Packaging Machine Intermittent Drums for Disposable Cartridge Blister Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing machines for disposable electronic cigarette cartridges have limitations in achieving high productivity while maintaining high-quality standards and are complex and costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
A packaging machine and method for inserting disposable cartridges into blister packs, featuring a manufacturing machine with intermittent motion drums and feeding units that allow for simultaneous processing of multiple cartridges, ensuring efficient and gentle handling to achieve high hourly production rates and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional manufacturing machines are used for disposable cartridges, then basic production can be maintained, but productivity is limited and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is divided into multiple independent functional modules: a first drum for cartridge production, a second drum for blister pack formation, and a transfer mechanism for assembly. Each drum operates independently with intermittent motion, allowing parallel processing of multiple cartridges simultaneously, thereby increasing productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Both drums are designed to operate with intermittent motion rather than continuous rotation, stopping at specific positions to perform operations (filling, sealing, transfer) and then moving to the next position. This periodic action allows for precise control of each operation while maintaining high throughput through coordinated cycling of multiple workstations
2Productivity
If high-speed processing is implemented, then productivity increases, but handling gentleness and quality standards may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The first drum completes the entire cartridge assembly process (filling tobacco, sealing with micro-perforated walls, quality checks) before the cartridges are transferred to the second drum for blister pack formation. This preliminary completion of critical operations ensures quality standards are met before high-speed transfer and packaging occur
Solution Approach 2:
A transfer mechanism acts as an intermediary between the first drum (cartridge production) and the second drum (blister pack formation). This intermediary component handles the cartridges with controlled, gentle motion during transfer, preventing damage while maintaining the high productivity enabled by the dual-drum system
Data Source
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AI summary
A packaging machine (134) and packaging method for the insertion of disposable cartridges (1) in respective blister packs (135), each of which contains at least two pockets (136, 137, 138), which are oriented differently to accommodate two respective cartridges (1) oriented differently from one another. The following are provided: a packaging conveyor (146), which feeds a plurality of blister packs (135), all with the same orientation, along a packaging path (P4); a feeding conveyor (140), which feeds a plurality of seats (142), designed to house corresponding cartridges (1) all with the same orientation, along a feeding path (P3); and a transfer unit (149), which is designed to pick up the cartridges (1) from the seats (142) of the feeding conveyor (140) and to deposit them in the pockets (136, 137, 138) of respective blister packs (135) carried by the packaging conveyor (146). The transfer unit (149) has: a first transferring device (150) designed to pick up at least one cartridge (1) from a seat (142) of the feeding conveyor (140) and to deposit the cartridge (1) with a first orientation and in a first pocket (136, 137) of a respective blister pack (135) carried by the packaging conveyor (146); and a second transferring device (151), which is autonomous and independent of the first transferring device (150) and is designed to pick up at least one cartridge (1) from a seat (142) of the feeding conveyor (140) and to deposit the cartridge (1) with a second orientation different from the first orientation and in a second pocket (138) of a respective blister pack (135) carried by the packaging conveyor (146).