Refilling device with venting nozzle, and refilling apparatus

Abstract

A refilling device for filling an article from a reservoir includes an article interface for receiving an article of an aerosol provision system, the article having a storage area for fluid; and a venting nozzle configured to engage with an article received in the article interface for egress of air from the storage area during filling of the storage area with fluid, the venting nozzle including a channel for outward flow of air from the storage area, the channel having a cross-sectional area orthogonal to the direction of outward airflow which increases with distance from an air inlet of the channel over a tapered portion of the channel extending from the air inlet.

1 . A refilling device for filling an article from a reservoir, comprising:
 an article interface for receiving an article of an aerosol provision system, the article having a storage area for fluid; and   a venting nozzle configured to engage with an article received in the article interface for egress of air from the storage area during filling of the storage area with fluid, the venting nozzle comprising a channel for outward flow of air from the storage area, the channel having a cross-sectional area orthogonal to the direction of outward airflow which increases with distance from an air inlet of the channel over a tapered portion of the channel extending from the air inlet.   
     
     
         2 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the venting nozzle is positioned within the refilling device such that the channel is substantially vertical when the venting nozzle is engaged with the article. 
     
     
         3 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion extends over an entire length of the channel, from the air inlet to an air outlet. 
     
     
         4 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion is followed by a straight portion of the channel in which the cross-sectional area is constant. 
     
     
         5 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel increases over the tapered portion continuously with distance from the air inlet. 
     
     
         6 . A refilling device according to  claim 5 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel increases over the tapered portion substantially linearly with distance from the air inlet. 
     
     
         7 . A refilling device according to  claim 5 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel increases over the tapered portion nonlinearly with distance from the air inlet. 
     
     
         8 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel is circular or oval. 
     
     
         9 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area at the air inlet of the channel has a maximum width in the range of 0.5 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area increases over the tapered portion to a maximum width in the range of 1.8 mm to 4 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein a maximum width of the cross-sectional area does not exceed 2 mm over the tapered portion. 
     
     
         12 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area increases over the tapered portion by 100% or less. 
     
     
         13 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area increases over the tapered portion by 50% or less. 
     
     
         14 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion has a length in the range of 3 mm to 38 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel has a length in the range of 6 mm to 40 mm. 
     
     
         16 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , configured to cause relative movement between the venting nozzle and the article interface in order to engage the venting nozzle with an article received in the article interface. 
     
     
         17 . A refilling device according to  claim 16 , configured such that the relative movement includes movement of the article towards the venting nozzle. 
     
     
         18 . A refilling device according to  claim 16 , configured such that the relative movement includes movement of the venting nozzle towards the article. 
     
     
         19 . A refilling device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle element configured to engage with the article received in the article interface, the nozzle element comprising the venting nozzle and a fluid flow channel for delivering fluid into the storage area. 
     
     
         20 . A aerosol-generating material storage container for storing aerosol-generating material and configured to engage with a refilling device configured to refill an article with aerosol-generating material, the container comprising:
 a storage area for storing the aerosol-generating material;   a valve arrangement in communication with the storage area, the valve arrangement comprising:
 a spigot including a first opening and a second opening coupled together via a flow channel for the passage of aerosol-generating material; 
 a valve housing arranged to receive the spigot such that the spigot is movable relative to the valve housing, 
   wherein the spigot is movable between a first position in which the first opening is blocked by the valve housing and a second position in which the storage area is in fluid communication with the environment external to the aerosol-generating material storage container via the flow channel.   
     
     
         21 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 20 , wherein the spigot is biased to the first position. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 21 , wherein the spigot is biased to the first position by a compressible seal element which is arranged such that when the spigot is moved to the second position, the compressible seal element is compressed by the spigot against the valve housing. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 20 , wherein the flow channel is located internally of the spigot. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the spigot comprises a cylindrical portion and the valve housing comprises a cylindrical collar which receives the cylindrical portion of the spigot. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the spigot is configured to be rotatably movable about a longitudinal axis of the spigot relative to the valve housing such that the spigot is rotated from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         26 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 25 , wherein the valve housing comprises an opening in fluid communication with the storage area, and wherein upon rotation of the spigot to the second position, the opening of the valve housing is arranged to align with the first opening of the spigot. 
     
     
         27 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 20 , wherein the spigot is further configured to move in the axial direction when the spigot is moved from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         28 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 20 , wherein the spigot and the valve housing are configured to allow the spigot to simultaneously rotate about the axis of rotation and move axially along the axis of rotation relative to the valve housing. 
     
     
         29 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the spigot and valve housing comprise a surface having a saw-tooth shaped profile. 
     
     
         30 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing comprises at least one air passage opening in fluid communication with the storage area and wherein, when the spigot is in the second position, the valve housing and/or spigot are arranged to permit air to escape from or enter the storage area via the air passage opening. 
     
     
         31 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 30 , wherein the spigot is configured to partially form an air flow channel with the valve housing and wherein, in the second position, the air flow channel is in fluid communication with the air passage opening of the valve housing. 
     
