Machine and method for producing electronic cigarette cartridges

Abstract

A manufacturing machine and method for producing electronic cigarette cartridges. The following are provided: a first assembly drum, which can be rotatably mounted around a first rotation axis and has a first seat and a second seat, the first seat is designed to accommodate a support member of a heating device coupled to a core provided with an electric coil, and the second seat is axially aligned with the first seat and is designed to accommodate a box; a first supply station, wherein the support member of the heating device coupled to the core provided with an electric coil is supplied to the first seat; a second supply station, wherein the box is supplied to the second seat; and a first insertion station, which is arranged downstream of the first supply station and the second supply station and is provided with a first pushing device, the first pushing device axially moves the support member of the heating device from the first seat to the second seat so as to insert the support member into the box carried by the second seat.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This patent application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102019000000869, filed on January 21, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a machine and a method for producing a cigarette cartridge for an electronic cigarette. Prior art

[0004] Recently, an electronic cigarette has been proposed, which includes a reusable part that can be used multiple times and includes a battery (which provides the energy necessary for the operation of the electronic cigarette) and an electronic processor that supervises the operation of the electronic cigarette. In addition, the electronic cigarette includes a single-use cartridge (i.e., disposable, so it is only used once and then replaced) coupled to the reusable part. The single-use cartridge has a relatively complex construction and is currently produced (assembled) essentially manually (i.e., slow, high production costs and very variable quality standards).

[0005] Patent application US2018295880A1 describes an assembly drum in the automated production of electronic cigarettes and a method for using the assembly drum.

[0006] Patent application W02013076750A1 describes a method for producing a mouthpiece for an electronic cigarette; the mouthpiece comprises a housing made of filter paper, in which a piece of filter material and a cartridge containing a liquid are inserted in series. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a machine and a method for producing cartridges for electronic cigarettes, which allow a high productivity to be achieved while being simple to manufacture and low in cost.

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a machine and a method for producing a cartridge for an electronic cigarette as the basis for what is claimed in the appended claims.

[0009] The claims describe embodiments of the invention which form an integral part of the description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show non-limiting examples of embodiments, in which:

[0011] - Figure 1 It is a stereoscopic image of a cartridge for an electronic cigarette;

[0012] - Figure 2 The removable cover is removed Figure 1A three-dimensional image of a cigarette cartridge;

[0013] - Figure 3 The removable cover is removed Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the cigarette cartridge;

[0014] - Figure 4 It is used for production Figure 1 A schematic plan view of a cigarette cartridge and a manufacturing machine made according to the present invention;

[0015] - Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The front diagram of the manufacturing machine;

[0016] - Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the initial part of the manufacturing machine;

[0017] - Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An enlarged-size view of the initial portion of the assembled drum;

[0018] - Figure 8 yes Figure 6 An enlarged scale view of the other assembled drum of the initial portion of the drum;

[0019] - Fig. 9 yes Figure 4 A plan view of the middle part of the manufacturing machine;

[0020] - Fig.10 yes Fig. 9 A perspective schematic diagram of a movable plate of an assembly conveyor in the middle portion;

[0021] - Fig.11 yes Fig. 9 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a supply station in the middle part;

[0022] - Fig.12 and Fig.13 are at two different operating moments Fig.11 Two lateral schematic diagrams of the supply station;

[0023] - Fig.14 Yes Remove Fig.11 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a core in a supply station;

[0024] - Fig.15 Yes Transfer Fig.11 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a core in a supply station;

[0025] - Fig.16 yes Fig.11 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a supply trolley of a supply station;

[0026] - Fig.17 yes Fig.16 A lateral schematic diagram of a supply trolley;

[0027] - Fig.18 yes Fig. 9 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a cigarette holder supply station in the middle part;

[0028] - Fig.19 yes Fig. 9 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a station for supplying absorbent pads in the middle part of the embodiment;

[0029] - Fig. 20 and Fig.21 yes Fig.19 Two different perspective schematic diagrams of parts of the supply station;

[0030] - Fig. 22 and Fig.23 are at two different operating moments Fig.19 Two lateral schematic diagrams of the supply station;

[0031] - Figures 24 to 35 are at different operating moments and Fig.19 Multiple lateral schematic diagrams of a stationary movable plate in a feeding station;

[0032] - Fig.36 yes Fig.19 A side schematic diagram of a supply trolley of a supply station;

[0033] - Fig.37 yes Figure 4 The front schematic diagram of the final part of the manufacturing machine;

[0034] - Fig.38 yes Fig.37 A perspective view of two seats of the first assembly drum of the last part;

[0035] - Fig.39 yes Fig.38 A perspective view of an insertion station of a first assembly roller;

[0036] - Fig.40 yes Fig.37 A perspective view of two seats of the second assembly drum of the last part;

[0037] - Fig.41 yes Fig.40 A three-dimensional view of a bending station of a second assembly roller;

[0038] - Fig.42 yes Fig.37 A perspective view of two seats of the third assembled drum of the last part;

[0039] - Fig.43 yes Fig.42 A perspective view of an insertion station of a third assembly roller; and

[0040] - Fig.44 yes Fig.37 A three-dimensional view of the insertion station of the fourth assembly roller of the final part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the numeral 1 denotes as a whole a single-use cartridge of a known type for an electronic cigarette (ie, disposable, so it is used only once and then replaced).

[0042] The electronic cigarette comprises a reusable part in the shape of a parallelepiped, which is used multiple times and contains a battery (which supplies the energy necessary for the operation of the electronic cigarette) and an electronic processor that supervises the operation of the electronic cigarette, etc.; a new single-use cartridge 1 is coupled to the reusable part for use (i.e., to be "inhaled") and is thrown away after use to be replaced with a new single-use cartridge 1.

[0043] The cartridge 1 comprises a body 2 of substantially parallelepiped shape, which in use is coupled to an electronic cigarette via two electrical contacts 3 arranged at the lower base of the body 2, from which the body receives a power supply. In addition, the cartridge 1 comprises a cover 4 which slides on the body 2 to cover the area where the two electrical contacts 3 are arranged.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the body 2 of the cartridge 1 is mainly formed by a box 5 which is substantially parallelepiped-shaped and hollow inside to accommodate a certain amount of viscous liquid substance containing nicotine and any flavor suitable for volatilization by heating.

[0045] The cartridge 1 comprises a heating device 6 which is inserted into the interior of the box 5 at one end of the box 5 (arranged near the lid 4) and is electrically connected to the two electrical contacts 3. In particular, the heating device 6 comprises a core 7 which is cylindrical in shape and made of a suitably heat-resistant plastic material (thus electrically insulating), and an electrical winding 8 (i.e. a coil), the core being of cylindrical shape and made of a suitably heat-resistant plastic material (and therefore electrically insulating), the electrical winding being formed of a thin metal wire of an electrically conductive material (usually copper) provided with an electrically insulating enamel layer on the outside; the electric coil 8 (which forms a thermal resistor) being spirally wound around the core 7 and having two opposite ends (i.e. the start and end of the electric coil 8) protruding perpendicularly to the core 7 and electrically connected to the two electrical contacts 3. Preferably, the heating device 6 comprises a support 9 which is shaped like a "fork" and has two "U"-shaped cavities inside which the core 7 of the heating device 6 is arranged.

[0046] The cartridge 1 comprises two conductor elements 10 which are inserted into the box 5 at one end of the box 5 (arranged close to the cover 4), are made of an electrically conductive material and each have an outer end and an inner end, the outer end protruding from the box and defining a corresponding electrical contact 3, the inner end being connected to a corresponding end of the electric coil 8 of the heating device 6.

[0047] The cartridge 1 comprises a plug 11 made of elastic material (eg silicone rubber), which is inserted into the end of the box 5 opposite to the cover 4 (ie opposite to the electrical contact 3) for sealing the box 5 and has a central through hole.

[0048] The cartridge 1 comprises a tube 12 which is arranged through the plug 11 of the box 5 (i.e. through the through hole of the plug 11) so as to set the interior of the box 5 to communicate with the exterior of the box 5; in particular, the support 9 of the heating device 6 comprises a through-duct (i.e. spanning the support 9 from one side to the other), wherein the through-duct is connected to the tube 12 (i.e. it forms a continuation of the tube 12 passing through the support 9).

[0049] The cartridge 1 comprises a mouthpiece 13 which, in use, is designed to be inserted into the mouth of a user, is fitted partially around the box 5 on the side opposite to the cover 4 (i.e. on the side opposite to the electrical contacts 3), and is connected to a tube 12; through the tube 12, the user can inhale from the mouthpiece 13 the vapor formed inside the box due to the evaporation of the liquid formed by the heat generated by the heating device 6.

