CA-3127599-C - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING PODS OF A CONSUMABLE UNIT FOR AN INHALATION DEVICE FROM A STORAGE TRAY TO A MACHINE CASSETTE OF A CONSUMABLE UNIT MANUFACTURING DEVICE

Abstract

Apparatus for transferring pods, each of which form part of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, from a storage tray in which each pod is supported in a pod receiving pocket, to corresponding pod receiving pockets of a machine cassette forming part of a consumable unit manufacturing device, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a transfer station to receive the tray and a machine cassette placed over the storage tray and the pods received in the storage tray. The transfer station is configured to rotate the combined tray and machine cassette so that the pods in the pod receiving pockets in the tray are transferred into corresponding pod receiving pockets in the machine cassette. A method for transferring pods the pod receiving pockets in the tray to corresponding pod receiving pockets in the machine cassette is also disclosed.

Inventors

• Andrew Jonathan Bray

Assignees

• Nicoventures Trading Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20200121

Priority Date

20190129

Claims (20)

1. Claims 1. A consumable unit manufacturing system comprising a consumable unit manufacturing device and a machine cassette to receive pods each of which form part of 5 a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, said machine cassette being receivable in said consumable unit manufacturing device, when pods have been received in said machine cassette, to enable one or more manufacturing steps to be carried out on the pods by said consumable unit manufacturing device, the system further comprising apparatus for transferring pods, from a storage tray in which each 10 pod is supported in a pod receiving pocket, to corresponding pod receiving pockets in the machine cassette, the apparatus comprising: a transfer station to receive the tray and the machine cassette placed over the storage tray and the pods received in the storage tray, the transfer station being configured to rotate the combined tray and machine cassette so that the pods in said 15 pod receiving pockets in the tray are transferred into corresponding pod receiving pockets in the machine cassette before the machine cassette, together with the pods received therein, is received in the consumable unit manufacturing device.
2. 2. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 1, wherein the 20 apparatus for transferring pods comprises a receiving station adjacent to the transfer station, the receiving station being configured to receive the tray of pods such that, when the machine cassette has been placed on the tray over the pods, the tray is insertable, together with the pods and the machine cassette, from the receiving station into the transfer station.
3. 3. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 2, wherein the tray is slideable, together with the pods and the machine cassette placed on the tray over the pods, from the receiving station into the transfer station. 30
4. 4. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transfer station comprises a cradle to receive the tray and the machine cassette placed on the tray over the pods.
5. 5. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 4, wherein said 35 cradle is mounted for rotation about an axis. 8890027 Date Re<;ue/Date Received 2023-11-03
6. 6. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 5, wherein the cradle is configured to rotate about said axis from a first position in which the tray with a machine cassette placed on it is insertable into the cradle, into a second position in which the combined tray and machine cassette inserted into the cradle are inverted.
7. 7. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 6, wherein the cradle is also configured to rotate, in the opposite direction, about said axis from said second position into the first position. 10
8. 8. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the cradle is configured to rotate through an angle of 180 degrees between said first and second positions.
9. 9. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, 15 wherein the cradle comprises first and second support plates configured so that a storage tray of pods, with the machine cassette placed on the storage tray, is insertable into said transfer station between said first and second support plates when said cradle is in said first position. 20
10. 10. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 9, wherein the first and second support plates are spaced such that, when the cradle is rotated about said axis, the tray of pods together with the machine cassette placed upon it, is supported by the first and second support plates to prevent separation of the tray and the machine cassette.
11. 11. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the cradle is configured so that the tray of pods, together with the machine cassette placed over it, extends across the axis of rotation of the cradle when the tray of pods with the machine cassette placed over it is inserted into the cradle between the 30 support plates.
12. 12. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to any one of claims 5 to 11, comprising a drive member for rotating the cradle about said axis. 35
13. 13. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 12, wherein the drive member is manually operable. 8890027 Date Re<;ue/Date Received 2023-11-03
14. 14. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 13, wherein the drive member is rotatable hand-wheel. 5
15. 15. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 12, wherein the drive member comprises a motor.
16. 16. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to any one of claims 5 to 15, comprising an enclosure surrounding the cradle.
17. 17. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 16, wherein the enclosure is in the form of a cylindrical drum.
18. 18. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to claim 17, wherein the 15 drum has a longitudinal axis and is configured to rotate together with the cradle about said longitudinal axis.
19. 19. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to any one of claims 16 to 18, comprising a first stationacy buffer and a stop element rotatable together with the 20 enclosure that contacts the first stationacy buffer to prevent the cradle rotating beyond said first position.
20. 20. A consumable unit manufacturing system according to any one of claims 16 to 19, comprising a second stationacy buffer configured such that the stop element 25 rotatable together with the enclosure contacts the second stationacy buffer to prevent the cradle rotating beyond said second position.

