Beverage preparation device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation devices with milk heating and frothing capabilities lack the ability to adjust milk temperature effectively and are often reliant on cost-intensive linear drives and complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation device featuring a rotationally drivable pinch valve with an eccentric element that can be manually or automatically adjusted to various rotational positions, allowing for precise control of milk temperature by altering the deformation section's free flow cross-section, thereby influencing milk volume flow and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a linear drive is used to actuate the pinch valve, then the milk temperature can be adjusted, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the linear drive mechanism with a manually operable rotary knob that directly rotates the eccentric element. This substitution eliminates the need for complex linear actuators, motors, and control systems while maintaining the ability to adjust milk temperature through variation of the free flow cross-section of the milk line.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, inexpensive rotary knob instead of a costly linear drive system. The eccentric element with its rotary operation provides a cost-effective solution that achieves the same functional result of temperature control without the high manufacturing and maintenance costs associated with linear drives.
2Device complexity
If a manually turnable screw is used to adjust the free flow cross section, then the structure is simple, but the adjustability is coarse and not fine-tuned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotary eccentric mechanism where continuous rotation of the eccentric element around the milk line provides dynamic and continuous adjustment of the free flow cross-section. This allows for fine-tuned control of milk flow and temperature, overcoming the coarse adjustment limitations of screw mechanisms while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Temperature
If the eccentric element is rotated to different positions, then the free flow cross section changes, but the milk line material may be damaged due to excessive compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the flexibility of the milk line (made of elastomeric material) to allow it to be compressed by the eccentric element without damage. The milk line's elastic properties enable it to deform under compression and return to its original shape, preventing material fatigue and failure while allowing for temperature adjustment through controlled compression.
4Ease of operation
If the pinch valve completely closes the milk line, then the flow stops, but steam may discharge without milk causing harm
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prevents the harmful effect of steam discharge by designing the eccentric element to never completely occlude the milk line. The minimum free flow cross-section is maintained above zero, ensuring that milk flow never stops completely. This preliminary design constraint prevents the condition that would lead to steam discharge without milk, eliminating the harmful effect before it can occur.
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 solution enables robust, fine-tuned adjustment of milk temperature without the need for linear drives, ensuring the device is easy to clean and maintain, while maintaining milk flow in all positions, thus protecting the milk line material and preventing steam discharge without milk.
Implementation Method 1
the pinch valve has an eccentric element (10) that can be rotated about an axis of rotation (11), with the eccentric element being steplessly or in stages divided into a plurality, in particular at least three, of different rotational positions
Implementation Method 2
the suction takes place by means of negative pressure, which in turn is generated with the help of steam flowing through a venturi nozzle
Implementation Method 3
The steam is fed to the milk and heats it up
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a beverage preparation device (1), in particular a coffee machine, with a brewing unit for extracting or dissolving a beverage substrate and with a milk heating and/or milk frothing device (2), comprising a milk line (3) for conveying milk to be heated and/or frothed to frothing and/or heating agents (4), wherein a pinch valve (8) for adjusting the milk temperature is associated with the milk line (3), with which the milk line (3) can be pinched in a deformation section (7), wherein the milk temperature can be influenced by means of the pinch valve (8), which has an eccentric element (10) rotatable about an axis of rotation (11), in that the eccentric element (10) can be rotated continuously or in steps into a plurality of different rotational positions.in which the deformation section (7) is compressed to varying degrees and which differ with respect to the resulting free flow cross-section of the deformation section (7) for adjusting different milk volume flows, and that the eccentric element (10) for rotating into the different rotation positions is assigned a handle (12) for manual rotation, and/or an electric motor drive for automated rotation, which can be controlled via a control unit in whose memory the different rotation positions are stored and/or via which the rotation positions can be predefined and/or selected by the user.