Methods for assembling a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device, and associated systems and apparatuses

• US 10,405,579 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Collett, William Robert, Guenther, Jr., Quentin Paul, Brinkley, Paul Andrew, Allgeyer, Jeffrey Edward, Bernhardt, Ethan Matthew, Matthews, Andrew Ross, Ritter, Roger, Schafer, Stephen Todd, Leboeuf, Mathieu, Maple, Martin Lee, Noonan, Trenton S., Schafer, Kevin Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sells, James D
• Application Number:
  US15/142,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20170311644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 156 731
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3693 by mechanical waves, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/22 Spot welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5344 said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends B29C66/5346 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/712 Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7414 Smokers'' requisites, e.g. pipe cleaners cigar holders B29L2023/14
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/14 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/008 by doing functionality tests
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0014 Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/78 Heating arrangements specially adapted for immersion heating

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. A system may include assembly cells each including an assembly track and assembly carriages that ride thereon and which engage components of partially-assembled cartridges. A transfer apparatus may transfer partially-assembled cartridges between the assembly cells. In another example system, cartridges may be assembled on platforms on a rotary track. The platforms may include assembly grippers with sequentially-opening clamps configured to receive the components of the partially-assembled cartridges. Related methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for assembling a plurality of cartridges for an aerosol delivery device, the system comprising:

a plurality of assembly cells collectively configured to assemble a plurality of cartridge components together, at least a pair of the assembly cells respectively comprising;

one or more assembly carriages respectively configured to engage a plurality of partially-assembled cartridges comprising one or more of the cartridge components; and

an assembly track substantially surrounding each one of or both of the assembly cells in the pair of the assembly cells, the assembly track being arranged to circulate the assembly carriages around each one of or both of the assembly cells; and

at least one transfer apparatus comprising a transfer track positioned between adjacent assembly tracks of the assembly cells and arranged to individually and sequentially transfer the partially-assembled cartridges between adjacent assembly tracks of the assembly cells.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the transfer apparatus further comprises one or more transfer carriages configured to respectively receive one of the partially-assembled cartridges and circulate on the transfer track between adjacent assembly tracks of the assembly cells.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the transfer apparatus further comprises a first transfer member configured to disengage the partially-assembled cartridges from the assembly carriages of a first one of the pair of the assembly cells and engage the partially-assembled cartridges with a respective one of the transfer carriages.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the transfer apparatus further comprises a second transfer member configured to disengage the partially-assembled cartridges from the transfer carriages and engage the partially-assembled cartridges with one of the assembly carriages of a second one of the pair of the assembly cells.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge components include an outer body and one or more components configured for placement within the outer body, the components including at least one of a liquid transport element, a reservoir substrate, and a heating element.

6. A method for assembling a plurality of cartridges for an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

assembling a plurality of cartridge components together at a plurality of assembly cells, wherein assembling the cartridge components together comprises;

engaging a plurality of partially-assembled cartridges comprising one or more of the cartridge components with a respective one of one or more assembly carriages; and

circulating the assembly carriages around an assembly track substantially surrounding each one of or both of the assembly cells in a pair of the assembly cells; and

individually and sequentially transporting the partially-assembled cartridges on a transfer track positioned between adjacent assembly tracks of the assembly cells.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein individually and sequentially transporting the partially-assembled cartridges on the transfer track comprises respectively engaging each of the partially-assembled cartridges with one of one or more transfer carriages.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein individually and sequentially transporting the partially-assembled cartridges on the transfer track further comprises:

disengaging the partially-assembled cartridges from the assembly carriages of a first one of the pair of the assembly cells; and

engaging the partially-assembled cartridges with a respective one of the transfer carriages.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein individually and sequentially transporting the partially-assembled cartridges on the transfer track further comprises:

disengaging the partially-assembled cartridges from the transfer carriages; and

engaging the partially-assembled cartridges with one of the assembly carriages of a second one of the pair of the assembly cells.