Abstract: Equipment for forming a tubular rod of fibrous material comprises: a gathering station constructed to receive a continuous supply of fibres and to gather the fibres into a bundle as the fibres advance through the equipment; a divider arranged in the path of the fibres through the equipment and constructed to from a cleft along the length of the bundle as it advances through the equipment; a mandrel positioned in the path of the bundle of fibres in alignment with the divider and constructed to form the cleft into a passage through the bundle of fibres as the bundle of fibres advances over the mandrel; and a die constructed and arranged to cooperate with the mandrel to form the fibres in a tubular configuration around the mandrel.

Abstract: An article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device can include a continuous rod of aerosol-generating material and a coil disposed around the rod of aerosol-generating material. The coil can include heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. A wrapper can be arranged to surround the aerosol-generating material and a coil can be disposed around the wrapper. The article can include a rolled sheet having a spiral cross-section, the rolled sheet including aerosol-generating material and a mesh including heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. Also, an article can include a continuous rod of aerosol-generating material and one or more bodies disposed in an axial region of the rod, the axial region extending along the longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein the one or more bodies have a circular cross-section and have a diameter in the range 0.

Abstract: Disclosed is an induction coil arrangement for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The induction coil arrangement includes a plate having opposite first and second sides, a first flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the first side of the plate, and a second flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the second side of the plate.

Abstract: An aerosol-generating component for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device includes a first sheet including aerosol-generating material and a second sheet including heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. A wrapper including paper circumscribes the first and second sheets and has a permeability below 500 Coresta units. Corresponding methods of manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a braided absorbent material (50) for a consumable of a non-combustible aerosol provision system is disclosed. It comprises braiding strands of material (52) around the outside of a continuous rod of absorbent material (54) to form a continuous rod of braided material; and cutting the continuous rod of braided material into lengths of braided absorbent material. Each length of braided absorbent material includes at least a portion of the rod of absorbent material. A braided absorbent material comprising strands of material braided around the outside of a rod of absorbent material is also disclosed. The absorbent material (54) is capable of wicking aerosol generating material. The stands of material (52) may be magnetic metal wire to be used in an induction heating system, or may be flavour impregnated.

Abstract: A die or die assembly for forming a bundle of fibres into a rod or tube includes a body defining a passage for conducting the bundle fibres through the die from an inlet to an outlet, a constriction in the passage having an entrance shaped to form the fibres of the bundle into a desired configuration as the bundle passes through the die, and one or more conduits through which a treatment fluid e.g. steam, for curing the bundle of fibres may be introduced into the passage, and wherein at last one conduit is arranged to discharge fluid in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the constriction to facilitate passage of the fibres through the die and reduce the risk of blockage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for use with an RLC resonance circuit for inductive heating of a susceptor of an aerosol generating device. The apparatus is arranged to determine a resonant frequency of the RLC resonance circuit; and determine, based on the determined resonant frequency, a first frequency for the RLC resonance circuit for causing the susceptor to be inductively heated, the first frequency being above or below the determined resonant frequency. The apparatus may be arranged to control a drive frequency of the RLC resonance circuit to be at the determined first frequency in order to heat the susceptor. Also disclosed is an aerosol generating device including the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is an induction coil arrangement for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The induction coil arrangement includes a plate having opposite first and second sides, a first flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the first side of the plate, and a second flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the second side of the plate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermal insulator includes providing an inner wall which is configured to at least partially define a heating zone for receiving aerosol-generating material, wherein the inner wall includes heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and providing an outer wall surrounding the inner wall at least partially along its length, an insulation region being formed between the inner wall and the outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall having different materials. The method can also include attaching a portion of a first joining material to the inner wall under atmospheric pressure, attaching a portion of a second joining material to the outer wall under atmospheric pressure, evacuating the insulation region to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure, and closing the insulation region by joining the first joining material and second joining material to each other.

Abstract: A die or die assembly for forming a bundle of fibres into a rod or tube comprises a body (84) defining a passage 86) for conducting the bundle fibres through the die from an inlet to an outlet, a constriction (91) in the passage having an entrance shaped to form the fibres of the bundle into a desired configuration as the bundle passes through the die, and one or more conduits (92) through which a treatment fluid e.g. steam, for curing the bundle of fibres may be introduced into the passage, and wherein at last one conduit is arranged to discharge fluid in the immediate vicinity of the entrance to the constriction to facilitate passage of the fibres through the die and reduce the risk of blockage.

