RAI Strategic

The present disclosure relates to assembly substations and an assembly method. The assembly substation comprises a robotic arm configured to insert a partially-assembled cartridge into an outer body, the partially-assembled cartridge comprising a base, a negative heating terminal, a positive heating terminal, a heating element, and a liquid transport element. The negative heating terminal and the positive heating terminal are coupled to the base, and the heating element is coupled to the negative heating terminal and the positive heating terminal. The robotic arm comprises an outer body gripper configured to receive an outer body therein, the robotic arm being configured to direct the outer body gripper with the outer body positioned therein over the partially-assembled cartridge such that at least a portion of the negative heating terminal, the positive heating terminal, the heating element, and the liquid transport element are received in the outer body. The assembly substation comprises a suction system operably engaged with the outer body gripper of the robotic arm, the outer body gripper being configured to apply a negative pressure supplied by the suction system longitudinally through the outer body to facilitate insertion of the partially-assembled cartridge into the outer body.

The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for use in an aerosol delivery device and an aerosol delivery device having the same. The cartridge includes a first reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition, and an atomizer having a liquid transport element in fluid communication with the first reservoir and a heating element configured to vaporize the aerosol precursor composition transported by the liquid transport element. The cartridge also includes a second reservoir, the second reservoir including two or more separate chambers, wherein at least one of the chambers contains a flavorant. A flow of air is configured to pass adjacent to the atomizer to entrain particles of the aerosol precursor composition that are vaporized by the heating element. The flow of air is also configured to pass at least one of the chambers of the second reservoir to entrain the flavorant of the respective chamber.

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device may comprise a control device and a cartridge having a mouthpiece portion and a tank portion with respective proximal and distal ends, the tank portion being configured to contain a liquid composition, and the cartridge further including a liquid transport element and an atomizing member. At least a portion of the liquid transport element may be positioned proximate the atomizing member, and at least a portion of the atomizing member may be positioned proximate the distal end of the mouthpiece portion. In other implementations, at least a portion of the atomizing member may be positioned above the proximal end of the tank portion. In still other implementations, at least a portion of the atomizing member may be positioned between the proximal end of the tank portion and the distal end of the tank portion.

A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided. The smoking article includes an aerosol-generating element configured to produce an aerosol in response to heat, a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the aerosol-generating element therein, a heating element engaged with the housing and configured to provide heat to the aerosol-generating element, a power source in electrical communication with the heating element and configured to provide electrical energy thereto, the heating element producing heat in response to the electrical energy, an aerosol-generating element identification device configured to identify an attribute of the aerosol-generating element, and a control device in communication with the aerosol-generating element identification device and configured to modulate the electrical energy provided to the heating element by the power source to direct the heating element to heat the aerosol-generating element to an aerosolization temperature associated with the identified attribute of the aerosol-generating element.

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a reservoir containing a liquid aerosol precursor composition and an atomizer including an electrical resistance heating element and a nonfibrous liquid transport element having a microtextured surface adapted for surface wicking of the liquid aerosol precursor composition across the microtextured surface, the microtextured surface of the liquid transport element being in fluid communication with the reservoir and in fluid communication with the electric resistance heating element.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device that may comprise a housing defining an outer wall. The device may further include a power source and a control component, a mouthpiece portion, a tank portion that includes a reservoir configured to contain a liquid composition, and an atomization assembly configured to vaporize the liquid composition to generate an aerosol. The atomization assembly may comprise a vibrating assembly that includes a mesh plate. In some implementations, the reservoir of the aerosol delivery device may be configured to rotate relative to the position of the aerosol delivery device. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device may further comprise a perforated gate. In some implementations, the aerosol delivery device may further comprise a liquid transport element. In some implementations, the aerosol deliver device may further comprise a micropump assembly. In some implementations, the reservoir of the aerosol delivery device may be U-shaped.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the aerosol delivery device comprises a control device that includes an outer housing defining a cartridge receiving chamber, and further includes a power source and a control component, and a cartridge that includes a mouthpiece, a tank, a heating assembly, and a bottom cap. The mouthpiece defines an exit portal in an end thereof, and the tank is configured to contain a liquid composition therein. The cartridge is configured to be removably coupled with the receiving chamber of the control device, and the heating assembly defines a vaporization chamber and is configured to heat the liquid composition to generate an aerosol. An inlet airflow is defined by a gap between the cartridge and the control device that originates at an interface between an outer peripheral surface the mouthpiece and control device.

An aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device includes a power source, an aerosol production component, a sensor to produce measurements of atmospheric air pressure in an air flow path through at least one housing, and a switch coupled to and between the power source and the aerosol production component. The aerosol delivery device also includes processing circuitry that determines a difference between the measurements of atmospheric air pressure and a reference atmospheric air pressure. Only when the difference is at least a threshold difference, the processing circuitry outputs a signal to cause the switch to switchably connect and disconnect an output voltage from the power source to the aerosol production component to adjust power provided to the aerosol production component to a power target that is variable according to a predetermined relationship between the difference and the power target.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol delivery device and a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the cartridge may comprise a housing defining a liquid reservoir, an atomizer configured to produce an aerosol, the atomizer comprising a first liquid transport element, a second liquid transport element, and a microvalve located between the liquid reservoir and the second liquid transport element. The microvalve may comprise a base member including at least one channel, and an actuating member at least a portion of which comprises a shape-memory material, and which is configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the actuating member substantially blocks fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel, and in the second position, the actuating member allows fluid flow from the liquid reservoir through the channel and to the second liquid transport element.

Aerosol delivery devices and aerosol source members are disclosed herein. In one aspect, an aerosol delivery device may comprise a control body having a closed distal end and an open engaging end, a heating member, a control component located within the control body and configured to control the heating member, a power source located within the control body and configured to provide power to the control component, and a removable aerosol source member that includes a substrate portion. The substrate portion may include a continuous heat conductive framework integrated with an aerosol forming material, wherein the continuous thermally conductive framework is configured to enhance heat transfer from the heating member to the aerosol forming material.