Description

Apparatus and Method for Transferring Pods of a Consumable Unit for an Inhalation Device from a Storage Tray to a Machine Cassette of a Consumable Unit Manufacturing Device 5 Field The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for transferring pods, each of which form part of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, from a storage tray to a machine cassette of a consumable unit manufacturing device. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and a method for transferring pods, 10 each of which are supported in a pod receiving pocket in the storage tray, to corresponding pod receiving pockets in a machine cassette. Once transferred, the machine cassette, together with the pods received therein, can be inserted into a consumable unit manufacturing device for carrying out one or more manufacturing steps on the pods. The invention also relates to an apparatus for transferring pods from 15 a machine cassette back to a storage tray, and to a method of transferring pods from a storage tray to a machine cassette. Background There exists a need to provide an apparatus and a method for the efficient manufacture 20 of consumable units for inhalation devices which may involve providing a dose of aerosolisable material to a pod of the consumable unit; positioning a closure over an end of the pod; and securing the closure to the pod. These, and other manufacturing steps, may need to be carried out on a plurality of pods in quick succession. 25 The pods are supplied on a storage tray. The storage tray has pod receiving pockets each of which support an individual pod so that each tray supports a plurality of pods in a structured array. In order to perform various manufacturing steps on the pods, it is necessary to transfer them from the storage trays to a machine cassette. A machine cassette also has pod receiving pockets that correspond to the pod receiving pockets of 30 the storage tray. The machine cassette is configured for insertion into a manufacturing machine to enable one or more of the manufacturing steps to be carried out on the pods whilst they are held in the machine cassette. Once one or more manufacturing steps have been completed on the pods supported on the machine cassette, they may be transferred from the machine cassette back onto a storage tray. 5 Summary In accordance with embodiments of the invention, there is provided apparatus for transferring pods, each of which form part of a consumable unit for use with an inhalation device, from a storage tray in which each pod is supported in a pod receiving pocket, to corresponding pod receiving pockets of a machine cassette 10 forming part of a consumable unit manufacturing device, the apparatus compnsmg: a transfer station to receive the tray and a machine cassette placed over the storage tray and the pods received in the storage tray, the transfer station being configured to rotate the combined tray and machine cassette so that the pods in said 15 pod receiving pockets in the tray are transferred into corresponding pod receiving pockets in the machine cassette. The apparatus of the invention may comprise a receiving station adjacent to the transfer station. The receiving station may be configured to receive a tray of pods such 20 that, when a machine cassette has been placed on the tray over the pods, the tray is insertable, together with the pods and the machine cassette, from the receiving station into the transfer station. The tray may be slideable, together with the pods and the machine cassette placed on 25 the tray over the pods, directly from the receiving station into the transfer station. In certain embodiments, the transfer station comprises a cradle to receive the tray and the machine cassette placed on the tray over the pods. 30 The cradle may be mounted for rotation about an axis. In particular, the cradle may be configured to rotate about said axis from a first position in which the tray with a machine cassette placed on it is insertable into the cradle, into a second position in which the combined tray and machine cassette inserted into the cradle are inverted. 35 The cradle may also be configured to rotate in the opposite direction about said axis, from said second position into the first position. Preferably, the cradle is configured to rotate through an angle of 180 degrees between said first and second positions. 5 The cradle may comprise first and second support plates configured so that a storage tray of pods, with the machine cassette placed on the storage tray, is insertable into said transfer station between said first and second support plates when said cradle is in said first position. 10 The first and second support plates may be spaced such that, when the cradle is rotated about said axis, a tray of pods together with the machine cassette placed upon it, is supported by the first and second support plates to prevent separation of the tray and the machine cassette. 15 The cradle may be configured