Beverage preparation machine with enhanced pump control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines require complex and costly pressure sensors to achieve precise control of extraction parameters, which is cumbersome and inaccurate for complex parameter profiles and various beverages.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation system using a pressure adjustable pump, sensors to measure pump and flow parameters, and pre-established pressure interpolation data to determine extraction pressure without a physical pressure sensor, allowing for accurate control of extraction pressure across different cartridges with varying flow characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex sensor means including expensive pressure sensors are provided in the fluid circuit to achieve precise control of extraction parameters, then beverage quality and parameter control precision are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual model that copies and simulates the behavior of the physical fluid circuit, including pump characteristics and cartridge flow characteristics. This virtual model allows pressure to be calculated from current and flow rate measurements without requiring physical pressure sensors, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical pressure sensing system with an electronic calculation system. Instead of using physical pressure sensors to directly measure pressure, the system uses electronic sensors (current sensor, flow rate sensor) combined with a virtual model to calculate pressure, substituting a simpler electronic measurement system for a complex mechanical sensing system
2Device complexity
If calculation methods based solely on pump parameters such as current, voltage or rotational speed are used to determine pressure, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual model serves multiple functions: it characterizes pump behavior, characterizes cartridge flow characteristics, calculates pressure from current and flow rate, and adapts to different cartridge types. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain high measurement precision without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from actual measurements (current, flow rate) combined with the virtual model to continuously calculate and adjust pressure control. This feedback mechanism ensures high accuracy by constantly comparing actual system behavior with the virtual model predictions and making real-time adjustments
3Device complexity
If calculation of pressure based on detected pump parameter and virtual machine model is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome calculation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary characterization of pump behavior and cartridge flow characteristics during manufacturing or initial setup, storing these as lookup tables in the virtual model. During actual operation, the system simply queries these pre-computed tables rather than performing complex real-time calculations, greatly simplifying the control operation while maintaining high precision
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a beverage preparation system (10) for controlling a beverage preparation process by injection of liquid into a cartridge (20), the system comprising—a pressure adjustable pump (2) for delivering different pressures upon varying at least one of its drive characteristics such as the speed of the pump, —a sensor (3) for measuring an operating parameter of the pump (2) such as a current absorbed by the pump, —a flow sensor (1) for measuring a liquid flow parameter of liquid injected into the cartridge (20), —a control unit (6) designed to control an extraction pressure of the cartridge (20) by adjusting the drive characteristics of the pump (2) based on pre-established pressure interpolation data (12) depending on the measured liquid flow parameter and the measured operating parameter of the pump.