LIQUID INJECTION DEVICE AND METHOD

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to liquid injection for inhalers, and more particularly, to a liquid injection device and a liquid injection method.

BACKGROUND

Inhalers usually include liquid reservoirs, atomizers, and power supply devices. The atomizer heats an atomizable base liquid by atomization, thus providing smoke/gas for a user. The power supply device can supply power to the atomizer. The liquid reservoir includes a liquid storage cotton and a liquid storage tube, and the liquid storage cotton is received in the liquid storage tube. The liquid reservoir provides the atomizable base liquid, which is stored in the liquid storage cotton, to the atomizer. During assembly of the liquid storage cotton, the atomizable base liquid is directly injected into the liquid storage cotton through a liquid injection machine to store the liquid.

However, during the existing liquid injection process, when a large amount of atomizable base liquid needs to be stored in the liquid storage cotton, injection by the liquid injection machine may cause an excess of atomizable base liquid to flow out from an end of the liquid storage tube, resulting in a liquid leakage.

SUMMARY

To overcome the above shortcomings, a liquid injection device and a liquid injection method are needed.

The present disclosure provides a liquid injection device for injecting liquid into a liquid storage assembly. The liquid storage assembly includes a liquid storage tube and a liquid storage element in the liquid storage tube. The liquid injection device includes a receiving portion defining a receiving groove. The receiving groove is configured to receive an atomizable base liquid. The liquid injection device also includes a plurality of communication holes communicating with the receiving groove. The receiving portion is configured to be mounted at an end of the liquid storage tube, thereby causing the atomizable base liquid in the receiving portion to be injected into the liquid storage element through the communication holes.

In some embodiment, the receiving portion defines an opening. The liquid injection device further includes a liquid injection portion disposed on a side of the receiving portion away from the opening. The liquid injection portion has a bottom wall. The communication holes are defined on the bottom wall. The liquid injection portion is configured to extend into the end of the liquid storage tube.

In some embodiment, a barrier column protrudes from the bottom wall. The barrier column is configured to extend into a mounting hole of the liquid storage element.

In some embodiment, the barrier column is disposed in a center of the bottom wall.

In some embodiment, the communication holes are distributed in a circle around the center of the bottom wall.

In some embodiment, an inner diameter of each of the plurality of communication holes decreases along a direction from the receiving portion to the liquid injection portion.

In some embodiment, a through pipe is disposed on the bottom wall. The through pipe communicates with the plurality of communication holes.

In some embodiment, a sidewall of the liquid injection portion defines an external thread. The external thread is configured to engage with an internal thread of the liquid storage tube.

In some embodiment, along a direction from the liquid injection portion to the receiving portion, the bottom wall is convex to form a convex portion. The communication holes are arranged at a connection region between the convex portion and a sidewall of the receiving portion.

The present disclosure further provides a liquid injection method using the above-described liquid injection device. The liquid injection method includes providing a liquid storage assembly, wherein a liquid storage tube has a first end and a second end, a first sealing plug is mounted at the first end of the liquid storage tube. The liquid injection device is mounted on the second end of the liquid storage tube. An atomizable base liquid is loaded into the liquid injection device through a liquid injection machine, so that the atomizable base liquid can be injected into a liquid storage element through communication holes. The liquid storage assembly is kept static, thereby causing the liquid storage element to adsorb the atomizable base liquid.