[0050] Finally, the cartridge 1 comprises two absorbent pads 14 made of a hygroscopic material, arranged inside the mouthpiece 13 in direct contact with the box 5, and having the function of absorbing and thus retaining any small amount of liquid that should reach the mouthpiece 13 through the tube 12 (thus avoiding that the user can also inhale the liquid together with the vapor by inhaling from the mouthpiece 13).

[0051] exist Figure 4 In the figure, number 15 as a whole represents a manufacturing machine for producing the cigarette cartridge 1 of the above-mentioned electronic cigarette.

[0052] like Figure 4 As shown in , the manufacturing machine 15 includes an assembly section 16 into which materials forming the cartridge 1 are assembled to manufacture the cartridge 1 , and a supply section 17 in which the materials forming the cartridge 1 are received and sorted toward the assembly section.

[0053] like Figure 5As shown in , the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15 includes: an initial part A, in which the initial tube 12 and the subsequent conductor element 10 are coupled to each support 9; an intermediate part B, in which the core 7 is coupled to each support 9 provided with an electric coil 8 wound into a spiral and two absorbent pads 14 are coupled to each mouthpiece 13; and a final part C, in which the initial support 9 provided with the core 7 and the tube 12 and the subsequent plug 11 are coupled to each box 5, and in which the mouthpiece 13 is coupled to each box 5, thereby completing the formation of the cigarette cartridge 1 that only lacks the cover 4 (the cover is applied downstream of the manufacturing machine 15 after the box 5 is filled with a certain amount of viscous liquid substance containing nicotine). The manufacturing machine 15 includes a support body 18 (i.e., a frame) that rests on the ground with the help of legs 19 and has a vertical wall in the front, on which the operating components of the three parts A, B and C are mounted. As shown in Figure 4 As shown in , the manufacturing machine 15 comprises a protective housing 20 which surrounds the support 18 in its interior, is provided with a transparent window, and is provided with a door which must be kept closed during use and which can be opened when the manufacturing machine is paused.

[0054] like Figure 6 As shown in , the initial part A comprises a vertically arranged assembly drum 21 which is rotatably mounted about a horizontal rotation axis 22 so as to rotate with intermittent motion (i.e. in a stepwise manner by cyclically alternating motion steps and stationary steps) about the rotation axis 22. The assembly drum 21 has a plurality of suction seats 23 each designed to accommodate the tubes 12 and a plurality of suction seats 24 each axially aligned with a corresponding seat 23 and designed to accommodate the support 9 of the heating device 6.

[0055] A supply station S1 is provided, in which the tube 12 is supplied to each seat 23 of the assembly roller 21; and a supply station S2 is provided, which is arranged downstream of the supply station S1 relative to the rotation direction of the assembly roller 21, and in which the support member 9 of the heating device 6 is supplied to each seat 24 of the assembly roller 21.

[0056] A welding station S3 is provided, which is arranged downstream of the supply stations S1 and S2 and is provided with a welding device 25 (operating, for example, by means of ultrasound) which connects, by means of welding, the tube 12 carried by the seat 23 to the support 9 carried by the corresponding seat 24. Figure 7As shown in the figure, the welding device 25 includes a welding body 26, which is "U"-shaped so as to partially embrace the tube 12 carried by the seat 23 and the support member 9 carried by the corresponding seat 24; in addition, the welding device 25 includes an actuator 27, which moves the welding body 26 radially toward the rotation axis 22 between a rest position and a working position. In the rest position, the welding body 26 is (relatively) away from the assembly roller 21 (when the assembly roller 21 rotates around the rotation axis 22), and in the working position, the welding body 26 is close to the assembly roller 21 (when the assembly roller 21 is stationary).

[0057] According to a possible embodiment, in the feeding station S2, the support 9 of the heating device 6 is fed into the seat 24 in contact with the tube 12 carried by the corresponding seat 23; in other words, already in the feeding station S2, the support 9 of the heating device 6 housed in the seat 24 is resting (in contact) on the tube 12 carried by the corresponding seat 23. Figure 7 In the alternative embodiment shown in , in the supply station S2, the support member 9 of the heating device 6 is supplied to the seat 24 at a given axial distance (different from 0) from the tube 12 carried by the corresponding seat 23; in this embodiment, an approach station S4 is provided, which is arranged between the supply station S2 and the welding station S3 relative to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 21, and a pushing device 28 is provided, which moves the tube 12 axially inside each seat 23 so as to place the tube 12 on the support member 9 carried by the corresponding seat 24.

[0058] like Figure 7 As better shown in FIG. 1 , the initial part A comprises a supply roller 29 rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 30 parallel to the axis of rotation 22, rotating about the axis of rotation 30 with an intermittent motion, having a plurality of suction seats 31 each designed to accommodate a tube 12 and tangential to the assembly roller 21 in the region of the supply station S1. An input station S5 is arranged along the supply roller 29 upstream of the supply station S1 relative to the direction of rotation of the supply roller 29; a series of tubes 12 are fed to the input station S5 by means of a conveyor (for example pneumatic) and in the input station S5 each tube 12 is axially inserted into a corresponding seat 31 of the stationary supply roller 29. According to a different embodiment not shown, the input station S5 is provided with a cutting device which separates the tube from the tubular body by means of a transverse cut. In use and when the supply roller 29 is stationary, in the supply station S1, the tube 12 is transferred from the seat 31 of the supply roller 29 to the seat 23 of the assembly roller 21.

[0059] like Figure 6As shown in , the initial part A comprises an assembly drum 32 which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 33 parallel to the axis of rotation 22 so as to rotate about the axis of rotation 33 in an intermittent motion (i.e. in a stepwise manner by cyclic alternation of motion steps and stationary steps). The assembly drum 32 has a plurality of seats 34 each designed to accommodate a support 9 of a heating device 6 provided with a tube 12. In a transfer station S6, the assembly drum 32 is tangential to the assembly drum 21, wherein the support 9 is transferred from the seat 23 of the assembly drum 21 to the seat 34 of the assembly drum 32 when both the assembly drums 21 and 32 are stationary. A coupling station S7 is provided which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S6 with respect to the direction of rotation of the assembly drum 32 and in which the conductor element 10 is coupled to the support 9 carried by the seat 34 of the assembly drum 32.

[0060] Furthermore, the initial part A comprises a transfer drum 35 which is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation 36 parallel to the axis of rotation 22 so as to rotate in an intermittent motion (i.e. in a stepwise manner by cyclically alternating steps of motion and steps of rest) about the axis of rotation 36. The transfer drum 35 has a plurality of seats 37 each designed to accommodate a support 9 of a heating device 6 provided with a tube 12. In the transfer station S8, the transfer drum 35 is tangential to the assembly drum 32, wherein the support 9 is transferred from the seat 34 of the assembly drum 32 to the seat 37 of the transfer drum 35 when both drums 32 and 35 are stationary.

[0061] The initial part A comprises an assembly drum 38 which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 39 parallel to the axis of rotation 22 so as to rotate about the axis of rotation 39 in an intermittent motion, i.e. in a stepwise manner by cyclic alternation of motion steps and stationary steps. The assembly drum 38 has a plurality of seats 40, each of which is designed to accommodate a support 9 of a heating device 6 provided with a tube 12. In a transfer station S9, which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S8 with respect to the direction of rotation of the transfer drum 35, the assembly drum 38 is tangential to the transfer drum 35, wherein the support 9 is transferred from the seat 37 of the transfer drum 35 to the seat 40 of the assembly drum 38 when both drums 35 and 38 are stationary. A coupling station S10 is provided which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S9 with respect to the direction of rotation of the assembly drum 38 and in which a further (second) conductor element 10 is coupled to the support 9 carried by the seat 40 of the assembly drum 38. Finally, a transfer station S11 is provided, which is arranged downstream of the coupling station S10 with respect to the direction of rotation of the assembly drum 38 and in which the support 9 of the heating device 6 (provided with the tube 12 and the two conductor elements 10) leaves the seat 40 of the assembly drum 38 when the assembly drum 38 is stationary.

[0062] The initial part A comprises a moving device 41 which moves a sheet metal strip 42 supporting a plurality of conductor elements 10 through the coupling stations S7 and S10. In particular, in the coupling station S7, the sheet metal strip 42 is partially wound around the assembly drum 32, and in the coupling station S10, the sheet metal strip 42 is partially wound around the assembly drum 38. A coupling device 43 is arranged in the coupling station S7, which picks up the conductor elements 10 from the sheet metal strip 42 and inserts the conductor elements 10 into the support 9 carried by the seat 34 of the assembly drum 32; similarly, a coupling device 43 is arranged in the coupling station S10, which picks up the conductor elements 10 from the sheet metal strip 42 and inserts the conductor elements 10 into the support 9 carried by the seat 34 of the assembly drum 32.

