Capsule Position Sensing for Reliable Beverage Parameter Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage production devices rely on costly and unreliable markers on capsules for identification, which can malfunction in steam or liquid environments, making it difficult to control brewing parameters effectively.
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 used on capsules for identification, then capsule identification is enabled, but the system becomes costly and unreliable in steam/liquid environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from the capsule itself by removing traditional markers (barcodes, magnetic labels) and relocating the sensing mechanism to the beverage production device. The plunger and sensor system resides in the device, not on the capsule, eliminating the need for complex capsule markers while maintaining reliable identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mechanical plunger as an intermediary element that physically contacts the capsule to sense its presence and characteristics. This intermediary transfers information from the capsule to the sensor system without requiring visual or magnetic markers on the capsule, enabling reliable detection in steam and liquid environments where traditional markers fail.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical indicia or barcodes are provided on capsules, then capsule differentiation is possible, but reading reliability deteriorates in steam and liquid environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical/magnetic reading systems with a mechanical sensing system. Instead of using barcodes or magnetic labels that require optical or magnetic field interaction (which fail in steam/liquid), the system uses a mechanical plunger that physically contacts the capsule and transfers mechanical information to a sensor, enabling reliable capsule differentiation in harsh brewing environments.
3Ease of manufacture
If no markers are used on capsules, then cost is reduced and reliability improved, but capsule identification capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by not putting identification elements on the capsule at all. Instead of modifying the capsule with markers, the identification function is inverted to reside in the beverage production device through the plunger-sensor system, which detects capsule characteristics through mechanical contact without requiring any modifications to the capsule itself.
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 solution allows for precise control of brewing parameters such as rotation speed and liquid discharge, improving the reliability and cost-effectiveness of beverage production by eliminating the need for expensive markers and ensuring consistent performance in various environments.
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 preparation of a beverage by using the centrifugation is known. The principle mainly consists in providing a beverage ingredient in a container of the capsule, feeding liquid in the receptacle and rotating the receptacle at elevated speed to ensure interaction of liquid with powder while creating a gradient of pressure of liquid in the receptacle; such pressure increasing gradually from the centre towards the periphery of the receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
The invention aims to provide a device sensing a capsule inserted in a receptacle 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 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 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.