     
         32 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 30 , wherein the valve housing comprises an opening in fluid communication with the storage area and configured to fluidly couple to the first opening of the spigot when the spigot is in the second position, wherein the air passage opening of the valve housing is positioned at a different position along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spigot as compared to the first opening. 
     
     
         33 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 30 , wherein the air passage opening of the valve housing is positioned at a different position along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spigot as compared to the second opening. 
     
     
         34 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the spigot comprises a flange configured to abut the outer surface of the valve housing when the spigot is in the first position, wherein when the spigot is in the first position, the flange seals against the valve housing. 
     
     
         35 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 20 , wherein the spigot includes a surface including an engagement mechanism configured to engage with a respective spigot actuation mechanism of a refilling device for actuating the spigot between the first position and second position. 
     
     
         36 . The aerosol-generating material storage container of  claim 35 , wherein the first and/or second opening are provided on a surface of the spigot other than the surface including the engagement mechanism. 
     
     
         37 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 35 , wherein the second opening is provided on the surface of the spigot including the engagement mechanism, and wherein the spigot actuation mechanism of the refilling device includes a nozzle of the refilling device. 
     
     
         38 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 35 , wherein the engagement mechanism includes recess configured to receive a part of the spigot actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         39 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 38 , wherein the recess is shaped so as to facilitate rotational movement of the spigot by the spigot actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         40 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating material storage container is an article for use with an aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating material for user inhalation. 
     
     
         41 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 40 , wherein either:
 the first opening of the spigot is an outlet opening and the second opening of the spigot is an inlet opening, and wherein when the spigot is in the first position at least the outlet opening is blocked by the valve housing, and when the spigot is in the second position the outlet opening is in fluid communication with the storage area; or   the first opening of the spigot is an inlet opening and the second opening of the spigot is an outlet opening, and wherein when the spigot is in the first position at least the inlet opening is blocked by the valve housing, and when the spigot is in the second position the inlet opening is in fluid communication with the environment external to the aerosol-generating material storage container, and wherein the aerosol-generating material storage container is configured such that aerosol-generating material is able to pass through the inlet opening and to the storage area via the outlet opening when the spigot is in the second position.   
     
     
         42 . The aerosol-generating material storage container of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one air passage opening is an air inlet opening, and wherein when the spigot is in the second position, the valve housing and/or spigot are arranged to permit air to escape from the storage area via the air inlet opening during refilling of the aerosol-generating material storage container. 
     
     
         43 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-generating material storage container is a refill reservoir for use with a refilling device configured to refill an article with aerosol-generating material from the refill reservoir for use with an aerosol provision device to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating material for user inhalation. 
     
     
         44 . The aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 43 , wherein either:
 the first opening of the spigot is an inlet opening and the second opening of the spigot is an outlet opening wherein when the spigot is in the first position at least the inlet opening is blocked by the valve housing, and when the spigot is in the second position the inlet opening is in fluid communication with the storage area; or   the first opening of the spigot is an outlet opening and the second opening of the spigot is an inlet opening, and wherein when the spigot is in the first position at least the outlet opening is blocked by the valve housing, and when the spigot is in the second position the outlet opening is in fluid communication with the environment external to the aerosol-generating material storage container, wherein the aerosol-generating material storage container is configured such that aerosol-generating material is able to pass through the outlet opening from the storage area via the inlet opening when the spigot is in the second position.   
     
     
         45 . The aerosol-generating material storage container of  claim 44 , wherein the at least one air passage opening is an air outlet opening, and wherein when the spigot is in the second position, the valve housing and/or spigot are arranged to permit air to enter the storage area via the air inlet opening during emptying of the aerosol-generating material storage container. 
     
     
         46 . A refilling device for refilling an article for use with an aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material, the refilling device comprising:
 a transfer mechanism for causing aerosol-generating material from a refill reservoir to be transferred from the refill reservoir to an aerosol-generating material storage area of an article;   a spigot actuation mechanism configured to actuate a spigot of a valve arrangement of an aerosol-generating material storage container for storing aerosol-generating material; and   a nozzle arranged to allow the aerosol-generating material to be transferred by the nozzle to the article via the valve arrangement of the aerosol-generating material storage container,   wherein the refilling device is configured to cause the spigot actuation mechanism to move relative to the refilling device such that the spigot actuation mechanism, when engaged with the valve arrangement of the aerosol-generating material storage container, is configured to cause the valve arrangement to open or close as a result of the movement of the spigot actuation mechanism.   
     
     
         47 . The refilling device according to  claim 46 , wherein the refilling device is configured to cause the spigot actuation mechanism to rotate relative to the refilling device such that the spigot actuation mechanism, when engaged with the valve arrangement of the aerosol-generating material storage container, is configured to cause at least a component of the valve arrangement to rotate open or closed as a result of the rotational movement of the spigot actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         48 . The refilling device according to  claim 46 , wherein spigot actuation mechanism is configured to move in a direction towards or away from the aerosol-generating material storage container. 
     
