METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AN AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for assembling an aerosol generating article, wherein a first component (1) of the aerosol generating article is arranged in a first groove (3), and an at least partially hollow second component (2) of the aerosol generating article is arranged in a second groove (4). The first component (1) is pushed in a first direction (100) along the first groove (3) into the second component (2) in the second groove (4), by relatively moving the first groove (3) in a second direction (200) with respect to a guide element (6) with an engagement surface (7), such that the engagement surface (7) engages and pushes the first component (1) in the first direction (100). The invention further provides an apparatus for assembling an aerosol generating article and a use of an inclined engagement surface (7) for the insertion of a first component (1) in an at least partially hollow second component (2) of an aerosol generating article.

Claims

1. A method for assembling an aerosol generating article, arranging a first component of the aerosol generating article in a first groove, arranging an at least partially hollow second component of the aerosol generating article in a second groove, pushing the first component in a first direction along the first groove into the second component in the second groove, by relatively moving the first groove in a second direction with respect to a guide element with an engagement surface, such that the engagement surface engages and pushes the first component in the first direction.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first component is a capsule comprising alkaloid containing powder.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first component has a cylindrical first section and a cylindrical second section, wherein the diameter of the first section is greater than the diameter of the second section.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second component is at least partially formed as a cavity at its proximal end, wherein the wall thickness of the cavity at the proximal end corresponds to the height of a step in between the second groove and the first groove.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first component and the second component are substantially aligned in their longitudinal directions to enable insertion, and wherein in case of misalignment, the second component is pushed out of the second groove in the first direction by means of the first component.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first groove and the second groove are provided in axial alignment on a drum, wherein the drum rotates relative to the guide element, and wherein the guide element is arranged radially outside the drum and at least partially along the circumferential direction of the drum.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the engagement surface is arranged radially outside of the proximal end of the second groove with respect to the first groove, when the first component is fully inserted in the second component.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the second component is bigger than an outer diameter of the first component, such that the first component can be readily pushed into the second component by the insertion force from the guide element.

9. An apparatus for assembling an aerosol generating article, comprising a first groove for receiving a first component of the aerosol generating article, a second groove for receiving an at least partially hollow second component of the aerosol generating article, and a guide element with an inclined engagement surface, wherein the first groove and second groove extend in a first direction, and wherein the first groove and the second groove are movable relative to the guide element in a second direction, while the inclined engagement surface is arranged over the first groove or second groove, wherein the first groove and second groove are formed on a drum, wherein the guide element is arranged at least partially around the circumference of the drum, and the engagement surface of the guide element is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction of the drum.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drum is rotatable and the guide element is stationary.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second groove is open in its axial direction on its distal end with respect to the first groove.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a negative pressure holding means is provided at least in the second groove, being adapted such that the holding force regarding the second component in the direction of the extension of the second groove is greater than the holding force regarding the first component in the direction of the extension of the first groove.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a detection system is provided, adapted to detect the presence of the first component inside the second component in the second groove.

14. Use of an inclined engagement surface for the insertion of a first component in an at least partially hollow second component of an aerosol generating article, by means of engaging the first component with the engagement surface, and moving the first component along the engagement surface.

Description

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a top view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows the cross-section 400-400, as indicated in FIG. 1;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a perspective front view of the apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention;

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view regarding a method according an embodiment of the invention;

[0060] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view regarding a method according an embodiment of the invention;

[0061] The apparatus according to FIG. 1 enables the insertion of a first component 1, in the form of a capsule, in a second component 2, in the form of a hollow tube. The first component 1 is arranged in a first groove 3, while the second component 2 is arranged in a second groove 4. The first groove 3 and the second groove 4 are arranged in the circumferential surface of a drum 5 and extend preferably parallel to a first direction 100 of the drum 5, namely the axial direction. In particular, several pairs of coaxial first grooves and second grooves are distributed around the circumference of the drum, preferably equidistantly in second direction 200, namely the circumferential direction.

[0062] The drum 5 is driven to rotate around a central axis 300. A stationary guide element 6 is arranged at least partially around the circumference of the drum 5. The guide element 6 comprises an engagement surface 7 at the proximal side of the guide element 6 regarding the second grooves 4. The engagement surface 7 is adapted to push the first component 1 in the axial direction 100 into the second component 2.

[0063] In particular, the first component 1 rotates with the drum 5 and slides along the guide element 6. Since the guide element 6 gradually covers the first groove 3 when the drum rotates relative to the guide element 6, the engagement surface 7 pushes the first component 1 into the second component 2.

[0064] In FIG. 2, the cross section 400-400 indicated in FIG. 1 is depicted. FIG. 2 illustrates the beginning of the insertion process of the first component 1 into the second component 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the first component 1 has a proximal end 8, which is close to the second component 2. The first component has a distal end 9, which is far from the first component 2. The second component 2 has a proximal end 10, which is close to the first component 1. The second component 2 has a distal end 11, which is far from the first component 1.

