Adjustable Dispensing Nozzle With Tilting Cup Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee producing machines have complex and expensive mechanisms to adjust the distance between the beverage dispensing nozzle and the cup supporting surface, making them cumbersome and requiring large housing, which limits their compactness and usability with containers of varying sizes.
Innovation Solution
A beverage producing machine with a movable auxiliary surface and a tilting beverage dispensing nozzle that can be adjusted between two positions, allowing for the use of both small and large containers without increasing the machine's footprint, facilitated by a mechanical linkage for easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex mechanism is used to adjust the distance between the beverage dispensing nozzle and the cup supporting surface, then the adaptability to different container sizes is improved, but the device complexity and housing size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage dispensing nozzle is made movable between a first position (for small containers on the supporting surface) and a second position (for large containers on the movable auxiliary surface). This dynamic repositioning allows the same nozzle to serve both small and large containers without requiring a complex multi-component adjusting mechanism, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a movable auxiliary surface that can be tilted from a rest position (within the machine footprint) to an operating position (projecting outward). This adds a spatial dimension to the solution, allowing large containers to be accommodated by tilting the auxiliary surface and nozzle outward, thus achieving adaptability to different container sizes without increasing the base housing size or complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the machine housing is enlarged to accommodate adjustable mechanisms, then the adaptability to different container sizes is improved, but the compactness and ease of transport are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The movable auxiliary surface and beverage dispensing nozzle are designed to tilt between a rest position (within the machine footprint) and an operating position (projecting outward). This dynamic configuration allows the machine to maintain a compact footprint during storage and transport while providing extended reach when needed to accommodate large containers, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and compactness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes angular movement (tilting) of the auxiliary surface and nozzle rather than linear extension. This allows the machine to achieve the necessary reach for large containers by rotating components outward from the footprint, effectively using angular space rather than increasing the linear footprint, thereby maintaining compactness while providing adaptability
3Device complexity
If a fixed position beverage dispensing nozzle is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different container sizes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage dispensing nozzle is designed to move between two distinct positions: a first position for dispensing into small containers on the supporting surface, and a second position for dispensing into large containers on the movable auxiliary surface. This simple two-position movement provides adaptability to different container sizes while maintaining mechanical simplicity, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A beverage producing machine is disclosed, comprising: a housing (3); a supporting surface (23) on which a beverage collecting container (C) can be placed; and a beverage dispensing nozzle (13) arranged above the supporting surface. The machine further comprises a movable auxiliary surface (25) which is combined to the supporting surface and is movable between an operating position and a rest position. In the operating position the movable auxiliary surface is parallel to the supporting surface. In the rest position the movable auxiliary surface is removed from the supporting surface. Moreover the dispensing nozzle (13) is movable between a first position for dispensing a beverage in a container placed on said supporting surface, and a second position for dispensing the beverage in a container placed on the movable auxiliary surface (25).