Capsule Beverage Pump Cam Drive for Quiet Precise Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for preparing liquid food products, such as coffee, face issues with vibrations and noise due to solenoid-based pumps, which also lead to complex control systems and priming problems caused by air presence, requiring costly sensors and cumbersome mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A machine using a compact, electric motor-driven pump with a sinusoidal reciprocating motion of pistons, eliminating the need for solenoids and reducing vibrations and noise, and incorporating a priming system that recirculates water to remove air, thus simplifying control and reducing component count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a solenoid-based pump is used, then the pump structure is simple, but vibrations and noise are considerable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump structureVSAvoidvibrations and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the solenoid-based mechanical actuation system with an electric motor-driven system. The electric motor (131) drives the pistons (121, 122) through a transmission mechanism, eliminating the solenoid's electromagnetic vibrations and associated noise while maintaining the pumping function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If a solenoid-based pump is used, then the pump structure is simple, but control precision is poor due to undefined piston strokes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump structureVSAvoidpiston stroke control

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the solenoid's indirect mechanical actuation with an electric motor-driven system that provides precise control over piston movement. The electric motor allows for regulated and precisely controlled reciprocating movements of the pistons, enabling accurate delivery pressure and volume control without the stroke variability inherent in solenoid-based systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback signals from sensors (such as pressure sensors or flow sensors) into the control system. This allows the control unit to monitor actual pump performance and adjust the electric motor's operation to maintain precise control over delivery pressure and volume, compensating for any variations in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If a crankshaft-based transmission is used, then piston stroke precision is improved, but the mechanism becomes cumbersome and noisy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiston stroke definitionVSAvoidtransmission arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the crankshaft-based transmission mechanism with a more compact electric motor-driven system. The electric motor directly drives the pistons through a simplified transmission arrangement, maintaining precise stroke control while eliminating the crankshaft's mechanical complexity and associated noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Volume of moving object

If a solenoid-based pump is used, then the pump is compact, but priming problems occur due to air presence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump sizeVSAvoidpriming operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the solenoid-based pump with an electric motor-driven pump that provides more reliable priming operation. The electric motor's controlled reciprocating movements create more effective pressure differentials during the intake stroke, enabling better air evacuation and more consistent priming performance while maintaining pump compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 results in a more reliable, quieter, and simpler machine with reduced vibrations and noise, enabling precise control of operating quantities without the need for complex sensors, and effectively addressing priming issues.

Implementation Method 1

the electric actuator of which is constituted by a solenoid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolenoid: Solenoid

Implementation Method 2

a piston made of ferromagnetic material, which is axially hollow and is urged by a spring towards a normal advanced position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS10368687B2Machine for preparing liquid products, in particular via capsules

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 LUIGI LAVAZZA SPA

AI summary

A machine for preparing liquid food products includes a pump. A cylinder is defined in the pump casing, with a piston extending in the cylinder at least in part to define a variable-volume work chamber. Between a shaft of a motor and the piston there is a transmission arrangement for causing a reciprocating movement of the piston with a predetermined stroke between advanced and retracted positions, to vary a volume of the work chamber. The pump has an intake valve and a delivery valve, for connecting the work chamber with an inlet and an outlet of the pump casing, respectively. The transmission arrangement has an actuation member driven in rotation by the shaft and operatively coupled to the piston. The actuation member defines a cam path to which the piston is coupled. The cam path is prearranged for determining the predetermined stroke of the piston between the advanced position and the retracted position.