Compared with using the liquid injection machine to directly inject the atomizable base liquid into the liquid storage element, the atomizable base liquid from the liquid injection device fully immerses the liquid storage element by the liquid injection device of the present disclosure. Thus, the liquid storage element has enough time to absorb the atomizable base liquid. Liquid leakage at the upper end of the liquid storage tube, which occurs when using the liquid injection machine to directly inject the atomizable base liquid into the liquid storage element because the liquid storage element cannot absorb the atomizable base liquid in a short time, is avoided. Furthermore, for the liquid storage assembly requiring a large amount of atomizable base liquid, the liquid injection device fully immerses the liquid storage element. Thus, thermal expansion and cold contraction of the liquid storage element due to a change of temperature and an uneven distribution of the atomizable base liquid in the liquid storage element are avoided. Safety problem of the atomizable base liquid extruding from the liquid storage tube is thus avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an inhaler according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a power supply member of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a liquid injection device of FIG. 1 in embodiment 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid injection device of FIG. 3 in embodiment 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the liquid injection device of FIG. 3 in embodiment 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the liquid injection device in embodiment 1 injecting a liquid into a liquid storage assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a liquid injection device in embodiment 2 according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the liquid injection device of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid injection device in embodiment 3 according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid injection device in embodiment 4 according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the liquid injection device of FIG. 10.

SYMBOL DESCRIPTION FOR MAIN COMPONENTS

Inhaler 1000; atomizer 100; mouth-piece 10; suction portion 11; mounting portion 12; clamping groove 121; suction port 13; liquid storage assembly 20; liquid storage tube 21; first end 211; second end 212; liquid storage element 22; mounting hole 221; heating element 30; liquid guiding cotton 40; smoke guiding tube 50; smoke guiding channel 51; control board 60; first sealing plug 71; first sealing portion 711; second sealing portion 712; second sealing plug 72; third sealing plug 73; fourth sealing plug 74; first oil absorbing cotton 81; second oil absorbing cotton 82; third oil absorbing cotton 83; power supply member 200; airflow sensor 310; aluminum foil 320; reflective paper 330; light guiding tube 340; housing 400; air inlet 410; liquid injection device 500; receiving portion 510; opening 511; receiving groove 512; liquid injection portion 520; bottom wall 521; communication hole 522; barrier column 523; external thread 524; through pipe 525; convex portion 526.

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of embodiment, with reference to the attached figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology in the application will now be described by way of embodiments as follows. Obviously, the described embodiments are some embodiments of the application, not all of them. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms herein have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The terms used in the detail description are only for describing specific embodiments, but not intended to limit the present application.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail. However, the present application may be embodied in many different forms, and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments explained herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that the present application can be clearly and specifically conveyed to those skilled in the art.

In addition, for simplicity and clarity, the size or thickness of various components and layers as shown in the drawings can be enlarged in practice. Throughout the whole application, the same symbols refer to the same elements. As used herein, the terms “and/or” include any combination of one or more related items. In addition, it should be understood that when an element A is referred to as “being connected” to an element B, the element A may be directly connected to the element B, or there may be an intermediate element C, so that the element A and the element B may be indirectly connected to each other by the element C.

Furthermore, when describing the embodiments of the present application, “may” signifies that the same or similar concepts might be used in one or more embodiments of the present application.

The technical terms used herein are for describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present application. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form, unless the context expressly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the term “including”, when used in this specification, refers to the existence of the features, values, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but does not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, components and/or combinations thereof.

Terms related to spatial relations, such as “on”, can be used in this application for convenient description to describe the relationship between one element or feature and another element (multiple elements) or feature (multiple features) shown in the drawings. It should be understood that in addition to the directions shown in the drawings, the terms related to space are also intended to include different directions of the equipment or devices in use or in operation. For example, if the equipment in the drawings is flipped over, the features described as “above” or “on” other elements or features will be then “below” or “under” other elements or features. Therefore, the terms “on” may include upper and lower directions. It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or parts, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or parts should not be limited. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or part from another element, component, region, layer, or part. Therefore, a first element, component, region, layer, or part discussed below may also be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or part within the principles of the present embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, an inhaler 1000 is provided according to the present disclosure, the inhaler 1000 includes a housing 400, a power supply member 200, and an atomizer 100. The atomizer 100 and the power supply member 200 are disposed in the housing 400. The power supply member 200 is disposed on a bottom of the housing 400. The atomizer 100 is disposed above the power supply member 200. A portion of the atomizer 100 protrudes from the housing 400.

