Self-Closing Injection Hole for Electronic Cigarette Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing electronic cigarettes are inconvenient due to leakage and contamination of cigarette liquid during the injection process, which complicates the assembly and manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
An electronic cigarette design with a self-closing liquid injection hole at the bottom of the liquid storage cup, sealed by a silicone or rubber sealing element that snaps into a protrusion, allowing components to be assembled first and enabling efficient and automatic liquid injection post-assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If cigarette liquid is injected into the liquid storage cup before assembling components, then the injection process can be completed early, but the cigarette liquid is prone to leakage and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid storage cup is prepared in advance with a pre-formed injection hole and self-closing sealing element installed before assembly. This preliminary preparation enables the sealing mechanism to be ready for automatic injection later, resolving the contradiction by preparing the sealing structure beforehand rather than during the injection process
Solution Approach 2:
The self-closing sealing element automatically seals the injection hole when the injection needle is withdrawn. The sealing element's elastic deformation and self-closing mechanism eliminate the need for manual sealing operations, preventing leakage and contamination while enabling reliable post-assembly injection
2Reliability
If components are assembled before injecting cigarette liquid, then leakage and contamination are prevented, but the injection process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The injection hole is extracted and pre-formed in the liquid storage cup before assembly, separating the injection function from the assembly process. This allows the cup to be prepared independently with its sealing mechanism, then assembled with other components, and finally injected with liquid in a separate automated step
Solution Approach 2:
The self-closing sealing element acts as an intermediary between the injection needle and the liquid storage cup. It provides a controlled interface that allows the needle to penetrate for injection while automatically sealing when the needle is withdrawn, simplifying the overall injection system while maintaining reliability
3Reliability
If a self-closing sealing element is used at the injection hole, then leakage is prevented, but the structure of the liquid storage cup becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The self-closing sealing element is made of elastic material that can deform flexibly to seal the injection hole. This flexible sealing mechanism provides reliable leakage prevention while adding minimal structural complexity compared to rigid sealing solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is segmented as a separate self-closing element that can be independently installed in the pre-formed injection hole. This segmentation allows the sealing mechanism to be added to the liquid storage cup without redesigning the entire cup structure, minimizing the increase in overall structural 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
Prevents leakage and contamination, allowing for efficient and automatic manufacturing of electronic cigarettes with convenient on-site liquid injection, ensuring all components can be assembled before filling with cigarette liquid.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing element is made of silicone or rubber
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette for convenient injection of cigarette liquid, manufacturing method thereof, and a method for injecting cigarette liquid into the electronic cigarette. A liquid injection hole is opened at a bottom of a liquid storage cup of the electronic cigarette, and the liquid injection hole is sealed by a sealing element which is self-closing once an injection device has been pulled out from the sealing element. The components of the electronic cigarette of the present invention can be assembled together first prior to the injection of cigarette liquid. Therefore, the problem of leakage and contamination of cigarette liquid during the manufacture of existing electronic cigarettes can be overcome. The automated injection of cigarette liquid can be carried out at places where the electronic cigarettes are sold.