NL2017197B1 - Product carrier - Google Patents

Product carrier Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2017197B1
NL2017197B1 NL2017197A NL2017197A NL2017197B1 NL 2017197 B1 NL2017197 B1 NL 2017197B1 NL 2017197 A NL2017197 A NL 2017197A NL 2017197 A NL2017197 A NL 2017197A NL 2017197 B1 NL2017197 B1 NL 2017197B1
Authority
NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
product carrier
product
carrier
moving
sliding surface
Prior art date
Application number
NL2017197A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Slurink Oscar
Original Assignee
Sluis Cigar Machinery Bv
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sluis Cigar Machinery Bv filed Critical Sluis Cigar Machinery Bv
Priority to NL2017197A priority Critical patent/NL2017197B1/en
Priority to EP17754815.3A priority patent/EP3487330A2/en
Priority to PCT/NL2017/050487 priority patent/WO2018016953A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2017197B1 publication Critical patent/NL2017197B1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G29/00—Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
    • B65G47/24—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles
    • B65G47/248—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors orientating the articles by turning over or inverting them
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
    • B65G47/84—Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
    • B65G47/846—Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/70—Manufacture
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles
    • B65G2201/0235—Containers
    • B65G2201/0261—Puck as article support

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a product carrier for carrying a part of an electronic cigarette through an assembly line, the product carrier comprising: - a body having a recess for holding the product, wherein the recess is provided in an upper side of the product carrier, - at least one moving surface configured to be engaged by a moving member of a conveyor, wherein the at least one moving surface faces outwardly, and - at least one convex sliding surface configured to slide along a curved carrier guide of the assembly line, wherein the convex sliding surface faces outwardly.

Description

Title: Product carrier Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a product carrier for carrying a product through an assembly line. The product may in particular be a part of an electronic cigarette.
Background of the invention
In the present invention, it was recognized that current methods of conveying parts of electronic cigarettes through an assembly line are rather limited. Also the product orientation is easily lost when the product is conveyed from assembly station to the next assembly station.
The insight was developed that it can be very practical if the product which is carried by the product carrier can be oriented to specific orientations for specific processing operations. It may have been already known that it is helpful if this orientation can be carried out relative to the surrounding, but in the present invention the insight was developed that in addition it is helpful if the orientation of the product can be carried out relative to the product carrier itself. In other words, a product carrier which allows the product to be moved relative to the product carrier in a specific way. In addition, it was recognized that such a possibility of movement should not result in uncontrolled movements of the product relative to the product carrier.
In addition, it was recognized in the present invention that it can be very useful if the product carrier itself can be conveyed by a pushing action only, and if the product carrier can be moved up and down in a well controlled manner.
These considerations apply in particular to parts of electronic cigarettes because these parts are quite small and for that reason difficult to handle.
Object of the invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a product carrier for carrying a product, a part of an electronic cigarette, through an assembly line.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a product carrier for carrying a product through an assembly line which allows the product to be reoriented relative to the product carrier itself and which allows the product including the product carrier to be reoriented relative to the surroundings.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a product carrier which supports the product in a way which prevents uncontrolled movements of the product relative to the product carrier, for instance caused by vibrations in the assembly line.
Summary of the invention
In order to achieve at least one object, the present invention provides a product carrier for carrying a part of an electronic cigarette through an assembly line, the product carrier comprising: - a body having a recess for holding the product, wherein the recess is provided in an upper side of the product carrier, - at least one moving surface configured to be engaged by a moving member of a conveyor, wherein the at least one moving surface faces outwardly, and - at least one convex sliding surface configured to slide along a curved carrier guide of the assembly line, wherein the convex sliding surface faces outwardly.
The invention results in a product carrier which supports the product and which is capable of carrying the product through an assembly line.
In an embodiment, the product carrier comprises a first moving surface and a second moving surface which are each configured to be engaged by a moving member of a conveyor, wherein the first and a second moving surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the product carrier. This allows an effective moving of the product carrier in multiple orientations.
In an embodiment, the first moving surface and the second moving surfaces are convex.
In an embodiment, when seen in top view the first moving surface and the second moving surface have a shape of a part of a circle, and wherein a centre of said circle coincides with a centre of the recess.
In an embodiment, when seen in top view the recess is provided in the centre of the product carrier, and has in particular a circular shape. This allows a reorienting operation of a circular product in the recess. E-cigarettes typically have a tubular shape and several parts therefore have a circular cross-section.
In an embodiment, the product carrier comprises a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface, wherein the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface are positioned on opposite sides of the product carrier. This effectively allows the moving of the product carrier along curved guides while keeping the product carrier in a desired orientation and providing good support to the product carrier with the guide.
In an embodiment, when seen in top view the at least one convex sliding surface has a shape of a part of a circle, and wherein a centre of said circle is located at a distance outside a contour of the product carrier, resulting in a radius of curvature which is greater than a radius of the moving surface .
In an embodiment, when seen in top view the product carrier is symmetrical with respect to a first vertical plane of symmetry. In an embodiment, when seen in top view the surfaces on the outer side of the product carrier are symmetrical with respect to a second vertical plane of symmetry which extends at right angles to the first plane. The symmetry makes it easier to handle the product carrier.
