EP4396091A1

EP4396091A1 - Refilling device and method

Info

Publication number: EP4396091A1
Application number: EP22769344.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Howard ROTHWELL; Richard HAINES
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-03
Filing date: 2022-08-30
Publication date: 2024-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 2042-08-30
Also published as: KR20240072999A; US20250127214A1; EP4396091B1; PL4396091T3; WO2023031594A1; GB202112586D0; CN118369274A; CA3230204A1

Abstract

A refilling device for refilling an article for an aerosol provision device from a reservoir. The refilling device comprises 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.

Description

REFILLING DEVICE AND METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a refilling device for an article of an aerosol provision system from a reservoir and a method of refilling an article of an aerosol provision system.

BACKGROUND

Electronic aerosol provision systems such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generally contain an aerosol-generating material, such as a reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typically including nicotine, or a solid material such as a tobaccobased product, from which an aerosol is generated for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation. Thus, an aerosol provision system will typically comprise an aerosol generator, e.g. a heating element, arranged to aerosolise a portion of aerosolgenerating material to generate an aerosol in an aerosol generation region of an air channel through the aerosol provision system. As a user inhales on the device and electrical power is supplied to the aerosol generator, air is drawn into the device through one or more inlet holes and along the air channel to the aerosol generation region, where the air mixes with the vaporised aerosol generator and forms a condensation aerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol generation region continues along the air channel to a mouthpiece, carrying some of the aerosol with it, and out through the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user.

It is common for aerosol provision systems to comprise a modular assembly, often having two main functional parts, namely an aerosol provision device and an article. Typically the article will comprise the consumable aerosol-generating material and the aerosol generator (heating element), while the aerosol provision device part will comprise longer-life items, such as a rechargeable battery, device control circuitry and user interface features. The aerosol provision device may also be referred to as a reusable part or battery section and the article may also be referred to as a consumable, disposable/replaceable part, cartridge or cartomiser.

The aerosol provision device and article are mechanically coupled together at an interface for use, for example using a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction fit fixing. When the aerosol-generating material in an article has been exhausted, or the user wishes to switch to a different article having a different aerosol-generating material, the article may be removed from the aerosol provision device and a replacement article may be attached to the device in its place. Alternatively, some articles are configured such that, after the aerosol-generating material in the article has been exhausted, the article can be refilled with more aerosol-generating material, thereby allowing the article to be reused. In this example, the user is able to refill the article using a separate reservoir of aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating material used to refill the article may be the same or different to the previous aerosol-generating material in the article, thereby allowing the user to change to a different aerosol-generating material without purchasing a new article.

Refilling the article with aerosol-generating material extends the life of the article as its use is no longer limited by the volume or amount of aerosol-generating material that the article can hold. As a result, the use of the article may be limited by other factors, such as the life of individual components within the article. Continuous use of the article may therefore result in degradation or fault developing in components within the article. The article may therefore become less reliable, the operation of the article less predictable or the article may stop working entirely, each of which has a negative impact on the user experience.

Various approaches are described herein which seek to help address or mitigate some of the issues discussed above.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is defined in the appended claims.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a refilling device for refilling an article for an aerosol provision device from a reservoir. The refilling device comprises 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.

The article interface can be configured to engage with the reservoir interface such that reservoir interface moves with the article interface.

The refilling device can comprise a plunger configured, in use, to engage with the reservoir such that aerosol-generating material is transferred from the reservoir to the article. The article interface can be configured to engage with the reservoir interface such that reservoir interface moves with the article interface towards the plunger. The plunger can be stationary relative to the reservoir interface.

The refilling device can comprise a nozzle block between the article interface and the reservoir interface. The nozzle block can comprise one or more needles configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article via the nozzle block. The motor can be 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. The motor can be 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. The motor can be 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. 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. The refiling device can comprise a reservoir stop configured to prevent the reservoir interface from moving between the third position and the first position.

The refilling device can comprise 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.

The motor can be 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. The refilling device can comprise a nozzle stop configured to prevent the nozzle block from moving between the fourth position and the first position.

The motor can be coupled to the article interface by a lead screw.

The refilling device can comprise refilling control circuitry configured to control the motor. The refilling control circuitry can be 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. 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.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a method of refilling an article of an aerosol provision system. The method comprises receiving, by an article interface, the article, receiving, by a reservoir interface, a reservoir, and 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.

There is also provided a computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs the above method. These aspects and other aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description. In this regard, particular sections of the description are not to be read in isolation from other sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol provision sysem;

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example article for use in the aerosol provision system illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an example refilling device and a reservoir for refilling the article illustrated in Figure 2;

Figures 4A to 4E are schematic diagrams of a further example refilling device for refilling the article illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a flow chart of a method of refilling an article;

Figure 6 is a flow chart of a further method of refilling an article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed/described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed/described in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of articles and systems discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems, which may also be referred to as aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the term “e-cigarette” or “electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol provision system and electronic aerosol provision system.

As noted above, aerosol provision systems (e-cigarettes) often comprise a modular assembly including both a reusable part (aerosol provision device) and a replaceable (disposable) or refillable cartridge part, referred to as an article. Systems conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systems or devices. It is also common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure described herein comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part system employing refillable cartridges. However, it will be appreciated the underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for other electronic cigarette configurations, for example modular systems comprising more than two parts, as devices conforming to other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a more boxy shape.

As described above, the present disclosure relates to (but it not limited to) refilling devices for articles of aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.

Figure 1 is a highly schematic diagram (not to scale) of an example aerosol provision system 10, such as an e-cigarette, to which embodiments are applicable. The aerosol provision system 10 has a generally cylindrical shape, extending along a longitudinal or y axis as indicated by the axes (although aspects of the invention are applicable to e- cigarettes configured in other shapes and arrangements), and comprises two main components, namely an aerosol provision device 20 and an article 30.

The aerosol provision device 20 and article 30 each comprise an interface 22, 24 such that the aerosol provision device 20 and article 30 are mechanically coupled for use. As described above, the interfaces may comprise a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction fit fixing, wherein the interface 24 on the aerosol provision device 20 and the interface 24 on the article 30 each comprise a complementary fitting or fixture to enable the aerosol provision device 20 and article 30.

The article 30 comprises or consists of aerosol-generating material 32, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. An article 30 may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area 39, an aerosol-generating material transfer component 37, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece 35, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

An article 30 may also comprise an aerosol generator 36, such as a heating element, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material 32 to generate aerosol in use. The aerosol generator 36 may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor. It should be noted that it is possible for the aerosol generator 36 to be part of the aerosol provision device 20 and the article 30 then may comprise the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 for the aerosol-generating material 32 such that, when the article 30 is coupled with the aerosol provision device 20 via the interfaces 22, 24, the aerosol-generating material 32 can be transferred to the aerosol generator 36 in the aerosol provision device 20.

Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. The aerosol-generating material 32 may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosol- generating material 32 may comprise an “amorphous solid”, which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material 32 may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

The aerosol-generating material comprises one or more ingredients, such as one or more active substances and/or flavourants, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials such as pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, and psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

The aerosol provision device 20 includes a power source 14, such as a battery, configured to supply electrical power to the aerosol generator 36. The power source 14 in this example is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, for example of the kind normally used in electronic cigarettes and other applications requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods. The battery 14 may be recharged through the charging port (not illustrated), which may, for example, comprise a USB connector.

