MACHINE FOR MAKING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE COMPONENTS,

SPECIFICALLY CARTRIDGES

Technical field

This invention relates to a machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges.

Background art

Hereinafter in this description, reference is made to electronic cigarette cartridges by way of example but without loss in generality.

In effect, the invention can also be applied to other electronic cigarette components.

More specifically, the invention focuses on conveying systems for transferring the cartridges in electronic cigarette production lines.

For example, after being assembled in the assembly station, electronic cigarette cartridges are typically transferred to the filling station where the cartridges are filled with specific products (liquid or powder).

Generally speaking, transfer towards the filling station is carried out manually.

The Applicant, however, has found some critical aspects in transfers between the assembly station and the filling station.

In effect, on account of jams or malfunctions in the assembly station and/or in the filling station, transfer between these two processing stations are often subjected to production delays, slowdowns or shutdowns which may negatively affect production process times and costs.

Disclosure of the invention

In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to propose a machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

In particular, the aim of this invention is to provide a machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, and capable of allowing the cartridges to be effectively transported between successive processing stations, to optimize the production process even during possible error situations in one of the processing stations.

A further aim of this invention is to propose a machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, and capable of improving the efficiency of the production process by reducing production stops and guaranteeing high operating capabilities.

The technical purpose and aims specified are substantially achieved by a machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, comprising the technical features described in one or more of the appended claims.

In particular, this invention provides a machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, comprising:

- feed means for feeding a plurality of components from a first processing station,

- singulating and advancing means for singulating and advancing the plurality of components and configured to receive the plurality of components from the feed means and arrange the components of the plurality of components in a row, making them advance along a singulated advancing path towards a component accumulation zone,

- at least one conveyor belt adapted to slidably receive the components from the singulating and advancing means on a respective accumulation surface, in such a way that the accumulation zone is positioned at the accumulation surface, the conveyor belt being configured to transport the accumulated components and to direct them towards a transfer zone along a conveyor path,

- transfer means for transferring the components and configured to withdraw the components at the transfer zone and to transfer them to a second processing station,

- variator means for varying the accumulation zone, movable relative to the transfer means and configured to increase or decrease the accumulation surface of the conveyor belt in such a way as to vary the quantity of components that can be accumulated in the accumulation zone.

Advantageously, thanks to the presence of the variator means, it is possible to create a dynamic buffer which can adapt to the production requirements arising out of production stops of one between the first and the second processing station, so as to store a larger number of cartridges if the second processing station stops or in such a way as to facilitate transfer of the cartridges from the accumulation zone to the second processing station if the first processing station stops.

Thanks to this invention, therefore, it is possible to receive different quantities of cartridges to compensate for possible shutdowns and/or slowdowns and/or malfunctions of one of the processing stations, so as to optimize process times.

The dependent claims, which are incorporated herein by reference, correspond to different embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the present invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, but non-exclusive embodiment of a machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, according to a first embodiment of this invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, according to a second embodiment of this invention;

- Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, according to a third embodiment of this invention; and

- Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a portion of the machine for making electronic cigarette components, specifically cartridges, according to a fourth embodiment of this invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a machine for making electronic cigarette components and hereinafter referred to simply as machine 1 .

More specifically, the electronic cigarette components 2 are cartridges; in the accompanying drawings, the components 2 are schematically illustrated as cylindrical bars.

The machine 1 comprises feed means 3 for feeding a plurality of components 2 from a first processing station, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Preferably, the first processing station comprises an assembling unit, located upstream of the feed means 3, for assembling the plurality of components.

Downstream of the feed means 3, the machine comprises singulating and advancing means 4 for singulating and advancing the plurality of components 2 and configured to receive the plurality of components 2 from the self same feed means 3.

Preferably, the feed means 3 comprise a feed duct 3a in which the components advance towards the singulating and advancing means 4 along a feed direction "A" parallel to the longitudinal axis of extension of the components 2.

Still more preferably, the feed duct 3a comprises detection and checking means, not illustrated - for example, photocells - configured to detect and check the number of components 2 fed and to report possible error situations.

Further, preferably at the end of the feed duct 3 from which the components 2 are expelled, the feed means 3a may comprise a damping device, not illustrated, for example a compressed air ejector, configured to damp the impact with which the components 2 reach the end of their stroke in the feed duct 3a.

The singulating and advancing means 4 are also configured to arrange the components 2 in a row, causing them to advance along a singulated advancing path "P" towards an accumulation zone 2a where the components 2 are accumulated.

