Apparatus for making a beverage, comprising an image acquisition device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage making apparatuses face issues with water condensation and misting on the viewing window of image acquisition devices, which can hinder the recognition of capsule types and lead to operational errors, especially in low temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a heating element, such as an electrical resistor-type heater, directly onto the viewing window of the image acquisition device to prevent or reduce water condensation, ensuring the device can function effectively without manual intervention or additional technical complications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the image acquisition device is positioned in the infusion chamber or upstream where water vapour is present, then capsule recognition can be performed, but water condensation and misting occur on the viewing window which hinders device operation and causes reading errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the viewing window by introducing a heating element that maintains the window temperature above the dew point, preventing water condensation while preserving the image acquisition device's positioning for capsule recognition
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element acts as an intermediary between the water vapour environment and the viewing window, creating a thermal barrier that prevents condensation without requiring the device to be repositioned or the environment to be changed
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a fan is used to create forced airflow on the viewing window to prevent condensation, then condensation can be reduced, but the device complexity increases and manual intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical airflow system (fan) with a thermal system (heating element), substituting mechanical action with thermal action to achieve the same condensation prevention goal with simpler implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element provides self-service condensation prevention by continuously maintaining the viewing window temperature above the dew point without requiring external control or manual intervention, unlike the fan system
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the viewing window is positioned to be easily accessible for manual cleaning, then condensation can be removed, but the device complexity increases and user intervention is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element enables the viewing window to protect itself from condensation automatically, eliminating the need for user intervention to clean or maintain the window, thereby improving ease of 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
The heating element efficiently heats the viewing window, preventing water condensation and ensuring accurate capsule recognition, thereby maintaining the apparatus's operational reliability and reducing the need for user intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The heat produced by the heating element is transferred by conduction to the viewing window, which is consequently heated
Implementation Method 2
The heating element is an electrical resistor-type heater and is connectable to an electricity supply, thus it heats the viewing window during use of the apparatus
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates to an apparatus (1) for making a beverage, comprising an infusion chamber (21) suitable for receiving a capsule containing a food substance for making a beverage, an insertion opening (31) for inserting the capsule into the apparatus (1), a transfer channel (32) for transferring the 5 capsule from the insertion opening (31) to the infusion chamber (21), an image acquisition device (4) which is intended, in use, to acquire at least one image of a portion of the capsule. The image acquisition device (4) includes an optical sensor (42) facing an image capture zone (40) in which, in use, said capsule is located or passes. The apparatus (1) further comprises a 0 viewing window (45), made of transparent material, which is interposed between the optical sensor (42) and the image capture zone (40). The viewing window (45) has a first face (451) facing the optical sensor (42) and a second face (452) facing the image capture zone (40). The apparatus (1) further comprises a heating element (6) applied to the viewing window (45) 5 or incorporated in the viewing window (45). The heating element (6) is an electrical resistor-type heater and is electrically connectable to an electricity supply. The heating element (6) is intended for heating the viewing window (45) during use of the apparatus (1).