In an embodiment, when seen in top view the first and second moving surface are provided at a zero-degree position and at a 180-degree position, and wherein the first and second sliding surfaces are positioned at a 90-degree position and a 270-degree degree position. It was found that this combination allow proper moving and proper guiding at the same time
In an embodiment, when seen in top view each of the first and second moving surface extends over a circumferential angle of 100-130 degrees, in particular 110-120 degrees, and wherein when seen in top view each of the first and second sliding surface extends over a circumferential angle of 80-110 degrees, in particular 90-100 degrees. This allows reliable moving and reliable guiding at the same time.
In an embodiment, the product carrier comprises at least one first engagement surface and at least one second engagement surface which are not convex, and are in particular concave, and which are provided on the same side of the product carrier as the first and second sliding surface.
In an embodiment, the at least one first engagement surfaces and at least one second engagement surface are provided below and/or above the first and second sliding surface.
In an embodiment, the at least one first engagement surface and second engagement surface have a smaller width W1 than a width W2 of the first and second sliding surface.
In an embodiment, when seen in top view the first and second sliding surfaces are located closer to a centre of the product carrier than the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface.
In an embodiment, the one or more moving surfaces and the one or more sliding surfaces are oriented vertically.
In an embodiment, when seen in side view the first sliding surface is divided in a plurality of first sliding surface sections and wherein the second sliding surface is divided in a plurality of second sliding surface sections .
In an embodiment, the plurality of first sliding surface sections comprises an upper first sliding surface section which is located on an upper half of the product carrier and a lower first sliding surface section which is located on a lower half of the product carrier, and wherein the plurality of second sliding surface sections comprises an upper second sliding surface section which is located on an upper half of the product carrier and a lower second sliding surface section which is located on a lower half of the product carrier.
In an embodiment, the first and second moving surface extend from an upper end to a lower end of the product carrier.
In an embodiment, the recess is cylindrical and has a vertical axis of symmetry.
In an embodiment, the recess comprises a seat configured to support a product.
In an embodiment, the product carrier comprises a vertical through-passage extending from a bottom of the recess to an bottom surface of the product carrier, which through-passage allows a pusher member to push a product out of the recess by moving into the through-passage via the underside and moving against the product in the recess.
In an embodiment, the product carrier comprises one or more up-down recesses or an up-down projection in or on the outer side constructed to engage with an actuating member which moves the product carrier up or down.
In an embodiment, the product carrier comprises a flat and horizontal bottom surface configured to slide over a ground surface.
In an embodiment, the product carrier comprises a flat and horizontal top surface configured to slide over a surface.
In an embodiment, the product carrier is manufactured from steel, in particular stainless steel.
In an embodiment, the product carrier comprises one or more friction devices for creating a friction force on the product in the recess, for preventing uncontrolled movements of the product relative to the product carrier, wherein each friction device comprises a resilient member, in particular a compression spring, and a contact element for contacting the product. The friction device effectively prevents any undesired movements of the product relative to the product carrier, for instance by vibrations of a conveyor or a processing device.
The present invention further relates to a conveyor constructed to hold and move a plurality of product carriers according to the present invention, the conveyor comprising a plurality of product carrier movers, wherein each product carrier mover defines a product carrier position configured to accommodate the product carrier, wherein each product carrier mover comprises a forward projection and a rearward projection, wherein each product carrier position is located between a respective forward and rearward projection.
In an embodiment, the conveyor is a carrousel conveyor.
In an embodiment, each product carrier position of the conveyor is open to the side allowing entry of the product carrier into the product carrier position.
In an embodiment, the conveyor comprises an up-down actuating member configured to engage the product carrier for moving the product carrier up and/or down.
In an embodiment, the up-down actuating member is movable relative to the forward and rearward projection over a horizontal distance between an engaged position and a retracted position.
In an embodiment, the product carrier mover of the conveyor does not have a support member for supporting the underside of the product, and wherein the product carrier mover is configured to push the product in a horizontal direction while the product slides over a stationary bottom surface.
The present invention further relates to a product carrier mover comprising a left projection and a right projection which define a product carrier position between them in which a product carrier may fit at least partially, comprising an up-down actuating member which is configured to engage the product carrier and move the product carrier up and/or down.
In an embodiment, the up-down actuating member of the product carrier mover is retractable in order to disengage from the product carrier, wherein the retracting movement of the actuating member is together with the product carrier mover as a whole, or wherein the up-down actuating member is retractable relative to the projections.
The present invention further relates to a combination of the product carrier according to the invention and the conveyor or the product carrier mover according to the invention.
The present invention further relates to a method of carrying a product carrier for carrying a part of an electronic cigarette through an assembly line, the method comprising: - placing a product in a product carrier according to the invention, - conveying the product with a conveyor according to the invention or moving the product with a product carrier mover according to the invention.
These and other aspects of the invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like parts.
Short description of the figures
Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the product carrier according to the invention, with a separate product and with the product in the recess of the product carrier.
Figure 2A shows top views of the product carrier, of the separate product and of the product carrier having the product in the recess in accordance with fig. 1.
Figure 2B shows an enlarged top view of the product carrier.
Figure 3 shows side views of the product carrier, of the separate product and of the product carrier having the product in the recess in accordance with fig. 1 and 2.
Figure 4 shows front views of the product carrier, of the separate product and of the product carrier having the product in the recess.
Figure 5A shows isometric views of the product carrier according to the invention interacting with a product carrier mover having a lifting part that can lift and lower the product carrier. Also a product carrier mover without the product carrier is shown.
Figure 5B1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a conveyor having the product carrier mover of figure 5A.
Figure 5B2 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a conveyor having the product carrier mover of figure 5A and pusher members.
Figure 5B3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of fig. 5B2 including a cam track.