[0063] As in Figure 8 As better shown in FIG. 4 , the sheet metal strip 42 has a series of through guide holes 45; the moving device 41 includes two toothed guide rollers 46, which have a plurality of teeth 47, each of which is designed to engage the corresponding guide holes 45 of the sheet metal strip 42. Figure 6 As shown in the figures, a guide roller 46 is coaxial with the assembly roller 32, arranged beside the assembly roller 32 and rotates in a synchronous manner with the assembly roller 32; similarly, another guide roller 46 is coaxial with the assembly roller 38, arranged beside the assembly roller 38 and rotates in a synchronous manner with the assembly roller 38. The guide roller 46 guides the movement of the sheet metal strip 42 by engaging the guide holes 45 of the sheet metal strip 42 with its teeth 47; the function of the toothed guide roller 46 is to ensure perfect spatial synchronization between the conductor elements 10 formed in the sheet metal strip 42 and the coupling device 44. According to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the through-guide holes 45 formed in the edge of the sheet metal strip 42 are circular and the teeth 47 of the toothed guide roller 46 have a hemispherical shape; in this way, the teeth 47 of the toothed guide roller 46 are "self-centering" inside the through-guide holes 45 formed in the edge of the sheet metal strip 42.

[0064] According to a possible embodiment, the sheet metal strip 42 is initially completely smooth and upstream of the coupling station S7 there is provided a processing device which cyclically performs cutting of the sheet metal strip 42 in order to obtain the conductor elements 10 in the sheet metal strip 42, making a portion of each conductor element 10 in contact with the rest of the sheet metal strip 42 (i.e. in contact with the edge of the sheet metal strip 42). In other words, the processing device cyclically performs cold working of the sheet metal strip 42 consisting of separations of defined geometry by using punches and dies appropriately designed and inserted in a more complex structure defining the casting mold. According to a preferred embodiment, the punches and dies of the processing device are shaped so as to also perform shaping of the sheet metal strip so that some portions of each conductor element 10 are bent (e.g. Figure 8 In other words, the processing device also bends some parts of each conductor element 10 to give the conductor element 10 a desired shape (such as Figure 8 Detailed description in ).

[0065] According to a possible embodiment, when the processing device forms the guide hole 45 in the edge of the sheet metal strip 42, it also forms a through cut, which is arranged laterally and has the function of increasing the flexibility of the sheet metal strip 42 so as to facilitate its subsequent manipulation; the through cut is generally aligned with the guide hole 45 and leads to the guide hole 45, but alternatively, the through cut (or at least a part of it) may not be aligned with the guide hole 45 and / or may not lead to the guide hole 45.

[0066] Downstream of the coupling stations S7 and S10 , the remainder of the sheet metal strip 42 is processed in a shredding device to be shredded and then subsequently collected and removed (and completely recycled).

[0067] like Figure 6 As shown in the figure, at the coupling station S7, the moving device 41 moves the sheet metal strip 42 so as to arrange the conductor element 10 of the sheet metal strip 42 to be radially aligned with the support 9 carried by the seat 34 of the assembly roller 32; the coupling device 43 includes a thrust element 48, which performs a radially oriented working stroke to push the conductor element 10 from the sheet metal strip 42 to the support 9 carried by the seat 34 of the assembly roller 32 in the coupling station S7.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment, the coupling device 43 comprises a thrust roller 49 which is mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation 50 parallel to the axis of rotation 33, supports the thrust element 48 and is tangential to the assembly roller 32 at the coupling station S7.

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment, in the coupling station S7, the coupling device 43 causes the sheet metal strip 42 to be cut at the junction area of ​​the conductor element 10 with the rest of the sheet metal strip 42 by pushing the conductor element 10. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, in the coupling station S7, the coupling device 43 is designed to bend the conductor element 10 by inserting the conductor element 10 into the support 9 carried by the seat 34 of the assembly drum 32. Similarly, at the coupling station S10, the moving device 41 moves the sheet metal strip 42 so as to arrange the conductor element 10 of the sheet metal strip 42 in radial alignment with the support 9 carried by the seat 40 of the assembly drum 38; the coupling device 44 includes a thrust element 51 that performs a radially oriented working stroke to push the conductor element 10 from the sheet metal strip 42 to the support 9 carried by the seat 40 of the assembly drum 38 in the coupling station S10. According to a preferred embodiment, the coupling device 44 is completely similar to the coupling device 43 and includes a thrust roller 52, which can be rotatably mounted and supports the thrust element 51 around a rotation axis 53 parallel to the rotation axis 39 and is tangent to the assembly roller 38 at the coupling station S10.

[0070] According to a preferred embodiment, in the coupling station S10, the coupling device 44 causes the sheet metal strip 42 to be cut at the junction area of ​​the conductor element 10 with the rest of the sheet metal strip 42 by pushing the conductor element 10. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, in the coupling station S10, the coupling device 44 is designed to bend the conductor element 10 by inserting it into the support 9 carried by the seat 40 of the assembly drum 38. According to a possible embodiment, a welding station S12 is provided, which is arranged between the coupling station S7 and the transfer station S8 along the assembly drum 32 (i.e. it is arranged downstream of the coupling station S7 with respect to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 32) and is provided with a welding device 54, which connects the conductor element 10 to the support 9 carried by the seat 34 of the stationary assembly drum 32 by means of welding. Similarly, according to a possible embodiment, a welding station S13 is provided, which is arranged along the assembly drum 38 between the coupling station S10 and the transfer station S11 (i.e., it is arranged downstream of the coupling station S10 relative to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 38) and a welding device 55 is provided, which connects the conductor element 10 to the support 9 carried by the seat 40 of the stationary assembly drum 38 by means of welding.

[0071] like Fig. 9 and Fig.10As shown in the figure, the middle part B of the manufacturing machine 15 comprises a plurality of movable plates 56, in each of which there are arranged three seats 57, each of which is designed to accommodate the support 9 of the heating device 6, and three seats 58, each of which is axially aligned with a corresponding seat 57 and is designed to accommodate the mouthpiece 13. In the embodiment shown in the figures, each movable plate 56 has three seats 57 and three corresponding seats 58; according to other embodiments not shown, each movable plate 56 has a different number of seats 57 and 58 (generally from a minimum of one seat 57 and one seat 58 to a maximum of six / eight seats 57 and corresponding six / eight seats 58). The middle part B of the manufacturing machine 15 comprises an assembly conveyor 59, which cyclically moves each movable plate 56 along a circular assembly path with intermittent (stepwise) movement, which provides cyclic alternation of movement steps in which the assembly conveyor 59 moves the movable plate 56 and stationary steps in which the assembly conveyor 59 keeps the movable plate 56 stationary.

[0072] The assembly path includes a straight operating section extending from a transfer station where the support 9 of the heating device 6 (provided with the tube 12 and the conductor element 10) is cyclically fed from the seat 40 of the assembly drum 38 to the seat 57 of the movable plate 56 (which forms the end of the initial part A and the beginning of the intermediate part B) to a transfer station S14 where the support 9 of the heating device 6 (wherein the core 7 provided with the electric coil 8 is added) leaves the seat 57 of the movable plate 56 and the mouthpiece 13 (provided with the absorbent pad 14) leaves the seat 57 of the movable plate 56 (which forms the end of the initial part B and the beginning of the final part C). In addition, as Figure 5 As shown in , the assembly path includes a straight return section parallel to and opposite to the straight operating section and two semicircular joining sections connecting the operating section and the return section to each other.

[0073] like Fig.10 As shown in , the assembly conveyor 59 includes an annular guide 60 (i.e., closed in a loop on itself) arranged at a fixed position along the assembly path; in particular, the annular guide 60 is formed by a single fixed track (i.e., stationary) arranged along the assembly path. In addition, the assembly conveyor 59 includes a plurality of slides 61, each of which supports a corresponding movable plate 56 and is coupled to the guide 60 so as to slide freely along the guide 60. Finally, the assembly conveyor 59 includes a linear motor 62 that moves the slide 61 carrying the movable plate 56 along the assembly path; the linear motor 62 includes an annular stator 63 (i.e., a fixed primary) and a plurality of movable slides 64 (i.e., a moving secondary), each of which is arranged at a fixed position along the guide 60, and each of which is electromagnetically coupled to the stator 63 to receive a driving force from the stator 63 and is rigidly connected to the corresponding slide 61.

