In or relating to a machine for the preparation of beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems for producing both hot and cold beverages are bulky, noisy, and expensive due to the use of high-capacity coolers with refrigerant gases, making them unsuitable for domestic use.
Innovation Solution
A compact beverage preparation machine with interchangeable reservoirs and auxiliary modules, including a thermoelectric cooler or peltier heat pump, allows for efficient temperature control and dispensing of both hot and cold beverages without the need for large, high-capacity coolers, using a recirculation mechanism and UV disinfection for water quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high capacity coolers with refrigerant gases are used to cool large volumes of water quickly, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the device size, noise level, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the water storage into separate reservoirs - one for hot water and one for cold water. This segmentation eliminates the need for a single large high-capacity cooler, as only a smaller cooler needs to maintain the cold reservoir at the required temperature, thereby reducing device size while maintaining cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold reservoir is pre-cooled and stored in the refrigerator before use. This preliminary cooling action transfers the heavy cooling load to off-peak times, allowing a smaller cooler to maintain the reservoir temperature rather than requiring a large cooler to continuously cool large volumes of water on demand.
2Temperature
If high capacity coolers are used to lower the temperature of water in the whole storage reservoir, then the temperature control is improved, but the device complexity and refrigerant requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water storage is segmented into separate hot and cold reservoirs, each with independent temperature control. This allows simpler cooling circuits to maintain each reservoir at its required temperature independently, rather than requiring a complex single large cooler to manage temperature variations throughout a unified large storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary thermal storage reservoir that acts as a buffer between the cooling system and the dispensing system. This intermediary reservoir absorbs temperature fluctuations and allows the use of simpler, less complex cooling circuits while maintaining stable temperature control.
3Quantity of substance
If a single large water storage reservoir is used, then the water availability is improved, but the cooling time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The large water storage volume is divided into separate hot and cold reservoirs. This segmentation allows the cold reservoir to be cooled more quickly and efficiently, as a smaller volume needs to be cooled at any given time, thereby reducing cooling time while maintaining adequate water availability for cold beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold reservoir is pre-cooled and stored in the refrigerator before use. This preliminary action prepares the water in advance, eliminating the need for lengthy on-demand cooling periods and reducing the time required to prepare cold beverages while maintaining sufficient water storage capacity.
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 machine provides a compact, cost-effective solution for dispensing a range of beverages by using interchangeable reservoirs and auxiliary modules, reducing noise and bulk while maintaining efficient temperature control and ensuring water quality through UV disinfection.
Implementation Method 1
The auxiliary module may be a chilling module. The chilling module may comprise a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) or peltier heat pump.
Implementation Method 2
The chilling module may comprise a recirculation mechanism for diverting aqueous medium cooled by the chilling module back to the reservoir.
Implementation Method 3
using a recirculation mechanism and UV disinfection for water quality
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage preparation machine for dispensing beverages comprising: a housing; a first reservoir station; a first reservoir for containing an aqueous medium, the first reservoir being connectable to said first reservoir station; an auxiliary module station for receiving an auxiliary module.