Referring to FIG. 1, the atomizer 100 includes a mouth-piece 10, a liquid storage assembly 20, a heating element 30, a liquid guiding cotton 40, and a smoke guiding tube 50. The liquid storage assembly 20 is used to store an atomizable base liquid (i.e., “liquid locking function”). The liquid guiding cotton 40 is mainly used to guide or transport the atomizable base liquid (i.e., “liquid transporting function”). The heating element 30 is used to heat and atomize the atomizable base liquid in the liquid guiding cotton 40 to create an aerosol. The smoke guiding tube 50 is used to guide the aerosol out for a user to inhale from the mouth-piece 10.

Referring to FIG. 1, the mouth-piece 10 protrudes from the housing 400, and is mounted on an upper end of the housing 400. The mouth-piece 10 includes a suction portion 11 and a mounting portion 12. The suction portion 11 is connected to the mounting portion 12. The suction portion 11 is provided with a suction port 13, which allows the aerosol generated in the atomizer 100 to be inhaled. In some embodiments, a lower end of the mounting portion 12 of the mouth-piece 10 away from the suction portion 11 is provided with a ring-shaped clamping groove 121. The upper end of the housing 400 is fixed in the clamping groove 121 by an adhesive (not shown). In other embodiments, the housing 400 and the mouth-piece 10 may also be fixed to each other by magnetic adsorption or interference fit. In some specific embodiments, the cross-sections of the housing 400 and the mounting portion 12 of the mouth-piece 10 are seen to be octagonal. In other embodiments, the shapes of the housing 400 and the mounting portion 12 of the mouth-piece 10 may also be set according to the actual needs. The shape of the suction portion 11 of the mouth-piece 10 can be round, oval, or a duckbill shape to meet ergonomic considerations.

Referring to FIG. 1, the liquid storage assembly 20 includes a liquid storage tube 21, a liquid storage element 22 disposed in the liquid storage tube 21, and a first sealing plug 71 mounted on the liquid storage tube 21. The liquid storage tube 21 has a first end 211 and a second end 212 opposite to the first end 211. The liquid guiding cotton 40 is wound around the heating element 30. The liquid storage element 22 defines a mounting hole 221. The heating element 30 wound with the liquid guiding cotton 40 is disposed in the mounting hole 221 of the liquid storage element 22. The liquid guiding cotton 40 is in contact with the liquid storage element 22 to guide or transport the atomizable base liquid stored in the liquid storage element 22 to the liquid guiding cotton 40. In some specific embodiments, the liquid storage tube 21 is made of impact-resistant polycarbonate. In some embodiments, the liquid storage element 22 may be a cotton material or a polymer material with adsorption properties.

In some embodiments, the heating element 30 is a heating wire, part of the heating wire is wound in a ring manner to form a heating portion. Two ends of the heating wire extend outward to form pins (not shown). The liquid guiding cotton 40 is wound on the heating portion, and the pins extending from the heating wire connect to the power supply member 200 for electrical power. In some embodiments, the heating portion may resemble a net in appearance. In some specific embodiments, the heating net may be made of stainless steel.

Referring to FIG. 1, the smoke guiding tube 50 is disposed at an end of the mounting hole 221 of the liquid storage element 22. The smoke guiding tube 50 is close to the first end 211 of the liquid storage tube 21. The mouth-piece 10 is disposed on the first end 211 of the liquid storage tube 21, and an end of the smoke guiding tube 50 corresponds to the suction port 13 of the mouth-piece 10. The user can inhale at the suction port 13, so that the heating element 30 heats the atomizable base liquid in the liquid guiding cotton 40, and then the created aerosol is transported through the smoke guiding tube 50 and inhaled by the user through the suction port 13. In some embodiments, a third oil absorbing cotton 83 is also disposed in the mouth-piece 10, which is between the first sealing plug 71 and the mouth-piece 10. The third oil absorbing cotton 83 is used to absorb any atomizable base liquid that overflows from the liquid storage assembly 20, so as to reduce the risk of leakage.

