Patent Publication Number: US-2023135607-A1

Title: Method and machine to manufacture a coil around a component of an article

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102021000027422 filed on Oct. 26, 2021 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a method and a machine to manufacture a coil around a component of an article. 
     The present invention finds advantageous application in the tobacco industry for the assembly of a transponder in a component of a disposable cartridge of an electronic cigarette, to which the following disclosure will refer without losing generality. 
     PRIOR ART 
     Normally, an electronic cigarette comprises a reusable part that is used several times and contains, among other things, an electric battery (which provides the energy necessary for the operation of the electronic cigarette) and an electronic processor that oversees the operation of the electronic cigarette. Furthermore, the electronic cigarette comprises a single use cartridge (namely, disposable that is therefore used only once and is then replaced), which is coupled to the reusable part. 
     Recently it has been proposed to insert, in each disposable cartridge, a component provided with a transponder provided with a memory in which the characteristics of the disposable cartridge are stored and in particular the characteristics of the active substance (liquid or solid) that must be heated to release the inhalable vapours; in this way, the reusable part of the electronic cigarette can read the characteristics of the disposable cartridge coupled thereto, thus adapting the heating to the characteristics of the disposable cartridge. 
     In most applications, the transponder comprises a single helical antenna (namely, a single coil acting as an antenna); however, in some applications the transponder can comprise a plurality of helical antennas (namely, a plurality of coils acting as an antenna) which have different orientations in space so as to guarantee the transponder to be able to communicate effectively in all possible positions. 
     A significant problem in making a helical antenna (namely, a coil that acts as an antenna) for a transponder is the need to use a very thin wire (having a diameter of the order of 50-200 microns) which therefore has an extremely low mechanical resistance (the breaking load is of the order of a few Newtons): if, during the winding of the wire, even a modest increase in traction occurs (2-3 Newton in excess are enough), there is a risk of breaking the wire with the consequent stop of the automatic machine until the intervention of an expert operator (who in any case, takes several minutes to restore the continuity of the wire). Obviously, each stop of the automatic machine significantly reduces the daily productivity of the automatic machine and, at the same time, increases the direct costs of managing the automatic machine as a result of the intervention costs of an expert operator. 
     Patent application US2020328662A1 describes a winding machine for winding coils and comprising at least one housing for the body of the coil and at least one feeding unit for feeding the winding material; in a first setting and by using a first receiving unit, the winding is carried out according to a first winding technique while, in a second setting and by using a second receiving unit, the winding is carried out according to a second winding technique. 
     Patent application DE19848009A1 describes a method to manufacture a coil connected to a chip module for contactless chip card application. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a machine to manufacture a coil around a component of an article, which method and machine allow to work at a high operating speed (measured as the number of components produced in a unit of time) while maintaining, at the same time, a high production quality (generally measured as a percentage of defective pieces) and above all without frequent breakage of the wire during winding. 
     According to the present invention, a method and a machine are provided to manufacture a coil around a component of an article, as claimed in the attached claims. 
     The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view of a disposable cartridge of an electronic cigarette; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic and plan view of a production plant for the production of the disposable cartridge of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIGS.  3  and  4    are two different perspective views of a component of the disposable cartridge of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic view of a winding machine of the production plant of  FIG.  2    that produces the component of  FIGS.  3  and  4   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view and with the removal of parts for clarity of the machine of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a carriage of a main conveyor of the machine of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIGS.  8  and  9    are different perspective views and with the removal of parts for clarity of a support plate of the carriage of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view and with the removal of parts for clarity of an input station of the machine of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIGS.  11 - 14    are respective perspective views and with the removal of parts for clarity of a winding station of the machine of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective view and with the removal of parts for clarity of a welding station of the machine of  FIG.  5   ; and 
         FIGS.  16 - 20    are respective perspective views and with the removal of parts for clarity of as many handling stations of the machine of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  21    is a plan and schematic view of a first control machine of the production plant of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  22    is a perspective and schematic view of the first control machine of  FIG.  22   ; 
         FIG.  23    is a plan and schematic view of an assembling machine and a of a second control machine of the production plant of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  24    is a plan and schematic view of further control machines of the production plant of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  25    is a perspective and schematic view of a control machine of  FIG.  24   ; and 
         FIG.  26    is a perspective and schematic view of an outlet area of the production plant of  FIG.  2   . 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG.  1   , the reference number  100  denotes schematically and as a whole a disposable cartridge of an electronic cigarette comprising a series of components  101 - 106 . 
       FIG.  2    schematically illustrates a production plant designed for manufacturing the disposable cartridge  100 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the component  102  of the disposable cartridge  100  has a roughly parallelepiped shape with six walls (faces): an upper wall  2 , a lower wall  3  parallel and opposite the upper wall  2 , a front wall  4 , a rear wall  5  parallel and opposite the front wall  4  and two side walls  6  and  7  parallel and opposite one another. 
     The component  102  comprises an integrated electronic circuit (not illustrated) that is arranged inside the component, is generally provided with its own electric battery (namely, with its own source of electrical energy) and has six pairs of electrical contacts  8 , which are arranged at the walls  4 - 7 : a pair of electrical contacts  8  is arranged at the side wall  6 , two pairs of electrical contacts  8  are arranged at the front wall  4 , a pair of electrical contacts  8  is arranged at the side wall  7 , and two pairs of electrical contacts  8  are arranged at the rear wall  5 . 
     Furthermore, component  102  comprises six coils  9 - 14  which are wound: two coils  9  and  10  of larger size (area) which surround the walls  4 - 7  and are arranged at opposite ends of component  102  (namely, the coil  9  is arranged near the upper wall  2  while the coil  10  is arranged near the lower wall  3 ), two coils  11  and  12  of medium size (area) that surround the walls  2 - 3  and  6 - 7  and are arranged at the opposite ends of the component  102  (namely, the coil  11  is arranged near the front wall  4  while the coil  12  is arranged near the rear wall  5 ), and two coils  13  and  14  of smaller size (area) that surround the walls  2 - 5  and are arranged at the opposite ends of the component  102  (namely, the coil  13  is arranged near the side wall  6  while the coil  14  is arranged near the side wall  7 ). 
     Each coil  9 - 14  is wound and is made up of a plurality of turns of an externally insulated conductive wire  15  that form a winding; in the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures about 3-5 turns are provided for each coil  9 - 14  (but a greater number of turns could also be provided, such as for example 10-50 turns and preferably 10-30 turns). According to a preferred embodiment, the conductor wire  15  has a diameter ranging from 10 to 500 microns and preferably from 20 to 200 microns (even if in most applications the diameter ranges from 25 to 150 microns). Each coil  9 - 14  (namely, the wound wire  15  that makes up each coil  9 - 14 ) has two ends (obviously an initial end and a final end depending on the winding direction) which are welded to a corresponding pair of electrical contacts  8 . 
     The electronic circuit of the component  102  uses, alternatively or simultaneously, the six coils  9 - 14  (or a part of the six coils  9 - 14 ) to communicate in radiofrequency with other electronic devices arranged in the vicinity. Alternatively or in addition, the electronic circuit of component  102  could also use the six coils  9 - 14  (or a part of the six coils  9 - 14 ) to generate electrical energy (designed for the operation thereof and/or to recharge the electric battery) exploiting an electromagnetic field generated by an electronic device arranged nearby; namely, the electronic circuit of the component  102  could also use the six coils  9 - 14  (or a part of the six coils  9 - 14 ) to obtain an inductive (therefore contactless) electric recharge of its own electric battery. Consequently, the six coils  9 - 14  of the component  102  make up corresponding antennas that can be used to exchange (transmit) information by means of electromagnetic waves (in this case the antennas are part of a telecommunication device) and/or can be used to exchange electricity by means of electromagnetic waves (in this case the antennas are part of a charging device). Namely, each of the coils  9 - 14  of the component  102  makes up a helical antenna for electromagnetic interactions which can be intended for the exchange (transmission) of information or can be intended for generating electrical energy by means of electromagnetic induction. 
