Device for orienting infusion capsules
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for orienting infusion capsules in vending machines require a rotating drum, limiting their dimensions and preventing further size reduction.
Innovation Solution
A device with a reservoir having an inclined bottom wall and a shaft with an interference member that rotates capsules to a predetermined orientation, allowing them to exit without the need for a rotating drum, enabling smaller dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotating drum is used to orient capsules, then capsules can be reliably oriented with predetermined orientation, but the device dimensions (width and depth) increase and cannot be reduced below a certain limit (minimum diameter 190 mm)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential orienting function from the rotating drum and implements it through a localized shaft with interference members positioned at the reservoir exit. This removes the need for the large-diameter drum while maintaining capsule orientation capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional rotating drum surface to a three-dimensional shaft structure with radially extending interference members. This dimensional change allows the orienting function to be achieved in a compact space, reducing both width and depth while maintaining effective capsule engagement and orientation.
2Ease of operation
If a rotating drum with seats is used, then capsules can be received and transferred with predetermined orientation, but the device complexity increases due to the drum mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the orienting function from the complex rotating drum mechanism and implements it through a simple shaft with interference members. This eliminates the need for drum seats, rotation mechanisms, and associated components, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of capsule transfer operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a rotating drum to actively orient capsules through rotation, the invention uses a stationary shaft with interference members that passively guide and orient capsules as they exit the reservoir. This inverted approach simplifies the mechanism while maintaining operational effectiveness.
3Ease of manufacture
If the reservoir bottom wall is made horizontal, then capsule storage is simplified, but capsules cannot be effectively oriented during exit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a localized inclined surface at the reservoir bottom near the exit opening, while the rest of the reservoir bottom can remain horizontal for easy manufacturing. This localized inclination is sufficient to guide capsules toward the exit and work in conjunction with the shaft interference members to achieve reliable orientation without requiring the entire reservoir to be complex.
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 effectively orients capsules for efficient transfer while allowing for significant reduction in size, eliminating the diameter constraints imposed by traditional rotating drum designs.
Implementation Method 1
An interference member is located on the lateral surface of the shaft and projects out of the outer surface to be moved by the shaft and create an interference with a flange of a capsule to rotate such capsule
Implementation Method 2
The reservoir has a bottom wall that is at least partially inclined toward the opening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A device (1) for orienting infusion capsules (100) comprises a reservoir (2) for infusion capsules (100), the reservoir (2) has an exit opening (3) for the capsules (100), the reservoir (2) has a bottom wall (4) at least partially inclined toward the opening (3); the opening (3) is configured to allow the capsules (100) to exit in one or more predetermined orientations, the device (1) further comprises a shaft (5), at least partially inserted in the reservoir (2) and has a lateral surface (5a); an interference member (6) located on the lateral surface (5a) and projecting out of the lateral surface (5a) to be moved by the shaft (5) and create an interference with a flange (104) of a capsule (100) to rotate it.