# US 11,998,063 B2 · Method and apparatus for manufacturing a consumable unit for an inhalation device, and a consumable unit for an inhalation device

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- Number: US 11,998,063 B2
- Document ID: US11998063B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/426,144
- Filed: 2020-01-21
- Published: 2022-03-31
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-29
- Assignees: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
- Applicants: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
- Inventors: Andrew Jonathan Bray
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998063B2

## CPC

- A24F 40/70: Manufacture
- A24F 7/00: Mouthpieces for pipes; Mouthpieces for cigar or cigarette holders
- A24F 40/20: Devices using solid inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
- B26F 1/40: using a press, e.g. of the ram type (presses in general B30B)
- B65B 1/06: by gravity flow
- B65B 1/36: by volumetric devices or methods (checking volume of filled material B65B1/48)
- B65B 3/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
- B65B 7/28: by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
- B65B 7/2842: {Securing closures on containers (in general B65B51/00)}
- B65B 25/00: Packaging other articles presenting special problems (bundling B65B27/00)
- B65B 65/006: {Multiple parallel packaging lines}
- B65D 75/367: {and forming several compartments}
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- A24F 40/30: Devices using two or more structurally separated inhalable precursors, e.g. using two liquid precursors in two cartridges
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)
- B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B)
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

Apparatus for providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a hopper for receiving aerosolisable material, the hopper comprising an opening in a lower end of the hopper; and a doser disposed below the hopper, the doser comprising a dosing cavity. The doser is movable between a first position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with the opening such that aerosolisable material is movable from the hopper into the dosing cavity, and a second position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with a container such that the aerosolisable material is movable from the dosing cavity into the container. A method of providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device is also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, the apparatus comprising:
a hopper for receiving aerosolisable material, the hopper comprising an opening in a lower end of the hopper; and
a doser disposed below the hopper, the doser comprising a dosing cavity;
wherein the doser is movable between a first position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with the opening such that aerosolisable material is movable from the hopper into the dosing cavity, and a second position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with a container such that the aerosolisable material is movable from the dosing cavity into the container;
the apparatus further comprising a movable shelf configured to support one of the doser or the container, and wherein the movable shelf is movable in a vertical direction such that the doser or the container is movable relative to the other of the doser or the container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume of the dosing cavity is equal to the volume of aerosolisable material to be provided to a container.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerosolisable material comprises tobacco.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aerosolisable material comprises a particulate material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A consumable unit manufactured using the apparatus of claim 1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator arranged to move the doser between the first position and the second position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the actuator is arranged to move the doser linearly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of any claim 4, wherein the doser and the alignment member are mounted on the movable shelf, the movable shelf being movable between a disengaged position in which the alignment member is spaced from the container and an engaged position in which the alignment member engages the container.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the alignment member comprises a recess arranged to engage the container when the movable shelf is in the engaged position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the volume of the dosing cavity is a fraction of the volume of aerosolisable material to be provided to a container, such that the doser is moved a plurality of times between the first and second positions to provide a dose of aerosolisable material to a container.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the volume of the dosing cavity is a half of the volume of aerosolisable material to be provided to a container, or wherein the volume of the dosing cavity is a third of the volume of aerosolisable material to be provided to a container.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hopper comprises a plurality of openings, and wherein the doser comprises a plurality of dosing cavities for providing aerosolisable material to a plurality of containers simultaneously.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus further comprises a machine tray support arranged to support a machine tray that is able to hold a plurality of containers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an inspection unit configured to inspect the consumable units in the machine tray.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an alignment member disposed below the doser, the alignment member comprising an opening that is aligned with the dosing cavity when the doser is in the second position.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the alignment member is arranged to block a lower side of the dosing cavity when the doser is in the first position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the opening in the alignment member is offset relative to the opening in the hopper.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the doser and the alignment member are planar.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the dosing cavity is a through-hole in the doser.

### Claim 20

A method of providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a container of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, the method comprising:
receiving aerosolisable material in a hopper, the hopper comprising an opening in a lower end of the hopper; and
providing a dose of aerosolisable material to the container;
wherein providing a dose of aerosolisable material to the container comprises moving a doser between a first position in which a dosing cavity of the doser is aligned with the opening such that aerosolisable material moves from the hopper into the dosing cavity, and a second position in which the dosing cavity is aligned with a container such that the aerosolisable material moves into the container;
the apparatus further comprising a movable shelf configured to support one of the doser or the container, and wherein the movable shelf is movable in a vertical direction such that the doser or the container is movable relative to the other of the doser or the container.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein providing a dose of aerosolisable material to the container comprises providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a plurality of containers simultaneously.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the doser is moved once between the first position and the second position to provide a dose of aerosolisable material to the container.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the doser is moved two or more times between the first position and the second position to provide a dose of aerosolisable material to the container.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the aerosolisable material comprises tobacco.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the aerosolisable material comprises a particulate material.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

A consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, the consumable unit comprising a container provided with a dose of aerosolisable material according to the method of claim 20.