Coffee Capsule Infusion Chamber Arms for Interference-Free Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infusion devices for preparing beverages from single serving capsules face challenges in efficiently holding, inserting, and extracting capsules during the infusion cycle, often resulting in interference between capsule holding arms and the ejection process.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves temporarily disabling the retaining members and arms during the opening phase of the infusion chamber after the beverage is prepared, allowing the ejector to facilitate capsule ejection without interference, ensuring smooth capsule removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the oscillating arms are used to hold and insert the capsule inside the infusion chamber, then the capsule positioning and insertion is achieved, but the arms interfere with the ejection process when the infusion chamber opens
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two functional systems: oscillating arms for capsule holding/insertion and an ejector mechanism for capsule ejection. The arms are temporarily disabled during the opening phase so that only the ejector operates, separating the holding function from the ejection function to avoid interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillating arms transition from an active state (holding and inserting capsule) to a disabled state (temporarily inoperative) during the opening phase. This dynamic switching allows the system to adapt its configuration based on the operational phase, eliminating interference with the ejection process.
2Reliability
If the arms remain active during the opening phase, then capsule holding capability is maintained, but the ejection of the capsule is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating arms operate periodically: active during capsule holding and insertion phases, then temporarily disabled during the opening and ejection phases. This periodic activation ensures reliable capsule holding when needed while allowing efficient ejection when the arms are disabled.
3Productivity
If the retaining members are disabled during opening phase, then ejection is facilitated, but capsule holding capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is securely held and positioned by the oscillating arms and retaining members before the opening phase begins. This preliminary holding action ensures the capsule is ready for ejection, and the arms are disabled only after the holding function has been completed, allowing smooth transition to ejection mode.
Data Source
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AI summary
The infusion device comprises: an infusion chamber formed by a first portion (17) and a second portion (19), movable with respect to each other along an opening and closing direction (fl9); a first duct (47) for feeding an infusion liquid in the infusion chamber; a second duct for dispensing the food product from the infusion chamber; a pair of oscillating arms (51), movable with respect to at least one of the portions forming the infusion chamber, along the opening and closing direction, and provided with retaining members (57) for retaining a capsule (C) in a space between the first and the second portion of the infusion chamber, when said infusion chamber is open, and for inserting said capsule inside the infusion chamber; divaricating members (63) for causing the reciprocal divarication of the two arms and of the respective retaining members and the release of the capsule inside the infusion chamber; in one of the portions of the infusion chamber, an ejector (35) for ejecting the capsule from the infusion chamber when the infusion cycle is ended; members for temporary deactivating the retaining members and the arms when the first and the second portion of the infusion chamber are reciprocally moved away from each other.