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Smoking Robot VC 10® S-TYPE

Cutting edge technologies make the VITROCELL® smoking machine VC 10® S-TYPE a perfect tool for evaluation of conventional and e-cigarettes.

This smoking machine features all special requirements for high-class research: compliance with ISO, Health Canada and square puff profile protocols as well as ease of handling, fast cleaning and high speed product change capabilities.
It is suitable for working with side- and mainstream smoke, and offers significant advantages over other smoking machines.

General features of the VITROCELL VC 10® series

Generation of smoke with the shortest distance to cell cultures
For the success of an experiment with mainstream tobacco smoke it is important that the distance between the smoke generation (cigarette holders) and the VITROCELL® cell exposure system is as short as possible in order to avoid aging and to guarantee a smoke composition matching the real-life situation.
Open and flexible system / incorporation of other analytical tools
The robot is designed to allow easy access to all tubes, filters and the syringe system. Additional analytical equipment relevant to the experiment can be installed without difficulty by the operator.
Freely programmable parameters
The computer system allows highly flexible programming of the smoking process. Changing from single cigarette smoke to serial smoke mode for a defined number of cigarettes is possible. All parameters of the smoking process like puff duration, puff volume, puff frequency and exhaust duration can be defined according to the needs of the experiment.
Statistics
The data of the smoking process are logged into an Excel® sheet for further processing.
All components are easy to clean
In particular the work with unfiltered mainstream smoke demands frequent cleaning of all parts of the robot which are in contact with the smoke. Cleaning must take place after each experiment in order to avoid any influence of residual products on the following experiment. Due to the easy access to all parts the cleaning can be done quickly and efficiently.
Compatibility with other systems in the lab
The robot can be integrated with and connected to other lab systems, e. g. analytical or automation systems.
Compliance with ISO 3308
The robot meets the requirements of ISO 3308 which assures a compatibility with data generated for quality assurance purposes on other smoking machines.
Compliance with Health Canada / Intense Conditions
The robot meets the requirements for 55 ml/30 sec puff frequency requirements.
Bell shaped as well as square puff profile capabilities
Quality
The robot is built to the highest standards using reliable and durable components. Precision of the process is ensured by a stepper motor for smoking port rotation and linear drive motor for the pump as well as sensor-controlled and pneumatically-driven components. Compliance with CE standards.
Service
All VC 10® robots are designed to be very service-friendy and have a secure internet-based remote servicing module.

Special features of the VITROCELL VC 10® S-TYPE Smoking Robot

Platform concept with docking stations
Large magazine for 300 cigarettes enabling long test runs
New smoking head with small dead volume and integrated butt ejector
Quick-lock holder system for all types of conventional and e-cigarettes
Machine-controlled button actuator for e-cigarettes
Heated smoke path system
New multiple 5-port exhaust system
Scalable to up to 3 syringe drives
Entire product change cleaning in < 10 min (with a few prepared exchange parts)

VC 10® S-TYPE Operation for e-cigarettes

VC 10® S-TYPE Smoking Robot holder system for e-cigarettes

Quick-lock holder system with e-cigarette support crown

The holders can be quickly exchanged for cleaning and the support crown holds heavier e-cigarettes safely.

VC 10® S-TYPE Smoking Robot button actuator

Programmable button actuator

The button actuator has a trigger function which is controlled by the VC 10® S-TYPE Software

VC 10® S-TYPE Smoking Robot heating system

Heated smoke path

The smoke path can be heated and temperature controlled to avoid eventual condensation.

VC 10® S-TYPE Operation for conventional cigarettes

Magazine

The magazine stores up to 300 cigarettes and has a machine-controlled feeding and aligning system.

Automatic leak detector

There is the option to activate the leak detector prior to each experiment. The detector confirms the tightness of the system including cigarette holders and pump. The results are logged in the study files.

Loading unit

Damage-free loading of the cigarettes into the cigarette holders takes place fully automatically. The cigarette holders are equipped with labyrinth seals as required by ISO 3308.

Ignition and smoking

Lighter

Safe and contact-free lighting of the cigarettes via hot air. Designed for maintenance-free operation.

VC 10® S-TYPE Smoking Robot cigarette smoking

Stepper motor for rotation of port holder

The rotation of the port holder is controlled by a stepper motor with highest precision.

Cambridge filter

The Cambridge filter can be mounted easily into the system for analytical purposes.

Smoking and butt extraction

Hood with sidestream smoke ducts

The integrated fan evacuates the sidestream smoke. The air flow at the cigarette holders is adjusted by the fan speed.

Butt length sensor

The IR-sensor can be adjusted to a fraction of a millimeter and transmits reliable signals to the pump and butt extractor. If the critical butt length is reached, the pump stops immediately. Alternatively, it is also possible to work with a defined number of puffs.

Butt ejector

The cigarette butts are removed from the holder by ejection. The ashtray is kept permanently clean with a brush.

VC 10® S-TYPE Smoking Robot mass butt disposal

Large butt reservoir

The butts are forwarded into a large reservoir.

Linear motor for syringe drive

Syringe drive

The syringe pump is controlled with high precision by a strong linear motor. Due to the special design, the syringe can be dismantled for cleaning and refitted again in a very short time.
The machine can be scaled up to 3 syringe drives to increase the puff frequency.

Unique 5-port exhaust system

5 individual machine-controlled exhaust lines direct the smoke to 5 dilution systems.

Software & Controls

Electrical control box

The control box houses the controls for the stepper motors, sensors and pneumatic valves. The whole process is controlled by Beckhoff software in conjunction with Microsoft Windows 7®. This setup offers extensive possibilities for integration with common Microsoft Office® applications and the exchange of data with Excel®-sheets.

Smoking parameters

Advanced, user-friendly software with recipe edit functions for favourite smoking / vaping regimes:

puff volume: up to 200 mL
puff frequency: 4 – 250 s
puff duration: 0.1 – 15 s
puff exhaust duration: 0.5 – 15 s
number of cigarettes per run: 300
number of puffs: 1-250
smoking modes: single, cycle, serial
profiles: bell, square, human

Smoking modes

Single, cycle and serial mode
Pre-loading mode
Cycle mode with system purging after each cycle

Technical Data VC 10® S-TYPE Smoking Robot

Dimensions electrical control box
790 x 300 x 600 mm (L x W x H); 31 x 12 x 24 inches

Dimensions smoking platform
940 x 690 x 670/694* mm (L x W x H) / (height without hood); 37 x 28 x 27/28 inches

Power supply
1 x 230 V, 50/60 Hz , 16 A

Compressed air
Operating pressure 6 bar (87 psi); system pressure 10 bar (145 psi)

Remote service module
Included / Internet access mandatory

*platform opened