System for making beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage brewing systems face issues with recognizing original capsules accurately, leading to false negatives and quality concerns when using compatible capsules, due to manufacturing tolerances and interference from powdered food granules, which affects the reliability and cost-effectiveness of recognition methods.
Innovation Solution
A system with an optical recognition element placed inside the capsule, featuring a convex reading surface and a fluorescent material for reliable identification, using specific wavelength bands and intensity ratios to distinguish between original and non-original capsules, and incorporating a cleaning mechanism to maintain recognition accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an optical recognition element is placed inside the capsule to identify original capsules, then capsule identification capability is improved, but false negatives occur due to interference from powdered food granules on the reading surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful factor (powdered food granules) from the recognition interface by positioning the reading surface on the capsule lid above the food substance, rather than on the capsule bottom where granules would interfere. This separation removes the source of false negatives while maintaining identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary cleaning of the reading surface using water flow before optical recognition occurs. This preliminary action removes potential granule interference in advance, ensuring the reading surface is clean and ready for accurate recognition without requiring complex post-contamination correction mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If strict manufacturing tolerances are enforced to ensure recognition accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial cleaning action (water flow for a limited duration) that is sufficient to remove granules from the reading surface but does not require excessive cleaning intensity. This partial action achieves the necessary cleanliness for accurate recognition without the high costs associated with more aggressive or prolonged cleaning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical recognition that can tolerate normal manufacturing tolerances by detecting reflective properties rather than requiring precise geometric measurements. This optical copying method is less sensitive to dimensional variations than mechanical measurement systems, allowing production within standard tolerances while maintaining recognition accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If compatible capsules are sold at lower prices to be attractive to consumers, then market competitiveness is improved, but beverage quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through optical recognition that detects capsule authenticity and provides real-time information to the brewing system. This feedback enables the system to adjust brewing parameters or provide user warnings, ensuring that compatible capsules (which may have different properties) are brewed with appropriate modifications to maintain beverage quality, while still allowing consumers to purchase lower-cost compatible options.
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 minimizes false negatives and maintains recognition reliability despite normal manufacturing tolerances, ensuring accurate capsule identification and consistent beverage quality while being cost-effective and easy to produce.
Implementation Method 1
the recognition element (11) is made of a material capable of emitting/reflecting light radiations having predetermined characteristics, if it is lit with an incident light radiation having a predetermined band of wavelengths
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A system for making beverages comprising a brewing unit (2) and a capsule (4) containing a powdered food substance (5), the capsule (4) comprising an outer casing (6) and a recognition element (11) placed inside the outer casing (6), wherein the brewing unit (2) comprises a first piercing unit (17), a lighting device (26) associated with the first piercing unit (17) for lighting the recognition element (11), a detecting device (13) configured to detect a return light radiation from the recognition element (11), and supplying means for supplying hot water inside the capsule (4) inserted in the infusion chamber (3), wherein, moreover, the hot water supplying means are configured to supply the hot water inside the capsule (4) at a reading surface (12) of the recognition element (11) towards which the lighting device (26) and the detecting device (13) are directed in order to execute a cleaning step for cleaning the recognition element (11) if the capsule is not recognised.