The aerosol provision device 20 includes device control circuitry 28 configured to control the operation of the aerosol provision system 10 and provide conventional operating functions in line with the established techniques for controlling aerosol provision systems such as electronic cigarettes. The device control circuitry (processor circuitry) 28 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units/circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the electronic cigarette's operation. For example, depending on the functionality provided in different implementations, the device control circuitry 28 may comprise power source control circuitry for controlling the supply of electrical power from the power source 14 to the aerosol generator 36, user programming circuitry for establishing configuration settings (e.g. user-defined power settings) in response to user input, as well as other functional units/circuitry associated functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and conventional operating aspects of electronic cigarettes. It will be appreciated the functionality of the device control circuitry 28 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and/or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality.

The aerosol provision device 20 includes one or more air inlets 21. In use, as a user inhales on the mouthpiece 35, air is drawn into the aerosol provision device 20 through the air inlets 21 and along an air channel 23 to the aerosol generator 36, where the air mixes with the vaporised aerosol-generating material 32 and forms a condensation aerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol generator 36 continues along the air channel 23 to a mouthpiece 35, carrying some of the aerosol with it, and out through the mouthpiece 35 for inhalation by the user. Alternatively, the one or more air inlets 21 may be included on the article 30, such that the air channel 23 is entirely contained within the article 30.

By way of a concrete example, the article 30 comprises a housing (formed, e.g., from a plastics material), an aerosol-generating material storage area 39 formed within the housing for containing the aerosol-generating material 32 (which in this example may be a liquid which may or may not contain nicotine), an aerosol-generating material transfer component 37 (which in this example is a wick formed of e.g., glass or cotton fibres, or a ceramic material configured to transport the liquid from the reservoir using capillary action), an aerosol-generating area containing the aerosol generator 36, and a mouthpiece 35. Although not shown, a filter and/or aerosol modifying agent (such as a flavour imparting material) may be located in, or in proximity to, the mouthpiece 35. The aerosol generator 36 of this example comprises a heater element formed from an electrically resistive material (such as NiCr8020) spirally wrapped around the aerosol-generating material transfer component 37, and located in the air channel 23. The area around the heating element and wick combination is the aerosol-generating area of the article 30.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example article 30 for use in the aerosol provision system 10 illustrated in Figure 1 , where the same reference signs have been used for like elements between the article 30 illustrated in Figure 1 and the article 30 illustrated in Figure 2. As per the article 30 illustrated in Figure 1 , the article 30 illustrated in Figure 2 includes an aerosol-generating material storage area 39 for storing an aerosol-generating material 32, an aerosol-generating material transfer component 37, an aerosol generation area containing an aerosol generator 36, and a mouthpiece 35.

The article 30 illustrated in Figure 2 is configured to be refilled and reused. In other words, the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30 illustrated in Figure 2 can be refilled with aerosol-generating material 32 once some or all of the aerosolgenerating material 32 contained in the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 has been exhausted or depleted. To facilitate the refilling or replenishment of aerosol-generating material 32, the article 30 has a refilling tube 33 extending between the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 and the exterior or an outer surface of the housing of the article 30, thereby creating a refilling orifice 34. Aerosol-generating material 32 can then be inserted into the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 via the refilling orifice 34 and refilling tube 33. It will be appreciated, however, that such a configuration of a refilling tube 33 and a refilling orifice 34 is not essential, and the article 30 may comprise any other suitable means of facilitating the refilling of the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 with aerosol generating material 32.

The refilling orifice 34 and/or the refilling tube 33 may be sealable, for example with a cap, one-way valve or septum valve, in order to ensure that aerosol-generating material 32 does not leak out of the refilling orifice 34. In other words, the refilling orifice 34 can comprise a cap, one-way valve or septum valve. Although the refilling orifice 34 is illustrated in Figure 2 as being on the same end or surface 310 of the article 30 as the air channel 23 and interface 22 with the aerosol provision device 20, this is not essential. The refilling orifice 34 may be located at the end 320 of the article 30 comprising the mouthpiece 35, for example proximate to the outlet of the air channel 23 on the mouthpiece 35, such that the refilling tube 33 extends between the end 320 of the article 30 comprising the mouthpiece 35 and the aerosol-generating material storage area 39. In this case, the article 30 does not necessarily need to be separated from the aerosol-generating device 20 in order to refill the article 30 with aerosol-generating material 32, as the refilling orifice 34 is not obstructed by the aerosol-generating device 20 when the article 30 is coupled with the aerosol provision device 20 via the interfaces 22, 24.

The article 30 illustrated in Figure 2 also comprises article control circuitry 38 configured to control the operation of the article 30 and store parameters and/or data associated with the article 30. The parameters associated with the article 30 may include, for example, a serial number and/or stock keeping unit (SKU) for the article 30 or other means of identifying the article 30 and/or the type of the article 30, a date of manufacture and/or expiry of the article 30, an indication of the number of times the article 30 has been refilled, the capacity of the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 and/or the amount of aerosol-generating material remaining in the aerosol-generating material storage area 39. The parameters associated with the article 30 may include data relating to the aerosolgenerating material stored in the aerosol-generating material storage area 39, such as one or more ingredients, the concentration and/or amount of the ingredients and/or one or more flavourants within the aerosol-generating material. As described above in relation to the device control circuitry 28, the article control circuitry 38 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and/or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. For example, the article control circuitry 38 may comprise a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a system on chip (SoC).

The article 30 illustrated in Figure 2 also comprises one or more connectors 31, such as contact electrodes, connected via electrical wiring to the aerosol generator 36 and the article control circuitry 38. In use, the article 30 is coupled to the aerosol-generating device 20 and the connectors 31 mate with connectors on the aerosol-generating device, thereby allowing electrical power and electrical current to be supplied from the battery 14 of the aerosol-generating device 20 to the aerosol generator 36 and the article control circuitry 38. As illustrated in Figure 2, the one or more connectors 31 can be located at the same end 310 of the article 30 as the interface 22. Alternative, the one or more connectors 31 may form part of the interface 22 or be located on a different surface of the article 30 to the interface 22, for example a side wall of the article 30 proximate to the end 310 with the interface. It will be appreciated that the one or more connectors 31 can be located on any surface of the article 30 so as to provide a complementary fixture or fitting with equivalent connectors 22 on the aerosol provision device 20 and/or refilling device 40 as described in more detail below.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a refilling device 40 for an article of an aerosol provision system, such as the article 30 illustrated in Figure 2, and a reservoir 50. The reservoir 50 is a disposable/replaceable part which contains aerosol-generating material 52. The refilling device 40 facilitates the transfer of the aerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 couplable to the refilling device to an article 30 couplable to the refilling device in order to refill or replenish the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30 with aerosol-generating material. In other words, the refilling device 40 described herein is a refilling apparatus for an article 30 of an aerosol provision system 10. The article 30 can then be reused as part of the aerosol provision system 10 described above, whilst the reservoir 50 can be disposed of when the aerosol-generating material 52 within the reservoir 50 has been depleted. This allows a single article 30 to be refilled using one or more reservoirs, thereby increasing the number of uses of a single article 30.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in Figure 3 can be considered a desktop refilling device 40. A desktop refilling device is a refilling device designed for regular use at a single location on or near a desk, table or other solid surface due to its size and power requirements. For example, desktop refilling device 40 can comprise an external power supply, such as a mains power or supply to which the refilling device 40 can be coupled, attached or otherwise connected. The refilling device 40 may also comprise an internal power source, such as a battery, configured to supply electrical power to the components of the refilling device 40 in the event that the external power supply is not available or unexpectedly cuts out in the middle of operation.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the refilling device 40 can also comprise a flat surface 410 to facilitate storage of the desktop refilling device on another flat surface, such as a desk, table or other solid surface. This allows the desktop refilling device 40 to rest stably and level on another surface. The flat surface 410 may comprise a non-slip mat or coating in order to prevent the desktop refilling device from being knocked or pushed. The non-slip mat may be made of rubber or any other suitable material with a high coefficient of friction. More generally, the desktop refilling device 40 illustrated in Figure 3 has the flat surface 410 at a first end of the refilling device 40 and a second surface 420 at a second end of the refilling device 40. The second end is opposite the first end, such that a major axis or length of the refilling device 40 extends between the first end and the second end. When the first end and flat surface 410 are placed or otherwise located on a horizontal surface (e.g. aligned with x-axis in Figure 3), the major axis or length of the refilling device 40 extends in a vertical direction (aligned with the y-axis in Figure 3) between the first end and the second end. The flat surface 410 can therefore be considered as the base, bottom or foot of the refilling device 40 whilst the second surface 420 can be considered the top or upper surface of the refilling device 40.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the refilling device 40 comprises an article interface 42 configured to receive the article 30. The article interface 42 may comprise a slot, tray, opening or aperture on the refilling device 40 into or onto which the article 30 is placed or coupled. Alternatively the article interface 42 may comprise a lead or other cable which is attachable or otherwise connectable to the article 30. Although one article interface 42 is illustrated in Figure 3, the refilling device 40 may comprise more than one article interface 42, for example three, five or ten, depending on the specific design of the refilling device 40. In this case, two or more of the article interfaces 42 may be different such that the refilling device 40 is capable of receiving different types of article, or two or more of the article interfaces 42 may be the same such that the refilling device 40 is capable of receiving multiple articles of the same type.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the article interface 42 is configured to receive the article 30 when the article 30 is separated from the aerosol provision device 20. As set out above with reference to Figure 1 , when used as an aerosol provision system 10, the aerosol provision device 20 and article 30 are mechanically coupled together via interfaces 22, 24. The article interface 42 is configured such that, before the article 30 is received by the article interface 42, the article is detached, disconnected or otherwise separated from the aerosol provision device 20 such that only the article 30 is received by the article interface 42 (in other words, the aerosol provision system 20 is not received by the article interface 42). This means that the aerosol provision device 20 is not required in order for the article 30 to be refilled with aerosol generating material 32.