Abstract: A non-combustible aerosol provision device can include a receptacle that defines a rod shaped consumable receiving space; and a vaporizer for generating an aerosol from an aerosol precursor material; wherein the vaporizer communicates with the rod shaped consumable receiving space so that, in use, aerosol may pass from the vaporizer and into a rod shaped consumable received within the rod shaped consumable receiving space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for cutting and arranging rods for use in a tobacco industry product assembly machine. The apparatus comprises a first cutting mechanism for cutting a four-length rod into first and second axially-aligned double-length rods. Each double-length rod has respective remote ends. A positioning mechanism for moving at least one of the first and second double-length rods such that said first and second double-length rods are moved from a first configuration in axial-alignment, to a second configuration in which the first and second double-length rods are out of axial alignment and the axes of the first and second double-length rods are parallel and spaced apart, and the remote ends of said first and second double-length rods are substantially aligned with each other. Also disclosed is a method of cutting and arranging rods for tobacco industry product assembly, and a method of tobacco industry product assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for use with an RLC resonance circuit for inductive heating of a susceptor of an aerosol generating device. The apparatus is arranged to determine a resonant frequency of the RLC resonance circuit; and determine, based on the determined resonant frequency, a first frequency for the RLC resonance circuit for causing the susceptor to be inductively heated, the first frequency being above or below the determined resonant frequency. The apparatus may be arranged to control a drive frequency of the RLC resonance circuit to be at the determined first frequency in order to heat the susceptor. Also disclosed is an aerosol generating device including the apparatus.

Abstract: An aerosol provision device is described. The device generates an aerosol from aerosol-generating material. The device has a receptacle defining a heating zone in which at least a portion of an article including aerosol-generating material is received. A heating element protrudes into the heating zone to heat the heating zone. An air path is defined through the heating element.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methods for cutting and arranging rods for use in a tobacco industry product assembly machine, the apparatus including a first cutting mechanism for cutting a four-length rod into first and second axially-aligned double-length rods where each double-length rod has respective remote ends, a positioning mechanism for moving at least one of the first and second double-length rods such that said first and second double-length rods are moved from a first configuration in axial-alignment, to a second configuration in which the first and second double-length rods are out of axial alignment and the axes of the first and second double-length rods are parallel and spaced apart, and the remote ends of said first and second double-length rods are substantially aligned with each other.

Abstract: An article for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device having a mouth end and a distal end opposite the mouth end, the article including a first section including a first aerosol generating material, the first aerosol generating material including tobacco; and a second section including a second aerosol generating material, the second aerosol generating material including an aerosol former material; wherein the second section is relatively closer to the distal end than the first section.

Abstract: There is provided an aerosol provision system comprising a power source; an aerosol generating component; and, control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to control the power source and the aerosol generating component to provide a selection between at least: a predetermined aerosolization profile; and a variable aerosolization period, to be applied to aerosol generating material.

Abstract: There is described a cartridge for use with an apparatus for heating aerosol generating material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol generating material. The cartridge includes a first body defining a first chamber and aerosol generating material is located within the first chamber. The first body includes a first base including a sheet of heat conductive material and has a first outer surface and at least a major portion of the first outer surface is for contacting a first heating surface of a heater of the apparatus for heating the aerosol generating material within the first chamber.

Abstract: There is described a cartridge for use with an apparatus for heating aerosol generating material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol generating material. The cartridge includes a first body defining a first chamber and aerosol generating material is located within the first chamber. The first body includes a first base including a sheet of heat conductive material and has a first outer surface and at least a major portion of the first outer surface is for contacting a first heating surface of a heater of the apparatus for heating the aerosol generating material within the first chamber.

Abstract: A method of determining the density of an elongate rod of material as it travels in a longitudinal direction through an inspection zone of apparatus for determining the density of an elongate rod of material is disclosed. The method comprises: positioning an X-ray generator of said apparatus to transmit X-rays in a direction across the elongate rod and towards a detector of said apparatus, as the elongate rod travels in a longitudinal direction through said inspection zone of said apparatus; supplying a voltage to the X-ray generator of between 20 to 80 kV to transmit the X-rays at a predetermined intensity; detecting the intensity of the X-rays transmitted through the elongate rod using the detector, and determining a density of the elongate rod based on a comparison of the predetermined and detected intensities. A method of manufacturing tobacco industry products that includes the above inspection method is also disclosed, together with apparatus for determining the density of an elongate rod of material.