The first sealing plug 71 is disposed at the first end 211 of the liquid storage tube 21. The first sealing plug 71 includes a first sealing portion 711 and a second sealing portion 712. The first sealing portion 711 protrudes from the second sealing portion 712. The smoke guiding tube 50 is mounted on the first sealing portion 711. The second sealing portion 712 is mounted and fixed on the first end 211 of the liquid storage tube 21. The smoke guiding tube 50 and the first sealing plug 71 define a smoke guiding channel 51, and the suction port 13 of the mouth-piece 10 is connected to the smoke guiding channel 51. The aerosol created by the heating element 30 is guided through the smoke guiding channel 51 and the suction port 13 for the user to inhale. In some specific embodiments, the smoke guiding tube 50 may be made of glass fiber, such as silicone glass fiber, which can withstand a high temperature.

Referring to FIG. 1, a second sealing plug 72 is mounted at the second end 212 of the liquid storage tube 21. One side of the second sealing plug 72 is provided with a control board 60, which is electrically connected to the heating element 30 and used to control a working state of the heating element 30. Specifically, the pins of the heating element 30 pass through the second sealing plug 72, and electrically connect to the control board 60. The power supply member 200 is arranged on a side of the atomizer 100 having the control board 60, and is electrically connected to the control board 60. Therefore, the control board 60 can control the power supply member 200 to supply electric power to the heating element 30, so that the heating element 30 can heat the atomizable base liquid. In some embodiments, the power supply member 200 may be a cylindrical battery.

In some embodiments, a first oil absorbing cotton 81 is disposed between the second sealing plug 72 and the control board 60. The first oil absorbing cotton 81 is used to absorb the atomizable base liquid that overflows from the liquid storage assembly 20 and reduce the risk of leakage.

In some embodiments, a second oil absorbing cotton 82 is also disposed between the control board 60 and the power supply member 200 to prevent any leaked liquid from causing damage to the power supply member 200.

Referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the inhaler 1000 may also include an airflow sensor 310. The airflow sensor 310 is disposed in the housing 400, and is disposed on an end of the power supply member 200 away from the atomizer 100. The bottom end of the housing 400 away from the mouth-piece 10 is provided with an air inlet 410, and the airflow sensor 310 communicates with the air inlet 410 (for example, a gap can be set between the power supply member 200 and the housing 400, so that the airflow sensor 310 is connected to the air inlet 410 through the gap). When the user inhales through the mouth-piece 10, the airflow in the air inlet 410 activates the airflow sensor 310. At this time, the control board 60 controls the power supply member 200 to supply electric power to the heating element 30. In some specific embodiments, the airflow sensor 310 is a microphone.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, a surface of the control board 60 facing the power supply member 200 is provided with an illuminator (such as an LED, etc.). When the airflow sensor 310 senses the user inhaling through the mouth-piece 10, the illuminator emits light. The inhaler 1000 may also include an aluminum foil 320, a reflective paper 330, and a light guiding tube 340. Each of the aluminum foil 320, the reflective paper 330, and the light guiding tube 340 is annular in cross section. A lower end of the light guiding tube 340 is disposed on the bottom of the housing 400, and the light guiding tube 340 can be sleeved outside the power supply member 200. The aluminum foil 320 is fixed to an upper end of the light guiding tube 340. The reflective paper 330 is disposed between the power supply member 200 and the light guiding tube 340. The light guiding tube 340 may be made of a transparent material. When the illuminator emits light, the aluminum foil 320, the reflective paper 330, and the light guiding tube 340 diffuse the light being emitted by the illuminator, so that the housing 400 appears to be luminous and improves the user experience.

In some embodiments, a third sealing plug 73 is mounted on an end of the light guiding tube 340 away from the aluminum foil 320. The airflow sensor 310 is fixed on the third sealing plug 73. The third sealing plug 73 is used to prevent any aerosol from leaking out through the end of the smoke guiding tube 50.

