Capsule Brewing Chamber Movement for Automatic Rinsing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing devices for beverages, such as those described in EP 2 159 167, face issues like capsule damage during brewing, leakage, and contamination due to tea sticking to the injection needle, making cleaning difficult and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A device with a drive mechanism that allows the brewing chamber to move between insertion, brewing, and rinsing positions, enabling automatic capsule ejection and rinsing, using gravity for brewing and rinsing processes to prevent leakage, and utilizing a switchable valve for efficient liquid handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If an injection needle is used to pierce the capsule and inject liquid, then the brewing process can work largely without pressure, but the capsule is damaged and leakage flows can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful piercing action from the system by replacing the injection needle with a lateral opening brewing chamber that allows liquid to enter the capsule without piercing it, thus maintaining capsule integrity while achieving pressure-free brewing
Solution Approach 2:
The brewing chamber acts as an intermediary between the liquid supply and the capsule contents, allowing liquid to be introduced laterally and flow through the capsule material without direct needle-piercing contact, thereby preventing capsule damage
2Device complexity
If an injection needle is used for brewing, then the brewing chamber can be simple, but cleaning is difficult since only part of the brewing chamber can be flushed
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing chamber is designed to move laterally between insertion, brewing, and rinsing positions, enabling dynamic access to all internal surfaces for complete cleaning while maintaining a simple overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary rinsing action by moving the brewing chamber to a rinsing position where rinsing liquid can be introduced to clean all wetted surfaces before the next brewing cycle
3Loss of time
If the capsule is pierced and liquid is injected, then the brewing process can start immediately, but tea can stick to the tip protruding into the capsule, which contaminates the brewing chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the contamination source by eliminating the protruding needle tip from the brewing chamber, replacing it with a lateral opening system where liquid flows in without a protruding element that could collect and contaminate with tea residues
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-cleaning by automatically moving the brewing chamber to a rinsing position after brewing to flush all wetted surfaces, preventing contamination accumulation without manual intervention
4Extent of automation
If a drive device is added to move the brewing chamber for automatic ejection and rinsing, then operation becomes comfortable and automatic, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive device serves multiple functions: it moves the brewing chamber to insertion position for capsule loading, to brewing position for sealing and brewing, and to rinsing position for automatic cleaning, thereby achieving high automation with a single multi-functional mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the capsule ejection function and the rinsing function into a single automated sequence driven by one drive mechanism, reducing overall system complexity while achieving comfortable automatic operation
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
Ensures comfortable operation, effective brewing, and high hygiene by allowing automatic capsule ejection and immediate rinsing post-brewing, preventing contamination and simplifying cleaning, while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a device for heating and conveying water
Implementation Method 2
a pump (10) which is connected to the tank (9)
Implementation Method 3
As a result, gravity can be used to ensure the brewing process with a certain brewing time within the brewing chamber and automatic filling of the vessel arranged underneath
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An apparatus (1) for preparing a brewed beverage comprises a device (10, 11) for heating and delivering water, a brewing chamber (6), into which the heated water is introduced, a positioning device (19) for positioning a capsule (15), with a content for brewing the beverage, at a lateral opening (20) of the brewing chamber (6), and an outlet (22) on an underside of the brewing chamber (6), wherein a drive device (8), by means of which the brewing chamber (6) can be moved, is provided. The invention also relates to a method for preparing a brewed beverage, in the case of which, following each brewing operation, the capsule (15) is ejected via the drive device (8), in order for an automatic rinsing operation to be carried out.