Abstract: A method of applying a coating to an aerosol generating assembly (1). The method comprises the steps of: providing an aerosol generating assembly (1) comprising a combustible heat source (2), an aerosol forming substrate (3), and a wrapper (4) joining the combustible heat source (2) and the aerosol forming substrate (3), the combustible heat source (2) having a downstream portion (22) circumscribed by the wrapper, and an upstream portion (21) not circumscribed by the wrapper; and applying, in a first application step, a coating formulation (6) from at least one applicator head (10, 14) onto the upstream portion (21) while rotating the aerosol generating assembly (1) about its longitudinal axis (9).

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol generating system, including providing a flexible wick; applying tension to the flexible wick; assembling a heating element around the flexible wick; and releasing the tension from the flexible wick.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating article (2). The aerosol generating article comprises a combustible heat source (4) having a longitudinal outer surface, an aerosol-forming substrate (10) downstream of the combustible heat source, and a retaining wrap (35). The retaining wrap comprises a an upstream portion (31) extending at least about 50 percent of the way along the length of the combustible heat source on the longitudinal outer surface of the combustible heat source. The upstream portion of the retaining wrap comprises at least one opening (41, 42) overlaying at least about 30 percent of the longitudinal outer surface of the combustible heat source. The retaining wrap further comprises a downstream portion (33) circumscribing at least a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article for an aerosol-generating device including a heating element is provided, the aerosol-generating article including: an aerosol-forming substrate including homogenised tobacco material; a support element disposed immediately downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate; an aerosol-cooling element disposed downstream of the support element; and an outer wrapper circumscribing the aerosol-forming substrate, the support element, and the aerosol-cooling element, the support element abutting the aerosol-forming substrate.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including an aerosol-forming substrate; a support element located immediately downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate; an aerosol-cooling element located downstream of the support element; and an outer wrapper circumscribing the aerosol-forming substrate, the support element and the aerosol-cooling element. The support element abuts the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate is penetrable by a heating element of an aerosol-generating device.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod, the elements including an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosol-cooling element located downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-cooling element includes a plurality of longitudinally extending channels and has a porosity of between 50% and 90% in the longitudinal direction. The aerosol-cooling element may have a total surface area of between about 300 mm2 per mm length and about 1000 mm2 per mm length. An aerosol passing through the aerosol-cooling element is cooled, and in some embodiments, water is condensed within the aerosol-cooling element.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod, the elements including an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosol-cooling element located downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-cooling element includes a plurality of longitudinally extending channels and has a porosity of between 50% and 90% in the longitudinal direction. The aerosol-cooling element may have a total surface area of between about 300 mm2 per mm length and about 1000 mm2 per mm length. An aerosol passing through the aerosol-cooling element is cooled, and in some embodiments, water is condensed within the aerosol-cooling element.

Abstract: A smoking article is provided, including a plurality of elements including a front-plug and an aerosol-forming substrate. A hole or slit is defined through the front-plug, through which a heating element may be inserted. In use, a heating element is inserted into the smoking article through the hole or slit and the aerosol-forming substrate is heated to generate an aerosol. When the heating element is subsequently withdrawn from the smoking article, the front-plug acts to retain the aerosol-forming substrate within the smoking article.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article comprising an outer wrapping sheet to form an outer tubular element of an aerosol-generating article that when rolled about a longitudinal axis, the outer wrapping sheet comprising a first edge comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion includes a glued section, and wherein the distal portion extends from the proximal portion at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system, including providing a flexible wick; coupling a rigid support element to the wick; assembling a heating element around the rigid support; and removing the rigid support. There is also provided a method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system, including providing a flexible wick; applying tension to the wick; assembling a heating element around the wick; and releasing the tension from the wick.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol generating system, including providing a flexible wick; applying tension to the flexible wick; assembling a heating element around the flexible wick; and releasing the tension from the flexible wick.