[0074] The stator 63 of the linear motor 62 comprises a ferromagnetic armature having a series of slots housing coils designed to be crossed by a time-varying current so as to generate a corresponding stator magnetic field (time-varying); each slider 64 of the linear motor 62 comprises a ferromagnetic armature in which at least one permanent magnet is arranged, which generates a rotor magnetic field (constant over time) which interacts with the stator magnetic field to generate a driving force of electromagnetic origin on the slider 64. In each slider 61, the slider 64 is mounted very close to the stator 63 (indicatively, 1-2 mm) so as to minimize the air gap present between the ferromagnetic armature of the slider 64 and the ferromagnetic armature of the stator 63.

[0075] A control device is provided for driving the linear motor 62 by applying a variable voltage to the coils of the stator 63. Preferably, the control device controls the position of each slider 64 (and therefore each slider 61) using a closed chain control system (i.e., in a feedback manner). Therefore, the control device must know the actual position of each slider 64 (and therefore each slider 61) along the assembly path in real time with good accuracy; for this purpose, the control device can reconstruct the actual position of each slider 64 along the assembly path with the help of an estimation algorithm based on the electrical signal present at the end of the coils of the stator 63, or the control device can receive detection values ​​from a special position sensor arranged along the assembly path. For example, the position sensor includes a measuring ring made of a magnetostrictive material arranged along the assembly path and a corresponding permanent magnet arranged close to the measuring ring for each slider 64.

[0076] According to a different embodiment not shown, the assembly conveyor 59 is a belt conveyor and comprises (at least) a flexible belt supporting the movable plate 56 and closed in a loop around two end pulleys, at least one of which is motorized.

[0077] like Fig. 9As shown in , along the assembly path (i.e., between the transfer station S11 and the transfer station S14), two similar supply stations S15 (i.e., substantially identical) are arranged in succession (i.e., one after the other) and are completely independent of each other. It is obvious that the two supply stations S15 are arranged downstream of the transfer station S11 with respect to the supply direction of the assembly conveyor 58, one is completely autonomous with respect to the other, and only differ from each other with respect to different positions, i.e., one supply station S15 is arranged upstream of the other supply station S15 with respect to the moving direction of the assembly conveyor 59. In each supply station S15, a core 7 provided with a corresponding coil 8 is coupled to a corresponding support 9 carried by a seat 57 of a plurality of stationary movable plates 56; in particular, in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in each supply station S15, twelve cores 7 provided with corresponding electric coils 8 are simultaneously coupled to twelve corresponding supports 9 carried by twelve seats 57 of four movable plates 56 arranged side by side (such as Fig.11 is better shown in ).

[0078] According to a possible embodiment, the two supply stations S15 operate in parallel, i.e., the two supply stations S15 work simultaneously so as to halve the operating speed of each supply station S15 relative to the operating speed of the manufacturing machine 15. According to an alternative embodiment, the two supply stations S15 are redundant and only one supply station S15 is used at a time while the other supply station S15 is stationary and can therefore also be maintained and / or supplied even when the manufacturing machine 15 is operating. According to a different embodiment, not shown, only a single supply station S15 is provided instead of two similar subsequent supply stations S15.

[0079] like Fig.12 and Fig.13 As shown in FIG. 1 , in each supply station S15, a moving device 65 is provided, which is parallel to each other and beside each other and each of which is provided with a plurality of absorbent bags 67 (in Fig.14 A plurality of belts 66 (in particular, twelve belts 66) of which one is shown in FIG. 1 ) are moved through the feeding station S15, in which the absorbent bag contains a corresponding core 7, each core 7 being provided with an electric coil 8. In addition, according to Fig.12 and Fig.13 As shown in the figure, in each supply station S15, a supply device 68 is provided, which picks up a plurality of cores (particularly, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, twelve cores 7) each provided with an electric coil 8 from as many bags 67 of twelve belts 66, and inserts each core 7 provided with an electric coil 8 into a support 9 carried by a corresponding seat 57 of a movable plate 56 stationary in the supply station S15. Fig.11 , Fig.12 and Fig.13As shown in the figures, each feeding device 68 comprises a feeding roller 69 which is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis of rotation 70 so as to rotate about the axis of rotation 70 in an intermittent motion (i.e. in a stepwise manner by cyclic alternation of motion steps and stationary steps). Each feeding roller 69 has a plurality of groups of gripping heads 71 ​​each designed to accommodate a core 7 provided with an electric coil 8; in particular, in the embodiment shown in the figures, each feeding roller 69 has two groups of gripping heads 71 ​​arranged at 180° to each other and each having twelve gripping heads 71 ​​aligned with each other parallel to the axis of rotation 70. Thus, each group (twelve) of gripping heads 71 ​​is designed to pick up twelve cores 7 from as many bags 67 of a belt 66 and subsequently to insert the twelve cores 7 into twelve supports 9 carried by twelve seats 57 of four movable plates 56 stationary in the feeding station S15. In use, the rotation of the supply roller 69 about the rotation axis 70 first circulates each set of (twelve) heads 71 ​​to a pick-up position close to the (twelve) belts 66 to obtain a plurality of strips 66 (e.g., Fig.12 The same number of bags 67 (as shown in FIG. 1 ) pick up the (twelve) cores 7 each provided with an electric coil 8, and then each group of (twelve) gripping heads 71 ​​is brought to a release position close to the four movable plates 56 stationary in the feeding station S15, so as to insert the (twelve) cores 7 into the four movable plates 56 (as shown in FIG. Fig.11 and Fig.13 The same number of supports 9 are carried by the (twelve) seats 57 (shown in FIG. 1 ).

[0080] like Fig.14 and Fig.15 As shown in , each gripping head 71 has a main body 72 (usually, suction), which is arranged in the center and is designed to engage the core 7 provided with an electric coil 8 and two side bodies 73 arranged on opposite sides of the main body 72, the two side bodies being movable relative to the main body 72 in an axial direction relative to the rotation axis 70 of the supply roller 68 and being designed to engage the two ends of the electric coil 8; in particular, each side body 73 has a slit (initially, with a self-centering trumpet-shaped "funnel-like" shape) into which one end of the electric coil 8 is inserted.

[0081] like Fig.14 As shown in the figure, when the gripping head 71 picks up the core 7 provided with the electric coil 8 from the bag 67 of the belt 66, initially, the main body 72 of the gripping head 71 engages the core 7, and the two side bodies 73 of the gripping head 71 are at a given distance (different from 0) from the two ends of the electric coil 8; then, the two side bodies 73 of the gripping head 71 move relative to the main body 72 so as to engage the two ends of the electric coil 8 after the core 7 has been previously engaged by the main body 72.

[0082] like Fig.15As shown in the figure, when the gripping head 71 couples the core 7 provided with the electric coil 8 with the support 9 supported by the seat 57 of the movable plate 56 which is stationary in the supply station S15, initially, the main body 72 of the gripping head 71 rests inside the support 9 and releases the core 7, and then, the two side bodies 73 of the gripping head 71 move relative to the main body 72 so that the two ends of the electric coil are bent 90° against the support 9.

[0083] like Fig.14 As shown in FIG. 1 , each belt 66 has a series of through guide holes 74 for moving the belt 66; for this purpose and according to Fig.12 and Fig.12 As shown in , each moving device 65 has a plurality of toothed guide rollers 75 with a plurality of teeth each designed to engage a corresponding guide hole 74 of the belt 66 .

[0084] like Fig.16 and Fig.17 , each mobile device 65 is housed in a supply trolley 76 that is independent of the rest of the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15, i.e., is designed to be detachable from the rest of the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15 (also in use); in other words, each supply trolley 76 is designed to be quickly inserted or removed from the rest of the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15. For this purpose, each supply trolley 76 comprises its own frame 77 in the shape of a "C" and is provided with wheels 78 for sliding without friction on the floor on which the support 18 of the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15 rests. The frame 77 of each supply trolley 76 supports an unwinding station S16, which accommodates, next to each other and parallel to each other, a plurality of reels 79 (in particular, twelve reels 79) on which new tapes 66 are wound (i.e., their pockets 67 contain corresponding cores 7 provided with electric coils 8); in addition, the frame 77 of each supply trolley 76 supports a winding station S17, which accommodates, next to each other and parallel to each other, a plurality of reels 80 (in particular, twelve reels 80) on which used tapes 66 are wound (i.e., their pockets 67 are empty and therefore no longer contain corresponding cores 7 provided with electric coils 8). In use, each of the twelve tapes 66 is unwound from the reel 79 in the unwinding station S16, passes through the supply station S15 in which the core 7 provided with the electric coil 8 is picked up from the corresponding pocket 67, and finally is wound around the reel 80 in the winding station S17.

