Beverage preparation device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automatic coffee machines lack the ability for users to influence the brewing process, resulting in uniform but potentially suboptimal flavor quality, whereas manual filter holder machines offer better flavor but with less convenience.
Innovation Solution
A beverage preparation apparatus that allows users to vary brewing pressure and flow rate over time using a mechanical operating element connected to a controller, enabling predetermination of brewing profiles for specific beverages, with features like a controllable water pump and counter-pressure valve for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fully automatic coffee machine is used, then convenience is improved, but user influence on brewing process is lost resulting in uniform flavor quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the brewing pressure and throughflow rate to vary over time during the brewing process according to predetermined profiles. The controller varies these parameters dynamically throughout the preparation operation, allowing different stages of brewing to have optimized conditions, thus providing both automatic operation and quality influence similar to manual brewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing users to predetermine profiles that define how brewing pressure and throughflow rate change over time. The controller modifies these parameters according to the selected profile, enabling different brewing characteristics for different beverage types while maintaining automatic operation.
2Device complexity
If brewing pressure and flow rate are kept constant, then device simplicity is maintained, but beverage quality optimization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by allowing users to predetermine brewing profiles in advance. The profiles defining the time-dependent variation of brewing pressure and throughflow rate are selected before the brewing operation begins, enabling optimized beverage quality without requiring complex real-time adjustments during brewing.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual filter holder machines are used, then flavor quality is improved through user skill, but convenience and automation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by replicating the quality-influencing capabilities of manual filter holder machines within an automatic system. The predetermined profiles copy the effect of skilled manual brewing by defining optimal pressure and flow rate variations over time, allowing automatic machines to achieve similar flavor quality without requiring user skill.
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
Enables experienced users to exert control over beverage quality by adjusting brewing parameters, achieving a balance between convenience and flavor customization, similar to manual machines but with automated functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a water pump (13) for conveying pressurized water in the direction of the brewing apparatus (11)
Implementation Method 2
an integrated heating element (11a) transforming electrical energy to thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage preparation apparatus for automatically dispensing hot beverages, in particular coffee beverages, having a hot water preparation unit which supplies hot water to a brewing apparatus, a water pump for conveying pressurized water in the direction of the brewing apparatus, an outlet device connected to the brewing apparatus via a hot beverage line and a controller which controls automatic preparation and dispensing of the selected beverage after beverage selection. The controller varies the brewing pressure at which the hot water is supplied to the brewing apparatus or the throughflow rate at which the hot water is conveyed, over the preparation operation of the selected beverage in accordance with a predetermined or predeterminable profile. The beverage preparation apparatus has a mechanical operating element having an electrical consumer connected to the controller and via which the profile can be predetermined by a user during a beverage preparation operation.