Coffee machine heating cup assembly and manufacturing method

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of coffee machine heating cups, and discloses a coffee machine heating cup assembly, the cup wall of a heating cup comprises a stainless steel inner container and an aluminum outer layer arranged on the outer side of the stainless steel inner container, and the outer side of the bottom end of the stainless steel inner container is gradually thinned from top to bottom; the outer side of the bottom end of the stainless steel inner container is provided with a plurality of protruding parts which are annularly distributed at equal intervals, the inner side of the bottom end of the aluminum outer layer is provided with a plurality of grooves used for containing the protruding parts, and the stainless steel inner container provides structural strength and corrosion resistance. The aluminum outer layer provides rapid heat conduction performance; the stainless steel accounts for 45%-68%, the aluminum material accounts for 32%-55%, and the optimal balance of the structure and heat conduction is achieved; the trapezoidal nesting structure of the protruding parts and the grooves forms multi-point annular meshing, the physical anchoring effect between the stainless steel layer and the aluminum layer is enhanced, the heat conduction efficiency and the structural strength are both considered in a limited space, and the coffee machine heating cup assembly is particularly suitable for coffee machine heating cup assemblies with high requirements for the temperature rising speed, the temperature control accuracy and the long-term stability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of coffee machine heating cups, and in particular to a coffee machine heating cup assembly and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Existing coffee machine heating cup assemblies typically utilize bottom heating, where the bottom of the cup is heated via a heating base or plate. To ensure both structural rigidity and heating efficiency, the cup's walls are typically constructed from a composite structure of stainless steel and aluminum. The inner liner is constructed from corrosion-resistant and mechanically strong stainless steel, while the outer layer is constructed from thermally conductive aluminum, enhancing overall thermal efficiency and heating speed.

[0003] However, stainless steel and aluminum differ significantly in their physical properties, particularly in their coefficient of thermal expansion. This discrepancy, especially when the heated area at the bottom of a heating cup experiences a rapid temperature rise, can lead to the following problems: Stress concentration at the material interface: The inconsistent expansion of the two materials during thermal expansion and contraction generates significant thermal stress at the interface. Long-term, repeated stress can lead to material fatigue, structural cracking, or interlayer delamination. Reduced thermal conductivity: Tiny displacements between materials caused by changes in interfacial stress can create poor contact or even gaps, increasing thermal resistance and weakening effective heat conduction, thereby affecting heating efficiency and temperature control accuracy. Furthermore, in practical applications, to meet user demands for fast coffee brewing, precise temperature control, and efficient extraction, the heating system must not only have excellent heating capabilities but also transfer heat from the bottom to the cup wall and upper portion as quickly as possible to ensure even heating of the liquid and shorten overall heating time. Therefore, when designing composite heating cup components, mitigating the structural and thermal conductivity issues caused by the thermal expansion differences between stainless steel and aluminum becomes a key technical challenge that needs to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a coffee machine heating cup assembly and manufacturing method to solve the problems of existing heating cups made of stainless steel and aluminum, which have a large difference in thermal expansion coefficients between stainless steel and aluminum, and the heating area of the heating cup is concentrated at the bottom and the heat transfer efficiency to the cup wall is low. The specific technical solution is as follows:

[0005] A coffee machine heating cup assembly, the cup wall of the heating cup includes a stainless steel inner liner and an aluminum outer layer arranged on the outside of the stainless steel inner liner, the outer side of the bottom end of the stainless steel inner liner gradually becomes thinner from top to bottom, the outer side of the bottom end of the stainless steel inner liner is provided with a plurality of convex parts distributed in an annular shape and at equal intervals, the inner side of the bottom end of the aluminum outer layer is provided with a plurality of grooves for accommodating the convex parts, a heat-conducting part is provided between two adjacent grooves on the aluminum outer layer, a heat-conducting layer is filled between the heat-conducting part and the stainless steel inner liner, and the heat-conducting layer gradually becomes thicker from top to bottom.

[0006] As one of the improvements of the above technical solution, the thickness ratio of the stainless steel inner liner and the aluminum outer layer is that the thickness of the stainless steel inner liner accounts for 45%-68%, and the thickness of the aluminum outer layer accounts for 32%-55%.

[0007] As one of the improvements of the above technical solution, it also includes a heat-conducting chassis, and the stainless steel inner liner, the heat-conducting layer and the aluminum outer layer are respectively connected to the heat-conducting chassis.

[0008] As one of the improvements of the above technical solution, the protrusion and the groove are both trapezoidal in shape.

