Patent Publication Number: US-2021161216-A1

Title: System for filling device parts of simulated smoking devices

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a system for filling device parts of simulated smoking devices, such as cartridges of electronic cigarettes, with a fluid. The system comprises a filling station to discharge a predetermined amount of fluid in each of the device parts. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is based on the insight that in practice the filling station does not always discharge the same amount of the fluid in the device parts. Therefore, there is a need to accurately determine if a right quantity of fluid has been discharged in each of the device parts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention has the objective to provide an improved or at least alternative system for filling device parts of simulated smoking devices. 
     This objective is reached by a system for filling device parts of simulated smoking devices, such as cartridges of electronic cigarettes, with a fluid, said system comprising; 
     a filling station to discharge a predetermined amount of fluid in each of the device parts, 
     a weighing station to individually weigh the device parts filled by the filling station, which weighing station provides a measurement signal for each of the device parts, 
     a control unit to determine if the predetermined amount of fluid has been discharged in each of the device parts on basis of the measurement signal, which control unit is in communication with the weighing station, 
     a transport device to move the device parts along a production trajectory wherein; 
     the production trajectory extends through the filling station and the weighing station, 
     the transport device is configured to move a batch of at least one device part in at least one weighing position located in a weighing trajectory part of the production trajectory and subsequently out of the at least one weighing position, which weighing trajectory part extends through the weighing station, 
     the transport device comprises at least one transport support member to fully support the batch of at least one device part in a vertical direction during movement along the weighing trajectory part, 
     the weighing station comprises at least one weighing support member located at the at least one weighing position to support the batch of at least one device part during weighing by the weighing station, and 
     the at least one transport support member and the at least one weighing support member are movable relative to each other in the vertical direction; 
     from a transport configuration in which the batch of at least one device part is fully supported in the vertical direction by the at least one transport support member to move the batch of at least one device part into the at least one weighing position and subsequently out of the at least one weighing position, 
     into a weighing configuration in which the batch of at least one device part located in the weighing position is fully supported in the vertical direction by the at least one weighing support member to weigh the batch of at least one device part with the weighing station, and vice versa. 
     The specific construction of the weighing station and the transport device ensures that the control unit can accurately determine if a right quantity of fluid has been discharged in each of the device parts. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to move the device parts first through the filling station and subsequently through the weighing station. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the at least one transport support member comprises at least one or only one support rail which extends along the weighing trajectory part and the batch of at least one device part is in the transport configuration supported by the at least one or only one support rail. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the batch of at least one device part is in the transport configuration fully supported by the at least one or only one support rail. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device comprises moving members for moving the batch of at least one device part along the weighing trajectory part and/or a guide member extending along the further weighing trajectory part, the at least one transport support member comprises support surfaces provided in the moving members and/or guide member, and the batch of at least one device part is in the transport configuration supported by the support surfaces. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the batch of at least one device part is in the transport configuration fully supported by the support surfaces. 
     In an embodiment of the system, each weighing support member supports in the weighing configuration one and only one device part of the batch at least one of device part. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the batch of at least one device part located in the at least one weighing position is in the weighing configuration only supported by the at least one weighing support member. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the at least one transport support member and the at least one weighing support member are both moveable in the vertical direction to change from the transport configuration into the weighing configuration, and vice versa. 
     In an embodiment of the system, only the at least one transport support member is moveable in the vertical direction to change from the transport configuration into the weighing configuration, and vice versa. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the at least one weighing support member is stationary. 
     In an embodiment of the system, only the at least one weighing support member is moveable in the vertical direction to change from the transport configuration into the weighing configuration, and vice versa. In said embodiment, the at least one transport support member may be stationary. 
