Brewing unit, machine and system for the preparation of a beverage using prepackaged capsules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing units often result in water splashing when the capsule is removed after beverage preparation, posing a risk of mishaps due to the horizontal alignment of the capsule's top wall during brewing.
Innovation Solution
The brewing unit design includes a support structure with a movable drawer that inserts capsules at an inclined angle, featuring a piercing and liquid-supplying device with a hydraulic system that pierces the capsule's top wall and supplies pressurized hot water, allowing the capsule to be ejected and a new one loaded without splashing residual water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the capsule's top wall is aligned horizontally during brewing, then the beverage preparation is simplified, but water splashing occurs when the capsule is removed causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is positioned at an inclined angle rather than horizontally, creating an asymmetric configuration where the top wall is tilted. This asymmetry allows residual water to drain along the inclined surface into the drawer's channel during removal, preventing splashing while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a spatial dimension by tilting the capsule at an angle relative to the horizontal plane. This angular orientation creates a gravitational drainage path for residual water, transforming the water management from a horizontal spill risk to a controlled directional flow into the drawer channel.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the capsule is positioned at an inclined angle, then water splashing is prevented during removal, but the brewing unit structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer structure serves multiple functions: it holds the capsule during brewing, provides a receiving channel for residual water drainage, and facilitates capsule removal. By making the drawer multi-functional, the design achieves water splashing prevention without adding separate dedicated components, thus limiting the increase in structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage channel is integrated into the drawer structure itself, merging the water containment function with the capsule holder function. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate drainage components, reducing overall structural complexity while still preventing water splashing during capsule removal.
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 design prevents water splashing during capsule removal by aligning the capsule at an inclined plane, ensuring safe and efficient operation by containing residual water within the drawer's channel, thus eliminating the risk of spills.
Implementation Method 1
a supply conduit for supplying a flow of pressurized liquid to a chamber adjacent to and above the top wall of the capsule
Implementation Method 2
when the drawer (3) is inserted into the support structure (2) with a capsule (C) positioned in its receptacle (10), the top wall (12) of the capsule (C) lies in a plane inclined to the horizontal plane
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The brewing unit (1) comprises: a stationary support structure (2), in which a brewing zone (5) is defined where a hydraulically activated piercing and liquid-supplying device (23, 34, 35) is mounted movable between a retracted rest position and an extracted working position, and a movable drawer (3) which forms a receptacle (10) for a capsule (C) and is insertable into and extractable from the support structure (2) in order to place a capsule (C) in the brewing zone (5) with a top wall (12) of the capsule (C) facing the piercing and liquid-supplying device (23, 34, 35) and, respectively, to allow ejection of the exhausted capsule (C) once the beverage has been dispensed and a new capsule (C) has been loaded. The piercing and liquid-supplying device (23, 34, 35) comprises a plurality of points (35) for piercing the top wall (12) of the capsule (C) and a conduit (36) for supplying a flow of pressurized liquid to a brewing chamber above the top wall (12) of the capsule (C) and thereafter inside the capsule (C) through the holes pierced by the points (35) in the top wall (12). The arrangement is such that when the drawer (3) is inserted into the support structure (2) with a capsule (C), the top wall (12) of the capsule (C) lies in an inclined plane. In the drawer (3) there is defined a discharge channel (40) adapted to be put into fluid communication with the region above said top wall (12) of the capsule (C) when, after the beverage has been prepared and dispensed, the piercing and liquid-supplying device (23, 34, 35) moves from the extracted work position to the retracted rest position to allow the remaining liquid to be poured into the discharge channel (40).