Hot beverage maker with cleaning apparatus and related method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hot beverage makers experience clogging issues due to deposits and residues accumulating in the brewing needle, which affects brewing efficiency and performance over time.
Innovation Solution
A bulb syringe pump is designed to fit within the brewing chamber, filled with cleaning fluid, and operated by repeatedly pressing and releasing a lid to force the fluid through the brewing needle, dislodging accumulated deposits and residues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a brewing needle is used to infuse hot water into beverage material, then brewing efficiency is improved, but deposits and residues accumulate in the brewing needle causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-cleaning of the brewing needle by using the pump mechanism to force cleaning fluid through the needle, allowing the device to clean itself without external intervention. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining brewing needle畅通性 while preserving brewing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A pump mechanism is introduced to force cleaning fluid through the brewing needle using hydraulic pressure. This resolves the technical contradiction by using fluid pressure to remove deposits and residues, thereby maintaining needle畅通性 while preserving brewing efficiency.
2Productivity
If the brewing needle is periodically flushed to maintain efficiency, then brewing performance is maintained, but additional cleaning steps and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is merged with the existing pump mechanism used for brewing operations. The same pump that delivers hot water during brewing is repurposed to deliver cleaning fluid during cleaning cycles, eliminating the need for separate cleaning hardware and reducing overall system complexity and cleaning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: delivering hot water during brewing operations and forcing cleaning fluid through the brewing needle during cleaning operations. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by maintaining brewing performance while minimizing additional cleaning time and equipment requirements.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a pump mechanism is added to force cleaning fluid through the brewing needle, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism is designed to serve dual purposes: delivering hot water during brewing operations and forcing cleaning fluid through the brewing needle during cleaning operations. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by improving deposit removal effectiveness while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the same hardware performs both brewing and cleaning functions.
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
Effectively cleans the brewing needle by removing mineral deposits and beverage residues, maintaining the brewing performance and efficiency of the hot beverage maker.
Implementation Method 1
repeatedly closing and releasing the lid such that the pump is alternately compressed and decompressed causing a pumping action of the cleaning fluid through the brewing needle
Data Source
AI summary
A hot beverage maker is provided with a removable pump for cleaning a brewing needle. The pump fits into a brewing chamber which normally receives a pod of an infusible beverage material. A pod receptacle and a lid pivotally connected to the housing form the brewing chamber. After a brewing cycle or when cleaning of the brewing needle is desired, an interior chamber of the pump is filled with cleaning fluid and the pump inserted into the pod receptacle. When the lid is closed, the brewing needle is inserted into the interior chamber. The lid is closed and released repeatedly to operate the pump. This creates a pumping action of the cleaning fluid through the brewing needle to dislodge a buildup of minerals or residual deposits. The used cleaning fluid and dislodged deposits are discarded after the cleaning operation is completed.