Capsule Conveying Carriage With Spindle-Driven Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage systems for making beverages from capsules are not cost-efficient, safe, and convenient, as they often fail to effectively process capsules and prevent contamination.
Innovation Solution
A beverage system with a housing, capsule carrier, dispensing unit, and motor-driven threaded spindle that allows for translatory and rotational movement of the capsule carrier, enabling efficient processing and ejection of capsules while preventing user trapping and contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a motor-driven threaded spindle is used to move the capsule carrier, then the capsule processing efficiency and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven threaded spindle serves multiple functions: it moves the conveying carriage horizontally to position the capsule carrier, and it rotates the capsule carrier for ejection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate actuation mechanisms, thereby improving productivity while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static capsule handling to dynamic automated handling. The motor-driven threaded spindle enables automatic positioning and ejection of capsules, significantly improving processing efficiency and reliability compared to manual or simpler mechanical systems.
2Ease of operation
If the conveying carriage is moved out of the housing for capsule insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of user trapping and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to prevent harmful effects before they can occur. The automated carriage movement and capsule handling mechanisms are controlled to avoid user trapping, and the closed system design prevents contamination during the beverage preparation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying carriage acts as an intermediary between the user and the internal processing mechanisms. It provides a controlled interface for capsule insertion while isolating the user from potential hazards inside the housing, thus improving ease of operation while mitigating risks.
3Productivity
If the capsule carrier is rotated for ejection, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded spindle mechanism is designed to perform both linear movement (for positioning the capsule carrier) and rotational movement (for ejection). This multi-functionality enables efficient capsule ejection while avoiding the need for separate actuation mechanisms, thus improving productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 system provides a cost-efficient, safe, and convenient method for making mixed beverages by efficiently processing capsules and preventing contamination, ensuring reliable operation and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
a threaded spindle, extending inside the housing perpendicular to the housing wall and having a drive nut which is connected to the capsule carrier. The threaded spindle may be driven by an (electric) motor of the beverage system in order to move the drive nut and thereby the capsule carrier in a translatory movement along the threaded spindle.
Implementation Method 2
The threaded spindle may be driven by an (electric) motor of the beverage system in order to move the drive nut and thereby the capsule carrier in a translatory movement along the threaded spindle.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage system for making a beverage based on ingredients in a capsule has a conveying carriage with a capsule carrier, a threaded spindle extending inside a housing of the beverage system and having a drive nut connected to the capsule carrier. A stop element is arranged on the threaded spindle at an ejection position for blocking movement of the drive nut along the threaded spindle. A motor rotates the threaded spindle in a first direction of rotation, in order to move the capsule carrier to a processing position, where a beverage is made based on the ingredients in a capsule; in order to move the capsule carrier further along the threaded spindle to an ejection position; and in order to rotate the capsule carrier at the ejection position about the threaded spindle to eject the capsule from the capsule carrier.