Method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article

• US 9,833,019 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• 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 A., 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): Belser, Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Travers, Matthew P
• Application Number:
  US14/227,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20150223522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• 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 method for assembling a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

wrapping a reservoir substrate at least partially about an atomizer;

providing an outer body configured to at least partially receive the reservoir substrate and the atomizer therein;

and inserting the reservoir substrate and the atomizer through a tool into the outer body, the tool defining a funnel portion configured to reduce an outer dimension of the reservoir substrate such that the outer dimension of the reservoir substrate is less than or equal to an internal dimension of the outer body to facilitate insertion of the reservoir substrate into the outer body;

the method further comprising engaging the reservoir substrate with one or more fingers such that the reservoir substrate remains at least partially wrapped about the atomizer when beginning to insert the reservoir substrate through the tool into the outer body; and

releasing the one or more fingers from the reservoir substrate when the reservoir substrate is inserted to a predetermined depth in the tool, wherein releasing the one or more fingers comprises deflecting the one or more fingers away from the reservoir substrate by contacting the one or more fingers with the tool.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising twisting the tool relative to the reservoir substrate while inserting the reservoir substrate through the tool into the outer body.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein wrapping the reservoir substrate at least partially about the atomizer comprises directing a flow of air at the reservoir substrate.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the atomizer to a base prior to wrapping the reservoir substrate at least partially about the atomizer;

and coupling the outer body to the base after inserting the reservoir substrate through the tool into the outer body.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying the reservoir substrate from a substantially continuous reservoir substrate input;

and

controlling a tension in the substantially continuous reservoir substrate input.

6. A method for assembling a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device, the method comprising:

wrapping a reservoir substrate at least partially about an atomizer;

providing an outer body configured to at least partially receive the reservoir substrate and the atomizer therein;

and inserting the reservoir substrate and the atomizer through a tool into the outer body, the tool defining a funnel portion configured to reduce an outer dimension of the reservoir substrate such that the outer dimension of the reservoir substrate is less than or equal to an internal dimension of the outer body to facilitate insertion of the reservoir substrate into the outer body;

the method further comprising engaging the reservoir substrate with fingers such that the reservoir substrate remains at least partially wrapped about the atomizer when beginning to insert the reservoir substrate through the tool into the outer body; and

sequentially releasing the fingers from the reservoir substrate when the reservoir substrate is inserted to a predetermined depth in the tool.