Capsule Brewing Module With Pivoting Support for High-Pressure Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brewing modules for coffee machines with horizontal installation and high brewing pressures face challenges in achieving a simple, compact design with flexibility in capsule shape, often requiring complex mechanisms and peripheral collars for sealing and holding, which can lead to limited degrees of freedom and manufacturing complexities.
Innovation Solution
A brewing module design featuring a support element that captures the capsule during insertion, allowing it to rest on a support portion, eliminating the need for peripheral collars, with a pivoting or lateral movement of the support element to seal the brewing chamber, enabling a compact and flexible capsule configuration suitable for high pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a peripheral collar and holding devices are used to guide and hold the capsule in the intermediate position, then the capsule can be securely held and guided during insertion, but the device complexity increases and the degrees of freedom in capsule configuration are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the peripheral collar from the capsule design, and accordingly removes the complex holding devices and guide slots from the brewing module. The capsule is held and guided directly by the brewing chamber structure itself, simplifying both the capsule and the device while maintaining reliable holding and guiding functions
Solution Approach 2:
The brewing chamber structure serves multiple functions: it provides the brewing environment, guides the capsule during insertion, and holds the capsule in position. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate holding devices and guide mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining capsule stability
2Reliability
If a peripheral collar is required for sealing and holding the capsule, then the capsule can be securely sealed and positioned, but the manufacturing complexity increases and capsule design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the peripheral collar component entirely from the capsule design. The sealing function is achieved through the interaction between the capsule body and the brewing chamber structure, eliminating the need for separate collar components and simplifying manufacturing for both the capsule and the brewing chamber
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing solution is localized to specific regions of the brewing chamber and capsule interface. The brewing chamber structure incorporates sealing features at the precise locations where contact with the capsule occurs, providing effective sealing without requiring a peripheral collar around the entire capsule
3Device complexity
If a compact design is pursued without peripheral collars, then the device size is reduced and capsule configuration flexibility is improved, but achieving reliable sealing at high brewing pressures becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing chamber structure incorporates localized sealing features at the precise contact points with the capsule. These sealing elements are positioned to distribute and contain the high brewing pressures effectively, providing reliable sealing without requiring a peripheral collar while maintaining device compactness
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing solution incorporates dynamic elements that can deform or adjust under pressure. The brewing chamber structure and capsule interface are designed to adapt to pressure changes during brewing, maintaining effective sealing at high pressures while keeping the overall device compact and collar-free
Data Source
AI summary
A brewing module includes a support element, a first brewing module part and a second brewing module part that can be moved relative to the first brewing module part. The first brewing module part and the second brewing module part have a discharging device for discharging an extraction product from a capsule and an injector for introducing an extraction liquid into the capsule. In a supporting position with the brewing chamber open, the support element catches a capsule inserted via a defined insertion position, such that the capsule lies on the support element and on a support part of the first brewing module part after insertion. By closing the brewing chamber, the support element is moved away from the supporting position into a resting position, wherein the capsule is simultaneously held by a gripping element of the first brewing module part and/or of the second brewing module part.