Abstract: There is provided a smoking article having a mouth end and a distal end, the smoking article including a heat source positioned at the distal end; an aerosol-forming substrate adjacent to the heat source; and a cap configured to at least partially cover the heat source. The cap is attached at a line of weakness to the distal end, including a cylindrical plug of material circumscribed by a wrapper, and is removable to expose the heat source prior to use of the smoking article.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including a housing containing or configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate; an outlet formed in the housing, wherein in use aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate is delivered through the outlet, wherein the housing includes a first wall surrounding the outlet and a second wall surrounding the first wall such that an open-ended annular recess is defined between the first and second walls, the annular recess being suitable for retaining a compliant mouthpiece cover to the housing. In use, the mouthpiece cover is placed into a user's mouth in order to directly inhale an aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating device. There is also provided a removable mouthpiece cover for an electrically operated smoking device, including a compliant tubular portion defining a central bore and a filter portion covering the bore of the filter portion.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod, the elements including an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosol-cooling element located downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-cooling element includes a plurality of longitudinally extending channels and has a porosity of between 50% and 90% in the longitudinal direction. The aerosol-cooling element may have a total surface area of between about 300 mm2 per mm length and about 1000 mm2 per mm length. An aerosol passing through the aerosol-cooling element is cooled, and in some embodiments, water is condensed within the aerosol-cooling element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing multi-component segments for smoking articles, each having a removable wrap. The method includes feeding a stream of heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates along a moving delivery path; compacting into groups at least one heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate, each group corresponding to at least one multi-segment component, each multi-segment component having a first end adjacent the heat source and a second end adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate; wrapping the heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates in a web of material, said web having spaced apart lines of weakness; aligning each line of weakness proximate to a respective heat source; and cutting said web at a position proximate to the first end of the at least one multi-segment component, wherein at least a portion of said web forms a removable wrap being removable by breaking the wrapper at the respective line of weakness.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system, including providing a flexible wick; coupling a rigid support element to the wick; assembling a heating element around the rigid support; and removing the rigid support. There is also provided a method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating system, including providing a flexible wick; applying tension to the wick; assembling a heating element around the wick; and releasing the tension from the wick.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided, including a housing containing or configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate; an outlet formed in the housing, wherein in use aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate is delivered through the outlet, wherein the housing includes a first wall surrounding the outlet and a second wall surrounding the first wall such that an open-ended annular recess is defined between the first and second walls, the annular recess being suitable for retaining a compliant mouthpiece cover to the housing. In use, the mouthpiece cover is placed into a user's mouth in order to directly inhale an aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating device. There is also provided a removable mouthpiece cover for an electrically operated smoking device, including a compliant tubular portion defining a central bore and a filter portion covering the bore of the filter portion.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating article is provided, including a plurality of elements assembled in the form of a rod, the plurality of elements including an aerosol-forming substrate, and a mouthpiece filter located downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate within the rod. The aerosol-generating article further includes a volatile flavor-generating component disposed between the aerosol-forming substrate and the mouthpiece filter within the rod. In some embodiments, the volatile flavor-generating component is supported by a low resistance support element located between the aerosol-forming substrate and the mouthpiece filter. In some embodiments, the volatile flavor-generating component is menthol.

Abstract: There is provided a smoking article having a mouth end and a distal end, the smoking article including a heat source positioned at the distal end; an aerosol-forming substrate adjacent to the heat source; and a cap configured to at least partially cover the heat source. The cap is attached at a line of weakness to the distal end, including a cylindrical plug of material circumscribed by a wrapper, and is removable to expose the heat source prior to use of the smoking article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for manufacturing multi-component segments for smoking articles, each having a removable wrap. The method includes feeding a stream of heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates along a moving delivery path; compacting into groups at least one heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate, each group corresponding to at least one multi-segment component, each multi-segment component having a first end adjacent the heat source and a second end adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate; wrapping the heat sources and aerosol-forming substrates in a web of material, said web having spaced apart lines of weakness; aligning each line of weakness proximate to a respective heat source; and cutting said web at a position proximate to the first end of the at least one multi-segment component, wherein at least a portion of said web forms a removable wrap being removable by breaking the wrapper at the respective line of weakness.