Automated Viscous Fluid Infusion System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Achieving consistent and controlled temperature across a system for transferring high viscosity fluids into containers is challenging, leading to inconsistent transference and potential alteration of fluid properties, particularly in room temperature environments, which affects the quality and consistency of infused products like cigarettes.
Innovation Solution
A thermally-controlled and pressurized system that maintains consistent fluid temperature throughout, using a heated block, drive systems, and pressurized reservoirs to ensure fluid viscosity remains consistent, with interchangeable applicators and flow control mechanisms for precise injection into various container types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the temperature of high viscosity fluid is increased to decrease viscosity for easier transfer, then the fluid becomes more readily transferrable, but the temperature control becomes more challenging and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts temperature parameters to optimize fluid viscosity for transfer while maintaining stability. The heated block and pressurized reservoir work together to control temperature and pressure parameters, ensuring the fluid reaches optimal transfer conditions without excessive heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a pressurized reservoir system to assist fluid transfer through pressure control. This hydraulic/pneumatic mechanism reduces reliance solely on temperature-induced viscosity changes, allowing controlled fluid delivery even at moderate temperatures, thereby stabilizing temperature requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual infusion process is used to handle high viscosity fluids, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but human error and variability increase affecting product consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system performs the infusion process autonomously with programmable control sequences. The system self-regulates temperature, pressure, and fluid delivery parameters, eliminating human variability while maintaining consistent product quality across batches.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor and adjust infusion parameters in real-time. Sensors track fluid temperature, pressure, and delivery volume, automatically correcting deviations to ensure consistent product output, thereby improving reliability while maintaining operational flexibility.
3Loss of energy
If room temperature environment is used for fluid storage and transfer, then energy consumption is reduced, but fluid viscosity becomes too high for consistent transference
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of heating the entire environment, the system applies localized heating only to the fluid reservoir and transfer pathway through a heated block. This targeted thermal application reduces overall energy consumption while ensuring the fluid maintains appropriate viscosity for consistent transference in the critical zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-heats the fluid and transfer components before the infusion process begins. This preliminary thermal preparation ensures the fluid reaches optimal viscosity conditions in advance, allowing consistent transference without requiring sustained high-energy heating during the actual transfer operation.
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
Ensures reliable and consistent infusion of high viscosity fluids into containers, maintaining product quality by controlling temperature and pressure, reducing human error and variability in the infusion process.
Implementation Method 1
A thermally-controlled and pressurized system that maintains consistent fluid temperature throughout, using a heated block
Implementation Method 2
A thermally-controlled and pressurized system that maintains consistent fluid temperature throughout, using a heated block, drive systems, and pressurized reservoirs
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for automatic infusion of concentrate and distillate material into cigarettes or other containers. In one embodiment, a thermally-controlled infusion system is provided. The system can maintain a selected temperature of the concentrate material throughout the infusion process, using a two-stage approach. In a first stage, the concentrate material is pressure-fed to a dosing chamber. In the second stage, the concentrate material is pumped into an insertion canula and into a cigarette or container. A revolver houses the cigarettes or containers and vertically transitions them to an insertion position, where the insertion canula can infuse the cigarettes or containers.