     In an embodiment of the system; 
     the system comprises a further weighing station to individually weigh the device parts before filling by the filling station, which further weighing station provides a further measurement signal for each of the device parts, 
     the control unit is in communication with the further weighing station to determine if the predetermined amount of fluid has been discharged in each of the device parts on basis of the measurement signal and the further measurement signal, 
     the production trajectory extends through the further weighing station, 
     the transport device is configured to move the batch of at least one device part in at least one further weighing position located in a further weighing trajectory part of the production trajectory and subsequently out of the at least one further weighing position, which further weighing trajectory part extends through the further weighing station, 
     the transport device comprises at least one further transport support member to fully support the batch of at least one device part in the vertical direction during movement along the further weighing trajectory part, 
     the further weighing station comprises at least one further weighing support member located at the at least one further weighing position to support the batch of at least one device part during weighing by the further weighing station, 
     the at least one further transport support member and the at least one further weighing support member are movable relative to each other in the vertical direction; 
     from a further transport configuration in which the batch of at least one device part is fully supported in the vertical direction by the at least one further transport support member to move the batch of at least one device part into the at least one further weighing position and subsequently out of the at least one further weighing position, 
     into a further weighing configuration in which the batch of at least one device part located in the further weighing position is fully supported in the vertical direction by the at least one further weighing support member to individually weigh each device part of the batch of at least one device part with the further weighing station, and vice versa. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to move the device parts first through the further weighing station, after that through the filling station and subsequently through the weighing station. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the at least one further transport support member comprises at least one or only one further support rail which extends along the further weighing trajectory part and the batch of at least one device part is in the further transport configuration supported by the at least one or only one further support rail. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the batch of at least one device part is in the further transport configuration fully supported by the at least one or only one further support rail. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device comprises further moving members for moving the batch of at least one device part along the further weighing trajectory part and/or a further guide member extending along the further weighing trajectory part, the at least one further transport support member comprises further support surfaces provided in the further moving members and/or further guide member, and the batch of at least one device part is in the further transport configuration supported by the further support surfaces. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the moving members and the further moving members are the same moving members. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the batch of at least one device part is in the further transport configuration fully supported by the further support surfaces. 
     In an embodiment of the system, each further weighing support member supports in the further weighing configuration one and only one device part of the batch of at least one of device part. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the batch of at least one device part located in the at least one further weighing position is in the further weighing configuration only supported by the at least one further weighing support member. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the at least one further transport support member and the at least one further weighing support member are both moveable in the vertical direction to change from the further transport configuration into the further weighing configuration, and vice versa. 
     In an embodiment of the system, only the at least one further transport support member is moveable in the vertical direction to change from the further transport configuration into the further weighing configuration, and vice versa. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the at least one further weighing support member is stationary. 
     In an embodiment of the system, only the at least one further weighing support member is moveable in the vertical direction to change from the further transport configuration into the further weighing configuration, and vice versa. In said embodiment, the at least one further transport support member may be stationary. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to move the batch of at least one device part along the production trajectory in an intermittent manner. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to move the at least one transport support member in the vertical direction and/or the weighing station is configured to move the at least one weighing support member in the vertical direction in order to move the at least one transport support member and the at least one weighing support member relative to each other from the transport configuration into the weighing configuration, and vice versa. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to intermittently move subsequent batches of at least one device part along the production trajectory and in the at least one weighing position. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to for a predetermined time period stop the movement along the production trajectory of the batch of at least one device part being located in the at least one weighing position. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device and/or the weighing station are/is configured to move the at least one transport support member and the at least one weighing support member relative to each other from the transport configuration into the weighing configuration, and subsequently back into the transport configuration within the predetermined time period. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to move the at least one further transport support member in the vertical direction and/or the further weighing station is configured to move the at least one further weighing support member in the vertical direction in order to move the at least one further transport support member and the at least one further weighing support member relative to each other from the further transport configuration into the further weighing configuration, and vice versa. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to intermittently move subsequent batches of at least one device part along the production trajectory and in the at least one further weighing position. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device is configured to for a further predetermined time period stop the movement along the production trajectory of the batch of at least one device part being located in the at least one further weighing position. 
