Foldable Aerosol Consumable Structure for Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing consumables for non-combustible aerosol provision devices face challenges in handling, storage, and manufacturing efficiency due to the arrangement of aerosol-generating materials, which can lead to contamination and inefficient packing.
Innovation Solution
A consumable design featuring a support with discrete portions of aerosol-generating material separated by bare areas, allowing for folding and rolling configurations that protect the material during storage and facilitate easy handling, while enabling high density and efficient use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If aerosol-generating material is arranged in continuous or closely packed form, then manufacturing and storage are simplified, but the material becomes susceptible to contamination and handling difficulties arise
Solution Approach 1:
The aerosol-generating material is divided into discrete portions separated by bare areas on the support surface. This segmentation prevents contamination between portions while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a systematic arrangement that facilitates automated handling and processing.
2Quantity of substance
If aerosol-generating material portions are arranged to interdigitate when folded, then packing density and storage efficiency are improved, but the structural complexity of the support increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support is designed with fold lines that enable surfaces to be nested when folded, with discrete portions on opposite surfaces positioned to interdigitate. This nesting arrangement maximizes packing density in a compact form factor while the fold line design keeps the structural complexity manageable through standardized folding patterns.
3Ease of operation
If discrete portions of aerosol-generating material are separated by bare areas, then contamination is prevented and handling is improved, but the total amount of material per consumable is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support utilizes multiple surfaces (front and back) with fold lines that bring these surfaces into proximity when folded. This dimensional arrangement allows discrete portions on opposite surfaces to interdigitate, effectively doubling the material capacity while maintaining the benefits of separation and bare areas for contamination prevention and handling.
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 design enhances handling, storage, and manufacturing processes by protecting the aerosol-generating material from contamination and allowing for compact packing, while maintaining high density and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The support is foldable about the fold line so that the first surface on one side of the fold line may face toward the second surface on the other side of the fold line
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a consumable (100) for use with a non-combustible aerosol provision device; a non-combustible aerosol provision system comprising a non-combustible aerosol provision device and the consumable; and a kit comprising a non-combustible aerosol provision device and the consumable. The consumable comprises a support (101) and aerosol generating material (104), the support has at least one other portion by a bare area of surface of the support; at least two discrete portions of the aerosol generating material are upstanding from the respective surface of the support upon which they are supported; the support is configured by the shape of at least one curved face and/or by folding about a fold line (106) between two faces so that at least one part of a first surface of the support faces toward at least a part of the same or another surface of the support; the discrete portions of aerosol generating material are so located on the surface(s) of the support that, each discrete portion of aerosol generating material upstanding from the surface of the support falls into a bare area of the surface of the support between or adjacent to portions of aerosol generating material.