Beverage-making apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage-making apparatuses are cumbersome and inefficient in accommodating and managing ingredient packages and water supply, leading to potential damage and difficulty in maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A beverage-making apparatus with an ingredient package accommodation portion that includes multiple receiving parts with integrated water supply and puncturing units, a sealing member, and a locking mechanism, allowing for secure and efficient handling of ingredient packages and water distribution, reducing wear and tear, and improving maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ingredient packages are accommodated in separate containers with separate water supply, then water supply reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water supply channel and puncturing unit into a single integrated component that is coupled with the ingredient package accommodation cover. This integration allows water to be supplied directly to the ingredient package through the same component that punctures the package, thereby maintaining water supply reliability while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate water supply mechanisms for each package.
Solution Approach 2:
The ingredient package accommodation cover is designed with multi-functionality: it not only covers and secures the ingredient packages but also provides water supply channels and puncturing units. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions (covering, securing, puncturing, and water supply), thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable water supply to each package.
2Productivity
If multiple ingredient packages are accommodated simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the ingredient package accommodation portion into multiple receiving parts, each capable of accommodating a separate ingredient package. This segmentation allows multiple packages to be processed simultaneously (improving productivity) while each receiving part maintains independent access and operation, thereby preserving ease of operation. The accommodation cover can be opened to provide access to multiple receiving parts, allowing users to easily load and manage multiple packages.
3Device complexity
If integrated water supply channel is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated water supply channel is designed with local quality considerations: the channel is positioned and dimensioned to align precisely with the puncturing unit and ingredient package opening. This localized precision design ensures that water is supplied accurately to the intended location without requiring excessive precision throughout the entire component, thereby reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining effective water supply functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage-making apparatus includes: an ingredient package accommodation portion. The ingredient package accommodation portion includes: an ingredient package accommodation body including a plurality of ingredient package receiving parts configured to accommodate a plurality of ingredient packages; and an ingredient package accommodation cover configured to couple with and cover the ingredient package accommodation body and secure the plurality of ingredient packages in the ingredient package accommodation portion. Each of the plurality of ingredient package receiving parts, which is configured to accommodate a corresponding ingredient package among the plurality of ingredient packages, includes: at least one discharge channel configured to discharge contents of the ingredient package provided in the ingredient package receiving part, and at least one water supply channel configured to supply water to the ingredient package provided in the ingredient package receiving part.