     In an embodiment of the system, the transport device and/or the further weighing station are/is configured to move the at least one further transport support member and the at least one further weighing support member relative to each other from the further transport configuration into the further weighing configuration, and subsequently back into the further transport configuration within the further predetermined time period. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the system according to the invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts, and in which: 
       the  FIGS. 1A-D  schematically show views in perspective of an embodiment of the system according to the invention, 
       the  FIGS. 2A-C  schematically show top views of the system of  FIG. 1  and its production trajectory, 
         FIG. 3  schematically show an enlarged view in perspective of the filling station of the system of  FIG. 1 , 
       the  FIGS. 4A-E  schematically show enlarged views in perspective of the weighing station of the system of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 5A  schematically shows a simplified enlarged view in perspective of the weighing station of the system of  FIG. 1  in the transport configuration, 
         FIG. 5B  schematically shows a frontal view of the weighing station  FIG. 5A , 
         FIG. 5C  schematically shows a cross sectional view of the weighing station along line C-C of  FIG. 5A , 
         FIG. 6A  schematically shows a simplified enlarged view in perspective of the weighing station of the system of  FIG. 1  in the weighing configuration, 
         FIG. 6B  schematically shows a frontal view of the weighing station  FIG. 6A , 
         FIG. 6C  schematically shows a cross sectional view of the weighing station along line C-C of  FIG. 6A , 
         FIG. 7A  shows a view in perspective of a first alternative embodiment of the weighing station and transport device in the transport configuration, 
         FIG. 7B  schematically shows a cross sectional view of the first alternative weighing station and transport device along line B-B of  FIG. 7A , 
         FIG. 8A  shows a view in perspective of the first alternative embodiment of the weighing station and transport device in the weighing configuration, 
         FIG. 8B  schematically shows a cross sectional view of the first alternative weighing station and transport device along line B-B of  FIG. 8A , 
         FIG. 9A  shows a view in perspective of a second alternative embodiment of the weighing station and transport device in the transport configuration, 
         FIG. 9B  schematically shows a cross sectional view of the second alternative weighing station and transport device along line B-B of  FIG. 9A , 
         FIG. 10A  shows a view in perspective of the second alternative embodiment of the weighing station and transport device in the weighing configuration, and 
         FIG. 10B  schematically shows a cross sectional view of the second alternative weighing station and transport device along line B-B of  FIG. 10A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The  FIGS. 1A-D  show views in perspective of an embodiment of the system  1  according to the invention. The system  1  is configured to fill device parts  2  of simulated smoking devices, such as cartridges  4  of electronic cigarettes, with a fluid  3 . In the shown system  1 , the fluid  3  is a liquid. In alternative embodiments of the system  1  (not shown), the fluid  3  may comprise a powder or a gel. 
     In the shown system  1 , each device part  2  comprises a product carrier  15  which will not be part of the simulated smoking device ready for use. It will be clear for the skilled person that the system  1  according to the invention can also operate with device parts  2  not having a product carrier  15  and that the invention is therefore not limited to the use of device parts  2  having a product carrier  15 . 
     Along the same line of reasoning, it will be also be clear that the system  1  according to the invention can operate with completely constructed simulated smoking devices (with or without product carrier  15 ), which simulated smoking devices only needs to be filled in order to be ready for use. In this situation, the completely constructed simulated smoking devices are the device parts  2  as defined in the claims. 
     The system  1  comprises a filling station  6  to discharge a predetermined amount of fluid  3  in each of the device parts  2  and a weighing station  7  to individually weigh the device parts  2  filled by the filling station  6 . The weighing station  7  provides a measurement signal for each of the device parts  2 . The system  1  further comprises a control unit  8  to determine if the predetermined amount of fluid  3  has been discharged in each of the device parts  2  on basis of the measurement signal. The control unit  8  is in communication with the weighing station  7 . 
     A transport device  50  is provided to move the device parts  2  along a production trajectory  9  (see  FIG. 2C ). The production trajectory  9  extends through the filling station  6  and the weighing station  7 . The transport device  50  is configured to move a batch  11  of ten device parts  2  in ten weighing positions  12  located in a weighing trajectory part  13  of the production trajectory  9  and subsequently out of the ten weighing positions  12 . The weighing trajectory part  13  extends through the weighing station  7 . In an alternative embodiment of the system  1  (not shown), the batch  11  of device parts  2  may have a different number of device parts  2 . 
     The system  1  comprises a further weighing station  107  to individually weigh the device parts  2  before being filled by the filling station  6 . The further weighing station  107  provides a further measurement signal for each of the device parts  2 . The control unit  8  is in communication with the further weighing station  107  to determine if the predetermined amount of fluid  3  has been discharged in each of the device parts  2  on basis of the measurement signal and the further measurement signal. 
     The production trajectory  9  extends also through the further weighing station  107 . The transport device  50  is configured to move the batch  11  of ten device parts  2  in ten further weighing positions  112  located in a further weighing trajectory part  113  of the production trajectory  9  and subsequently out of the ten further weighing positions  112 . The further weighing trajectory part  113  extends through the further weighing station  107 . The transport device  50  is configured to move the device parts  2  first through the further weighing station  107 , after that through the filling station  6  and subsequently through the weighing station  7 . 