Figure 6 shows a cross section of the product carrier according to the invention.
Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the product carrier according to the invention.
Figure 8 shows isometric views of the product carrier according to the invention interacting with a pusher member which pushes the product out of the product carrier.
Figure 9 shows an isometric view of the product carrier according to the invention sliding along a carrier guide.
Figure 10 shows an isometric view of a conveyor according to the invention which conveys the product carrier according to the invention.
Figure 11 shows an isometric view of a reorienting device according to a second aspect of the invention.
Figure 11a shows an isometric view with a partially transparent section of the reorienting device of fig.11.
Detailed description of the figures
Turning to figures 1,2A and 2b, a product carrier 10 is shown. The product carrier is configured for carrying a part 16 of an electronic cigarette through an assembly line. The product carrier comprises a body 12 having a recess 14 for holding the part 16 (also referred to as product 16).
The recess is provided in an upper side 17 of the product carrier. When seen in top view the recess is provided in the centre of the product carrier, and has in particular a circular shape. The recess is cylindrical and has a vertical axis 28 of symmetry. The product carrier supports the product 16 in a vertical and horizontal direction. The recess is fully surrounded by the product carrier in the circumferential direction. The edge of the recess 14 is chamfered or rounded to guide a product into the recess.
The product carrier 10 further comprises at least one moving surface 15 configured to be engaged by a moving member of a conveyor (which will be discussed further below) The at least one moving surface 15 faces outwardly. In particular the product carrier 10 comprises a first moving surface 15A and a second moving surface 15B which are each configured to be engaged by a moving member of a conveyor. The first and second moving surfaces 15A, 15B are positioned on opposite sides of the product carrier. The first moving surface 15A and the second moving surfaces 15B are convex. The moving surfaces are oriented vertically. The first and second moving surface extend from the top to the bottom of the product carrier.
When seen in top view, the first moving surface and the second moving surface have a shape of a part of a circle, and a centre 20 of said circle coincides with a centre of the recess.
The product carrier 10 further comprises at least one convex sliding surface 18 configured to slide along a curved carrier guide of the assembly line. The convex sliding surface faces outwardly. The product carrier comprises in particular a first sliding surface 18A and a second sliding surface 18B. The first sliding surface 18A and the second sliding surface 18B are positioned on opposite sides of the product carrier 10. The sliding surfaces are oriented vertically.
When seen in top view the product carrier is symmetrical with respect to a first vertical plane 22 of symmetry. The first plane extends through the centre of the moving surfaces 15A, 1B5. When seen in top view the product carrier is symmetrical with respect to a second vertical plane 23 of symmetry which extends at right angles to the first plane 22. The second plane of symmetry extends through the centre of the sliding surfaces 18A, 18B. The friction devices are an exception to the second plane of symmetry, as will be discussed below.
Turning in particular to figure 2B, when seen in top view the first and second moving surfaces 15A, 15B are provided at a zero-degree position and at a 180-degree position, and the first and second sliding surfaces 18A, 18B are positioned at a 90-degree position and a 270-degree degree position. These positions relate to the centres of the respective moving surfaces and sliding surfaces.
When seen in top view each of the first and second moving surface 15A, 15B extends over a circumferential angle a of 100-130 degrees, in particular 110-120 degrees, and wherein when seen in top view each of the first and second sliding surface extends over a circumferential angle β of 80-110 degrees, in particular 90-100 degrees.
The product carrier 10 comprises at least one first engagement surface 24A (indicated in fig. 1 as 24A1 and 24A2) and at least one second engagement surface 24B (at the back side, not visible in fig. 1, but indicated in figs 2A and 2B) which are not convex and which are provided on the same side of the product carrier as respective the first and second sliding surface 18A, 18B. The at least one first engagement surface 24A1, 24A2 and at least one second engagement surface 24B1, 24B2 are provided below and/or above the first and second sliding surface. In the shown embodiment, the first engagement surface 24A and second engagement surface 24B are concave. Both the first engagement surface 24A and the second engagement surface 24B comprise two sections 24A1, 24A2 respectively 24B1, 24B2. The sections are located above one another.
The first engagement surface 24A and second engagement surface 24B have a smaller width W1 than a width W2 of the first and second sliding surface 18A, 18B.
When seen in top view the first and second sliding surfaces are located closer (at a smaller distance) to a centre 20 of the product carrier 10 than the first engagement surface 24A and the second engagement surface 24B. When seen in top view the sliding surfaces 18A, 18B have a shape of a part of a circle. A centre of said circle is located at a distance outside a contour of the product carrier. In other words, the sliding surfaces have a radius R1 of curvature which is greater than the radius R2 of the moving surface 15A, 15B, an in particular much greater.
When seen in side view the first sliding surface 18A is divided in a plurality of first sliding surface sections 18A1,18A2, 18A3, and the second sliding surface 18B is divided in a plurality of second sliding surface sections 18B1,18B2, 18B3.
In top view there are circumferential regions 51 of overlap between the moving surfaces 15A, 15B and the sliding surface 18A, 18B.
Turning to fig. 3, the plurality of first sliding surface sections comprises an upper first sliding surface section 18A1 which is located on an upper half 26A of the product carrier and a lower first sliding surface section 18A3 which is located on a lower half 26B of the product carrier. The plurality of second sliding surface sections also comprises an upper second sliding surface section 18B1 which is located on an upper half 26A of the product carrier and a lower second sliding surface section 18B3 which is located on a lower half 26B of the product carrier. The plurality of first sliding surface sections may comprise a middle first sliding surface section 18A2 provided halfway the height (H1) of the product carrier. The middle first sliding surface section 18A2 may also have another function as will be discussed below.
