IP Library Granted Patent US 12673797
Granted Patent B2
US 12673797 · App. 18/436,305 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

System and method for applying a label for the automated production of e-vapor devices

Inventor: Martin Garthaffner (Chesterfield, VA)
Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
B65C3/04A24F40/65A24F40/70B65C7/00B65C9/1807B65C9/30A24C5/327A24F40/10A24F40/40A61M15/06B65C9/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12673797
App. No.
18/436,305
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for use in manufacturing vapor-generating articles may include a rotatable drum that is configured to hold a plurality of the vapor-generating articles. The system may also include a tagging drum that is configured to tag a respective label to a housing of each of the vapor-generating articles. The system may also include a pressing roller that is configured to press a leading edge of the label against the housing after the tagging. The system may further include a rolling drum that is configured to roll the label around the housing after the pressing.

Claims (22)

1 . A pressing roller for applying a label to a vapor-generating article, comprising:

a roller body defining a plurality of flutes in an outer face of the roller body, the roller body configured to be adjacent to a rotatable drum carrying the vapor-generating article and configured to be driven relative to the rotatable drum such that one of the plurality of flutes contacts and presses a leading edge of the label against the vapor-generating article, the leading edge of the label being an unsecured leading edge.

2 . The pressing roller of claim 1 , wherein the roller body is rotationally spring loaded.

3 . The pressing roller of claim 2 , wherein a torsion spring rotationally spring loads the roller body.

4 . The pressing roller of claim 1 , wherein the vapor-generating article is an electronic vapor device.

5 . The pressing roller of claim 1 , wherein the roller body is configured to rotate in a first direction opposite a second direction in which the rotatable drum is configured to rotate.

6 . The pressing roller of claim 1 , wherein the roller body is configured to rotate at a first speed that is different from a second speed at which the rotatable drum is configured to rotate.

7 . The pressing roller of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of flutes is concave.

8 . The pressing roller of claim 1 , wherein a shape of each of the plurality of flutes corresponds to an outer surface of the vapor-generating article.

9 . The pressing roller of claim 1 , wherein the roller body is configured to be driven by a drive shaft or a drive hub.

10 . A method of applying a label to a vapor-generating article, comprising:

rotating a roller body adjacent a rotatable drum carrying the vapor-generating article; and

pressing a leading edge of the label against the vapor-generating article with one of a plurality of flutes in an outer face of the roller body, the pressing the leading edge of the label against the vapor-generating article including pressing an unsecured portion of the leading edge of the label against the vapor-generating article.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

rotationally spring loading the roller body.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the rotationally spring loading the roller body includes rotationally loading with a torsion spring.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the vapor-generating article is an electronic vapor device.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the rotating the roller body includes rotating the roller body in a first direction opposite a second direction in which the rotatable drum is configured to rotate.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the rotating the roller body includes rotating the roller body at a first speed that is different from a second speed at which the rotatable drum is configured to rotate.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of flutes is concave.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a shape of each of the plurality of flutes corresponds to an outer surface of the vapor-generating article.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the rotating the roller body includes driving the roller body to rotate by a drive hub or a drive shaft.