In other words, the singulating and advancing means 4 receive the components 2 and cause them to advance in a row along the singulated advancing path "P".

Advantageously, that way, the components 2 are compacted with each other and thus stable while they are being conveyed.

Still more preferably, the feed direction "A" is perpendicular to the singulated advancing path "P".

In other words, the components 2 are fed vertically and then transferred horizontally.

Preferably, the feed means 3 are connected to a compressed air ejector, not illustrated in the drawings. Advantageously, the compressed air ejector allows regulating the feed speed at which the components 2 are transferred from the first processing station to the singulating and advancing means 4.

According to this invention, the machine 1 comprises at least one conveyor belt 5 adapted to slidably receive the components 2 from the singulating and advancing means 4 on a respective accumulation surface 6, in such a way that the accumulation zone 2a is positioned at the accumulation surface 6.

Advantageously, the conveyor belt 5 is configured to transport the components 2 accumulated in the accumulation zone 2a and to send them towards a transfer zone 2b of the components 2 along a conveyor path "T".

In particular, it should be noted that at the end stretch of the singulated advancing path "P", the components 2 advance according to the known principle of "mass flow", which means the components 2 are adjacent and support each other as they proceed along the conveyor path "T".

The machine 1 also comprises transfer means 7 for transferring the components 2 and configured to withdraw the components 2 at the transfer zone 2b and to transfer them to a second processing station, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Preferably, the second processing station comprises a filling unit, located downstream of the transfer means 7, for filling the components 2.

Preferably, the transfer means 7 for transferring the components 2 comprise a transfer screw 7a which rotates about an axis of rotation "Z" perpendicular to the conveyor path "T". The transfer screw 7a is configured to receive the components 2 in the transfer zone 2b and deliver them to the second processing station.

The machine 1 comprises variator means 8 for varying the accumulation zone 2a of the components 2.

Advantageously, the variator means 8 are movable relative to the transfer means 7 and are configured to increase or decrease the accumulation surface 6 of the conveyor belt 5 in such a way as to vary the quantity of components 2 that can be accumulated in the accumulation zone 2a.

Thanks to the operation of the variator means 8, therefore, it is possible to vary the accumulation surface 6 used to receive and transport the components 2 in such a way as to vary the size of the accumulation zone 2a according to production requirements. Advantageously, the variator means 8 also adapt to the number of components 2 present on the accumulation surface 6, thus preventing the front of the accumulated components 2 from tipping over.

With reference to a first and a second embodiment of this invention, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the singulating and advancing means 4 preferably comprise a wheel 9 which rotates about an axis of rotation "X".

The wheel 9 has a plurality of peripheral slots 9a for receiving the components 2 in a withdrawal zone "B" and delivering them to the singulated advancing path "P".

Preferably, the singulating and advancing means 4 comprise a first advancing channel 10 in which the components 2 advance and defining the singulated advancing path "P".

Still more preferably, one side wall of the first advancing channel 10 is defined by the wheel 9.

With reference to the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 , preferably the conveyor belt 5 comprises a first portion 5a and a second portion 5b.

The first portion 5a defines a first, straight stretch T1 of the conveyor path

"T", while the second portion 5b, adjacent to the first portion 5a, defines a second, straight stretch "T2" of the conveyor path "T".

Advantageously, the first portion 5a is slidable in the opposite direction to the second portion 5b so that the first straight stretch "T1 " is parallel and opposite to the second straight stretch "T2".

Thus, the components 2 which come from the singulated advancing path "P" are first of all transported by the first portion 5a away from the transfer means 7 and then move across the first accumulation surface 6a to the second accumulation surface 6b, transported by the second portion 5 in the opposite direction, towards the transfer zone 2b. This creates an accumulation zone 2a of a certain size on which it is possible to operate thanks to the presence of the variator means 8.

More specifically, the variator means 8 preferably comprise a first abutment member 8a disposed above the first and second portions 5a, 5b in the accumulation zone 2a and movable along a first movement direction "R1 " parallel to the first and second straight stretches "T1 , T2" away from or towards the transfer means 7.

Advantageously, moving the first abutment member 8a allows increasing or decreasing the accumulation surfaces 6a, 6b of the first portion 5a and of the second portion 5b of the conveyor belt 5.

For example, moving the first abutment member 8a along the first movement direction "R1 " away from the transfer means 7 allows increasing the accumulation surfaces 6a, 6b and thus the accumulation zone 2a.

