GATHERING ASSEMBLY

Organization Name

Philip Morris Products S.A.

Inventor(s)

Niki Meloncelli of Castel Maggiore (IT)

Stefano Zappoli of Bologna (IT)

Gastone Minelli of Bologna (IT)

Pierfrancesco Ulivi of Strongoli (IT)

GATHERING ASSEMBLY - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18576837 titled 'GATHERING ASSEMBLY

The abstract describes a gathering assembly for the production of an aerosol generating article, consisting of a gathering element and a support assembly. The gathering element receives and gathers material on the support assembly, with features such as an inlet, outlet, and converging portion to facilitate material collection. The support assembly includes fixed and movable portions, with the gathering element coupled to the movable portion. A sacrificial member is included to maintain positions of the fixed and movable portions, failing when excessive force is applied on the gathering element.

Gathering assembly for production of aerosol generating article
Includes gathering element and support assembly
Gathering element receives and gathers material on support assembly
Support assembly has fixed and movable portions
Sacrificial member maintains positions of portions
Fails when excessive force is applied on gathering element

Potential Applications: - Production of aerosol generating articles - Industrial material gathering processes - Research and development for aerosol technologies

Problems Solved: - Efficient material collection for aerosol production - Controlled gathering process - Prevention of damage due to excessive force

Benefits: - Improved production efficiency - Enhanced material gathering accuracy - Increased safety in assembly operation

Commercial Applications: Title: "Advanced Aerosol Production Gathering Assembly for Industrial Use" This technology can be utilized in industries such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and automotive for efficient aerosol production processes. The market implications include cost savings, improved product quality, and enhanced safety measures in manufacturing operations.

Questions about Aerosol Generating Article Gathering Assembly: 1. How does the sacrificial member contribute to the overall functionality of the assembly? The sacrificial member plays a crucial role in maintaining the positions of the fixed and movable portions of the support assembly, ensuring the proper functioning of the gathering element.

2. What are the key features that differentiate this gathering assembly from traditional methods? The inclusion of a sacrificial member, coupled with the movable portion of the support assembly, sets this gathering assembly apart from conventional methods, allowing for controlled material collection and enhanced safety measures.

Original Abstract Submitted

A gathering assembly for production of an aerosol generating article is provided, the assembly including a gathering element and a support assembly, the element to receive and to gather a material on the support assembly, the element including an inlet to receive the material, an outlet for outward passage of the material, and a converging portion to receive the material from the inlet and to gather the material on the support assembly as the material passes between the inlet and the outlet, the support assembly including a first portion having a fixed position relative to the support assembly, a second portion movable relative to the first portion, the gathering element being coupled to and movable with the second portion, and a sacrificial member to couple positions of the first and the second portions, and to fail when force applied on the gathering element by the material exceeds a predetermined level.