Brew Chamber Mesh Floor Ejection for Spent Packet Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage brewing equipment faces challenges in efficiently ejecting spent packets of coffee or espresso grounds without manual handling, which can lead to burns, packet tearing, or chamber damage due to high pressure and temperature conditions.
Innovation Solution
A brewing chamber with a mesh screen bottom panel and an ejector pin mechanism that elevates the screen to separate the spent packet from the chamber walls, allowing for easy removal without manual intervention or utensil use, utilizing a spring or weight bias to facilitate ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual extraction of spent packet is used, then operator can remove the packet, but operator may suffer burns or discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a packet ejection device as an intermediary tool between the spent packet and the operator. The device includes a ejection needle that penetrates the packet and a ejection channel that guides the packet out of the brewing chamber, allowing the operator to remove the packet without direct contact and thus avoiding burns from hot water or steam.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If utensil is used to extract packet, then operator can avoid burns, but packet may be punctured or torn
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection device serves as a specialized intermediary that is designed to interact with the packet without causing damage. The ejection needle penetrates the packet in a controlled manner, and the ejection channel guides it out, maintaining packet integrity while avoiding direct manual contact that could cause burns.
Solution Approach 2:
The spent packet is ejected through its own structural integrity - the needle penetrates and the packet is pushed out as a complete unit through the ejection channel, allowing the packet to serve itself in the ejection process without external manipulation that could tear or puncture it.
3Ease of operation
If shaking or banging chamber is used, then packet can be extracted, but chamber may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection device provides a controlled mechanical interface between the operator's action and the packet. By applying force through the ejection needle and channel rather than shaking or banging the entire chamber, the packet is extracted without subjecting the chamber to damaging vibrations or impacts.
4Productivity
If prepackaged packets are used, then brewing consistency and speed are improved, but packet adherence to chamber walls occurs under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection device acts as an intermediary that overcomes the adhesive forces between the packet and chamber walls. The needle penetrates the packet and the ejection channel provides a low-friction path, allowing the packet to be ejected even when strongly adhered to the chamber walls during high-pressure brewing.
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 safe and mess-free ejection of spent packets, preventing packet tearing and chamber damage, while ensuring operator safety and reducing the risk of burns by eliminating the need for manual handling or shaking.
Implementation Method 1
a mesh screen that forms the bottom panel of the brewing chamber, where the brewing packet is seated during the brewing operation and the mesh screen allows the brewed beverage to pass through the screen to a collection reservoir below
Implementation Method 2
As the ejector pin is depressed, the mesh screen raises up and lifts the spent brew packet with it, breaking any residual surface tension that may have formed between the wetted brewing packet and the similarly wetted inner surfaces of the chamber walls
Data Source
AI summary
A brew basket for a brewing apparatus is disclosed having a housing adapted to couple the brew basket to a brewing apparatus and a platform extending from the housing, the platform including a brewing chamber defined by a continuous peripheral wall and a perforated floor. The perforated floor is coupled to a vertically reciprocating member at a first end for raising and lowering the perforated floor of the brew basket with respect to the continuous peripheral wall, the vertically reciprocating member extending below a lowermost surface of the platform so that it can be raised by lowering the platform onto a flat surface.