EP4719921A2

EP4719921A2 - Apparatus for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system

Info

Publication number: EP4719921A2
Application number: EP24732060.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sam WHIFFEN; Josef DRIVER; Nicholas HUNTFORD
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2023-05-31
Filing date: 2024-05-30
Publication date: 2026-04-08
Also published as: WO2024246530A3; GB202308144D0; WO2024246530A2

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system, the apparatus comprising a jig comprising a machine tray support for locating a machine tray of components, the components being arranged in an array in the machine tray; and a dosing assembly comprising a dosing head and a reservoir fluidly connected to the dosing head, wherein the dosing head comprises an array of nozzles for dispensing fluid into the array of components during operation of the apparatus, wherein the jig and the dosing head are configured so that the dosing head is removably locatable in the jig above the machine tray support.

Description

Apparatus for Dispensing Fluid Into Components Of A Delivery

System

Field The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for dispensing fluid into components of a tobacco industry product for use in a delivery system.

Background

There exists a need to provide an apparatus and a method for the efficient manufacture of components for delivery systems which may involve dispensing fluid into components of a tobacco industry product. These, and other manufacturing steps, may need to be carried out on a plurality of components in quick succession.

Summary According to the present disclosure, in a first aspect, there is provided apparatus for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system, the apparatus comprising: a jig comprising a machine tray support for locating a machine tray of components, the components being arranged in an array in the machine tray; and a dosing assembly comprising a dosing head and a reservoir fluidly connected to the dosing head, wherein the dosing head comprises an array of nozzles for dispensing fluid into the array of components during operation of the apparatus, wherein the jig and the dosing head are configured so that the dosing head is removably locatable in the jig above the machine tray support. The dosing head may comprise a location member configured to engage a recess of a machine tray received in the machine tray support.

The dosing head may comprise a recess configured to engage a location member of a machine tray received in the machine tray support.

The dosing head may be locatable on a receiver of the jig wherein the receiver is movable between an upper position in which the dosing head is spaced from the machine tray support, to allow the insertion or removal of a machine tray from the machine tray support, and a lower position in which the array of nozzles are moved relatively closer to the machine tray support so that, when a machine tray of components is located in the machine tray support, the nozzles are positioned to dispense fluid into the components of the machine tray

The dosing head may comprise a pair of handles configured to facilitate removal of the dosing head from the j ig.

The reservoir may comprise a main reservoir and a buffer reservoir disposed in between the main reservoir and the dosing head so that fluid drawn from the main reservoir first passes through the buffer reservoir before reaching the dosing head.

The dosing assembly may further comprise a level control system, the level control system comprising level controller, a level sensor and a top-up pump; the level sensor being arranged to detect if a fluid level in the buffer reservoir falls below a threshold level; and the level controller being configured to activate the top-up pump to pump fluid from the main reservoir and into the buffer reservoir if the fluid level falls below the threshold level.

The dosing assembly may comprise: a plurality of dosing chambers, each dosing chamber being associated with a nozzle of the array; and a dosing pump configured to draw fluid from the reservoir into the dosing chambers and to displace fluid from the dosing chamber.

The dosing pump may be a positive displacement pump.

The dosing pump may be configured to draw fluid from the buffer reservoir.

The dosing pump may comprise a plurality of dosing pumps each associated with a dosing chamber.

Each dosing pump may be a syringe and the dosing chamber a barrel of the syringe.

Each syringe may comprise a linear actuator configured to operate the syringe to both draw fluid into the syringe and displace fluid from the syringe. The apparatus may further comprise a dose control system, the dose control system being configured to selectively dispense fluid from any one of the nozzles in the dosing head. The dose control system may comprise a dose controller and a plurality of control valves, each control valve being associated with a dosing chamber and being configured to selectively direct fluid displaced from the dosing chamber either to a nozzle of the dosing head or back to the reservoir. The dose control system may be further configured to individually control each of the control valves and selectively put them into one of two modes: a reservoir mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the reservoir and the dosing chamber; and a nozzle mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the dosing chamber and the associated nozzle of the dosing head.

