Systems and processes for preparation of edible products with sensitive access arrangements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage preparation systems for aromatic beverages, such as espresso-type coffee, face ergonomic challenges in accessing the beverage discharge mechanism, particularly when both hands are occupied, and lack selective access to the discharge and recipient placement, affecting cream retention and temperature control.

Innovation Solution

A system with an access disposition that provides selective access to the recipient placement and product discharge through contactless or haptic interaction gestures, using input means that can apprehend different types of gestures and objects without requiring manual force, such as optical, electromagnetic, or mechanical interactions, allowing for operation with minimal user input and without buttons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional access disposition is used for beverage discharge, then the system structure is simple, but the ergonomics deteriorates when both hands are occupied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveergonomics of actuationVSAvoidaccess disposition structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical button-pressing or lever-pulling access dispositions with contactless interaction interfaces. These interfaces use optical, electromagnetic, or capacitive sensing to detect hand gestures or proximity, eliminating the need for manual force application. This substitution resolves the contradiction by dramatically improving ease of operation for users with occupied hands while adding only moderate complexity through sensor integration rather than complex mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary detection layer between the user and the beverage discharge mechanism. This intermediary consists of sensors that detect hand presence, gestures, or proximity and translate them into actuation signals. This intermediary layer enables ergonomic contactless operation while maintaining a relatively simple overall system structure by decoupling the user interaction from the mechanical actuation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If selective access to recipient placement and product discharge is implemented, then the cream retention and temperature control are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecream retention and temperature controlVSAvoidaccess disposition structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the access disposition into separate selective access mechanisms for the recipient placement area and the product discharge area. This segmentation allows independent control of each access point, enabling precise management of cream retention and temperature control for each function. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing the reliability benefits of selective access while organizing the complexity into manageable, independent modules rather than a monolithic complex system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If contactless interaction interfaces are used, then the ease of operation is improved for occupied hands, but the measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operation capabilityVSAvoidgesture detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements contactless interaction interfaces that can detect multiple types of inputs through a single sensor system. The interfaces are designed to recognize various hand gestures, proximity levels, and interaction patterns using the same optical, electromagnetic, or capacitive sensing mechanism. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by providing hands-free operation capability that improves ease of operation while managing measurement precision requirements through versatile sensor design that can distinguish different input types with a unified detection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4129126A1Systems and processes for preparation of edible products with sensitive access arrangements

Publication Date: 2023.02.08 NOVADELTA - COMERCIO E IND DE CAFES UNIPESSOAL LDA

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AI summary

The present invention discloses systems and processes for preparation of edible products, for example aromatic beverages such as espresso coffee and similar, based upon portions (7) of edible substance, for example coffee in a capsule, including an apparatus (1) that comprises a recipient placement disposition (2) adapted for placing a recipient (10, 10') for collecting edible product, an envelope (3) of apparatus and an access disposition (4) that provides selective access to at least one of said recipient placement disposition (2) and an entry passageway (8) of portions, whereby said apparatus (1) is adapted so that can provide selective access to at least one of said recipient placement disposition (2) and entry passageway (8) of portion by means of apprehension of at least one of: a contactless input gesture carried out in the proximal surrounding and a touch gesture carried out on an input surface, preferentially associated with said access disposition (4).