Rotatable drum and method and system using the same for the automated production of E-vapor devices
AssigneeAltria Client Services LLC
InventorsEdmond J. Cadieux, Martin Garthaffner, Barry S. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotating drum for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a drum body. A plurality of grooves may be disposed in an outer face of the drum body. A seat may be tractably-mounted in each one of the plurality of grooves. The seat may include a seat groove that is structured and arranged to receive and hold a rigid casing of a vapor-generating article. The seat may be composed of a material that is softer than a material of the rigid casing.
Claims19
A rotatable drum for automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices, comprising:
- a drum body including a roll face bounded by opposing end faces, the roll face defining a plurality of pockets therein;
- and
- a first seat structure tractably-mounted in each of the plurality of pockets of the drum body with a post and a resilient element, the first seat structure including a first outer surface and an opposing first inner surface, the first outer surface defining a first groove therein and facing outward from the drum body, the first groove configured to receive and hold a first casing of the e-vapor devices, the post extending through the resilient element and connected to the first inner surface of the first seat structure.
A system for automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices, comprising:
- a rotatable drum including
- a drum body including a roll face bounded by opposing end faces, the roll face defining a plurality of pockets therein, and
- a seat structure tractably-mounted in each of the plurality of pockets of the drum body, the seat structure including an outer surface and an opposing inner surface, the outer surface defining a groove therein and facing outward from the drum body, the groove configured to receive and hold a casing of the e-vapor devices;
- a tagging assembly configured to attach a label to the casing in the groove of the seat structure, the tagging assembly configured to initially attach a central portion of the label to an outer surface of the casing such that a leading edge and a trailing edge of the label do not contact the casing when the label is initially attached to the casing;
- and
- a wrapping assembly configured to wrap the label around the casing.
A method of automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices, comprising:
- receiving and holding a casing of the e-vapor devices in a seat structure that is tractably-mounted in a pocket of a rotating drum;
- tagging a label to the casing while the casing is held in the seat structure, the tagging including initially attaching a central portion of the label to an outer surface of the casing such that a leading edge and a trailing edge of the label do not contact the casing when the label is initially tagged to the casing;
- and
- wrapping the label around the casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.