[0009] As one of the improvements of the above technical solution, the thickness of the raised portion of the stainless steel inner liner gradually increases from 61% to 68% from top to bottom, and the thickness of the groove of the aluminum outer layer gradually decreases from 37% to 28% from top to bottom.

[0010] As one of the improvements of the above technical solution, the thickness of the heat conducting portion gradually increases from 63% to 72% from top to bottom.

[0011] A method for manufacturing a coffee machine heating cup assembly, the coffee machine heating cup assembly comprising the following steps:

[0012] S1. Calculate the dimensions of the stainless steel liner and aluminum outer layer to be produced, and determine the sizes of the protrusions and grooves;

[0013] S2, preparing a stainless steel inner liner and an aluminum outer layer;

[0014] S3, assembling the aluminum outer layer onto the stainless steel inner liner;

[0015] S4. Turn the assembled stainless steel inner liner and aluminum outer layer upside down so that a receiving groove is formed between the heat conducting part and the stainless steel inner liner;

[0016] S5, filling the receiving tank with liquid thermal conductive material, and forming a thermal conductive layer after the liquid thermal conductive material cools;

[0017] S6. Assemble the thermal conductive low-profile to complete the preparation.

[0018] As one of the improvements to the above technical solution, the outer surface and the inner surface of the aluminum outer layer and the stainless steel inner liner are first dusted, and then the aluminum outer layer and the stainless steel inner liner are assembled.

[0019] As one of the improvements to the above technical solution, the liquid thermal conductive material is a ceramic-based adhesive, and the ceramic-based adhesive needs to be stirred and defoamed when used.

[0020] As one of the improvements of the above technical solution, in step S5, liquid thermal conductive material is filled into the receiving tank so that the liquid thermal conductive material fills the entire receiving tank, and the tank is left to stand for 3-5 minutes. Liquid thermal conductive material is selectively added to the receiving tank based on whether the liquid level of the liquid thermal conductive material is lower than the slot of the receiving tank.

[0021] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the stainless steel inner layer provides structural strength and corrosion resistance; the aluminum outer layer provides rapid thermal conductivity; the thickness of the two layers is set proportionally, with stainless steel accounting for 45%-68% and aluminum accounting for 32%-55%, achieving the best balance between structure and thermal conductivity;

[0022] By optimizing the heat conduction path, the heat conduction efficiency of the bottom of the cup wall is improved. By setting a nested heat conduction channel composed of a protrusion, a heat conduction layer and a groove, a multi-point, distributed heat conduction path is formed, which improves the heat distribution density in the bottom area.

[0023] The problem of heat concentration is further alleviated, thereby significantly improving heating efficiency and temperature control response speed, coordinating thermal expansion differences, and improving structural durability and interface stability. By gradually thinning the stainless steel bottom and providing a raised structure, the volume strain caused by heating can be effectively buffered; at the same time, a gradually thickening thermal conductive layer is introduced between the raised part and the aluminum groove, which can act as a "buffer layer" to absorb the stress difference caused by thermal expansion and contraction, reduce the probability of interface fatigue damage, and improve the long-term stability of the product.

[0024] The cup's bottom wall also boasts enhanced mechanical connection strength and impact resistance. The trapezoidal nesting of raised and recessed sections creates a multi-point annular engagement, enhancing the physical anchoring between the stainless steel and aluminum layers while also improving the overall cup's bottom wall's ability to withstand vertical impact and pressure loads. This structure, through a collaborative design combining form matching, material buffering, and multi-path heat conduction, balances thermal efficiency and structural strength within a limited space. It is particularly suitable for coffee machine heating cup assemblies, which require high heating speed, temperature control accuracy, and long-term stability.

[0025] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the description below, and in part will become apparent from the description below, or will be understood through the practice of the present invention. Of course, it is not necessary to achieve all of the advantages described above at the same time to implement any product or method of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the use state of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2 It is another schematic diagram of the use state of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the aluminum outer layer of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of another structure of the aluminum outer layer of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the stainless steel inner container of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the structure of the heat-conducting layer of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of comparative data from the heating experiment.

