A Method of Filling a Cartridge for a Vapour Generating System

Abstract

A cartridge for a vapour generating system includes a reservoir for storing a vapour generating liquid. A method of filling the cartridge includes: (i) introducing (S 1 ) a vapour generating liquid into the reservoir via a first opening; (ii) venting (S 2 ) air from the reservoir via a second opening during step (i); and (iii) positioning (S 3 ) first and second valves in the corresponding first and second openings to seal the first and openings to prevent the escape of vapour generating liquid from the reservoir through the first and second openings.

1 . A method of filling a cartridge for a vapour generating system, the cartridge comprising a reservoir for storing a vapour generating liquid, the method comprising:
 (i) introducing a vapour generating liquid into the reservoir via a first opening;   (ii) venting air from the reservoir via a second opening during step (i); and   (iii) positioning first and second valves in the corresponding first and second openings to seal the first and second openings to prevent the escape of vapour generating liquid from the reservoir through the first and second openings.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge further comprises a vaporization chamber, and step (iii) comprises positioning first and second one-way valves in the corresponding first and second openings to seal the first and second openings to prevent the escape of vapour generating liquid from the reservoir and to allow air to flow to the vaporization chamber through the first and second one-way valves. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge further comprises first and second air inlets in communication with the vaporization chamber, and step (iii) comprises positioning the first and second one-way valves in the corresponding first and second air inlets to permit airflow through the first and second air inlets to the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second one-way valves includes a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion, and step (iii) comprises: positioning the first sealing portion of each first and second one-way valve in the corresponding first and second opening to seal the first and second openings; and positioning the second sealing portion of each first and second one-way valve in the corresponding first and second air inlet to allow one-way airflow through the first and second air inlets to the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the second sealing portion is positioned upstream of the first sealing portion in an airflow direction towards the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge includes a proximal end and a distal end, the first and second openings are positioned at the distal end, and steps (i) and (ii) are performed with the cartridge oriented such that the distal end is positioned above the proximal end. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (i) comprises introducing the vapour generating liquid into the reservoir via a filling needle or a filling tube. 
     
     
         8 . A cartridge for a vapour generating system, the cartridge comprising:
 a reservoir configured to store a vapour generating liquid;   a first opening configured for introducing vapour generating liquid into the reservoir; and   a second opening configured for venting air from the reservoir during the introduction of vapour generating liquid into the reservoir via the first opening;   wherein the cartridge further comprises a vaporization chamber and first and second one-way valves positioned in the first and second openings, respectively, to prevent the escape of liquid from the reservoir through the first and second openings and to allow air to flow to the vaporization chamber through the first and second one-way valves.   
     
     
         9 . The cartridge according to  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge further comprises first and second air inlets in communication with the vaporization chamber, and the first and second one-way valves are positioned in the first and second air inlets, respectively, to permit airflow through the first and second air inlets to the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second one-way valves include a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion, the first sealing portion of each first and second one-way valve is positioned in the corresponding first and second opening to seal the first and second openings, and the second sealing portion of each first and second one-way valve is positioned in the corresponding first and second air inlet to allow one-way airflow through the first and second air inlets to the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge according to  claim 10 , wherein the second sealing portion is positioned upstream of the first sealing portion in an airflow direction towards the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge according to  claim 8 , wherein the cartridge includes a proximal end and a distal end, and the first and second openings are positioned at the distal end. 
     
     
         13 . A vapour generating system comprising:
 a base part having at least one heating element; and   a cartridge according to  claim 8  thermically connected to the base part.   
     
     
         14 . The vapour generating system according to  claim 13 , wherein the cartridge includes a heat transfer unit and the heating element is separated from the vaporization chamber by the heat transfer unit.