Turning to figs. 2A and 7, the recess 14 comprises a seat 30 configured to support a product.
Turning to figures 7 and 8, the product carrier 10 comprises a vertical through-passage 32 extending from a bottom 33 of the recess 14 to a bottom surface 34 of the product carrier. The through-passage 32 allows a pusher member 35 to push a product 16 out of the recess by moving into the through-passage via the underside and moving against the product in the recess, see the arrows 36 in figure 8.
The bottom surface 34 is flat and horizontal and is configured to slide over a ground surface.
Turning in particular to figure 5, the product carrier comprises one or more up-down recesses 38 or an up-down projections (not shown) in or on the outer side constructed to engage with an up-down actuating member 40 which moves the product carrier up or down, see arrow 47. The up-down recess 38 may be combined with the middle sliding surface 18A2. The up-down recess 38 may be provided at about halfway the height of the product carrier.
An up-down recess (or projection) is provided on both sides of the product carrier. The actuating member 40 is part of an up-down product carrier mover 42 which comprises a left projection 44A and a right projection 44B which define a space 45 (or product carrier position) between them in which the product carrier 10 may fit at least partially.
The up-down actuating member 40 is configured to engage the product carrier and is movable relative to the forward and rearward projection over a horizontal distance between an engaged position and a retracted position, see arrow 76. This movement may be together with the product carrier mover 42 as a whole, but the up-down actuating member 40 may also be movable relative to the projections 44A, 44B with a separate actuator. The product carrier may be lifted from a ground surface. It is also possible that the entire product carrier mover 42 is moved up and down by an actuating member without a separate engaging movement, in the sense that the product carrier is already engaged by the product carrier mover 42 and the entire product carrier moves is moved up and down.
The up-down recess 38 is a groove which extends horizontally and which is provided between the first and second engagement surface sections 24A1,24A2 (also on the other side between 24B1 and 24B2).
Turning to figure 5B1, a conveyor 170 is shown which comprises multiple product carrier movers 42, such as the ones shown in figure 5A. Each product carrier mover holds a product carrier 10 in an upside down orientation. The conveyor has a carrousel arrangement and rotates in direction 171 about a central axis 172. The conveyor is supported by a frame 173. The conveyor has multiple handling units 174 . each handling unit 174 comprises a product carrier mover 42 which is mounted to a vertically extending support member 175. At the upper end of each support member, a cam 176 is provided. The cam 176 runs in a cam track 177 which guides the cams 176 up and down as the conveyor rotates.
Turning to figure 5B2 and 5B3, a similar carrousel conveyor is shown wherein each handling unit further comprises a pusher member 35 and a separate cam 185 running in a separate cam track 186. The cams and the cam track let the pusher member move up and down and push the product out of the product carrier. A spring 178 is provided for each handling unit 174 which urges the product carrier mover downward to its lowest position.
The conveyor further comprises a rotary guiding member 180 which has rails 182 in the outer side. The rails extend vertically. Each product carrier mover 42 is guided in a vertical direction by the rails so that it can move in the direction indicated by arrow 183. A guide 60 as is shown in fig. 9 can be arranged around the conveyor for providing support to the products in the product carriers.
The product carrier may be manufactured from metal, in particular stainless steel, or from a hard plastic.
Turning to figs. 1 and 6, the product carrier 10 comprises one or more friction devices 50 for creating a friction force on the product 16 in the recess, for preventing uncontrolled movements of the product 16 relative to the product carrier. Each friction device 50 comprises in particular a compression spring 52 and a contact element 54 such as a ball for contacting the product. The friction devices 50 are provided in holes 55 in the product carrier 10. The holes extend through the product carrier from the outside to the recess. The holes are provided above the seat 30.
Turning to fig. 9, the product carrier 10 is shown in action and when gliding along a curved carrier guide 60. The curvature of the convex sliding surface 18A1 is the same as the curvature of the curved carrier guide 60. Typically, the convex sliding surface will have a shape of a part of a circle and the curved carrier guide 60 will have shape of a part of a circle having a same radius. This results in the best contact between the product carrier and the curved carrier guide. It will be clear for a skilled person that the carrier guide 60 is suitable to be used together with a conveyor such as shown in figures 5B1, 5B2, 5B3 and in figure 10. The carrier guide 60 may extend around the carrousel conveyor in order to keep the product carriers in the product carrier movers and prevent an outward movement of the product carriers.
Turning to fig. 10, a conveyor 70 is shown which is constructed to hold and move a plurality of product carriers 10. The conveyor is a carrousel conveyor. The conveyor comprises a plurality of product carrier movers 71, wherein each product carrier mover defines a product carrier position 73 configured to accommodate the product carrier. The product carrier movers are defined by a rotary gear like member 72.
Each product carrier mover comprises a forward projection 74 and a rearward projection 75, wherein each product carrier position 73 is located between a respective forward and rearward projection. The forward projection 74 and a rearward projection 75 form moving members. Depending on the direction of rotation of the conveyor, either the forward projection 74 or the rearward projection 75 forms the actual moving member, i.e. the member that moves the product carrier forward. In fig. 10, given the direction of rotation indicated by arrow 78, the projection 75 will form the actual moving member which pushes the product carrier.
Each product carrier position is open to the outer side, allowing a product carrier to be positioned in the product carrier position 73.