     The component  102  finally comprises six pairs of pins  16  and  17  (namely, two small columns) which project in a cantilevered manner (namely, perpendicularly) from the corresponding walls  2 - 7  and are arranged near corresponding pairs of electrical contacts  8 ; the two ends (initial and final) of the wound wire  15  that makes up each coil  9 - 14  are bent at (approximately) 90° around the corresponding pins  16  or  17  before joining the corresponding electrical contacts  8  (namely, before reaching the corresponding electrical contacts  8  on which the two ends are welded). 
     It is important to note that the positioning and shape of the electrical contacts  8  and the pins  16  and  17  could be completely different, thus being understood that two respective electrical contacts  8  and two respective pins  16  and  17  are associated with each coil  9 - 14  and that the pins  16  and  17  are arranged in (relative) proximity to the electrical contacts  8 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the component  102  comprises six coils  9 - 14 ; according to other embodiments not illustrated, the component  102  has a different number of coils  9 - 14  that is generally comprised between two and five (but in some cases more than six coils  9 - 14  or even one single coil  9 - 14  could also be provided). In other words, the component  102  has at least one coil  9 - 14  and can have a plurality of coils  9 - 14 . 
     In  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the reference number  18  denotes as a whole a machine for manufacturing the coils  9 - 14  in the component  1 . 
     The winding machine  18  comprises a support body (namely, a frame) which rests on the ground by means of legs and has a vertical wall, on the front, on which the operating members are mounted. Furthermore, the winding machine  18  comprises a main conveyor  19  that moves the components  1  being processed along a working path P 1 , which develops between an input station  51  (in which the main conveyor  19  receives the components  1  where the coils  9 - 14  are formed) and an output station S 2  (in which the main conveyor  19  transfers the completed components  1 , namely, provided with the coils  9 - 14 ). 
     The working path P 1  passes through a series of stations S 3 -S 19  (better described in the following), in which the operations for manufacturing the six coils  9 - 14  are carried out. In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the main path P comprises one single horizontal and linear section (namely, which extends substantially along a straight line arranged horizontally) arranged between the input station S 1  and the output station S 2 ; according to a different embodiment not illustrated, the working path P 1  comprises: an upper section that is horizontal and linear, a lower section that is horizontal and linear (therefore it is parallel to the upper section), and a semi-circular connecting section which connects the upper section and the lower section to one another. 
     The main conveyor  19  comprises a plurality of carriages  20  which are moved along the working path P 1 ; as better illustrated in  FIGS.  7 ,  8  and  9   , each carriage  20  comprises a support plate  21  in which three different seats  22 ,  23  and  24  are obtained, each designed to receive and house the same component  102  with different orientations. Namely, the seat  22  is designed to house the component  102  when the side wall  6  or the side wall  7  of the component  102  rests on the support plate  21 , the seat  23  is designed to house the component  102  when the front wall  4  or the rear wall  5  of the component  102  rests on the support plate  21 , and the seat  24  is designed to house the component  102  when the upper wall  2  or the lower wall  3  of the component  102  rests on the support plate  21 . Therefore, each support plate  21  is designed to support one single component  102  which can be arranged in three different orientations and in six different positions (each orientation has two different positions). 
     According to a preferred embodiment better illustrated in  FIG.  8   , each seat  22 ,  23  or  24  comprises a clamp  25  which is closed to firmly grip a component  102  resting on the support plate  21  and is opened to release a component  102  resting on the support plate  21 . Each clamp  25  comprises two opposing jaws  26  which are arranged at the opposite ends of the seat  22 ,  23  or  24 , are movable by means of a linear movement (which develops parallel to the working path P 1 ), and in use they move between a holding position in which the two jaws  26  are closer to one another and hold together a component  102  resting on the support plate  21  and a release position in which the two jaws  26  are further apart and release a component  102  resting on the support plate  21 . The clamps  25  are all controlled together by the same actuator device  27  (namely, all three clamps  25  open and close at the same time), which can be mounted on the support plate  21  or can be external to the support plate  21  and arranged in a fixed position next to the main conveyor  19 . Preferably, each clamp  25  is normally closed, namely, in the absence of the intervention of the actuator device  27  it naturally remains closed; this result is obtained due to the presence of a spring which tends to push the jaws  26  of each clamp  25  towards the closed position and is compressed by the action of the actuator device  27  (namely, the actuator device  27  must overcome the elastic force generated by the spring to move the jaws  26  of each clamp  25  towards the open position). According to a different embodiment, each clamp  25  has its own actuator device  27  which is separate and independent from the actuator devices  27  of the other two clamps  25 ; in this way each actuator device  27  is optimized for the stroke of the jaws  26  of the corresponding clamp  25 . 
     It is important to note that the three clamps  25  of the three seats  22 ,  23  and  24  of the same support plate  21  are functionally the same (namely, they are all designed to grip and hold the component  102  in three different positions) but could be structurally different (namely, have different shapes) in order to adapt to the conformation of the component  1 . 
     Obviously, the number of seats  22  obtained in the support plate  21  of each carriage  20  could be different from three, depending on the number of coils  9 - 14  to be made and on the conformation of the component  1 ; therefore, the support plate  21  of each carriage  20  could have only one seat  22 ,  23  or  24  or two seats  22 ,  23  or  24  or even more than three seats  22 ,  23  or  24 . 
     The main conveyor  19  is designed to cyclically move each carriage  20  along the working path P 1  with an intermittent movement (at step) which provides for cyclical alternation of movement steps, in which the main conveyor  19  moves the carriages  20  and stop steps, in which the main conveyor  19  keeps the carriages  20  stopped. As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the main conveyor  19  is of the linear motor type and comprises an annular guide  28  (namely, closed in loop on itself), which is arranged in a fixed position along the working path P 1 ; in particular, the annular guide  28  consists of one single fixed track (namely, devoid of movement), which is arranged along the working path P 1 . Furthermore, the main conveyor  19  comprises a plurality of slides  29 , each supporting a corresponding carriage  20  and coupled to the guide  28  so as to freely slide along the guide  28 . Finally, the main conveyor  19  comprises a linear electric motor  30 , which moves the slides  29  carrying the carriages  20  along the working path P 1 ; the linear electric motor  20  comprises an annular stator  31  (namely, a fixed primary) which is arranged in a fixed position along the guide  28  and a plurality of movable sliders  32  (namely, movable secondaries), each electromagnetically coupled to the stator  31  so as to receive, from the stator  31 , a driving force and is rigidly connected to a corresponding slide  29 . 
     According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the main conveyor  19  is a belt conveyor and comprises (at least) a flexible belt which supports the carriages  20  and is closed in a loop around two end pulleys (at least one of which is motorized). According to a further embodiment not illustrated, the main conveyor  19  is a wheel (arranged vertically or horizontally) which is mounted so as to rotate about a central rotation axis; obviously in this embodiment the working path P 1  has a circular shape. 
