Aerosol Mixing Machine with Automated Ratio Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating systems, such as electrically operated smoking systems, face challenges in customizing aerosol-forming compositions due to the complexity and requirement of specialist equipment for manual mixing of e-liquids, which can be difficult and inaccurate.
Innovation Solution
A machine with reservoirs for containing aerosol-forming composition components, a mixing mechanism, a controller, and a user interface that allows users to specify ratios for mixing components, along with a testing mechanism to vaporize a test sample and deliver it to the user, enabling accurate and repeatable mixing of aerosol-forming compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual mixing of e-liquids is performed by consumers, then customization of aerosol-forming composition is achieved, but the process becomes difficult and requires specialist equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables consumers to independently customize and mix e-liquid formulations without requiring specialist equipment or expertise. The automated mixing mechanism with precise ratio control allows users to simply select components through a user interface, eliminating the need for manual mixing skills while maintaining full customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical mixing with an automated mixing mechanism that uses controlled fluid delivery and automated agitation. This substitution eliminates the difficulty of manual mixing while preserving the ability to create customized formulations, as the machine performs the complex mixing operations automatically based on user-selected ratios.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual mixing of e-liquids is performed, then customization is possible, but the process is inaccurate and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces imprecise manual mixing with an automated mixing mechanism that uses controlled fluid delivery systems and automated agitation. The machine delivers precise volumes of each component according to user-selected ratios and automatically mixes them, eliminating the inaccuracies of manual mixing while maintaining customization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a controller that monitors and controls the mixing process, ensuring accurate delivery of components according to the specified ratios. The automated control system provides feedback to adjust the mixing process, ensuring precision in the final formulation while allowing users to customize the composition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If e-liquid components are mixed manually, then users can create customized formulations, but the process requires specialist equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a single device: component storage, automated mixing, ratio control, and testing capability. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialist equipment for each function, allowing users to customize formulations using one integrated machine that performs all necessary operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: reservoirs for storing components, automated mixing mechanism, ratio control system, and testing capability are merged into one device. This consolidation eliminates the need for users to have separate specialist equipment for mixing, storage, and testing, while maintaining full customization capability.
4Ease of operation
If a testing mechanism is added to the machine, then users can test samples before creating larger quantities, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary testing of small sample quantities before the user creates larger quantities of the aerosol-forming composition. This allows users to evaluate the formulation's performance and make adjustments before committing to larger production, enhancing convenience while the automated nature of the testing mechanism keeps the complexity increase manageable.
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 machine facilitates the production of customized aerosol-forming compositions with improved accuracy and ease of use, allowing users to test samples before creating larger quantities, reducing the need for manual mixing and ensuring consistent results.
Implementation Method 1
a heater assembly for vaporising a test sample of the composition to form an aerosol
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a machine for producing an aerosol-forming composition for an aerosol-generating system, the machine including a plurality of reservoirs configured to contain components of an aerosol-forming composition; a mixing mechanism in communication with the plurality of reservoirs; a controller connected to, and configured to control, the mixing mechanism; a user interface connected to the controller for a user to operate the machine, the mixing mechanism being configured to mix selective quantities of components from the plurality of reservoirs according to specified ratios to create an aerosol-forming composition; a testing mechanism including a heater assembly configured to vaporize a test sample to form an aerosol, and at least one outlet configured to deliver the aerosol to the user; and a transfer mechanism configured to deliver the test sample to the testing mechanism. There is also provided a machine and process for producing and delivering the test sample.