The dosing assembly and the jig maybe each provided on a separate bench, thereby allowing the dosing assembly to be separated from the jig. Either of the dosing head or jig may comprise a fill sensor configured to determine a fluid level within components of a machine tray received in the machine tray support

The fill sensor may comprise an optical height measurement device. According to the present disclosure, in a second aspect, there is provided a dosing assembly for use with apparatus for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system, the dosing assembly comprising a dosing head and a reservoir fluidly connected to the dosing head, the dosing head comprising an array of nozzles for dispensing fluid into an array of components, wherein the dosing assembly further comprises: a plurality of dosing chambers, each dosing chamber being associated with a nozzle of the array; a dosing pump configured to draw fluid from the reservoir into the dosing chambers and to displace fluid from the dosing chambers; and a plurality of control valves, each control valve associated with a dosing chamber and being configured to selectively direct fluid displaced from the dosing chamber either to a nozzle of the dosing head or back to the reservoir.

The dosing pump may be a positive displacement pump

Each syringe may comprise a linear actuator configured to operate the syringe to both draw fluid into the syringe and displace fluid from the syringe.

The dosing assembly may further comprise a dose control system, the dose control system being configured to selectively dispense fluid from any one of the nozzles in the dosing head.

The dose control system may comprises a dose controller and a plurality of control valves, each control valve being associated with a dosing chamber and being configured to selectively direct fluid displaced from the dosing chamber either to a nozzle of the dosing head or back to the reservoir.

The dose control system may be configured to individually control each of the control valves and selectively put them into one of two modes: a reservoir mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the reservoir and the dosing chamber; and a nozzle mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the dosing chamber and the associated nozzle of the dosing head. According to the present disclosure, in a third aspect, there is provided a method of operating apparatus of the first aspect, the method comprising: locating a machine tray of consumable units in the machine tray support; locating the dosing head in the jig to position the dosing head above the machine tray, each nozzle of the dosing head being aligned with a respective component in the machine tray; and pumping fluid from the reservoir to at least a selection of the nozzles of the dosing head to fill components associated with the said selection with said fluid.

The method may further comprise: putting the control valves in the reservoir mode and the operating the dosing pump to draw fluid into the dosing chambers; and putting one or more of the control valves into the nozzle mode and operating the dosing pump to direct fluid to one or more nozzles of the dosing head. The fluid may be an aerosol generating material.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGs. 1 shows an isometric view of a mouthpiece assembly of a delivery system;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates apparatus for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system;

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of a machine tray of components;

FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of apparatus for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system;

FIG. 5 shows a dosing head of a dosing assembly;

FIG. 6 is a cross section of a jig;

FIG. 7A shows the dosing head of FIG. 5 mounted to a platform of the jig of FIG. 6 in an upper position; FIG. 7B shows the dosing head of FIG. 5 mounted to the platform of the jig of FIG. 6 in an lower position;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the dosing assembly;

FIG. 9A is a schematic illustration of a pump of the dosing assembly in one mode of operation; FIG. 9B is a schematic illustration of a pump of the dosing assembly in another mode of operation;

FIG. 9C is a schematic illustration of a pump of the dosing assembly in another mode of operation;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of the dosing assembly adjacent an assembly line comprising the jig; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a method. Detailed Description

FIG. 1 illustrates a mouthpiece assembly 1 of a delivery system (not shown). The delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision device, having a main body for attachment to the mouthpiece assembly i. Typically, a battery is provided in the main body to power an power aerosol generator. As shown in FIG. 1, the mouthpiece assembly comprises a tank 12 for holding a liquid aerosol generating material. In use, the delivery system is configured to generate an aerosol from the liquid aerosol generating material for inhalation through the mouthpiece 1.

The present invention relates to an apparatus too and a method for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system. In the examples of the present disclosure, the components are tanks 12 of the mouthpiece assembly of FIG. 1 and the fluid is an aerosol generating fluid. However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus too and methods described herein could be used for dispensing any fluid into any component of a delivery system.

