Capsule Position Sensing for Marker-Free Beverage Parameter Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage production devices require specific markers on capsules for identification, which are costly and prone to malfunction in steam or liquid environments, leading to unreliable reading.
Innovation Solution
A sensing device that uses a retractable plunger and optical or magnetic sensors to determine the relative position of the capsule within the receptacle, providing a binary code for controlling brewing parameters without traditional markers, ensuring reliable operation and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional markers (barcode, magnetic label) are provided on the capsule for identification, then capsule identification is enabled, but the capsule becomes costly and the marker is sensitive to steam or liquid environment leading to unreliable reading
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the identification function from the capsule itself and relocates it to the receptacle. The receptacle contains sensing means (optical or magnetic sensors) that detect the position of the capsule's external surface, thereby determining capsule size and type without requiring any markers on the capsule. This eliminates the problematic markers while maintaining identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary sensing system in the receptacle that mediates between the capsule and the control system. Instead of directly reading markers on the capsule, the sensing means detects the position of the capsule's external surface and converts it into identification information, serving as a reliable intermediary that is not affected by steam or liquid environments.
2Loss of information
If traditional markers (barcode, magnetic label) are provided on the capsule for identification, then capsule identification is enabled, but the system becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the identification function from the capsule and relocates it to the receptacle's sensing system. This eliminates the need for expensive markers on each capsule, reducing per-unit costs while maintaining the ability to identify capsule type and size through position detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle's sensing means automatically detects capsule characteristics without requiring external markers. The system uses the capsule's own physical presence and position within the receptacle to generate identification information, making the identification process self-service and eliminating the need for costly marker materials and application processes.
3Reliability
If a retractable sensing plunger is used to detect capsule position, then marker-free identification is achieved, but the sensing mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical sensing mechanisms with optical or magnetic sensing fields. The sensing means use light or magnetic fields to detect the position of the capsule's external surface, eliminating the need for physical contact and complex mechanical structures while maintaining high reliability in steam and liquid environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing means act as an intermediary that detects capsule position without direct mechanical contact. Optical or magnetic fields serve as non-contact mediators that can reliably detect capsule position even in the presence of steam and liquid, avoiding the reliability issues of mechanical contact sensors.
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
Enables reliable control of brewing parameters such as rotation speed and liquid discharge without the need for specific markers, improving operational efficiency and reducing costs by using a simple and effective sensing mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The means for providing a code preferably comprise an optical measuring means or a magnetic sensor for determining the relative position of the sensing means and providing a binary code
Implementation Method 2
The means for providing a code preferably comprise an optical measuring means or a magnetic sensor for determining the relative position of the sensing means and providing a binary code
Implementation Method 3
The receptacle is arranged to rotate around an axis perpendicular to the bottom of the receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
The invention aims to provide a device sensing a capsule (2) inserted in a receptacle (1) in machine and physical parameters of liquid supplied by a beverage production apparatus flowing through the capsule in function of the type of capsule. The capsule containing beverage ingredient is inserted in a cylindrical or conical wide mouthed receptacle having an upper opening for inserting the capsule and a lower bottom closing the receptacle. The receptacle rotates around an axis of a hollow shaft (3) attached at the center and perpendicularly to the external face of the bottom of the receptacle, said shaft forming a hole at the center of the inner face of the bottom of the receptacle. The device comprises a rod sliding in the shaft and passing through the hole of the inner face of the bottom of the receptacle, said rod (4) being provided with a spring maintaining an end of the rod lifted inside the receptacle in contact with the capsule, the other end being inside the shaft. The device further comprising means for measuring the position of the end of the rod in the shaft, in order to control, in function of the size of the capsule inserted in the receptacle, rotation speed of the receptacle, discharge and physical parameters of liquid supplied by the beverage production apparatus flowing through the capsule.