Flexible Pushing Bar for Residue-Free Aerosol Substrate Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol generating devices face challenges in easily replacing aerosol substrates without leaving residues inside the device, which can deteriorate its operation and make the process laborious for users.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol generating device equipped with a flexible pushing bar that slides within the heating chamber to eject the substrate from the closed end to the open end, allowing for easy replacement and residue removal, while also being designed to clean internal surfaces and guide airflow for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional substrate replacement method is used, then the substrate can be replaced, but the process becomes laborious and residues are left inside the device
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing bar is extracted as a separate ejection mechanism from the heating chamber assembly. It can be removed and cleaned independently, allowing users to easily extract and replace substrates while the pushing bar itself can be cleaned to remove any accumulated residues, thus maintaining device reliability without complicating the replacement process
Solution Approach 2:
The pushing bar acts as an intermediary element between the user's manual operation and the substrate ejection process. By providing a dedicated pushing mechanism that extends into the heating chamber, it mediates the substrate removal process, ensuring complete ejection without leaving residues while simplifying user interaction
2Force
If the pushing bar is made rigid, then it can effectively eject the substrate, but it becomes cumbersome and uncomfortable for use
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing bar is constructed from flexible material such as silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, allowing it to bend and conform to the heating chamber geometry while maintaining sufficient rigidity to eject substrates. This flexibility eliminates the need for rigid structures, making the device more comfortable for users to handle and operate repeatedly
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the pushing bar are optimized by selecting elastomeric materials with specific durometer ranges (shore hardness 20-40), balancing flexibility and ejection force. The flexible material can be compressed to generate necessary ejection force while returning to its original shape, providing consistent performance without the discomfort of rigid components
3Volume of moving object
If the pushing bar is made flexible, then it can be arranged within restricted volume without being cumbersome, but it may not provide sufficient ejection force
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible pushing bar can be configured in various shapes and sizes that fit within the restricted volume of the heating chamber. Its flexibility allows it to be molded into space-efficient geometries while maintaining the ability to generate sufficient ejection force through material selection and structural design
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material properties are selected to provide appropriate elasticity and recovery characteristics. The material's ability to store and release mechanical energy enables the compact pushing bar to generate sufficient ejection force despite its small size and flexible nature
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
Facilitates simple and residue-free substrate replacement, reduces the risk of blocking, and enhances device performance by ensuring efficient ejection and cleaning of residues, improving user experience and device longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a pushing bar formed from a flexible material and configured to slide within the heating chamber between a retracted position and an ejecting position
Implementation Method 2
the pushing bar comprising a pushing element configured to eject the aerosol generating substrate from the heating chamber by pushing it from the closed end toward the open end
Implementation Method 3
adapted to heat, rather than burn, the substrate by conduction, convection and/or radiation, to generate aerosol for inhalation
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol generating device configured to operate with an aerosol generating substrate includes:a device body extending along a device axis and defining at least one side wall;a cup-shaped heating chamber defining an open end and a closed end opposite to the open end, the heating chamber configured to receive a heater part of the aerosol generating substrate; andan ejection mechanism including a pushing bar formed from a flexible material and configured to slide within the heating chamber between a retracted position and an ejecting position.The pushing bar includes a pushing element configured to eject the aerosol generating substrate from the heating chamber by pushing while the pushing bar is sliding from the retracted position to the ejecting position.