As used herein, the term “delivery system” is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user, and includes: combustible aerosol provision systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material); non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials; and aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user. In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosolgenerating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non- combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non- combustible aerosol provision device.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosolgenerating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non- combustible aerosol provision device thp. thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

Fig. 2 is a top-level schematic illustration of the apparatus too for dispensing fluid into components 12 of a delivery system. The apparatus comprises a jig 200 and a dosing assembly 300. The jig 200 comprises a machine tray support 201 for locating a machine tray of components; and the dosing assembly 300 comprises a dosing head 301 for dispensing fluid into the components of the machine tray. The jig 200 and dosing assembly 300 are configured for side-by-side arrangement on an assembly line for the manufacture of the delivery system. During downtime of the assembly line, the dosing assembly 300 maybe separated from the jig 200 for replacement with another dosing assembly 300. This separability of the dosing assembly 300 and the jig 200 minimises downtime should a dosing assembly 300 need to be removed from the line for cleaning, refill or repair. It is sometimes required to change the fluid being dispensed, such as, for example, when dispensing fluid into the tanks 12 of the mouthpiece 1 of FIG. 1. This can be achieved by removing one dosing assembly 300 and replacing it with another primed to dispense a different fluid. The result is that different batches of components 12 may be provided with different aerosol generating fluids on the same assembly line, without requiring significant downtime to modify any of the assembly apparatus.

The machine tray 400 is shown in FIG. 3. The machine tray 400 comprises a flat plate having, in an upper surface 401, an array of openings 402 for receiving the components 12. The array of openings 402 comprises a 5 by 22 array, though to avoid unnecessary repetition only one of the openings 402 and only one of the components 12 in the array is labelled in FIG. 3. It will be appreciated that the machine tray may have any number of openings 402 as required. The machine tray 400 is shown with a full complement of components 12 - in this case tanks 12- received in the openings 402 and protruding therefrom to stand proud of the upper surface 401. The machine tray 400 also comprises four location recesses (herein location holes 403), one at each corner of the array. The location holes 403 are provided for a positive location against location members of the dosing head 301 as will be explained further below.

FIG. 4 shows the jig in isometric view. The jig 200 comprises a receiver 202 (herein also platform 202) for locating the dosing head 301 of the dosing assembly 300 above the machine tray support 201. The dosing head 301 is shown located on the platform 202 in FIG. 4 but is removable to allow the dosing assembly 300 to be swapped out as explained above. The jig 200 comprises four pillars 203 that upstand from corners of the machine tray support 201. The platform 202 is movable by actuator 204 along the pillars 203 between an upper position and a lower position. With the platform 202 in the upper position, the dosing head 301 may be located on or removed form the platform 202. With the dosing head 301 located on the platform 202 and the platform 202 in the upper position, the dosing head 301 is spaced from the machine tray support

201 to allow for the insertion or removal of the machine tray 400. With the platform

202 in the lower position, the location members of the dosing head 301 engage the location holes 403 of the machine tray 400, as explained further below.

As shown in FIG. 5, the dosing head 301 comprises a top plate 302 and a bottom plate 303 spaced from the top plate 302 by brackets 304 that extend either side the bottom plate 303. Each bracket 304 is L-shaped having a first leg 304’ extending parallel to the top plate 302, and a second leg 304” extending into contact with the bottom plate 303.

An array of nozzles 305 is mounted to the bottom plate. The array of nozzles 305 corresponds in number and arrangement to the array of openings 402 in the machine tray 400 - though to avoid unnecessary repetition, only one of the array of nozzles 305 is labelled in FIG. 5. The nozzles 305 align with the openings 402 in the machine tray 400 when both are located on the jig 200. Each nozzle 305 is connected to an individual ‘nozzle’ hose 306 (of which only one is labelled in FIG. 5) for transporting fluid to the nozzles 305. The individual hoses 306 are collected into a bundle 307 at the top plate 302, whereat the bundle 307 extends through the top plate 302 and into a protective outer sheath 308 for connection to pumping apparatus. The spacing between the top plate 302 and bottom plate 303 allows the individual hoses 306 to branch out from the bundle 307 without forcing any hose 306 into a shape that might cause a kink to form.

The dosing head 301 further comprises handles 309, one adjacent either edge the top plate 302. The handles 309 allow a user to manoeuvre the dosing head 301 to locate it on the platform 202 of the jig 200 and remove it therefrom when required. The dosing head 301 comprises four location members 310; each extend in a direction parallel to the nozzles 305. In the illustrated example, the location members are locating pins 310. Therefore, when the dosing head 301 is located on the platform 202 of the jig 200, the locating pins 310 extend toward the machine tray support 201.

The jig 200 is shown in section in FIG. 6 with the platform 202 in the upper position.

