Beverage preparation machine provided with a height-adjustable dispensing head
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines face challenges with space utilization and component arrangement due to flexible cover members that are difficult to guide and occupy internal space, making it hard to implement other components and ensuring user safety.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine design featuring a cover member with movable plates and a panel that form pull-out flaps, allowing the cover member to occupy minimal space and prevent user access, with a drive element for automatic movement and gravity-assisted return, ensuring reliable translation guidance and ergonomic implementation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a flexible strip cover member is used to cover the opening, then user safety is improved by preventing finger insertion, but the cover member occupies significant internal space and is difficult to guide during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is segmented into a panel and at least one first plate that can move independently. The first plate is movable vertically relative to the frame and panel, allowing it to be positioned in a deployed state for safety coverage or a storage state for compact space utilization, eliminating the need for a long flexible strip to continuously cover the opening during head movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member transitions from a static flexible strip to a dynamic segmented structure where the first plate can change position between deployed and storage states. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the cover member to adapt its shape and position based on operational requirements, improving both safety coverage and space efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the dispensing head moves between high standby position and low working position, then beverage dispensing functionality is improved, but the flexible strip cover member becomes difficult to guide and occupies excessive space
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is divided into a panel attached to the dispensing head and a separate movable first plate. This segmentation allows the panel to move with the dispensing head while the first plate independently adjusts its position, eliminating the guidance difficulties associated with a continuous flexible strip and reducing the space occupied during head movement between positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The first plate is designed to move in a vertical dimension relative to the frame and panel, adding a degree of freedom to the cover member system. This vertical movement capability allows the cover member to accommodate the dispensing head's movement between high and low positions without requiring complex lateral guidance mechanisms.
3Device complexity
If the cover member is arranged directly behind the opening with minimal footprint, then space efficiency is improved, but the cover member must still effectively prevent user access to the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The first plate can dynamically transition between a deployed position where it extends beyond the panel to provide extensive coverage and prevent user access, and a storage position where it retracts to occupy minimal space. This dynamic adjustment allows the cover member to maximize safety coverage when needed while maintaining space efficiency during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The first plate is positioned in advance in a deployed state to cover the opening before user interaction occurs, providing proactive safety protection. The plate can be pre-positioned to mask the opening over a height of 2H when the dispensing head is in the low position, preventing potential finger insertion before it becomes a hazard.
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 design enhances space efficiency, facilitates the arrangement of other components, and ensures user safety by minimizing the cover member's footprint and enabling automatic operation, resulting in a simpler and more economical machine.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one first plate and the end part of the panel slide vertically relative to each other to form pull-out flaps
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a beverage preparation machine (2) comprising a frame (3) and a dispensing head (10) disposed in front of the frame (3), said dispensing head (10) being movable between a high standby position and a low working position, said frame (3) comprising an opening (6) extending vertically, through which extends at least one beverage dispensing conduit (13, 16), said beverage preparation machine (2) comprising a covering element (30) for said opening (6), arranged inside the frame (3) and connected to the dispensing head (10).According to the invention, the cover element (30) comprises a panel (31) integral with the distribution head (10) and at least one first plate (50) movable vertically relative to the frame (3) and relative to the panel (31), said at least one first plate (50) and the panel (31) being movable during the movement of the distribution head (10) between a storage position in which at least one first plate (50) and an end portion (32) of the panel (31) are arranged in a superimposed manner beyond the opening (6), inside the frame (3), an intermediate folded position in which at least one first plate (50) and the end portion (32) are superimposed and at least one first plate (50) participates in covering the opening (6), and an extended position in which at least one first plate (50) extends beyond the panel (31) to participate in covering the opening (6).