Adjustable Wick Atomizer for Piezo Disc Lifespan
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fragrance systems face issues with premature degeneration of piezo discs due to oversaturation, inconsistent fragrance emission, and poor spreading of atomized particles, leading to reduced device lifespan and ineffective fragrance distribution.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable atomizer system with a cartridge that maintains the piezo member's wetness consistency, featuring a dry-to-wet configuration mechanism and a flow altering mechanism to enhance fragrance spreading, allowing for replaceable cartridges and optimized liquid supply via a wick adapted to draw liquid regardless of orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wick is immersed in liquid perfume at the start of product life, then the piezo mesh becomes oversaturated or waterlogged, but this prevents the piezo disc from diffusing liquid perfume and leads to premature degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The wick holder is made adjustable to change its position relative to the liquid level dynamically. This allows the system to adapt to different stages of liquid consumption, maintaining optimal wick immersion depth throughout the product life cycle, thereby preventing both oversaturation at the beginning and excessive dryness at later stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable wick holder allows preliminary positioning of the wick at an optimal distance from the liquid surface before the bottle is fully consumed. This preliminary adjustment prevents the piezo mesh from becoming oversaturated with liquid at the start, thereby extending the piezo disc lifespan while maintaining functionality.
2Reliability
If the liquid level drops towards the base of the bottle, then the surface area of the wick immersed in liquid decreases, but this leads to excessive dryness of the piezo mesh and insufficient fragrance atomisation
Solution Approach 1:
The wick holder can be adjusted to different positions as the liquid level changes. This dynamic adjustment compensates for the decreasing liquid level, maintaining a consistent surface area of wick immersion and ensuring reliable fragrance emission throughout the product life.
3Reliability
If the piezo disc remains dry until activation, then premature degradation is prevented, but the system requires an adjustment mechanism to enable liquid supply
Solution Approach 1:
The wick holder is pre-adjusted to a position where the wick does not contact the liquid reservoir before use. This preliminary positioning keeps the piezo disc dry during storage and transport, preventing premature degradation. The user simply needs to perform a single adjustment action before first use to enable liquid supply.
4Productivity
If no flow altering mechanism is present, then the system structure remains simple, but atomised fragrance particles do not spread well into the surrounding environment
Solution Approach 1:
A flow altering mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the piezo disc and the surrounding environment. This mechanism modifies the flow pattern of atomised fragrance particles, enhancing their dispersion and distribution effectiveness without fundamentally changing the core atomisation process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system prolongs the life of the device by preventing premature piezo disc degradation, ensures consistent fragrance emission, and improves the distribution of atomized particles into the environment, maintaining performance throughout the cartridge's life and reducing residue buildup.
Implementation Method 1
The wick transports the perfume liquid in the bottle by capillary action up to the mesh of the piezo disc where the liquid perfume is atomised
Implementation Method 2
an atomising mechanism for atomising the liquid, the atomizing mechanism comprising a piezo member
Data Source
AI summary
An atomiser system includes a fragrance cartridge and a docking housing in which the fragrance cartridge is installed. The fragrance cartridge includes a bottle for holding a liquid fragrance therein; a wick extending down into the bottle; a piezo disc for atomising the liquid fragrance received from the wick; and an adjustable cap by which a user activates the cartridge, bringing the liquid fragrance into contact with a certain portion of the wick.