The platform 202 comprises an opening 205 for the dosing head 301. When the dosing head 301 is located on the platform 202 (as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B), the first leg 304’ of each bracket 304 rests on an upper surface 206 of the platform 202. The second leg 304” of each bracket extends through the opening 205 to hold the bottom plate 303 beneath the platform 202 and above the machine tray support 201. The machine tray support 201 has an upper surface 207 and a cut out 208 in the upper surface that corresponds in width to the machine tray 400. Therefore, sides of the machine tray 400 can locate against sides 209 of the cut out 208 to provide a rough location of the machine tray 400 in a first axis of the jig. The cut out 208 may be open at a front edge of the machine tray support 201 to allow an operator to slide the machine tray 400 into position. A backstop (not shown) may be provided to bring the machine tray 400 to a stop when it is slid into position and provide a rough location of machine tray 400 in a second axis, perpendicular to the first. By ‘rough’ it is meant the machine tray is located in the machine tray support 201 with sufficient positional accuracy to allow the location pins 310 of the dosing head 301 to mate with their corresponding location holes 403 of the machine tray 400 when the dosing head 301 is located on the platform 202 and the platform 202 moves from the upper to the lower position.

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the dosing head 301 is located on the platform 202 and the machine tray 400 is located in the machine tray support 201. In FIG. 7A the platform is in the upper position so that ends 311 of the locating pins 310 are spaced above the machine tray 400. In FIG. 7B the platform 202 is in the lower position so that the locating pins 310 are located within the locating holes 403 of the machine tray 400.

Preferably, the machine tray support 201 also comprises holes (not shown) for receiving the locating pins 310 so that the locating pins 310 extend entirely through the machine tray 400 and into the machine tray support 201.

The locating pins 310 ensure that the dosing head 301 is aligned to the machine tray 400 with sufficient accuracy that the nozzles 305 are aligned to their respective components 12 in the machine tray 400. The ends 311 of the locating pins 310 are tapered so that any small misalignment between the machine tray 400 and the dosing head 301 does not prevent the locating pins 310 from entering the locating holes 403 as the platform 202 drops to the lower position. Instead, the tapered ends 311 of the locating pins 310 will push the machine tray 400 into alignment with the dosing head 301.

With the platform 202 in the lower position, the nozzles 305 are positioned immediately above or within the components 12 for the transfer of fluid through the nozzles 305 and into the components 12.

In use, the platform 202 starts in the upper position with the dosing head 301 located on the platform 202. An operator then inserts a machine tray 400 of components 12 into the machine tray support 201, pushing the machine tray 400 between sides 209 of the cut out 208 which guide the machine tray 400 into position against the backstop.

The backstop may include a sensor to activate the actuator 204. Alternatively, the operator may activate the actuator 204. In either case, the platform 201 drops into the lower position to bring the nozzles 205 of the dosing head 301 into dosing proximity of the components 12 in the machine tray 400. A controller of the dosing assembly 300 then activates the pumping apparatus to meter a dose of fluid through each nozzle 205 and into a respective component 12, before reactivating the actuator 204 to return the platform 202 to the upper position. With the platform 202 in the upper position, the operator is free to remove the machine tray 400 and replace it with another. The dosing assembly is shown in FIG 8. Components of the dosing assembly 300 are provided on a bench 312. The bench 312 may have castors (not shown) to allow it to be wheeled away from the manufacturing line for cleaning, refill or repair as explained above. The pumping apparatus 313 is connected to the dosing head 301 by the protective sheath 308. The pumping apparatus 313 comprises a dosing chamber 314 for each nozzle 305. A positive displacement pump 315 is configured to draw fluid into the dosing chamber 314 from a reservoir 316 and then displace the fluid through an individual hose 306 to a respective nozzle 305. In the illustrated example, each dosing chamber comprises its own pump 315 in the form of a linearly actuated piston 316 (as shown in FIGs. 9A-9C) that is sealingly engaged with the dosing chamber 314. Therefore, a sealed volume within the dosing chamber 314 is controlled by movement of the piston 316. To draw fluid into the dosing chamber 314, the piston 316 increases the sealed volume; and to dispense fluid the piston 316 decreases the sealed volume. In this way, the dosing chamber 314 and piston acts as a syringe.

