Vaping Liquid Dispensing and Vending

• US 20150336689A1
• Filed: 05/23/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artesa LLC
• Original Assignee: Revolutionary Electronic Design, LLC
• Inventors: Czarnek, Robert, Brown, Joshua Thomas, Young, Thomas Robert II
• Granted Patent: US 11,178,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 47/00 Smokers' requisites not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7176 using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71761 Membrane pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/717611 Peristaltic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/717612 Piezoelectric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/717613 Piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/717614 Venturi pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/12 mechanically, e.g. by pistons or pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/30 by volumetric measurement
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/326 for dosing several products to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 37/06 by pistons or pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/06 with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof

Abstract

A vaping liquid dispensing and vending apparatus comprises filling module(s), user container holder(s), positioning mechanism(s) and controller module(s). The filling module(s) comprise: machine container(s) configured to hold vaping liquid(s), nozzle(s) configured to dispense vaping liquid(s) to user container(s), and measuring pump module(s) configured to pump a measured amount of vaping liquid(s) from machine container(s) to nozzle(s). The user container holder(s) are configured to hold user container(s). Positioning mechanism(s) align user container holder(s) with filing module(s). Controller module(s) execute production instructions causing vaping liquid formulations to be dispensed into user container(s).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a) at least one filling module, each of the at least one filling module comprising;

i) a machine container configured to hold at least one of a multitude of vaping liquids;

ii) a nozzle configured to dispense at least one of the multitude of vaping liquids to at least one user container; and

iii) a measuring pump module configured to pump a measured amount of at least one of the multitude of vaping liquids from the machine container to the nozzle;

b) at least one user container holder configured to hold at least one of the at least one user container; and

c) a positioning mechanism configured to align at least one of the at least one user container holder with respect to at least one of the at least one filing module; and

d) a controller module configured to execute production instructions comprising mixing instructions for at least one of at least one identified vaping liquid from the multitude of vaping liquids by sequentially, for each of the at least one identified vaping liquid referenced in the mixing instructions;

i) align, employing the positioning mechanism, at least one of the at least one user container holder with at least one of the at least one filing module containing the at least one identified vaping liquid; and

ii) dispense, according to mixing instructions, a measured volume of the at least one identified vaping liquid from the at least one filing module containing the at least one identified vaping liquid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a point of sale module configured to:

a) accept an order from a user;

b) receive payment from the user for the order; and

c) generate production instructions configured to fill the order.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a capping module configured to seal at least one of the at least one user container;

and

wherein the positioning mechanism is further configured to align at least one of the at least one container holder with the capping module.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a labeling module configured to apply at least one label to at least one of the at least one user container;

and

wherein the positioning mechanism is further configured to align at least one of the at least one container holder with the labeling module.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mixing module configured to mix the contents of to at least one of the at least one user container;

and

wherein the positioning mechanism is further configured to align at least one of the at least one container holder with the mixing module.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a point of sale module configured to generate mixing instructions from a formula comprising at least one mixing ratio of at least two of the multitude of vaping liquids.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mixing instructions comprise a list comprising a quantity value for each of at least one of the at least one identified vaping liquid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multitude of vaping liquids comprise at least two of the following:

a) propylene glycol;

b) glycerin;

c) water;

d) nicotine;

e) flavorings; and

f) a combination of the above.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the machine container comprises at least one of the following:

a) a bag;

b) a bottle;

c) a box;

d) ajar; and

e) a combination of the above.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the machine container comprises an outlet tube configured to be threaded through the measuring pump module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the nozzle is disposed at the end of the outlet tube.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a machine container sensor:

a) communicatively connected to the controller module; and

b) configured to read a machine readable machine container identifier proximate to the machine container.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the machine container is configured to be interchangeable.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measuring pump module comprises at least one of the following:

a) a peristaltic pump;

b) a syringe pump;

c) a valve pump;

d) a piston pump;

e) a positive displacement pump;

f) a gear pump; and

g) a combination of the above.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measuring pump module comprises:

a) two pinch valves; and

b) one tubing depressor.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an engagement mechanism configured to connect the measuring pump to an external actuator.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measuring pump is further configured to pump vaping liquids in increments of 10 to 100 microliters.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user container holder is configured to hold at least one of the following:

a) an e-cigarette;

b) a personal vaporizer;

c) a vaping liquid tank;

d) a bottle configured to fill one of the above; and

e) a combination of the above.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism comprises at least one of the following:

a) a rotary positioning mechanism;

b) a robotic manipulating mechanism;

c) a linear positioning mechanism;

d) a multilevel positioning mechanism; and

e) a combination of the above.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a droplet dislodger proximate to the nozzle outlet.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one machine container fluid quantity sensor mounted proximate to at least one of the at least one machine container.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one user container fluid quantity sensor mounted proximate to at least one of the at least one user container.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller module is further configured to measure a volume of the at least one of the multitude of vaping liquids employing at least one of the following:

a) an external sensor;

b) an internal sensor;

c) a scale;

d) a flow sensor;

e) a level sensor; and

f) a combination of the above.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller module is further configured to operate the measuring pump module based, at least in part, on a measured volume of at least one of the multitude of vaping liquids.