     This allows that the amount of fluid  3  discharged in each device part  2  can be determined on basis of the increased weight measured by the weighing station  7  when compared with the measurements of the further weighing station  107 . This provides a very accurate measurement of the amount of fluid  3  discharged in the device part  2 . 
     Alternative embodiments of the system  1  (not shown) may only have the weighing station  7  and no further weighing station  107 . In said situation, the transport device  50  moves the device parts  2  first through the filling station  6  and subsequently through the weighing station  7 . It is assumed that the mass of the device parts  2  is known and this allows that the control unit  8  determines the amount of fluid  3  discharged in the device parts  2  on basis of the measurement performed by the weighing station  7 . 
     In  FIG. 1A , the batch  11  of device parts  2  is moved by the transport device  50  towards the further weighing positions  112 . In  FIG. 1B , the device parts  2  are located in the further weighing positions  112 . In  FIG. 1C , the batch  11  of device parts  2  is located at the filling station  6  and the device parts  2  are being filled with the liquid. An enlarged view of the filling of the device parts  2  is shown in  FIG. 3 . The device parts are located in filling positions  30  and filled via filling needles  31  connected to a fluid supply  32 . In  FIG. 10 , the device parts  2  have been moved into the further weighing positions  112 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a top view of the situation of  FIG. 1A . Only the batch  11  of ten device parts  2  is shown. The transport device  50  comprises ten transport units  51 A-J which in cooperation moves the batch  11  of device parts  2  along the production trajectory  9 . It in practice, subsequent batches  11  of ten device parts  2  are position one after the other along the production trajectory  9 . This is show in  FIG. 2B . The transport device  50  moves these batches  11  of device parts  2  along the production trajectory  9  in an intermittent manner. The production trajectory  9  is indicated in  FIG. 2C . 
     The transport device  50  comprises a transport support member  14  to fully support the batch  11  of device parts  2  in a vertical direction  41  during movement along the weighing trajectory part  13 . The vertical direction  41  and the horizontal direction  42  are indicated in  FIG. 1A . 
     In  FIG. 4A , the batch  11  of filled device parts  2  is moved by the transport device  50  from the filling station  6  towards the weighing station  7 . More specifically, the batch  11  of filled device parts  2  is moved by the transport unit  50 D of the transport device  50 . The transport device  50  comprises moving members  10  for moving the batch  11  of device part  2 . The same moving members  10  move the batch  11  of the device parts  2  through the further weighing station  107  and the weighing station  7 . In  FIG. 4B , the device parts  2  are located in the weighing positions  12 . During this movement into the weighing positions  12 , the device parts  2  are along the weighing trajectory part  13  in the vertical direction  41  fully supported by the transport support member  14 . 
       FIG. 5A  shows the situation of  FIG. 4B , wherein several parts of the system  1  are removed to obtain a clear view on relevant parts of the transport device  50  and weighing station  7 . The transport support member  14  comprises a support rail  19  which extends along the weighing trajectory part  13 . The support rail  19  is located between guide rails  21  to allow that the device parts  2  are moved towards and away from the weighing trajectory part  13 . 
     The weighing station  7  comprises ten weighing support members  16  located at the ten weighing positions  12  to support the batch  11  of ten device parts  2  during weighing by the weighing station  7 . 
     The transport support member  14  and the ten weighing support members  16  are movable relative to each other in the vertical direction  41  and in the shown situation located in a transport configuration  17  in which the batch  11  of device parts  2  is fully supported in the vertical direction  41  by the transport support member  14 . The transport configuration  17  allows that the batch  11  of device parts  2  is moved into the weighing positions  12  and subsequently out of the weighing positions  12 . 
       FIG. 5B  shows a frontal view of the transport configuration  17  of  FIG. 5A . One can clearly see that the device parts  2  are in the vertical direction  41  fully supported by the support rail  19 . The product carries are located at a distance from the weighing support members  16 . This can also be seen in  FIG. 5C  which shows a cross sectional view of the weighing station  7  along line C-C of  FIG. 5A . During movement of the device parts  2  along the weighing trajectory part  13 , the device parts  2  are held in an upright position by the moving members  10  and a guide member  23 . In case that in the transport configuration  17  there may be some friction in the vertical direction  41  between the device parts  2  and the moving members  10  and/or the guide member  23 , the moving members  10  and/or the guide member  23  form support surfaces which act as additional transport support members  14  contributing to the full support of the device parts  2 . 