In some embodiments, a fourth sealing plug 74 is mounted at the connection region between the smoke guiding tube 50 and the liquid guiding cotton 40. The fourth sealing plug 74 is used to seal a gap between the upper end of the liquid guiding cotton 40 and the smoke guiding tube 50, to prevent the aerosol from leaking out through the gap between the liquid guiding cotton 40 and the smoke guiding tube 50. The fourth sealing plug 74 passes through the smoke guiding tube 50 and the liquid guiding cotton 40. The fourth sealing plug 74 may be made of a silica gel.

In some embodiments, the inhaler 1000 may be an electronic cigarette, that is, the atomizable base liquid is a tobacco oil. In other embodiments, the inhaler 1000 is not limited to being an electronic cigarette, but may also be other atomizers capable of atomizing the atomizable base liquid into aerosol for the user to inhale. For example, the inhaler 1000 may also be a device that atomizes the liquid for medical treatment of a human patient, such as a medical inhaler for treating upper respiratory tract diseases. At this time, the atomizable base liquid can be a drug solution for treating the upper respiratory tract diseases. When the patient inhales, the drug aerosol formed after atomization of the drug solution is inhaled by the patient into the respiratory tract and then to the alveoli, so that the atomizable base liquid can be used for local treatment of the upper respiratory tract.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a liquid injection device 500 is also provided according to the present disclosure, which is used to inject a liquid into the liquid storage assembly 20 of the atomizer 100 of the inhaler 1000. The detail structure of the liquid injection device 500 is as follows.

Embodiment 1

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the liquid injection device 500 includes a receiving portion 510 and a liquid injection portion 520. The receiving portion 510 defines a receiving groove 512 and an opening 511. The receiving groove 512 is used to receive the atomizable base liquid therein, and the atomizable base liquid can be guided into the receiving groove 512 through the opening 511. The receiving portion 510 is convex at a bottom of the receiving groove 512 to form the liquid injection portion 520. The liquid injection portion 520 has a bottom wall 521, and a plurality of communication holes 522 are defined on the bottom wall 521. The communication holes 522 correspond to the liquid storage element 22 of the atomizer 100, and the atomizable base liquid in the receiving portion 510 is injected into the liquid storage element 22 through the communication holes 522. In some embodiments, the liquid injection portion 520 may also be omitted, and the communication holes 522 are directly defined on the bottom wall of the receiving portion 510.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the liquid injection device 500 injects a liquid into the liquid storage tube 21, the liquid injection device 500 is placed on the liquid storage tube 21, and the liquid injection portion 520 extends into and is attached on the second end 212 of the liquid storage tube 21, which prevents the atomizable base liquid from flowing out from the connection region between the second end 212 and the liquid injection portion 520.

Referring to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, an outer diameter of the receiving portion 510 is larger than that of the liquid injection portion 520, and the outer diameter of the liquid injection portion 520 matches an inner diameter of the liquid storage tube 21, thereby allowing the liquid injection device 500 to be stably docked with the liquid storage tube 21. Furthermore, a center of gravity of the liquid injection device 500 having the atomizable base liquid and the liquid storage tube 21 connected thereto is more stable, so that there is no gap between the liquid injection portion 520 and the second end 212. In other embodiments, when a small amount of the atomizable base liquid is to be received in the liquid injection device 500, the outer diameter of the receiving portion 510 may also be smaller than that of the liquid injection portion 520.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, in some embodiments, the bottom wall 521 of the liquid injection portion 520 is also provided with a barrier column 523, which prevents the atomizable base liquid from entering the smoke guiding tube 50 during the injection of liquid. The barrier column 523 can be made of an elastic material. Specifically, when the liquid injection device 500 is mounted on the liquid storage tube 21, the barrier column 523 penetrates into the heating element 30, and an end of the barrier column 523 abuts against the end of the smoke guiding tube 50 or extends into the smoke guiding tube 50. In some embodiments, the position of the barrier column 523 is adjusted according to the position of the smoke guiding tube 50 in the mounting hole 221 of the liquid storage element 22. Preferably, the barrier column 523 is disposed in a center of the bottom wall 521 of the liquid injection portion 520 to improve the stability of the barrier column 523 mounted in the liquid storage element 22. In some embodiments, the receiving portion 510 may be a hollow cylinder, and the liquid injection portion 520 is also a hollow cylinder with an outer diameter smaller than that of the receiving portion 510. A central axis of the barrier column 523 is aligned with a central axis of the liquid injection portion 520 and a central axis of the receiving portion 510, so as to improve the stability between the liquid injection device 500 and the liquid storage tube 21, not being limited in the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, in some embodiments, the inner diameter of each communication hole 522 gradually decreases along a direction from the receiving portion 510 to the liquid injection portion 520. The communication hole 522 may be conical in shape. As such, an injection speed of the atomizable base liquid from the receiving groove 512 into the liquid storage element 22 is slowed, which avoids liquid leakage during liquid injection.