A dose control system is provided and configured to selectively dispense fluid from any one of the nozzles 305 in the dosing head 301. The dose control system comprises a dose controller 317 and a plurality of control valves 318, each control valve 318 being associated with a dosing chamber 314 and being configured to selectively direct fluid displaced from the dosing chamber 314 either to a nozzle 315 of the dosing head 301 or back to the reservoir 316. To avoid unnecessary repetition, only one of the dosing chamber 314, pump 315 and control valve 318 is labelled in FIG. 8, though it will be appreciated that a dosing chamber 314, a pump 315 and a control valve 318 is provided for each nozzle 305 and connected thereto by an individual hose 306.

As shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, the dose control system may optionally further comprise a fill sensor 326 configured to determine a fluid level within components 12 of a machine tray 400 received in the machine tray support 201. The dose control system maybe configured to activate the control valves 318 in accordance with information from the fill sensor 326. For example, upon receiving information from the fill sensor 326 that a threshold fluid level has been reached within any or all of the components 12 in a machine tray 400, the dose controller 317 may send a signal to the respective control valves 318 to direct fluid being dispensed back to the reservoir 316. The fill sensor 326 may be an optical height measurement device such as, for example, a confocal height measurement device. The fill sensor 326 may comprise multiple sensors arranged to detect a fluid level of a corresponding number of components 12 of the machine tray 400. Alternatively, the fill sensor 326 may comprise a single sensor to determine a fluid level in one component of the machine tray 400. Where a single sensor is used, determination of the fluid level in one component 12 may be used to determine the fluid level in all components 12 of the machine tray 400 by assuming a constant fill rate. In such examples, the dose controller 317 may send a signal to all the control valves 318 based on information from a single sensor. The fill sensor 326 may be attached to the dosing head 301 adjacent one or more of the nozzles 305 or, as illustrated, or to the platform 202 of the jig 200.

An example dosing chamber 314, pump 315 and control valve 318 is shown schematically in FIGs. 9A to 9C. The control valve 318 is in fluid communication with the dosing chamber 314 and operates according to a signal from the dose control system controller 317 in either one of two modes: a reservoir mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the reservoir 316 and the dosing chamber 314; and a nozzle mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the dosing chamber 314 and the associated nozzle 305 of the dosing head 301.

The pump 315 comprises a linear actuator 319 mechanically connected to the piston 316 to effect its movement through the dosing chamber 314. The actuator 319 operates according to a signal from the dose control system controller 317 in either one of two modes: an aspiration mode in which the piston 316 is moved in the direction of arrow A to increase the sealed volume inside the dosing chamber 314; and a dispensing mode in which the piston 316 is moved in the direction of arrow D to decrease the sealed volume inside the dosing chamber 314. Aspiration mode operates only with the control valve 318 in reservoir mode. In aspiration mode, fluid is drawn from the reservoir 316 into the dosing chamber 314 along a reservoir hose 320 (as shown in FIG. 9A). In dispensing mode, fluid is dispensed from the dosing chamber 314 according to the mode of the control valve 318. With the control valve 318 in reservoir mode, fluid is returned to the reservoir along reservoir hose 320 (as shown in FIG. 9C). With the control valve 318 in nozzle mode, fluid is dispensed along the hose 306 to the corresponding nozzle 305 (as shown in FIG. 9B). In this way, the dose control system can select which of the control valves 318 of the pumping apparatus 313 to put into nozzle mode in accordance with, for example, the number of components 12 in the machine tray 400. Although the pumping apparatus 313 comprises a reservoir hose 320 and nozzle hose 306 for each dosing chamber 314, only one reservoir hose 320 and hose 306 is labelled in FIG. 8 to avoid unnecessary repetition. In the illustrated example, the reservoir hoses 320 are collected at a bundle 321. Alternatively, the reservoir hoses 320 maybe connected to a manifold which is fluidly connected to the reservoir 316. The machine tray 400 may have an RFID tag that communicates with the controller 317 to signal the number of components and their position in the machine tray 400. In operation of the apparatus, the machine tray 400 is positioned in the machine tray support 201 and imparts data to the controller 317 determinative of the control valves 318 to be put into nozzle mode during dispensing. Those control valves 318 put into nozzle mode will correspond with the nozzles 305 aligned with the components 12 in the machine tray 400. The sequence of events is as follows:

• The machine tray 4oois inserted into the machine tray support 201.

• The platform 202 is lowered to bring nozzles 305 of the dosing head 301 into dosing proximity with the components 12 of the machine tray 400.

