EP4713258A1

EP4713258A1 - Filling unit and method to introduce a quantity of loose product into a casing of a disposable cartridge, in particular for electronic cigarettes

Info

Publication number: EP4713258A1
Application number: EP24725020.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francesco Milandri; Ivan Eusepi; Federico QUARELLI DI LESEGNO; Valentina DI LALLO
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2023-05-15
Filing date: 2024-05-03
Publication date: 2026-03-25
Also published as: WO2024236406A1

Abstract

Filling unit ((1188)) and method to introduce a quantity (5) of loose product iinnttoo a tubular casing ((22)) of aa disposable cartridge (1) for electronic cigarette and having a lower wall (3) that is permeable to air. The following are provided: a filling station (S2); a transfer device (32), which is arranged in the filling station (S2) and is configured to transfer the quantity (5) of loose product into the tubular casing (2), which is llooccaatteedd in the filling station (S2); aann operator element (36), which is arranged in the filling station (S2), has an upper wall (41) and is configured to generate a suction through its upper wall (41); and an actuator device (37) configured to move the operator element (36) towards the tubular casing (2), which is located in the filling station (S2), so as to lay the upper wall (41) of the operator element (36) against the lower wall (3) of the tubular casing (2) at least while the quantity (5) of product is being transferred into the casing ( 2 ).

Description

"FILLING UNIT AND METHOD TO INTRODUCE A QUANTITY OF LOOSE PRODUCT INTO A CASING OF A DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE , IN PARTICULAR FOR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES"

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102023000009717 filed on May 15 , 2023 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a filling unit and to a method to introduce a quantity of loose product into a tubular casing of a disposable cartridge , in particular for electronic cigarettes .

Prior Art

Recently, disposable (namely, single use ) cartridges for electronic cigarettes have been proposed comprising a tubularshaped casing made of a plastic material with a micro-perforated lower wall and a quantity of tobacco or other powder material is provided therein with a tab made of filtering material on top ; the casing is closed at an upper end (namely, opposite to the micro-perforated lower wall ) by a cap which is welded or fitted on the casing .

These cartridges can be produced using the manufacturing machine described in patent applications WO2019043662A1 , WO2019043663A1 , WO2019043 664A1 , WO2019043665A1 and

W02020031138A1 , which provides for filling each casing with a calibrated quantity of powdered tobacco , slightly compressing the quantity of powdered tobacco inside the casing so as to obtain the desired density, and then capping the casing by applying both the tab of filtering material and the cap to the upper open end . Description of the Invention

The obj ect of the present invention is to provide a filling unit and method to introduce a quantity of loose product into a casing of a disposable cartridge in particular for electronic cigarettes , which filling unit and method allow to achieve increased productivity ( intended as the number of cartridges produced in a unit of time ) while ensuring high quality standards (namely, with a reduced number of rej ected pieces and with excellent final quality) and, at the same time, being easy and inexpensive to produce .

According to the present invention, a filling unit and method are provided to introduce a quantity of loose product into a casing of a disposable cartridge , in particular for electronic cigarettes , as claimed in the attached claims .

The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention and form an integral part of the present description .

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings , which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof , wherein :

• Figure 1 is a longitudinal section view of a disposable cartridge for electronic cigarettes ;

• Figure 2 is a schematic and plan view of a manufacturing machine that produces the cartridge for electronic cigarettes of Figure 1 ;

• Figure 3 is a view and a schematic plan view of a f illing unit of the manufacturing machine of Figure 2 ;

• Figure 4 is a schematic and longitudinal section view of part of the filling unit of Figure 3 ; and

• Figure 5 is a schematic view of a casing of a disposable cartridge and of a pusher in a feeding station of the filling unit of Figure 3 . Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

In Figure 1 , number 1 denotes as a whole a disposable cartridge for electronic cigarettes . The cartridge 1 comprises a tubular casing 2 (but could also have a non-tubular shape ) made of plastic or metal lic material having a micro-perforated lower wall 3 (namely, permeable to fluids ) and a substantially cylindrical-shaped side wall 4 ; inside the tubular casing 2 and in contact with the lower wall 3 a quantity 5 of loose product (namely, a product that lacks coherence , cohesion such as a powder product or a granulated product ) is contained therein, for example powdered tobacco or another aromatic material , with a tab 6 of filtering material (which, according to an alternative embodiment , could be absent ) on top . Finally, the cartridge 1 comprises a micro-perforated cap 7 (namely, permeable to fluids ) which is force- fitted ( interference fitted) around an upper end of the tubular casing 2 ( alternatively the cap 7 could be welded) .