Embodiment 2

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a difference between embodiment 2 and embodiment 1 is in the structure of the liquid injection portion 520 of the liquid injection device 500.

The communication holes 522 at the bottom wall 521 of the liquid injection portion 520 are distributed in a circle on the bottom wall 521 around the center of the bottom wall 521. The communication holes 522 are evenly distributed, so that the atomizable base liquid is evenly adsorbed by the liquid storage element 22. As such, potential safety hazards arising from a non-uniform liquid storage element 22 due to temperature difference or liquid leakage are avoided. In some embodiments, the bottom wall 521 has no communication hole 522 at a position corresponding to the smoke guiding tube 50, which prevents the atomizable base liquid from entering the smoke guiding tube 50 during the liquid injection.

Referring to FIG. 7, the outer wall of the liquid injection portion 520 is also provided with an external thread 524. When the liquid injection portion 520 is mounted in the liquid storage tube 21, the external thread 524 is engaged with an internal thread (not shown) of the liquid storage tube 21, so as to improve the mounting tightness and stability. As such, during the liquid injection, the atomizable base liquid flows into the liquid storage element 22 at a same speed at different communication holes 522, which improves uniformity of adsorption of the liquid storage element 22. In addition, in mass production, the external thread 524 of the liquid injection portion 520 allows the liquid injection device 500 to be mounted at the same position each time, so as to avoid uneven absorptions and non-uniformity of the liquid storage element 22 due to different mounting positions of the liquid injection device 500 on a same liquid storage element 22, which is conducive to mass production. In some embodiments, there are four communication holes 522 together in a form of a ring are distributed on the bottom wall 521.

Embodiment 3

Referring to FIG. 9, a difference between embodiment 3 and embodiment 2 is in the structure of the liquid injection portion 520.

The liquid injection portion 520 is provided with a through pipe 525 at a position corresponding to the communication holes 522. The through pipe 525 is disposed on the bottom wall 521 of the liquid injection portion 520. When the liquid injection device 500 is mounted on the liquid storage tube 21, the through pipe 525 contacts and is disposed on the liquid storage element 22. The through pipe 525 directly transports the atomizable base liquid passing therethrough to the liquid storage element 22, to promote the adsorption of the atomizable base liquid by the liquid storage element 22.

Embodiment 4

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a difference between embodiment 4 and embodiment 2 is in the structure of the liquid injection portion 520.

Along the direction from the liquid injection portion 520 to the receiving portion 510, the bottom wall 521 of the liquid injection portion 520 is convex to form a convex portion 526. The communication holes 522 are defined on a connection region between the convex portion 526 and the sidewall of the receiving portion 510. As such, the atomizable base liquid in the liquid injection portion 520 is completely adsorbed by the liquid storage element 22, and the amount of the atomizable base liquid remaining in the liquid injection portion 520 is reduced. In some embodiments, the communication holes 522 are evenly distributed, and the atomizable base liquid is uniformly adsorbed by the liquid storage element 22 through the communication holes 522.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a liquid injection method is also provided according to the present disclosure, which injects the atomizable base liquid to the liquid storage element 22 by the liquid injection device 500. The liquid injection method is described by reference to the liquid injection device 500 in embodiment 1 for example, which includes following steps.

(1). A liquid storage assembly 20 is provided.

