Vaporizer cartridge devices and systems and methods of manufacturing filled vaporizer cartrdiges

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods to facilitate partially automated production of fluid-filled vaporizer cartridge are disclosed. A device can include a vaporizer cartridge configured to be sealable assembled by a press-fit after filling. Systems and methods include systems and methods for filling an array of partially-assembled vaporizer cartridges and for assembling an array of filled, partially-assembled vaporizer cartridges simultaneously.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a mouthpiece assembly comprising:
 a mouthpiece, the mouthpiece having a first end and a second end and defining a vapor outlet at the first end and an air inlet located in a lateral surface located toward the second end; 
 an upper reservoir gasket removably attached to the second end of the mouthpiece; 
 a chamber housing, the chamber housing comprising an outer chamber surface, an inner chamber surface, a chamber housing attachment feature, and defining a vaporization chamber; 
 an inner stem coupled to the second end of the mouthpiece and defining an air inlet between an outer surface of the inner stem and the inner chamber surface; 
 a vaporizer assembly comprising a wick, a heating element, and an electrical connector; 
 a spring electrode gasket; and 
 a spring electrode; and 
   a reservoir assembly comprising: a base support defining a base support inner surface, a base electrode, a base electrode gasket, a reservoir cylinder, and a lower reservoir gasket;   wherein the base support comprises a base attachment feature configured to couple to the chamber housing attachment feature.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber housing attachment feature comprises a first locking ring disposed on the outer chamber surface, wherein the base attachment feature comprises a first locking ridge disposed on the base support inner surface and configured to provide an interference fit with the first locking ring. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the base attachment feature is configured to insertably receive the chamber housing attachment feature, and wherein the first locking ridge is configured to interlock with the first locking ring. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber housing attachment feature comprises a plurality of locking rings, and wherein the base attachment feature comprises a plurality of locking ridges. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein a second locking ridge is configured to provide a clearance fit for the first locking ring. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the base attachment feature comprises a relief slot, and wherein the base attachment feature is configured to elastically deform in response to an insertion of the first locking ring past the first locking ridge. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring electrode is configured to be compressed between the base electrode and the chamber housing in response to insertion of the chamber housing attachment feature into the base attachment feature. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir cylinder is configured to be compressed between the upper reservoir gasket and the lower reservoir gasket in response to insertion of the chamber housing attachment feature into the base attachment feature. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the chamber housing defines a fluid inlet providing fluid communication from the outer chamber surface to the vaporization chamber. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a cartridge tray configured to contain a reservoir assembly array;   a reservoir assembly array comprised of a plurality of reservoir assemblies disposed in the cartridge tray;   a mouthpiece assembly support;   a mouthpiece assembly array comprised of a plurality of mouthpiece assemblies disposed in the mouthpiece assembly support, each mouthpiece assembly configured to be snap-fit to one of the plurality of reservoir assemblies; and   a cartridge press;   wherein the mouthpiece assembly support is configured to releasably retain the mouthpiece assembly array in an inverted position and to align each of the plurality of mouthpiece assemblies in the inverted position with a corresponding reservoir assembly to permit coordinated insertion of each of the plurality of mouthpiece assemblies into the corresponding reservoir assembly to produce a partially-assembled cartridge array comprised of a plurality of partially-assembled cartridges;   wherein the cartridge press is configured to receive the partially-assembled cartridge array and to apply an assembly pressure to the partially-assembled cartridge array; and   wherein each partially-assembled cartridge in the plurality the partially-assembled cartridges is configured to produce an assembled condition in response to the assembly pressure.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a mouthpiece assembly array ejection tool configured to permit coordinated ejection of the plurality of mouthpiece assemblies from the mouthpiece assembly support. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the system is configured to produce an array of assembled cartridges from an array of partially-assembled cartridges in less than about 30 seconds. 
     
     
         13 . A method of assembling a fluid-filled vaporizer cartridge array comprising:
 positioning a reservoir assembly array in a first position;   dispensing a fluid into the reservoir assembly array to produce a fluid-filled reservoir assembly array;   inserting a mouthpiece assembly array into the fluid-filled reservoir assembly array to produce a first partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array;   aligning a mouthpiece assembly chamber housing attachment feature of the first partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array with a reservoir assembly base attachment feature of the first partially-assembled cartridge array to produce an aligned partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array; and   pressing the aligned partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array to produce an assembled fluid-filled cartridge array.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid in the fluid-filled reservoir assembly array is displaced during the inserting the mouthpiece assembly array step. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the aligning a mouthpiece assembly chamber housing attachment feature of the first partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array with the reservoir base attachment feature of the first partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array comprises insertion of a distal locking ring of the mouthpiece assembly past a proximal locking ridge of the reservoir base attachment feature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a first locking ring is inserted past a first locking ridge in response to the pressing the aligned partially-assembled cartridge array step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a first locking ring is inserted past a first locking ridge and a second locking ring is inserted past a second locking ridge in response to the pressing the aligned partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a spring electrode is compressed in response to the pressing the aligned partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the spring electrode completes an electrical connection with the reservoir assembly in response to producing an assembled fluid-filled cartridge array. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of gaskets are compressed in response to the pressing the aligned partially-assembled fluid-filled cartridge array to produce a fluid-tight assembled fluid-filled cartridge array.