Coffee Brewer Capsule Reloading Mechanism for Safe Automatic Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coffee brewers face issues with accurate alignment and safe removal of coffee capsules due to misalignment during operation and the need for manual separation in a high-temperature environment, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The coffee brewer incorporates a holding mechanism and reloading mechanisms with rotatable rack members, pin members, and restoring springs to securely hold and reload coffee capsules, ensuring accurate alignment and safe handling through controlled movement and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the holding mechanisms firmly hold the flange portion of the coffee capsule on the blocking member, then the coffee capsule is securely positioned, but accurate alignment with the brewing seat cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the holding mechanisms (16) that securely grip the flange portion (101) of the coffee capsule (10), and the brewing seat (13) with its pricking element (131). The blocking member (12) acts as an intermediate guide structure. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the holding mechanisms provide secure positioning through friction and mechanical grip, while the brewing seat provides precise alignment through its geometry and the pricking element's position, without requiring the holding mechanisms to simultaneously achieve both secure holding and precise alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member (12) serves as an intermediary structure between the holding mechanisms (16) and the brewing seat (13). It provides a reference surface for the holding mechanisms to grip the coffee capsule flange portion, while also guiding the coffee capsule into proper alignment with the brewing seat. This intermediary structure decouples the requirements of secure holding from precise alignment, allowing each to be achieved through different mechanisms
2Ease of operation
If the holding arms release the flange portion of the coffee capsule during removal, then the coffee capsule can be removed, but the coffee capsule may still recline against the blocking member and holding arms requiring manual separation
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing seat (13) performs a preliminary action by piercing the coffee capsule (10) with its pricking element (131) during the brewing process. This creates a physical connection that maintains the coffee capsule's position and prevents it from reclining against the blocking member (12) and holding arms (161) during removal. The preliminary piercing action ensures that even when the holding arms release the flange portion, the coffee capsule remains securely positioned and does not require manual separation, thereby eliminating the safety risk associated with user contact with high-temperature components
Solution Approach 2:
The pricking element (131) of the brewing seat (13) acts as an intermediary that creates a mechanical connection between the brewing seat and the coffee capsule body. This intermediary connection prevents the coffee capsule from contacting the blocking member and holding arms during removal, eliminating the need for manual separation and the associated safety risks
3Ease of operation
If a user manually separates the coffee capsule from the blocking member in the high-temperature inner space, then the coffee capsule can be removed, but user safety is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The coffee brewer system performs the coffee capsule removal operation autonomously without requiring user intervention. The holding mechanisms (16), driven by driving members (162), automatically release the flange portion (101) of the coffee capsule (10), and the brewing seat (13) with its pricking element (131) maintains the capsule's position during ejection. The coffee capsule is automatically ejected from the blocking member (12) into a safe external location, eliminating the need for users to manually contact high-temperature internal components and thereby eliminating safety risks
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 stable and safe operation by ensuring accurate capsule alignment and automatic separation, enhancing user safety and operational efficiency during brewing and reloading processes.
Implementation Method 1
a restoring spring that resiliently biases the rack member to rotate toward the unloading position
Implementation Method 2
a pin member that is moved by the holding seat to push the rack member so as to rotate the rack member to the loading position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A coffee brewer for a coffee capsule (10) includes a frame body (3), a holding mechanism (4) and two reloading mechanisms (6). The holding mechanism (4) includes a holding seat (41) for holding the coffee capsule (10). Each of the reloading mechanisms (6) includes a rack member (65) having a wing portion (652) and rotatable between a loading position and an unloading position, a pin member (68) movable by the holding seat (41) to rotate the rack member (65) to the loading position, and a restoring spring (67) resiliently biasing the rack member (65) to rotate toward the unloading position.