In Figure 2 , reference number 8 denotes , as a whole , a manufacturing machine for the production of the cartridges 1 described above . The manufacturing machine 8 performs an intermittent movement , namely, its conveyors cyclically alternate motion steps and still steps .

The manufacturing machine 8 comprises a manufacturing drum 9 , which is arranged hori zontally and is mounted in a rotatable stepwise manner around a vertical rotation axis 10 ; in other words , the manufacturing drum 9 is set into rotation with an intermittent motion, namely, a non-continuous motion which provides a cyclical alternation of motion steps , wherein the manufacturing drum 9 is moving, and still steps , wherein the manufacturing drum 9 stops . The manufacturing drum 9 supports twelve groups 11 of seats 12 , each of which is suitable for receiving and containing a corresponding tubular casing 2 ; in particular, each group 11 comprises forty-two seats 12 aligned along three straight lines parallel to one another ( each of the three straight l ines has fourteen seats 12 ) and the twelve groups 11 are arranged to define , in a plan view, a regular polygon (namely, a dodecahedron ) on the surface of the manufacturing drum 9 .

The manufacturing machine 8 comprises a further manufacturing drum 13 , which is arranged hori zontally next to the manufacturing drum 9 and is mounted in a rotatable stepwise manner around a vertical rotation axis 14 parallel to the rotation axis 10 ; in other words , the manufacturing drum 13 is set into rotation with an intermittent motion, namely, a non- continuous motion which provides a cyclical alternation of motion steps , wherein the manufacturing drum 13 is moving, and still steps , wherein the manufacturing drum 13 stops . The manufacturing drum 13 supports twelve groups 15 of seats 16 , each of which is suitable for receiving and containing a corresponding tubular casing 2 ; in particular, each group 15 comprises forty-two seats 16 aligned along three straight lines parallel to one another ( each of the three straight lines has fourteen seats 16 ) and the twelve groups 15 are arranged to define , in a plan view, a regular polygon (namely, a dodecahedron) on the surface of the manufacturing drum 13 .

The manufacturing machine 8 comprises a feeding station S I , in which a feeding unit 17 inserts a corresponding empty tubular casing 2 into each seat 12 of a group 11 , that is standing still ; in particular, the feeding unit 17 simultaneously inserts forty-two empty tubular casings 2 into as many seats 12 of a group 11 that is standing still in the feeding station SI . Downstream of the feeding station S I , relative to the rotation direction of the manufacturing drum 9 , three filling stations S2 are arranged in succession, in each of which a filling unit 18 is arranged, which feeds a corresponding quantity 5 of tobacco into a respective tubular casing 2 carried by a seat 12 of a group 11 , that is standing still ; in particular, each filling unit 18 simultaneously feeds fourteen quantities 5 of tobacco into as many seats 12 of a group 11 that is standing still in the filling station S2 . The filling unit 18 of the first filling station S2 feeds fourteen quantities 5 of tobacco into as many seats 12 of the innermost row of the group 11 that is standing still in the first filling station S2 , the filling unit 18 of the second filling station S2 feeds fourteen quantities 5 of tobacco into as many seats 12 of the intermediate row of the group 11 that is standing still in the second filling station S2 , and the filling unit 18 of the third filling station S2 feeds fourteen quantities 5 of tobacco into as many seats 12 of the outermost row of group 11 that is standing still in the third filling station S2 .

Downstream of the filling stations S2 (namely, downstream of the last filling station S2 ) , relative to the rotation direction of the manufacturing drum 9 , a feeding station S3 is arranged, in which a feeding unit 19 feeds a corresponding tab 6 of filtering material into each tubular casing 2 carried by a seat 12 of a group 11 , that is standing still ; in particular, the filling unit 19 simultaneously feeds forty-two tabs 6 of filtering material into as many seats 12 of a group 11 that is standing still in the feeding station S3 . Obviously, the feeding station S3 is not provided in the embodiment of the cartridges 1 without the tabs 6 of filtering material .

