# US 12,005,184 B2 · Methods for assembling a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device, and associated systems and apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,184 B2 - Document ID: US12005184B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/650,988 - Filed: 2022-02-14 - Published: 2022-06-02 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-29 - Assignees: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. - Applicants: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc. - Inventors: William Robert Collett; Quentin Paul Guenther, Jr.; Paul Andrew Brinkley; Jeffrey Edward Allgeyer; Ethan Matthew Bernhardt; Andrew Ross Matthews; Roger Ritter; Stephen Todd Schafer; Mathieu Leboeuf; Martin Lee Maple; Trenton S. Noonan; Kevin Paul Schafer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005184B2 ## CPC - A61M 15/06: Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes - A24F 40/70: Manufacture - B23K 26/22: Spot welding - B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)} - B29C 66/5344: {said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends (B29C66/5346 takes precedence)} - B65B 3/14: pneumatically - G01M 99/008: {by doing functionality tests} - H05B 3/0014: {Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances} - H05B 3/78: Heating arrangements specially adapted for immersion heating - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A61M 11/042: {electrical} - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/3553: remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office - A61M 2205/3693: by mechanical waves, e.g. ultrasonic - A61M 2207/00: Methods of manufacture, assembly or production - B29L 2031/712: {Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages (closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418)} - B29L 2031/7414: {Smokers'' requisites, e.g. pipe cleaners (cigar holders B29L2023/14)} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. A system may include assembly cells each including an assembly track and assembly carriages that ride thereon and which engage components of partially-assembled cartridges. A transfer apparatus may transfer partially-assembled cartridges between the assembly cells. In another example system, cartridges may be assembled on platforms on a rotary track. The platforms may include assembly grippers with sequentially-opening clamps configured to receive the components of the partially-assembled cartridges. Related methods are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for assembling a plurality of cartridges for an aerosol delivery device, the system comprising: a folding apparatus comprising a plurality of posts respectively including a notch defined therein, the folding apparatus being configured to receive a partially-assembled cartridge therebetween such that first and second ends of a liquid transport element of the partially-assembled cartridge contact the posts at the notches to fold the liquid transport element against a remainder of the partially-assembled cartridge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the folding apparatus further comprises an actuator configured to move the posts toward one another to fold the liquid transport element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising a base gripper configured to grip a base of the partially-assembled cartridge while the actuator moves the posts toward one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising a gripper configured to direct the partially-assembled cartridge through the posts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: an input feeder configured to dispense a substantially-continuous input comprising a plurality of heating elements engaged with a substantially-continuous liquid transport element; an assembly feeder configured to engage a first heating terminal and a second heating terminal with one of the heating elements; a welder configured to weld the first heating terminal and the second heating terminal to the one of the heating elements; and a cutter configured to cut the substantially-continuous input to singulate the one of the heating elements to which the first heating terminal and the second heating terminal are attached and a corresponding liquid transport segment from the substantially-continuous input. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the welder comprises a laser welder configured to weld the first heating terminal and the second heating terminal to the one of the heating elements by focusing a laser at the first heating terminal and the second heating terminal, the laser welder, the first heating terminal, and the second heating terminal remaining stationary during and between welding the first heating terminal and the second heating terminal to the one of the heating elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the assembly feeder is configured to transport an assembly comprising a base and a flow director, wherein the first heating terminal and the second heating terminal extend through the flow director. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the assembly feeder comprises a rotary transporter configured to rotate to transport the assembly such that the first heating terminal and the second heating terminal engage the one of the heating elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: an assembly gripper, comprising: a plurality of clamps respectively comprising a first finger and a second finger, the clamps being configured to grasp an assembly comprising a flow director, an atomizer, a first heating terminal, and a second heating terminal, wherein the first heating terminal and the second heating terminal are coupled to the atomizer; and a body to which the clamps are hingedly coupled, the body defining at least one access port configured to receive an actuator pin to open the clamps. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising a substrate gripper configured to engage a reservoir substrate and position the reservoir substrate in contact with the assembly, the substrate gripper comprising one or more protrusions configured to apply a negative pressure thereto. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the substrate gripper is configured to release the reservoir substrate after the clamps close and retract the one or more protrusions through one or more gaps positioned between the clamps. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, further comprising a cap configured to engage the assembly while positioning the reservoir substrate in contact with the assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising the actuator pin, wherein insertion of the actuator pin is configured to engage and sequentially open the clamps and retraction of the actuator pin is configured to sequentially close the clamps. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein each of the clamps comprises at least one spring configured to bias the clamps to a closed configuration.