(2). Along a direction from the first end 211 to the second end 212 of the liquid storage tube 21, the liquid storage tube 21 is placed on a tray for fixing the liquid storage tube 21. Or, the liquid storage tube 21 is clamped upright with a clamping fixture, or a mechanical manipulator, or other clamping manner. The liquid injection device 500 is placed on the second end 212 of the liquid storage tube 21. The liquid injection portion 520 extends into the liquid storage tube 21, and is attached to the inner wall of the liquid storage tube 21. The barrier column 523 extends into the mounting hole 221 of the liquid storage element 22, and is disposed above the smoke guiding tube 50. The end of the liquid storage tube 21 having the first sealing plug 71 is mounted in a fixing hole (not shown) of the tray, so as to fix the liquid storage assembly 20 and maintain the uprightness of the liquid storage tube 21.

(3). The atomizable base liquid is injected into the liquid injection device 500 through a liquid injection machine (not shown), so that the atomizable base liquid in the liquid injection device 500 can flow into the liquid storage element 22 through the communication holes 522. Then, the liquid injection device 500 having the atomizable base liquid and the liquid storage assembly 20 are placed for a period of time, so that the atomizable base liquid in the liquid injection device 500 is completely adsorbed by the liquid storage element 22. The liquid storage element 22 is completely immersed in the atomizable base liquid. Then, the liquid injection device 500 is removed and ready for a subsequent operation.

When injecting liquid into the liquid storage element 22, the atomizable base liquid can be automatically injected into the liquid storage element 22 through the liquid injection device 500 and absorbed by the liquid storage element 22. As such, liquid leakage, which occurs when using the liquid injection machine to directly inject the atomizable base liquid into the liquid storage element 22 and the liquid storage element 22 cannot immediately absorb the atomizable base liquid, is avoided. Therefore, safety of liquid injection to the high-capacity liquid storage assembly 20 is improved through the liquid injection method. In addition, compared with manually injecting the liquid storage element 22 through a syringe many times, the present method saves manpower, reduces production cost, and is convenient for the production of large-scale and large-capacity liquid storage assemblies 20.

A manufacturing method of the inhaler 1000 includes the following steps.

S1. Referring to FIG. 1, the liquid guiding cotton 40 is wrapped around the heating portion of the heating element 30, and is further inserted into the mounting hole 221 of the liquid storage element 22 having an integrated structure. An end of the liquid guiding cotton 40 is flush with an end of the liquid storage element 22, and the pins of the heating element 30 protrude from the liquid storage element 22.

In some embodiments, a cylindrical iron rod can first be inserted into the heating portion, and the heating portion of the heating element 30 can be inserted into the liquid storage element 22. Then the iron rod is taken out. As such, an operator can quickly mount the heating element 30 wrapped by the liquid guiding cotton 40 in the liquid storage element 22, and folds and creases of the liquid guiding cotton 40 in the liquid storage element 22 are prevented.

S2. Referring to FIG. 1, the liquid storage element 22 having the heating element 30 is inserted into the liquid storage tube 21. The smoke guiding tube 50 is mounted on the first sealing portion 711 of the first sealing plug 71. The smoke guiding tube 50 is inserted into the mounting hole 221 of the liquid storage element 22 through the first end 211 of the liquid storage tube 21, so that the end of the smoke guiding tube 50 away from the first sealing portion 711 abuts against the liquid guiding cotton 40.

In some specific embodiments, the end of the liquid storage element 22 abuts the second sealing portion 712. The first sealing plug 71 is made of a silica gel. The outer wall of the second sealing portion 712 of the first sealing plug 71 is provided with an external thread 524, so that the first sealing plug 71 is firmly attached to the liquid storage tube 21.

S3. Referring to FIG. 1, multiple liquid storage tubes 21, each having the first sealing plug 71 obtained after step S2, are placed in the fixing hole of the tray. The first sealing plug 71 extends into the fixing hole, and the second end 212 of the liquid storage tube 21 protrudes from the mounting hole 221. The liquid injection portion 520 of the corresponding liquid injection device 500 is mounted on the second end 212 of the liquid storage tube 21, so that the atomizable base liquid in the receiving portion 510 is injected into the liquid storage element 22 through the communication holes 522. Then the liquid injection device 500 is removed.