Downstream of the feeding station S3 , relative to the rotation direction of the manufacturing drum 9 , a trans fer station S4 is arranged, in which a trans fer unit 20 trans fers the tubular casings 2 ( each containing a quantity 5 of tobacco and, i f provided, a tab 6 of filtering material ) from the seats 12 of a group 11 of the manufacturing drum 9 to the seats 16 of a group 15 of the manufacturing drum 13 ; in particular, the trans fer unit 20 simultaneously trans fers forty-two tubular casings 2 out of as many seats 12 of a group 11 that is standing still in the trans fer station S4 to as many seats 16 of a group 15 that is standing still in the trans fer station S4 . In the trans fer station S4 , the two manufacturing drums 9 and 13 are partially overlapped so that the seats 12 of a group 11 of the manufacturing drum 9 are vertically aligned with the seats 16 of a group 15 of the manufacturing drum 13 ; consequently, in the trans fer station S4 the trans fer of the tubular casings 2 takes place by means of a linear and vertical movement (namely, a rising of the casings 2 i f the manufacturing drum 9 is arranged below the manufacturing drum 13 or a lowering of the casings 2 i f the manufacturing drum 9 is arranged above the manufacturing drum 13 ) .

Downstream of the insertion station S4 , relative to the rotation direction of the manufacturing drum 13 , a feeding station S5 is arranged, in which a feeding unit 21 couples a corresponding cap 7 to each tubular casing 2 carried by a seat 16 of a group 15 that is standing still , thus finishing the formation of a respective cartridge 1 (namely, downstream of the feeding station S5 the cartridges 1 are complete and the production thereof has ended) ; in particular, the filling unit 21 simultaneously couples forty-two caps 7 to as many tubular casings 2 , simultaneously completing forty-two cartridges 1 . In other words , in the feeding station S5 the production of the cartridges 1 is completed, namely, downstream of the feeding station S5 the cartridges 1 are finished and ready for use .

Downstream of the feeding station S5 , relative to the rotation direction of the manufacturing drum 13 , three control stations S 6 are arranged in succession in each of which a corresponding control unit 22 carries out a control of the respective cartridges 1 in order to veri fy their correct operation and in particular to veri fy ( indirectly) that the desired quantity of tobacco is provided inside each cartridge 1 (namely, veri fy that the respective quantity 5 of tobacco is formed by the desired amount of tobacco ) .

Downstream of the control stations S 6 (namely, downstream of the last control station S 6 ) , relative to the rotation direction of the manufacturing drum 13 , an output station S7 is arranged in which an extraction unit 23 extracts a corresponding cartridge 1 out of each seat 16 of a group 15 that is standing still ; in particular, the extraction unit 23 simultaneously extracts forty-two cartridges 1 out of as many seats 16 of a group 15 that is standing still in the output station S7 .

From the above it is clear that all the steps of the production process of the cartridges 1 ( such as for example the filling of the quantities 5 of tobacco , the feeding of the tabs 6 of filtering material , i f provided, the feeding of the caps 7 , the control of the cartridges 1 ) contained in the seats 12 or 16 of the same group 11 or 15 are carried out in parallel , namely, they are carried out simultaneously for a plurality ( fourteen or forty-two ) of cartridges 1 contained in the seats 12 or 16 of the same group 11 or 15 .

Each filling unit 18 is similar, in its general structure , to the filling unit described and illustrated in patent applications WO2017051348A1 , WO2017051349A1 and W02017051350A1 to which reference is made for a more detailed description of the filling unit 18 .

As illustrated in Figure 3 , each filling unit 18 comprises a cylindrical-shaped tank 24 which is arranged hori zontally and is mounted in a rotatable stepwise manner around a vertical rotation axis 25 parallel to the rotation axis 10 ; in other words , the tank 24 is set into rotation with an intermittent motion, namely, a non-continuous motion which provides a cyclical alternation of motion steps , wherein the tank 24 is moving, and still steps , wherein the tank 24 stops . Each tank 24 is arranged next to the manufacturing drum 9 and partially overlapping the manufacturing drum 9 at the respective filling station S2 ; in particular, the tank 24 is arranged higher than the manufacturing drum 9 so as to be on top of the manufacturing drum 9 at the respective filling station S2 . Each tank 24 supports six groups 26 of seats 27 , each of which is suitable for receiving and containing a corresponding quantity 5 of tobacco ; in particular, each group 26 comprises fourteen seats 27 aligned along a straight line and the six groups 26 are arranged to define , in a plan view, a regular polygon (namely, a hexagon) on the surface of the annular tank 24 .

