| CPC A24F 40/70 (2020.01) [A24F 40/10 (2020.01); B65B 1/04 (2013.01); B65B 1/32 (2013.01); B65B 43/52 (2013.01); B65B 43/60 (2013.01); B65G 37/00 (2013.01); B65G 2201/0261 (2013.01)] | 8 Claims |
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1. A system for assembling electronic cigarette parts comprising cartridges and for filling said cartridges, the system comprising:
an endless linear motor first conveyor; a first group of carrier units connected to the first conveyor to be movable independently of one another along the first conveyor; each carrier unit being configured to receive and hold the electronic cigarette parts;
a first group of working stations for assembling and/or inspecting the electronic cigarette parts conveyed along the first conveyor and held by the first group of carrier units;
an endless linear motor second conveyor, located downstream of the first conveyor; a second group of carrier units connected to the second conveyor to be movable independently of one another along the second conveyor; each carrier unit being configured to receive and hold the electronic cigarette parts;
a second group of working stations for assembling and/or inspecting the electronic cigarette parts conveyed along the second conveyor; and the electronic cigarette parts being held by the second group of carrier units;
and a filling station, disposed between the first conveyor and the second conveyor to receive the electronic cigarette parts at a loading zone from the first conveyor, fill the respective cartridges, and, at an unloading zone, feed the electronic cigarette parts with the respective filled cartridges towards the second conveyor;
wherein the filling station comprises housings positioned along a circular path and rotatable in a first rotation direction about an axis of the circular path to receive and hold the electronic cigarette parts; and a plurality of filling heads for filling the cartridges of the electronic cigarette parts when disposed at the housings;
a plurality of support containers configured to be held in the housings of the filling station for supporting the electronic cigarette parts while the cartridges are being filled in the filling station;
a first pickup device configured, for picking up the electronic cigarette parts from the first group of carrier units as the electronic cigarette parts leave the first conveyor, and for placing the electronic cigarette parts in the support containers;
a second pickup device, for picking up the electronic cigarette parts from the support containers as the electronic cigarette parts leave the filling station, and placing the electronic cigarette parts at the second group of carrier units as the electronic cigarette parts enter the second conveyor;
wherein the filling station is configured to receive the electronic cigarette parts, together with the respective support containers, at the loading zone and to release the electronic cigarette parts with respective filled cartridges, together with the respective support containers, at the unloading zone, and
wherein a first transfer device is arranged at the loading zone, the first transfer device being positioned downstream from the first pickup device, the first transfer device being configured to transfer the electronic cigarette parts, together with the respective support containers, into the housings of the filling station and a second transfer device is arranged at the unloading zone, the second transfer device being positioned upstream from the second pickup device, the second transfer device being configured to disengage the electronic cigarette parts, together with the respective support containers, from the housings of the filling station.
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