Beverage Machine Pump Control with Nonlinear AC Chopping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage and foodstuff preparation machines experience significant noise due to pump vibrations, particularly during the start-up phase, which is undesirable in home environments, and existing noise reduction methods, such as voltage control, do not fully address the issue effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control system that chops a portion of the electrical energy waveform during the start-up phase in a non-linear manner, with a greater rate change towards the end, to reduce noise by managing power delivery more efficiently as the fluid line fills, thereby minimizing noise and ensuring product quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If voltage is ramped up linearly during start-up phase, then pump reaches operating voltage, but noise remains undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by chopping the AC waveform into discrete pulses during the start-up phase. Instead of a continuous linear ramp, the voltage is delivered in periodic increments synchronized with the AC cycle, allowing control of the ramp rate while reducing vibration-induced noise through non-linear power delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the voltage ramp rate variable rather than constant. The control system adjusts the ramp-up speed dynamically, delivering voltage more aggressively when the fluid line is full and more conservatively when empty, optimizing both noise reduction and fill time based on real-time conditions.
2Productivity
If pump power is increased during start-up phase, then fluid line fills faster, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by adjusting pump power delivery based on fluid line fill status. The control system monitors whether the line is full or empty and dynamically adjusts the voltage ramp rate accordingly, delivering higher power when the line is full (reducing fill time) and lower power when empty (reducing noise).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using a flow meter or timer to detect when the fluid line becomes full during the start-up phase. This feedback signal triggers a change in the voltage ramp rate, allowing the system to optimize noise reduction during the empty line phase while maintaining productivity once the line is full.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If non-linear waveform chopping is applied, then noise is reduced, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces control complexity by synchronizing voltage delivery with the periodic AC waveform. The controller chops the waveform at regular intervals aligned with AC cycles, using simple on/off switching based on the line fill status rather than requiring complex continuous modulation algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent manages complexity by implementing a simple two-state control system that adjusts the voltage ramp rate based on fluid line fill status. Rather than complex multi-parameter optimization, the system dynamically switches between two predefined ramp rates (higher when full, lower when empty), achieving noise reduction with minimal control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage or foodstuff preparation machine is disclosed that includes a component processing unit and a control system, wherein the component processing unit includes a pump arranged to deliver fluid. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the beverage or foodstuff preparation machine. Also disclosed are methods of controlling the pump of the beverage or foodstuff preparation machine. Further disclosed is a computer program for a processor of the control system of the beverage or foodstuff preparation machine, as well as a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes the computer program.