Each product carrier mover 71 comprises an inner side 77 which is convex and matches the shape of the engagement surfaces 24A1,24A2, 24B1,24B2.
The product carrier mover 71 does not have a support member for supporting the underside of the product carrier, and the product carrier mover 71 is configured to push the product in a horizontal direction while the product slides with its bottom surface 34 over a ground surface.
The product carrier mover 71 or the product carrier mover 42 of fig, 5A comprises a forward projection 74, 44B and a rearward projection 75, 44A as seen in the main direction of movement of the product carrier. The forward projection and a rearward projection extend to a first midplane 22 of the product carrier or end at a distance from said first midplane 22. This allows a transfer operation of the product carrier from of the product carrier from one conveyor to another conveyor or from one product carrier mover to another product carrier mover.
Returning to figure 5, the up-down product carrier mover 42 may be part of a conveyor 70 like the one shown in figure 10 and be configured to not only move the product carrier up and/or down, but also to move the product carrier 10 forward or backward. This is indicated by arrow 80 in fig. 5.
Turning to figures 11 and 11A, a reorienting device 90 is shown. The reorienting device 90 comprises a rotary helical cam track 92 which is driven by a drive in the direction of arrow 93 The reorienting device comprises a guide 94 which is also helical, but has a greater pitch than the rotary helical cam track 92. The guide extends over a circumferential angle of 180 degrees about the central axis 95 of the helical cam track 92.The pitch of the guide 94 is chosen such that the product carrier 10 is raised gradually and lowered gradually. The guide 94 supports both ends of the product carrier.
The reorienting device 90 has an entrance 96 and an exit 97 (at the backside).
When a product carrier 10 with or without a product 16 is placed at the entrance, it is moved by the rotating helical cam track in the direction of arrow 98. At the same time, the curved guide 94 forces the product carrier to revolve about the main axis 95. The result is that the product carrier makes a helical movement along the guide 94. If the guide has a 180 degree revolution, the product carrier is turned upside down (or turned straight up if it starts in the upside down orientation). If the guide 94 only makes a 90 degree revolution, the product carrier 10 is turned on its side or turned from its side to a vertical orientation.
The product carrier 10 according to the present invention is very suitable to be used in conjunction with the reorienting device 90.
It will be recognized that an embodiment may not achieve all of the stated objects.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.
The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention.
The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims (43)

1. Productdrager (10) voor het dragen van een deel van een elektronische sigaret door een productielijn, de productdrager omvattende: - een lichaam (12) met een holte (14) voor het houden van het product (16), waarbij de holte is aangebracht in een bovenzijde (17) van de productdrager, - ten minste een beweegvlak (15A, 15B) dat is ingericht om te worden aangegrepen door een beweegorgaan (74, 75) van de transporteur (70), waarbij het ten minste ene beweegvlak naar buiten toe gekeerd is, en - ten minste een convex glijvlak (18A, 18B) dat is ingericht om te glijden langs een kromme productdrager-baan (60) van de productielijn, waarbij het convexe glijvlak naar buiten toe gekeerd is.Product carrier (10) for carrying a part of an electronic cigarette through a production line, the product carrier comprising: - a body (12) with a cavity (14) for holding the product (16), the cavity being arranged in an upper side (17) of the product carrier, - at least one moving surface (15A, 15B) which is adapted to be engaged by a moving member (74, 75) of the conveyor (70), the at least one moving surface facing is facing outwards, and - at least one convex sliding surface (18A, 18B) which is adapted to slide along a curved product carrier path (60) of the production line, the convex sliding surface facing outwards. 2. Productdrager (10) volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de productdrager een eerste beweegvlak (15A) en een tweede beweegvlak (15B) omvat die elk zijn ingericht om te worden aangegrepen door een beweegorgaan van de transporteur, waarbij het eerste en tweede beweegvlak aan weerzijde van de productdrager zijn aangebracht.A product carrier (10) according to claim 1, wherein the product carrier comprises a first moving surface (15A) and a second moving surface (15B) which are each adapted to be engaged by a moving member of the conveyor, the first and second moving surface on either side of the product carrier. 3. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het eerste beweegvlak en het tweede beweegvlak convex zijn.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first moving surface and the second moving surface are convex. 4. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht het eerste beweegvlak en het tweede beweegvlak de vorm hebben van een deel van een cirkel, en waarbij een middelpunt van genoemde cirkel samenvalt met een middelpunt van de holte.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, viewed in top view, the first moving surface and the second moving surface have the shape of a part of a circle, and wherein a center of said circle coincides with a center of the cavity. 5. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht de holte is aangebracht in het midden van de productdrager, en in het bijzonder een cirkelvorm heeft.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, viewed in top view, the cavity is arranged in the center of the product carrier, and in particular has a circular shape. 6. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, omvattende een eerste glijvlak (18A) en een tweede glijvlak (18B), waarbij het eerste glijvlak en het tweede glijvlak zijn gepositioneerd aan tegenovergelegen zijden van de productdrager.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a first sliding surface (18A) and a second sliding surface (18B), wherein the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface are positioned on opposite sides of the product carrier. 7. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht het ten minste ene convexe glijvlak (18A, 18B) de vorm heeft van een deel van een cirkel, en waarbij een middelpunt van genoemde cirkel zich op een afstand buiten een contour van de productdrager bevindt, resulterend in een krommingsstraal (R1) die groter is dan een krommingsstraal (R2) van het beweegvlak (15A, 15B).A product carrier (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein viewed in top view, the at least one convex sliding surface (18A, 18B) has the shape of a part of a circle, and wherein a center of said circle is spaced apart at a distance a contour of the product carrier, resulting in a radius of curvature (R1) that is larger than a radius of curvature (R2) of the moving surface (15A, 15B). 8. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht de productdrager symmetrisch is ten opzichte van een eerste verticaal symmetrievlak (22).Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, viewed in top view, the product carrier is symmetrical with respect to a first vertical symmetry surface (22). 9. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht de vlakken aan de buitenzijde van de productdrager symmetrisch zijn ten opzichte van een tweede verticaal symmetrievlak (23) dat zich onder een rechte hoek ten opzichte van het eerste symmetrievlak uitstrekt.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, seen in top view, the surfaces on the outside of the product carrier are symmetrical with respect to a second vertical symmetry plane (23) which extends at a right angle with respect to the first symmetry plane . 10. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht het eerste en tweede beweegvlak zijn aangebracht op een nul-graden positie en een 180-graden positie, en waarbij het eerste en tweede glijvlak zijn aangebracht op een 90-graden positie en een 270-graden positie.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, seen in top view, the first and second moving surfaces are arranged at a zero-degree position and a 180-degree position, and wherein the first and second sliding surface are arranged at a 90- degree position and a 270 degree position. 11. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht zowel het eerste als het tweede beweegvlak zich uitstrekt over een omtrekshoek α van 100-130 graden, in het bijzonder 110-120 graden, en waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht zowel het eerste als tweede glijvlak zich uitstrekt over een omtrekshoek β van 80-110 graden, in het bijzonder 90-100 graden.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, seen in top view, both the first and the second moving surface extend over a circumferential angle α of 100-130 degrees, in particular 110-120 degrees, and wherein viewed in top view the first as second sliding surface extends over a circumference angle β of 80-110 degrees, in particular 90-100 degrees. 12. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, omvattende ten minste een eerste aangrijpingsvlak (24A1, 24A2) en ten minste een tweede aangrijpingsvlak (24B1,24B1) die niet convex zijn, en die in het bijzonder concaaf zijn, en die zijn aangebracht aan dezelfde zijde van de productdrager als het eerste en tweede glijvlak.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a first engagement surface (24A1, 24A2) and at least a second engagement surface (24B1, 24B1) that are non-convex, and which are particularly concave, and which are arranged on the same side of the product carrier as the first and second sliding surface. 13. Productdrager (10) volgens de voorgaande conclusie, waarbij de ten minste ene eerste aangrijpingsvlakken (24A1, 24A2) en de ten minste ene tweede aangrijpingsvlakken (24B1, 24B2) onder en/of boven het eerste en tweede glijvlakken zijn aangebracht.A product carrier (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the at least one first engagement surfaces (24A1, 24A2) and the at least one second engagement surfaces (24B1, 24B2) are arranged below and / or above the first and second sliding surfaces. 14. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de conclusies 11-12, waarbij het ten minste ene aangrijpingsvlak (24A1,24A2) en tweede aangrijpingsvlak (24B1,24B2) aan kleinere breedte (W1) hebben dan een breedte (W2) van het eerste en tweede glijvlak.A product carrier (10) according to any of claims 11-12, wherein the at least one engagement surface (24A1, 24A2) and second engagement surface (24B1,24B2) have a smaller width (W1) than a width (W2) of the first and second sliding surface. 15. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de conclusies 11-14, waarbij gezien in bovenaanzicht de eerste en tweede glijvlakken dichterbij een middelpunt (20) van de productdrager zijn gelegen dan het eerste aangrijpingsvlak (24A) en het tweede aangrijpingsvlak (24B).The product carrier (10) according to any of claims 11-14, wherein viewed from above, the first and second sliding surfaces are closer to a center (20) of the product carrier than the first engagement surface (24A) and the second engagement surface (24B). 16. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de een of meer beweegvlakken en de een of meer glijvlakken verticaal georiënteerd zijn.A product carrier (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more moving surfaces and the one or more sliding surfaces are vertically oriented. 17. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij gezien in zijaanzicht het eerste glijvlak is onderverdeeld in meerdere eerste glijvlakdelen (18A1, 18A2, 18A3) en waarbij het tweede glijvlak is onderverdeeld in meerdere tweede glijvlakdelen (18B1, 18B2, 18B3).Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, viewed in side view, the first sliding surface is subdivided into several first sliding surface parts (18A1, 18A2, 18A3) and wherein the second sliding surface is subdivided into a plurality of second sliding surface parts (18B1, 18B2, 18B3 ). 18. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de meerdere eerste glijvlakdelen en bovenste eerste glijvlakdeel (18A1) omvatten dat op een bovenste helft (26A) van de productdrager is gelegen en een onderste eerste glijvlakdeel (18A3) dat is gelegen op een onderste helft (26B) van de productdrager, en waarbij de meerdere tweede glijvlakdelen een bovenste tweede glijvlakdeel (18B1) omvatten dat is gelegen op een bovenste helft (26A) van de productdrager en een onderste tweede glijvlakdeel (18B2) dat is gelegen op een onderste helft (26B) van de productdrager.A product carrier (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of first sliding surface parts and upper first sliding surface part (18A1) are located on an upper half (26A) of the product carrier and a lower first sliding surface part (18A3) on a lower half (26B) of the product carrier, and wherein the plurality of second sliding surface parts comprise an upper second sliding surface part (18B1) located on an upper half (26A) of the product carrier and a lower second sliding surface part (18B2) located on a lower half (26B) of the product carrier. 19. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het eerste en tweede glijvlak zich van een bovenste einde tot aan een onderste einde van de productdrager uitstrekken.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second sliding surface extend from an upper end to a lower end of the product carrier. 20. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de holte cilindrisch is en een verticale symmetrieas heeft.The product carrier (10) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity is cylindrical and has a vertical axis of symmetry. 21. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de holte een zitting (30) omvat die is ingericht om een product te ondersteunen.A product carrier (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity comprises a seat (30) adapted to support a product. 22. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, omvattende een verticale doorgang (32) die zich vanuit een bodem van de holte uitstrekt tot een onderzijdevlak van de productdrager, waarbij de doorgang het mogelijk maakt voor een duworgaan (35) om een product uit de holte te drukken door de doorgaan heen bewegen via de onderzijde en tegen het product in de holte aan te bewegen.A product carrier (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a vertical passage (32) extending from a bottom of the cavity to a bottom surface of the product carrier, the passage making it possible for a push member (35) to pressing the product out of the cavity by moving the passage through the bottom and moving against the product in the cavity. 23. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de productdrager een of meer omhoog-omlaag holtes (18A2, 18B2) of een omhoog-omlaag uitstulping omvat die zich in of op de buitenzijde van de productdrager bevinden en die zijn ingericht om te worden aangegrepen door een bedieningsorgaan (40) dat de productdrager omhoog of omlaag beweegt.A product carrier (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product carrier comprises one or more up-down cavities (18A2, 18B2) or an up-down protrusion located in or on the outside of the product carrier and which are arranged to be engaged by an operating member (40) that moves the product carrier up or down. 24. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, omvattende een plat en horizontaal bodemvlak (34) dat is ingericht om over een grondvlak te glijden.A product carrier (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a flat and horizontal bottom surface (34) which is adapted to slide over a ground surface. 25. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, omvattende een plat en horizontaal bovenzijdevlak (17) dat is ingericht om over een oppervlak te glijden.A product carrier (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a flat and horizontal top surface (17) adapted to slide over a surface. 26. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, en dat is vervaardigd van staal, in het bijzonder van roestvrij staal.Product carrier (10) according to one of the preceding claims, and which is made of steel, in particular of stainless steel. 27. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, omvattende een of meer wrijvingsinrichtingen voor het creëren van een wrijvingskracht op het product in de holte, voor het voorkomen van ongecontroleerde bewegingen van het product ten opzichte van de productdrager, waarbij iedere wrijvingsinrichting een veerkrachtig orgaan, in het bijzonder een drukveer, en een contactelement omvat voor het contact maken met het product.A product carrier (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more frictional devices for creating a frictional force on the product in the cavity, for preventing uncontrolled movements of the product relative to the product carrier, each frictional device having a resilient member, in particular a compression spring, and a contact element for contacting the product. 28. Productdrager (10) volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij een rand van de holte is afgeschuind of afgerond is.A product carrier (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an edge of the cavity is chamfered or rounded. 29. Transporteur (70) geconstrueerd om meerdere productdragers volgens conclusie 1 te houden en te bewegen, waarbij de transporteur meerdere productdrager-bewegers (42, 71) omvat, waarbij iedere productdrager-beweger een productdragerpositie (73, 45) omvat die is ingericht om de productdrager te ontvangen, waarbij iedere productdrager-beweger een voorste uitstulping (74, 44B) en een achterste uitstulping (75, 44A) omvat, waarbij iedere productdragerpositie zich bevindt tussen een respectieve voorste en achterste uitstulping, gezien in de transportrichting.The conveyor (70) constructed to hold and move a plurality of product carriers according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises a plurality of product carrier movers (42, 71), each product carrier mover comprising a product carrier position (73, 45) adapted to receive the product carrier, wherein each product carrier mover comprises a front protrusion (74, 44B) and a rear protrusion (75, 44A), each product carrier position being located between a respective front and rear protrusion, viewed in the transport direction. 30. Transporteur volgens conclusie (29), waarbij de transporteur een carrouseltransporteur is.The conveyor of claim (29), wherein the conveyor is a carousel conveyor. 31 .Transporteur volgens conclusie29 of 30, waarbij iedere productdragerpositie aan de zijkant open is om een binnenkomst van de productdrager in de productdragerpositie mogelijk te maken.A conveyor as claimed in claim 29 or 30, wherein each product carrier position is open at the side to allow entry of the product carrier into the product carrier position. 32. Transporteur volgens een van de conclusies 29-31, omvattende een omhoog-omlaag beweegorgaan (40, 176) dat is ingericht om de productdrager omhoog en/of omlaag te bewegen, samen met de productdrager-beweger of ten opzichte van de productdragerbeweger.A conveyor according to any of claims 29-31, comprising an up-down moving member (40, 176) adapted to move the product carrier up and / or down, together with the product carrier mover or with respect to the product carrier mover. 