Capsule Brewing Closure Mechanism With Variable Force Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing devices require significant manual force and lever length to close the knuckle joint mechanism, making them less compact and more difficult to use, especially when dealing with compacted capsule contents, and they often have issues with water line flexibility and flow control.
Innovation Solution
A brewing device with a closing mechanism that includes additional force transmission means linked to the handle, which de-multiples the force applied to the knuckle joint mechanism, allowing for a more compact design and reduced manual effort, and a length compensatory tube portion that remains static to reduce mechanical stresses on the water supply system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a long lever is used to transfer sufficient force to close the knuckle joint mechanism, then the closure force is sufficient, but the device becomes less compact and requires more space for operation
Solution Approach 1:
A force transmission means is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the handle and the knuckle joint mechanism. This transmission means includes a lever arm and a force application point that are positioned to provide mechanical advantage, allowing sufficient closure force to be generated with a shorter lever arm, thus maintaining compactness while achieving the required force.
Solution Approach 2:
The force transmission means utilizes spatial arrangement and geometric configuration to amplify force. By positioning the lever arm and force application point in specific spatial relationships, the system achieves force multiplication without increasing the overall lever length, effectively using dimensional arrangement to resolve the force-compactness contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If the lever arm is increased to reduce manual force, then the manual effort is reduced, but the device requires more space and is less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission means acts as an intermediary that provides mechanical advantage through its lever arm and force application point configuration. This allows the system to reduce the manual effort required for closure while maintaining a compact overall lever arm length, as the transmission mechanism efficiently multiplies the applied force.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes the geometric parameters of the force transmission means, including the lever arm length, force application point position, and angular relationships, to achieve the optimal balance between manual effort reduction and device compactness. By carefully selecting these parameters, the invention minimizes the required lever arm length while still providing sufficient force multiplication.
3Force
If high closure forces are applied to pierce compacted capsule contents, then the piercing capability is sufficient, but the manual effort on the handle becomes unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission means serves as an intermediary mechanism that efficiently transmits and amplifies the manual force applied to the handle. The lever arm and force application point are configured to provide mechanical advantage, enabling high piercing forces to be generated on the capsule while keeping the manual effort on the handle at an acceptable level.
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 device achieves a more compact and user-friendly design with reduced manual effort for closing, while maintaining high closure forces and fluid-tight sealing, and improves the durability of the water supply system by minimizing mechanical stresses.
Implementation Method 1
the closing mechanism comprises additional force transmission means associated to the handle and linked thereto, the additional force transmission means being arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle on the knuckle joint mechanism
Implementation Method 2
a knuckle joint mechanism that provides a mechanical system which enables to close in a steady and fluid-tight manner the holding parts about the capsule while also resisting to the counter-force acting in re-opening and generated by the internal brewing pressure
Implementation Method 3
a length compensatory tube portion that remains static to reduce mechanical stresses on the water supply system
Data Source
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AI summary
Brewing device for the brewing of a capsule containing a beverage ingredient comprising - a main frame (2), - a first capsule holding part (5), - a second capsule holding part (6; 66) for at least partially holding the capsule mobile relative to the first capsule holding part (5) in the frame (2) and linked to the frame by a closing mechanism (23, 31) comprising knuckle joint means or equivalent means; - a manual handle (21) forming lever to activate via the closing mechanism the second holding part from the open position to the closed position and vice versa. The closing mechanism (23, 31) comprises additional force transmission means (31) associated to the handle arranged to de-multiply the force applied by the handle (21; 69) on the knuckle joint means that compensates for the increase of the force needed for closing the holding parts on the capsule.