Beverage Machine Waste Bin with Pivot Inspection Without Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of beverage machines with waste bins face inconvenience in checking the fullness of the waste bin without making it transparent or removable, as visually inspecting the contents is unattractive and requires removing the entire bin.
Innovation Solution
A beverage machine with a pivot arrangement that allows the waste bin or its portion to be tilted forward for visual inspection without translational movement, enabling users to check fullness without removing the bin, and allowing for separate inspection and removal phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the waste bin is made transparent or translucent to allow visual inspection, then the user can check fullness without removing the bin, but the aesthetic appearance is compromised due to visible dirt and coffee
Solution Approach 1:
The waste bin is divided into a stationary opaque outer structure and a movable transparent inspection window portion. This segmentation allows the main body to remain opaque for aesthetics while a separate segment provides transparent inspection capability without compromising the overall appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent window or viewing panel is introduced as an intermediary element between the user and the waste bin contents. This intermediary allows visual inspection while the rest of the bin remains opaque, solving the contradiction between inspection ease and aesthetic appearance.
2Ease of operation
If the waste bin is made removable to allow visual inspection, then the user can check fullness, but the operation becomes inconvenient and complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring complete removal of the waste bin for inspection, only a partial action is needed - moving a small inspection window or tilting a portion of the bin. This partial action provides the necessary inspection capability without the complexity of full removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste bin is segmented into a fixed main body and a movable inspection portion. This segmentation allows inspection through simple movement of the smaller portion rather than removing the entire bin, reducing operational complexity.
3Shape
If the waste bin is made opaque to maintain aesthetic appearance, then the visual inspection is blocked, but the aesthetic quality is preserved
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent window or viewing panel serves as an intermediary that allows light and visual information to pass through while maintaining the opaque appearance of the main bin structure. This resolves the contradiction by providing information visibility through the intermediary without compromising the aesthetic opaque exterior.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste bin has different optical properties in different locations - the main body is opaque for aesthetics while a local portion (inspection window) is transparent for visibility. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall aesthetic appearance and localized information visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage machine has a waste bin which is translationally moved into and out of a body of the machine. A pivot arrangement is also provided for pivoting the waste bin or a portion thereof thereby to reveal visually the content of the waste bin without use of the translational movement. This gives a convenient way for the user to inspect how full the waste bin is at any time.