Brewing device for preparing beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing devices have a lengthy cycle time for beverage preparation, particularly for short beverages, due to the fixed loading position of the piston and the time required for grinding and handling, which affects the machine's ability to produce beverages quickly and increases user wait time.
Innovation Solution
The brewing device features a piston with a variable loading configuration that adjusts its position to accommodate the brewing material, allowing for a progressive descent during material loading, which shortens the cycle time by eliminating the need for a separate compression step and enhancing material distribution within the brewing chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the piston is completely set back to the loading position to maximize brewing chamber volume, then the brewing chamber can receive maximum brewing material, but the cycle time increases due to the need for separate compression and unloading steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the compression function and unloading function into a single piston movement phase. The piston performs both compression of the brewing material and subsequent unloading in one continuous motion, eliminating the need for separate compression and unloading steps, thereby reducing cycle time while maintaining brewing material capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a variable loading configuration where the piston's loading position is not fixed but can be adjusted dynamically. The control unit determines the optimal loading position based on the selected beverage type, allowing the system to adapt between maximizing material capacity for long beverages and minimizing handling time for short beverages
2Device complexity
If the piston remains at a fixed loading position, then the device structure is simple, but the cycle time increases for short beverages due to unnecessary compression and unloading movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static piston loading position into a dynamic, adjustable parameter. The control unit varies the loading position based on the beverage selection, allowing the system to optimize between full compression/unloading cycles for long beverages and reduced movements for short beverages, thereby reducing handling time without requiring complex mechanical structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of piston loading position from a fixed value to a variable parameter controlled by the control unit. This allows the system to adjust the loading position according to different beverage types, optimizing the balance between compression, brewing, and unloading phases to minimize cycle time
3Loss of time
If the piston speed is increased during upward movement to compress material faster, then the compression step is shortened, but the material distribution and compaction quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic variation in piston speed during the compression phase. The piston moves upward with variable speed, performing multiple compression cycles with different velocities to achieve both thorough material compaction and reasonable compression time, balancing quality and speed requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
A brewing device (1) for preparing beverages, in particular coffee or tea, and comprising a brewing chamber (5) with an opening (6) for loading/unloading a brewing material; a piston (7) slidably mounted in the brewing chamber (5); an electronic control unit (8) programmed to cause the piston (7) to move among a loading configuration, in which the brewing material is loadable in the brewing chamber (5), a compression configuration, in which the piston (7) compacts the brewing material in the brewing chamber (5), and an expulsion configuration, in which the piston (7) extracts the exhausted material from the brewing chamber (5). The electronic control unit (8) is programmed to cause, in the loading configuration, the piston (7) to lower from a higher position, corresponding to an initial loading configuration, to a lower position, corresponding to a final loading configuration; and a brewing fluid supply line (13) to supply a brewing fluid to the brewing chamber (5) and comprising a channel (18) formed in the piston (7) and fluidly connected to the brewing chamber (5), and a supply tube (14) coupled to the piston (7) to supply the brewing fluid to the channel (18). At least a fluid outflow portion (20) of the supply tube (14) is coaxial with the channel (18), and the piston (7) is mounted to slide relative to the supply tube (14) during the movements among the loading configuration, the compression configuration, and the expulsion configuration.