Electronic Cigarette Cartridge Sterilization Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic cigarette cartridges are prone to contamination by dust and bacteria when not in use, leading to health risks and unpleasant sensations during use, as they are exposed and not effectively sterilized.
Innovation Solution
An electronic cigarette design featuring a housing with an ascending/descending mechanism for the cartridge, an ultraviolet (UV) lamp for sterilization, and a pressure sensor to automate UV exposure, along with a liquid separating portion to remove liquid components from the smoke, ensuring the cartridge is protected and sterilized when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cartridge is exposed outside the housing during use, then ease of operation is improved, but the cartridge is contaminated by impurities such as dust and bacteria
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into an upper plate that can be detached, creating a separable structure. This allows the cartridge to be accessed by removing the upper plate while maintaining protection when assembled, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is pre-positioned in a protected state within the housing. The ascending/descending mechanism is designed to move the cartridge only after the upper plate is removed, ensuring the cartridge remains protected until operation is needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cartridge is positioned inside the housing when not in use, then contamination is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to ascending/descending mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The opening/closing means is combined with the ascending/descending means into a single integrated mechanism. This dual-function design reduces the number of separate components while achieving both cartridge protection and position adjustment, resolving the contradiction between contamination prevention and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening/closing means serves multiple functions: it closes the opening to prevent contamination and simultaneously controls the cartridge's ascending/descending movement. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining protection capabilities.
3Reliability
If a UV lamp is added for sterilization, then reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The UV lamp is positioned inside the housing to automatically sterilize the cartridge when the upper plate is removed and the cartridge is exposed. The system performs self-sterilization without requiring external intervention, improving reliability while minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The UV lamp provides continuous sterilization capability whenever the cartridge is positioned inside the housing, ensuring ongoing protection against contamination. This continuous useful action enhances reliability without requiring complex intermittent control mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If the opening/closing means operates in cooperation with ascending/descending means, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The opening/closing means and ascending/descending means are merged into a single integrated mechanism that performs both functions simultaneously. This reduces the number of separate components and control systems needed, improving ease of operation while managing device complexity.
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 effectively prevents contamination, ensures the cartridge is sterilized, and enhances user experience by maintaining cleanliness and preventing unpleasant tastes from unvaporized liquid.
Implementation Method 1
an ultraviolet (UV) lamp which is positioned inside the housing, and sterilizes the cartridge by irradiating the cartridge with UV radiation
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic cigarette includes a housing having an opening, an ascending/descending means which is positioned inside the housing in order to move a cartridge up or down, the cartridge which contains a solution therein, and is moved up or down by the ascending/descending means so that the cartridge is positioned inside the housing or protrudes from the housing through the opening, an opening/closing means which opens or closes the opening by operating in cooperation with the ascending/descending means, and an ultraviolet (UV) lamp which is positioned inside the housing, and sterilizes the cartridge by irradiating the cartridge with UV radiation. When the electronic cigarette is not being used, the cartridge can be positioned inside the housing in order to prevent the cartridge from being contaminated by impurities such as dust and the cartridge can be sterilized by UV radiation emitted from the UV lamp.