Each tank 24 is delimited at the bottom by a disc 28 having a circular shape and is delimited, on the sides , by a cylindrical side wall 29 (better illustrated in Figure 4 ) which proj ects perpendicular from the base disc 28 ; the seats 27 are obtained in the base disc 28 , namely, they are (partially) formed by circular through-holes made through the base disc 28 . Centrally, from the base disc 28 , a cylindrical central element 30 rises , which gives an annular shape (namely, a "donut" shape ) to the inner volume of the tank 24 .

Each tank 24 is coupled to a cylindrical feeding duct 31 which is oriented in a vertical manner ( at least in its end portion) and has an outlet opening arranged inside the tank 24 ; the feeding duct 31 continuously feeds , inside the tank 24 , a flow of tobacco which forms a bed resting on the base di sc 28 of the tank 24 .

Each filling unit 18 comprises a trans fer device 32 which is arranged in a fixed position (namely, without rotating together with the tank 24 ) at the respective filling station S2 and cyclically trans fers the quantities 5 of tobacco contained in the seats 27 of a group 26 that is standing still in the filling station S2 into corresponding tubular casings 2 housed in the seats 12 of a group 11 that is standing still in the filling station S2 of the manufacturing drum 9 .

As illustrated in Figure 4 , in each filling station S2 , the tank 24 (namely, the base disc 28 of the tank 24 ) is partially overlapping the manufacturing drum 9 so that the seats 27 of a group 26 of the tank 24 are vertically aligned and arranged above the seats 12 of a group 11 of the manufacturing drum 9 ; consequently, in each filling station S2 the trans fer of the quantities 5 of tobacco takes place by means of a linear and vertical downward movement (namely, a descent of the quantities 5 of tobacco ) . The trans fer device 32 comprises a plurality of pushers 33 , each of which is coupled to a corresponding seat 27 of a group 26 that is standing still in the filling station S2 and is provided with an alternating vertical motion for pushing the quantity 5 of tobacco contained in the corresponding seat 27 downwards , namely, towards a corresponding tubular casing 2 that is standing still and housed in a seat 12 of a group 11 that is standing still in the corresponding filling station S2 .

As illustrated in Figure 4 , under the base disc 28 , a further intermediate disc 34 is arranged, which is interposed between the base disc 28 and the manufacturing drum 9 (namely, between the seats 27 containing the quantities 5 of tobacco and the seats 12 containing the tubular casings 2 ) ; through the intermediate disc 34 groups of through-holes are formed, which are internally lined by means of respective feeding ducts 35 which protrude downwardly towards the outside of the intermediate disc 34 . In use , each tubular casing 2 , which is housed in a seat 12 of the manufacturing drum 9 and that is standing still in the corresponding filling station S2 is pushed upwards (namely, towards the intermediate disc 34 ) by a pusher 36 (namely, an operator element and in particular an elevator ) so as to bring its open upper end into contact with the mouth of the respective feeding duct 35 . In other words , a plurality of pushers 36 ( elevators ) are provided, each of which is aligned with a respective feeding duct 35 . The pushers 36 ( elevators ) are moved with a vertical motion (namely, with a cyclical up and down movement along a vertical path) by an actuator device

37 .

According to a possible embodiment , the outlet mouth of each feeding duct 35 can be funnel- shaped (namely, a truncated- conical shape ) . According to a possible embodiment , the outlet mouth of each feeding duct 35 can be inserted partially inside the open upper end of a corresponding tubular casing 2 when the tubular casing 2 is pushed upwards (namely, towards the intermediate disc 34 ) by the corresponding pusher 36 .

Immediately below each group 26 of seats 27 a shutter element

38 is arranged, which is provided, for each seat 27 , with a plug

39 which is permeable to air (but not to tobacco ) and a with a through-hole 40 arranged next to the plug 39 . Each shutter element 38 is movably mounted so as to move hori zontally ( radially) under the thrust of an actuator device 37 between a closing position ( illustrated in Figure 4 ) in which a corresponding plug 39 is arranged below each seat 27 for closing the seat 27 at the bottom and prevent the tobacco from descending and an opening position in which a corresponding through-hole

