Brewing module and machine for making beverages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brewing modules with manual closure for portion capsules face challenges in providing consistent mechanical resistance, leading to unpleasant user experience and potential mechanical stress due to non-constant force requirements during capsule puncturing and ejection.
Innovation Solution
A damping device is implemented that selectively dampens the closing or opening movement of the brewing module, using elastic elements and varying transmission ratios to manage resistance, ensuring a smooth and consistent user experience while reducing jerking motions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a damping device is added to provide selective damping during closing or opening movement, then user perception and service life are improved by preventing jerking, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission ratio is made variable along the displacement path of the second brewing module part. The guide surface is designed with varying slope angles, creating different transmission ratios at different positions. This dynamic transmission ratio provides high mechanical advantage during capsule piercing (reducing required force) and appropriate resistance during sealing, eliminating the need for complex damping devices while improving user perception.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical resistance is optimized by changing the geometric parameters of the guide surface. The slope angle of the guide surface varies along the displacement path, creating position-dependent transmission ratios. This parameter change approach provides force multiplication where needed (during piercing) and sufficient resistance where needed (during sealing), resolving the contradiction without adding complex damping mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the lever and gear ratio are optimized for easy operation during high force requirements, then ease of operation improves, but mechanical resistance becomes insufficient providing no feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission ratio is made variable rather than constant. During the initial phase of closing movement (capsule piercing), the guide surface has a shallow slope angle providing high transmission ratio and force multiplication, making operation easy. During the final phase (sealing), the slope angle increases providing lower transmission ratio and higher mechanical resistance, giving users appropriate feedback. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and mechanical resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing movement is segmented into different phases with different mechanical requirements. The guide surface is designed with distinct sections: a first section with shallow slope for easy piercing, and a second section with steeper slope for secure sealing. This segmentation allows each phase to have optimized transmission characteristics, providing both ease of operation and appropriate mechanical resistance at different stages.
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 provides a functionally and haptically satisfactory brewing experience by managing mechanical resistance, enhancing user perception and extending the service life of the brewing module by preventing jerky movements.
Implementation Method 1
the damping element is arranged and designed such that, when it comes into contact with the sliding surface, it is deformed by movement relative to the sliding surface in one direction and exerts an elastic force on the sliding surface that counteracts the deformation
Implementation Method 2
the damping device can be formed by having two parts of the brewing module that move relative to each other - e.g. a cam disk and the housing or the second brewing module part and the housing - each have a contact area that only comes into physical contact and rubs against each other on a portion of the displacement path
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~10
AI summary
The invention relates to a brewing module for preparing a brewed drink from a single-serve capsule (10), the brewing module having, in addition to a housing (2), a first brewing module part (3) and a second brewing module part (4), which can be moved relative to the housing between a first brewing module part position and a second brewing module part position, wherein a brewing chamber is formed in the second brewing module part position. An operating element (6) is also present, which can be manually brought from a first operating element position into a second operating element position, a movement being transferred by said element via a transferral mechanism into a movement of the second brewing module part. The brewing module also has a damping device for damping the movement of the second brewing module. The damping device is designed such that it has a damping characteristic that is non-constant according to the position and/or the movement direction.