     In the following description, the functions of the stations S 1 -S 19  of the winding machine  18  are explained with reference to one single carriage  20  which moves one single component  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  5  and  6   , at the starting of the production cycle of the coils  9 - 14  the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying three seats  22  to be used alternatively) along the working path P 1  to stop one single carriage  20  in the input station S 1  in which one single component  102  is arranged in the seat  22  of the carriage  20  by resting the side wall  6  on the support plate  21  (namely, with the side wall  7  arranged horizontally and at the highest point). As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , in the input station S 1  a motorized arm  33  is provided, having a holding head  34 , which is designed to grip the component  102  by tightening the same on part of the walls  4  and  5  (namely, leaving the side walls  6  and  7  completely free); when the carriage  20  is stopped in the input station S 1 , the motorized arm  33  inserts a component  102  in the seat  22  of the carriage  20  by resting the side wall  6  on the support plate  21 . 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying only one component  102  within the seat  22 ) along the working path P 1  and from the input station S 1  to the winding station S 3 , in which the carriage  20  stops and where a winding unit  35  (illustrated in greater detail in  FIGS.  11 - 14   ) winds, around the component  102  carried by the carriage  20 , an externally insulated conductive wire  15  so as to form a series of turns making up the coil  14 . 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  22 ) along the working path P 1  and from the winding station S 3  to the welding station S 4  (arranged downstream of the winding station S 3 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the two opposite ends of the coil  14  that have been wound in the previous winding station S 3 , are welded (for example by way of ultrasound, by way of heat sealing or by way of laser) to the two corresponding electrical contacts  8  by a welding unit  36  (illustrated in greater detail in  FIG.  15   ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  22 ) along the working path P 1  and from the welding station S 4  to the handling station S 5  (arranged downstream of the welding station S 4 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the component  102  is overturned (namely, rotated on itself by) 180° in order to finally be arranged in the seat  22  of the carriage  20  by resting the side wall  7  on the support plate  21  (namely, with the side wall  6  arranged horizontally and at the highest point). As illustrated in  FIG.  16   , in the handling station S 5  a motorized arm  37  is provided, having a holding head  38  which is designed to grip the component  102  by tightening the same on part of the walls  4  and  5  (namely, leaving the side walls  6  and  7  completely free); when the carriage  20  is stopped in the handling station S 5 , the motorized arm  37  grips the component  102  arranged in the seat  22  of the carriage  20  and rotates the same on itself by 180° so as to rest the side wall  7  on the support plate  21  (previously the side wall  6 , which is opposite the side wall  7 , was resting on the support plate  21 ). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, in the handling station S 5  a removal unit  39  is also provided which, while the motorized arm  37  modifies the position of the component  102  on the support plate  21 , removes (eliminates) the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  14  (cut in the previous welding station S 4 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying only one component  102  within the seat  22 ) along the working path P 1  and from the handling station S 5  to the winding station S 6 , in which the carriage  20  stops and where a winding unit  35  (completely identical to the winding unit  35  provided in the winding station S 3 ) winds, around the component  102  carried by the carriage  20 , an externally insulated conductive wire  15  so as to form a series of turns making up the coil  13 . 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  22 ) along the working path P 1  and from the winding station S 6  to the welding station S 7  (arranged downstream of the winding station S 6 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the two opposite ends of the coil  13  that has been wound in the previous winding station S 6 , are welded (for example by way of ultrasound, by way of heat sealing or by way of laser) to the two corresponding electrical contacts  8  by a welding unit  36  (completely identical to the welding unit  36  provided in the welding station S 4 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying only one component  102  within the seat  22 ) along the working path P 1  and from the welding station S 7  to the handling station S 8  (arranged downstream of the welding station S 7 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the component  102  is rotated by 90° in order to be finally arranged in the seat  23  of the carriage  20  by resting the front wall  4  on the support plate  21  (namely, with the rear wall  5  arranged horizontally and at the highest point). As illustrated in  FIG.  17   , in the handling station S 8  a motorized arm  40  is provided, having a holding head  41 , which is designed to grip the component  102  leaving the front wall  4  completely free; when the carriage  20  is stopped in the handling station S 8 , the motorized arm  40  grips the component  102  which is arranged in the seat  22  of the carriage  20  and rotates the same on itself by 90° so as to rest the front wall  4  on the support plate  21  and by moving the component  102  from the seat  22  to the seat  23  (previously the component  102  was in the seat  22  and the side wall  7  was resting on the support plate  21 ). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, in the handling station S 8  a removal unit  39  (completely identical to the removal unit  39  provided in the handling station S 5 ) is also provided which, while the motorized arm  40  modifies the position of the component  102  on the support plate  21 , removes (eliminates) the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  13  (cut in the previous welding station S 7 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying only one component  102  within the seat  23 ) along the working path P 1  and from the handling station S 8  to the winding station S 9 , in which the carriage  20  stops and where a winding unit  35  (completely identical to the winding unit  35  provided in the winding station S 3 ) winds, around the component  102  carried by the carriage  20 , an externally insulated conductive wire  15  in order to obtain a series of turns making up the coil  12 . 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  23 ) along the working path P 1  and from the winding station S 9  to the welding station S 10  (arranged downstream of the winding station S 9 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the two opposite ends of the coil  12  that has been wound in the previous winding station S 9 , are welded (for example by way of ultrasound, by way of heat sealing or by way of laser) to the two corresponding electrical contacts  8  by a welding unit  36  (completely identical to the welding unit  36  provided in the welding station S 4 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  23 ) along the working path P 1  and from the welding station S 10  to the handling station S 11  (arranged downstream of the welding station S 10 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the component  102  is overturned (namely, rotated on itself by 180°) in order to be finally arranged in the seat  23  of the carriage  20  by resting the rear wall  5  on the support plate  21  (namely, with the front wall  4  arranged horizontally and at the highest point). As illustrated in  FIG.  18   , in the handling station S 11  a motorized arm  42  is provided, having a holding head  43  which is designed to grip the component  102  leaving the walls  4  and  5  completely free; when the carriage  20  is stopped in the handling station S 11 , the motorized arm  40  grips the component  102  which is arranged in the seat  23  of the carriage  20  and rotates the same on itself by 180° so as to rest the rear wall  5  on the support plate  21  (previously the front wall  4 , which is opposite the rear wall  5 , was resting on the support plate  21 ). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, in the handling station S 11  a removal unit  39  (completely identical to the removal unit  39  provided in the handling station S 5 ) is also provided which, while the motorized arm  42  modifies the position of the component  102  on the support plate  21 , removes (eliminates) the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  12  (cut in the previous welding station S 10 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  23 ) along the working path P 1  and from the handling station S 11  to the winding station S 12 , in which the carriage  20  stops and where a winding unit  35  (completely identical to the winding unit  35  provided in the winding station S 3 ) winds, around the component  102  carried by the carriage  20 , an externally insulated conductive wire  15  in order to obtain a series of turns making up the coil  11 . 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  23 ) along the working path P 1  and from the winding station S 12  to the welding station S 13  (arranged downstream of the winding station S 12 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the two opposite ends of the coil  11  that has been wound in the previous winding station S 12  are welded (for example by way of ultrasound, by way of heat sealing or by way of laser) to the two corresponding electrical contacts  8  by a welding unit  36  (completely identical to the welding unit  36  provided in the welding station S 4 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  23 ) along the working path P 1  and from the welding station S 13  to the handling station S 14  (arranged downstream of the welding station S 13 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the component  102  is rotated by 90° in order to finally be arranged in the seat  24  of the carriage  20  by resting the upper wall  2  on the support plate  21  (namely, with the lower wall  3  arranged horizontally and at the highest point). As illustrated in  FIG.  19   , in the handling station S 14  a motorized arm  44  is provided, having a holding head  45  that is designed to grip the component  102  leaving the upper wall  2  completely free; when the carriage  20  is stopped in the handling station S 14 , the motorized arm  44  grips the component  102  arranged in the seat  23  of the carriage  20  and rotates the same on itself by 90° so as to rest the upper wall  2  on the support plate  21  and by moving the component  102  from the seat  23  to the seat  24  (previously the component  102  was arranged in the seat  23  and the rear wall  5  was resting on the support plate  21 ). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, in the handling station S 14  a removal unit  39  (completely identical to the removal unit  39  provided in the handling station S 5 ) is also provided which, while the motorized arm  44  modifies the position of the component  102  on the support plate  21 , removes (eliminates) the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  11  (cut in the previous welding station S 13 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying only one component  102  within the seat  24 ) along the working path P 1  and from the handling station S 14  to the winding station S 15 , in which the carriage  20  stops and where a winding unit  35  (completely identical to the winding unit  35  provided in the winding station S 3 ) winds, around the component  102  carried by the carriage  20 , an externally insulated conductive wire  15  in order to obtain a series of turns making up the coil  10 . 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  24 ) along the working path P 1  and from the winding station S 15  to the welding station S 16  (arranged downstream of the winding station S 15 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the two opposite ends of the coil  10  that has been wound in the previous winding station S 15  are welded (for example by way of ultrasound, by way of heat sealing or by way of laser) to the two corresponding electrical contacts  8  by a welding unit  36  (completely identical to the welding unit  36  provided in the welding station S 4 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  24 ) along the working path P 1  and from the welding station S 16  to the handling station S 17  (arranged downstream of the welding station S 16 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the component  102  is overturned (namely, rotated on itself by 180°) in order to be finally arranged in the seat  24  of the carriage  20  by resting the lower wall  3  on the support plate  21  (namely, with the upper wall  2  arranged horizontally and at the highest point). As illustrated in  FIG.  20   , in the handling station S 17  a motorized arm  46  is provided, having a holding head  47  which is designed to grip the component  102 , leaving the upper wall  2  and the lower wall  3  completely free; when the carriage  20  is stopped in the handling station S 17 , the motorized arm  46  grips the component  102  arranged in the seat  24  of the carriage  20  and rotates the same on itself by 180° so as to rest the lower wall  3  on the support plate  21  (previously the upper wall  2 , which is opposite the lower wall  3 , was resting on the support plate  21 ). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, in the handling station S 17  a removal unit  39  (completely identical to the removal unit  39  provided in the handling station S 5 ) is also provided which, while the motorized arm  46  modifies the position of the component  102  on the support plate  21 , removes (eliminates) the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  10  (cut in the previous welding station S 16 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying only one component  102  within the seat  24 ) along the working path P 1  and from the handling station S 17  to the winding station S 18 , in which the carriage  20  stops and where a winding unit  35  (completely identical to the winding unit  35  provided in the winding station S 3 ) winds, around the component  102  carried by the carriage  20 , an externally insulated conductive wire  15  in order to obtain a series of turns making up the coil  9 . 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  24 ) along the working path P 1  and from the winding station S 18  to the welding station S 19  (arranged downstream of the winding station S 18 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the two opposite ends of the coil  9  that has been wound in the previous winding station S 18  are welded (for example by way of ultrasound, by way of heat sealing or by way of laser) to the two corresponding electrical contacts  8  by a welding unit  36  (completely identical to the welding unit  36  provided in the welding station S 4 ). 