[0035] In the figure: 1. Stainless steel inner liner; 2. Aluminum outer layer; 3. Heat-conducting layer; 11. Raised portion; 21. Groove; 22. Heat-conducting portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following is a clear and complete description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] The existing heating cups are made of stainless steel and aluminum, which have significant differences in physical properties, especially in thermal expansion coefficient: the linear thermal expansion coefficient of aluminum is about 22×10 -6 / K, while stainless steel (such as 304 type) is about 16×10 -6 / K. During heating, the expansion rate of aluminum is significantly higher than that of stainless steel, which leads to stress concentration at the material interface, reduced thermal conductivity, and poor structural stability. For this reason, please refer to Figure 1-8 The present invention provides some embodiments to solve the above problems, specifically comprising a stainless steel inner liner 1 and an aluminum outer layer 2 disposed on the outer side of the stainless steel inner liner 1. The thickness ratio of the stainless steel inner liner 1 to the aluminum outer layer 2 is 45%-68% of the stainless steel inner liner 1 and 32%-55% of the aluminum outer layer. The cup wall is composed of the stainless steel inner liner 1 and the aluminum outer layer 2. The stainless steel inner liner 1 provides structural strength and corrosion resistance; the aluminum outer layer 2 provides rapid thermal conductivity. The thickness of the two layers is set proportionally, with stainless steel accounting for 45%-68% and aluminum accounting for 32%-55%, achieving an optimal balance between structure and thermal conductivity.

[0038] For details, please refer to Figure 5 Comparative data of heating experiment:

[0039] The test was conducted by setting up multiple groups of specimens and measuring the heating time after water injection (e.g., the time required to go from 30°C to 90°C). The results showed that when the stainless steel ratio was between 45% and 68%, the sample heated up fastest and had the most uniform temperature distribution. When the stainless steel ratio was too high (>68%), the temperature rose slowly and heat was difficult to conduct evenly. In the structural destruction test, when the stainless steel ratio was too low (<45%), the cup wall was prone to bulging or cracking.

[0040] In existing coffee machine heating cup assemblies, the bottom area of the heating cup wall is not only the key connection point that supports the entire cup structure, but also serves as an important channel for heat conduction from the heating base to the liquid in the inner tank. Therefore, it has a special technical position in structural design. On the one hand, the bottom of the cup wall needs to be tightly connected to the cup bottom, bearing the heat conduction pressure from the heating base, the weight of the liquid, and the thermal expansion and contraction cycles during use, which places higher demands on structural strength and fatigue tolerance. Especially in scenarios with frequent thermal cycles or sudden impacts or falls, a weak bottom structure will directly lead to failure problems such as deformation, bulging, and even weld cracking.

[0041] On the other hand, as the starting point of the heat transfer path, the bottom of the cup wall is also the first contact interface for heat flow entering the cup wall. Its thermal conductivity directly affects whether the heat can be quickly and evenly transferred to the liquid in the cup, thereby determining the overall heating speed and temperature control accuracy. If the thermal conductivity is insufficient or the thermal resistance is too large, it will lead to slow temperature rise, uneven heating, increased power consumption, and even local overheating that may damage the inner liner. Therefore, how to balance the following in the bottom structure of the heating cup: sufficient mechanical strength and durability, efficient thermal conductivity, and excellent material interface coordination;

[0042] To this end, the present invention also provides some embodiments, in which the outer side of the bottom end of the stainless steel inner liner 1 gradually becomes thinner from top to bottom, and a plurality of protrusions 11 equidistantly distributed in a ring shape are provided on the outer side of the bottom end of the stainless steel inner liner 1. A plurality of grooves 21 for accommodating the protrusions 11 are provided on the inner side of the bottom end of the aluminum outer layer 2. A heat-conducting part 22 is provided between two adjacent grooves 21 of the aluminum outer layer, and a heat-conducting layer 3 is filled between the heat-conducting part 22 and the stainless steel inner liner 1, and the heat-conducting layer 3 gradually becomes thicker from top to bottom.

[0043] This embodiment improves the thermal conductivity of the cup bottom by optimizing the heat conduction path. By providing a nested heat conduction channel composed of raised portion 11, heat conductive layer 3, and groove 21, a multi-point, distributed heat conduction path is formed, increasing the heat distribution density in the bottom area. This further alleviates the problem of heat concentration, thereby significantly improving heating efficiency and temperature control response speed, coordinating thermal expansion differences, and enhancing structural durability and interface stability. By gradually thinning the stainless steel bottom and providing the raised portion 11 structure, the volumetric strain generated by heating is effectively buffered. At the same time, the introduction of the gradually thickening heat conductive layer 3 acts as a "buffer layer," absorbing the stress differences caused by thermal expansion and contraction, reducing the probability of interface fatigue damage, and improving the long-term stability of the product.