The refilling device 40 also comprises one or more reservoir interfaces 46 configured to receive a reservoir 50. In the same fashion as described above in relation to the article interface 42, each of the reservoir interfaces 46 may comprise a slot, tray, opening or aperture on the refilling device 40 into or onto which the reservoir 50 is placed or coupled. Alternatively, each reservoir interface 46 may comprise a lead or other cable which is attachable or otherwise connectable to the reservoir 50. Although two reservoir interfaces 46 are illustrated in Figure 3, this is not essential and the refilling device 40 may comprise fewer or more reservoir interfaces 46, for example one, three, five or ten, depending on the specific design of the refilling device 40.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 can be located above the article interface 42. In other words the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 are located at a higher position than the article interface 42 such that, in use, the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 is gravity assisted, thereby reducing the energy required to transfer aerosol-generating material 52. The x-axis shown in Figure 3 aligns with a horizontal direction and the y-axis shown in Figure 3 aligns with a vertical direction. A first end of the refilling device 40 comprises the flat surface 410 to allow the refilling device is located on a horizontal surface. As illustrated in Figure 3, the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 are located further (in other words, a greater distance along the major axis or length of the refilling device 40) from the flat surface 410 than the above the article interface 42. This ensures that, when the flat surface 410 is placed on another flat surface (such as a horizontal surface), such as in the case of a desktop refilling device as described above, the flat surface 410 aligns with the x-axis (or horizontal direction), and the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 are located at a higher position than the article interface 42.

The refilling device 40 also comprises refilling control circuitry 48 configured to control the operation of the refilling device 40. In particular, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 to the article 30. As described above in relation to the device control circuitry 28, the refilling control circuitry 48 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and/or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. For example, the refilling control circuitry 48 may comprise a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a system on chip (SoC).

The refilling device 40 also comprises a housing 400 which contains and encloses the components of the refilling device 40. As illustrated in Figure 3, the article interface 42 and the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 are located inside the housing 400 of the refilling device. The article interface 42 is therefore configured to enclose the article 30 and the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 configured to enclose the reservoir 50 inside the housing 400 of the refilling device 40 during the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. The article interface 42 and/or the reservoir interfaces 46 may comprise a door, cover or flap which can be shut when the article 30 and reservoir 50 are respectively received by the article interface 42 and the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 such that the article 30 and the reservoir 50 are fully contained within or otherwise enclosed by the housing 400 of the refilling device 40.

As described above, the reservoir 50 comprises aerosol-generating material 52 for transferring, by the refilling device 40, to the article 30 in order to refill or replenish the aerosol-generating material 32 in the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30.

The reservoir 50 illustrated in Figure 3 also comprises reservoir control circuitry 58 configured to control the reservoir 50 and store parameters and/or data associated with the reservoir 50. The parameters associated with the reservoir 50 may include, for example data indicative of an amount of aerosol-generating material 52 stored in the reservoir 50, data relating to the aerosol-generating material 52 stored in the reservoir 50, such as one or more ingredients, the concentration and/or amount of the ingredients and/or one or more flavourants within the aerosol-generating material 52. The data may also comprise an identifier, such as a serial number and/or SKU for the reservoir 50 or other means of identifying the reservoir 50 and/or the type of the reservoir 50, and a date of manufacture and/or expiry of the reservoir 50. As described above in relation to the device control circuitry 28, the reservoir control circuitry 58 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and/or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. For example, the reservoir control circuitry 58 may comprise a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a system on chip (SoC). Alternatively, the reservoir control circuitry 58 may comprise a code printed onto the reservoir, such as a barcode or QR code, or an NFC chip or other form of passive tag.

The reservoir 50 can have a volume of 10ml or more, for example 20ml, 50ml or 100ml. In other words, the reservoir is configured to contain 10ml or more of aerosolgenerating material 52 when the reservoir 50 is filled with aerosol generating material 52. At least one of the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 is then configured to receive a reservoir with a volume of 10ml or more.

The reservoir 50 can also have a larger volume than the article 30. For example, the volume of the reservoir can be at least 5 times greater than the volume of the article, for example 10 times, 20 times or 50 times greater. In other words, the reservoir is configured to contain, when filled with aerosol-generating material 52, a volume of aerosol-generating material 52 at least 5 times greater than the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30. This allows the same reservoir 50 to be used to refill the article at least 5 times. At least one of the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 is then configured to receive a reservoir with a volume at least 5 times greater than a volume of the article the article interface 42 is configured to receive.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in Figure 3 also comprises one or more connectors 41 , such as contact electrodes, connected via electrical wiring to the refilling control circuitry 48 and the power source (not illustrated). The connectors 41 are located proximate to or as part of the article interface 42. This facilitates communication between the refilling control circuitry 48 and the article control circuitry 38; the connectors 31 on the article 30 mate with the connectors 41 on the refilling device 40 when the article 30 is received by the article interface 42, thereby allowing power to be supplied from the refilling device 40 to the article control circuitry 38 and electrical signals to be transferred between the refilling control circuitry 48 and the article control circuitry 38. The connectors 41 may be arranged relative to the article interface 42 in a pattern and position matching/mirroring the connectors 31 on the article 30 in order to facilitate the mating of the connectors 31 on the article 30 and the connectors 41 on the refilling device 40 when the article 30 is received by the article interface 42.