40 is arranged below each seat 27 so as to allow the tobacco to descend . In use , the actuator device 37 holds each shutter element 38 in the closing position ( illustrated in Figure 4 ) outside of the fi lling station S2 and moves the shutter element 38 to the opening position inside the filling station S2 so as to allow the quantity 5 of tobacco to descend from the seat 27 to a corresponding tubular casing 2 carried by a seat 12 of the manufacturing drum 9 . In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 , each plug 39 is permeable to air (but not to tobacco ) so as to allow a suction from below to be applied to the seats 27 which tends to favour the entering of the tobacco into the seats 27 ; in particular, each plug 39 is permeable to air due to the presence of a plurality of through-holes of a si ze smaller than the si ze of the tobacco fibres so that air can pass through said through- holes but not the tobacco . In use , during the formation of the quantities 5 of tobacco (namely, on the outside of the filling station S2 ) a suction source is connected to the feeding ducts 35 , so as to generate a depression inside the feeding ducts 35 which, through the plugs 39 that are permeable to air, is also provided inside the seats 27 , thus favouring the entering of the tobacco into the seats 27 . According to a di f ferent embodiment not illustrated, each plug 39 is completely sealed (namely, it is not permeable to air nor to tobacco ) .

As illustrated in Figure 5 , each pusher 36 has an upper wall 41 which in use lays against the lower wall 3 of a respective tubular casing 2 and is permeable to air ; in particular, the upper wall 41 of each pusher 36 is permeable to air due to the presence of a plurality of through-holes which preferably have a si ze smaller than the si ze of the tobacco fibres so that air can pass through said through-holes but not the tobacco . Each pusher 36 is internally hollow, namely, it has a chamber 42 which, on one side , is delimited by the upper wall 41 and, in use , can be connected to a suction source 43 .

When, in a filling station S2 , a pusher 36 ( elevator ) comes into contact with a respective tubular casing 2 of a disposable cartridge 1 , the upper wall 41 of the pusher 36 lays against the lower wall 3 of the tubular casing 2 and pushes the tubular casing 2 upwards so as to couple the upper part of the tubular casing 2 ( opposite the lower wall 3 ) to the corresponding feeding duct 35 ; at the same time , suction is activated through the upper wall 41 of the pusher 36 ( connecting the chamber 42 of the pusher 36 to the suction source 43 ) to transmit the suction inside the tubular casing 2 through the perforated lower wall 3 ( therefore permeable to air ) of the tubular casing 2 . In this way, the feeding of the quantity 5 of tobacco into the tubular casing 2 is facilitated due to the fact that the quantity 5 of tobacco does not descend towards the tubular casing 2 only by gravity or only by the push exerted by the respective pusher 33 but it is also sucked into the tubular casing 2 due to the suction action .

According to a possible embodiment , the upper wall 41 of each pusher 36 is provided with an annular elastic gasket 44 which surrounds the through-holes of the upper wall 41 and, when pressed against the lower wall 3 of a tubular casing 2 , generates a pneumatic seal which allows the suction to be applied more ef fectively through the lower wall 3 of the tubular casing 2 .

In the embodiment described above , each cartridge 1 contains a quantity 5 of powdered tobacco , but alternatively the powdered tobacco 5 could be replaced by any other type of tobacco-based or even non-tobacco-based aromatic product (provided that it is capable , when heated, of generating an inhalable aerosol ) .

In the embodiment described above , the manufacturing drums 9 and 13 rotate according to a step ( intermittent ) law of motion around the respective rotation axes 10 and 14 ; according to a di f ferent embodiment not illustrated, the manufacturing drums 9 and 13 rotate according to a continuous law of motion around the respective rotation axes 10 and 14 .

The embodiments described herein can be combined with one another without departing from the scope of the present invention .

The filling unit 18 described above has numerous advantages .

First of all , the filling unit 18 described above allows high hourly productivity to be achieved while ensuring a high- quality standard . This result is achieved thanks to the fact that the feeding of the quantities 5 of tobacco into the tubular casings 2 of the disposable cartridges 1 (namely, the filling of the tubular casings 2 with the quantities 5 of tobacco ) occurs quickly and, at the same time , without damaging the tubular casings 2 in any way ( and any devices provided inside the tubular casings 2 ) ; in other words , in the filling unit 18 described above , the feeding of the quantities 5 of tobacco into the tubular casings 2 of the disposable cartridges 1 is carried out very quickly, managing at the same time to avoid subj ecting the tubular casings 2 ( and any devices provided inside to tubular casings 2 ) to high ( excessive ) mechanical stress . In fact , the quantity 5 of tobacco is not only pushed from the outside to enter the respective tubular casing 2 ( an action which, i f performed too decisively, can cause excessive mechanical stress on the tubular casing 2 ) , but the quantity 5 of tobacco is also ( and above all ) sucked into the tubular casing 2 ( an action which does not cause any signi ficant mechanical stress on the tubular casing 2 ) due to the suction action exerted by the corresponding pusher 36 ( elevator ) .