[0085] According to a preferred embodiment, each belt 66 is provided with a protective film 81 (usually made of a transparent plastic material), which closes the bag 67 at the top and is separated from the belt 66 just upstream of the feeding station S15 (to expose the bag 67); in particular, each protective film 81, after being separated from the belt 66, is wound in a reel 82 arranged in the winding station S18 (which is arranged above the belt 66).

[0086] Fig.16 Twelve reels 79 from which twelve tapes 66 are unwound and twelve reels 82 on which twelve protective films 81 are wound are shown.

[0087] When the two supply stations S15 are used alternately, in the supply station S15 that is not used at the moment, the supply trolley 76 can be detached from the assembly station 16 to remove the exhausted reel 79 and the full reels 79 and 80, and insert a new full reel 79 and new empty reels 79 and 80, that is, to perform an update of the assembly material.

[0088] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the two supply trolleys 76 enter the assembly section 16 from the rear, ie from opposite sides of the machine front; according to an alternative embodiment, the two supply trolleys 76 enter the assembly section 16 from the front, ie from the front of the machine.

[0089] like Fig. 9 As shown in FIG. 1 , a supply station S19 is provided downstream of the two supply stations S15 along the assembly path and in the moving direction relative to the assembly conveyor 59, in which a supply device 83 is arranged, which supplies the mouthpiece 13 to the seat 58 of the stationary movable plate 56. Fig.18 As shown in , the supply device 83 comprises a supply conveyor 84, which is provided with a channel 85, along which the mouthpieces 13 fall under the action of gravity (pneumatic supply can also be provided); the middle part of the channel 85 is vertical, while the last part of the channel 85 (which is horizontal at the supply station S19, and the two parts are connected by means of a curve). The last part of the channel 85 is arranged above the seat 58 of the movable plate 56 that is stationary in the supply station S19. A pusher 86 is arranged at the end of the channel 85, which pushes the mouthpiece 13 from the channel 85 to the seat 58 of the movable plate 56 that is stationary in the supply station S19 by means of a vertical movement from top to bottom. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, only one mouthpiece 13 is fed at a time in the feeding station S19, in a seat 58 of a stationary movable plate 56; according to an alternative embodiment not shown, in the feeding station S19, a plurality of mouthpieces 13 are fed at a time (for example, two or three mouthpieces 13 are fed at a time) in as many seats 58 of a stationary movable plate 56 or possibly even of a plurality of movable plates 56.

[0090] like Fig. 9 As shown in the figure, along the assembly path and downstream of the supply station S15 relative to the moving direction of the assembly conveyor 59, two similar coupling stations S20 (i.e., substantially identical to each other) are arranged in succession (i.e., one after the other) and are completely independent of each other. The two coupling stations S20 are completely independent of each other and differ from each other only in their different positions, i.e., the coupling station S20 is arranged upstream of the other coupling station S20 relative to the moving direction of the assembly conveyor 59. In each coupling station S20, pairs of absorbent pads 14 are coupled to corresponding mouthpieces 13 carried by the seats 58 of a plurality of stationary movable plates 56; in particular, in the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in each coupling station S20, twelve pairs of absorbent pads 14 are simultaneously coupled to twelve corresponding mouthpieces 13 carried by twelve seats 58 of four movable plates 56 arranged next to each other (e.g., Fig.19 ). According to a possible embodiment, the two coupling stations S20 operate in parallel, i.e., the two coupling stations S20 work simultaneously so as to halve the operating speed of each coupling station S20 relative to the operating speed of the manufacturing machine 15. According to an alternative embodiment, the two coupling stations S20 are redundant and only one coupling station S20 is used at a time while the other coupling station S20 is stationary and can therefore be maintained and / or supplied, even when the manufacturing machine 15 is operating. According to a different embodiment, not shown, a single coupling station S20 is provided instead of two similar subsequent coupling stations S20.

[0091] like Fig.19 As shown in FIG. 1 , in each coupling station S20, a moving device 87 is provided, which is parallel to each other and beside each other and each is provided with a plurality of bags 89 (in Fig. 20 and Fig.21 A plurality of belts 88 (particularly, twelve belts 88) are moved through the coupling station S20, the bag containing the corresponding absorbent pads 14. Fig.19 As shown in the figure, in each coupling station S20, a feeding device 90 is arranged, which picks up a plurality of pairs of absorbent pads 14 (particularly, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, twelve pairs of absorbent pads 14) from as many bags 89 of twelve belts 88 and inserts each pair of absorbent pads 14 into a mouthpiece 13 carried by a corresponding seat 58 of a movable plate 56 stationary in the coupling station S20. Each feeding device 90 includes a plurality of suction gripping heads 91 (particularly, twelve suction gripping heads 91) arranged beside each other and a plurality of (twelve) gripping heads 91 in a picking position (at Fig. 22 ) and the release position (shown in Fig.23In the pick-up position, a set of (twelve) gripping heads 91 are designed to pick up twelve absorbent pads 14 from as many bags 89 of the belt 88, and in the release position, a set of (twelve) gripping heads 91 are designed to place the twelve absorbent pads 14 in front of as many mouthpieces 13 carried by (twelve) seats 58 of four stationary movable plates 56.

[0092] Each feeding device 90 comprises a pusher 93 (which is single and common to all twelve seats 58 of the four movable plates 56 stationary in the coupling station S20) designed to push each absorbent pad 14 into the mouthpiece 13 carried by the corresponding seat 58 of the movable plate 56 stationary in the coupling station S20. In addition, each supply device 90 includes a support plane 94 (which is single and common to all twelve seats 58 of the four movable plates 56 stationary in the coupling station S20), which is arranged in front of the mouthpieces 13 carried by the seats 58 of the four movable plates 56 stationary in the coupling station S20, is designed to receive twelve absorbent pads 14 from the twelve suction gripping heads 91, and is designed to cooperate with a corresponding pusher 93, which pushes the twelve absorbent pads 14 resting on the support plane 94 into the same number of twelve mouthpieces 13 carried by the seats 58 of the four movable plates 56 stationary in the coupling station S20.

[0093] As previously mentioned, each cartridge 1 comprises two absorbent pads 14 housed in a mouthpiece 13; therefore, by placing the support plane 94 at two different heights, each supply device 90 supplies two absorbent pads 14 successively into each mouthpiece 13 carried by a seat 58 of one of the four movable plates 56 stationary in the coupling station S20.

[0094] refer to Figures 24 to 35 , describing the feeding of two absorbent pads 14 into a mouthpiece 13 housed in a seat 58 of one of four movable plates 56 stationary in a coupling station S20.

[0095] Initially, such as Fig.24 As shown in FIG. 1 , when the four movable plates 56 are stationary in the coupling station S20, the pusher 93 and the support plane 94 are arranged one above the other in front of each mouthpiece 13 accommodated in the seat 58 of one of the four stationary movable plates 56. Fig.25 As shown in , the support plane 94 moves (translates) relative to the pusher 93 to leave from under the pusher 93. At this time, and as Fig.26 As shown in FIG. 1 , (twelve) gripping heads 91 place twelve absorbent pads 14 above a support plane 94. Subsequently, and as Fig. 27As shown in FIG. 1 , the pusher 93 moves (translates) relative to the support plane 94 to push the twelve absorbent pads 14 into the same number of mouthpieces 13 carried by the seats 58 of the four movable plates 56 that are stationary in the coupling station S20. At the end of inserting the twelve absorbent pads 14 into the same number of mouthpieces 13, and as shown in FIG. Fig.28 and Fig.29 As shown in FIG, pusher 93 and support plane 94 return to the initial position. Once the initial position is reached, and as Fig.30 As shown in , the pusher 93 and the support plane 94 (which are superimposed on each other) are vertically raised to reach a higher height which is (just) above the height of the absorbent pad 14 which has been inserted into the mouthpiece 13 carried by the seat 58 of the four movable plates 56 which are stationary in the coupling station S20. Fig.31 As shown in , the support plane 94 moves (translates) relative to the pusher 93 to leave from under the pusher 93. At this time, and as Fig.32 As shown in FIG. 1 , (twelve) gripping heads 91 place twelve absorbent pads 14 above a support plane 94. Subsequently, and as Fig.33 As shown in FIG. 1 , the pusher 93 moves (translates) relative to the support plane 94 so as to push the twelve absorbent pads 14 into the same number of mouthpieces 13 carried by the seats 58 of the four movable plates 56 stationary in the coupling station S20 and above the twelve absorbent pads 14 previously inserted into the mouthpieces 13. At the end of inserting the twelve absorbent pads 14 into the same mouthpiece 13, and as shown in FIG. Fig.34 and Fig.35 As shown in the figure, the pusher 93 and the supporting plane 94 are returned to their initial positions, thereby completing the insertion of a pair of absorbent pads 14 into each of the mouthpieces 13 of the twelve seats 58 of the four movable plates 56 stationary in the coupling station S20; at this time, the four movable plates 56 stationary in the coupling station S20 begin to move along the assembly path, and four new movable plates 56 arrive at the coupling station S20, where they are stationary.