In the same fashion, the refilling device 40 illustrated in Figure 3 also comprises one or more connectors 47, such as contact electrodes, located proximate to or as part of each of the reservoir interfaces 46 and connected via electrical wiring to the refilling control circuitry 48 and the power source (not illustrated). The connectors 47 mate with the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 when the reservoir 50 is received by the reservoir interface 46, thereby allowing power to be supplied from the refilling device 40 to the reservoir control circuitry 58 and electrical signals to be transferred between the refilling control circuitry 48 and the reservoir control circuitry 58. The connectors 47 may be arranged relative to the reservoir interface 46 in a pattern and position matching/mirroring the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 in order to facilitate the mating of the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 and the connectors 47 on the refilling device 40 when a reservoir 50 is received by one of the reservoir interfaces 46.

Although the connectors 31 , 41 , 47, 51 are described herein as physical electrical connectors between the article, the refilling device and the reservoir, in an alternative implementation one or more of the electrical connections between the respective components may be a wireless connection, such as NFC, RFID, or inductive coupling. The refilling device 40 illustrated in Figure 3 also comprises a refilling outlet 44 located proximate to or as part of the article interface 42, a refilling inlet 45 located proximate to or as part of each of the reservoir interfaces 46, and a duct 43 connecting each refilling inlet 45 to the refilling outlet 44. The refilling outlet 44 is configured to mate with the refilling orifice 34 on the article 30 when the article is received by the article interface 42, and each refilling inlet 45 is configured to mate with a reservoir outlet 55 when a reservoir 50 is received by the corresponding reservoir interface 46. The duct 43 is configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from each of the refilling inlets 45 to the refilling outlet 44, thereby providing a transfer path for aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 through the refilling device 40 and into the article 30.

Although the refilling outlet 44 is illustrated in Figure 3 as being on the same end or surface of the article interface 42 as the connectors 41 , this is not essential. The refilling outlet 44 may be located anywhere proximate to or in the article interface 42 relative to the connectors 41 in order for the refilling outlet 44 to mate with the refilling orifice 34 on the article 30 whilst the connectors 41 on the refilling device 40 mate with the connectors 31 on the article 30 when the article 30 is received by the article interface 30. Similarly, the refilling inlet 45 may be located anywhere proximate to or in each reservoir interface 46 relative to the connectors 47 in order for the refilling inlet 45 to mate with the reservoir outlet 55 on the reservoir 50 whilst the connectors 47 on the refilling device 40 mate with the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 when a reservoir 50 is received by a reservoir interface 46.

Further, as described above, the refilling device 40 may be configured to receive different types, designs or configuration of article 30 using the same article interface 42. In this case, there may be multiple configurations of connectors 41 and/or refilling outlets 44 proximate to or in the article interface 42 in order to facilitate the same article interface 42 receiving different types, designs or configurations of article 30. Equally, there may be multiple configurations of connectors 47 and/or refilling inlets 45 proximate to or in each reservoir interface 46 in order to facilitate the same reservoir interface 46 receiving different types, designs or configurations of reservoir 50. Alternatively or in addition, the configuration of connectors 47 and/or refilling inlets 45 proximate to or in the one or more of the reservoir interfaces 46 may be different such that different reservoir types are received by different reservoir interfaces 46 of the same refilling device 40.

One or more of the refilling outlet 44, the refilling inlets 45, the reservoir outlet 55 and the duct 43 may also include a means of controlling the rate and/or direction of transfer of the aerosol-generating material 52, for example a ball valve, needle valve or diaphragm to control the rate of transfer and/or a one way valve such as a check valve or non-return valve to control the direction of transfer. For example, a one way valve may be located at or proximate to each of the refilling outlet 44, the refilling inlets 45 and the reservoir outlets 55 to ensure that aerosol-generating material 52 can only be transferred from the reservoir 50 to the refilling device 40 and from the refilling device 40 to the article 30, whilst a single ball valve or diaphragm may be located on or in the duct 43 of the refilling device 40 in order to control the flow rate of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 through the refilling device 40 and into the article 30. Equally, a ball valve or diaphragm may be located proximate to each refilling inlet 45 in order to independently control the rate of transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 into each of the refilling inlets 45 or from each of the refilling inlets 45 into the duct 43. For example, this allows the refilling control circuitry 48 to prevent a first aerosol-generating material 52 being transferred from a first reservoir 50 whilst a second aerosol-generating material 52 is being transferred from a second reservoir 50 to the article 30. This also allows the refilling control circuitry 48 to facilitate the transfer the first aerosol-generating material 52 from the first reservoir 50 and the second aerosol-generating material 52 from the second reservoir 50 simultaneously to the article 30, but at different transfer rates, thereby creating an aerosol-generating material 32 in the article 30 containing a mixture of the first aerosol-generating material 52 and the second aerosol-generating material 52 at different concentrations.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in Figure 3 also comprises a device interface 49 configured to receive the aerosol provision device 20. As described above, the article interface 42 is configured to receive the article 30 when the article 30 is separated from the aerosol provision device 20, such that the aerosol provision device 20 is not received by the article interface 42. The aerosol provision device 20 can then be received by a separate device interface 49 as illustrated in Figure 3. This allows the device interface 49 and the article interface 42 to be located separately on the refilling device 40, for example on different sides of the refilling device 40, such that the aerosol provision device 20 can be coupled to the refilling device 40 independently of the article 30. As described above, this also means that the aerosol provision device 20 is not required in order for the article 30 to be refilled with aerosol generating material 32.

The device interface 49 can be configured to receive the aerosol provision device 20 in order to supply electrical power from the refilling device 40 to the aerosol provision device 20. This electrical power can be used, for example, to recharge the power source or battery 14 of the aerosol provision device 20 and to facilitate the transfer of electrical signals between the refilling control circuitry 48 and the device control circuitry 28. This allows the user to use the refilling device 40 as a means of charging the aerosol provision device 20 whilst the article 30 is being replenished with aerosol-generating material 32, thereby reducing the number of associated devices needed to operate and maintain the aerosol provision system 10. The device interface 49 may be a wired interface, such as using electrical connectors as described above, or a wireless interface such as inductive or capacitive coupling. The device interface 49 may also be configured to the transfer of data between the refilling control circuitry 48 and the device control circuitry 28. The refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured to read data from the aerosol provision device 20 and/or write data to the aerosol provision device 20, for example to perform a software update, thereby installing an updated version of software onto the device control circuitry 28.

As set out above, the refilling device 40 facilitates the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 couplable to the refilling device 40 to an article 30 couplable to the refilling device 40 in order to refill or replenish the article 30 so that it can be reused as part of the aerosol provision system 10. In particular, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 in response to detecting that the article 30 has been received by the refilling device 40.

By way of a concrete example, when a reservoir 50 is received by one of the reservoir interfaces 47, the connectors 47 located proximate to or in the corresponding reservoir interface 46 mate with the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 and the refilling inlet 45 located proximate to or in the corresponding reservoir interface 46 mates with the reservoir outlet 55. When an article 30 is received by the article interface 42, the connectors 41 located proximate to or in the article interface 42 mate with the connectors 31 on the article 30 and the refilling outlet 45 mates with the refilling orifice 34 on the device 30. The refilling control circuitry 48 is then configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 by facilitating the transfer of aerosolgenerating material 52 from the reservoir 50 into the duct 42 of the refilling device 40 via the reservoir outlet 51 and the refilling inlet 45, and from the duct 42 of the refilling device 40 into the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30 via the refilling outlet 44, the refilling orifice 34 and the refilling tube 33.