     
         49 . The refilling device according to  claim 48 , wherein the refilling device is configured to move the spigot actuation mechanism towards the aerosol-generating material storage container and then perform a further movement to cause the valve arrangement to move from a closed position to an open position. 
     
     
         50 . The refilling device according to  claim 49 , wherein the further movement is at least one of a rotational movement and an axial movement. 
     
     
         51 . The refilling device according to  claim 48 , wherein the further movement required to cause the valve arrangement to move from a closed position to an open position is calculated in advance, and when the spigot actuation mechanism engages with the valve arrangement the refilling device is configured to perform the further calculated movement. 
     
     
         52 . The refilling device according to  claim 46 , wherein the spigot actuation mechanism includes an engagement mechanism for engaging with a corresponding nozzle engagement mechanism of the valve arrangement of the aerosol-generating material storage container. 
     
     
         53 . The refilling device according to  claim 46 , wherein the refilling device is configured to cause the transfer mechanism to begin transferring the aerosol-generating material to the storage area of the article when the valve arrangement is open. 
     
     
         54 . The refilling device according to  claim 46 , wherein the refilling device comprising a nozzle arrangement including the nozzle for suppling aerosol-generating material to or removing aerosol-generating material from the aerosol-generating material storage container. 
     
     
         55 . The refilling device according to  claim 54 , wherein the nozzle arrangement includes the spigot actuation mechanism. 
     
     
         56 . The refilling device according to  claim 55 , wherein the spigot actuation mechanism includes the nozzle, the nozzle having an engagement mechanism for engaging with a corresponding engagement mechanism provided on the surface of the spigot of the valve arrangement, and wherein the engagement mechanism of the valve arrangement includes an opening capable of being in fluid communication with a storage area of the aerosol-generating material storage container, and wherein aerosol-generating material is able to enter or exit the aerosol-generating material storage container via the opening of the nozzle and the opening of the valve arrangement. 
     
     
         57 . A refilling system for refilling an article for use with an aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material, the refilling system comprising:
 the refilling device comprising:
 a transfer mechanism for causing aerosol-generating material from a refill reservoir to be transferred from the refill reservoir to an aerosol-generating material storage area of an article; 
 a spigot actuation mechanism configured to actuate a spigot of a valve arrangement of an aerosol-generating material storage container for storing aerosol-generating material; and 
 a nozzle arranged to allow the aerosol-generating material to be transferred by the nozzle to the article via the valve arrangement of the aerosol-generating material storage container, 
 wherein the refilling device is configured to cause the spigot actuation mechanism to move relative to the refilling device such that the spigot actuation mechanism, when engaged with the valve arrangement of the aerosol-generating material storage container, is configured to cause the valve arrangement to open or close as a result of the movement of the spigot actuation mechanism; and 
   an aerosol-generating material storage container according to  claim 20 .   
     
     
         58 . A method for refilling an article for use with an aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material from a refill reservoir using a refilling device, one or both of the article and the refill reservoir comprising a storage area for storing the aerosol-generating material, and a valve arrangement in communication with the storage area, the valve arrangement comprising a spigot including a first opening and a second opening coupled together via a flow channel for the passage of aerosol-generating material and a valve housing arranged to receive the spigot such that the spigot is movable relative to the valve housing, the method comprising:
 engaging a spigot actuation mechanism of the refilling device to the spigot of the valve arrangement;   moving the spigot from a first position in which the first opening is blocked by the valve housing and a second position in which the first opening is in fluid communication with the environment external to the aerosol-generating material storage container via the flow channel;   performing refilling of the article by transferring aerosol-generating material from the refill reservoir to the storage area of the article using a transfer mechanism of the refilling device, the aerosol-generating material being transferred through a nozzle of the refilling device and through the flow channel of the valve arrangement.   
     
     
         59 . A aerosol-generating material storage container for storing aerosol-generating material and configured to engage with a refilling means configured to refill an article with aerosol-generating material, the container comprising:
 storage means for storing the aerosol-generating material;   valve means in communication with the storage means, the valve means comprising:
 spigot means including a first opening and a second opening coupled together via a flow channel for the passage of aerosol-generating material; 
 valve housing means arranged to receive the spigot means such that the spigot means is movable relative to the valve housing means, 
   wherein the spigot means is movable between a first position in which the first opening is blocked by the valve housing means and a second position in which the storage means is in fluid communication with the environment external to the aerosol-generating material storage container via the flow channel.   
     
     
         60 . Refilling means for refilling an article for use with an aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material, the refilling means comprising:
 transfer means for causing aerosol-generating material from a refill reservoir to be transferred from the refill reservoir to an aerosol-generating material storage means of an article;   spigot actuation means configured to actuate spigot means of valve means of an aerosol-generating material storage container for storing aerosol-generating material; and   nozzle means arranged to allow the aerosol-generating material to be transferred by the nozzle means to the article via the valve means of the aerosol-generating material storage container,   wherein the refilling means is configured to cause the spigot actuation means to move relative to the refilling means such that the spigot actuation means, when engaged with the valve means of the aerosol-generating material storage container, is configured to cause the valve means to open or close as a result of the movement of the spigot actuation means.