[0096] like Fig. 20 and Fig.21 As shown in FIG. 1 , each belt 88 has a series of through guide holes 95 for moving the belt 88; for this purpose and according to Fig. 22 and Fig.23 As shown in , each moving device 87 has a plurality of toothed guide rollers 96 having a plurality of teeth each designed to engage a corresponding guide hole 95 of the belt 88 .

[0097] like Fig.36, each mobile device 87 is housed in a supply trolley 97 completely similar to the supply trolleys 76 of the two supply stations S15 and independent of the rest of the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15, i.e. it is designed to be detachable from the rest of the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15 (even in use); in other words, each supply trolley 97 is designed to be quickly inserted or removed from the rest of the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15. For this purpose, each supply trolley 97 comprises its own frame 98 in the shape of a "C" and is provided with wheels 99 at the bottom for sliding without friction on the floor on which the support 18 of the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15 rests. The frame 98 of each supply trolley 97 supports an unwinding station S21, which accommodates a plurality of reels 100 (in particular, twelve reels 100) with new tapes 88 wound inside them (i.e., their bags 89 contain corresponding absorbent pads 14) next to each other and parallel to each other; in addition, the frame 98 of each supply trolley 97 supports a winding station S22, which accommodates a plurality of reels 101 (in particular, twelve reels 101) with used tapes 88 wound inside them (i.e., their bags 89 are empty and therefore no longer contain corresponding absorbent pads 14) next to each other and parallel to each other. In use, each of the twelve tapes 88 is unwound from the reel 100 in the unwinding station S21, passes through the coupling station S20 in which the absorbent pad 14 is picked up from the corresponding bag 89, and is finally wound around the reel 101 in the winding station S22.

[0098] According to a preferred embodiment, each belt 88 is provided with a protective film 102 (usually a transparent plastic material), which closes the bag 89 at the top and is separated from the belt 88 just upstream of the coupling station S20 (to expose the bag 89); in particular, each protective film 102 is wound in a reel 103 arranged in the winding station S23 (which is arranged above the belt 88) after being separated from the belt 88.

[0099] When the two coupling stations S20 are used alternately, in the coupling station S20 at this moment, the unused supply trolley 97 can be detached from the assembly station 16 to remove the exhausted reel 100 and the full reels 100 and 101, and insert a new full reel 100 and new empty reels 100 and 101, that is, to perform the renewal of the assembly material.

[0100] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the two supply trolleys 97 enter the assembly section 16 from the rear, ie from the opposite sides of the front of the machine; according to an alternative embodiment, the two supply trolleys 97 enter the assembly section 16 from the front, ie from the front of the machine.

[0101] In a transfer station S14 arranged at the end of the assembly path, the support 9 (provided with the core 7 and the tube 12) and the mouthpiece 13 (provided with a pair of absorbent pads 14) are picked up simultaneously from the seat 57 and from the seat 58 of the movable plate 56 stationary in the transfer station S14.

[0102] like Fig.37 As shown in FIG. 1 , the last part C of the manufacturing machine 15 comprises a vertically arranged assembly drum 104 which is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis of rotation 105 so as to rotate about the axis of rotation 105 in an intermittent motion (ie in a stepwise manner by cyclically alternating motion steps and stationary steps). Fig.38 As shown in , the assembly drum 104 has: a plurality of suction seats 106, each of which is designed to accommodate a support member 9 of a heating device 6 (coupled to a core 7 provided with an electric coil 8 and a tube 12); a plurality of suction seats 107, each of which is axially aligned with a corresponding seat 106 and is designed to accommodate a box 5; and a plurality of suction seats 108, each of which is axially aligned with a corresponding seat 106 and a corresponding seat 107 and is designed to accommodate a mouthpiece 13.

[0103] like Fig.37 As shown in FIG. 2 , a supply station 24 is provided, in which a supply device 109 is provided, which supplies the boxes 5 in the stationary seat 107. The supply device 109 comprises a supply conveyor provided with a vertical channel, along which the boxes 5 fall under the action of gravity (it is also possible to provide pneumatic supply); at the end of the channel, a pusher is arranged, which pushes the boxes 5 from the channel to the stationary seat 107 in the supply station S24 by means of horizontal movement. Fig.37 As shown in the figure, the transfer station S14 is arranged downstream of the supply station S24 relative to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 104; in the transfer station S14, the support member 9 of the heating device 6 is vertically transferred (by moving from bottom to top) from the seat 57 of the stationary movable plate 56 to the seat 106 of the assembly drum 104, and at the same time, the mouthpiece 13 is vertically transferred (by moving from bottom to top) from the seat 58 of the stationary movable plate 56 to the seat 108 of the assembly drum 104.

[0104] like Fig.39 As shown in , an insertion station S25 is provided, which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S14 (and therefore also downstream of the supply station S24) relative to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 104, and is provided with a pushing device 110; in use, when the assembly drum 104 is stationary, the pushing device 110 moves the support member 9 of the heating device 6 axially from the seat 106 to the seat 107, so as to insert the support member 9 into the box 5 carried by the seat 107. Fig.37As shown in , the last part C comprises an assembly drum 111 which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 112 parallel to the axis of rotation 105 so as to rotate about the axis of rotation 112 in an intermittent motion (ie in a stepwise manner by cyclically alternating motion steps and stationary steps). Fig.40 As shown in , the assembly drum 111 has: a plurality of suction seats 113, each of which is designed to accommodate a box 5 (with a support 9 for a heating device 6 arranged inside); and a plurality of suction seats 114, each of which is axially aligned with a corresponding seat 113 and is designed to accommodate a mouthpiece 13. Fig.37 As shown in FIG. 2 , in the transfer station S26, the assembly drum 111 is tangent to the assembly drum 104, wherein, when both the assembly drums 104 and 111 are stationary, the box 5 is transferred from the seat 106 of the assembly drum 104 to the seat 113 of the assembly drum 111, and at the same time, the cigarette holder 13 is transferred from the seat 108 of the assembly drum 104 to the seat 114 of the assembly drum 111. Fig.41 As shown in FIG. 1 , a bending station S27 is provided, which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S26 relative to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 111, and in which a bending device 115 bends two conductor elements 10 to be integrated with the support 9 of the heating device 6 inserted into the box 5 carried by the seat 113 stationary in the bending station S27. The bending device 115 includes two bending devices 116, which bend the two conductor elements 10 by 90° using radial movement (i.e., perpendicular to the rotation axis 112).

[0105] like Fig.37 As shown in , the last part C comprises an assembly drum 117 which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 118 parallel to the axis of rotation 112 so as to rotate about the axis of rotation 118 in an intermittent motion (ie in a stepwise manner by cyclically alternating motion steps and stationary steps). Fig.42 As shown in , the assembly drum 117 has: a plurality of suction seats 119, each of which is designed to accommodate a box 5 (with a support 9 for a heating device 6 arranged inside); a plurality of seats 120, each of which is axially aligned with a corresponding seat 119 and is designed to accommodate a plug 11; and a plurality of suction seats 120, each of which is axially aligned with a corresponding seat 119 and a corresponding seat 120 and is designed to accommodate a mouthpiece 13. As shown in Fig.37As shown in, in the transfer station S28, the assembly roller 117 is tangent to the assembly roller 111, wherein, when both the assembly rollers 111 and 117 are stationary, the box 5 is transferred from the seat 113 of the assembly roller 111 to the seat 119 of the assembly roller 117, and at the same time, the mouthpiece 13 is transferred from the seat 108 of the assembly roller 111 to the seat 121 of the assembly roller 117.

