Built-in coffee machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Built-in coffee machines face challenges in optimizing energy consumption and controlling environment parameters to enhance organoleptic properties of coffee, while maintaining safety and ease of maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A built-in coffee machine with a forced air circulation system using an air channel and fan for dehumidification and cooling, allowing precise control of the environment within the box frame, which is communicated with both the coffee beans and power electronics, eliminating the need for seals and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the power and control electronics are sealed to prevent electrical risks from steam and moisture, then safety and reliability are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful factors (steam and moisture) are extracted from the environment surrounding the power and control electronics by directing the air channel flow away from these components, eliminating the need for costly sealing measures while maintaining safety and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
A flow of air acts as an intermediary medium to create a protective barrier between the steam-moisture environment (generated by the boiler) and the power and control electronics, allowing unsealed electronics to operate safely
2Ease of manufacture
If a fan is used to cool and dehumidify the internal environment to avoid sealing electronics, then sealing cost is reduced, but energy consumption increases due to continuous fan operation
Solution Approach 1:
The air channel provides continuous passive cooling and dehumidification through natural convection currents generated by temperature differences, eliminating the need for continuous fan operation and reducing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own thermal energy (temperature differences between hot and cold zones) to drive the air circulation and dehumidification process, making the system self-sufficient without requiring additional energy input from a fan
3Use of energy by moving object
If the air channel is oriented towards the support platform for heating cups, then energy efficiency is improved by recycling thermal energy, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air channel serves multiple functions: it removes steam and moisture from the internal environment, cools the power and control electronics, and heats the support platform for cups. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single integrated structure rather than separate systems, actually reducing overall device complexity
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 solution reduces energy consumption by recycling thermal energy and ensures precise control of coffee bean environment conditions, improving the quality and user responsiveness of the coffee dispensed, while maintaining safety and ease of maintenance and access for cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
a means for the forced circulation of a flow of air in turn comprising an air channel internal to said box frame for the dehumidification and cooling of the environment internal to said box frame and at least one fan for the forced circulation of said flow of air along said air channel
Implementation Method 2
an air delivery section of said air channel is oriented for heating said cups
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The built-in coffee machine (1) comprises components (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) housed in a box frame (3) and means for the forced circulation of a flow of air in turn comprising an air channel internal of said box frame (3) for the dehumidification and cooling of the environment internal of said box frame (3) and at least one fan (15) for forced circulation of the flow of air along said air channel (16), the box frame (3) advantageously supporting a support platform (13) for cups (14) towards which an air delivery section (17) of the air channel (16) is oriented for heating said cups (14).