Cartridge Delivery Assembly With Integrated Retention and Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing delivery assemblies for liquid product machines with cartridge systems face hygienic issues due to the need to insert a new cartridge after removing an exhausted one, leading to potential bacterial growth and mechanical wear from complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A compact delivery assembly with a retention system that includes jaws and a toggle-like mechanism, allowing for the extraction of exhausted cartridges during the chamber's recession, reducing mechanical interference and promoting hygiene by eliminating the need for immediate cartridge replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the retention means are configured to extract the exhausted cartridge during chamber recession, then the hygienic condition is improved by eliminating immediate cartridge replacement, but the mechanical complexity increases due to additional extraction functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The retention means are designed to perform multiple functions: both retaining the cartridge during infusion and extracting the exhausted cartridge during chamber recession. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate extraction mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while improving hygiene by enabling cartridge removal without immediate replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction process is integrated into the existing chamber recession movement, utilizing the natural reciprocating motion of the chamber. The retention means automatically engage and extract the cartridge as the chamber recedes, without requiring additional active components or user intervention, thereby simplifying the mechanism while achieving the hygienic benefit.
2Reliability
If a complex mechanism is used for cartridge retention and extraction, then the reliability of cartridge handling is improved, but the mechanical wear increases due to more moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The retention and extraction functions are merged into a single integrated mechanism that operates during the chamber's reciprocating motion. By combining these functions into one mechanism rather than using separate systems, the patent reduces the number of moving parts and potential failure points while maintaining reliable cartridge handling throughout the infusion cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention means are pre-configured in a ready state during chamber advancement, with the jaws positioned to automatically engage the cartridge. This preliminary positioning ensures reliable retention without requiring complex active control mechanisms, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining handling reliability.
3Device complexity
If the chamber is stationary with respect to the injector, then the mechanical simplicity is improved, but the productivity decreases due to inability to perform extraction during infusion
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is designed with dynamic reciprocating motion rather than a completely stationary position. This controlled movement enables the retention means to perform extraction during the recession phase, improving productivity by allowing cartridge removal without immediate replacement, while maintaining relative mechanical simplicity by utilizing a single degree of freedom motion.
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 provides a simpler, more hygienic, and less mechanically demanding process for cartridge extraction, reducing wear and preventing bacterial growth by allowing exhausted cartridges to be removed without immediate replacement, enhancing user convenience and assembly efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic means urging the jaws into a closing condition
Implementation Method 2
a front inclined surface of the jaws interacts with an inclined surface defined in the body of the injector in such a way as to cause divarication of the jaws
Implementation Method 3
the reclosed jaws determine extraction of the cartridge from the infusion chamber, with the cartridge that can drop by gravity into the discharge passage of the assembly
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A delivery assembly (30) for a machine for the preparation of liquid products using cartridges includes: - an injector device (44), capable to introduce into the cartridge (10) water and/or steam under pressure; - an infusion chamber (31) facing the injector device (34) and capable to receive the cartridge (10); - an actuation system (55), designed to cause displacements of the infusion chamber (31) between a spaced position and a close position with respect to the injector device (44); - a loading arrangement that includes an inlet passage (50) and retention means (57), switchable between a retention condition and a release condition of the cartridge (10) by means of displacements of the infusion chamber (31) with respect to the injector device (34). The delivery assembly (30) further comprises ejector means (34, 56), functionally distinct from the retention means (59) and capable of pushing the cartridge (10) towards the outside of the infusion chamber (31) in function of the displacement of the infusion chamber (31) towards its spaced position from the injector device (44).