Apparatus for filling cartridges of e-vapor devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12534237-B2
Application number	US-202318527761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2023
Priority date	Dec 27, 2016
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

An apparatus for the automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices may include a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device. The apparatus may additionally include a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle. The needle assembly is configured to transition between a lowered state and a raised state. The lowered state is where the hypodermic needle is moved down into the cartridge, while the raised state is where the hypodermic needle is lifted up and away from the cartridge. The apparatus may further include a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state. The pump assembly may include a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices, comprising:
a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device, the filling drum defining a plurality of flutes, each flute of the plurality of flutes being configured to receive a cartridge of the at least one cartridge, the filling drum being configured to rotate while transporting the at least one cartridge; a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the at least one cartridge during rotation of the filling drum and transportation of the at least one cartridge; and at least one switch valve arranged above the pump assembly and configured to control the pumping of the pre-vapor formulation into the at least one cartridge by rotating between a first position and a second position, the first position allowing the pre-vapor formulation into the pump assembly, the second position allowing the pumping of the pre-vapor formulation into the at least one cartridge.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filling drum is configured to receive the at least one cartridge while in motion, and the pump assembly is configured to pump during a time period coinciding with at least a 250 degree rotation of the filling drum.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each flute of the plurality of flutes includes a vacuum port configured to retain the cartridge of the at least one cartridge in the flute and to timely release the cartridge from the flute.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each flute of the plurality of flutes includes a blow port configured to selectively eject the cartridge of the at least one cartridge from the flute.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filling drum includes a supporting ledge extending under the plurality of flutes, the supporting ledge being configured to retain the at least one cartridge in the plurality of flutes.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the needle assembly is configured to move the at least one hypodermic needle within the at least one cartridge during an operation of the pump assembly.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly includes a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the at least one cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly is configured such that a time period for pumping the pre-vapor formulation remains constant and independent of adjustments to an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the at least one cartridge.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a feed drum configured to transfer the at least one cartridge to the filling drum.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
an exit drum configured to remove the at least one cartridge from the filling drum, wherein the filling drum, the feed drum, and the exit drum are configured to rotate synchronously such that the at least one cartridge is conveyed in a continuous motion from the feed drum to the exit drum via the filling drum.

12 . A method of automatically filling cartridges of e-vapor devices, comprising:
receiving at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device in a filling drum; transitioning a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle from a raised state to a lowered state; pumping, by a pump assembly, a pre-vapor formulation into the at least one cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state; moving the at least one hypodermic needle within the at least one cartridge during the pumping; and controlling the pumping of the pre-vapor formulation into the at least one cartridge by rotating at least one switch valve between a first position and a second position, the first position allowing the pre-vapor formulation into the pump assembly, the second position allowing the pumping of the pre-vapor formulation into the at least one cartridge, the at least one switch valve arranged above the pump assembly.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
adjusting, with a variable amplitude cam system of the pump assembly, an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the at least one cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the receiving the at least one cartridge includes rotating the filling drum to receive the at least one cartridge while the filling drum is in motion, and the pumping occurs during a time period coinciding with at least a 250 degree rotation of the filling drum.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the pumping the pre-vapor formulation into the at least one cartridge includes pumping the pre-vapor formulation while the filling drum is in motion.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a time period for the pumping of the pre-vapor formulation remains constant and independent of adjustments to an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the at least one cartridge.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
delivering, by a feed drum, the at least one cartridge to the filling drum.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
removing, by an exit drum, the at least one cartridge from the filling drum.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
rotating the filling drum, the feed drum, and the exit drum synchronously such that the at least one cartridge is conveyed in a continuous motion from the feed drum to the exit drum via the filling drum.

20 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
removing, by an exit drum, the at least one cartridge from the filling drum.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Garthaffner Travis Martin
• Straight Jeremy Jay

Classifications

• F04B49/128

  by changing the eccentricity of the cylinders, e.g. by moving a cylinder block · CPC title

• F04B49/121

  Lost-motion device in the driving mechanism · CPC title

• F04B1/07

  by varying the relative eccentricity between two members, e.g. a cam and a drive shaft · CPC title

• F04B49/125

  by changing the eccentricity of the actuation means, e.g. cams or cranks, relative to the driving means, e.g. driving shafts (F04B49/128 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67C3/26

  Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks · CPC title