Beverage machine with a partly opening dispensing face
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage extraction systems face high backpressure variability due to the geometry of the extraction plate with raised elements, which affects flow rate and pressure, particularly for coffee blends with low particle sizes, leading to inconsistent extraction effects such as crema formation and intensity.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation machine with a dispensing arrangement featuring a face with a non-homogeneous surface, including a membrane opening portion with raised elements and a non-opening portion, which influences the flow path by controlling the arrangement and ratio of flow-through holes to achieve desired extraction effects, such as concentrated or diluted beverages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an extraction plate with raised elements is used to create beverage outlet orifices in the outlet membrane, then filtering of coffee particles occurs and beverage outlet orifices are formed, but backpressure variability increases and flow rate consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction plate is designed with locally differentiated zones: a first extraction zone with raised elements for membrane piercing and filtering, and a second extraction zone with flow-through holes for additional flow control. This local quality differentiation allows the system to maintain consistent backpressure while achieving reliable beverage outlet orifices formation, as each zone performs its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.
2Manufacturing precision
If the outlet membrane conforms to the top and upper side of the raised elements, then filtering of coffee particles is improved, but the flow opening area is reduced and pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction plate is segmented into functionally distinct zones: the first extraction zone with raised elements provides filtering and orifices formation, while the second extraction zone with flow-through holes provides additional flow pathways. This segmentation allows the system to maintain filtering quality while reducing overall pressure drop by distributing flow through multiple pathways rather than forcing all flow through the confined interface of raised elements alone.
3Ease of operation
If flow-through holes are added to the downstream part of the seat, then flow path control is improved and extraction effects are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control function is merged into the extraction plate itself by integrating flow-through holes directly into the face structure. This combines the filtering function (raised elements in first extraction zone) and flow control function (flow-through holes in second extraction zone) into a single integrated component, avoiding the need for separate flow control devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining ease of flow path control.
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 achieves controlled flow paths to enhance extraction effects like crema formation and intensity, reducing backpressure variability and improving the consistency of beverage preparation by adjusting the flow-through ratios and hole arrangements on the machine's face.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of raised elements 225 that are configured to project upstream and that are configured to form beverage outlet orifices in outlet membrane 101
Implementation Method 2
one or more flow-through holes 224 extending from face 220, such as from bottom ends of raised elements 225 at face 220. Flow-through hole(s) 224 is/are configured such that beverage flowing from seat 20 through flow-through hole(s) 224 is guided towards a beverage dispensing area 1'
Data Source
AI summary
A machine (1) is provided for preparing a beverage from an ingredient supplied into such machine (1) within a capsule (100) that is provided with an outlet membrane (101). The machine has an extraction unit (2) that has an ingredient extraction seat (20) for receiving such capsule (100), an inlet arrangement (21) for guiding water into the seat (20) and a dispensing arrangement (22) for guiding beverage out of the seat (20). The dispensing arrangement (22) has a face (220) delimiting a downstream part of the seat (20) and having a membrane opening portion (221) associated with or bearing a plurality of raised elements (225) configured to form beverage outlet orifices in the outlet membrane (101). The downstream part of the seat (20) is provided with one or more flow-through holes (224) extending from the face (220), the flow-through hole(s) (224) being configured such that beverage flowing from the seat (20) through the flow-through holes (224) is guided towards a beverage dispensing area (1′). The face (220) further has a non-opening portion (222, 222a, 222b, 222c) that is free of any upstream-projecting raised element and that is at least substantially flush with the membrane opening portion (221) so as to delimit the seat (20). The non-opening portion (222, 222a, 222b, 222c) is provided with one or more flow-through holes (226) extending from the face (220). Such flow-through hole(s) (226) is/are configured such that beverage flowing from the seat (20) through such flow-through holes (226) is guided towards the beverage dispensing area (1′).