Furthermore , the filling unit 18 described above is relatively simple and inexpensive to produce since making the pushers 36 suction devices require modifications that are easy to implement .

List of Reference Numbers of the Figures

1 disposable cartridge

2 tubular casing lower wall side wall quantity of tobacco tab of filtering material cap manufacturing machine manufacturing drum rotation axis groups seats manufacturing drum rotation axis groups seats feeding units filling units feeding units trans fer units feeding units control units extraction units tank rotation axis groups seats base disc side wall central element feeding duct trans fer device pushers intermediate disc feeding duct pushers actuator device 38 shutter element

39 plug

40 through-hole

41 upper wall 42 chamber

43 suction source

44 elastic gasket

51 feeding station

52 f illing station S3 feeding station

54 trans fer station

55 feeding station

56 control station

57 output station

Claims

1) A filling unit (18) to introduce a quantity (5) of loose product into a casing (2) of a disposable cartridge (1) , in particular for electronic cigarettes, and having a lower wall (3) , which is permeable to air; the filling unit (18) comprises: a filling station (S2) ; a transfer device (32) , which is arranged in the filling station (S2) and is configured to transfer the quantity (5) of loose product into the casing (2) , which is located in the filling station ( S2 ) ; an operator element (36) , which is arranged in the filling station (S2) and has an upper wall (41) ; and an actuator device (37) configured to move the operator element (36) towards the casing (2) , which is located in the filling station (S2) , so as to lay the upper wall (41) of the operator element (36) against the lower wall (3) of the casing (2) at least while the quantity (5) of loose product is being transferred into the casing (2) ; the filling unit (18) is characterized in that the operator element (36) is configured to generate a suction through its upper wall (41) .

2) The filling unit (18) according to claim 1, wherein, in the filling station (S2) , the operator element (36) is arranged under the casing (2) and the actuator device (37) is configured to vertically move the operator element (36) .

3) The filling unit (18) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator device (37) is configured to push the casing (2) towards the transfer device (32) through the operator element (36) .

4) The filling unit (18) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the operator element (36) is configured to push the casing (2) upwards and towards the transfer device (32) . 5) The filling unit (18) according one of the claims from 1 to 4, wherein the operator element (36) can be connected to a suction source (43) .

6) The filling unit (18) according to claim 5, wherein the operator element (36) has, on the inside, a chamber (42) , which, on one side, is delimited by the upper wall (41) and, in use, can be connected to the suction source (43) .

7) The filling unit (18) according to claim 6, wherein the upper wall (41) of the operator element (36) has a plurality of through holes .

8) The filling unit (18) according to one of the claims from 1 to 7, wherein, in use, the quantity (5) of loose product is also sucked into the casing (2) thanks to the action of the suction applied by the operator element (36) .

9) The filling unit (18) according one of the claims from 1 to 8, wherein the upper wall (41) of the operator element (36) is provided with an elastic gasket (44) .

10) A filling method to introduce a quantity (5) of loose product into a casing (2) of a disposable cartridge (1) , in particular for electronic cigarettes, and having a lower wall (3) , which is permeable to air; the filling method comprises the steps of: placing the casing (2) in a filling station (S2) ; transferring, by means of a transfer device (32) , which is arranged in the filling station (S2) , the quantity (5) of loose product into the casing (2) , which is located in the filling station (S2) ; and moving, by means of an actuator device (37) , an operator element (36) , which is arranged in the filling station (S2) and has an upper wall (41) , towards the casing (2) , which is located in the filling station (S2) , so as to lay the upper wall (41) of the operator element (36) against the lower wall (3) of the casing (2) at least while the quantity (5) of loose product is being transferred into the casing (2) ; the filling method is characterized in that it comprises the step of generating a suction through the upper wall (41) of the operator element (36) .