[0065] The first component 1 may comprise a cylindrical first section 12, and a cylindrical second section 13, wherein the diameter of the first section 12 is greater than the diameter of the second section 13. In particular, the cylindrical first section 12 is arranged closer to the proximal end 8 of the first component 1, than to the distal end 9. In particular, the first component 1 is a capsule, wherein the first section 12 and second section 13 jointly form a capsule body, which is filled with an ingredient. Each of the first section 12 and second section 13 is a cap. The open end of the first section 12 is stuck on the open end of the second section 13 and form an enclosed volume inside the capsule body. Thus, by arranging the cylindrical first section 12 proximal to the second component 2, the counter-force applied by the second component 2 on the cylindrical first section 12 during insertion of the first component 1 in the second component 2 is directed in the closing direction of the cylindrical first section 12, and the first component 1 remains closed during insertion. Furthermore, by arranging the cylindrical first section 12 proximal to the second component 2, there is no risk for the capsule to be torn apart when the edge of the cylindrical first section 12 potentially gets stuck at an edge of the second component 2 during insertion.

[0066] The second component 2 comprises a cavity 14, which is at least provided at its proximal end 10. In the present embodiment, the second component 2 is provided in the form of the hollow tube. The inner passage of the tube forms the cavity 14.

[0067] A step 15 is present in between the first groove 3 and the second groove 4. In particular, the first groove 3 has a first depth 500, and the second groove 4 has a second depth 600, wherein the height of the step 15 corresponds to the difference in between the second depth 600 and the first depth 500. The second depth 600 is greater than the first depth 500. In particular, the first groove 3 has a cross section in the form of a circular segment, whose height is defined by the first depth 500. In particular, the second groove 4 has a cross section in the form of a circular segment, wherein its height is defined by the second depth 600. In a preferred embodiment, the height of the step 15 corresponds to the wall thickness of the second component 2 at its proximal end 10, such that the cavity 14 and the first groove 3 are at least partially flush. This facilitates the insertion process of the first component 1 into the second component 2.

[0068] In particular, at least one air suction opening 16 may be provided in the first groove 3 to hold the first component 1. At least one air suction opening 17 may be provided in the second groove 4 to hold the second component. The air suction opening 16, 17 may be a hole or bore towards the inside of the drum 5. Preferably, several air suction openings 17 are provided in the second groove 4 along the longitudinal extension of the second groove 4, to enable to properly hold the second component during the insertion of the first component 1.

[0069] The second groove 4 extends until an axial end side 18 of the drum 5. Thus, the second groove 4 is open in the axial direction 100 on its distal end 19 with respect to the first groove 3. The second component 2 may be pushed out of the second groove 4 via the axial end side 18 of the drum 5. The second component 2 is pushed out of the second groove 4, if a force in the longitudinal direction of the second groove 4 is applied to the second component 2, which is greater than the holding force of the air suction openings 17 and potential friction forces.

[0070] This enables to eject the second component 2, in case the insertion of the first component 1 fails, for example due to misalignment of the first component 1 and second component 2. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the drum 5 may be formed of individual segments, which are connected to each other in the axial direction. In particular, a first segment may comprise the first grooves 3 and a second segment may comprise the second grooves 4.

[0071] In FIG. 1, a detection system 20 is shown, which is arranged at the guide element 6, in particular at the circumferential downstream side of the guide element 6. The detection system 20 is adapted to check the presence of the first component 1 inside the second component 2. If such a presence is not detected, the second component 2 may be ejected from the drum 5, for example, by using a pressured air jet.

[0072] A second guide element 21 in the form of a stationary downholder, which circumferentially extends over at least several of the second grooves 2, while the second grooves 3 are transporting the second components. The second guide element 21 is in the form of a circular arc, extending partially around the circumference of the drum 5. The second guide element 21 acts as a supplement to the suction force from the air suction opening 17 to help retaining the second components 2 within the second grooves 4 during their rotating transportation or the insertion on the drum 5.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a perspective frontal view of the drum 5 rotating in the circumferential direction 200 around the central axis 300. Thus, in the relative coordinate system of the drum 5, the inclined engagement surface 7 moves in the axial direction 100 over the first and second grooves 3, 4. The engagement surface 7 pushes a first component 1 present in the first groove 3 into the second component 2, which is held in the second groove 4.

[0074] This principle is also shown in FIG. 4, where the engagement surface 7 gradually pushes the first components 1 into the second components 2. The drum 5 and the first groove 3 and second groove 4, arranged on the circumference of the drum 5, are moved in the circumferential direction 200, while the guide element 6 with the inclined engagement surface 7 remains stationary. The engagement surface 7 is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction 200 and the axial direction 100.

[0075] In alternative embodiments, instead of a circumferential movement of the grooves due to a rotation of a drum, a linear movement of the grooves in the second direction relative to the guide element may be provided such that the inclined engagement surface pushes the first components in the first direction into the second components. In particular, the movement of the grooves in the second direction may be perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the grooves in the first direction.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows the ejection of the second component 2, when the insertion of the first component 1 fails, in particular due to misalignment with the second component 2. The insertion may also fail, when the outer diameter of the first component 1 is outside of a tolerance range, or an inner diameter of the second component 2 is outside of a tolerance range. This may lead to higher axial forces on the second component 2 applied during the insertion of the first component 1. During a failed insertion, the second component 2 may be pushed in the first direction 100 out of the second groove 4. This applies in particular, when the insertion force is higher than the holding force of the second component 2 in the longitudinal direction of the second groove 4. Thus, it can be avoided that a failed insertion leads to a damaged first component. The first component and second component who could not be properly assembled are automatically removed from the assembly process.