System and method for in-line controlling an ultrasonic welding of electronic cigarette plastic components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018071997-A1
Application number	US-201715695116-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 5, 2017
Priority date	Sep 5, 2016
Publication date	Mar 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for in-line controlling of the ultrasonic welding of plastic components of an electronic cigarette, in which plastic components are welded to one another at a welding zone to define a welded group; the plastic components are such that the welded group has an air passage duct having a first open end and a second open end. The system includes: a chamber for receiving the welded group; a closure for closing the first open end; air supply for supplying air into the chamber. The system further includes an air exit, connecting the welding zone with the outside of the chamber; a continuous pressure control and adjustment for continuously controlling and regulating the air pressure that enters the air passage duct to keep a fixed air pressure; an air passage nozzle having a predetermined cross section, position between the continuous pressure control and adjustment and the second open end; and a pressure sensor for detecting the air back pressure generated in the chamber after the introduction of air into the air passage duct.

First claim

1 . A system ( 1 ) for in-line controlling the ultrasonic welding of plastic components (F, S, B) of an electronic cigarette, said plastic components (F, S, B) being welded one to the other at a welding zone (Z) so as to define a welded group (G); the plastic components (F, S, B) being conformed in such a way that the welded group (G) comprises an air passage duct (P) having a first open end (E 1 ) and a second open end (E 2 );
the system ( 1 ) being characterized in that it comprises: a chamber ( 2 ) for receiving the welded group (G); closure means ( 3 ), for closing the first open end (El) of the air passage duct (P) of the welded group (G); air supplying means ( 6 ) for supplying air into the chamber ( 2 ) determining the introduction of air in the air passage duct (P) through its second open end (E 2 ); air exiting means ( 4 , 40 ), arranged for connecting the welding zone (Z) with the outside of the chamber ( 2 ), allowing the possible exit of air outside the chamber ( 2 ); continuous pressure control and adjustment means ( 5 ), arranged between the air supplying means ( 6 ) and the second open end (E 2 ) of the air passage duct (P) for continuously controlling and regulating the air pressure that enters in the air passage duct (P), in order to keep a fixed air pressure; an air passage nozzle ( 7 ) having a determined cross section, interposed between the continuous pressure control and adjustment means ( 5 ) and the second open end (E 2 ) of the air passage duct (P), through which the air passes; and a pressure sensor ( 8 ), connected to the chamber ( 2 ), for detecting an air back pressure generated in the chamber ( 2 ) after the introduction of air into the air passage duct (P).

2 . The system ( 1 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein the continuous pressure control and adjustment means comprise a proportional solenoid valve ( 5 ).

3 . The system ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the distance between the nozzle ( 7 ) and the second open end (E 2 ) of the air passage duct (P) is shorter than the distance between the nozzle ( 7 ) and the proportional solenoid valve ( 5 ).

4 . The system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the air exiting means ( 4 , 40 ) comprise:
a sealing ring ( 40 ) arranged inside the chamber ( 2 ) at the welding zone (Z) of the welded group (G); and an outlet duct ( 4 ) arranged between the chamber ( 2 ) and the welded group (G); the sealing ring ( 40 ) and the outlet duct ( 4 ) being arranged so that the possible exiting of the air is blocked by the sealing ring ( 40 ) downstream of the welding zone (Z), and therefore the air travels in the outlet duct ( 4 ) for arriving outside the chamber ( 2 ) through an air exit (U).

5 . The system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising a control unit comprising in turn an internal memory in which a reference pressure value is stored; the control unit being connected to the pressure sensor ( 8 ) for comparing the detected back pressure within the chamber ( 2 ) and said reference pressure value.

6 . The system ( 1 ) according to claim 5 , further comprising discharging means, for discharging a welded group (G) out of the system ( 1 ) if the detected back pressure is lower than the reference pressure value.

7 . An electronic cigarette assembling line, comprising:
at least one feeding station for feeding plastic components (F, S, B) of an electronic cigarette to be welded; an ultrasonic welding station, arranged downstream of the feeding station, for welding the plastic components (F, S, B) to one another in order to form a welded group (G); and a control station, arranged downstream of the welding station, comprising a system ( 1 ) for in-line controlling the ultrasonic welding of plastic components (F, S, B) of an electronic cigarette according to claim 1 .

8 . A method for in-line controlling the ultrasonic welding of plastic components (F, S, B) of an electronic cigarette, said plastic components (F, S, B) being welded one to the other at a welding zone (Z) so as to define a welded group (G); the plastic components being conformed in such a way that the welded group (G) comprises an air passage duct (P) having a first open end (E 1 ) and a second open end (E 2 ), opposing each other;
the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: arranging the welded group (G) into a chamber ( 2 ) that comprises air exiting means ( 4 , 40 ), arranged for connecting the welding zone (Z) with the outside of the chamber ( 2 ), allowing the possible exit of air outside the chamber ( 2 ); closing the first open end (E 1 ) of the air passage duct (P) of the welded group (G); supplying air in the chamber ( 2 ), the air being supplied with a predetermined pressure and a fixed flow rate, determining the introduction of air in the air passage duct (P) through its second open end (E 2 ); and detecting the air back pressure generated in the chamber ( 2 ) after the introduction of air into the air passage duct (P).

9 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising, after the step of detecting the air back pressure generated after the introduction of air into the air passage duct, the step of comparing the detected back pressure with a reference pressure value.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of discarding the welded group (G) if the detected back pressure is lower than the reference pressure value.

Assignees

• Gd Spa

Inventors

• Romagnoli Massimo
• Moretti Carlo
• Sartoni Massimo
• Federici Luca

Classifications

• B29L2031/7416

  for cigars or cigarettes · CPC title

• B29C65/08

  using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)} · CPC title

• B29C66/114

  Single butt joints · CPC title

• B29C66/5346

  said single elements being substantially flat · CPC title

• B29C65/8246

  Pressure tests, e.g. hydrostatic pressure tests · CPC title