Beverage dispenser with self-cleaning components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage dispensers face challenges in maintaining hydrophobic properties when dealing with hot beverages, as water-repellent coatings lose effectiveness at elevated temperatures, especially when mixed with fat components like milk or chocolate, leading to increased cleaning difficulties and hygiene issues.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a micro- and nano-meter hierarchical patterned structure on components, featuring homogeneously distributed micrometre-sized pillars, nanometre-sized pillars, and nanometre-sized protrusions in a non-periodic, irregular pattern, provides sustained hydrophobicity for both cold and hot liquids, ensuring liquids roll off easily and reducing dirtiness and scaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If water-repellent coatings are used on beverage dispenser components, then liquids flow easily and self-cleaning properties are improved, but the hydrophobic property decreases when water is hot or mixed with fat components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-cleaning propertyVSAvoidhydrophobic property stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the surface parameters by creating micro- and nano-meter hierarchical patterned structures with specific geometries (micrometre-sized pillars with nanometre-sized protrusions) to maintain hydrophobicity across different liquid compositions and temperatures, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability of hydrophobic property

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite surface structures combining micrometre-sized pillars and nanometre-sized protrusions to create a hierarchical pattern that provides sustained hydrophobicity, effectively combining multiple structural levels to achieve reliable liquid-repelling properties under varying conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If chemical coatings are used to provide water repellent property, then hydrophobicity is achieved, but health safety concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater repellent propertyVSAvoidhealth safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical coatings with a physical micro- and nano-meter hierarchical patterned structure that provides water repellent properties through surface geometry rather than chemical composition, eliminating health safety concerns while maintaining the desired hydrophobic effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses injection molded polymers with imprinted micro- and nanostructures as a durable, safe alternative to chemical coatings, providing a long-lasting health-safe solution that does not require periodic reapplication like some chemical treatments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If beverage dispensers are cleaned manually, then hygiene is maintained, but the operation is time consuming and requires operator presence

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehygieneVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables beverage dispenser components to self-clean by incorporating micro- and nano-meter hierarchical patterned structures that actively repel liquids and prevent stagnation, eliminating the need for manual cleaning operations and reducing maintenance time while maintaining hygiene

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

This design effectively prevents liquids from stagnating on surfaces, reducing cleaning frequency and maintaining hygiene by ensuring hot beverages and water flow freely, even at elevated temperatures, thus enhancing the self-cleaning properties of beverage dispensing apparatuses.

Implementation Method 1

said hydrophobic liquid contact surface portion presents a micro- and nano-meter hierarchical patterned structure... water drops rolling off these surfaces very easily

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP3685715B1Beverage dispenser with self-cleaning components

Publication Date: 2022.11.30 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA

Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The invention concerns a beverage dispensing apparatus (4) comprising at least one component (41, 42, 43, 15, 46, 47, 48) configured for handling a liquid and/or able to be contacted by a liquid, said component comprising at least one hydrophobic liquid contact surface portion, wherein said hydrophobic liquid contact surface portion presents a micro- and nano-meter hierarchical patterned structure, said structure comprising : - homogeneously distributed micrometre-sized pillars (1), and - homogeneously distributed nanometre-sized pillars (2) at the upper surface of the micrometre-sized pillars, and - nanometre-sized protrusions (3) at the upper surface of the nanometre-sized pillars, said protrusions being positioned in a non-periodic, irregular pattern.