System for making beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage brewing systems face challenges in reliably recognizing original capsules, leading to potential false negatives and quality issues with compatible capsules, which can result in suboptimal beverage quality and machine damage, due to manufacturing tolerances and interference from powdered food granules.
Innovation Solution
A system with an optical recognition element placed inside the capsule, featuring a convex reading surface and a fluorescent material for reliable recognition, 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
1Speed
If an optical recognition system is used to identify capsules, then recognition speed is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to false negatives and interference from powdered food granules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the recognition element from the brewing process by placing it in a recess that is covered by the lid during brewing. This isolates the optical recognition system from interference by powdered food granules, allowing reliable identification while maintaining fast recognition speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lid as an intermediary element that physically separates the recognition element from the brewing environment. The lid covers the recess containing the recognition element during brewing, preventing granule interference while allowing optical access during the identification phase.
2Measurement precision
If the recognition element is placed inside the capsule, then recognition accuracy is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to interference from powdered food granules
Solution Approach 1:
The recognition element is extracted from the main brewing chamber and placed in a dedicated recess, physically separating it from the powdered food granules during the brewing process while maintaining close proximity for accurate recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid serves as a protective intermediary that covers the recognition element during brewing, blocking granule interference while allowing the recognition system to function during capsule identification.
3Reliability
If brewing parameters are optimized for specific capsule models, then beverage quality is improved, but compatibility with non-original capsules deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of the capsule type using the optical recognition element before brewing begins. This allows the brewing unit to pre-load the appropriate brewing parameters specific to each capsule model, ensuring optimal beverage quality while maintaining compatibility with different capsule types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes brewing parameters based on the identified capsule type. The optical recognition system detects capsule-specific features, and the brewing unit adjusts water temperature, pressure, and flow rate parameters to match the optimal settings for each capsule model.
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 achieves high reliability in recognizing original capsules, minimizing false negatives and ensuring consistent beverage quality while maintaining cost-effectiveness and normal manufacturing tolerances, and effectively managing the presence of powdered food granules.
Implementation Method 1
The recognition element 11 is made using a fluorescent material which, if it is lit with an incident light radiation having a predetermined band of wavelengths, emits and/or reflects a return light radiation which has a division of the intensity of light radiation into each of a plurality of bands of wavelengths
Data Source
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), wherein the detecting device (13) has an acquiring surface (27) fixed to the first piercing unit (17), and the first piercing unit (17) has a distal portion (35) which more than the acquiring surface (27), and wherein alternatively the distal portion (35) is resting on the recognition element (11) and the acquiring surface (27) is at a distance from the recognition element (11), or the distal portion (35) is partly inserted in the recognition element (11) and the acquiring surface (27) is at a distance from the recognition element (11) or resting on the recognition element (11).