Beverage Dispenser Extraction Device for Filter-Free Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensers face issues with frequent cleaning needs, air flow efficiency, and powder loss due to dirty extraction ducts and the requirement for frequent filter changes, especially when dealing with multiple dissolution chambers.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispenser design featuring a fully removable, parallelepipedic extraction device that guides air flows through internal paths to prevent powder and steam contact with internal walls, eliminating the need for filters and allowing easy cleaning, with a configuration that optimizes air flow and minimizes powder suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is installed in the extraction duct to prevent soiling of the ventilating fan, then the fan is protected from powder accumulation, but the filter requires frequent cleaning or replacement and decreases air flow efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful element (filter) is extracted from the extraction duct system. The patent eliminates the filter by redirecting the extraction duct to open directly into the plenum chamber, allowing steam and powder to be captured and evacuated without passing through a filter that would require maintenance and reduce airflow efficiency.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the extraction duct extends along the longitudinal side of the internal housing, then the steam and powder are effectively evacuated, but the internal housing walls become dirty and require regular cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction system is segmented into a separate plenum chamber that is accessible and removable from the housing. This allows the extraction function to be maintained while the dirty components can be easily removed and cleaned separately without disassembling the entire housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction duct is extracted from the internal housing structure and redirected to open into the plenum chamber. This separates the dirty extraction path from the clean housing interior, preventing powder deposition on housing walls while maintaining effective steam and powder evacuation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If baffles are used to create a meandering path in the extraction box, then powder deposition is encouraged in the box interior, but the pressure drop increases and the expeller fan requires high power
Solution Approach 1:
The meandering path with baffles is extracted from the design. Instead, the patent uses a direct extraction duct opening into the plenum chamber, which eliminates unnecessary pressure drops and reduces fan power requirements while still achieving effective powder capture through the plenum chamber design.
4Ease of operation
If a removable extraction device is implemented, then cleaning becomes easy and rapid, but the device complexity increases with separate parts
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction device is segmented into a removable plenum chamber that can be separated from the housing for cleaning. This segmentation provides easy access to clean the extraction surfaces while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require complex disassembly mechanisms.
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 enables efficient and easy cleaning of the extraction device, reduces powder loss, and maintains optimal air flow efficiency, addressing the challenges of frequent filter changes and dirty ducts in existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
an evacuating fan, an extraction device connected to each extractor hood and to said evacuating fan, said extraction device comprising internal paths for guiding air flows from the extractor hoods through the extraction device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention concerns a beverage dispenser comprising : - a housing (4) - at least two containers (2) for storing a water soluble beverage powder, each container comprising a tank (21) and an outlet (22), - at least two dissolution chambers (3), each being operatively linked to one of the containers (2) for preparing a beverage from the water soluble beverage powder and a diluent, - for each dissolution chamber (3), an extractor hood (5) at the top of said dissolution chamber, - an evacuating fan (6), - an extraction device (7) connected to each extractor hood (5) and to said evacuating fan (6), said extraction device comprising internal paths (71) for guiding flows from the extractor hoods through the extraction device, wherein : - the extraction device (7) is an essentially parallelepipedic box connected : to each extractor hood (6) through cooperating holes (71) on its front lateral side, and to the evacuating fan (36) through one cooperating holes (72) on one other lateral side, - the box of the extraction device is fully removable from the housing (4), - the box consists of a lower part (7a) and an upper part (7b) and is configured for being manually opened by separating the lower part (7a) from the upper part (7b).