Inhalation Consumable Unit Assembly for High-Speed Dosing and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively assembling inhalation devices and their consumable units, particularly in ensuring precise and automated assembly of components such as mouthpiece assemblies and atomiser cartridges, which are critical for delivering vaporized flavors and aerosols without combustion.
Innovation Solution
The development of equipment and methods for the automated assembly of inhalation devices, involving a sequence of assembly stations with tooling and transport systems to assemble, dose, and seal mouthpiece assemblies, and integrate them with atomiser cartridges, allowing for efficient production of consumable units that can be easily replaced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated assembly equipment is used to improve production efficiency, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated assembly system is divided into multiple workstations (first workstation for assembling mouthpiece with container, second workstation for loading particulate material, third workstation for sealing closure) that operate independently in series. This segmentation allows each station to perform a specific function efficiently while maintaining overall system productivity without requiring excessively complex integrated machinery.
Solution Approach 2:
The mouthpiece and container are assembled at the first workstation before the particulate material is loaded at the second workstation. This preliminary assembly action allows subsequent operations to proceed independently and efficiently, reducing bottlenecks and overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If consumable units are packaged separately to accommodate different consumption rates, then adaptability improves, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece, container, and closure are pre-assembled into complete consumable units at the automated assembly line before packaging. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for manual assembly after packaging, allowing flexible packaging configurations (single units or multiple units per package) without increasing overall assembly time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system produces standardized consumable units that can be packaged individually or in multiples (e.g., 2, 3, 4 or more mouthpiece assemblies per atomiser cartridge) based on consumption rate requirements. This segmentation of the packaging decision from the assembly process enables adaptability without time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
Equipment for the automated assembly of consumable units for use in an inhalation device from components that include a mouthpiece, a container defining a chamber for aerosolisable material, and a closure for the chamber, is disclosed. The equipment comprise at least one assembly line having one or more assembly stations that each comprises tooling for performing an assembly operation on the components, and a transport system for supplying the components to the assembly stations and advancing the components through the assembly stations in a sequence to assemble at least part of the device from the components. A process for the serial production of consumable units for use with an inhalation device is also disclosed.