An Aerosol Substrate Consumable Loading Mechanism

Abstract

An aerosol substrate consumable loading mechanism for loading an aerosol substrate consumable into an aerosol generating device includes: an actuator—configured to load a partially inserted aerosol substrate consumable—further into the aerosol generating device, in use; and an insertion sensor configured to detect an activation input, wherein the actuator is configured to load the aerosol substrate consumable further into the aerosol generating device upon detection of the activation input.

1 . An aerosol substrate consumable loading mechanism for loading an aerosol substrate consumable into an aerosol generating device, the loading mechanism comprising:
 an actuator configured to load a partially inserted aerosol substrate consumable further into the Iaerosol generating device, in use; and   an insertion sensor configured to detect an activation input,   wherein the actuator is configured to load the aerosol substrate consumable further into the aerosol generating device upon detection of the activation input.   
     
     
         2 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a roller and a guide, wherein the roller and the guide define a region between them for receiving the consumable. 
     
     
         3 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the insertion sensor comprises one or more light sensors and wherein the activation input comprises a detection by the one or more light sensors that the consumable has been partially inserted into the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         4 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the insertion sensor comprises an insertion switch configured to be depressed and the activation input comprises a depression of the insertion switch by the consumable during partial insertion into the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         5 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the insertion sensor comprises a magnetic sensor and wherein the activation input comprises a detection by the magnetic sensor of movement of the roller due to the insertion of the consumable into the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         6 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the insertion sensor comprises a button or touchpad and the activation input comprises a user input on the button or touchpad. 
     
     
         7 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stop sensor configured to detect a stop input, wherein the actuator is configured to stop further insertion of the consumable when the stop sensor has detected the stop input. 
     
     
         8 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein the stop sensor comprises one or more of:
 one or more light sensors; or   a stop switch configured to be depressed by the consumable when the consumable reaches a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a roller, wherein the roller is configured to stop rotation after a predetermined number of insertion rotations. 
     
     
         10 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to stop operation when the load required to drive the actuator is increased beyond a predetermined load threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The loading mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ejection sensor, wherein the ejection sensor is configured to detect an ejection input; and
 wherein the actuator is configured to eject the consumable from the aerosol generating device upon detection of the ejection input at the ejection sensor.   
     
     
         12 . A loading heating system for an aerosol generating device, the loading heating system comprising:
 the loading mechanism according to  claim 1 ; and   a heating chamber into which the actuator is configured to load the consumable, in use.   
     
     
         13 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 the loading heating system according to claim  12 ;   an outer housing to substantially surround the heating chamber, the outer housing comprising an opening for receiving the consumable into the heating chamber; and   a power source for providing power to the loading heating system.   
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a movable lid configured to move between:
 an open configuration in which the consumable is insertable into the aerosol generating device; and   a closed configuration in which the lid prevents access for the consumable to the aerosol generating device,   wherein the insertion sensor is configured to detect that the lid is in the open configuration and the actuator is configured to load the partially inserted consumable further into the aerosol generating device upon detection that the lid has been moved to the open configuration.   
     
     
         15 . A method of loading an aerosol substrate consumable into an aerosol generating device, the method comprising:
 detecting an activation input at an insertion sensor; and   operating an actuator, in response to the detected activation input, to move a partially inserted consumable further into the aerosol generating device.