Fully automatic beverage machine for freshly brewed hot beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automatic coffee machines with continuous-flow heaters are prone to calcification due to high temperatures and narrow flow paths, leading to imprecise descaling agent dosage and increased maintenance efforts.
Innovation Solution
A fully automatic beverage machine equipped with a decalcifying system that includes a mixing tank, a dosing pump for liquid descaler concentrate, and flow meters to determine water volume and flow rate, allowing for automated and precise descaling without manual intervention, using directional control valves to direct the descaling solution through the heater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a continuous-flow heater is used for rapid hot water preparation, then heating speed is improved, but calcification susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs descaling operations without manual intervention. The control unit detects calcification conditions and automatically activates the descaling pump to circulate descaling agent through the continuous-flow heater, eliminating the need for manual maintenance while ensuring the heater remains free from calcification deposits
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between normal brewing mode and descaling mode. During descaling, the flow rate and chemical composition of the fluid circulating through the heater are altered to dissolve calcification deposits, thereby maintaining heater reliability without compromising heating performance
2Device complexity
If manual descaling operations are required, then device complexity is reduced, but maintenance effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors brewing parameters and automatically determines when descaling is needed based on accumulated usage data. When descaling is required, the system autonomously activates the descaling pump and circulates the descaling agent through the heater, completely eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing maintenance effort
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback from flow meters and brewing operation data to monitor the calcification status of the heater. Based on this feedback, the system automatically triggers descaling operations at optimal intervals, ensuring maintenance is performed only when necessary while keeping the system simple and easy to operate
3Measurement precision
If descaling agent dosage is adjusted by reducing water pump delivery rate, then dosage precision should improve, but flow rate dependency on calcification status creates imprecision
Solution Approach 1:
A separate descaling pump is introduced as an intermediary device specifically for delivering descaling agent. This pump operates independently from the water pump used during brewing, allowing precise control of descaling agent dosage without being affected by variations in water flow rate or heater calcification status during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid delivery system is segmented into two independent subsystems: the water pump system for brewing operations and the descaling pump system for maintenance operations. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently, with the descaling pump providing accurate, consistent dosage of descaling agent regardless of the calcification status or flow conditions in the brewing system
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 system enables efficient and automated decalcification of the continuous-flow heater, reducing maintenance needs and ensuring accurate descaling agent dosage, allowing for quick and reliable operation with minimal user effort and preventing accidental dispensing of descaling solution into beverages.
Implementation Method 1
a dosing pump (43) for metered delivery of descaler concentrate from the storage tank (42) into the mixing tank (41)
Implementation Method 2
a water pump (11) which takes drinking water from a drinking water supply line (30) and pumps it to the hot water generator (10)
Implementation Method 3
a lightweight and compact instantaneous water heater for hot water preparation
Implementation Method 4
susceptible to calcification due to the high temperatures required for rapid heating of the water
Implementation Method 5
with a flow meter for determination of the volume of drinking water delivered by the water pump
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a fully automatic beverage machine for preparing freshly brewed hot beverages, having at least one hot-water generator (10, 20), a brewing device (50) to which hot water can be supplied from the hot water generator (10, 20), and a water pump (11, 21) which pumps drinking water from a drinking water supply line (30) to the hot water generator (10, 20). The hot water generator (10, 20) is a continuous flow heater and a flowmeter (12, 22) for determining the volume of drinking water pumped by the water pump (11, 21). Additionally, the fully automatic beverage machine is equipped with an automatic decalcification system (40) for automatically decalcifying the continuous flow heater (10, 20). The decalcification system has a mixing container (41) for mixing a descaling solution, a receiving chamber for a storage container (42) for liquid descaler concentrate, and a metering pump (43) for pumping descaler concentrate out of the storage container (42) into the mixing container (41) in a metered manner, wherein the descaling solution is mixed from descaler concentrate and water in the mixing container. The water pump (11, 21) can be connected to a removal line (49) of the mixing container (41) in a switchable manner on the suction side via a first directional valve (44) in order to pump the descaling solution from the mixing container (41) to the hot water generator (10, 20) in the switched valve position of the first directional valve (44), and the water pump (11) can be connected to a water supply line (47) of the mixing container (41) in a switchable manner on the pressure side via a second directional valve (45) in order to pump drinking water to the mixing container (41) in the switched valve position of the second directional valve (45).