[0044] Furthermore, the mechanical connection strength and impact resistance of the cup wall base are enhanced. The trapezoidal nesting structure of the protrusions 11 and the grooves 21 creates a multi-point annular engagement, which not only strengthens the physical anchoring between the stainless steel and aluminum layers but also improves the overall cup wall base's ability to withstand vertical impact and pressure loads. Compared to traditional flat lamination, this provides more uniform force transmission and lower local stress, reducing the risk of cracking or delamination due to structural fatigue during use. In summary, through the coordinated design of morphological matching, material buffering, and multi-path heat conduction, this structure balances thermal conductivity efficiency and structural strength within a limited space. It is particularly suitable for coffee machine heating cup components that require high heating speed, temperature control accuracy, and long-term stability.

[0045] In some embodiments, a heat-conducting chassis is also included, and the stainless steel liner 1, the heat-conducting layer 3 and the aluminum outer layer 2 are respectively connected to the heat-conducting chassis. By making the stainless steel liner 1, the heat-conducting layer 3 and the aluminum outer layer 2 directly contact the heat-conducting chassis, a multi-path parallel heat-conducting structure is formed to avoid the bottleneck caused by the heat flow relying solely on a single material for transmission. Different materials can form a synergistic heat-conducting mechanism according to their respective thermal conductivity characteristics (aluminum is high, stainless steel is low but stable), thereby improving the overall heat flux density, shortening the time required for liquid heating, and optimizing the heating response performance of the coffee machine. The second is to reduce the interface thermal resistance and improve the heating uniformity. By connecting multiple structural levels (inner liner, heat-conducting layer 3, outer shell) to the heat source chassis respectively, the interface thermal resistance between the layers can be significantly reduced, so that the heat is more evenly distributed throughout the bottom area of the cup, effectively avoiding problems such as local overheating and excessive temperature gradients, thereby improving the heating uniformity of the liquid and enhancing the user experience.

[0046] Compared to approaches that rely solely on a single layer of structure contacting the heat source, this invention utilizes multiple layers of material simultaneously connected to the chassis, enhancing structural integrity and the strength of the heated surface. This reduces the accumulation of thermal stress between material layers, effectively preventing failures such as delamination, warping, and bulging, particularly under conditions such as high-frequency thermal cycling and prolonged power-on operation.

[0047] Preferably, the protrusion 11 and the groove 21 are both trapezoidal in shape, the thickness of the protrusion 11 of the stainless steel inner liner 1 gradually increases from 61% to 68% from top to bottom, the thickness of the groove 21 of the aluminum outer layer gradually decreases from 37% to 28% from top to bottom, and the thickness of the heat-conducting part 22 gradually increases from 63% to 72% from top to bottom. This design establishes a scientific and reasonable heat conduction-strength synergistic structural system between the key heat flow path and the stress point through local thickness gradient distribution, which not only optimizes the continuity and uniformity of the heat transfer path, but also enhances the structural coordination stability and fatigue resistance between materials, significantly improving the overall heating efficiency, service life and structural safety of the heating cup assembly.

[0048] A method for manufacturing a coffee machine heating cup assembly, the coffee machine heating cup assembly comprising the following steps:

[0049] S1. Calculate the dimensions of the stainless steel liner 1 and the aluminum outer layer 2 to be produced, and determine the sizes of the protrusion 11 and the groove 21. Specifically, calculate the structural dimensions of the stainless steel liner 1 and the aluminum outer layer 2 according to the required specifications, and determine the geometric shape and fitting clearance between the protrusion 11 and the corresponding groove 21 at the bottom of the cup; achieve a tight combination of the protrusion 11 and the groove 21, and effectively improve the overall heat conduction efficiency and structural strength.

[0050] S2, preparing a stainless steel inner liner 1 and an aluminum outer layer 2;

[0051] S3. First, remove dust from the outer and inner surfaces of the aluminum outer layer 2 and the stainless steel inner liner 1, then assemble the aluminum outer layer 2 with the stainless steel inner liner 1, and then assemble the aluminum outer layer 2 on the stainless steel inner liner 1; clean the surface to remove oil and dust, improve the adhesion between the thermal conductive material and the metal surface, prevent poor bonding from causing gaps in the thermal conductive layer 3, ensure that the thermal path is continuous and stable, and improve the heat transfer efficiency.

