Modular apparatus for manufacturing a consumable unit for an inhalation device and method for reconfiguring said apparatus

Abstract

A modular apparatus for performing a sequence of assembly operations on components of an inhalation device, the apparatus including a set of workstations, each workstation being configured to perform a different assembly operation of the sequence of operations; wherein each workstation includes a machine tray support to locate a machine tray in which components for assembly are received, the machine tray support being configured to guide the machine tray located in the machine tray support into a predetermined position in the workstation.

1 . A modular apparatus for performing a sequence of assembly operations on components of an inhalation device, the apparatus comprising:
 a set of workstations, each workstation being configured to perform a different assembly operation of the sequence of operations;   wherein each workstation comprises:
 a machine tray support to locate a machine tray in which components for assembly are received, the machine tray support being configured to guide the machine tray located in the machine tray support into a predetermined position in the workstation. 
   
     
     
         2 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each workstation further comprises:
 a platform slidably mounted relative to the machine tray support for movement into an engaged position in which an assembly operation is carried out on components received in the machine tray located in the predetermined position;   wherein the platform of each workstation is configured to mount a different assembly mechanism so that, when the platform is in said engaged position in a workstation, the assembly mechanism of that workstation performs one of the assembly operations of the sequence on the components received in the machine tray located in the predetermined position in that workstation.   
     
     
         3 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the platform of each workstation is configured to slide between the engaged position and a disengaged position, in which a machine tray is insertable into, or is removable from, the machine tray support of the workstation. 
     
     
         4 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the platform of each workstation is mounted on a pillar for linear movement between the engaged and disengaged positions. 
     
     
         5 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the platform of each workstation is supported by four pillars arranged around the machine tray support. 
     
     
         6 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each machine tray support comprises one or more rails configured to support opposing sides of a machine tray so that the machine tray can be inserted into the predetermined position by sliding the machine tray along said rails. 
     
     
         7 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each machine tray support includes a stop against which a machine tray abuts when inserted into the predetermined position. 
     
     
         8 . A modular apparatus according to any of  claim 3 , wherein at least one workstation of the set of workstations comprises an actuator configured to move the movable shelf between the engaged and disengaged positions. 
     
     
         9 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each machine tray support further comprises a proximity switch to determine if a machine tray is located in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         10 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each workstation comprises an interface unit and wherein the modular apparatus further comprises a controller configured to control each workstation via said interface units. 
     
     
         11 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein each workstation comprises a wireless tag reader to detect information identifying a unique wireless tag associated with a machine tray inserted into the workstation, wherein said information is communicated to the controller by the interface unit. 
     
     
         12 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein each workstation comprises a set of stop/go lights to indicate to an operator of the workstation whether to proceed to perform an assembly operation on components received in a machine tray inserted into the workstation, wherein said stop/go lights are configured to provide said indication to the operator on receipt of instructions from the controller. 
     
     
         13 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein each interface unit is further configured to communicate to the controller a completion status of an assembly operation carried out on said components, wherein a positive completion status indicates that said assembly operation was successfully carried out, and wherein the controller is configured to record said completion status and associate said completion status with information identifying the unique wireless tag of said machine tray. 
     
     
         14 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one workstation of the set of workstations comprises an inspection unit configured to generate an inspection status, said inspection status comprising information about the condition of components received in a machine tray located in the at least one workstation; wherein the interface unit of the at least one workstation is further configured to communicate to the controller the inspection status of said components; and wherein the controller is configured to record said inspection status and associate said inspection status with information identifying the unique wireless tag of the machine tray in which said components are received. 
     
     
         15 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the set of workstations comprises first and second workstations for performing first and second assembly operations, respectively, the components being subject to the first assembly operation before being subject to the second assembly operation, and wherein the controller is configured to instruct the stop/go lights of the second workstation to indicate to an operator of the second workstation to proceed only when the unique wireless tag of a machine tray inserted into the second workstation is associated with a positive completion status for the first assembly operation. 
     
     
         16 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the wireless tag comprises an RFID tag. 
     
     
         17 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the set of workstations are configured to perform a first sequence of assembly operations to assemble a first type of component for an inhalation device and wherein the set of workstations can be reconfigured to perform a second sequence of assembly operations, different to the first sequence of operations, to assemble a second type of component for an inhalation device. 
     
     
         18 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein reconfiguring the set of workstations comprises repositioning workstations relative to one another and/or removing one or more workstations and/or adding one or more further workstations. 
     
     
         19 . A modular apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein reconfiguring the set of workstations comprises replacing the assembly mechanism of at least one workstation of the set of workstations, said assembly mechanism being configured to carry out a first assembly operation on components of an inhalation device, with a different assembly mechanism configured to carry out a second assembly operation on components of an inhalation device, different from the first assembly operation. 
     
     
         20 . A workstation for use in a modular apparatus configured to assemble components of an inhalation device, wherein the workstation is configured to perform an assembly operation on said components, and wherein the workstation comprises:
 a machine tray support to locate a machine tray in which components for assembly are received, the machine tray support being configured to guide the machine tray located in the machine tray support into a predetermined position in the workstation.   
     
     
         21 . A workstation according to  claim 20  further comprising a platform slidably mounted relative to the machine tray support for movement into an engaged position in which an assembly operation is carried out on components received in the machine tray located in the predetermined position;
 wherein the platform is configured to mount an assembly mechanism so that, when the platform is in said engaged position, the assembly mechanism performs an assembly operation on the components received in the machine tray located in the predetermined position. 
 
     
     
         22 . A method of reconfiguring a modular apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising repositioning workstations relative to one another and/or removing one or more workstations and/or adding one or more further workstations. 
     
     
         23 . A method of reconfiguring a modular apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , comprising replacing the assembly mechanism of at least one workstation of the set of workstations, said assembly mechanism being configured to carry out a first assembly operation on components of an inhalation device, with a different assembly mechanism configured to carry out a second assembly operation on components of an inhalation device, different from the first assembly operation.