33. Transporteur volgens een van de conclusies 29-32, waarbij het omhoog-omlaag beweegorgaan (40) ten opzichte van de voorste en achterste uitstulping beweegbaar is over een horizontale afstand tussen een aangrijpingspositie en een teruggetrokken positie.A conveyor according to any of claims 29-32, wherein the up-down moving member (40) is movable relative to the front and rear bulges over a horizontal distance between an engagement position and a retracted position. 34. Transporteur volgens een van de conclusies 29-33, waarbij de productdragerbeweger geen ondersteuningsorgaan heeft voor het ondersteunen van de onderzijde van de productdrager, en waarbij de productdrager-beweger is ingericht om de productdrager voort te duwen in een horizontale richting terwijl de productdrager over een stationair grondvlak glijdt.A conveyor according to any of claims 29-33, wherein the product carrier mover has no support member for supporting the underside of the product carrier, and wherein the product carrier mover is adapted to push the product carrier in a horizontal direction while the product carrier a stationary ground surface slides. 35. Transporteur volgens een van de conclusies 29-34, omvattende meerdere handling eenheden, waarbij iedere handling-eenheid een productdragerbeweger omvat en in het bijzonder een veer die de handling-eenheid een voorspanning in een neerwaartse richting geeft.A conveyor according to any one of claims 29-34, comprising a plurality of handling units, wherein each handling unit comprises a product carrier mover and in particular a spring which biases the handling unit in a downward direction. 36. Transporteur volgens conclusie 35, omvattende een nokkenbaan en een nok voor iedere handling-eenheid voor het naar boven en naar beneden bewegen van de productdrager.A conveyor as claimed in claim 35, comprising a cam track and a cam for each handling unit for moving the product carrier up and down. 37. Transporteur volgens conclusie 35 of 36, iedere handling-eenheid een duworgaan en een bedieningsmechanisme omvat voor het in verticale richting bewegen van het duworgaan ten opzichte van de productdragerbeweger voor het duwen van het product uit de productdrager.A conveyor according to claim 35 or 36, each handling unit comprises a push member and an operating mechanism for moving the push member in vertical direction relative to the product carrier mover for pushing the product out of the product carrier. 38. Productdrager-beweger (42, 71) omvattende een linker uitstulping (44A) en een rechter uitstulping (44B) die daartussen een productdragerpositie (45) definiëren waarin een productdrager (10) ten minste gedeeltelijk past, omvattende een omhoog-omlaag bedieningsorgaan (40) dat is ingericht om aan te grijpen op de productdrager en om de productdrager omhoog en/omlaag te bewegen.A product carrier mover (42, 71) comprising a left protrusion (44A) and a right protrusion (44B) defining therebetween a product carrier position (45) into which a product carrier (10) at least partially fits, comprising an up-down actuator ( 40) which is adapted to engage on the product carrier and to move the product carrier up and / or down. 39. Productdrager-beweger (42, 71) volgens conclusie (38), waarbij het omhoog-omlaag bedieningsorgaan teruggetrokken kan worden om los te komen van de productdrager, waarbij de terugtrekkende beweging van het bedieningsorgaan samen met de productdrager-beweger (42) als geheel plaatsvindt, of waarbij het omhoog-omlaag bedieningsorgaan (40) teruggetrokken kan worden ten opzichte van de uitstulping (44A, 44B).The product carrier mover (42, 71) of claim (38), wherein the up-down actuator can be retracted to disengage from the product carrier, the retracting movement of the actuator together with the product carrier mover (42) entirely, or wherein the up-down actuator (40) can be retracted with respect to the protrusion (44A, 44B). 40. Productdrager-beweger (42, 71) volgens conclusie 38 of 39, waarbij de productdrager-beweger geen ondersteuningsorgaan heeft voor het ondersteunen van de onderzijde van de productdrager, en waarbij de productdrager-beweger is ingericht om de productdrager in een horizontale richting voort te duwen terwijl de productdrager over een stationair grondvlak glijdt.The product carrier mover (42, 71) according to claim 38 or 39, wherein the product carrier mover has no support member for supporting the underside of the product carrier, and wherein the product carrier mover is adapted to advance the product carrier in a horizontal direction pushing while the product carrier slides over a stationary base. 41. Combinatie van de productdrager (10) volgens een van de conclusies 1-28 en de transporteur (70) volgens een van de conclusies 23-37 of de productdrager-beweger (42) volgens een van de conclusies 38-40.A combination of the product carrier (10) according to one of claims 1-28 and the conveyor (70) according to one of claims 23-37 or the product carrier-mover (42) according to one of claims 38-40. 42. Combinatie van de productdrager en de transporteur of productdrager-beweger volgens conclusie 41, waarbij de transporteur (70) of de productdrager-beweger (42) gezien in de transportrichting een voorste uitstulping (44B, 74) en een achterste uitstulping (44A, 75) omvat, en waarbij de voorste uitstulping en de achterste uitstulping zich uitstrekken tot een eerste middelvlak (22) van de productdrager of eindigen op een afstand van genoemd eerste middelvlak.A combination of the product carrier and the conveyor or product carrier mover according to claim 41, wherein the conveyor (70) or the product carrier mover (42), viewed in the conveying direction, has a front protrusion (44B, 74) and a rear protrusion (44A, 75), and wherein the front protrusion and the rear protrusion extend to a first center face (22) of the product carrier or end at a distance from said first center face. 43. Werkwijze voor het dragen van een productdrager (10) voor het dragen van een deel van de elektronische sigaret door een productielijn, de werkwijze omvattende: het plaatsen van een product in een productdrager volgens een van de conclusies 1-28, het transporteren van het product met een transporteur volgens een van de conclusies 29-37, of het bewegen van het product met een productdrager-beweger volgens een van de conclusies 38-40.A method for carrying a product carrier (10) for carrying a portion of the electronic cigarette through a production line, the method comprising: placing a product in a product carrier according to any of claims 1-28, transporting the product with a conveyor according to any of claims 29-37, or moving the product with a product carrier-mover according to any of claims 38-40.
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