     In  FIG. 4C , the device parts  2  are still located in the weighing positions  12  and the transport device  50  and the weighing station  7  have changed to the weighing configuration  18 .  FIG. 6A  shows the situation of  FIG. 4C , wherein again several parts of the system  1  are removed to obtain a clear view. The device parts  2  located in the weighing position  12  are fully supported in the vertical direction  41  by the weighing support members  16  to individually weigh each device part  2  of the batch  11  with the weighing station  7 . 
       FIG. 6B  shows a frontal view of the weighing configuration  18  of  FIG. 6A . One can clearly see that each weighing support member  16  supports one and only one device part  2 . This can also be seen in  FIG. 6C  which shows a cross sectional view of the weighing station  7  along line C-C of  FIG. 6A .  FIG. 6C  also shows that there is no contact between the device part  2  and the moving member  10  and the guide member  23 . The device parts  2  are only supported by the weighing support members  16 . This ensures that the weight can be measured in an accurate manner. 
     In  FIG. 4D , the device parts  2  are still located in the weighing positions  12  and the transport device  50  and the weighing station  7  have changed back to the transport configuration  17 . Subsequently, the device parts  2  are moved out of the weighing positions  12  ( FIG. 4E ). 
     In the shown system  1 , only the transport support member  14  is moveable in the vertical direction  41  to change from the transport configuration  17  into the weighing configuration  18 , and vice versa. This means that the weighing support members  16  can remain stationary. This is beneficial for an accurate weighing station  7 , because moving parts might have negative effects on the accuracy of the measurements. 
     In an alternative system  1  (not shown), the transport support member  14  and the weighing support members  16  are both moveable in the vertical direction  41  to change from the transport configuration  17  into the weighing configuration  18 , and vice versa. 
     In another alternative system  1  (not shown), only the at least one weighing support member  16  is moveable in the vertical direction  41  to change from the transport configuration  17  into the weighing configuration  18 , and vice versa. 
     The further weighing station  107  is constructed and operates in the same manner as the weighing station  7 . 
     As shown in the  FIGS. 5A  and B and  6 A and B, each weighing support member  16  of the weighing station  7  is connected to the control unit  8  via a communication line  22 A. Each further weighing support member (not shown) of the further weighing station  107  is connected to the control unit  8  via a further communication line  22 B. The control unit  8  is configured to determine if the predetermined amount of fluid  3  has been discharged in each of the device parts  2  on basis of the measurement signal provided by the weighing station  7  and the further measurement signal provided by the further weighing station  107 . 
       FIG. 7A  a view in perspective of a first alternative embodiment of the weighing station  7  and transport device  50  in the transport configuration  17 .  FIG. 7B  shows a cross sectional view of the first alternative weighing station  7  and transport device  50  along line B-B of  FIG. 7A . The device parts  2  are located in the weighing positions  12  and are in the vertical direction  41  fully supported by the transport support members  14  formed by the support rail  19  and the supports surfaces  20  provided by the moving members  10  and the guide member  23 . 
       FIG. 8A  shows a view in perspective of the first alternative embodiment of the weighing station  7  and transport device  50  in the weighing configuration  18 .  FIG. 8B  shows a cross sectional view of the first alternative weighing station  7  and transport device  50  along line B-B of  FIG. 8A . The transport support member  14  is pivoted about the pivot axis  24  to a lower position. Each device part  2  is now fully supported by one and only one weighing support member  16 . 
       FIG. 9A  a view in perspective of a second alternative embodiment of the weighing station  7  and transport device  50  in the transport configuration  17 .  FIG. 9B  shows a cross sectional view of the second alternative weighing station  7  and transport device  50  along line B-B of  FIG. 9A . The device parts  2  are located in the weighing positions  12  and are in the vertical direction  41  fully supported by the transport support members  14  formed by support surfaces  20  of the moving members  10  and the guide member  23 . 
       FIG. 10A  shows a view in perspective of the second alternative embodiment of the weighing station  7  and transport device  50  in the weighing configuration  18 .  FIG. 10B  shows a cross sectional view of the second alternative weighing station  7  and transport device  50  along line B-B of  FIG. 10A . The weighing support members  16  have been moved in the vertical direction  41  and each device part  2  is now fully supported by one and only one weighing support member  16 . 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
     The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the system without departing from the scope as defined in the claims.