, 
 a second airflow pathway extending in the longitudinal direction, 
 a first aerosol-forming substrate positioned within the first airflow pathway, and 
 a second aerosol-forming substrate positioned within the second airflow pathway, 
 wherein the second aerosol-forming substrate overlaps only part of the first aerosol-forming substrate in the longitudinal direction.