Method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article

• US 10,588,352 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Ampolini, Frederic Philippe, Nestor, Timothy Brian, Flinchum, Jr., Jack Gray, Brown, Wayne Douglas, Watson, Nicholas Harrison, Novak, III, Charles Jacob, Brinkley, Paul Andrew, Covino, James Robert, DePiano, John, Dickinson, Edward Louis, Harris, Eugene R., Keough, Kevin Edward, Smith, David Jay, Hook, John, LaCourse, Michael, Metcalf, Robert, Hart, Steven, Pelletier, David, Bourque, Marc, Cambray, Nathaniel, Wolber, John William, McClellan, James William, Mongillo, Steven R., Silveira, Frank S., Laine, Michael, Guenther, Jr., Quentin Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell, James R
• Application Number:
  US15/802,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20180084835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 1983451, 1983452, 1983453, 1984651, 1984652
• CPC Class Codes: A24C 5/34 Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/70 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/80 Testing
• 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 2205/43 making noise when used correctly
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/10 Device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/005 by expanding or crimping
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/04 for assembling or disassembling parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 21/004 the units passing two or more work-stations whilst being composed
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/005 Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0047 for internally gripping hollow or recessed objects
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 13/04 Monorail systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0267 Pallets
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 17/04 : adapted for winding the resistive element
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 3/08 : Dimension or characteristic of resistive element changing gradually or in discrete steps from one terminal to another
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 3/16 : including two or more distinct wound elements or two or more winding patterns
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/037 : Heaters with zones of different power density
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49913 : by constricting outer annulus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

Claims

1. A transport system configured to transport a cartridge for a smoking article during assembly thereof, the transport system comprising:

a stationary rail defining a path extending between one or more substations;

a moveable carriage configured to engage the rail and move therealong between the one or more substations, the carriage comprising a clamping mechanism configured to engage one or more components of a cartridge during assembly thereof; and

a locking apparatus configured to temporarily restrain movement of the carriage along the rail, wherein the locking apparatus comprises;

a locator mechanism coupled to the carriage; and

an engagement mechanism configured to engage the locator mechanism, wherein the locator mechanism comprises a plurality of pegs and the engagement mechanism comprises a roller.

2. The transport system of claim 1, wherein the clamping mechanism is configured to engage a base of the cartridge.

3. The transport system of claim 2, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a displaceable piston defining a head at an end thereof.

4. The transport system of claim 3, further comprising a biasing mechanism configured to bias the displaceable piston of the clamping mechanism toward a groove.

5. The transport system of claim 4, wherein the head of the displaceable piston is configured to cooperate with the groove to retain the base of the cartridge therein, the groove being V-shaped in order to center the base in the groove.

6. The transport system of claim 1, wherein the carriages are configured to engage the rail using wheels or magnets.

7. The transport system of claim 1, wherein the locator mechanism is located at a fixed position relative to a longitudinal length of the rail and the engagement mechanism is configured to move into contact with the locator mechanism.

8. A transport system configured to transport a cartridge for a smoking article during assembly thereof, the transport system comprising:

a stationary rail defining a path extending between one or more substations;

a moveable carriage configured to engage the rail and move therealong between the one or more substations, the carriage comprising a clamping mechanism configured to engage a base of a cartridge during assembly thereof and wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a displaceable piston defining a head at an end thereof and a biasing mechanism configured to bias the displaceable piston of the clamping mechanism toward a V-shaped groove, wherein the displaceable piston is configured to cooperate with the groove to retain and center the base of the cartridge therein; and

a locking apparatus configured to temporarily restrain movement of the carriage along the rail.

9. The transport system of claim 8, wherein the locking apparatus comprises a locator mechanism coupled to the carriage and an engagement mechanism configured to engage the locator mechanism.

10. The transport system of claim 9, wherein the locator mechanism comprises a plurality of pegs.

11. The transport system of claim 10, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a roller.

12. The transport system of claim 9, wherein the locator mechanism is located at a fixed position relative to a longitudinal length of the rail and the engagement mechanism is configured to move into contact with the locator mechanism.

13. The transport system of claim 10, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a cylinder, such that as the engagement mechanism is directed upwardly, the cylinder being configured to contact one or more of the plurality of pegs of the locator mechanism which are configured to deflect from the cylinder such that the locator mechanism becomes centered with respect to the engagement mechanism.

14. A transport system configured to transport a cartridge for a smoking article during assembly thereof, the transport system comprising:

a stationary rail defining a path extending between one or more substations;

a moveable carriage configured to engage the rail and move therealong between the one or more substations, the carriage comprising a clamping mechanism configured to engage one or more components of a cartridge during assembly thereof; and

a locking apparatus configured to temporarily restrain movement of the carriage along the rail, wherein the locking apparatus comprises;

a locator mechanism coupled to the carriage; and

an engagement mechanism configured to engage the locator mechanism, wherein the locator mechanism comprises a plurality of pegs and the engagement mechanism comprises a cylinder configured such that as the engagement mechanism is directed upwardly, the cylinder contacts one or more of the plurality of pegs of the locator mechanism, wherein the plurality of pegs are configured to deflect from the cylinder such that the locator mechanism becomes centered with respect to the engagement mechanism.

15. The transport system of claim 14, wherein the locator mechanism is located at a fixed position relative to a longitudinal length of the rail and the engagement mechanism is configured to move into contact with the locator mechanism.