     Subsequently, the main conveyor  19  moves the carriage  20  (carrying one single component  102  within the seat  24 ) along the working path P 1  and from the welding station S 19  to the output station S 2  (arranged downstream of the welding station S 19 ), in which the carriage  20  stops and where the component  102  is picked up from the seat  24  to be directed towards an outlet of the winding machine  18 . As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , a motorized arm  48  provided with a holding head  49  is arranged in the output station S 2  which is designed to grip the component  102  in order to pick up the component  102 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, in the output station S 2  a removal unit  39  (completely identical to the removal unit  39  provided in the handling station S 5 ) is also provided which, while the motorized arm  48  picks up the component  1 , removes (eliminates) the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  9  (cut in the previous welding station S 19 ). 
     One single winding unit  35  is described in the following, since all six winding units  35  are substantially identical to one another and all work in the same way. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  11 - 14   , each carriage  20  comprises for each seat  22 ,  23  or  24  two clamps  50  and  51  (better illustrated in  FIG.  9   ) which are mounted on the support plate  21  underneath the seat  22 ,  23  or  24  and are arranged side by side relative to one another. Each clamp  50  or  51  is designed to grip and lock a corresponding end of the wire  15  which is wound around the respective component  102  and is provided with one single movable jaw which moves back and forth along a horizontal holding direction D 1  and perpendicular to the working path P 1  (illustrated in  FIG.  9   ). In other words, each clamp  50  or  51  opens and closes by means of a movement that develops along the holding direction D 1  and is therefore perpendicular to the working path P 1  so that the clamps  50  and  51 , by closing, bring the wire  15  into contact with the corresponding electrical contacts  8 . In particular, in use the clamp  50  is used to grip an initial end of the wire  15  at the starting of the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  (namely, before winding the wire  15  around the component  102  its initial end is gripped by the clamp  50 ); on the other hand, in use, the clamp  51  is used to grip a final end of the wire  15  at the end of the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  (namely, after having completed the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  its final end is gripped by the clamp  51 ). 
     The movable jaw of each clamp  50  or  51  is moved along the holding direction D 1  by means of a control rod  52  (illustrated in  FIG.  9   ) which is arranged across the support plate  21  and projects from the rear part of the support plate  21  so as to be pushed by an actuator device  53  (illustrated in  FIG.  9   ) which is in a fixed position (namely, mounted on the frame of the winding machine  18 ) at each winding unit  35  (namely, at each winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18 ). Preferably, each clamp  50  or  51  is normally closed, or in the absence of the intervention of the actuator device  53  it naturally remains closed; this result is obtained due to the presence of a spring which tends to push the movable jaw of each clamp  50  or  51  towards the closed position and is compressed by the action of the actuator device  53  (namely, the actuator device  53  must overcome the elastic force generated by the spring to move the movable jaw of each clamp  50  or  51  towards the open position). 
     In each winding unit  35  two clamps  54  and  55  (illustrated in  FIGS.  13  and  14   ) are provided, which are mounted (on the frame of the winding machine  18  and therefore outside the main conveyor  19  so as not to move together with the carriages  20 ) underneath the support plates  21  of the carriages  20  and are arranged side by side relative to one another; in particular, the pair of clamps  54  and  55  is vertically aligned with a corresponding pair of clamps  50  and  51  carried by a carriage  20  that stops at the winding unit  35 . 
     Each clamp  54  or  55  is designed to grip and lock a corresponding end of the wire  15  which is wound around the respective component  102  and is provided with one single movable jaw which moves back and forth along a holding direction D 2  (illustrated in  FIG.  9   ) horizontal and parallel to the working path P 1  (namely, perpendicular to the holding direction D 1  and illustrated in  FIG.  7   ). In other words, each clamp  54  or  55  opens and closes by means of a movement that develops along the holding direction D 2  and is therefore parallel to the working path P 1 . According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the clamps  54  and  55  share a common jaw devoid of movement arranged between the clamps  54  and  55 . 
     In particular, in use the clamp  54  is used to grip the initial end of the wire  15  at the starting of the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  and (immediately) before the initial end of the wire  15  is gripped by the overlying clamp  50 ; instead, in use the clamp  55  is used to grip the final end of the wire  15  at the end of the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  and (immediately) after the final end of the wire  15  is gripped by the overlying clamp  51 . 
     Preferably, each clamp  54  or  55  is normally closed, namely, in the absence of the intervention of an actuator device it naturally remains closed; this result is obtained due to the presence of a spring which tends to push the movable jaw of each clamp  54  or  55  towards the closed position and is compressed by the action of the actuator device (namely, the actuator device must overcome the elastic force generated by the spring to move the movable jaw of each clamp  54  or  55  towards the open position). 
     Each winding unit  35  comprises a blade  56  (illustrated in  FIGS.  12 ,  13  and  14   ) which is mounted (on the frame of the winding machine  18  and therefore outside the main conveyor  19  so as not to move together with the carriages  20 ) underneath the support plates  21  for the carriages  20  so as to be, in use, between a respective clamp  51  carried by a carriage  20  and a respective clamp  55 . Each blade  56 , in use, is movable along a cutting direction coinciding with the holding direction D 2  (illustrated in  FIG.  9   ), namely, each blade  56  moves back and forth by means of a movement parallel to the working path P 1 . Due to its position, each movable blade  56  can cut a final end of a wire  15  which is locked at a higher position by a respective clamp  51  carried by a carriage  20  and is locked at a lower position by a respective clamp  55 . 
