Apparatus and method for preparing a beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preparing drinks, such as manual tea preparation and automated brewing machines, are not user-friendly due to the need for manual temperature monitoring and cleaning, with tea bags or strainers becoming dirty and cleaning being laborious.
Innovation Solution
A device with a lid and container system that allows for easy brewing and cleaning, featuring a receptacle for a capsule with extraction material, where the lid can be turned over to allow hot water to flow into the capsule, and a pressure relief valve to manage steam, along with an optical and acoustic signal for brewing completion, and a reading device for capsule coding to control brewing parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual tea preparation method is used, then the user can control brewing temperature and steeping time, but the user must monitor the brewing temperature and steeping time manually, and cleaning is laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing parameters (temperature, steeping time) are pre-set in the control unit before the brewing process starts. The user simply needs to place the container on the base station and press a button, and the system automatically executes the pre-programmed brewing sequence, eliminating the need for manual monitoring of temperature and time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring of brewing temperature and steeping time through sensors and control algorithms. The control unit automatically adjusts heating power and brewing duration based on pre-set parameters, making the system self-regulating without requiring user intervention or manual timing.
2Extent of automation
If automated brewing machine is used, then the brewing process is automated, but cleaning the brewing chamber and liquid-carrying lines is laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing system is divided into separable components: the container that holds the beverage and the lid with the capsule receptacle. These components can be easily detached from each other and from the base station, allowing users to quickly remove and clean individual parts without disassembling complex internal structures. The separation of the container and lid enables straightforward cleaning of liquid-carrying surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction material is contained within a removable capsule that can be easily extracted from the lid's receptacle. The capsule itself can be removed and disposed of or cleaned separately, while the lid's receptacle remains simple and easy to clean. This extraction of the extraction material into a separate, removable component simplifies the cleaning process significantly.
3Productivity
If the container is inverted for brewing, then hot water can flow into the capsule containing extraction material, but hot water may escape from the interior of the container during inversion
Solution Approach 1:
A valve mechanism acts as an intermediary between the container interior and the external environment during inversion. The valve is positioned to control water flow and can be configured to close automatically when the container is inverted, preventing leakage while still allowing water to enter the capsule during the brewing process. This intermediary component mediates between the need for inversion-based brewing and the need to prevent spills.
4Temperature
If the lid and container are sealed in the brewing position, then brewing temperature can be maintained, but the seal must be reliable to prevent leakage during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing interface between the lid and container utilizes curved or rounded surfaces that distribute sealing pressure more evenly. This curved geometry helps maintain a reliable seal under varying conditions of handling and temperature changes, preventing leakage while maintaining brewing temperature. The rounded sealing surfaces are more tolerant of minor misalignments and thermal expansion than flat surfaces.
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
Enables easy preparation and cleaning of brewed drinks by automating brewing processes, preventing spills during handling, and allowing for optimal brewing control based on capsule type, with easy disposal of extraction material and reduced cleaning effort.
Implementation Method 1
a base station with a heating device on which the container can be placed for heating the water
Implementation Method 2
the lid may be fitted with at least one pressure relief valve to prevent overpressure in the container during heating. If steam bubbles form during heating, the steam can escape through the pressure relief valve
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2E
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for preparing a beverage, comprising a container (2) for filling with water; a base station (3) having a heating device on which the container (2) for heating the water is mounted, and a lid (4) for closing the container, a receptacle (40) for receiving a capsule (5) containing an extraction material being provided on or in the lid (4), which is at least partially open towards the inside of the container (2) and the container (2) can be placed on the lid (4) for brewing the beverage. The invention further relates to a method for preparing a beverage.