Modular Beverage Machine Flow and Pressure Control Across Drink Types
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage preparation machines are limited by piston pumps that are optimized for specific flow and pressure requirements, making them inadequate for preparing a variety of beverages with different flow and pressure needs, such as coffee and tea, which restricts their versatility and adaptability.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine equipped with a membrane pump that can deliver up to 600 ml/min of fluid at pressures up to 25 bars, controlled by a unit that adjusts flow and pressure according to specific commands for different ingredients and preparation processes, allowing for the preparation of multiple beverage types using a common fluidic system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a piston pump is used in conventional beverage machines, then the machine can deliver a fixed flow of liquid under a given pressure optimized for specific beverage types, but the machine cannot adapt to different beverage types with different flow and pressure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing the fixed-characteristics piston pump with a peristaltic pump that can dynamically adjust its flow and pressure output. The peristaltic pump achieves this through variable speed control and adjustable pumping parameters, allowing the same pump to deliver different flow rates and pressures suitable for various beverage types (espresso, coffee, tea, etc.), thus resolving the contradiction between reliability for specific beverages and adaptability to different beverages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the operational parameters of the pump system. The peristaltic pump can change its flow and pressure parameters on demand based on the selected beverage type. The control system adjusts pumping speed, flow rate, and pressure levels to match the specific requirements of each beverage, enabling a single pump to replace multiple specialized pumps while maintaining optimal performance for each beverage category.
2Productivity
If a piston pump is optimized for high flow at low pressure, then it can prepare beverages like filtered coffee efficiently, but it cannot prepare beverages requiring high pressure at low flow such as espresso
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump provides dynamic control over flow rate and pressure, allowing the system to switch between high-flow/low-pressure mode (for filtered coffee, tea) and low-flow/high-pressure mode (for espresso). This dynamic adjustability enables a single pump to cover the entire pressure-flow domain required for different beverage types, maintaining productivity across all beverage categories while expanding versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by designing a single peristaltic pump system that can perform multiple functions previously requiring separate specialized pumps. The pump is configured to handle diverse beverage preparation tasks across the full spectrum of pressure and flow requirements, making the machine versatile enough to prepare espresso, filtered coffee, tea, and other beverages with a single multi-functional pumping system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized pumps are used to cover different pressure and flow requirements, then all beverage types can be prepared, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by replacing multiple specialized pumps with a single peristaltic pump that can perform all beverage preparation functions. This multi-functional pump consolidates the fluid delivery system, reducing the number of components while maintaining the ability to prepare all beverage types. The simplification extends to the fluidic system architecture, which becomes more streamlined without sacrificing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements merging by combining the functions of multiple specialized pumps into a single integrated peristaltic pump system. This consolidation merges the fluid delivery capabilities across different pressure and flow ranges into one unified system, reducing device complexity, lowering costs, and simplifying maintenance while preserving the ability to prepare diverse beverage types.
4Stress or pressure
If a piston pump is designed for high pressure operation, then it can prepare espresso effectively, but it cannot deliver the high flow rates needed for beverages like filtered coffee or tea
Solution Approach 1:
The peristaltic pump provides dynamic control that allows it to operate in high-pressure mode for espresso preparation and switch to high-flow mode for filtered coffee or tea. This dynamic capability enables the single pump to deliver both the pressure capability needed for espresso (11 bars or more) and the high flow rates required for other beverages, resolving the contradiction between pressure capability and flow rate productivity.
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 flexibility in preparing various beverages by fine-tuning the preparation process, enhancing in-cup quality and allowing for the use of different modules without requiring specialized tools, thus offering a cost-effective and versatile solution for multiple beverage types.
Implementation Method 1
The pump is of the peristaltic type
Implementation Method 2
a heating element arranged to heat water from a water tank to a brewing temperature
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3~4c
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A beverage preparation machine (1) comprising: - a base (10) having a fluid circuit for conditioning and delivering a fluid via a base outlet (11), said fluid circuit being coupled to a fluid source and controlled by a control unit and comprising a pump; and, - at least one module having a module inlet cooperating with the base outlet, said module having a unit for housing an ingredient to be mixed with such fluid. The pump is a membrane pump, the control unit being configured to control the flow and the pressure of the liquid delivered by the membrane pump to the module, during the preparation of a beverage, according to a command selected from a plurality of commands suitable for different types of ingredients and/or for different preparation processes of a given ingredient.