     Each winding unit  35  comprises a movable finger  57  (illustrated in  FIGS.  12 ,  13  and  14   ) which is used to bring the wire  15  (with a vertical movement) close to the component  1 , in order to wind (with a substantially horizontal movement) the wire  15  around the component  1 , and therefore to remove (with a vertical movement) the wire  15  from the component  1 . Each movable finger  57  has a tubular shape having a central hole which passes through the movable finger  57  from side to side and inside which the wire  15  is arranged; namely, the wire  15  enters from a rear opening of the movable finger  57  and exits from a front opening of the movable finger  57 . For each movable finger  57 , the wire  15  is progressively unwound from a coil contained in a suitable container, passes through a tensioning device provided with at least one movable dancer roller actuated by a spring and then reaches the movable finger  57 ; each tensioning device is configured to apply a constant tension to the respective wire  15 . 
     The winding unit  35  comprises a common support body  58  (illustrated in  FIG.  11   ) on which the movable finger  57  is mounted to move the movable finger  57 ; in particular, the movable finger  57  is rigidly mounted on the support body  58 , namely, the movable finger  57  always moves in a single piece with the support body  58  and never performs any type of movement relative to the support body  58 . The support body  58  is moved by one single actuator device  59  (schematically illustrated in  FIG.  11   ) provided with (at least) its own independent electric motor. In use, each movable finger  57  is arranged with a horizontal orientation when the wire  15  must be moved vertically to rise as it moves towards the component  102  or to descend thus moving away from the component  1 ; moreover, in use, each movable finger  57  is arranged with a vertical orientation when the wire  15  must be horizontally moved in order to be wound around the component  1 . 
     Each winding unit  35  comprises a containment body  60  (better illustrated in  FIG.  13   ) which, in use, is arranged on the pin  16  so as to extend the pin  16  when the wire  15  must be bent around the pin  16  so as to prevent the wire  15  from accidentally escape from the pin  16 ; namely, a little before the wire  15  is bent by 90° around the pin  16 , the containment body  60  is arranged on the pin  16  to extend the pin  16  and thus prevent the wire  15  from accidentally escaping from the pin  16 . In this regard, it is important to note that the small pin  16  cannot have a too high extension (due to space problems that do not depend on the winding machine  18 ) and, at the same time, the movable finger  57 , by moving, cannot pass too close to the component  102  to prevent that small positioning errors (combined with the constructive tolerances of the component  1 ) can cause accidental impacts of the movable finger  57  against the component  102 . 
     Each winding unit  35  comprises a containment body  61  (better illustrated in  FIG.  13   ) which in use is rested on the pin  17  so as to extend the pin  17  when the wire  15  must be bent around the pin  17  so as to prevent the wire  15  from accidentally escape from the pin  17 ; namely, a little before the wire  15  is bent by 90° around the pin  17 , the containment body  61  is arranged on the pin  17  to extend the pin  17  and thus prevent the wire  15  from accidentally escaping from the pin  17 . In this regard, it is important to note that the small pin  17  cannot have a too high extension (due to space problems that do not depend on the winding machine  18 ) and, at the same time, the movable finger  57 , by moving, cannot pass too close to the component  102  to prevent that small positioning errors (combined with the constructive tolerances of component  1 ) can cause accidental impacts of the movable finger  57  against the component  102 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, each winding unit  35  comprises a further movable finger  62  (better illustrated in  FIG.  13   ) which is arranged underneath the two clamps  54  and  55  and between the two clamps  54  and  55  (namely, underneath the common jaw devoid of movement arranged between the clamps  54  and  55 ) and is moved vertically in order to remove the initial end of the wire  15  which can remain inside the clamp  55  even when the clamp  55  is opened (the initial end of the wire  15  is very light and therefore often does not naturally descend by gravity out of the clamp  55 ); in this way, namely, due to the extraction action exerted by the movable finger  62 , it is avoided that the initial end of the wire  15  can remain undesirably inside the clamp  55  and therefore tear off when the carriage  20  moves at the end of the winding. In particular, the clamp  55  is opened after the initial end of the wire  15  has been engaged by the clamp  54  to start a new winding and at this point the movable finger  62  performs a vertical working stroke downwards to remove the initial end of the wire  15  from the clamp  55 . 
     The winding of a wire  15  around a component  102  in one single winding unit  35  is described in the following; obviously what happens in one single winding unit  35  takes place simultaneously and in exactly the same way also in the other winding units  35 . 
     Initially, the winding unit  35  is empty (namely, devoid of the component  102  carried by a carriage  20 ), an initial end of the wire  15  is locked in the clamp  55 , and the movable finger  57  (arranged horizontally) is arranged underneath the clamp  55 . The initial end of the wire  15  locked in the clamp  55  is the initial end if referred to the new winding which will be made around the next component  102  that will arrive in the winding unit  35  and was, instead, the final end of the wire  15  if referred to the previous winding that has been completed around the previous component  102  that was previously in the winding unit  35 . When the winding machine  18  is started after a replacement of the coils from which the wire  15  is unwound, an operator manually places the initial end of the wire  15  in the clamp  55 . 
     Subsequently, the carriage  20  carries the component  102  into the winding unit  35 , the clamp  50  and  54  open, the movable finger  57  (still arranged horizontally) moves vertically from the bottom to the top in order to pass the initial end of the wire  15  first through the clamp  54  and subsequently through the clamp  50 , and finally the clamps  54  and  50  close to lock (in two different points) the initial end of the wire  15 ; preferably, first only the clamp  54  closes while the clamp  50  is still open and then the clamp  50  also closes. It is important to note that the clamp  50  opens and closes by means of a movement along the holding direction D 1  that is perpendicular to the working path P 1  and then, in the closing movement, the clamp  50  moves the wire  15  perpendicular to the working path P 1  by pulling the wire  15  against the component  102  so that the wire  15  rests on a corresponding electrical contact  8 . 
     Subsequently, the movable finger  57  rotates by 90° to move from a horizontal to a vertical orientation and start to rotate around the component  102  with a helical (spiral) rotation movement to wind the wire  15  around the component  1  (in geometry a helix is a curve in three-dimensional space, represented by a line wound at a constant angle around a cylinder). Before starting to wind the wire  15  around the component  1 , the wire  15 , which rises vertically towards the component  102  is bent by the movable finger  57  around the pin  16  that horizontally projects from the component  102  to give the wire  15  a 90° curve which deflects the wire  15  towards a horizontal orientation. In particular, the 90° rotation of the movable finger  57 , which moves from a horizontal to a vertical orientation occurs at the same time as the wire  15  is bent around the pin  16 . As previously mentioned, in this step the containment body  60  rests on the pin  16  so as to extend the pin  16  when the wire  15  must be bent around the pin  16  in order to prevent the wire  15  from accidentally escaping from the pin  16 . 
     Subsequently, the movable finger  57  revolves several times around the component  102  to form, with the wire  15 , a series of (vertically offset) turns around the component  1 . 
     More or less when the winding of the wire  12  around the component  1  is started, the clamp  55  opens and the movable finger  62  performs a vertical working stroke downwards to remove the initial end of the wire  15  from the clamp  55 . 
     When the end of the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  approaches (namely, before completing the last turn of the winding), the containment body  60  is moved away from the component  102  and (preferably) the clamp  54  is opened to release the initial end of the wire  15  (whereas the clamp  50  remains well closed). 
     After finishing the winding of the wire  15  around the component  1 , the movable finger  57  bends the wire  15  arranged horizontally around the pin  17  to give the wire  15  a 90° curve that deviates the wire  15  towards a vertical orientation. Simultaneously with the bending of the wire  15  around the pin  17 , the movable finger  57  rotates by 90° to move from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation. As previously stated, in this step the containment body  61  rests on the pin  17  so as to extend the pin  17  when the wire  15  must be bent around the pin  17  so as to prevent the wire  15  from accidentally escaping from the pin  17 . 
