Cleaning Capsule Flow Inversion for Complete Brewing Chamber Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee extraction devices using portion capsules struggle to completely clean the brewing chamber, leading to residual coffee oils that affect taste, as simple flushing only reaches the lower area and not the upper parts.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning capsule designed to be inserted into the brewing chamber, where the brewing liquid mixes with cleaning agents and flows around the capsule to effectively clean both the upper and lower parts, preventing escape through the extraction side by using recesses or recessed extraction spikes and a circumferential collar for uniform liquid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If simple rinsing is performed to clean the brewing chamber, then the lower part is cleaned, but the upper part is not reached and remains contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning capsule inverts the normal brewing flow direction by blocking the extraction side outlet, forcing brewing liquid to exit through the injection side and flow upward around the capsule exterior, thereby reaching the upper brewing chamber areas that conventional rinsing cannot access
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning capsule acts as an intermediary device that redirects and channels the brewing liquid flow through the brewing chamber in a specific pattern, ensuring comprehensive coverage of both upper and lower areas while maintaining the simplicity of a single-rinse operation
2Productivity
If the extraction side outlet is left open for normal capsule extraction, then extraction product can be removed, but cleaning liquid escapes without cleaning the upper chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning capsule blocks the extraction side outlet that is normally open for product removal, inverting the flow path so that cleaning liquid must exit through the injection side and travel around the capsule exterior, thereby achieving comprehensive chamber cleaning including upper areas
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates the cleaning function from the extraction function by using a dedicated cleaning capsule that temporarily modifies the outlet configuration, allowing the extraction side outlet to serve its normal purpose during brewing cycles and be blocked only during cleaning cycles
3Ease of operation
If cleaning liquid flows directly through the capsule interior to the extraction side, then the process is simple, but the upper part of the brewing chamber is not cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning capsule inverts the expected flow direction by blocking the extraction side outlet, forcing brewing liquid to exit through the injection side and flow upward around the capsule exterior, thereby reaching the upper brewing chamber areas that conventional rinsing cannot access
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning capsule maintains the universal compatibility with the existing brewing chamber and injection/extraction devices, requiring no modification to the extraction machine while achieving the additional function of comprehensive cleaning including upper areas
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 a simple and cost-effective complete cleaning of the brewing chamber, ensuring all areas are rinsed, including the upper parts, without contaminating the water tank, and can be used for cleaning other parts of the extraction device.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaning capsule incorporates a means that prevents the capsule from being punctured on the extraction side within the brewing chamber. For example, this means includes at least one recess in the extraction-side wall of the cleaning capsule, adapted to the at least one extraction pin
Implementation Method 2
a circumferential collar of the cleaning capsule has at least one opening for liquid flowing past the outside of the cleaning capsule
Implementation Method 3
the brewing liquid injected into the cleaning capsule, after mixing with the cleaning and/or descaling agent contained within the capsule
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning capsule which contains a cleaning and/or descaling agent and is intended for an extraction appliance which is provided for preparing a brewed product from an extraction material contained in a single-serve capsule and which comprises an injection device for directing a brewing liquid into the single-serve capsule and an extraction device for directing an extraction product out of the single-serve capsule, wherein the injection device and extraction device define a brewing chamber, into which the single-serve capsule can be inserted, and wherein the injection device has at least one injection spike and the extraction device has at least one extraction spike, for piercing the single-serve capsule inserted into the brewing chamber.