Beverage machine with cleaning device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drinks machines face issues with complex cleaning systems and clogging due to inadequate flushing and dosing mechanisms, leading to prolonged cleaning times and potential release of cleaning agents into the reservoir.
Innovation Solution
A simplified cleaning device with a spray nozzle directing a high-pressure jet vertically into the reservoir and an additional outlet for clear water flushing, along with a valve that adjusts flow rates and uses a motor controller for precise power supply, ensuring efficient cleaning and prevention of clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the spray device uses high water pressure to dissolve cleaning agent, then the cleaning agent dissolves efficiently, but the risk of inadvertent release into the reservoir increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray device is divided into multiple independent spray nozzles positioned at different locations within the reservoir. This segmentation allows targeted dissolution of cleaning agent at specific areas without affecting the entire reservoir, reducing the risk of inadvertent release while maintaining dissolution efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A valve arrangement acts as an intermediary between the water supply and the spray device, controlling water flow to the spray nozzles. This intermediary mechanism enables precise control of water pressure and flow timing, allowing efficient cleaning agent dissolution while preventing inadvertent release into the reservoir.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the flow rate is reduced to prevent cleaning agent release, then harmful factors are reduced, but the flushing time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The spray device operates in periodic cycles, alternating between high-pressure spray phases for efficient cleaning agent dissolution and low-pressure flushing phases for safe rinsing. This periodic operation allows the system to achieve thorough flushing in reduced time while maintaining safety by controlling when high pressure is applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The water pressure and flow rate are dynamically adjusted during the cleaning process. The valve arrangement modulates pressure in real-time, transitioning from high pressure during cleaning agent dissolution to controlled low pressure during flushing. This dynamic control enables both efficient cleaning and safe, rapid flushing without excessive time loss.
3Measurement precision
If a dosing pump with mechanical coupling is used, then precise cleaning agent dosing is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical dosing pump system is replaced with a spray-based dissolution system. Instead of using a mechanically complex dosing pump with external drive coupling, the invention uses spray nozzles that utilize fluid dynamics and pressure control to achieve precise cleaning agent dissolution and dosing, significantly reducing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray device enables the cleaning system to self-regulate cleaning agent dissolution through pressure-controlled spray patterns. The system uses the water pressure itself to control the dissolution rate and mixing process, eliminating the need for external mechanical dosing mechanisms and their associated complexity.
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 solution enables independent and efficient maintenance, prevents clogging, and allows for rapid cleaning cycles with high water flow rates, ensuring components remain unclogged and free of residues, while using a solid cleaning agent that requires less conservation effort.
Implementation Method 1
spray device for spraying with water and partially dissolving maintenance agent present in the storage container in solid or paste form
Implementation Method 2
electrically driven pump for supplying the water and cleaning agent or a cleaning solution from the cleaning device into the flow line system
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a beverage dispenser (1) for preparing infused beverages, comprising a flow line system (2) with a water supply, a valve arrangement (V1, V2, V3, V4) and a cleaning device (80) for carrying out a cleaning and/or maintenance process, comprising a storage cartridge (81) for storing cleaning agent (R), and an electrically driven pump (8, M) for supplying the water and cleaning agent (R) or a cleaning solution (S) from the cleaning device (80) into the flow line system (2), further comprising a control device (18) for activating and deactivating the valve arrangement (V1, V2, V3, V4) and the pump (8, M) for carrying out the beverage preparation and the cleaning or maintenance process, wherein the cleaning device (80) includes a spray device (85) operated by the pump (8, M) for spraying with water and partially dissolving any substances present in the storage container (81).The cleaning device (80) comprises a care product or cleaning agent (R) arranged in solid or paste form, and the cleaning device (80) further comprises a mixing container (82) into which the care product (R) dissolved by spraying enters, wherein the flow line system (2) further comprises a valve arrangement (V1, V2, V3, V4) connected to the control device (18), which is configured to introduce the care product (R) dissolved as a cleaning solution (S) into the flow line system (2). To improve an automatic cleaning process, the spray device (85) comprises a spray nozzle (83) for providing an approximately vertically upward spray jet into the storage container (81) and at least one further outlet (86) for discharging the water (W) into the mixing container (82).