[0106] like Fig.37 As shown in , a supply station S29 is provided, which is arranged upstream of the transfer station S28 relative to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 117, and a supply device 122 is provided in the supply station S29, which supplies the plug 11 in the stationary seat 120. The supply device 122 comprises a supply conveyor provided with a substantially vertical channel, along which the plug 11 falls under the action of gravity (it is also possible to provide pneumatic supply); a pusher is provided at the end of the channel, which pushes the plug 11 from the channel to the stationary seat 120 in the supply station S29 by means of a movement inclined at 45° relative to the horizontal.

[0107] like Fig.43 As shown in the figure, an insertion station S30 is provided, which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S28 (and therefore also downstream of the supply station S29) relative to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 117 and is provided with a pushing device 123; in use, when the assembly drum 117 is stationary, the pushing device 123 moves the plug 11 axially from the seat 120 to the seat 119 so as to insert the plug 11 into the box 5 carried by the seat 119.

[0108] like Fig.37 As shown in , the last part C comprises an assembly drum 124 which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 125 parallel to the axis of rotation 118 so as to rotate about the axis of rotation 125 in an intermittent motion (ie in a stepwise manner by cyclically alternating motion steps and stationary steps). Fig.44 As shown in , the assembly drum 124 has: a plurality of suction seats 126, each of which is designed to accommodate a box 5 (with a support 9 for a heating device 6 arranged inside); and a plurality of suction seats 127, each of which is axially aligned with a corresponding seat 113 and is designed to accommodate a mouthpiece 13. Fig.37 As shown in the figure, in the transfer station S31, the assembly roller 124 is tangent to the assembly roller 117, wherein, when both the assembly rollers 117 and 124 are stationary, the box 5 is transferred from the seat 119 of the assembly roller 117 to the seat 126 of the assembly roller 124, and at the same time, the mouthpiece 13 is transferred from the seat 121 of the assembly roller 117 to the seat 127 of the assembly roller 124.

[0109] like Fig.44 As shown in the figure, an insertion station S32 is provided, which is arranged downstream of the transfer station S31 relative to the rotation direction of the assembly drum 124 and is provided with a pushing device 128; in use, when the assembly drum 124 is stationary, the pushing device 128 moves the box 5 axially from the seat 126 to the seat 127 so as to insert the box 5 into the mouthpiece 13 carried by the seat 127.

[0110] like Fig.37 As shown in FIG, the last part C includes an outlet belt conveyor 129, which is horizontally arranged below the assembly drum 124 and receives an almost complete cartridge 1 (only the cover 4 is missing) from the assembly drum 124. In particular, in the transfer station S33, the assembly drum 124 is tangent to the outlet conveyor 129, wherein the almost complete cartridge 1 is transferred from the seat 127 of the assembly drum 124 to the outlet conveyor 129 when the assembly drum 124 and the outlet conveyor 129 are stationary.

[0111] According to a preferred but not restrictive embodiment (in Fig.37 ), the transfer of objects between two continuous conveyors of an assembly section 16 of a manufacturing machine 15 in a transfer station provides for the intervention of a pusher and a follower (or counter-pusher) which are in the transfer station and clamp the objects so as to transfer them between each other; in other words, the pusher engages the object to be transferred on one side and the follower engages the object to be transferred on the other side so as to accurately control the position of the objects during all the transfer steps.

[0112] The seat containing the object in the assembly section 16 of the manufacturing machine 15 can hold the object by suction (the suction is interrupted when the object has to leave the seat) or by means of a fixed barrier preventing the object from leaving the seat (i.e. only in the area where the object has to remain inside the seat).

[0113] like Figure 4 As shown in , the supply section 17 of the manufacturing machine 15 comprises a supply device 130 for supports 9 and tubes 12 , which supplies the tubes 12 to a supply station S1 by means of a conveyor 131 and supplies the supports 9 to a supply station S2 by means of a conveyor 132 .

[0114] like Figure 4As shown in FIG. 1 , the supply section 17 of the manufacturing machine 15 includes a supply device 133 that supplies the cigarette holders 13 to the supply station S19 (i.e., the supply device 83 that supplies to the supply station S19) by means of a conveyor 134. According to a possible embodiment, the supply device 133 receives a large number of cigarette holders 13 in a disorderly manner (i.e., a large number of cigarette holders 13 arranged in a group) in a receiving box with an open top, and processes the cigarette holders 13 so as to arrange the cigarette holders 13 in sequence one after another, which are then supplied by the conveyor 134. Figure 4 As shown in , the supply section 17 of the manufacturing machine 15 comprises a supply device 135 which supplies boxes 5 to the supply station S24 (i.e., the supply device 109 supplied to the supply station S24) by means of a conveyor 136. According to a possible embodiment, the supply device 135 receives a large number of boxes 5 in disorder (i.e., a large number of boxes 5 arranged in a mass) in a receiving box with an open top, and processes the boxes 5 so as to arrange the boxes 5 in sequence one after another, which are then supplied by the conveyor 136.

[0115] like Figure 4 As shown in , the supply section 17 of the manufacturing machine 15 comprises a supply device 137 which supplies the plug 11 to the supply station S29 (i.e. the supply device 122 to the supply station S29) by means of a conveyor 138. The sheet metal strip 42 is unwound from a reel arranged vertically in an unwinding station arranged on the support 18 of the assembly section 16 next to the initial part A (i.e. on the opposite side of the initial part A with respect to the middle part B); preferably, the unwinding station for the sheet metal strip 42 is designed to perform an automatic change of the reel and therefore supports two reels arranged next to each other.

[0116] The embodiments described herein may be combined with each other without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0117] The manufacturing machine 15 described above has numerous advantages.

[0118] Firstly, the manufacturing machine 15 described above allows a high hourly production rate (ie the number of pieces produced per time unit) to be achieved while ensuring a high quality standard of the cartridges 1 .

[0119] Furthermore, the manufacturing machine 15 described above is also easy and inexpensive to manufacture, since it consists of structurally simple elements requiring few, easily executable movements.

[0120] Finally, the manufacturing machine 15 described above provides ample maneuvering space around each component and thus simplifies both the initial assembly of the components and subsequent maintenance of the components (from simple cleaning to replacement).

Claims

1. A manufacturing machine (15) for producing a cigarette cartridge (1) for an electronic cigarette, The cigarette cartridge (1) comprises: A box (5); a heating device (6) provided with a core (7), an electric coil (8) wound helically around the core (7) and a support (9) having two "U"-shaped cavities inside to accommodate the core (7); two conductor elements (10), each having an inner end connected to the corresponding end of the electric coil (8); a plug (11) inserted into the end of the box (5); a tube (12) connected to the support (9) of the heating device (6); a mouthpiece (13) at which the tube (12) ends; and at least one absorbent pad (14) received in the mouthpiece (13); The manufacturing machine (15) comprises: a first assembly drum (104) rotatable about a first axis of rotation (105) and having a first seat (106) designed to house a support (9) of a heating device (6) coupled to a core (7) provided with an electric coil (8), and a second seat (107) axially aligned with the first seat (106) and designed to house the tank (5); a first feeding station in which the support (9) of the heating device (6) coupled to the core (7) provided with the electric coil (8) is fed into the first seat (106); a second supply station (S24), in which the box (5) is supplied to the second seat (107); and a first insertion station (S25), which is arranged downstream of the first supply station and the second supply station (S24) and is provided with a first pushing device (110), which axially moves the support (9) of the heating device (6) from the first seat (106) to the second seat (107) so as to insert the support (9) into the box (5) carried by the second seat (107), the manufacturing machine (15) comprising: a second assembly drum (111) which rotates about a second rotation axis (112) parallel to the first rotation axis (105) and is provided with a third seat (113) designed to accommodate the box (5); a first transfer station (S26), in which the box (5) coupled to the support (9) is transferred from the second seat (107) of the first assembly drum (104) to the third seat (113) of the second assembly drum (111); and A bending station (S27) is provided with a bending device (115) which bends a pair of conductor elements (10) to be integrated with the support (9) of the heating device (6) arranged in the box (5) supported by the third seat (113).

2. The manufacturing machine (15) according to claim 1, comprising: a third assembly drum (117) which rotates about a third rotation axis (118) parallel to the first rotation axis (105) and is provided with a fourth seat (119) and a fifth seat (120), the fourth seat being designed to accommodate the box (5), the fifth seat being axially aligned with the fourth seat (119) and being designed to accommodate the plug (11); a second transfer station, in which the box (5) coupled to the support (9) is transferred to the fourth seat (119) of the third assembly drum (117); a third supply station (S29), in which the plug (11) is supplied to the fifth seat (120); and A second insertion station (S30), which is arranged downstream of the second supply station (S24) and the third supply station (S29) and is provided with a second pushing device (123), which axially moves the plug (11) from the fifth seat (120) to the fourth seat (119) so as to insert the plug (11) into the box (5) supported by the fourth seat (119).

