Capsule Beverage Machine Supporting Member for Stuck Capsule Expulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation machines with capsule delivery assemblies face issues in extracting spent capsules due to stuck or swollen front sealing foils, causing jamming and requiring manual removal through the top opening.
Innovation Solution
A supporting member with an elastic element is integrated into the delivery assembly, allowing for temporary recession and facilitating the manual expulsion of stuck capsules by applying a downward thrust, enabling easy removal without additional springs or complex mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the supporting member remains in the advanced position to support the capsule during injector movement, then the capsule is properly positioned and supported, but the capsule cannot be manually expelled when it gets stuck due to swollen sealing foil
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member is made dynamically adjustable between a fixed advanced position and a retracted position. During normal operation, it remains in the advanced position to reliably support the capsule. When capsule extraction is needed, particularly in anomalous conditions with stuck capsules, it can be temporarily retracted to allow manual expulsion, then returned to the advanced position for subsequent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the supporting member is changed from a static fixed position to a variable position that can be adjusted between advanced and retracted states. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to different operational requirements: reliable support during normal operation and ease of extraction during anomalous conditions.
2Ease of operation
If additional springs or complex mechanisms are added to facilitate capsule expulsion, then capsule extraction is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member utilizes the existing mechanical structure and stop elements of the delivery assembly to enable its own retraction and return movements. The retraction is achieved by manually pushing the capsule downward, which transfers force through the supporting member to overcome the elastic element's resistance. The return to the advanced position is achieved by the elastic element itself, eliminating the need for additional springs or complex actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution extracts only the essential function needed for capsule expulsion facilitation without adding complex mechanisms. By simply enabling the supporting member to retract temporarily and then return to its advanced position, the system achieves improved capsule extraction capability while maintaining simplicity. The existing elastic element and stop elements are utilized rather than replaced with complex mechanisms.
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 allows for reliable and simple manual expulsion of spent capsules, even in anomalous conditions, ensuring efficient operation and user convenience without additional components or complex mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
the body (30) of the supporting member (8) comprises an elastic element (36) and the supporting arrangement (70) is configured for enabling—a with the injector (5) in the spaced apart position—a temporary recession of the supporting member (8) towards the position of release of the capsule against the action of the aforesaid first elastic element (36), following upon application on the capsule itself of a force of thrust towards the outlet passage (3b)
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for the preparation of liquid products via capsules comprising a delivery assembly with a preparation chamber, which comprises a first part and a second part. The second part of chamber comprises an injector device, which is configured for introducing a preparation fluid into a capsule and has a hollow body and includes a first body part and a second body part. Defined between the two body parts is a chamber, housed in which is a perforation device having at least one front perforation element that is axially aligned to a respective through hole, defined in a front wall of the second body part of the injector device. The second body part is slidable, against the action of elastic means, from an advanced position, in which the at least one perforation element does not project substantially beyond the front wall, to a retracted position, where the at least one perforation element projects substantially beyond the front wall. The elastic means comprise a bending spring that extends in a direction transverse to the direction of axial sliding (X) of the second body part with respect to the first body part.