In the examples where the refiling device 40 has a plurality of reservoir interfaces 46, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to selectively facilitate the transfer of aerosolgenerating material 52 from a reservoir 50 received by one of the reservoir interfaces 46, for example in response to a determination that only one of the reservoir interfaces 46 has received a reservoir 50, or in response to a selection of a particular reservoir 50 from which aerosol-generating material 52 should be transferred, for example a user input or a determination based on one or more parameters of each of the reservoirs 50 stored on the respective reservoir control circuitry 58. In this case, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to receive, from a user of the refilling device 40, a selection of one or more reservoir interfaces 46 and selectively facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52, from each reservoir 50 connected to one of the one or more selected reservoir interfaces 46, to the article 30 when the article 30 is coupled to the refilling device. In other words, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to only transfer aerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 connected to a selected reservoir interface 46, and prevent aerosolgenerating material 52 from being transferred from any other reservoir 50 connected to the refilling device 40.

Although not illustrated, in some examples, the refilling device 40 can comprise a tank, container or other such receptacle for storing aerosol-generating material 52 received from the reservoir 50, for example when a reservoir 50 is received by the reservoir interface 46 without an article 30 being received by the article interface 42, thereby allowing the reservoir 50 to be disconnected from the reservoir interface 46 before an article 30 is received by the article interface 42. In this case, the aerosol-generating material 52 is stored in the receptacle of the refilling device 40 until such a time that it can be transferred to an article 30 received by the article interface 42. In this case, control circuitry 48 of the refilling device 40 is configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the receptacle, and subsequently and separately to facilitate the transfer of the aerosol-generating material 52 from the receptacle to the article 42.

The receptacle of the refilling device 40 can also be used to facilitate the mixing of aerosol-generating material 52 before it is transferred to the article 30. For example, if a first reservoir interface 46 receives a first reservoir 50 containing a first aerosol-generating material 52 and a second reservoir interface 46 receives a second reservoir 50 containing a second aerosol-generating material 52, then the refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to facilitate the transfer of the first aerosol-generating material 52 from the first reservoir 50 into the receptacle, and facilitate the transfer of the second aerosol-generating material 52 from the second reservoir 50 into the receptacle. The first aerosol-generating material 52 and the second aerosol-generating material 52 can then be mixed in the receptacle, and the mixture of the first aerosol-generating material 52 and the second aerosol-generating material 52 transferred to the article 30.

Figures 4A to 4E are schematic diagrams of a refilling device 40 for an article of an aerosol provision system, such as the article 30 illustrated in Figure 2, and the reservoir 50 illustrated in Figure 3. The same reference signs have been used for like elements between the refilling device 40 illustrated in Figure 3 and the refilling device 40 illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E. Like the refilling device 40 illustrated in Figure 3, the refilling device 40 illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E comprises an article interface 42 configured to receive the article 30, a reservoir interface 46 configured to receive a reservoir 50, a housing 400 and refilling control circuitry 48 configured to control the operation of the refilling device 40.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E also comprises a nozzle block 430 located between the article interface 42 and the reservoir interface 46. In other words, the nozzle block 430 is located above the article interface 42 and the reservoir interface 46 is located above the nozzle block 43. In use, aerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 received by the reservoir interface 46 to the article 30 received by the article interface 42 via the nozzle block 430. This is achieved by the nozzle block 430 engaging with the article 30 and the reservoir 50. For example, a portion of the nozzle block 430 can be configured to engage with the refilling orifice 34 on the article 30 whilst another portion of the nozzle block 430 is configured to engage with the reservoir outlet 55 on the reservoir 50.

The nozzle block 430 is configured to be removable from the refilling device 40. In other words, the nozzle block 430 can be removed and a new nozzle block inserted into the refilling device 40, for example if the nozzle block 430 becomes damaged or has reached the end of its usable life. Equally, this allows the nozzle block to be removed and cleaned, for example if the user wishes to refill the article 30 with a different flavour or type of aerosol generating material or if the nozzle block 430 becomes blocked thereby preventing the transfer of aerosol generating material from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. The refilling control circuitry 48 can be control to only facilitate the transfer of aerosol generating material from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 in response to detecting that a nozzle block 430 is fitted to the refilling device 40. For example, the refilling device 40 can comprise a nozzle block interface configured to receive the nozzle block 430, and the refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to detect when the nozzle block 430 has been received by the nozzle block interface, for example using a sensor or contact switch.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E also comprises a plunger 440. The plunger 440 is configured, in use, to engage with the reservoir 50 such that aerosolgenerating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. In the example illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E, the plunger 440 is located above the reservoir interface 46. The plunger 440 is configured to engage with the reservoir 50 when the reservoir 50 is located in the reservoir interface 46 in order to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. For example, the plunger 440 may be configured to engage with a surface 53 the reservoir 50 and displace the surface 53 of the reservoir 50. This displacement of the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 reduces the volume of the portion of the reservoir 50 containing the aerosol generating material 52, thereby pushing aerosol-generating material 52 out of the reservoir 50 through the reservoir outlet 55 and into the article 30 via the nozzle block 430 and the refilling orifice 34.

The plunger 440 can be configured to be integrated with the reservoir interface 46. In other words, the plunger 440 forms part of the reservoir interface 46 such that the reservoir interface 46 comprises the plunger. In this case, the plunger 440 moves with the reservoir interface 46, although one or more portions of the plunger can be configured to be separately movable or actuated in order to engage with the reservoir 50 and displace a surface 53 of the reservoir and facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 as described above.

The nozzle block 430 illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E comprises a filling needle 431 to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 via the nozzle block 430. In other words, in use, the filling needle 431 is located between the article interface 42 and reservoir interface 46, such that the plunger displacing the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 pushes aerosol-generating material 52 out of the reservoir 50 through the reservoir outlet 55 into filling needle 431 , then out of the needle 431 and into the article 30 via the refilling orifice 34. The filling needle 431 is configured to engage with both the reservoir outlet 55 on the reservoir and the refilling orifice 34 on the article 30 (i.e. a first end of the filling needle 431 is configured to engage with the reservoir outlet 55 and a second end of the filling needle 431 , opposite the first end, is configured to engage with the refilling orifice 34.

It will be appreciated that an alternative device may be used to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 via the nozzle block 430, such as a syringe. In this case, the nozzle block 430 can also comprise a three-way check valve to control the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 into and out of the syringe, and one or more needles, tubes or needle-free injectors to facilitate the transfer of aerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30, for example a needle or tube configured to engage with the reservoir outlet 55 on the reservoir and/or a needle or tube configured to engage with the refilling orifice 34 on the article 30.

The nozzle block 430 illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E also comprises a second, venting needle 432 configured to engage with the article 30 in order to vent air out of the article 30 as aerosol-generating material 52 is transferred into the article 30. As will be appreciated, if the air is not displaced or vented from the article 30 as aerosol-generating material 52 is transferred into the article 30, the air pressure in the article 30 will increase, which may cause the article 30 to burst or rupture and/or for aerosol-generating material 52 to leak out of the article 30. The venting needle 432 may engage with the refilling orifice 34 on the article 30, such that both the filling needle 431 and the venting needle 432 engage with the refilling orifice 34 on the article 30, or the venting needle 432 may engage with a different location on the article 30 to the filling needle 431.

The nozzle block 430 can be configured to be integrated with either the article interface 42 or the reservoir interface 46. In other words, the nozzle block 430 forms part of the article interface 42 such that the article interface 42 comprises the nozzle block 430, or the nozzle block 430 forms part of the reservoir interface 46 such that the reservoir interface 46 comprises the nozzle block 430. In this case, the nozzle block 430 moves with the article interface 42 or the reservoir interface 46, although one or more portions of the nozzle block 430, such as the needles 431 , 432 or syringe as described above can be configured to be separately movable or actuated in order to engage with the reservoir 50 and the article 30 in order to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 via the nozzle block 430.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E also comprises a motor 450 coupled to the article interface 42, for example by a lead screw 460. The motor 450 is configured to move the article interface 42 to engage with the reservoir interface 46 such that, in use, aerosol-generating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. In other words, when the reservoir 50 is received by the reservoir interface 46 and the article 30 is received by the article interface 42, the motor 450 moves the article interface 42, since the article interface 42 is coupled to the motor 450, to engage with the reservoir interface 46. The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to operate or otherwise control the motor 450. In other words, the refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured to control the motor 450 to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 as described herein.

As illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E, the article interface 42, the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440 are separated from each other. In other words, there is a gap between each of the article interface 42, the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440. This allows clearance for the user to access the article interface 42 and the reservoir interface 46, thereby allowing the user to place, load or otherwise locate the article 30 into/onto the article interface 42 and to place, load or otherwise locate the reservoir 50 into/onto the reservoir interface 46. The motor 450 is then configured to move the article interface 42 to engage with the reservoir interface 46. For example, the article interface 42 may be moved by motor 450 to close the gap between the reservoir interface 46 and the article interface 42 such that the article 30 and the reservoir 50 are proximate to each other. For example, the article interface 42 may be moved by the motor 450 towards the reservoir interface 46 with the reservoir interface 46 remaining stationary.

The article interface 42 can be configured to engage with the reservoir interface 46 such that reservoir interface 46 moves with the article interface 42. As described above, the motor 450 is configured to move the article interface 42 to engage with the reservoir interface 46. A portion of the article interface 42 may contact a portion of the reservoir interface 46 such that further movement of the article interface 42 by the motor 450 causes the reservoir interface 46 to move with the article interface 42. For example, the motor 450 may be configured to move the article interface 42 upwards (in the positive y-direction) towards the reservoir interface 46 such that a portion of the top surface of the article interface 42 is in contact with a portion of the bottom surface of the reservoir interface 46. Further upwards movement of the article interface 42 by the motor 450 then causes the reservoir interface 46 to move upwards with the article interface 42. Alternatively, as the article interface 42 is moved by the motor 450 towards the reservoir interface 46, a latch or other coupling means on the article interface 42 engages with an equivalent coupling means on the reservoir interface 46, such that the reservoir interface 46 moves with the article interface.

As described above, the plunger 440 is configured, in use, to engage with the reservoir 50 such that aerosol-generating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article. The article interface 42 can be configured to engage with the reservoir interface 46 such that reservoir interface 46 moves with the article interface 42 towards the plunger 440. In other words, the motor 450 is configured to move the article interface 42 to engage with the reservoir interface 46 as described above, then further movement of the article interface 42 by the motor 450 causes the reservoir interface 46 to move towards the plunger 440. In this case, the plunger 440 engages with the surface the reservoir 50 and displaces the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 due to the reservoir interface 46 (containing the reservoir 50) moving with the article interface 42 towards the plunger 440, with the plunger remaining stationary. This causes aerosol-generating material 52 to be pushed out of the reservoir 50 and into the article 30. In other words, the plunger 440 is stationary relative to the reservoir interface 46.

Figures 4A to 4E are schematic diagrams of the same refilling device 40, but with the components of the refilling device at different positions to illustrate manner in which the article interface 42, the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440 move. As described above, the motor is configured to move the article interface 42 such that, in use, aerosolgenerating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. This is achieved by the motor moving the article interface 42 between a first position and a second position, where aerosol-generating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 when the article interface 42 is in the second position.

Figure 4A illustrates the refilling device 40 with the article interface 42 in the first position. Figure 4D illustrates the refilling device 40 with the article interface 42 in the second position, where aerosol-generating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. Figure 4C illustrates the refilling device 40 with the article interface 42 in a third position, where the third position is between the first position and the second position. The article interface 42 is configured to engage with the reservoir interface 46 at the third position as described above. Figure 4B illustrates the illustrates the refilling device 40 with the article interface 42 in a fourth position, where the fourth position is between the first position and the third position. The article interface 42 is configured to engage with the nozzle block 430 at a fourth position. The movement of the components of the refilling device 40 between the first position, second position, third position and fourth position will now be described sequentially with reference to Figures 4A to 4E.

Figure 4A illustrates the refilling device 40 with the article interface 42 in the first position. In the first position, each of the article interface 42, the nozzle block 430, the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440 are separated from each other. In other words, there is a gap between each of the article interface 42, the nozzle block 430, the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440, such that none of these components are engaged with each other.

As illustrated in Figure 4A, an article 30 has been received by the article interface 42 and a reservoir 50 has been received by the reservoir interface 46. The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to control the motor 450 in response to the article 30 being received by the article interface 42 and in response to the reservoir 50 being received by the reservoir interface 46. The refilling control circuitry 48 may detect that article 30 and the reservoir 50 have been received, respectively, by the article interface 42 and the reservoir interface 46 using one or more sensors or contact switches. For example, a sensor or a contact switch may be located in, on or proximate to each of the article interface 42 and the reservoir interface 46. The refilling control circuitry 48 is then configured to only operate the motor 450 in response to detecting that both an article 30 has been by the article interface 42 and a reservoir 50 has been received by the reservoir interface 46. Alternatively, the refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to control the motor 450 in response to a user input. The user input can be on an input device on the refilling device 40, such as a button, switch or touch screen, or the user input can be on a device communicatively coupled to refilling device 40, such a mobile computing device connected to the refilling device 40 using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or other form of wireless communications. In response to receiving the user input, the refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to determine whether an article 30 has been by the article interface 42 and a reservoir 50 has been received by a reservoir interface 46, for example using the one or more sensors or contact switches as described above. If it is determined that both an article 30 has been received by the article interface 42 and a reservoir 50 has been received by a reservoir interface 46, the refilling control circuitry 48 is then configured to control the motor 450. If an article 30 has not been by the article interface 42 and/or a reservoir 50 has not been received by a reservoir interface 46, the refilling control circuitry 48 is then configured to prevent the motor 450 from operating. The refilling control circuitry 48 may also be configured to provide a notification to the user indicating that one or both of an article 30 and a reservoir 50 needs to be loaded into the refilling device 40 before the refilling operation can begin (in other words, before the motor 450 will operate). The notification may be provided on the refilling device 40 or a device communicatively coupled to refilling device 40. The notification can be provided by illuminating a light or LED, playing a sound through a speaker, displaying a message on a display screen or by a haptic means.

As described above, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to operate the motor 450, which is coupled to the article interface 42 to move the article interface 42 to engage with the reservoir interface 46. For example, the motor 450 can be configured to move the article interface 42 to engage with the reservoir interface 46 by moving the article interface 42 to engage with the nozzle block 430. This is illustrated in Figure 4B, which illustrates the refilling device 40 after the article interface 42 has been moved by the motor to engage with the nozzle block 430. In other words, the article interface 42 is in the fourth position. Since the article 30 is received by the article interface 42, the article 30 is moved towards the nozzle block 430 as the article interface 42 is moved towards the nozzle block 430. By comparing Figure 4B with Figure 4A, it can be seen that the article 30 has been moved towards the nozzle block 430 by moving the article interface 42 upwards (in the positive y-direction) towards the nozzle block 430. It can also be seen that the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440 have not moved. In other words, the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440 remain stationary as the article interface 42 is moved by the motor to engage with the needle block 430.

As illustrated in Figure 4B, a portion of the article interface 42 contacts a portion of the nozzle block 430 such that further upwards movement of the article interface 42 by the motor 450 will cause the nozzle block 430 to move with the article interface 42. For example, a portion of the top surface of the article interface 42 is in contact with a portion of the bottom surface of the nozzle block 430. Further upwards movement of the article interface 42 by the motor 450 will then cause the nozzle block 430 to move upwards with the article interface 42. Alternatively, as the article interface 42 is moved by the motor 450 towards the nozzle block 430, a latch or other coupling means on the article interface 42 engages with an equivalent coupling means on the nozzle block 430, such that the nozzle block 430 moves with the article interface 42.