3. The manufacturing machine (15) according to claim 2, comprising: a fourth assembly drum (124) which rotates about a fourth rotation axis (125) parallel to the first rotation axis (105) and is provided with a sixth seat (126) and a seventh seat (127), the sixth seat being designed to accommodate the box (5), the seventh seat being axially aligned with the sixth seat (126) and being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); a third transfer station (S31), in which the box (5) coupled to the support (9) is transferred to the sixth seat (126) of the fourth assembly drum (124), and at the same time, the cigarette holder (13) is transferred to the seventh seat (127); as well as A third insertion station (S32), which is arranged downstream of the third transfer station (S31) and the fourth supply station and is provided with a third pushing device (128), which moves the box (5) axially from the sixth seat (126) to the seventh seat (127) so as to insert the box (5) into the mouthpiece (13) supported by the seventh seat (127).

4. A manufacturing machine (15) according to claim 3, wherein: The first assembly drum (104) has an eighth seat portion, the eighth seat portion being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); and In the first feeding station, the support (9) is fed into the first seat (106) and, at the same time, the mouthpiece (13) is fed into the eighth seat.

5. The manufacturing machine (15) according to claim 4, comprising: a second assembly drum (111), the second assembly drum rotating about the second rotation axis (112) parallel to the first rotation axis (105) and provided with a third seat (113) and a ninth seat (114), the third seat being designed to accommodate the box (5) and the ninth seat being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); as well as A first transfer station (S26), in which the box (5) coupled to the support member (9) is transferred from the second seat (107) of the first assembly roller (104) to the third seat (113) of the second assembly roller (111), and at the same time, the cigarette holder (13) is transferred from the eighth seat of the first assembly roller (104) to the ninth seat (114) of the second assembly roller (111).

6. A manufacturing machine (15) according to claim 5, comprising: a third assembly drum (117) which rotates about the third rotation axis (118) parallel to the first rotation axis (105) and is provided with a fourth seat (119) and a tenth seat (121), the fourth seat being designed to accommodate the box (5) and the tenth seat being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); as well as A second transfer station, in which the box (5) coupled to the support member (9) is transferred from the third seat (113) of the second assembly roller (111) to the fourth seat (119) of the third assembly roller (117), and at the same time, the cigarette holder (13) is transferred from the ninth seat (114) of the second assembly roller (111) to the tenth seat (121) of the third assembly roller (117).

7. A manufacturing machine (15) according to claim 6, comprising: a fourth assembly drum (124) which rotates about the fourth rotation axis (125) parallel to the first rotation axis (105) and is provided with a sixth seat (126) and a seventh seat (127), the sixth seat being designed to accommodate the box (5), the seventh seat being axially aligned with the sixth seat (126) and being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); a third transfer station (S31), in which the box (5) coupled to the support member (9) is transferred from the fourth seat (119) of the third assembly drum (117) to the sixth seat (126) of the fourth assembly drum (124), and at the same time, the cigarette holder (13) is transferred from the tenth seat (121) of the third assembly drum (117) to the seventh seat (127) of the fourth assembly drum (124); and A third insertion station (S32), which is arranged downstream of the third transfer station (S31) and the fourth supply station and is provided with a third pushing device (128), which moves the box (5) axially from the sixth seat (126) to the seventh seat (127) so as to insert the box (5) into the mouthpiece (13) supported by the seventh seat (127).

8. A method for producing a cigarette cartridge (1) for producing an electronic cigarette, The cigarette cartridge (1) comprises: A box (5); a heating device (6) provided with a core (7), an electric coil (8) wound helically around the core (7) and a support (9) having two "U"-shaped cavities inside to accommodate the core (7); two conductor elements (10), each having an inner end connected to the corresponding end of the electric coil (8); a plug (11) inserted into the end of the box (5); a tube (12) connected to the support (9) of the heating device (6); a mouthpiece (13) at which the tube (12) ends; and at least one absorbent pad (14) received in the mouthpiece (13); The manufacturing method comprises the following steps: rotating a first assembly drum (104) around a first axis of rotation (105), said first assembly drum having a first seat (106) designed to accommodate said support (9) of said heating device (6) coupled to said core (7) provided with said electric coil (8), and a second seat (107) axially aligned with said first seat (106) and designed to accommodate said box (5); In a first feeding station, the support (9) of the heating device (6) coupled to the core (7) provided with the electric coil (8) is fed into the first seat (106); In a second feeding station (S24), the box (5) is fed into the second seat (107); and In an insertion station (S25) arranged downstream of the first supply station and the second supply station (S24), the support (9) of the heating device (6) is inserted into the box (5) carried by the second seat (107) by means of a pushing device (110) which axially moves the support (9) from the first seat (106) to the second seat (107), The manufacturing method comprises the following further steps: rotating a second assembly drum (111) about a second rotation axis (112) parallel to the first rotation axis (105), the second assembly drum being provided with a third seat (113) designed to accommodate the box (5); In a first transfer station (S26), the box (5) coupled to the support (9) is transferred from the second seat (107) of the first assembly drum (104) to the third seat (113) of the second assembly drum (111); and By means of a bending device (115) arranged in a bending station (S27), a pair of conductor elements (10) are bent to be integrated with the support (9) of the heating device (6) arranged in the box (5) supported by the third seat (113).

9. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, comprising the following further steps: rotating a third assembly drum (117) about a third rotation axis (118) parallel to the first rotation axis (105), the third assembly drum being provided with a fourth seat (119) and a fifth seat (120), the fourth seat being designed to accommodate the box (5), the fifth seat being axially aligned with the fourth seat (119) and being designed to accommodate the plug (11); In a second transfer station, the box (5) coupled to the support (9) is transferred to the fourth seat (119) of the third assembly drum (117); In a third supply station (S29), supplying the plug (11) in the fifth seat (120); as well as The plug (11) is axially moved from the fifth seat (120) to the fourth seat (119) by means of a second pushing device (123) arranged in a second insertion station (S30) arranged downstream of the second transfer station and the third supply station (S29) so as to insert the plug (11) into the box (5) carried by the fourth seat (119).

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 8, comprising the following further steps: Rotating a fourth assembly drum (124) around a fourth rotation axis (125) parallel to the first rotation axis (125), the fourth assembly drum being provided with a sixth seat (126) and a seventh seat (127), the sixth seat being designed to accommodate the box (5), the seventh seat being axially aligned with the sixth seat (126) and being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); In a third transfer station (S31), the box (5) coupled to the support (9) is transferred to the sixth seat (126) of the fourth assembly drum (124), and at the same time, the cigarette holder (13) in the seventh seat (127) is transferred; and The box (5) is axially moved from the sixth seat (126) to the seventh seat (127) by means of a third pushing device (128) arranged in a third insertion station (S32), so as to insert the box (5) into the mouthpiece (13) supported by the seventh seat (127), and the third insertion station is arranged downstream of the third transfer station (S31) and the fourth supply station.

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein: The first assembly drum (104) has an eighth seat portion, the eighth seat portion being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); and In the first feeding station, the support (9) is fed into the first seat (106) and, at the same time, the mouthpiece (13) is fed into the eighth seat.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 11, comprising the following further steps: Rotating a second assembly drum (111) around the second rotation axis (112) parallel to the first rotation axis (105), the second assembly drum being provided with a third seat (113) and a ninth seat (114), the third seat being designed to accommodate the box (5) and the ninth seat being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); and In the first transfer station (S26), the box (5) coupled to the support member (9) is transferred from the second seat (107) of the first assembly roller (104) to the third seat (113) of the second assembly roller (111), and at the same time, the cigarette holder (13) is transferred from the eighth seat of the first assembly roller (104) to the ninth seat (114) of the second assembly roller (111).

13. The manufacturing method according to claim 12, comprising the following further steps: Rotating a third assembly drum (117) around the third rotation axis (118) parallel to the first rotation axis (105), the third assembly drum being provided with a fourth seat (119) and a tenth seat (121), the fourth seat being designed to accommodate the box (5) and the tenth seat being designed to accommodate the cigarette holder (13); and In the second transfer station, the box (5) coupled to the support member (9) is transferred from the third seat (113) of the second assembly roller (111) to the fourth seat (119) of the third assembly roller (117), and at the same time, the cigarette holder (13) is transferred from the ninth seat (114) of the second assembly roller (111) to the tenth seat (121) of the third assembly roller (117).

Images