Coffee Brewing Piston Sieves With Tool-Free Locking Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing devices for coffee machines require time-consuming and tool-dependent processes for cleaning and replacing sieves, making it difficult to maintain and optimize the brewing process.
Innovation Solution
The brewing device is designed with pistons equipped with insertable and removable supporting parts, featuring a simple locking mechanism using cams and spring-loaded bolts, allowing easy access and replacement of sieves without additional tools, enabling efficient cleaning and modification of water supply and coffee outlet guides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sieves are fixed to the pistons using screw connections or interference fits, then the sieves are securely held in place, but the cleaning and replacement of sieves becomes time-consuming and requires additional tools
Solution Approach 1:
The piston is divided into a piston body and a separately insertable supporting part. The supporting part can be easily removed from the piston body without tools, while the sieve remains securely attached to the supporting part during operation. This segmentation allows the supporting part to be quickly detached for cleaning or replacement while maintaining secure sieve holding during brewing.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting part is extracted as a separate, removable component from the piston body. This extracted supporting part carries the sieve and can be easily removed from the piston without requiring tool assistance, while still providing secure retention of the sieve through its own retention mechanism.
2Reliability
If the supporting parts are made with complex locking mechanisms, then the sieves are securely retained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is segmented into two simple components: retention elements on the supporting part and corresponding retention features on the piston body. This segmentation avoids complex locking mechanisms while achieving reliable sieve retention through the interaction of these simple geometric features.
3Manufacturing precision
If the sieves are tightly fixed to the pistons, then optimal water distribution and coffee evacuation are achieved, but the cleaning frequency increases due to difficulty in maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the piston into a piston body and a removable supporting part, the sieve can be securely fixed to the supporting part for optimal water distribution, while the supporting part itself can be quickly removed for cleaning without requiring disassembly of the entire piston assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting part carrying the sieve is extracted as a removable unit from the piston body. This allows the sieve to maintain tight fixation for optimal brewing performance while enabling quick removal of the supporting part for cleaning, reducing maintenance time.
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
This configuration simplifies the removal and replacement of sieves, facilitating cleaning and allowing for adjustments to improve coffee quality, resulting in a cost-effective and user-friendly brewing device operation.
Implementation Method 1
spring-loaded bolts, allowing easy access and replacement of sieves
Implementation Method 2
at least one radially extending, helically arranged inclined plane is attached to the supporting part, which interacts with a bolt which is arranged in the piston so that it can be displaced in the axial direction
Implementation Method 3
The locking means are also formed from cams attached to the cylindrical area of the support part and from longitudinal recesses attached to the hollow-cylindrical area of the piston
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A brewing unit (1) for a coffee machine comprises a brewing cylinder (2) with a cylindrical bore (3), an upper piston (5), and a lower piston (4) by which the brewing cylinder (2) can be sealed to form a brewing chamber (6). The surface of the upper piston (5) and the lower piston (4) facing the brewing chamber (6) is each equipped with a sieve (11, 12) through which hot water can be introduced into the brewing chamber (6) or coffee can be drawn out of the brewing chamber (6) via a connecting channel (7, 8) provided in the respective piston (4, 5). At least one of the sieves (11, 12) is mounted on a support element (9, 10) which can be placed on one of the pistons (4, 5) and locked to it. The respective support part (9, 10) is provided with a connecting element (13, 14) which can be sealedly connected to the connecting channel (7, 8) of the respective piston (4, 5).This device allows the sieve to be easily removed from and reinserted into the respective piston.