Preferably, according to a possible method of operating the machine 1 , the first abutment member 8a is initially disposed as close as possible to the wheel 9 and held in that position until the first accumulation surface 6a and the second accumulation surface 6b are completely covered by the accumulated components 2. At this point, the first abutment member 8a is moved away to act as a buffer, that is to say, to increase the size of the accumulation zone 2a, if the second processing station has stopped or slowed down, or is moved in the opposite direction, to push the components 2 towards the transfer means 7 if the first processing station has stopped or slowed down.

With reference now to the second embodiment of the machine 1 , illustrated in Figure 2, the conveyor belt 5 is preferably an endless conveyor.

The conveyor belt 5 thus comprises a conveyor portion 5c (it should be noted that Figure 1 shows only the conveyor portion 5c, while the rest of the conveyor belt 5 has been hidden for clarity of illustration) which at least partly defines a U-shaped conveyor path "T3" of the conveyor path "T" of the components 2

In effect, the conveyor belt 5 is mounted on pulleys 1 1 which rotate about axes of rotation "K" perpendicular to the U-shaped conveyor path "T3" and, advantageously, the variator means 8 are configured to translate the pulleys 1 1 along a second movement direction "R2" perpendicular to the axes of rotation "K" of the pulleys 1 1 to move the conveyor portion 5c in such a way as to increase or decrease the length of the U-shaped conveyor path "T3".

In other words, moving the pulleys 1 1 along the movement direction "R2" allows lengthening or shortening the U-shaped conveyor path "T3", thereby increasing or decreasing the size of the accumulation zone 2a and hence the number of components 2 that can be transported on the available accumulation surface 6. More specifically, according to this embodiment, the conveyor portion 5c of the conveyor belt 5 is delimited by an abutment wall or side panel which is connected to one of the two pulleys 1 1 and which is also U-shaped so as to match the shape of the conveyor path 5c (that is, of the U-shaped conveyor path "T3").

The abutment wall or side panel forms a stop for the components 2 both during the movement towards the transfer zone 2b and during the movement of the pulleys 1 1 described above.

With reference now to the third and fourth embodiments of the machine 1 , illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, respectively, the conveyor path "T" is preferably straight and the singulating and advancing means 4 comprise a withdrawal screw 12 which rotates about an axis of rotation "Y2" perpendicular (in the fourth embodiment) or about an axis of rotation "Y1 " parallel (in the third embodiment) to the straight conveyor path "T". More specifically, in the fourth embodiment, the withdrawal screw 12 may have a respective end portion disposed on the conveyor belt 5 to facilitate conveying the components 2 on the conveyor belt 5, which might otherwise be difficult.

Obviously, the withdrawal screw 12 may be disposed in such a way that its axis of rotation is neither perpendicular nor parallel to the straight conveyor path "T" (situation not illustrated).

Advantageously, the withdrawal screw 12 is configured to receive the components 2 in the withdrawal zone "B" and to deliver them to the singulated advancing path "P".

Preferably, also, with reference to the embodiments of Figures 3 and 4, the variator means 8 comprise a second abutment member 8b disposed above the conveyor belt 5 in the accumulation zone 2a and movable away from or towards the transfer means 7 along a third movement direction "R3" parallel to the straight conveyor path "T".

Advantageously, moving the second abutment member 8b allows increasing or decreasing the accumulation surface 6 of the conveyor belt 5.

For example, moving the second abutment member 8b along the third movement direction "R3" away from the transfer means 7 allows increasing the accumulation surface 6 and thus the accumulation zone 2a. With reference to the third embodiment, illustrated in Figure 3, the second abutment member 8b still more preferably comprises a second advancing channel 13 in which the components 2 advance and which at least partly defines the singulated advancing path "P".

Preferably, also, in a possible embodiment of the machine 1 not illustrated, the machine 1 may also comprise an unloading buffer, disposed at the transfer screw 7a and configured to receive the components 2 accumulated in the event of an operating condition whereby the second processing station has stopped and the accumulation zone 2a has reached its maximum level, such that the accumulation surface 6 is completely covered by components 2. The unloading buffer is, for example, a tray, and is disposed at one end of the transfer screw 7a, under the latter, so as to receive by gravity the components 2 unloaded by the transfer screw 7a.

Thanks to this invention, therefore, it is possible to efficiently manage the transfer of the components 2 between two successive processing stations, guaranteeing effective accumulation of the components 2 and, being flexible and versatile, capable of optimizing the production cycle.

The present invention therefore achieves the preset aims, overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.