[0052] S4. Turn the assembled stainless steel inner liner 1 and aluminum outer layer 2 upside down to form a receiving groove between the heat conducting part 22 and the stainless steel inner liner 1; the receiving groove is used to facilitate the injection and uniform distribution of the liquid heat conducting material, and gravity and structural shape are used to ensure that the heat conducting layer 3 completely fills the entire receiving groove, avoiding the generation of bubbles and gaps, and ensuring the thermal conductivity and mechanical integrity of the heat conducting layer 3.

[0053] S5. Fill the receiving tank with liquid thermally conductive material, and form a thermally conductive layer 3 after the liquid thermally conductive material cools down. The liquid thermally conductive material is a ceramic-based adhesive, and the ceramic-based adhesive needs to be stirred and defoamed before use. Fill the receiving tank with liquid thermally conductive material until the liquid thermally conductive material fills the entire receiving tank, and let it stand for 3-5 minutes. Selectively add liquid thermally conductive material to the receiving tank based on whether the liquid level of the liquid thermally conductive material is lower than the notch of the receiving tank.

[0054] During this process, sufficient stirring and defoaming are performed to prevent bubbles from entering the thermal conductive material, which can increase thermal resistance and weaken the structure. The staged filling and resting ensures that the thermal conductive material fully fills all tiny spaces, improving the continuity and mechanical strength of the thermal conductive layer 3, ensuring efficient heat transfer and durability.

[0055] S6. Assemble the thermal conductive low-profile to complete the preparation.

[0056] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above and that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and it is intended that all variations that come within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A coffee machine heating cup assembly, characterized in that: The cup wall of the heating cup includes a stainless steel inner liner and an aluminum outer layer arranged on the outside of the stainless steel inner liner. The outer side of the bottom end of the stainless steel inner liner gradually becomes thinner from top to bottom. The outer side of the bottom end of the stainless steel inner liner is provided with a plurality of convex parts distributed in a ring shape and at equal intervals. The inner side of the bottom end of the aluminum outer layer is provided with a plurality of grooves for accommodating the convex parts. A heat-conducting part is provided between two adjacent grooves on the aluminum outer layer. A heat-conducting layer is filled between the heat-conducting part and the stainless steel inner liner, and the heat-conducting layer gradually becomes thicker from top to bottom.

2. The coffee machine heating cup assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness ratio of the stainless steel inner liner to the aluminum outer layer is 45%-68% for the stainless steel inner liner and 32%-55% for the aluminum outer layer.

3. The coffee machine heating cup assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a heat-conducting chassis, and the stainless steel inner container, the heat-conducting layer and the aluminum outer layer are respectively connected to the heat-conducting chassis.

4. The coffee machine heating cup assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The protrusion and the groove are both in a trapezoidal shape.

5. The coffee machine heating cup assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The thickness of the raised portion of the stainless steel inner liner gradually increases from 61% to 68% from top to bottom, and the thickness of the groove of the aluminum outer layer gradually decreases from 37% to 28% from top to bottom.

6. The coffee machine heating cup assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: The thickness of the heat conducting portion gradually increases from 63% to 72% from top to bottom.

7. A method for manufacturing a coffee machine heating cup assembly, applied to the coffee machine heating cup assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Calculate the dimensions of the stainless steel liner and aluminum outer layer to be produced, and determine the sizes of the protrusions and grooves; S2, preparing a stainless steel inner liner and an aluminum outer layer; S3, assembling the aluminum outer layer onto the stainless steel inner liner; S4. Turn the assembled stainless steel inner liner and aluminum outer layer upside down so that a receiving groove is formed between the heat conducting part and the stainless steel inner liner; S5, filling the receiving tank with liquid thermal conductive material, and forming a thermal conductive layer after the liquid thermal conductive material cools; S6. Assemble the thermal conductive low-profile to complete the preparation.

8. The method for manufacturing a heating cup assembly for a coffee machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: In step S3, the outer surface and the inner surface of the aluminum outer layer and the stainless steel inner liner are firstly dusted, and then the aluminum outer layer and the stainless steel inner liner are assembled.

9. The method for manufacturing a heating cup assembly for a coffee machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: In step S5 , the liquid thermally conductive material is a ceramic-based adhesive, which needs to be stirred and defoamed before use.

10. The method for manufacturing a heating cup assembly for a coffee machine according to claim 9, characterized in that: In step S5, liquid thermal conductive material is filled into the receiving tank until the entire receiving tank is filled with the liquid thermal conductive material. The tank is left to stand for 3-5 minutes, and liquid thermal conductive material is selectively added to the receiving tank based on whether the liquid level of the liquid thermal conductive material is lower than the notch of the receiving tank.

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