Beverage Machine Nozzle with Sleeve for Stable Jet Foaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for foaming beverages in a cup, such as using steam or mechanical elements, either require complex cleaning processes or produce low-quality foam with irregular bubble sizes and density, and cannot produce cold foamed milk effectively.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine that uses a nozzle with a tube and sleeve design to introduce a jet of liquid, typically water, into a container, stabilizing the jet to create high-quality foam from ingredients like milk powder or fresh milk, allowing for the production of cold foamed beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a jet of water is introduced in a beverage container using a simple nozzle, then the device complexity is reduced and cleaning is simplified, but the foam quality deteriorates with irregular bubble sizes and density
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into two separate components: a tube for liquid delivery and a sleeve for jet stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to have a specialized function - the tube delivers liquid while the sleeve stabilizes the jet - resulting in high-quality foam without requiring a complex integrated structure
Solution Approach 2:
The tube is positioned inside the sleeve, with the sleeve surrounding the jet emerging from the tube. This nested configuration allows the simpler tube-sleeve structure to achieve the foam quality previously requiring complex integrated nozzles, while maintaining ease of cleaning as neither component needs immersion in the beverage
2Manufacturing precision
If steam is used for foaming in the cup, then foam quality is improved, but the device complexity increases due to steam generator requirements and cleaning processes
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal energy from steam is replaced by mechanical energy from a pressurized liquid jet. The high-velocity liquid jet emerging from the tube and stabilized by the sleeve creates foam through mechanical agitation rather than thermal input, eliminating the need for a steam generator while maintaining foam quality
Solution Approach 2:
The steam generation function is extracted from the system entirely. Instead of using steam, the invention uses a purified mechanical liquid jet delivery system that achieves foaming without requiring complex thermal processing equipment or associated cleaning procedures
3Productivity
If steam is used for foaming, then foam is produced effectively, but the ability to produce cold foamed milk is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The foaming mechanism is changed from thermal (steam) to mechanical (liquid jet). This parameter change allows the system to maintain foaming efficiency while adapting to different temperature requirements, enabling both hot and cold foamed beverage production with the same device
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 produces a stable and high-quality foam with homogeneous bubble sizes, enabling the creation of beverages like cappuccinos and allowing for the production of cold foamed milk, which is not achievable with traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
stabilizing the jet to create high-quality foam
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) in which the beverage is prepared by introducing at least one jet of liquid, such as water, in a container (2) comprising a beverage ingredient (3), said machine comprising a nozzle (11) connected to a liquid supplying system (12), said nozzle comprising a tube (110), said tube comprising a liquid inlet (111) and a liquid outlet (112), the jet of liquid emerging from said liquid outlet, wherein the nozzle (11) comprises a sleeve (120), said sleeve presenting an internal section (Ss) greater than the internal section (So) of the liquid outlet end of the tube and said sleeve surrounding the jet of liquid emerging from the liquid outlet (112) of the tube.