In some specific embodiments, the liquid injection device 500 is disposed above the liquid storage tube 21. The pins of the heating element 30 protruding from the liquid storage element 22 are disposed between the liquid storage tube 21 and the liquid injection device 500. The atomizable base liquid is uniformly absorbed by the liquid storage element 22 according to the liquid injection method of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, before mounting the liquid injection device 500, the heating element 30 is taken out. After the atomizable base liquid is uniformly absorbed by the liquid storage element 22, the heating element 30 is remounted in the mounting hole 221 of the liquid storage element 22.

S4. Referring to FIG. 1, the second sealing plug 72 is mounted on the second end 212 of the liquid storage tube 21 having the atomizable base liquid obtained after step S3.

In some specific embodiments, the second sealing plug 72 defines a through hole (not shown) at a position corresponding to each of the two pins of the heating element 30. Each of the two pins passes through the corresponding through hole.

S5. the first oil absorbing cotton 81 and the control board 60 are mounted on a side of the second sealing plug 72 away from the liquid storage tube 21.

Referring to FIG. 11, in some specific embodiments, the first oil absorbing cotton 81 defines four notches (not shown). The four notches correspond to four silica gel columns (not shown) of the second sealing plug 72. The four silica gel columns are evenly distributed on the second sealing plug 72, and the first oil absorbing cotton 81 is clamped between the four silica gel columns. The control board 60 defines a plate hole at a position corresponding to the silica gel columns, and the silica gel columns pass through the plate hole of the control board 60 to fix the control board 60 on the second sealing plug 72.

S6. a light guiding assembly is assembled, and the power supply member 200 is mounted in the light guiding assembly.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in some specific embodiments, an aluminum foil 320 is glued around an end of the light guiding tube 340. An edge of the aluminum foil 320 is flush with an end of the light guiding tube 340. The ring or tube of reflective paper 330 is placed into the light guiding tube 340, and the two ends of the reflective paper 330 are flush with two ends of the light guiding tube 340. The power supply member 200 is mounted in the light guiding tube 340, so that the reflective paper 330 is disposed between the light guiding tube 340 and the power supply member 200. At this time, the airflow sensor 310 is disposed on an end of the power supply member 200 and at an end of the light guiding tube 340 away from the aluminum foil 320.

S7. the atomizer 100 and the power supply member 200 are assembled, which are then mounted in the housing 400. The mouth-piece 10 of the atomizer 100 protrudes from the housing 400, thereby obtaining the inhaler 1000.

Referring to FIG. 1, in some specific embodiments, the end of the atomizer 100 having the control board 60 is mounted above the power supply member 200 and the light guiding assembly. Specifically, the end of the liquid storage tube 21 having the control board 60 is mounted on the end of the light guiding tube 340 having the aluminum foil 320. That is, the second sealing plug 72 is partially inserted into the light guiding tube 340 to connect between the liquid storage tube 21 and the light guiding tube 340. An aluminum foil (not shown) is wrapped at the connection region between the liquid storage tube 21 and the light guiding tube 340. The atomizer 100 and the power supply member 200 connected thereto are placed in the housing 400. The power supply member 200 is disposed on the bottom of the housing 400, the liquid storage assembly 20 protrudes from the housing 400, and the mouth-piece 10 is mounted at the upper end of the housing 400.

In some specific embodiments, the ring-shaped clamping groove 121 at the lower end of the mounting portion 12 of the mouth-piece 10 partially extends into the housing 400. An adhesive layer is applied onto the outer wall of the clamping groove 121 by a syringe or other means. Then, the mouth-piece 10 is fixedly mounted in the housing 400 by hand pressing, thereby obtaining the inhaler 1000.

Even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

LIQUID INJECTION DEVICE AND METHOD

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