     When the end of the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  approaches (namely, before completing the last turn of the winding), the clamp  51  is opened. The movable finger  57  by moving the wire  15  vertically from top to bottom after bending the wire  15  around the pin  17 , makes the final end of the wire  15  pass through the open clamp  51  which immediately closes, thus locking the final end of the wire  15 ; subsequently, the movable finger  57  by moving the wire  15  vertically from top to bottom after bending the wire  15  around the pin  17  makes the final end of the wire  15  pass also through the open clamp  55  which immediately closes, thus locking the final end of the wire  15 . It is important to note that the clamp  51  opens and closes by means of a movement along the holding direction D 1 , which is perpendicular to the working path P 1  and therefore in the closing movement the clamp  51  moves the wire  15  perpendicular to the working path P 1  by pulling the wire  15  against the component  102  so that the wire  15  rests on a corresponding electrical contact  8 . 
     Subsequently, the containment body  61  moves away from the component  102  and the winding ends with the movement of the movable blade  56  which, by moving parallel to the working path P 1 , cuts the final end of the wire  15  after the final end of the wire  15  has been locked both by the clamp  51  and by the clamp  55  (namely, the movable blade  56  cuts the final end of the wire  15  between the portion locked at a higher position by the clamp  51  and the portion locked at a lower position by the clamp  55 ). 
     According to a possible embodiment, the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  is carried out from the bottom upwards, therefore, before starting to wind the wire  15 , the wire  15  that rises vertically towards the component  102  is bent around the pin  16  (arranged at a lower position) to give the wire  15  a 90° curve which deflects the wire  15  towards a horizontal orientation; moreover, after finishing the winding of the wire  15 , the wire  15  arranged horizontally is bent around the pin  17  (arranged at a higher position) to give the wire  15  a 90° curve that deviates the wire  15  towards a vertical orientation. According to a different embodiment, the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  is carried out from top to bottom, therefore, before starting to wind the wire  15 , the wire  15  that rises vertically towards the component  102  is bent around the pin  16  (arranged at a higher position) to give the wire  15  a 90° curve which deflects the wire  15  towards a horizontal orientation; furthermore, after finishing the winding of the wire  15 , the wire  15  arranged horizontally is bent around the pin  17  (arranged at a lower position) to give the wire  15  a 90° curve that deviates the wire  15  towards a vertical orientation. In this embodiment, the winding of the wire  15  around the component  102  occurs over a vertical section of the wire  15  which reaches the pin  16  (arranged at a higher position) and therefore helps to lock the initial end of the wire  15  against the component  102 , thus ensuring greater winding stability. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  15   , the welding station S 4  comprises a corresponding welding unit  36  which is arranged in a fixed position (namely, it does not move together with the main conveyor  19 ) and is provided with a movable welding head  63  to move towards the component  102  carried by a carriage  20  stopped in the welding station S 4  so as to be able to carry out the welding of the two ends of the wire  15  to the corresponding electrical contacts  8  and subsequently to move away from the component  102  carried by the carriage  20  once the welding is finished. The movement of the welding head  63  is always linear and can be oriented vertically (as occurs in the welding stations S 4 , S 7 , S 10  and S 13 ) or it can be oriented horizontally (as occurs in the welding stations S 16  and S 19 ) according to the orientation assumed by the component  1 . The welding head  63  is provided with two welding elements arranged side by side to simultaneously weld both ends of the wire  15  to the corresponding electrical contacts  8 . Preferably, the welding head  63  is also configured to cut the two ends of the wire  15  downstream of the welds with the two electrical contacts  8  so as to separate the excess part of the two opposite ends of the coil  9 - 14 ; namely, the welding head  63  is also provided with blades which cut the wire  15  downstream of the welds with the two electrical contacts  8 . 
     As previously stated, in all six welding stations S 4 , S 7 , S 10 , S 13 , S 16  and S 19  the corresponding six welding units  36  are substantially identical to one another and the only relevant variation is the vertical orientation of the welding heads  63  in the welding stations S 4 , S 7 , S 10  and S 13  and the horizontal orientation of the welding heads  63  in the welding stations S 16  and S 19  to adapt to the different orientations of the components  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  16   , the handling station S 5  comprises a corresponding removal unit  39  provided with a blower device  64  which is connected to a common compressed air distributor and is configured to generate a jet of compressed air which is directed from top to bottom and strikes a corresponding component  102  carried by a carriage  20  stopped in the removal station S 5 . The jet of compressed air strikes from top to bottom a corresponding component  102  carried by a carriage  20  stopped in the removal station S 5  and therefore pushes downwards the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  9 - 14  (cut in the previous welding station S 4 ); preferably, the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  9 - 14  pushed downwards by a jet of compressed air are collected in a container  65  that is located under the carriage  20 . According to a preferred embodiment, the removal unit  39  also comprises a clamp  66  which is arranged in a fixed position (namely, externally to the main conveyor  19 ) under the support plate  21  of a stopped carriage  20  and clamps the excess parts of the two opposite ends of the coil  9 - 14  waiting for the excess parts to be directed inside the container  65  by the jets of air. 
     As previously stated, in all five handling stations S 5 , S 8 , S 11 , S 14 , S 17  and S 19  and in the output station S 2  the corresponding six removal units  39  are substantially identical to one another. 
     In the embodiment described above, in the five handling stations S 5 , S 8 , S 11 , S 14 , S 17  and S 19  each component  102  is rotated by 90° or 180° around a horizontal rotation axis; according to other embodiments, in one or more handling stations S 5 , S 8 , S 11 , S 14 , S 17  and S 19  each component  102  is rotated around several different rotation axes: for example each component  1  is first rotated by 90° or 180° (or even a different angle such as 45°, 75° or others) around a horizontal rotation axis and then is rotated by 90° or 180° (or even a different angle such as 45°, 75° or others) around a vertical rotation axis. 
     In the non-limiting embodiment described above, the component  102  is part of a disposable cartridge of an electronic cigarette, but the method to manufacture coils  9 - 14  described above can find application for the production of components for articles of any type (namely, of any merchandise category). For example, the method to manufacture coils  9 - 14  described above can be applied to the production of components for a machine, an equipment system, a construction unit, a product (e.g., a payment device) for example, but not only, in the tobacco, pharmaceutical, food or entertainment field; more in general, the method to manufacture coils  9 - 14  described above can be applied to the production of components for applications of any type. 
     As previously described, in each winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18 , the wire  15  is directly wound around the component  102  by revolving (with a helical rotation movement) the movable finger  57 , which slidingly engages the wire  15 , several times around the component  102 ; in other words, each coil  9 - 14  is manufactured directly around the component  102  by making the movable finger  57 , which engages the wire  15  in a sliding manner, revolve several times around the component  102  with a helical rotation. 
     The automatic machine  18  works by performing in succession the work cycles (or machine cycles) which are repeated in always the same way in all the stations S 1 -S 19  of the automatic machine  18  and all have the same time duration (namely, the same cycle time which is the unit of time between the occurrence of an event and its repetition). For example, when the automatic machine  18  works with 60 cycles/minute, then each work cycle (or machine cycle) lasts one second. All the stations S 1 -S 19  of the automatic machine  18  are bound to the same time duration of the work cycles and therefore in each station S 1 -S 19  of the automatic machine  18  all the operations carried out must have the same time duration equal to the time duration of each work cycle; it is therefore evident that the time duration of each work cycle is imposed by the station S 1 -S 19  of the slowest automatic machine  18  (namely, by the winding stations S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18 ) and that all the other stations S 1 -S 19  of the automatic machine  18  must adapt by slowing down their operations or by inserting idle waiting times. 
     A work cycle of the automatic machine  18  (machine cycle) ranges from an initial instant in which a carriage  20  carrying the component  102  devoid of the coil  9 - 14  arrives at a winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18  to a final instant, in which the carriage  20  carrying the component  102  provided with the coil  9 - 14  (recently manufactured) leaves the winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18 . In each winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18 , the wire  15  is directly wound around the component  102  being made to rotate around the component  102  with a helical rotation during a winding step which constitutes a fraction of the work cycle of the automatic machine  18 . 
     Namely, in each winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18 , during the work cycle of the automatic machine  18 , in addition to the winding step (in which the wire  15  is directly wound around the component  102  with a helical rotation) other steps must also be carried out, which precede or follow the winding step. 