As illustrated also illustrated in Figure 4B, the nozzle block 430 is configured such that the filling needle 431 and the venting needle 432 engage with the article, for example piercing, entering or otherwise engaging with the refilling orifice 34 when the article interface 42 engages with the nozzle block 430. In other words, the filling needle and the venting needle engage with the article 30 before the filling needle 431 engages with the reservoir 50. This ensures that the air pressure in the article 30 can be equalised before aerosolgenerating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30, preventing suck back or leakage of the aerosol-generating material 52.

The motor 440 is then configured to move the nozzle block 430, by moving the article interface 42, to engage with the reservoir interface 46 such that the reservoir interface 46 moves with the article interface 42 and the nozzle block 420. This is illustrated in Figure 40, which illustrates the refilling device 40 after the nozzle block 430 has been moved by the motor (by moving the article interface 42) to engage with the reservoir interface 46. In other words, the article interface 42 is in the third position. Since the article 30 is received by the article interface 42 and the reservoir 50 is received by the reservoir interface 46, the article 30 is moved towards the reservoir 50 as the article interface 42 and nozzle block 430 are moved towards the reservoir interface 46. By comparing Figure 4C with Figure 4B, it can be seen that the article 30 has been moved towards the reservoir 50 by moving the article interface 42 upwards (in the positive y-direction) towards the reservoir interface 46, whilst the nozzle block 430 has stayed at the same position relative to the article interface 42. In other words, the nozzle block 430 has moved with the article interface 42 in the same direction and at the same speed. It can also be seen that the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440 have not moved. In other words, the reservoir interface 46 and the plunger 440 remain stationary as the article interface 42 is moved by the motor such that the nozzle block 430 engages with the reservoir interface 46.

As illustrated in Figure 4C, a portion of the nozzle block 430 contacts a portion of the reservoir interface 46 such that further upwards movement of the article interface 42 by the motor 450 will cause both the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46 to move with the article interface 42. For example, a portion of the top surface of the nozzle block 420 is in contact with a portion of the bottom surface of the reservoir interface 46. Further upwards movement of the article interface 42 by the motor 450 will then cause the nozzle block 430 to move upwards with the article interface 42, which in turn will cause the reservoir interface 46 to move upwards article interface 42. Alternatively, as the article interface 42 is moved by the motor 450, causing the nozzle block 430 to move towards the reservoir interface 46, a latch or other coupling means on the nozzle block 430 engages with an equivalent coupling means on the reservoir interface 46, such that the reservoir interface 46 moves with the article interface 42 and the nozzle block 430.

As illustrated also illustrated in Figure 4C, the nozzle block 430 is configured such that the filling needle 431 engages with the reservoir 50, for example piercing, entering or otherwise engaging with the reservoir outlet 55 when the nozzle block 430 engages with the reservoir interface 46. As the filling needle 431 engaged with the article 30 when the article interface 42 engaged with the nozzle block, the filling needle 431 is therefore engaged with both the reservoir 50 and the article 30, creating a flow path for the aerosol-generating material 52 between the reservoir 50 and the article 30.

The motor 440 is then configured to move the reservoir 50 (by moving the article interface 42, which in turn moves the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46) to engage with the plunger 440. This is illustrated in Figure 4D, which illustrates the refilling device 40 after the reservoir 50 has been moved by the motor (by moving the article interface 42, which in turn moves the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46) to engage with the plunger 440. In other words, the article interface 42 is in the second position. As described above, the plunger is configured to engage with a surface 53 of the reservoir 50. As illustrated in Figure 4D, the plunger engages with the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 by moving the reservoir interface upwards (in the positive y-direction) towards the plunger 440 whilst the plunger remains stationary.

The plunger 440 may be fixed to a portion of the housing 400, such as the upper surface 420 to prevent the plunger 440 from moving. Accordingly, further upwards movement of the reservoir (by the motor moving the article interface 42 upwards, which in turn moves the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46 upwards) causes the plunger to displace the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 relative to the reservoir 50. In other words, the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 pushes against the plunger 440 and remains stationary with the plunger 440 whilst the remainder of the reservoir 50 is moved upwards. This relative movement of the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 compared to the remainder of the reservoir 50 reduces the volume of the portion 54 of the reservoir 50 containing the aerosol generating material 52. This pushes aerosol-generating material 52 out of the reservoir 50 through the reservoir outlet 55 and into the article 30 via the filling nozzle 431 and the refilling orifice 34 as described above. This is illustrated in Figure 4E, which illustrates the refilling device 40 after the reservoir 50 has been moved by the motor past the position illustrated in Figure 4D (by moving the article interface 42, which in turn moves the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46) whilst the plunger 440 and the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 remained stationary.

The motor can be configured to move the article interface 42 from the second position to the first position in response to the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to detect the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30, for example by measuring the position of the reservoir 50 or reservoir interface 46 relative to the plunger 440 (thereby indicating the distance that the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 has been displaced by the plunger 440), determining the location of the article interface (for example using one or more sensors) or determining the number of revolutions perform by the motor (for example using a counter).

In response to detecting the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to control the motor to move the article interface 42 in the opposite direction (i.e. the motor is reversed). In other words, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to control the motor to move the article interface 42 from the second position to the first position. The movement of the article interface 42, the nozzle block and the reservoir interface 46 as illustrated in Figures 4A to 4E, caused by the motor moving the article interface 42, is then reversed. The motor moves the article interface 42 in the opposite direction to that described with respect of Figures 4A to 4E (the negative y-direction), which in turn causes the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46 to move with the article interface 42 in the opposite direction to that described with respect of Figures 4A to 4E. In other words, once the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 has been displaced by the plunger 440, the reservoir 50 is moved away from the plunger 440 (by the motor moving the article interface 42 downwards, which in turn moves the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46 downwards) such that a gap is created between the plunger 440 and the reservoir 50 and the components return to the positions illustrated in Figure 4C.

The refilling device 40 may comprise a reservoir stop, such as a ledge, protrusion or step, configured to prevent the reservoir interface 46 from moving between the third position, illustrated in Figure 4C, and the first position illustrated in Figure 4A. In other words, the reservoir stop prevents the reservoir interface 46 from moving further away from the plunger 440 than the third position. Further movement of the article interface 42 to the first position or the fourth position by the motor moves the nozzle block 430 with the article interface, but the reservoir stop causes the reservoir interface 46 to remain stationary (at the third location). A gap is therefore created between the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46. The reservoir stop may comprise a component to interface with a coupling means between the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46 to cause the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46 to become uncoupled or otherwise disengaged such that the nozzle block 430 can move separately from the reservoir interface 46. Alternatively, where the third location is located above the first (and fourth) location, the reservoir interface 46 may engage with the nozzle interface 430 due to gravity. The reservoir stop therefore prevents further downward movement of the reservoir interface 46 beyond the third position, but upward movement of the reservoir interface 46 from the third position (e.g. to the second position) is not prevented by the reservoir stop.

