Beverage-producing machine comprising a removable ingredient container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee-making machines require manual operation to switch between different types of coffee beans and lack automatic locking/unlocking mechanisms for beverage ingredient containers, leading to inconvenient and time-consuming processes.
Innovation Solution
A coffee-making machine with a lockable and unlockable container system featuring a bottom aperture and actuating member that selectively opens and closes the aperture, ensuring secure and user-friendly operation, along with a sensing arrangement for proper container connection and automatic operation enablement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a removable container with bottom aperture is used for coffee beans, then switching between different coffee types becomes possible, but manual operation to close the aperture and lock the container is required, which is time-consuming and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the aperture closure function and container locking function into a single integrated actuating mechanism. When the user activates this mechanism, it simultaneously closes the shutter at the bottom aperture and locks the container to the machine housing, eliminating the need for separate manual operations and significantly improving ease of use while maintaining the ability to switch between different coffee types
2Productivity
If the container aperture remains open during operation, then coffee beans can be dispensed, but ingredient loss occurs when the container is removed or during unintended dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a control system that automatically closes the aperture shutter before the container is removed from the machine. The sensing arrangement detects container removal and triggers the shutter closure mechanism in advance, ensuring the aperture is sealed before any potential ingredient loss can occur. This preliminary action prevents coffee bean loss while maintaining normal dispensing operations when the container is properly installed
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual loading compartment is provided for different coffee types, then versatility is improved, but only coffee powder can be loaded and brewing cycle must be controlled manually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the removable container system universal by enabling it to handle both coffee beans and ground coffee powder through the same loading mechanism. The actuating mechanism and sensing arrangement work identically regardless of the container type or coffee form, eliminating the need for separate manual loading compartments and complex controls for different coffee types, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility
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 solution allows for seamless switching between coffee types without manual aperture closure, preventing ingredient loss and ensuring safe, automatic operation by locking the container before dispensing and unlocking it only when necessary, enhancing user experience and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a bottom aperture for dispensing by gravity the ingredient contained therein
Data Source
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AI summary
A beverage-producing machine (1) is described, comprising a housing (3), a beverage producing unit arranged in the housing and a container (21) for at least one beverage ingredient, for example coffee beans. The container (21) is lockable to the housing (3) and unlockable therefrom. The container (21) comprises a bottom aperture (27) for dispensing the ingredient contained therein and a shutter (29) for selectively closing and opening the aperture. Furthermore, an actuating member (37, 39, 41, 45) is provided in the housing. The actuating member acts upon the shutter for selectively opening and closing the bottom aperture (27) of the container while respectively locking the container to the housing and unlocking the container from the housing.