Ergonomic handle & user-interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines require users to perform multiple hand movements and displacements to operate, complicating the process and reducing ergonomics, especially when transitioning from loading to circulating ingredients.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine with a handle that moves between a transfer position for loading/unloading ingredients and a circulation position for brewing, where the user-interface is accessible and operable by the same hand driving the handle, minimizing manual effort and simplifying the operation by allowing the user to initiate liquid circulation without hand displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user-interface is positioned separately from the handle, then the machine structure is more organized, but the user must perform multiple hand movements and displacements to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The user-interface is merged with the handle by positioning it on the front face of the machine near the handle's circulation position. This allows the user to operate the interface with the same hand that drives the handle, eliminating the need for hand displacement between operations and directly improving ease of operation.
2Productivity
If the handle travel distance is long, then the mechanical advantage is improved, but the operation time and user effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is designed with variable mechanical characteristics along its travel path. The mechanical resistance is reduced during the initial phase of movement to allow faster acceleration, then increased near the circulation position to ensure precise positioning. This dynamic adjustment optimizes both the speed of operation and the precision of the final position, improving productivity without excessive time loss.
3Reliability
If the mechanical resistance during handle movement is high, then the brewing unit closes more firmly, but the user effort and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical resistance during handle movement is varied periodically along the travel path. Low resistance is provided during the initial and intermediate phases to ease user effort, while high resistance is applied only during the final closing phase to ensure reliable sealing of the brewing unit. This periodic variation in mechanical characteristics allows the system to achieve both reliability and ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine (1) for preparing a beverage having: a beverage preparation module (1') for holding a flavouring ingredient and circulating a liquid there through to form said beverage; a handle (10,12,10',12') movable between a transfer position for loading said ingredient into the module and/or evacuating said ingredient from the module, and a circulation position for circulating said liquid through said ingredient; and a user-interface (20,20a,20b) for initiating circulation of the liquid through the flavouring ingredient in the beverage preparation module. The handle has a drive portion (12,12') arranged to be contacted and driven by a human hand (50) to move the handle between the transfer position and the circulation position. The handle (10,12,10',12') and the user-interface (20,20a,20b) are arranged so that said user-interface is operable by said human hand (50) while said hand is still in contact with the drive portion (12,12') of the handle upon driving the handle into the circulation position.