公开(公告)号：US20250024895A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-23

申请号：US18907698

申请日：2024-10-07

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Edmond J. CADIEUX ,  Martin GARTHAFFNER ,  Travis GARTHAFFNER ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Barry S. SMITH ,  Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON

IPC: A24F40/80 ,  A24C5/32 ,  A24F40/10 ,  A24F40/70

Abstract: A method for automated manufacturing of e-vapor devices may include establishing a procession of partially assembled, oriented cartridge units of the e-vapor devices in an assembly path. The method may additionally include preparing the cartridge units for filling while the cartridge units are moving on a first drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method may also include adding liquid to the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a filling workstation of the assembly path. The method may also include preparing the cartridge units for sealing while the cartridge units are moving on a second drum-to-drum transport path of the assembly path. The method further includes sealing the cartridge units while the cartridge units are moving in a sealing workstation of the assembly path.

公开(公告)号：US20220088816A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-24

申请号：US17542849

申请日：2021-12-06

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS ,  James David EVANS ,  Patrick Sean MCELHINNEY ,  Jarrod Wayne CHALKLEY ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Robert V. POWELL

IPC: B26D7/08 ,  B26D7/18

Abstract: An apparatus includes channel assemblies in a rotatable section, a cutting assembly, a discharge assembly, and a cleanout assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of compressible material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas into the lower channel of a channel assembly to discharge the lower material portion from the lower channel, based on radial alignment of a conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the discharge assembly. The cleanout assembly supplies a fluid through the conduit assembly of the channel assembly, based on radially alignment of the conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the cleanout assembly.

公开(公告)号：US20250100734A1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-27

申请号：US18971749

申请日：2024-12-06

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Jarrod W. CHALKLEY ,  Robert POWELL ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Jeremy STRAIGHT ,  Isaac J. MCGILL ,  James David EVANS ,  Patrick MCELHINNEY

IPC: B65B55/24 ,  B08B1/30 ,  B08B1/32 ,  B65B9/04 ,  B65B47/10 ,  B65B61/06

Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.

公开(公告)号：US20230264377A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-24

申请号：US18309414

申请日：2023-04-28

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS ,  James David EVANS ,  Patrick Sean MCELHINNEY ,  Jarrod Wayne CHALKLEY ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Robert V. POWELL

IPC: B26D7/08 ,  B26D7/18

CPC classification number: B26D7/08 ,  B26D7/1854 ,  B26D5/00

Abstract: An apparatus includes channel assemblies in a rotatable section, a cutting assembly, a discharge assembly, and a cleanout assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of compressible material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas into the lower channel of a channel assembly to discharge the lower material portion from the lower channel, based on radial alignment of a conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the discharge assembly. The cleanout assembly supplies a fluid through the conduit assembly of the channel assembly, based on radially alignment of the conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the cleanout assembly.

公开(公告)号：US20230257149A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-17

申请号：US17674216

申请日：2022-02-17

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Jarrod W. CHALKLEY ,  Robert POWELL ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Jeremy STRAIGHT ,  Isaac J. MCGILL ,  James David EVANS ,  Patrick MCELHINNEY

IPC: B65B55/24 ,  B08B1/04 ,  B08B1/00 ,  B65B47/10 ,  B65B9/04 ,  B65B61/06

CPC classification number: B65B55/24 ,  B08B1/04 ,  B08B1/008 ,  B65B47/10 ,  B65B9/04 ,  B65B61/06

Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.

公开(公告)号：US20250042116A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-06

申请号：US18925631

申请日：2024-10-24

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Thien NGUYEN ,  Sean SUNDBERG ,  Jeremy STRAIGHT ,  Berina YERKIC-HUSEJNOVIC ,  Jarrod W. CHALKLEY ,  James D. EVANS ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Robert V. POWELL, JR. ,  Gregory L. NELSON

IPC: B30B12/00 ,  B29C31/04 ,  B29C33/00 ,  B29C33/46 ,  B29C43/02 ,  B29C43/32 ,  B29C43/40 ,  B30B15/00 ,  B30B15/02 ,  B30B15/30 ,  B65B1/04 ,  B65B1/16 ,  B65B1/24 ,  B65B1/26 ,  B65B1/36 ,  B65B9/02 ,  B65B37/20 ,  B65B57/08 ,  B65B61/28

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US20240109680A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-04

申请号：US18532455

申请日：2023-12-07

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Jarrod W. CHALKLEY ,  Robert POWELL ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Jeremy STRAIGHT ,  Isaac J. MCGILL ,  James David EVANS ,  Patrick MCELHINNEY

IPC: B65B55/24 ,  B08B1/00 ,  B08B1/04 ,  B65B9/04 ,  B65B47/10 ,  B65B61/06

CPC classification number: B65B55/24 ,  B08B1/008 ,  B08B1/04 ,  B65B9/04 ,  B65B47/10 ,  B65B61/06

Abstract: A cleaner assembly for an apparatus for making pouch products includes a cleaner roller and a poker roller. The cleaner roller may counter rotate with a rotatable drum of the apparatus, in contact with an upper surface of a first elastic layer on the rotatable drum, and at a greater tangential speed than at least one surface of an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable drum or an upper surface of the first elastic layer. The poker roller includes projections that are each configured to extend into one or more divots of the rotatable drum. The poker roller may counter rotate with the rotatable drum and at a same tangential speed as the at least one surface such that the projections extend into and out of separate, respective divots of the rotatable drum based on the counter rotation of the poker roller and the rotatable drum.

公开(公告)号：US20230053802A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-23

申请号：US17981929

申请日：2022-11-07

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON ,  Travis M. GARTHAFFNER ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Martin T. GARTHAFFNER

IPC: A24C5/32 ,  A24F40/70 ,  B23P19/00

Abstract: An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.

公开(公告)号：US20250017257A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-16

申请号：US18899368

申请日：2024-09-27

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Jeffrey A. SWEPSTON ,  Travis M. GARTHAFFNER ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Martin T. GARTHAFFNER

IPC: A24C5/32 ,  A24F40/10 ,  A24F40/70 ,  B23P19/00

Abstract: An assembler system for manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable assembly drum including an outer face and a flute in the outer face. The flute is structured and arranged to hold a first section and a second section of the vapor-generating article. The system also includes a first mechanism that translates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The system additionally includes a second mechanism that rotates the first section relative to the second section while the first section and the second section are in the flute. The translating and the rotating connect the first section to the second section to form the vapor-generating article.

公开(公告)号：US20240317433A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-26

申请号：US18613505

申请日：2024-03-22

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Jeremy STRAIGHT ,  Charles DENDY ,  David CHOE ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB

IPC: B65B1/16 ,  B65B9/20 ,  B65B37/14

CPC classification number: B65B1/16 ,  B65B9/20 ,  B65B37/14

Abstract: A filling station for heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating capsules may include a filling receptacle, a plurality of carriages, and at least one vacuum source. The filling receptacle defines a first series of vacuum ports. The filling receptacle is configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate. The plurality of carriages are arranged underneath the filling receptacle. Each of the plurality of carriages define a second series of vacuum ports and, optionally, a third series of vacuum ports. Each of the plurality of carriages are configured to receive and hold capsule casings for filling with the aerosol-forming substrate. The at least one vacuum source is configured to draw a vacuum through the capsule casings such that the aerosol-forming substrate is drawn through the first series of vacuum ports in the filling receptacle and into the capsule casings underneath.