• The controller 317 sends a signal to all control valves 318 to put all control valves into reservoir mode.

• The controller 317 sends a signal to all the actuators 315 to draw fluid from the reservoir 316 into all the dosing chambers 314. • The controller 317 sends a signal to a selection of control valves 318 corresponding to the nozzles 305 positioned above components 12 to put the selection into nozzle mode.

• The controller 317 sends a signal to all the actuators 315 to dispense fluid from the dosing chambers 314. Fluid passing through the selection of control valves 3018 will pass through the nozzles 305 and into components

12 of the machine tray 400. Fluid passing through the remaining control valve 318 (i.e. those control valves that remain in the reservoir mode) will pass back to the reservoir 316. Referring again to FIG. 8, the reservoir 316 comprises a main reservoir 316’ and a buffer reservoir 316” disposed in between the main reservoir 316’ and the dosing head 301. Fluid drawn from the main reservoir 316 first passes through the buffer reservoir 316” before reaching the dosing head 301. The dosing assembly 300 further comprises a level control system, the level control system comprising level controller 322, a level sensor 323 and a top-up pump 324; the level sensor 323 being arranged to detect if a fluid level in the buffer reservoir 316” falls below a threshold level; and the level controller 322 being configured to activate the top-up pump 324 to pump fluid from the main reservoir 316’ and into the buffer reservoir 316” if the fluid level falls below the threshold level. As shown in FIG. 4 the pumping apparatus 313 is arranged with the dosing chambers 314 and their associated valves 318 and actuators in a circular array. However, it will be appreciated that the pumping apparatus 313 maybe arranged in any suitable way such as, for example, a grid shaped array.

In FIG. 8, the dosing assembly 300 is shown with the dosing head 301 stowed on a stand 325. The stand 325 is provided to secure the dosing head 301 when the dosing assembly has been removed from the assembly line and the jig 200. FIG. 10 shows the dosing assembly 300 next to part of the assembly line to which the jig 200 is mounted. The dosing head 301 is mounted on the platform 202 of the jig 200 for operation as described above.

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a method of operating the apparatus too. The method comprises: locating Si a machine tray 400 of consumable units in the machine tray support

201; locating S2 the dosing head 301 in the jig 200 to position the dosing head 301 above the machine tray 400, each nozzle 305 of the dosing head 301 being aligned with a respective component 12 in the machine tray 400; and pumping fluid S3 from the reservoir 316 to at least a selection of the nozzles 305 of the dosing head 301 to fill components associated with the said selection with said fluid.

In embodiments, the method may further comprise: putting S31 the control valves 318 in the reservoir mode and the operating S32 the dosing pump 315 to draw fluid into the dosing chambers 314; and putting S33 one or more of the control valves 318 into the nozzle mode and operating S34 the dosing pump 315 to direct fluid to one or more nozzles 305 of the dosing head 301. 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. An apparatus for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system, the apparatus comprising: a jig comprising a machine tray support for locating a machine tray of components, the components being arranged in an array in the machine tray; and a dosing assembly comprising a dosing head and a reservoir fluidly connected to the dosing head, wherein the dosing head comprises an array of nozzles for dispensing fluid into the array of components during operation of the apparatus, wherein the jig and the dosing head are configured so that the dosing head is removably locatable in the jig above the machine tray support.

2. Apparatus according to claim i, wherein the dosing head comprises a location member configured to engage a recess of a machine tray received in the machine tray support; or, wherein the dosing head comprises a recess configured to engage a location member of a machine tray received in the machine tray support.

3. Apparatus according to claim i or claim 2, wherein the dosing head is locatable on a receiver of the jig and wherein the receiver is movable between an upper position in which the dosing head is spaced from the machine tray support, to allow the insertion or removal of a machine tray from the machine tray support, and a lower position in which the array of nozzles are moved relatively closer to the machine tray support so that, when a machine tray of components is located in the machine tray support, the nozzles are positioned to dispense fluid into the components of the machine tray.

