Refilling device and method

Abstract

A refilling device for refilling an article for an aerosol provision device from a reservoir. The refilling device includes an article interface configured to receive the article, a reservoir interface configured to receive the reservoir, and a motor coupled to the article interface. The motor is configured to move the article interface to engage with the reservoir interface such that, in use, aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article.

1 . A refilling device for refilling an article for an aerosol provision device from a reservoir, comprising:
 an article interface configured to receive the article;   a reservoir interface configured to receive the reservoir; and   a motor coupled to the article interface, wherein the motor is configured to move the article interface to engage with the reservoir interface such that, in use, aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article.   
     
     
         2 . The refilling device of  claim 1 , wherein the article interface is configured to engage with the reservoir interface such that reservoir interface moves with the article interface. 
     
     
         3 . The refilling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plunger configured, in use, to engage with the reservoir such that aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article. 
     
     
         4 . The refilling device of  claim 3 , wherein the article interface is configured to engage with the reservoir interface such that reservoir interface moves with the article interface towards the plunger. 
     
     
         5 . The refilling device of  claim 4 , wherein the plunger is stationary relative to the reservoir interface. 
     
     
         6 . The refilling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle block between the article interface and the reservoir interface. 
     
     
         7 . The refilling device of  claim 6 , wherein the nozzle block comprises one or more needles configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article via the nozzle block. 
     
     
         8 . The refilling device of  claim 6 , wherein the motor is configured to move the article interface to engage with the reservoir interface by:
 moving the article interface to engage with the nozzle block such that the nozzle block moves with the article interface; and   moving the nozzle block, by moving the article interface, to engage with the reservoir interface such that the reservoir interface moves with the article interface and the nozzle block.   
     
     
         9 . The refilling device of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to move the article interface between a first position and a second position, wherein, in use, aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article when the article interface is in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The refilling device of  claim 9 , wherein the motor is configured to move the article interface from the second position to the first position in response to the transfer of aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article. 
     
     
         11 . The refilling device of  claim 9 , wherein the article interface is configured to engage with the reservoir interface at a third position, where the third position is between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The refilling device of  claim 11 , further comprising a reservoir stop configured to prevent the reservoir interface from moving between the third position and the first position. 
     
     
         13 . The refilling device of  claim 11 , further comprising a nozzle block between the article interface and the reservoir interface, wherein the motor is configured to move the article interface to engage with the reservoir interface by:
 moving the article interface from the first position to engage with the nozzle block at a fourth position between the first position and the third position such that the nozzle block moves with the article interface; and   moving the nozzle block, by moving the article interface, to engage with the reservoir interface at the third position such that the reservoir interface moves with the article interface and the nozzle block.   
     
     
         14 . The refilling device of  claim 13 , where the motor is further configured to:
 move the reservoir interface towards a plunger by moving the article interface to the second position, wherein the plunger is configured to engage with the reservoir when the article interface is in the second position such that, in use, aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article.   
     
     
         15 . The refilling device of  claim 13 , further comprising a nozzle stop configured to prevent the nozzle block from moving between the fourth position and the first position. 
     
     
         16 . The refilling device of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is coupled to the article interface by a lead screw. 
     
     
         17 . The refilling device of  claim 1 , further comprising refilling control circuitry configured to control the motor. 
     
     
         18 . The refilling device of  claim 17 , wherein the refilling control circuitry is configured to control the motor in response to detecting the article has been received by the article interface and detecting the reservoir has been received by the reservoir interface. 
     
     
         19 . The refilling device of  claim 17 , wherein the refilling control circuitry is configured to alter a speed of the motor based on the location of the article interface between a first position and a second position, wherein, in use, aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article when the article interface is in the second position. 
     
     
         20 . A method of refilling an article of an aerosol provision device comprising:
 receiving, by an article interface, the article;   receiving, by a reservoir interface, a reservoir;   controlling a motor to move the article interface to engage with the reservoir interface such that, in use, aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article.   
     
     
         21 . A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs a method of refilling an article of an aerosol provision system comprising:
 receiving the article;   receiving a reservoir;   controlling a motor configured to drive a cam mechanism to move the article, the reservoir and a plunger in a coordinated manner such that aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article.