Pivoting Vibrating Plate Assembly for Stable Wick Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing atomizers face challenges in maintaining a stable contact between the vibrating plate and the wick, especially after refilling the liquid reservoir, leading to decreased atomization efficiency due to improper positioning of the guide member.

Innovation Solution

A pivot member is mounted on the device body to pivot upward and downward, allowing for stable contact between the vibrating plate and the wick by its own weight after refilling, with a cover portion to accommodate the battery and simplify the configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a guide member is used to support the vibrating plate, then the vibrating plate can be movable up and down and contact with the wick by its own weight, but the guide member has to be detached during refilling and may be tilted relative to the liquid reservoir causing unstable contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefilling operationVSAvoidcontact stability between vibrating plate and wick
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot member is designed to dynamically change its position between an upper state during refilling and a lower state during operation. This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements, eliminating the need for detachment while maintaining contact stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The pivot member serves multiple functions: it acts as a guide member for the vibrating plate, provides a mounting structure for the vibration generation unit, and functions as a cover for the liquid reservoir. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate guide members that would require detachment during refilling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If a spring is used to apply urging force to the wick, then liquid can be supplied from the wick to the vibrating plate, but the urging force is applied to one point away from the center making it difficult to adjust pressing force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid supply mechanismVSAvoidadjustment mechanism for pressing force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-based urging force mechanism is completely removed from the system. Instead of using elastic force from a spring, the invention utilizes the gravitational force (weight) of the vibrating plate itself to apply pressure to the wick, thereby eliminating the need for separate urging mechanisms and their associated adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Quantity of substance

If the guide member is detached during refilling, then the liquid reservoir can be refilled, but after remounting the guide member may be tilted causing decreased atomization efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid refillingVSAvoidatomization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot member is pre-configured with a restriction portion that automatically guides the vibrating plate into the correct position during the downward movement. This preliminary positioning action ensures proper alignment before the vibrating plate makes contact with the wick, preventing tilt and maintaining atomization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical assembly and disassembly of a separate guide member is replaced by a integrated pivot member system that uses gravitational force and geometric constraints (restriction portion) to automatically maintain proper positioning, eliminating the tilt problem associated with remounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This design ensures a stable contact between the vibrating plate and the wick even after refilling, maintaining efficient atomization and simplifying the atomizer's configuration.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration generation unit which vibrates a vibrating plate having a large number of pores formed in a thickness direction at a high frequency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

the liquid absorbed from the lower end portion of the wick is supplied from the surface of the upper end portion of the wick to the vibration plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

the pivot member pivots downward together with the vibrating plate so as to be brought into contact with the restriction portion of the device body, thereby the vibrating plate can be brought into face contact with the upper end surface of the wick by own weight of the vibrating plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2832453B1atomizer
Publication Date: 2019.01.23 SUMITOMO CHEM CO LTD
  • EP2832453B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2832453B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2832453B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An atomizer is provided which allows a vibrating plate and a wick to be kept in a stable contact state even after an operation of refilling with a liquid. An atomizer 1 of the present invention atomizes a liquid absorbed up to an upper end surface 4a of a wick 4 through pores of a vibrating plate 62 by vibrating the vibrating plate 62 while keeping the vibrating plate 62 in face contact with the upper end surface 4a of the wick 4, and includes a pivot member 5 mounted on an upper portion of the device body 2 so as to pivot up and down. The pivot member 5 includes a holding portion 54 configured to hold the vibrating plate 62 movable up and down relative to the pivot member 5 so as to bring the vibrating plate 62 into face contact with the upper end surface 4a of the wick 4 by the own weight thereof when the pivot member 5 pivots downward. The device body 2 includes a restriction portion 22f that comes into contact with the pivot member 5 to restrict the pivoting downward of the pivot member 5 while the vibrating plate 62 is in face contact with the upper end surface 4f of the wick 4.