Powder Capsule Weakened Portion for Stable Opening Formation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inhalers face challenges in stabilizing the formation of openings in spherical capsules, leading to variations in powder supply due to misalignment and inconsistent opening sizes, which can affect the amount of powder dispensed.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a weakened portion in the accommodating portion with a lower breaking strength, designed to be pierced by a needle, ensures consistent opening formation and prevents powder retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a needle-shaped member is used to form an opening in a spherical capsule, then the capsule can be pierced to supply powder, but the opening position and size vary due to misalignment, causing unstable powder supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening formationVSAvoidopening position and size consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The capsule wall is designed with a localized weakened portion that has different mechanical properties (lower breaking strength) compared to the rest of the capsule wall. This localized structural differentiation ensures that the piercing element consistently forms openings at the intended position with uniform size, eliminating misalignment issues while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the capsule wall is made uniformly strong to maintain integrity, then the capsule structure is stable, but opening formation becomes difficult and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapsule wall integrityVSAvoidopening formation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The capsule wall is designed with a localized weakened portion that has different mechanical properties (lower breaking strength) compared to the rest of the capsule wall. This localized structural differentiation ensures that the piercing element consistently forms openings at the intended position with uniform size, eliminating misalignment issues while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a piercing element with small outer diameter is used, then the device is compact, but the piercing element cannot form openings if the accommodating portion is offset in the chamber

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiercing element sizeVSAvoidopening formation reliability under offset conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The outer diameter of the piercing element is increased beyond the minimum required for compactness. This parameter change provides a larger tolerance margin that accommodates potential offset conditions of the accommodating portion within the chamber, ensuring reliable opening formation without compromising device functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4721789A1Powder suction system

Publication Date: 2026.04.08 JAPAN TOBACCO INC

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AI summary

To provide a powder suction system including a storage part for storing powder to be suctioned and a powder suction device for suctioning the powder. The powder suction device has a chamber in which the storage part is disposed. The storage part has a fragile part having a lower fracture strength than other parts of the storage part.