Coffee Cartridge Ejection Mechanism for Safe Automatic Disposal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee machine cartridge ejecting systems are either too complex, costly, and space-consuming, or pose a risk of burns when manually handling hot cartridges, as they require manual removal and disposal.
Innovation Solution
An automatic cartridge ejecting unit for a coffee machine comprising a housing, a top cover, a bottom cover with an infusion chamber and cavity, a cartridge ejecting member that rotates to unload cartridges into the cavity, and a return unit with elastic components and hooks to reset the bottom cover, allowing for intuitive loading and safe, automatic disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If manual cartridge removal is used, then the structure is simple, but the user is exposed to hot cartridges causing burns
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs cartridge ejection automatically without requiring user intervention. The cartridge is ejected by the machine itself through the bottom cover opening mechanism, eliminating the need for manual handling of hot cartridges and thus preventing burns while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful aspect (hot cartridge handling) is extracted from the user's task. The machine automatically extracts and ejects the used cartridge through the bottom cover, separating the dangerous ejection function from the user's hands and preventing contact with hot surfaces
2Object-affected harmful factors
If automatic cartridge ejection system is implemented, then burn risk is reduced, but the device becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection function is merged with the existing bottom cover structure. The bottom cover serves dual purposes: as an access door for cartridge loading and as an ejection mechanism. This integration eliminates the need for separate complex ejection systems while achieving automatic cartridge disposal
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom cover is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an access door for loading cartridges and as an automatic ejection mechanism. This universal design reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining automatic ejection capability
3Object-affected harmful factors
If automatic cartridge ejection system is implemented, then burn risk is reduced, but the device occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection mechanism is merged into the bottom cover structure, utilizing the existing space and components. The bottom cover opens to create the ejection path, eliminating the need for additional space-consuming ejection mechanisms and maintaining a compact device footprint
4Extent of automation
If bottom cover is made slidable for ejection, then cartridge disposal is automated, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom cover is designed to slide automatically under the action of elastic components without requiring additional motors or complex control systems. The elastic components store and release energy to drive the sliding motion, achieving automated ejection through simple mechanical means
Solution Approach 2:
Complex electronic control systems are replaced with simple mechanical elastic components. The elastic components provide the necessary force for sliding the bottom cover, achieving automated ejection through passive mechanical energy storage and release rather than active electronic control
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 enables safe, automatic, and space-efficient disposal of coffee cartridges, reducing the risk of burns and simplifying the loading process by rotating the top cover to open the cartridge ejecting unit, allowing the coffee cartridge to fall into the cavity, while the return unit resets the bottom cover, maintaining structural simplicity and low costs.
Implementation Method 1
the return unit includes two first elastic components (600)... one end of every first elastic component (600) is respectively fixedly connected to the two outsides of the housing (100), the two bumps (420) respectively stretch into the two grooves (140) and fixedly connect to the other end of the first elastic (600) component
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses an automatic cartridge ejecting unit for a coffee machine, which comprises a housing (100), a top cover (200), a bottom cover (400), a cartridge ejecting member (300) and a return unit (600). The top cover is rotationally assembled on the housing. The bottom cover, which is slidably assembled on the housing and in transmission connection with the top cover, is disposed with an infusion chamber (110) and a cavity (120). The cartridge ejecting unit is rotationally assembled on the bottom cover and rotates between the initial position and the open position with the action of the top cover. When the cartridge ejecting unit is in the open position, the coffee cartridge is unloaded and falls into the cavity.