An apparatus for the automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices may include a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device. The apparatus may additionally include a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle. The needle assembly is configured to transition between a lowered state and a raised state. The lowered state is where the hypodermic needle is moved down into the cartridge, while the raised state is where the hypodermic needle is lifted up and away from the cartridge. The apparatus may further include a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state. The pump assembly may include a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.

A feed assembly includes a conveyor assembly and a supply assembly. The conveyor assembly includes a conveyor belt apparatus, a conveyor frame, and conveyor rollers enabling movement of the conveyor assembly over a support surface. The supply assembly includes a supply apparatus configured to discharge a material through a discharge port, a supply frame, and supply rollers enabling movement of the supply assembly over the support surface. The conveyor assembly is movable to align a front end of the conveyor belt apparatus with an intake port of an external structure, and the supply assembly is movable in relation to the conveyor assembly to vertically overlap the discharge port over a rear end of the conveyor belt apparatus, to enable the conveyor assembly to convey material discharged from the discharge port to the intake port based on operation of the supply apparatus and the conveyor belt apparatus.

An apparatus includes a fixed assembly and a reciprocating assembly. The fixed assembly includes a hopper, a first gas manifold, and a dispensing chamber, and the reciprocating assembly includes a channel assembly defining a channel conduit, a shield plate vertically aligned therewith, and a second gas manifold. The reciprocating assembly may move, in relation to the fixed assembly, to a first position to enable the channel conduit to be filled with bulk compressible material from the hopper, a second position to enable compressible material to be pushed from the channel conduit to the dispensing conduit and to be compressed in the dispensing chamber according to a first gas directed through the channel conduit by the first gas manifold, and a third position to enable the compressed material to be pushed out of the dispensing conduit according to a second gas directed through the dispensing conduit by the second gas manifold.

An apparatus includes a fixed assembly and a reciprocating assembly. The fixed assembly includes a hopper, a first gas manifold, and a dispensing chamber, and the reciprocating assembly includes a channel assembly defining a channel conduit, a shield plate vertically aligned therewith, and a second gas manifold. The reciprocating assembly may move, in relation to the fixed assembly, to a first position to enable the channel conduit to be filled with bulk compressible material from the hopper, a second position to enable compressible material to be pushed from the channel conduit to the dispensing conduit and to be compressed in the dispensing chamber according to a first gas directed through the channel conduit by the first gas manifold, and a third position to enable the compressed material to be pushed out of the dispensing conduit according to a second gas directed through the dispensing conduit by the second gas manifold.

An apparatus for the automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices may include a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device. The apparatus may additionally include a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle. The needle assembly is configured to transition between a lowered state and a raised state. The lowered state is where the hypodermic needle is moved down into the cartridge, while the raised state is where the hypodermic needle is lifted up and away from the cartridge. The apparatus may further include a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state. The pump assembly may include a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.

An apparatus for the automated filling of cartridges of e-vapor devices may include a filling drum configured to receive at least one cartridge of an e-vapor device. The apparatus may additionally include a needle assembly including at least one hypodermic needle. The needle assembly is configured to transition between a lowered state and a raised state. The lowered state is where the hypodermic needle is moved down into the cartridge, while the raised state is where the hypodermic needle is lifted up and away from the cartridge. The apparatus may further include a pump assembly configured to pump a pre-vapor formulation into the cartridge when the needle assembly is in the lowered state. The pump assembly may include a variable amplitude cam system configured to adjust an amount of the pre-vapor formulation for pumping to the cartridge without changing start and stop times for the pumping.

At least one example embodiment relates to an apparatus. In at least one example embodiment, the apparatus includes a shaft and a housing. The shaft is configured to rotate. The shaft defines a pocket. The housing includes a sidewall. The sidewall at least partially defines an interior region. At least a portion of the shaft is in the interior region. The sidewall defines a first opening to the interior region.

At least one example embodiment relates to an apparatus. In at least one example embodiment, the apparatus includes a shaft and a housing. The shaft is configured to rotate. The shaft defines a pocket. The housing includes a sidewall. The sidewall at least partially defines an interior region. At least a portion of the shaft is in the interior region. The sidewall defines a first opening to the interior region.

A method is for producing individual dosing quantities of a powdered product via a drum dosing device. A dosing drum has a dosing opening on its circumference. In an ejection position, an ejection process is effected, the dosing opening being subjected to a positive pressure and the dosing quantity being thereby ejected from the opening, and an associated ejection reference time-point being determined. The individual mass of an ejected dosing quantity and an associated measurement reference time-point are determined via the measuring device. An actual time period is ascertained from the difference between the measurement reference time-point and the ejection reference time-point and compared with a specified time period. In dependence on the comparison, an adaptation of the positive pressure for a subsequent ejection process is performed such that the level of the positive pressure is increased if the actual time period is too great.

A method is for producing individual dosing quantities of a powdered product via a drum dosing device. A dosing drum has a dosing opening on its circumference. In an ejection position, an ejection process is effected, the dosing opening being subjected to a positive pressure and the dosing quantity being thereby ejected from the opening, and an associated ejection reference time-point being determined. The individual mass of an ejected dosing quantity and an associated measurement reference time-point are determined via the measuring device. An actual time period is ascertained from the difference between the measurement reference time-point and the ejection reference time-point and compared with a specified time period. In dependence on the comparison, an adaptation of the positive pressure for a subsequent ejection process is performed such that the level of the positive pressure is increased if the actual time period is too great.