Beverage maker with controllable operation and method for controlling the operation of a beverage maker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage makers lack effective control over the filling of storage containers to maintain coffee quality and reduce waste due to excessive storage.
Innovation Solution
A beverage maker with a brewing unit, detection unit for fill level and consumption, evaluation unit for data analysis, and control unit to manage fill levels based on freshness and demand prediction, allowing for modes like full load, freshness, and efficiency to optimize coffee quality and minimize waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If coffee is brewed in larger quantities and stored for later dispensing, then dispensing independence from brewing time is improved, but coffee quality deteriorates due to excessive storage time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the fill level of the storage container based on predicted future consumption patterns rather than using a fixed fill level. The control unit modifies brewing parameters and storage quantity in real-time according to changing demand, allowing the system to maintain coffee quality by brewing only what is needed while still enabling independent dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The evaluation unit continuously monitors consumption data and uses this feedback to predict future demand. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust the storage container fill level dynamically, ensuring that coffee is brewed and stored in optimal quantities to maintain quality while supporting independent dispensing operations.
2Quantity of substance
If the storage container is filled to maximum capacity, then availability for dispensing is improved, but waste increases due to excessive storage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary brewing and stores coffee in the storage container based on predicted future consumption needs. By anticipating demand patterns, the system prepares the optimal quantity of coffee in advance without overfilling, thus maintaining availability for dispensing while preventing waste from excessive storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes the fill level parameter of the storage container dynamically based on predicted consumption. Instead of maintaining a constant maximum fill level, the system adjusts the storage quantity parameter according to forecasted demand, optimizing the balance between availability and waste reduction.
3Reliability
If the storage container is emptied completely before re-brewing, then coffee quality is improved, but productivity decreases due to frequent brewing cycles
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely emptying the storage container before re-brewing, the system performs partial replenishment by adding only the amount of coffee needed to reach the dynamically determined fill level. This partial action approach maintains coffee quality by limiting storage time while avoiding the productivity loss associated with complete emptying and frequent full brewing cycles.
4Ease of operation
If minimum fill level triggering is used, then operational simplicity is improved, but coffee quality control deteriorates due to lack of freshness consideration
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation unit automatically analyzes consumption patterns and predicts future demand without requiring manual user input or complex configuration. The system serves itself by autonomously determining the optimal fill level based on learned behavior patterns, maintaining ease of operation while improving coffee quality control through intelligent freshness management.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a beverage maker with controllable operation and to a method for controlling the operation of a beverage maker with a brewing unit, a storage container for at least one beverage, at least one detection unit for detecting the fill level in the storage container, the amount of beverage brewed in the brewing unit and/or the amount of beverage consumed by the user, an evaluation unit communicating with the at least one detection unit and designed to evaluate the data transmitted by the detection unit and determine the amount of new beverage to be brewed therefrom, and a control unit for controlling the amount of beverage to be brewed in the brewing unit to the desired fill level in the storage container based on the evaluation result of the evaluation unit. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the operation of a beverage maker.