4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dosing head comprises a pair of handles configured to facilitate removal of the dosing head from the jig.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reservoir comprises a main reservoir and a buffer reservoir disposed in between the main reservoir and the dosing head so that fluid drawn from the main reservoir first passes through the buffer reservoir before reaching the dosing head.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the dosing assembly further comprises a level control system, the level control system comprising level controller, a level sensor and a top-up pump; the level sensor being arranged to detect if a fluid level in the buffer reservoir falls below a threshold level; and the level controller being configured to activate the top-up pump to pump fluid from the main reservoir and into the buffer reservoir if the fluid level falls below the threshold level. . Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the dosing assembly comprises: a plurality of dosing chambers, each dosing chamber being associated with a nozzle of the array; and a dosing pump configured to draw fluid from the reservoir into the dosing chambers and to displace fluid from the dosing chamber.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the dosing pump is a positive displacement pump . Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, when dependent on claim 5, wherein the dosing pump is configured to draw fluid from the buffer reservoir.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the dosing pump comprises a plurality of dosing pumps each associated with a dosing chamber.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each dosing pump is a syringe and the dosing chamber is a barrel of the syringe.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each syringe comprises a linear actuator configured to operate the syringe to both draw fluid into the syringe and displace fluid from the syringe.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 12 further comprising a dose control system, the dose control system being configured to selectively dispense fluid from any one of the nozzles in the dosing head.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the dose control system comprises a dose controller and a plurality of control valves, each control valve being associated with a dosing chamber and being configured to selectively direct fluid displaced from the dosing chamber either to a nozzle of the dosing head or back to the reservoir. 15- Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the dose control system is further configured to individually control each of the control valves and selectively put them into one of two modes: a reservoir mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the reservoir and the dosing chamber; and a nozzle mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the dosing chamber and the associated nozzle of the dosing head.

16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the dosing assembly and the jig are each provided on a separate bench, thereby allowing the dosing assembly to be separated from the jig.

17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein either of the dosing head or jig comprises a fill sensor configured to determine a fluid level within components of a machine tray received in the machine tray support; and, optionally, wherein the fill sensor comprises an optical height measurement device.

18. A dosing assembly for use with apparatus for dispensing fluid into components of a delivery system, the dosing assembly comprising a dosing head and a reservoir fluidly connected to the dosing head, the dosing head comprising an array of nozzles for dispensing fluid into an array of components, wherein the dosing assembly further comprises: a plurality of dosing chambers, each dosing chamber being associated with a nozzle of the array; a dosing pump configured to draw fluid from the reservoir into the dosing chambers and to displace fluid from the dosing chambers; and a plurality of control valves, each control valve associated with a dosing chamber and being configured to selectively direct fluid displaced from the dosing chamber either to a nozzle of the dosing head or back to the reservoir.

19. An assembly according to claim 18, wherein the dosing pump is a positive displacement pump

20. An assembly according to any of claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the dosing pump comprises a plurality of dosing pumps each associated with a dosing chamber.

21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein each dosing pump is a syringe and the dosing chamber is a barrel of the syringe.

22. An assembly according to claim 21, wherein each syringe comprises a linear actuator configured to operate the syringe to both draw fluid into the syringe and displace fluid from the syringe.

23. An assembly according to any of claims 18 to 22 further comprising a dose control system, the dose control system being configured to selectively dispense fluid from any one of the nozzles in the dosing head.

24. An assembly according to claim 23, wherein the dose control system comprises a dose controller and a plurality of control valves, each control valve being associated with a dosing chamber and being configured to selectively direct fluid displaced from the dosing chamber either to a nozzle of the dosing head or back to the reservoir.

25. An assembly according to claim 24, wherein the dose control system is further configured to individually control each of the control valves and selectively put them into one of two modes: a reservoir mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the reservoir and the dosing chamber; and a nozzle mode, in which fluid is only permitted to flow between the dosing chamber and the associated nozzle of the dosing head. 26. A method of operating apparatus of any of claims 1 to 17, the method comprising: locating a machine tray of consumable units in the machine tray support; locating the dosing head in the jig to position the dosing head above the machine tray, each nozzle of the dosing head being aligned with a respective component in the machine tray; and pumping fluid from the reservoir to at least a selection of the nozzles of the dosing head to fill components associated with the said selection with said fluid.

27. The method of claim 26 dependent on claim 15 comprising: putting the control valves in the reservoir mode and the operating the dosing pump to draw fluid into the dosing chambers; and putting one or more of the control valves into the nozzle mode and operating the dosing pump to direct fluid to one or more nozzles of the dosing head.

28. The method of claim 26 or claim 27, wherein the fluid is an aerosol generating material.