Beverage Machine Angle-Controlled Pouring to Reduce Manifold Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic beverage machines face issues with clogging, hygiene, uneven coffee and foam distribution, and complex cleaning due to the use of manifold-like structures, which also lead to slow pouring processes and increased cleaning complexity.
Innovation Solution
A programmable, angle and position-controlled pouring control system that allows direct pouring into cups without intermediate transfer pieces, enabling synchronized movements based on the number of cups and their positions to ensure equal distribution and quick termination of the pouring process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a manifold-like intermediate transfer piece is used to serve coffee to multiple cups, then the beverage can be distributed to multiple cups, but the manifold structure is prone to clogging, creates hygiene problems, and increases cleaning complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the manifold-like intermediate transfer piece from the system entirely. Instead of using a complex distribution manifold that requires cleaning, the invention directly pours coffee from the cooking chamber into multiple cups positioned on a tray, eliminating the clogging and hygiene problems associated with intermediate transfer structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pouring process by positioning multiple cups on a movable tray that can be adjusted to different positions. The cooking chamber rotates to pour coffee into each cup sequentially, allowing direct serving to multiple cups without requiring a complex manifold structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a manifold-like intermediate transfer piece is used, then coffee can be distributed to multiple cups, but the distribution of coffee and foam becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the pouring process by rotating the cooking chamber to different angular positions and adjusting the tray position for each cup. This dynamic adjustment ensures that coffee and foam are distributed evenly to each cup, overcoming the uniformity problems of static manifold structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical manifold structure with an active controlled pouring system that uses rotation and position control to achieve precise and uniform distribution of coffee and foam to multiple cups.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a manifold-like structure is used, then coffee can be served to multiple cups, but the cleaning process becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the manifold structure from the system, eliminating the need to clean multiple components. Only the cooking chamber needs to be cleaned, significantly reducing cleaning time and complexity while maintaining the ability to serve multiple cups through direct pouring.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a manifold-like structure is used, then coffee can be distributed to multiple cups, but the process termination becomes slow due to free flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic control of the cooking chamber rotation to precisely terminate the pouring process. By controlling the rotation speed and stopping position, the system achieves fast and clean termination of the pouring operation, eliminating the slow free flow termination problem of manifold structures.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an automatic beverage machine (1) consisting of a body (2), a chamber (3) positioned on said body (2) and collecting a mixture of coffee etc. sedimented products with sugar and water, a cup (5) into which the mixture found in said chamber (3) is poured, and a tray (4) on which said cup (5) is positioned. It comprises a chamber drive mechanism (10) driving said chamber (3) in an angle- controlled manner, and a chamber control system (20) controlling and commanding the movement of said chamber drive mechanism (10) and operating together with an angle control motor (11). Moreover, it comprises a tray drive mechanism (30) extending all along the bottom area of said body (2), adjusting the position of said tray (4) and the cups (5) found thereon according to said chamber (3), converting rotational motion into linear motion and thus moving said tray (4) back and forth, a tray control system (40) controlling and commanding the movement of said tray drive mechanism (30) and operating with a position control motor (31).