Rotatable drum and method and system using the same for the automated production of e-vapor devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12082622-B2
Application number	US-202217572751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2022
Priority date	Apr 14, 2014
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A rotating drum for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a drum body. A plurality of grooves may be disposed in an outer face of the drum body. A seat may be tractably-mounted in each one of the plurality of grooves. The seat may include a seat groove that is structured and arranged to receive and hold a rigid casing of a vapor-generating article. The seat may be composed of a material that is softer than a material of the rigid casing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of receiving and holding a housing of an e-vapor device during manufacturing of e-vapor devices, comprising:
receiving the housing in a channel of one of a plurality of flutes in a roll face of a drum body; and
extending a pusher to axially urge the housing into contact with a stop,
wherein the extending the pusher includes aligning the housing in a seat groove of a seat in the channel of the one of the plurality of flutes, the seat connected to a post located within a spring, the post having an internal channel communicating with an aperture defined in the seat and another channel formed in the drum body.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extending the pusher includes providing axial force on the pusher from a biasing member.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seat is arranged within a pocket in the channel.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
applying a vacuum to the seat groove to retain the housing within the seat groove.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the applying the vacuum to the seat groove includes transmitting the vacuum through the aperture defined in the seat.

7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
radially sliding the seat into and out of the pocket in the channel; and
biasing the seat in a radially outward position.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a vacuum to the channel to retain the housing in the channel.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stop is fixed to the one of the plurality of flutes.

10. A method of manufacturing e-vapor devices, comprising:
receiving a housing of an e-vapor device in a channel of a rotating drum, the rotating drum including a roll face defining a plurality of flutes therein and the channel within one of the plurality of flutes;
extending a pusher housed within the channel to axially urge the housing into contact with a stop and retain the housing in the channel; and
tagging a label to the housing while the housing is held in the channel,
wherein the extending the pusher includes aligning the housing in a seat groove of a seat in the channel of the one of the plurality of flutes, the seat connected to a post located within a spring, the post having an internal channel communicating with an aperture defined in the seat and another channel formed in the rotating drum.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the extending the pusher includes biasing the pusher into engagement with the housing by a biasing member.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the seat is arranged within a pocket in the channel.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
applying a vacuum to the seat groove to retain the housing within the seat groove.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the applying the vacuum to the seat groove includes transmitting the vacuum through the aperture defined in the seat.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
radially sliding the seat into and out of a pocket in the channel; and
biasing the seat in a radially outward position.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
applying a vacuum to the channel to retain the housing in the channel.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
wrapping the label around the housing while the housing is held in the channel.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Cadieux Jr Edmond J
• Garthaffner Martin T
• Smith Barry S

Classifications

• A24F40/10

  Devices using liquid inhalable precursors · CPC title

• A24F40/40

  Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts · CPC title

• A24C5/327 Primary

  Construction details of the cigarette transport drum · CPC title

• B65C3/06

  Affixing labels to short rigid containers · CPC title

• B65C3/08

  to container bodies {(B65C3/065 takes precedence)} · CPC title