Altria Client Services LLC

An apparatus includes a fixed assembly and a reciprocating assembly. The fixed assembly includes a hopper, a first gas manifold, and a dispensing chamber, and the reciprocating assembly includes a channel assembly defining a channel conduit, a shield plate vertically aligned therewith, and a second gas manifold. The reciprocating assembly may move, in relation to the fixed assembly, to a first position to enable the channel conduit to be filled with bulk compressible material from the hopper, a second position to enable compressible material to be pushed from the channel conduit to the dispensing conduit and to be compressed in the dispensing chamber according to a first gas directed through the channel conduit by the first gas manifold, and a third position to enable the compressed material to be pushed out of the dispensing conduit according to a second gas directed through the dispensing conduit by the second gas manifold.

At least one example embodiment discloses a non-combustible smoking element including a pre-vapor formulation reservoir element configured to contain a pre-vapor formulation material, a pre-vapor heating element coupled to the pre-vapor formulation reservoir element and configured to heat at least a portion of the pre-vapor formulation material into a vapor and provide the vapor to a channel, a tobacco heating element configured to heat at least a portion of tobacco and generate an aroma and a tobacco housing configured to contain the tobacco and provide the aroma to the channel.

A capsule for an aerosol-generating device may include a housing, a filter, and an aerosol-forming substrate. The housing may have a gas-permeable end and an impermeable end. The filter may be disposed within the housing so as to be adjacent to the impermeable end. The aerosol-forming substrate may be disposed within the housing so as to be between the filter and the gas-permeable end. The housing may be configured to facilitate a heating of the aerosol-forming substrate via one of conduction, convection, or both conduction and convection so as to generate an aerosol.

The method includes establishing a housing defining a first channel, the first channel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the channel being in communication with an air inlet that traverse through the housing, configuring a heater to heat a pre-vapor formulation to form a vapor within the first channel, defining a cavity near the second end of the first channel, and inserting a hydrogel in the cavity.

The present disclosure relates to tobacco plants, plant parts, seeds, compositions, and methods related to modulating the expression of novel genes in tobacco to regulate alkaloid levels.

At least one example embodiment provides a system for controlling a heater in a non-combustible aerosol-generating device, the system comprising a memory storing computer-readable instructions and a controller configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to cause the non-combustible aerosol-generating device to apply a first power to the heater based on a first preheat temperature determine an estimated energy applied to the heater during application of the first power, and apply a second power to the heater based on the estimated energy, an energy threshold and a second preheat temperature, the second power being less than the first power.

A non-nicotine e-vaping device may include a device body configured to receive a non-nicotine cartridge. The non-nicotine cartridge includes a non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation, a wick, and an integral heater-thermocouple. The wick is configured to transport the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation by capillary action. The integral heater-thermocouple includes a first segment made of a first alloy and a second segment made of a second alloy. The device body includes a power supply, at least one sensor, and a controller. The power supply is configured to deliver electrical energy to the integral heater-thermocouple to heat the non-nicotine pre-vapor formulation to generate a non-nicotine vapor. The at least one sensor is configured to measure a voltage difference between the first segment and the second segment of the integral heater-thermocouple during such heating. The controller is configured to adjust the electrical energy to the integral heater-thermocouple based on the measured voltage difference.

A nicotine e-vaping device may include a device body configured to receive a nicotine cartridge. The nicotine cartridge includes a nicotine pre-vapor formulation, a wick, and an integral heater-thermocouple. The wick is configured to transport the nicotine pre-vapor formulation by capillary action. The integral heater-thermocouple includes a first segment made of a first alloy and a second segment made of a second alloy. The device body includes a power supply, at least one sensor, and a controller. The power supply is configured to deliver electrical energy to the integral heater-thermocouple to heat the nicotine pre-vapor formulation to generate a nicotine vapor. The at least one sensor is configured to measure a voltage difference between the first segment and the second segment of the integral heater-thermocouple during such heating. The controller is configured to adjust the electrical energy to the integral heater-thermocouple based on the measured voltage difference.

At least one example embodiment relates to a lid for a container including a base defining an opening and a top configured to engage a portion of the base. The base includes a support wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall extend from respective ends of the support wall such that the support wall, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall define a gap configured to receive at least a portion of the container. The top includes a cover, a hinge coupled between the cover and the base, and a peripheral wall extending from an interior portion of the cover. The cover is moveable between an open position providing access to the opening and a closed position sealing the opening.

The replaceable mouthpiece includes a body having a first body end and a second body end. The first body end defines an outlet. The second body end defines a first opening coupleable to the aerosol-generating device. The replaceable mouthpiece includes two or more pillars disposed within the body and extending towards the second body end.