Brewing Residue Comminution in Beverage Machines to Prevent Drain Clogs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hot beverage preparation machines, especially those producing solid and compressed brewing residues, face issues with blockages in drainage systems due to the disposal of pomace, which contains oils and solid residues, leading to maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A shut-off device and cutting mechanism within the receiving device crush and mix the pomace cake with water, preventing blockages by ensuring thorough mixing and extended residence time for complete dissolution, allowing for safe disposal through the sewage system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pomace cake is discharged via the sewage system, then disposal is simplified, but blockages occur in the drainage channel system
Solution Approach 1:
The pomace cake is mechanically segmented into smaller particles using cutting devices (circular cutting blade, disc-shaped cutting element) that divide the compacted mass into fine particles, enabling smooth discharge through the sewage system without blockages
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the pomace is changed from a compacted solid cake to a suspended mixture by combining it with water in the receiving device, creating a pumpable slurry that can be discharged without clogging the drainage system
2Volume of moving object
If pomace cake is compressed for efficient storage, then space is saved, but it becomes difficult to discharge without blockages
Solution Approach 1:
Water acts as an intermediary substance in the receiving device, mixing with the compressed pomace cake to create a suspended mixture that maintains the benefits of compression during storage/transport but enables easy discharge through the sewage system by breaking up the compacted structure
3Reliability
If cutting devices are added to comminute the pomace, then blockage risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting devices are integrated into the receiving device structure itself, combining the functions of residue collection, water mixing, and mechanical comminution in a single unit, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining blockage prevention capabilities
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 effectively reduces the risk of blockages by mechanically crushing and dissolving pomace residues with water, facilitating smooth drainage and maintaining the operation of hot beverage preparation machines.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the kinetic energy of the residue while falling into the receiving device, the cutting device mechanically crushes the residue
Implementation Method 2
the cutting edges can be fixed and comprise, for example, wires, blades or spears directed in the direction of fall
Implementation Method 3
the result of the crushing is a suspension of fresh or rinsing water from the water pipe and coffee grounds particles from the pomace cake
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~5
Figure 6a~8
AI summary
The device has a brewing unit (5), and a retaining device (7) provided for brewing residues. A fluid supply has a flushing water supply line for mixing of the residues with fluid. A cutting device is arranged at an upper edge of the retaining device and has blades that are arranged perpendicular to each other. The retaining device is designed in a funnel-shape, and a pump device (8) is connected with an impeller (13) over an axis. Wires and/or skewers (12) are arranged at an upper side of the impeller for grinding the residues through rotation of the impeller in a rotational direction (R).