     For example, before the winding step a carriage  20  must have time to stop in the correct position inside the winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18 , the clamp  55  must have time to open, and the finger  15  must have time to go upwards towards the component  102 ; namely, before the winding step, the following steps are provided: a stopping step of the carriage, an opening step of the clamp  55 , and an upward step of the finger  15 . 
     On the other hand, after the winding step, the finger  15  must have time to descend by moving away from the component  102 , the clamp  54  must have time to close, the blade  56  must have time to cut the wire  15 , and the carriage  20  must have time to restart (set in motion) from the winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18 ; namely, after the winding step, the following steps are provided: a downward step of the finger  15 , a closing step of the clamp  54 , a cutting step of the wire  15 , and a restarting step of the carriage  20 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the time duration of the winding step during which the wire  15  is directly wound around the component  102  with a helical rotation ranges from 50% to 70% of a total time duration of the work cycle (machine cycle) of the automatic machine  18 ; namely, the great majority (more than half) of the total time duration of the work cycle (machine cycle) of the automatic machine  18  is involved in the winding step during which the wire  15  is directly wound around the component  102  with a helical rotation and the remaining time of the overall time duration of the work cycle (machine cycle) of the automatic machine  18  is dedicated to all the other necessary (peripheral) operations (that is, preparatory for carrying out the winding step and preparatory for allowing the new winding step to be carried out). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the time duration of the winding step during which the wire  15  is directly wound around the component  102  with a helical rotation by revolving the movable finger  57  ranges from 25% to 40% of an overall time duration for the production of the component  102  consisting of several work cycles of the automatic machine  18 . Namely, the overall time duration of the production of the component  102  is constituted by the sum of all the machine cycles necessary to perform all the operations required for the production of the component  102  (at least the winding of the wire  15  and the subsequent welding of the wire  15  to which can be added, for example, quality controls) and the time duration of the winding step ranges from 25% to 40% of the total time duration of the production of the component  102 . 
     According to a different embodiment not illustrated, each winding station S 3 , S 6 , S 9 , S 12 , S 15 , S 18  works in parallel to obtain, by winding, respective coils  9 - 14  at the same time, with a first number of components  102  that is an integral multiple, preferably double, relative to a second number of components  1  with which the welding station S 4 , S 7 , S 10 , S 13 , S 16 , S 19  works, forming respective welds. In this embodiment, the first number ranges from two to ten and, hence, the second number ranges from one to five. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the production plant  1  comprises the winding machine  18  which forms the six coils  9 - 14  around each component  102  (but the number of coils  9 - 14  could be different). 
     In addition, the production plant  1  comprises a control machine  67  which is arranged immediately downstream of the winding machine  18  to directly receive the components  102  provided with the six coils  9 - 14  from the winding machine  18  (as better described in the following) and then carry out a control on the components  102  provided with the six coils  9 - 14  (in particular to verify that in each component  102  the six coils  9 - 14  are all functioning correctly). 
     The production plant  1  comprises a belt conveyor  68  which directly receives the components  102  controlled by the control machine  67  and moves the controlled components  102  towards a subsequent assembling machine  69  which composes (assembles) each disposable cartridge  100  by joining the components  101 - 106 . The assembling machine  69  comprises a conveyor  70  of the linear motor type (better illustrated in  FIG.  23    and similar to the main conveyor  19  of the winding machine  18 ) which moves each disposable cartridge  100  as it is assembled by joining the components  101 - 106 . 
     Coupled to the assembling machine  69  a control machine  71  is provided, which carries out a control on the disposable cartridges  100  during assembly by taking the cartridges  100  during assembly from the conveyor  70  of the assembling machine  69  and then re-introducing the disposable cartridges  100  during assembly on the conveyor  70  of the assembling machine  69 . 
     The production plant  1  comprises two belt conveyors  72  and  73 , which both originate from an outlet of the assembling machine  69  and diverge to feed the disposable cartridges  100  to two twin control machines  74  and  75  which carry out a control on the disposable cartridges  100 : half of the disposable cartridges  100  leaving the assembling machine  69  are fed to the control machine  74  by the conveyor  72  and the other half of the disposable cartridges  100  leaving the assembling machine  69  are fed to the control machine  75  by the conveyor  73 . The two twin control machines  74  and  75  are arranged aligned one behind the other with an arrangement that reduces the longitudinal bulk of the production plant  1 . 
     The production plant  1  comprises two twin control machines  76  and  77  which carry out a control on the disposable cartridges  100  and are arranged aligned one behind the other: the control machine  74  directly feeds the disposable cartridges  100  to the control machine  76  while the control machine  75  directly feeds the disposable cartridges  100  to the control machine  77 . 
     The production plant  1  comprises two twin control machines  78  and  79  which carry out a control on the disposable cartridges  100  and are arranged aligned one behind the other: the control machine  76  directly feeds the disposable cartridges  100  to the control machine  78  while the control machine  77  directly feeds the disposable cartridges  100  to the control machine  79 . 
     As better illustrated in  FIG.  26   , the production plant  1  comprises two twin belt conveyors  80  and  81  which are parallel to one another and converge towards one another and a belt output conveyor  82  which is perpendicular to the belt conveyors  80  and  81  and is arranged between the two belt conveyors  80  and  81 : the belt conveyor  80  transfers the disposable cartridges  100  from the control machine  78  to the output conveyor  82  while the belt conveyor  81  transfers the disposable cartridges  100  from the control machine  79  to the output conveyor  82 . 
     The control machines  67 ,  71  and  74 - 79  have the same identical structure and differ from one another only for a different location in the production plant  1 , for a different size, and for the type of controls that are carried out; for this reason, only the structure of the control machine  67  will be described in detail in the following, since this structure is found to be the same in all the other control machines  71  and  74 - 79 . 
     The peculiar characteristic of all the control machines  67 ,  71  and  74 - 79  is to carry out the simultaneous control of a group of articles (which can be the single components  102  or the disposable cartridges  100 ) formed by a relatively high number of articles: the control machine  67  simultaneously controls sixteen components  102 , the control machine  71  simultaneously controls twenty disposable cartridges  100 , each control machine  74  or  75  simultaneously controls fourteen disposable cartridges  100 , each control machine  76  or  77  simultaneously controls eight single-use cartridges  100 , and each control machine  78  or  79  simultaneously controls five single-use cartridges  100 . It is important to note that, in order not to form a “bottleneck” for the production plant  1 , a control machine  67 ,  71  and  74 - 79  must simultaneously control how many articles there are as well as the length of time required to carry out the control. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  21  and  22   , the control machine  67  comprises an initial belt conveyor  83  configured to move the components  102  along an initial path P 2  which starts in an input station S 20  arranged at the end of the working path P 1  defined by the main conveyor  19  of the winding machine  18 ; the initial path P 2  is perpendicular to the working path P 1 . Furthermore, the control machine  67  comprises a final belt conveyor  84  configured to move the components  102  along a final path P 3  which is parallel and next to the initial path P 2  (and therefore is perpendicular to the working path P 1 ) and ends in an output station S 2  arranged at the beginning of the conveyor  68  which carries the components  102  towards the assembling machine  69 . In other words, the two conveyors  83  and  84  are arranged side by side. 
     The control machine  67  comprises a control unit  85  configured to carry out the simultaneous control of all the components  102  of the group of components  102  (namely, of sixteen components  102  at a time). Furthermore, the control machine  67  comprises a transferring device  86  configured both to simultaneously transfer a whole group of (sixteen) components  102  to be controlled from the initial conveyor  83  to the control unit  85 , and to simultaneously transfer a whole group of (sixteen) components  102  controlled by the control unit  85  to the final conveyor  84 . Namely, the transferring device  86  alternately “loads” the control unit  85  by simultaneously transferring a whole group of (sixteen) components  102  to be controlled to the control unit  85  and “unloads” the control unit  85  by simultaneously transferring, from the control unit  85 , a whole group of (sixteen) controlled components  102  to the final conveyor  84 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, one single transferring device  86  is provided, which alternately performs both functions: “loading” the control unit  85  by simultaneously transferring a whole group of (sixteen) components  102  to be controlled from the initial conveyor  83  to the control unit  85  and “unloading” the control unit  85  by simultaneously transferring, from the control unit  85 , a whole group of (sixteen) controlled components  102  to the final conveyor  84 . In this embodiment, preferably, the control unit  85  is arranged on the same side relative to the initial conveyor  83  and to the final conveyor  84  (namely, the control unit  85  is not arranged between the initial conveyor  83  and the final conveyor  84 ). 
