Electronic Cigarette Cartridge Assembly Machine with Pre-Folded Heating Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing electronic cigarette cartridges are inefficient, resulting in low productivity and frequent failures due to poor electrical connections between the power electrodes and heat resistors.
Innovation Solution
A manufacturing machine and method that includes a series of assembly stations and conveyors to efficiently assemble and connect the components, such as power electrodes, electronic circuits, heating members, and hygroscopic pads, ensuring precise positioning and stable connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the insulating wick is folded into a 'U' shape after welding the heat resistor terminals to the power electrodes, then the electrical connection stability is improved, but the production speed decreases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating wick is pre-folded into a U-shape before the welding operation. This preliminary action ensures that the wick is already in the correct configuration to provide stable electrical connection, eliminating the need for post-welding folding operations and thereby maintaining high production speed while ensuring connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process is divided into distinct sequential steps: first preparing the U-shaped insulating wick, then positioning the heat resistor, and finally performing welding. This segmentation allows each operation to be optimized independently, with the wick preparation done in advance to not interfere with the welding speed.
2Reliability
If the insulating wick is folded into a 'U' shape after welding, then the electrical connection stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating wick is pre-folded into a U-shape before the welding operation. This preliminary action ensures that the wick is already in the correct configuration to provide stable electrical connection, eliminating the need for post-welding folding operations and thereby maintaining high production speed while ensuring connection reliability.
3Reliability
If slow production operations are used to maintain quality, then the electrical connection reliability is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating wick is pre-folded into a U-shape before the welding operation. This preliminary action ensures that the wick is already in the correct configuration to provide stable electrical connection, eliminating the need for post-welding folding operations and thereby maintaining high production speed while ensuring connection reliability.
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 solution enables high productivity and reliable assembly of electronic cigarette cartridges with improved electrical connections, enhancing both speed and quality of production.
Implementation Method 1
two welds between the terminals of the heat resistor and the corresponding power electrodes are formed for establishing a stable electrical connection
Implementation Method 2
the heat generated by the heating member would heat the hygroscopic pad causing the slow volatilization (vaporization) of the viscous liquid substance which impregnates the hygroscopic pad
Data Source
AI summary
A manufacturing machine and a method for producing a cartridge for an electronic cigarette comprising a supporting base, a pair of power electrodes fitted to the supporting base, and a heating member folded into a ‘U’ around the power electrodes are disclosed: a conveyor comprising a pocket for feeding the supporting base fitted with the power electrodes along a conveying path; a connecting unit which connects the heating member to the power electrodes while the supporting base, fitted with the power electrodes, is housed inside the pocket on the conveyor; a welding device located along the conveyor to weld a pair of terminals of a heat resistor of the heating member to the corresponding power electrodes; and a folding device, which cooperates with the connecting unit and folds the heating member into a ‘U’ before the heating member is connected to the power electrodes.