Automatic Cigarette Butt Detruding Device with Spring-Loaded Clamp

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional cigarette holders require manual removal of cigarette butts, which is laborious and can cause scalding, and do not effectively prevent finger contact with tobacco odor and stains.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a cylindrical cigarette clamp, cup-shaped cigarette fixer, cylindrical support ring, duckbill-shaped air outlet end housing, metal gasket, and spring, which automatically clamps and releases the cigarette butt for smooth and quick removal, using elastic materials for torque transmission and reset mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual detruding of cigarette butt is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cigarette butt removalVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cigarette clamp automatically releases the cigarette butt through a spring-loaded mechanism that self-activates when the cigarette is fully consumed, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling automatic detruding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cigarette clamp transitions from a static clamping state to a dynamic release state through the spring mechanism, allowing the clamp to automatically adjust and release the cigarette butt without manual operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If manual detruding of cigarette butt is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecigarette butt removal efficiencyVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic release mechanism enables rapid cigarette butt removal without manual intervention, significantly improving productivity by eliminating the time and effort required for manual detruding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The spring mechanism is pre-loaded during the clamping phase, storing energy that is automatically released when the cigarette is consumed, enabling quick and efficient cigarette butt removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If fingers directly contact cigarette, then ease of operation is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecigarette handling convenienceVSAvoidtobacco odor and stains on fingers

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cigarette clamp serves as an intermediary device between the user's fingers and the cigarette, allowing cigarette handling without direct finger contact, thereby preventing tobacco odor and stains on fingers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cigarette clamp uses elastic clamping sheets that can flexibly adapt to the cigarette shape while maintaining a barrier between the user's fingers and the cigarette, preventing direct contact and associated harmful effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Ease of operation

If fingers directly contact cigarette butt, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecigarette butt handling convenienceVSAvoidrisk of scalding fingers

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cigarette clamp acts as a protective intermediary that maintains a safe distance between the user's fingers and the hot cigarette butt, eliminating the risk of scalding while still enabling easy cigarette butt removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic release mechanism ensures that the cigarette butt is released before the user needs to handle it, preventing any potential contact with hot surfaces and cushioning against the risk of scalding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Enables quick, easy, and smooth automatic removal of cigarette butts, preventing finger contact with tobacco and reducing the risk of scalding, while allowing for easy insertion of new cigarettes.

Implementation Method 1

a spring 7

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a spring 7

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 3

friction force between the cigarette clamp (1) and the cigarette fixer (2) serves as a torque transmission mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS10440987B2Device for automatically detruding cigarette butt

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 CHINA TOBACCO YUNNAN IND

AI summary

A device for automatically detruding a cigarette butt includes a cigarette clamp, a cigarette fixer, a support ring, a cigarette butt detruding sliding ring, an air outlet end housing, a metal gasket, and a spring. After the cigarette is burnt and smoked, the cigarette butts can be detruded without the necessity of contacting the cigarette butts by hands in a low-resistance state.