Tobacco Product End Shaping With Axial Actuator Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tobacco industry products lack the ability to efficiently modify the shape and properties of aerosol-producing components, such as filters, to enhance user experience and functionality.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for shaping tobacco industry products using a shaping head and actuator to change the shape of the product, allowing for features like chamfered profiles and rotational symmetry, with optional heating and wrapping capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a shaping head and actuator are used to change the shape of the tobacco industry product, then the shape customization capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaping head is made movable by an actuator along the longitudinal axis of the tobacco industry product, allowing dynamic adjustment of the shaping head position to achieve different shaping depths and profiles, thereby enabling shape customization without requiring multiple static shaping tools
Solution Approach 2:
The shaping head with its longitudinal axis aligned to the product axis can perform multiple shaping operations (chamfering, rounding, contouring) on different ends of the tobacco industry product through reciprocating motion and rotation, making it a universal shaping tool that reduces overall device complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If the shaping head is brought into contact with the tobacco industry product to change its shape, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the difficulty of operation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system controls the shaping head position and motion along the longitudinal axis with precision, providing controlled reciprocating movement that ensures consistent shaping depth and profile, thereby achieving manufacturing precision while automating the operation to maintain ease of use
Solution Approach 2:
The manual operation of shaping is replaced by an automated actuator system that moves the shaping head along the longitudinal axis with precise control, eliminating the need for manual positioning and pressure application while maintaining high shaping precision
3Ease of manufacture
If the shaping head is heated to enhance shaping capability, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaping head temperature is adjusted as a controllable parameter to facilitate material deformation during shaping, making the shaping process easier by reducing material resistance, while the heating is applied only when needed for specific material types or shaping operations to minimize energy consumption
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
Enables the creation of tobacco industry products with customized shapes and enhanced functionality, improving user experience and aerosol modification capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The shaping head can be formed from a material which can be heated by induction and the heating element can be arranged to heat the shaping head by induction
Data Source
AI summary
There is described an apparatus for shaping a tobacco industry product, the apparatus comprising a shaping head configured to change the shape of a first end of the tobacco industry product. The apparatus also includes an actuator configured to move the shaping head and/or tobacco industry product such that the shaping head is brought into contact with the tobacco industry product in order to change the shape of the first end of the tobacco industry product. The actuator can be configured to move the shaping head and/or tobacco industry product in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tobacco industry product. The shaping head can be brought into contact with a first longitudinal end surface and/or an inner surface of the tobacco industry product in order to change the shape of the tobacco industry product. Also described is a corresponding method of shaping a tobacco industry product and a tobacco industry product formed using the method.