Method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833019-B2
Application number	US-201414227159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2014
Priority date	Feb 13, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Reynolds Tobacco Co R
• Rai Strategic Holdings Inc

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

Classifications

• H01C3/16

  including two or more distinct wound elements or two or more winding patterns · CPC title

• H01C3/08

  Dimension or characteristic of resistive element changing gradually or in discrete steps from one terminal to another · CPC title

• H01C17/04

  adapted for winding the resistive element · CPC title

• H05B2203/037

  Heaters with zones of different power density · CPC title

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title