The refilling device 40 may comprise a nozzle stop, such as a ledge, protrusion or step, configured to prevent the nozzle block 430 from moving between the fourth position, illustrated in Figure 4B, and the first position illustrated in Figure 4A. In other words, the nozzle stop prevents the nozzle block 430 from moving further away from the plunger 440 (and the reservoir interface 46) than the fourth position. Further movement of the article interface 42 to the first position by the motor moves the article interface 42, but the nozzle stop causes the nozzle block 430 to remain stationary (at the fourth location). A gap is therefore created between the nozzle block 430 and the article interface 42. The nozzle stop may comprise a component to interface with a coupling means between the nozzle block 430 and the article interface 42 to cause the nozzle block 430 and the article interface 42 to become uncoupled or otherwise disengaged such that the article interface 42 can move separately from the nozzle block 430. Alternatively, where the fourth location is located above the first location, the article interface 42 may engage with the nozzle interface 430 due to gravity. The nozzle stop therefore prevents further downward movement of the nozzle block 430 beyond the fourth position, but upward movement of the nozzle block 430 from the fourth position (e.g. to the second position or third position) is not prevented by the nozzle stop. The motor is then able to move the article interface 42 back to the first location, such that all of the components are in the locations illustrated in Figure 4A.

The motor can therefore be configured to move the article interface 42 in a reciprocating motion. This reciprocating motion comprises a first direction where the article interface 42 (and the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46) moves towards the plunger 440 (in the positive y-direction in Figures 4A to 4E), and a second direction where the article interface 42 (and the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46) moves away from the plunger 440 (in the negative y-direction in Figures 4A to 4E). The second direction is therefore opposite the first direction. As described above, when the article interface 42 is moved in the first direction from the first position to the second position, the plunger 440 engages with and pushes on the surface 53 of the reservoir 50, such that the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 remains stationary whilst the remainder of the reservoir 50 moves in the first direction, thereby causing aerosol-generating material 52 to be transferred from the reservoir 50 to the nozzle block 430, for example into the syringe as described above. Although the movement of the article interface 42 by the motor has been described above sequentially with reference to Figures 4A to 4E, it will be appreciated that the motion of the article interface 42 may be continuous.

The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to alter the speed of the motor 450 based on the location of the article interface 42 between the first location and the second position, thereby altering the speed at which the article interface 42 (and in turn the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46) moves. For example, the refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to operate the motor 450 at first speed when the article interface 42 (and the nozzle block 430) is moved towards the reservoir interface 46, then operate the motor 450 at a second, slower speed when the reservoir interface 46 is moved towards the plunger 440. In other words, the plunger 440 engaging and pushing on the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 occurs at a slower speed than the article interface 42 and nozzle block moving towards the reservoir interface 46. This ensures that the transfer of aerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir to the article 30 occurs in a controlled fashion, whilst speeding up the overall process, since the components are moved to their required positions for the transfer of aerosol generating material 52 quicker. The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to alter the speed of the motor 450 from the first speed to the second speed in response to detecting that the plunger 440 has engaged with the surface 53 of the reservoir 50. For example, the force required to move the article interface 42 will increase once the plunger 440 has engaged with the surface 53 of the reservoir 50. This increase in force will change the draw current of the motor 450. The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to alter the speed of the motor 450 from the first speed to the second speed in response to detecting this change in draw current of the motor 450. Alternatively, the reservoir interface 50 may be configured to receive a reservoir 50 of a particular size and shape. The distance the article interface 42 needs to move in order to for the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 to engage with the plunger 440 (e.g. from the first position to the second position) will therefore be fixed, and therefore the control circuitry 48 can be configured to alter the speed of the motor 450 from the first speed to the second speed in response to detecting that the article interface 42 has moved a given distance or that the motor 450 has performed a number of rotations that corresponds to the given distance.

Once the plunger 440 has displaced the surface 53 of the reservoir 50, the refilling control circuitry 48 can then be configured to reverse the direction of the motor 450 and operate the motor 450 at the first speed. The distance that the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 is displaced by the plunger 440 may be fixed such that a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50. In this case, the reservoir 50 may be configured to store enough aerosol generating material 52 to perform multiple refills of the article 30. The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to record the position of the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 (or the number of rotations of the motor 450 performed when the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 is at the required position), such that surface 53 of the reservoir 50 can be returned to the same position to engage with the plunger to start the next refilling operation. Alternatively, if the reservoir 50 is configured to store enough aerosol generating material 52 to a single refill of the article 30, the refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to reserve the direction of the motor 450 and operate the motor 450 at the first speed in response to the plunger 440 displacing the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 a known distance, the article interface 42 reaching the end of its available travel, or in response to a further increase in draw current of the motor 450 corresponding to the surface 53 of the reservoir 50 resisting further movement of the article interface 42.

As described above, when the direction of the motor 450 is reversed, the article interface 42 moves away from the plunger 440 (which in turn causes the nozzle block 430 and the reservoir interface 46 to move away from the plunger 440), such that the components return to their original positions as illustrated in Figure 4A, where in the article interface 42 is in the first position. Figure 5 is a flow chart of a method 500 of refilling an article 30 of an aerosol provision system 10, for example performed by the refilling control circuitry 48. The method begins at step 510, where an article 30 is received by the article interface 42. At step 520 a reservoir 50 is received by the reservoir interface 46. At step 530, a motor 450 is controlled, where the motor 450 is configured to move the article interface 42 to engage with the reservoir interface 46 such that aerosol-generating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30. For example, the motor 450 can be controlled to move the article interface 42 from the first location to the second location. The method then ends.

Figure 6 is a flow chart of a further method 600 of refilling an article 30 of an aerosol provision system 10, for example performed by the refilling control circuitry 48. The method begins at step 610, where it is determined whether an article 30 has been received by the article interface 42. If it is determined that an article 30 has been received, the method continues to step 620. If it is determined that an article 30 has not been received, step 610 is repeated until it is determined that an article 30 has been received. At step 620, it is determined whether a reservoir 50 has been received by the reservoir interface 46. If it is determined that a reservoir 50 has been received, the method continues to step 630. If it is determined that a reservoir 50 has not been received, step 620 is repeated until it is determined that a reservoir 50 has been received. Steps 610 and 620 may occur simultaneously, such that the method only continues to step 630 when it is determined that an article 30 has been received and it is determined that a reservoir 50 has been received. At step 630, a motor 450 is controlled to move the article interface 42 from a first location to a second location. Moving the article interface 42 from a first location to a second location causes aerosol-generating material 52 to be transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 as described above. At step 640, it is determined whether the transfer of aerosolgenerating material has occurred. If it is determined that the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 has occurred, the method continues to step 650. If it is determined that the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 has not occurred, the method returns to step 630. At step 650, the motor 450 is controlled to move the article interface 42 from the second location to the first location. The method then ends.

The method 500 illustrated in Figure 5 and the method 600 illustrated in Figure 6 may be stored as instructions on a computer readable storage medium, such that when the instructions are executed by a processor, the methods 500, 600 described above is performed. The computer readable storage medium may be non-transitory.

As described above, the present disclosure relates to (but it not limited to) a refilling device 40 for refilling an article 30 of an aerosol provision system 10 from a reservoir 50. The refilling device 40 comprises an article interface 42 configured to receive the article 30, a reservoir interface 46 configured to receive the reservoir 50, and a motor 450 coupled to the article interface 42, wherein the motor 450 is configured to move the article interface 42 to engage with the reservoir interface 46 such that, in use, aerosol-generating material 52 is transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article 30.

Thus, there has been described a refilling device for an article of an aerosol provision system and a method of refilling an article of an aerosol provision system.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

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 clam 1 or claim 2, 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 any one of claims 1 to 5, 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 or claim 7, 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 any one of claims 1 to 8, 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 aerosolgenerating material from the reservoir to the article.

11. The refilling device of claim 9 or claim 10, 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 or claim 12, 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 or 14, further comprising a nozzle stop configured to prevent the nozzle block from moving between the fourth position and the first position.

16. The refiling device of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the motor is coupled to the article interface by a lead screw.

17. The refilling device of any one of claims 1 to 16, 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 or claim 18, 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.