     According to a different embodiment not illustrated, two transferring devices are provided which are separate and independent from one another: a first transferring device “loads” the control unit  85  by simultaneously transferring a whole group of (sixteen) components  102  to be controlled from the initial conveyor  83  to the control unit  85 , and the second transferring device “unloads” the control unit  85 , by simultaneously transferring, from the control unit  85 , a whole group of (sixteen) controlled components  102  to the final conveyor  84 . In this embodiment, preferably, the control unit  85  is arranged between the initial conveyor  83  and the final conveyor  84 . 
     Therefore, in general, two transferring devices are provided which are different, separate and independent from one another or one single transferring device  86  is provided, which alternatively performs the function of the first transferring device and the function of the second transferring device (namely, the first transferring device coincides with the second transferring device). 
     The main conveyor  19  of the winding machine  18  moves a plurality of components  102  along a working path P 1 ; in the input station S 20  arranged along the main path P 1 , the components  102 , from the main conveyor  19  of the winding machine  18 , are transferred (by the motorized arm  48 ) to the initial conveyor  83  of the control machine  67  until forming, in the initial conveyor  83  of the control machine  67 , the group of (sixteen) components  102  formed by a given number (sixteen) of components  102 . Preferably, in the input station  51  only one component  102  is transferred at a time from the main conveyor  19  of the winding machine  18  to the initial conveyor  83  of the control machine  67 . 
     In the output station S 21 , the components  102  are transferred from the final conveyor  84  of the control machine  67  to the conveyor  68  which moves a plurality of components  102  along a corresponding path. Preferably, in the output station S 21  only one component  102  at a time is transferred from the final conveyor  84  of the control machine  67  to the conveyor  68 . 
     In the control machine  67 , the initial conveyor  83  moves the components  102  in the opposite direction relative to the final conveyor  84  and the input and output stations S 20  and S 21  are arranged next to one another at the same end of the initial and final conveyors  83  and  84 ; in the control machine  67 , the input station S 20  receives the components  102  from the main conveyor  19  of the winding machine  8  and the output station S 21  transfers the components  102  to the conveyor  68 . Namely, in the control machine  67  the components  102  move back and forth along the control machine  67 . 
     In the control machine  71  and as illustrated in  FIG.  23   , the initial conveyor  83  moves the disposable cartridges  100  in the opposite direction relative to the final conveyor  84  and the input and output stations S 20  and S 21  are arranged next to one another at the same end of the initial and final conveyors  83  and  84 ; in the control machine  71 , the input station S 20  receives the disposable cartridges  100  from the conveyor  70  of the assembling machine  69  and the output station S 21  releases the disposable cartridges  100  back again to the conveyor  70  of the assembling machine  69 . In other words, the control machine  71  is inserted “inside” the assembling machine  69  to pick up the disposable cartridges  100  being processed from the conveyor  70  of the assembling machine  69  and then re-insert the disposable cartridges  100  being processed in the conveyor  70  of the assembling machine  69 . Namely, in the control machine  71  the cartridges  100  move back and forth along the control machine  71 . 
     In other words, in the assembling machine  69  the conveyor  70  moves a plurality of disposable cartridges  100  along a path which is perpendicular to the initial path P 2  and to the final path P 3  of the corresponding control machine  71 . In the input station S 20  arranged along the path of the conveyor  70 , the disposable cartridges  100  are transferred from the conveyor  70  to the initial conveyor  83  until the group of (twenty) disposable cartridges  100  formed by a given number (twenty) of disposable cartridges  100  is formed in the initial conveyor  83 . In the output station S 21  arranged along the path of the conveyor  70  downstream of the input station  51 , the disposable cartridges  100  are transferred from the final conveyor  84  to the conveyor  70 . 
     As illustrated for example in  FIG.  25   , in the control machines  74 - 79  the initial conveyor  83  moves the cartridges  100  in the same direction as the final conveyor  84  and therefore the input and output stations S 20  and S 21  are arranged at opposite ends of the initial and final conveyors  83  and  84 . Namely, in the control machines  74 - 79  the cartridges  100  cross from side to side along the control machines  74 - 79 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, any defective component  102  is rejected while the defective component  102  is in the final conveyor  84 ; in particular, the final conveyor  84  moves a defective component  102  beyond the output station S 21  to a reject station arranged downstream of the output station S 21  and in which the component  102  is fed (normally by gravity) towards an underlying collecting container  87  (illustrated in  FIGS.  21 - 22  and  25 - 26   ). 
     To summarize, the control machine  67  carries out a control on a group of components  102  formed by a plurality (in particular sixteen) of components  102 . In the control machine  67  the initial conveyor  83  moves a plurality of components  102  along an initial path P 2  starting in the input station S 20 , the transferring device  86  simultaneously transfers the whole group of (sixteen) components  102  to be controlled from the initial conveyor  83  to the control unit  85 , the control unit  85  carries out the simultaneous control of all (sixteen) components  102  of the group of components  102 ; the transferring device  86  simultaneously transfers the whole group of (sixteen) components  102  controlled by the control unit  85  to the final conveyor  84 , and finally the final conveyor  84  moves the components  102  along the final path P 3  which is parallel and beside the initial path P 2  and ends at the output station S 21 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the wire  15  is electrically conductive, is externally insulated, and is wound to form (at least) one coil  9 - 14  which forms a helical antenna for electromagnetic interactions that can be intended for the exchange (transmission) of information or can be intended for generating electricity by electromagnetic induction. According to a different embodiment, the wire  15  is electrically conductive (and therefore is designed to be crossed by an electric current, although of low or very low intensity) but has a textile core (for example made of cotton), which is made conductive, for example by means of a doping with metal nanoparticles. According to a further embodiment, the wire  15  is not electrically conductive, it is of the textile type and the (at least) one coil  9 - 14  constitutes a wick (or the like) for an electric cigarette. 
     The embodiments described herein can be combined with one another without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The method to manufacture the coils  9 - 14  described above has numerous advantages. 
     First of all, the method to manufacture the coils  9 - 14  described above allows to work at a high operating speed (measured as the number of components produced in the unit of time). 
     Furthermore, the method to manufacture the coils  9 - 14  described above allows to maintain a high production quality (generally measured as a percentage of defective pieces). 
     The method to manufacture the coils  9 - 14  described above is relatively simple and inexpensive to implement. 
     Finally, the method to manufacture the coils  9 - 14  described above allows to avoid frequent breakages of the wire  15  during the winding of the wire  15 . 
     These results are obtained due to the fact of winding each coil  9 - 14  (which has a reduced number of turns and is made up of a very thin wire  15 ) directly around the corresponding component  102  and, at the same time, combining both a particularly gentle mechanical treatment of the wire  15 , and by dedicating a very long time to the direct winding of the wire  15  (namely, to the helical rotation of the wire  15  around the component  102 ) (if compared to the time duration of the entire work cycle, or of the entire machine cycle). In fact, by dedicating a very long time to the winding of the wire  15  (namely, the helical rotation of the wire  15  around the component  102 ), (if compared to the time duration of the entire work cycle, namely, the entire machine cycle), it is possible to limit the accelerations to which the wire  15  is subjected and therefore the forces which act on the wire  15  during the winding while operating at a high operating speed. In other words, it is possible to almost completely eliminate the risk of accidental breakage of the wire  15  during the winding step (that is, during the helical rotation of the wire  15  around the component  102 ) if the winding step is carried out at relatively low speeds (that is, by taking a relatively long time).